June 5, 2002
Cupertino, California Since 1947
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New hostility, issues come to light at May 28 CUSD meeting Although the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) and teachers have reached a tentative agreement regarding their pay and benefits, many issues still remain and new problems continue to emerge. Some of these issues are teacher support and retention, budget clarity and communication within the community. However, these issues were not the only focus of the May 28 school board meeting. Some parents, district employees and administrators spoke out in strong support of CUSD Superintendent William Bragg, who a few weeks ago received a 90 percent no-confidence vote from teachers. Nancy Wood, the principal of Monclaire School, read a statement from the directors, managers and supervisors of Maintenance, Operations, Transportation, Purchasing and Student Nutrition Services. "We want to make it clear that we feel Superintendent Bill Bragg is a fine leader and is doing an exemplary job managing this district," Wood read. "We support him and stand ready to back him in any decisions he makes." A letter written by a group of principals and endorsed by principals in all schools in the CUSD revealed a similar sentiment. Board of Education member Barry Chang criticized this specific action by the principals. "Principals shouldn't be collecting signatures," he said. "They should be teaching kids. They shouldn't put pressure on the board like this." Mary Depew, president of the PTA at Stocklmeir Elementary School and a parent, expressed her thoughts about the negotiation process and encouraged all parties to work together to move the district forward. "There have been forces at work undermining the negotiations," Depew said. "Negotiations should have been kept focused on money issues surrounding health and welfare benefits and that's all. Personal agendas and vendettas had no place here. "Many teachers in the district said they had issues that were not being addressed and felt if they signed on the dotted line that the issues would be forgotten," she continued. "One teacher admitted that they wanted to get our attention, well you got it. But we, your parent community, who would do practically anything you ask us have been used. Respect is also a two-way street. How are we to respect you when the behavior encouraged by the Cupertino Education Association (CEA)has been deplorable? We are embarrassed that children have been dragged into this mess. We're upset that you clouded the negotiations with personal agendas." "I am very sad," responded Janice Hagerbaumer, president of the CEA. "These people were given misinformation. They haven't come to the source. They haven't asked the people that they accused if it's true. I don't think what they said helps the healing process." "I can understand these people's frustration, but I am not interested in the polarization," Bragg said. "finger pointing never solves any problem. We need to be committed to solving problems." Depew disagreed with many that have spoken at past meetings on the ways to solve problems such as under funding of educators. She said, "Many have demanded that the school board and Dr. Bragg fix issues that they cannot be held solely accountable to solve." According to one speaker, there is a new voice of a not-so-silent-anymore majority that belongs to thousands of community members. They are frustrated and disgusted with the fact that a few people used negotiations to achieve personal ends. The sudden appearance of the dissenting voice surprised many. I didn't expect anything negative from the meeting," said Lisa Carpenter, a parent and a member of a newly formed parent group Parents for Quality Education. "It just didn't fit in with the optimism of having a tentative agreement." "The teachers are extremely hurt," Hagerbaumer said. "Some are quite angry. They truly believed these parents talked about them personally." "I don't think anyone intended to demean our teachers," Bragg countered. "We value our teachers, parents, students and other district and school employees." "You only hear from people when they are angry," explained Barbara fielden, a former board member and also a parent that spoke at the meeting. "These folks started to get mad about the hostility and decided to speak up. We're tired of the negativity." Carpenter said she believes the next step is moving forward by taking actions to resolve issues that threaten the future quality of Cupertino schools such as teacher retention and budget clarity. Veronica Lagrange, another parent at the meeting agreed with Carpenter. "There's still a lot of work to be done," she said at the meeting. "If we don't respect our teachers, more good teachers will leave." These issues have become the new focus for the teachers and district. "We are going to work on the important issues such as teacher retention," Hagerbaumer said. "We will continue to follow the direction given by the teachers." "We need to work in the best interest of our kids," Bragg said. "This is a great district and we have so much to be proud of. |
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