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superintendent's message - financial urgency
To
parents, students, teachers, principals, staff
and citizens of Duval County:
“The Duval County School
Board, in a 4-3 decision, voted to declare Financial
Urgency at a special meeting held on Monday, August 9,
2010 at the district’s headquarters. By declaring
Financial Urgency, Duval County Public Schools will now
be able to renegotiate certain provisions of the
teachers and paraprofessionals contracts. This
declaration is a collective bargaining tool through
Florida’s statutes*, affording public entities such as
schools, cities and counties the opportunity to expedite
bargaining with labor unions.
This declaration DOES NOT
mean that DCPS is insolvent or unable to meet its
current financial obligations. Rather, it is merely a
provision in collective bargaining law that pertains to
the renegotiation of current contracts, primarily due to
an unanticipated change in financial circumstances.
In addition to
renegotiating the teacher and paraprofessional
contracts, we have imposed an immediate District staff
hiring freeze, with the exception of mission-critical
positions, which will undergo extensive scrutiny and
must receive cabinet approval.
Please know that as DPCS
faces these economic challenges, our concerns are first
and foremost for our teachers, students and staff. Each
and every one of our stakeholders is at the heart of the
decisions we make. We will continue to maintain an open
line of communication to ensure you receive timely,
factual information on our processes, and encourage you
to share any comments and concerns with us.”
Why is DCPS declaring financial urgency now?
Facing a $71 million shortfall for budget year
2010-2011, and with projections showing greater
shortfalls in 2011 -2012 and beyond, DCPS is declaring
financial urgency in order to maintain a balanced
budget, as mandated by the State Constitution.
Continued reductions in funding from state and
federal levels, in addition to an increase in fixed
costs and costs associated with the
Class Size
Amendment, continue to place a great burden on local
school districts. Despite a reduction in expenditures
(including operating costs, personnel and benefits), the
financial outlook for the next several years is poor.
Property taxes continue to fall, medical costs are
rising, mid-year revenue reductions are expected and the
cost of living continues to increase. In order to ensure
fiscal responsibility, DCPS must renegotiate its most
vital expenditure, and that is the contract of its
educators.
What is the process?
By invoking this state statute, DCPS will expedite
bargaining with Duval Teachers United (DTU), the local
teachers union.
Financial urgency allows the school district to
bargain the contract, which must occur within 14 days of
the declaration. If an agreement is not reached, an
impasse is declared and mediation will begin.
*447.4095 Financial urgency. In
the event of a financial urgency requiring modification
of an agreement, the chief executive officer or his or
her representative and the bargaining agent or its
representative shall meet as soon as possible to
negotiate the impact of the financial urgency. If after
a reasonable period of negotiation which shall not
exceed 14 days, a dispute exists between the public
employer and the bargaining agent, an impasse shall be
deemed to have occurred, and one of the parties shall so
declare in writing to the other party and to the
commission. The parties shall then proceed pursuant to
the provisions of s. 447.403. An unfair labor practice
charge shall not be filed during the 14 days during
which negotiations are occurring pursuant to this
section.
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Ed
Pratt-Dannals
Superintendent |
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