Carrying coffins and marching to jazz music, more than 1,000 Elk Grove Unified School District teachers and their supporters staged a New Orleans-style protest Tuesday evening against the district's plans for a health benefits cap and other budget cuts.
"Tonight we mourn the loss of an EGUSD institution: the notion of shared sacrifice," said Sheldon High School teacher Kristina Richardson, who like her colleagues wore a pink funereal armband, the same color as the layoff slips many district teachers have received in recent years.
Lines of protestors snaked down the sidewalk from the intersection of Elk Grove Blvd and Williamson Drive and up Elk Grove Florin Road to the district's headquarters.
The rally was organized by the Elk Grove Education Association, the union that represents teachers and other professional staff, and took place just before a school board meeting where trustees were set to discuss a budget plan for the 2012-2013 school year that includes staff reductions and increased class sizes. As the board meeting got started around 7:00 p.m., chants of "Hey hey, ho, ho, Dr. Ladd has got to go," could be heard from outside the meeting—a reference to District Superintendent Steven Ladd.
Elk Grove Unified is going through the most contentious contract negotiations in decades as state education funding grows increasingly uncertain.
In a press release, union president Maggie Ellis accused the district of "adversarial bargaining tactics resulting in the breaking of a signed agreement."
The beef: District officials are asking to modify the teachers' 2011-2012 contract to permanently limit the amount the district spends on health benefits to 2010-2011 levels. Teachers would start paying increased health insurance premiums in July. A neutral fact-finding panel is currently hearing arguments from the two sides.
District spokesperson Elizabeth Graswich admitted that the request amounted to changing a previously-negotiated agreement, but said the district's financial situation gives officials no choice.
"We are year after year spending more than we're bringing in," Graswich said. "Why health care is so difficult is that because of the huge increases everyone's seeing year after year [from insurance companies] that are compounding our structural deficit."
Other teachers at the rally said it wasn't just about health care.
"It's the healthcare cap, it's the pink slips, it's the layoffs that happen every year," said Preet Sangha, a physics teacher at Monterey Trail High School. "It's a noble profession but we don't get treated fairly."
Last year, the district sent layoff notices to hundreds of teachers in March, before rescinding them later in the year when funding projections changed. Board members have said they may need to do the same this year.
While butting heads over the healthcare cap, the district and EGEA are simultaneously negotiating a new contract for the 2012-2013 school year.
Officers with the Elk Grove Police Department said they counted about 1,500 protesters.
Jim Bentley
7:55 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
And all the while our superintendent has "deferred" his 5% raise. Our assistant superintendents have accepted their 5% raises. And Dr. Ladd refuses to discuss reopening his own contract and renegotiating his salary or his own health care plan which is guaranteed to he and his wife for life! Teachers are being asked to take pay cuts and health care caps when our district leaders are unwilling to do the same? That's not leadership. That's self Interest run amok.
Marc Daniels
3:21 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Not this years raise, he deferred future increases.
DarrylYParris
10:21 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
People should never forget that real health depends how well you take care of yourself and not what health insurance you carry but I agree health insurance is important for every one. Search "Penny Health" or online for dollar a day insurance plans.
Jennifer Essex
8:58 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The teachers took 40 million dollars in concessions. We have offered a cost sharing plan to pay for additional increases in health care cost but the district wants a hard cap. The district has a 65 million dollar surplus! Our Superintendent makes more than the Vice President of the United States. Our Superintendent and his Assistant Superintendents make 6% above the state average while the teachers make 2% below the state average. We gave up 8-9% of our pay to cover the health care increase and save class size. We agreed to pay a higher premium and co-pay also. Teachers Care!!! Why doesn't the school board?
Jennifer Essex
9:07 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The cap the district wants means for one person 72$ a month for the first year only! Year two-122$ a month...year ten 544$ a month. For a family of four - year one 205$....year ten is 1540$ a month. If you do the math that is over 18,000 a year for a family. We are willing to cost share in these difficult times and offered to pay the increase as we have done the past two years. There is no reason for a hard cap.
Bob B
11:06 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I sympathize with the teachers, or anyone else, who is being gauged by their health-care insurance provider. Rather than forcing the teachers to pay these (ultimately) ridiculous amounts of peremiums, why doesn't the district shop for a more reasonable insurance company and tell the gaugers to get lost? There is no reason why anyone should have to pay $1,540.00 @ month for his/her family's medical coverage. I'm sure glad AT&T provides me with Medical Insurance with a $3.00 @ month premium (the actual premium is $39.00 @ mo, but I get a $36.00 @ month reimbursement check from them. Of course, I also have Medicare, for which I pay the government $99.99 @ month out of my Social Security check. Thanks, AT&T!
Bob B
11:07 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
oops, I've had a senior moment: it's 'premiums', not peremiums (that must be a kind of plant, or something. lol
Terri Washington
11:50 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Let's not forget that our co-pay didn't just go up, it's $40. That's unreasonable and simple ridiculous! EGEA members gave major concessions, in good faith, and now that contract is not being honored.....and with a $65,000,000 surplus. What a disgrace to the teachers who have made this district great and nationally known.
nutmeg
9:09 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
$40 is not unreasonable Nor ridiculous! Have you ever seen what other people with other jobs pay -- Where you work 12 hour days, no 3 month breaks? That cannot be an argument that will work with anyone, especially this teacher of 18 years in EGUSD. The teachers are coming across as being entitled and spoiled. Someone needs to step in as a good PIO.