A memorandum of understanding in which the El Centro Secondary Teachers’ Association agreed to maintain increased class sizes for the 2012-2013 school year was signed by the Central Union High School District on Tuesday.
Class size increases were negotiated “a couple of years ago,” said Superintendent Thomas Budde.
Class sizes went from 30 to 32 students three years ago, said Catherine Drew, association president.
Under the MOU, the Central Union High School District also commits to a one-time payment to El Centro Secondary Teachers’ Association.
But the payment is contingent upon the passage of Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed tax initiative, said Budde. This initiative isn’t on the ballot as signatures are still being collected.
If the initiative is approved in November, an $80,000 payment will be distributed in equal amounts to each bargaining unit member, according to the MOU.
The union is about 200 members strong.
But this may be the last time that this type of MOU is developed, according to Neil MacGaffey, association vice president.
“We need to have some discussions very early on, about how we are going to handle this completely different next year,” said MacGaffey.
“The association is not going to accept another request for an MOU like this next year,” he concluded.
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
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