Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/22108
and Orange County area televi- sion mobile news crews. “It was soon apparent after the bargaining session started that the district’s team had no intention of settling a contract based on the framework recom- mended by the financial ex- perts,” says Brown. “Even so, LHEA’s bargaining team en- dured an almost eight-hour charade of repeated rejections and insulting, callous counter- proposals from the district be- fore talks broke off.” The district repeatedly re- jected the framework recom- mended by financial experts representing both parties, instead offering punitive pro- posals unacceptable to the teachers. Rejecting the experts’ recommendation of standard, acceptable restoration language common in negotiated agree- ments throughout the state, the district continued to insist on punitive language that would result in additional, permanent cuts for the teachers. “After leading teachers, par- ents and the community to believe they would honor the recommendations of the finan- cial experts they had suggested to help craft a mutual compro- mise, the district’s bad-faith bargaining was yet one more breach of public trust,” says Brown. “During the course of their sham bargaining, the La Habra City School District com- mitted numerous grievances that LHEA can litigate, and that process is already in motion.” Even though LHEA members reported for duty Dec. 14 and were willing to work the next day, the district directed the teachers to stay out of their class- RIGHT: LHEA members Debbie Bitetto and Mindy Stolson walked the picket lines each day in the four- day strike with their col- leagues at Las Positas Ele- mentary School. rooms again on Dec. 15, which cost an additional $50,000 in unnecessary substitute pay. On another front, LHEA is supporting ef- forts by an organized coalition of outraged parents and citizens to initiate a petition drive for school board mem- ber recall with the ultimate goal of ousting Superintendent Susan Belenardo from the district. Sanchez urges CTA’s local chapters and members who have not already done so to contribute to the La Habra Ed- ucation Association’s strike cri- sis fund. You can do so via Pay- Pal at bit.ly/dRMFyj, or by check to: LHEA Strike Fund, NOCUT, 749 South Brea Blvd., Suite 42, Brea, CA 92821. BILL GUY Programs for California Professionals in Education Designed to Advance Your Career degreeinfo@laverne.edu | laverne.edu Credentials and Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctoral One of College of Education and Organizational Leadership U.S. News & World Report and Forbes Magazine Best Colleges DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011 | www.cta.org 31