FRIDAY January 17, 2020
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TEACHER TALKS
Some progress? By David Hayes Staff Writer
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hort-and long-term pay increase options are at the heart of a mediator’s factfinding report issued Tuesday to the Del Norte County Unified School District and the Del Norte Teachers Association. The report by Renée Mayne, an arbitrator
and mediator for the state Public Employees Relations Board, is a non-binding recommendation stemming from a meeting Dec. 5 between the district and the teachers, after they had reached an impasse despite nearly a year of negotiations. The mediator’s shortterm recommendation is a 2% increase in
both teacher salaries and teacher flat-dollar stipends, effective July 1, 2019. According to the report, this option would not guarantee additional salary hikes in future years. The cost to the school district was estimated at More than 300 teachers and community members squeezed into the Del Norte Unified School District administration office during December’s school board meeting. Photo by David Hayes.
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CLOSES HWY 199; FLOOD RISK HERE
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By Jessica Goddard and Brian Williams Staff Writers
fficials closed U.S. Highway 199 early Thursday morning, from its junction with U.S. Highway 197 to the California-Oregon border, because of heavy snow and fallen trees in the Smith River
Canyon. By 9:49 a.m., reported the California Department of Transportation, the highway had been cleared and was reopened – only to be closed again at 10:43 - only to be reopened again at 1:10 p.m. The California Highway Patrol said in a Facebook post prior to the road being reopened that vehicles
were being escorted through the canyon. Caltrans, Frontier, Pacific Power and Charter were on Highway 199 assisting and working to keep the roads clear. Heavy winds and rain jeopar-
School board recall is threatened Staff Report
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hile Del Norte County Unified School District faculty contract negotiations continue, a community member is offering his solution to the stalemate. Former Del Norte Teachers Association representative Mike Mealue has served notices of his intent to circulate a petition to recall each of the school board members as well as school Superintendent Jeff Harris. Mealue told the board during the public comment portion of its Jan. 9 meeting that during his 30 years with the school district, including 10 as the teachers’ union president, he directed an election campaign that defeated two school board incumbents, and helped gain voter approval of a $25-million bond measure in 2008. “In my opinion, the current impasse has nothing to do with money. It is about ego and power,” Mealue said to the board members. “It is about ego and power. “I apologize to those trustees who quietly supported employees. I just don’t know who you are.” Mealue said he had yet to receive any support from the teachers’ union for his recall efforts, but warned the board that a successful petition drive would set the district back $60,000 in special election costs. Harris responded that anyone has the right to initiate a notice of recall campaign, which involves basically gathering names on a petition and submitting it to the Del Norte County Elections Office. “I would say I’m disappointed someone feels that’s the only recourse left at this point, when the district and bargaining teams continue to talk,” added Harris. “I completely understand the frustration at this point, especially since the negotiations are confidential. I truly, sincerely hope we come to an
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School board member has resigned to relocate A
Roger Daley
By David Hayes Staff Writer
new wrinkle has cropped up in the labor dispute between the Del Norte Unified School District and the Del Norte Teachers Association. School board member Roger Daley, who represents District 4, has resigned to seek a job in Reno, Nevada. District Superintendent Jeff Harris told The Triplicate that Daley submitted a letter of resignation to the board before its Jan. 9 meeting. Harris subsequently notified the Del Norte Elections Office on Jan. 13.
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Daley, a pastor at Fort Dick Bible Church, said in media reports that his resignation had nothing to do with the ongoing negotiations between the district and its teachers. He said he’s relocating for professional reasons. Harris told The Triplicate that during Delay’s three years on the school board, he brought well-articulated views to the members’ discussions. “He’s been an advocate for alternative education. He has been supportive of many of the student services we have, for foster youth, special education, the homeless, general operations of what goes on at schools,” Harris said. Now, according to board bylaws,
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the school district will begin an immediate public-notification process in posting for Delay’s position. The bylaws give the district 60 days to advertise the position and solicit applications. A committee will be formed to determine candidates’ eligibility and will announce certain candidates’ names. The remaining board members will then host candidate interviews in a public forum. After the interviews, the board can receive verbal or written comments before voting to select one of the candidates to fill the remainder of Delay’s four-year term. A new slate of candidates will be eligible to run for the position in
this coming November’s election. Harris said school board positions are not salaried. Rather, board members receive a per-meeting stipend, and also are eligible for health insurance or a reimbursement for a qualifying health plan similar to teachers and administrators. School board members are paid $264 per month for attending all of the scheduled district meetings, and $174 per month for attending all designated county meetings. Harris said that includes special meetings, study sessions and any emergency meetings that arise.
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