Salem-Keizer Educators Voice Concern with Request for Contract Talks

Education Association calls the request premature.

Salem-News.com File photo by Tim King

(SALEM, Ore.) - On Friday, February 6, 2009, the Salem-Keizer Education Association (SKEA) received notice from the district of a request to reopen the current contract that may impact working conditions for nearly 2,400 licensed educators in the Salem-Keizer school district.

“We think this request is premature,” said SKEA President Jane Killefer.

“There are too many questions that remain unanswered. We know the state faces a revenue shortfall, but what we don’t know yet is what the legislature intends to do about it.”

Recent projections indicate that the state faces an additional $300-$600 million shortfall in the current 2007-2009 biennial budget.

The legislature is debating whether to make targeted cuts to schools and other programs using only current available revenue or if they will look to other sources, such as the Education Stability Fund to help fill the hole.

Another unknown is the size of the investment for public education in the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and whether funds will be available for local schools this year.

“We need to have all the information before we agree to open up our mutually agreed-upon contract,” said Killefer. “It is prudent for us to wait to see what Congress does in the next few days and for the state’s next revenue forecast, due on February 20, to fully understand what the local challenge will be.”

At this time, SKEA has not agreed to any timelines, bargaining, proposals, and/or opening the current contract. On a related note, the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Ways & Means Committee will be holding public hearings on how to address the revenue shortfall for the current school year. Committee members are expected to hear testimony on education budgets on Wednesday, February 11 at 4:30 p.m.

Source: Salem Keizer Education Association