Tentative agreement reached with classified union

Fallbrook Union High School District (FUHSD) Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Chester Gannett reported earlier this week that a tentative agreement has been reached with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (classified employees) and it is expected to be ratified this week. The agreement, the exact details of which have not been released, appears to include not only an increase in the salary schedule but also a significant increase in employee benefits paid by the district. Gannett said negotiations with representatives from the Fallbrook Union High School Teacher’s Association (certificated teaching staff) were scheduled to resume on Tuesday (October 31) with a State mediator.

Gannett, who has overseen the district’s finances for eight years, said he is anxious for fair agreements to be reached with both unions because the funds have been ready and waiting within the balanced budget the district has achieved.

“I have had to carry over some of these funds from last year,” Gannett said. “When both sides come to terms, I feel we will be in the ballpark of other districts when it comes to collective bargaining.

“You want to reward loyal employees and be able to attract quality new employees, but it is a delicate balance with the finances. If I had my way, they’d be the highest paid in the county, but if we did, we’d have to cut the kids’ programs.

“Our current board has tried to keep as many of the programs in place as possible for the kids. They have maintained as many electives as possible and also kept the bus fees as low as they could. This board is very ‘pro’ kids; they want to do all they can.”

Gannett said unlike other public entities, such as water boards that can raise rates to offset budget shortfalls, the school district “can’t raise money that way.”

Maintaining a balanced budget is something that was achieved within the first five years of Superintendent Tom Anthony’s current 10 years of service to the district.

“The finances were definitely in disarray; now I can tell you every penny in this district is accounted for,” Anthony said. “In the county, we are financially better off than most districts.”

When Anthony assumed the position with FUHSD, he says the district had a $35,000,000 construction project in process with a $24,000,000 budget and contractual issues to deal with.

“You have to give the staff credit for us being able to get through that because everyone helped,” he acknowledged. “Now we are looking to the future; we don’t want to go backward.”

Anthony said some 13 school districts have been taken over by the State for not maintaining a proper budget, and he estimates that number will double in the next two years.

“It’s a case of districts inflating their enrollment numbers,” Anthony said. “Our board has been financially responsible. If we have a problem, we own up to it and bring forward solutions.”

Anthony said he is also pleased he was able to lobby for and receive key federal funds because the district serves military and Native American students. As a result of his involvement, he accepted a position on a federal board that deals with these issues.

“It has really helped tremendously,” he confirmed. “We also have major battles we have won with State finances. We appreciate the way O’Connell and the County Office of Education have helped us.”

Anthony said when he arrived at FUHSD one of the first things he did was change the audit system pertaining to the district’s finances.

“They weren’t paying enough attention to the details,” he said. Anthony also said there was not adequate staff in the Business Services department when he first came on board.

“There were not enough people to get a handle on the money,” he said. “We created a Business Office and got the right people in the right jobs.” Anthony likened that accomplishment to his current project of creating a Human Resources Department, headed by Jim Yahr.

“With Jim heading up Human Resources, nothing will fall through the cracks,” Anthony said. While he is pleased with his accomplishments, Anthony is clear to voice concern about what challenges the future holds, especially with the budget.

What concerns him is the pattern of declining enrollment that both the high school and Fallbrook Union Elementary School District face. “We are not the only district in North County in decline,” Anthony noted. “Oceanside lost 500 kids this year and both Vista and Escondido are in decline.”

The FUHSD General Fund budget is expected to equalize at $26,000,000 this year. Between $600,000 and $700,000 of that is expected to arrive from the State for specifically designated use in guidance programs, fine arts and physical education.

“There are strings attached to those extra funds,” Anthony said. Funds collected from developers and certain other sources are also protected and cannot be used for general purposes. Finding adequate funds for campus maintenance is another concern, Anthony said.

“Maintenance is a huge issue,” he said. “We have a long way to go. Kids do not feel good if their school looks bad.”

Presentations and updates concerning the FUHSD budget are made regularly at the district’s board meetings, and in addition, monthly meetings/workshops are offered by Gannett. He says anyone, including staff members, can attend.

“Union leadership is always invited to go – sometimes they go; sometimes they don’t,” Anthony said. “We keep hearing that we don’t communicate, but we make all these offers and no one comes.”