August 13, 2015 VO LUM E 1 1 | IS S UE 1 1
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Jeffco Schools, JCEA agree to contract terms Union members to vote on 10-month deal Aug. 21 By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com After five months of contract negotiations, Jeffco teachers will have an agreement in place when school starts on Aug.17, but one teacher and union negotiator echoed the sentiments of many district educators, calling the 10-month duration “insulting.” The Jefferson County Education Association signed a temporary agreement accepting the 2015-2016 collective bargaining contract at an Aug. 6 negotiation session. Key interests in the negotiations included educating the whole child, having effective teachers in the classrooms, retaining school-level autonomy, and optimizing teacher instructional time and scheduling. Compromises include improving collaborative planning and decision-making regarding class sizes, instituting provisions designed to ensure that performance drives pay increases, updating the evaluation process to align with the state’s educator effectiveness requirements, and increasing the number of full-time digital librarians.
The contract must still be ratified by the union, which will review and vote on the 45-page document at a membership meeting on Aug. 21 at the Jeffco Fairgrounds. The current contract expires on Aug. 31. “When we started the process a long time ago, we set out to reach an agreement,” said Arik Heim, union negotiator and a Wheat Ridge High School social studies teacher. “I think, for the most part, the bulk of the agreement is something good and good for education...” “It’s not a perfect agreement by any stretch,” said school district negotiator Jim Branum, “but it is the best possible agreement.” One point of contention is the agreement’s 10-month span, Sept. 1 through June 30, 2016. Many teachers and union members hoped for longer-term security. “We accepted it because we believe in doing what’s best for students and putting the time in to create the best learning conditions for students — that was always our driving force,” said Stephanie Rossi, a JCEA negotiator and teacher at Wheat Ridge High School. “The 10-month agreement — it’s insulting. … We would have preferred to have a three-year agreement to have some stability for our effective educators in Jeffco.” JCEA membership accounts for approximately 3,500 of the district’s 5,400
“We accepted it because we believe in doing what’s best for students and putting the time in to create the best learning conditions for students — that was always our driving force. The 10-month agreement — it’s insulting. … We would have preferred to have a three-year agreement to have some stability for our effective educators in Jeffco.”
JCEA negotiator Stephanie Rossi
teachers, or about 65 percent. A simple majority must approve the contract, or it will go back to the bargaining table. If members ratify the agreement, the contract will be presented to the Jeffco Schools Board of Education at its Aug. 27 meeting for final approval. “This innovative contract is a result of nearly 150 hours at the negotiating table by the negotiating team as well as a com-
mitment to collaboration by the JCEA and Jeffco School Board,” said Jeffco Schools Superintendent Dan McMinimee in a press release following the Aug. 6 meeting. “While both sides compromised on contract components, we believe this agreement is good for Jeffco students and Jeffco teachers. I am looking forward to its implementation during this next school year.”
TALL IN THE SADDLE AT THE FAIR The Pikes Peak Rangerettes close out the horse show, which featured a variety of horses and performances as part of the Jefferson County Fair, which took place Aug. 7-9. For more pictures, turn to page 5. Photo by Christy Steadman
Our 4-H’ers at the fair The Jefferson County Fair boasted a number of 4-H exhibits, shows and judging this year. Events exclusive to 4-H members began on Aug. 6 and continued through the fair’s duration on Aug. 9. The 4-H organization, which reaches throughout the world, partners with 110 universities nationwide and has more than 6 million youth members between the ages of 8 and 18 who reside in urban neighborhoods, suburban schoolyards and rural farming communities. In the U.S., 4-H youth actively exhibit livestock at county and state fairs and dedicated livestock shows. To learn more about 4-H, visit www.4-h.org. To learn how to enroll a youth locally, select the “Find Your Local 4-H” tab.
Audrey Bliss, 16, of Golden shows market and breeding rabbits. Here, she holds Shakespeare, who won best in show. “I enjoy 4-H because I get to meet other people. I like helping younger members with how to show animals.”
Danielle Wiechman, 18, of Littleton pets one of her sheep. Wiechman showed beef, sheep and hogs this year. “You get the opportunity to be around animals. The program helps develop leadership skills.”
Tyler Eisenhand, 18, of Conifer shows beef and poultry. “In 4-H, you learn a lot of leadership and communication skills. It teaches you responsibility.”
Indygo Kesten, 12, of Evergreen stands with her Californian bunny, which won second place in judging and third place in showmanship. “I like 4-H for getting together with all my friends and having a great time.”