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During Tuesday\u2019s Bakersfield City School District (BCSD) meeting, the public expressed their concerns about the ongoing negotiation settlement process between Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association (BETA) and the district.<\/p>\n
Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association (BETA) President Steve Comstock said on a Facebook post that since May, the BCSD district has experienced many new administrative changes, and BETA members are approaching 400 days without a successful agreement. According to Comstock, members can soon expect to pay more than $300 per month toward health benefits while BCSD and the Board refuse to close a bargaining gap of approximately 1.19%, just over $2 million, with a budget approaching $1 billion. Comstock noted after several questions were asked about a potential strike that it is not something to occur overnight, as it is a serious process involving several legal and procedural steps before it can happen. He explained that BCSD can afford to settle and BETA\u2019s proposal is reasonable, responsible, and sustainable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the public comment portion, Lila Perez, a kindergarten teacher and BETA member, said she\u2019s been in the district for over 30 years, with experience both inside and outside classrooms. Perez is currently not part of the negotiations team; however, she is active in BETA.<\/p>\n
She continued to state her family is also a part of the union and her family\u2019s reasons for being a part of BETA and the process it\u2019s been in settling the contract.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad was enjoying it. My siblings are in the union because they make a difference for families. Quality of life, education, quite a lot,\u201d said Perez. \u201cProbably less than five times, we\u2019ve had an easy negotiation to settle the contract. I don\u2019t know why it\u2019s taking so long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perez emphasized that this settlement needs to be resolved so teachers can focus on their priorities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to get it done. So teachers can focus on what they\u2019re doing. Everyone in this room that\u2019s impacted by the current economics that is taking place nationally,\u201d said Perez. \u201cThe price of gas. There are teachers out there who have huge loans. They have to pay. Rent isn\u2019t cheap. We want to have the best teachers; we\u2019ve got to do right.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also questioned why this matter has to be so challenging, and why she always hears the same response. \u2029<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd in those 30-plus years that I\u2019ve been in the district, it\u2019s always the same message. There\u2019s no money. Yes, but we can give so and so a raise, right? Right?\u201d said Perez.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, I\u2019m sort of out of the loop regarding district positions too, but as I look and get a little bit more active, because I sort of stepped away too, because sometimes you need to have self-care, and I\u2019m getting back into the groove, and I\u2019m seeing things that are inequitable. It\u2019s like, stop.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She continued to emphasize doing what\u2019s right for teachers and making their lives easier.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo what\u2019s right. \u2029Make it easy. Make it easy for our teachers so we can just focus on education. And saying that the money\u2019s not there. \u2029I just don\u2019t believe it,\u201d said Perez.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the report on District organization, President Dinah May Jimenez from California School Employees Association (CSEA)\u00a0 supports her agreement with Perez that the negotiation process should be simple.<\/p>\n
BCSD\u00a0 board members did not comment during the meeting, and negotiations between the district and\u00a0 BETA are still happening.\u00a0<\/p>\n