Show I Memorandum On Teacher Talks I The following is a memorandum memorandum memo memo- rand urn sent to presidents of i local boards of education superintendents superintendents su su- su I of school districts districts districts dis dis- dis- dis and presidents of local associations in the Ute Wasatch I Front from Dr Daryl J. J McCarty McCarty Mc- Mc Carty executive secretary Utah Education Association TO Presidents o 0 f School Local Presidents of Box BoxElder BoxElder ei Elder Ogden Weber Dar Davis Da Da- Da t r vis Salt Lake Granite r Jordan Murray Alpine Provo and Nebo School t Districts FROM Daryl J. J McCarty Executive Secretary Utah Education Association SUBJECT Negotiations S Negotiations within districts along the Ule Wasatch Front as aswell aswell aswell well as in some other areas of the state are running into considerable difficulty MUCH OF the problem stems from the fact that the Utah Legislature did not provide funds sufficiently adequate to maintain the current pro pro- grams However many of the problems are found at a local level Some districts are expanding expand expand- ing programs when they should be looking at a curtailment or at least a status quo in pro pro- gramming STILL OTHERS are insisting insisting insisting insist insist- ing on maintaining unjustifiable unjustifiable reserves particularly in light of the budget squeeze rather that putting money in into into into in- in to the maintenance and operation operation operation op op- op- op program Throughout this difficult t period of negotiations I hear constantly that school board members and superintendents are convinced that the associations associations associations along th the Wasatch Front have agreed to a pact that no one will settle until a predetermined predetermined predetermined pre pre- determined minimum standard standard stand stand- ard of wages and benefits is met THE TIlE REPORTS further state that these associations along with the Utah Education Association are determined to keep schools closed this fall just to show it can be done I am publicly declaring through this memorandum that both of these allegations are unfounded unfounded unfounded un un- founded and definitely untrue I HAVE been in contact with these association leaders and at no time has any such pact been made nor have the discussions centered around anything except attempting to find ways to bring negotiations to a successful conclusion at atthe atthe atthe the earliest possible time It is obvious that negotiations negotiations negotiations are going to be rough and very difficult within each of the districts However the and the local association leaders are desirous of arriving arriving arriving ar ar- ar- ar riving at satisfactory settlements settlements settle settle- ments in all of the districts as quickly as can possibly be done WE SEE few facts that will change between now and September September Sep Sep- and therefore cannot understand why we cant can't continue continue con con- meeting bringing in expert expert expert ex ex- pert help where needed scrutinizing scrutinizing programs carefully and doing all else necessary to resolve the issues For anyone to delay negotiations negotiations negotiations or to fail to negotiate in m good faith on the basis that the other side is bound by some ridiculous agreement or that one side or the other really doesn't want to reach a settlement is childish and absolutely absurd EACH LOCAL association and district should negotiate on the basis of its budget and program We t trust r u s t that neither boards of education nor superintendents superintendents super super- are bound by any agreement to hold salary settlements settlements settlements set set- to any agreed upon level and are not afraid to settle because of the wrath that might come from their colleagues in other districts NEGOTIATION is a process process process pro pro- cess of take give on both sides If either side comes in with the idea of winning an argument rather than to reaching agreement both sides arc are in trouble Contracts can be settled before before before be be- fore September if both sides are determined to do so and honestly work toward this end irrespective of what goes goeson on in other districts THE ASSOCIATIONS are prepared to proceed in this thi manner |