by Ross Coyle
Kent School District officials are closer to an agreement with district’s office workers union after the Kent Association of Educational Office Professionals have been without a contract for more than 11 months.
This forward progress came as a relief in a situation where KAEOP officials were frustrated after lengthy negotiations between the union and KSD left the union wondering if it would get a new contract.
In an open letter to the district two weeks ago, KAEOP leaders expressed disappointment with the district’s handling of the negotiations, saying that on one hand the district calls them invaluable, front line help with students but isn’t able to back that assertion up with appropriate compensation.
“Part of the frustration is the revolving door of people in (human resources),” said KAEOP President Kathi Adderson. “When we first started negotiations, the team was working with Robin Davis. Then he left, replaced by Keith Beiman. It was almost like having to start over again.”
Ordinarily, Adderson said she could understand that.
“But we feel there has been such a level of disrespect to our union,” Adderson said.
Adderson said she felt like the district’s reluctance to work with KAEOP was indicative of an indifferent attitude toward the office workers and clerical help.
“They negotiated with everyone else and we got what was left over,” Adderson said.
Adderson said a joint study conducted by the district and the union compared wages to other districts and found that office and clerical wages at KSD were 6 percent to 7 percent lower than eight other school districts. KAEOP is looking for about $500,000 in total raises for its staff, but officials from KSD say that while they’d like to provide the funds, they have other bases they also have to cover.
KSD spokesman Chris Loftis explained that while the district does indeed have a hefty cash reserve to draw from, it has to be judicious in spending the $27 million.
“I think that’s an issue that often people hear that they think that there’s a big pile of money sitting somewhere,” Loftis said.
Ralph Fortunato, director of financial services for the district, explained the total balance was $27 million last year, but due to the way the budget works, the actual number was significantly smaller. A number of deductions, such as $12 million assigned as a mandatory reserve, or $3 million to help start the construction of a new school, quickly whittled the original sum away.
“There was $27 million dollars, but in reality what was unassigned, what was unspoken for, was $3 million,” Fortunato said.
Beyond this financial constraint, Loftis said, many demands made during negotiations aren’t considered by the district, Loftis said. Demands are made in something of a vacuum, Loftis added, and the district has to take them and say whether or not they’re reasonable. Beyond the needs of KAEOP, Loftis said, the district has to ask what impact a financial choice will have in the future.
“You’re looking at not just today’s finances and you’re looking at the moral and legal responsibility that we have to keep the district sustainable,” Loftis said. “So yes, we might be able to make one group happier today, but does that set us into a trajectory that is untenable in the future?”
Kent Reporter Reporter Ross Coyle can be reached at rcoyle@kentreporter.com.
