Trustees Refuse to Approve RIF, For Now...

Dear Members:

The Board of Trustees approved the Superintendent's request this evening to conduct a Reduction in Force on a vote of 5 for, 2 against, and 1 abstention.  Voting in favor of the RIF was Trustees Ellis, Garza, Lowe, Flores, and Medrano.  Voting against were Trustees Blackburn and Ranger.  Abstaining was Trustee Price.

There was some good news today concerning what will happen after the Board vote.  NEA-Dallas, DSAA, ATPE and Alliance-AFT all met for the better part of Monday to prepare a proposal for the Superintendent.  This afternoon at 1:00pm a report was given back to all of us on what the Superintendent agreed to.

1.  All employees who receive a RIF notice will have three (3) working days to decide whether or not to appeal or sign the District's severance offer.

2.  Teachers and other contract employees, who sign the severance offer, thus waiving their right of appeal, will be paid through January 16, 2009, including all benefits.  This date takes the employee through the Fall Semester and gives them the full year's credit for TRS purposes.  The District will also not appeal unemployment compensation claims.

3.  Support Professionals (ESP's) who sign the severance offer, thus waiving their right of appeal, will be paid through October 31, 2008, including all benefits. The District will also not appeal unemployment compensation claims.

4.  CEI's WILL NOT be used in the performance criteria of determining employees for RIF.  Only your 2007-2008 PDAS or similar evaluation will be used.  If you did not receive a 2007-2008 PDAS, then your last PDAS or similar evaluation will be the one used.

5.  Employees who wish to "volunteer" for the RIF can do so and receive the same severance package as other employees.  For example: If you are thinking about retiring, you can sign up for this-be paid through January-then retire.  Or, if you are currently on leave and don't want to come back, you can do the same thing.

I am not yet sure if the District is really going to do this on a district-wide basis.  They are trying to do two (2) things at once, Leveling and RIF.  This muddies up the waters so my advice to all of you is:

IF YOU RECEIVE A RIF NOTICE, DO NOT SIGN ANY AGREEMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO NEA-DALLAS AND OUR TSTA ATTORNEYS.

Again, according to Board Policy DFF (LOCAL) the criteria to be used to determine RIF releases are as follows:
1) Certification
2) Performance
3) Seniority
4) Educational Background

According to the Administration, Non-Contract Personnel will be notified of their selection for RIF on October 9.
Contract Personnel (550 teachers, 125 other contract personnel) will be notified beginning October 10 and no later than October 17.  Those will be in writing, in person and you will be made aware of your rights during that notification.
NEA-Dallas/TSTA/NEA will be conducting an assistance session for our members and non-members in the days following the RIF notifications.  I will let all of you know the date(s) and time(s) in the near future.

NEA-Dallas/TSTA/NEA is here to assist all of you during this time of crisis.  Feel free to call us here at the office, 214-821-2061, or the TSTA Help Desk at 1-877-275-8782 with your questions.

Please forward this on to everyone you know.

Sincerely,
Your President,

Dale D. Kaiser