Tag Archives: Berkeley Federation of Teachers
Berkeley school board president Leah Wilson resigns
Leah Wilson, president of the Berkeley Unified School District’s board, today announced her resignation, effective March 31. Wilson recently accepted an appointment as Court Executive Officer for the Alameda County Superior Court. That role presents potential conflicts of interest in future litigation.
“It’s potentially chilling to litigants that might be engaged in litigation with the district,” Wilson said. “It was something that I was told would not work. But it’s beyond bittersweet. It’s an incredible career opportunity and at the same time it has resulted in my not being able to fulfill the commitment I had made.”
Wilson was elected to the board in 2010 and assumed the presidency last year. She faced the delicate task of bringing the board together after a split over superintendent choice in the spring of 2012, and then the collapse of the search when finalist Edmond Heatley pulled out last fall. … Continue reading »
Berkeley teachers’ bonus plan rebuffed by district
In commercial districts across Berkeley this afternoon, teachers will be speaking to Berkeleyans about the current state of contract negotiations between the Berkeley Federation of Teachers and Berkeley Unified.
According to Cathy Campbell, president of the BFT, negotiations are “not going smoothly” and teachers want to explain the situation “before we turn to more high stakes actions (such as ‘working to rule’), which hopefully we will not have to do.”
The teachers’ contract expired in June 2012, but that contract was just an extension of the July 2008 agreement, which was intended to last two years. Both the teachers union and the BUSD agreed to extensions with no salary increases during the worst of the economic recession. In this year’s negotiations, the BFT proposed a one-time 10% bonus, paid from part of the BUSD’s $8.7 million ending fund balance. … Continue reading »
Berkeley school district names interim superintendents
Berkeley Unified School District has named Javetta Cleveland and Neil Smith, both BUSD staff, as joint interim superintendents for an unspecified period of time until someone is found to fill the shoes of former superintendent Bill Huyett who has retired.
BUSD Board President John Selawsky said at the board’s meeting on Wednesday night that a candidate is currently being interviewed for the district’s top position.
Cleveland, who is BUSD Deputy Superintendent, and Smith, who is Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, took up their duties at the Wednesday board meeting.
Huyett, who has now left the position of superintendent, announced in December that he planned to retire after four years in the job. … Continue reading »
Berkeley teachers plan Sacramento rally
Berkeley teacher and school employee unions are hoping to take at least 10 bus loads of protesters to rally in Sacramento on Wednesday, April 21. The rally on the capitol lawn is expected to draw thousands of protesters from across the state, urging the reinstatement of the $2.5 billion in additional educational cuts announced for the 2010-11 budget in January. The governor will produce a revision of the 2010-11 budget on May 15.
“If we want to influence … Continue reading »
“Stand up” for public education
The Berkeley Federation of Teachers has sent out a call to parents, guardians and community members to join them this afternoon to “stand up” for public education. The BFT plans to create a line of supporters stretching along Martin Luther King Jr. Way from University Avenue to Dwight Way, a distance of nearly one-half mile. The demonstration begins at 3:30 p.m. in front of the BUSD administration building at 2134 MLK (above).
California ranks 48th out of … Continue reading »
