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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>PLEASE do not reply to this email, contact Mark
Coplan, BUSD Public Information Officer <a href="mailto:markcoplan@berkeley.net">markcoplan@berkeley.net</a>
or Cathy Campbell, President, BFT <a href="mailto:bft4tchr@lmi.net">bft4tchr@lmi.net</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>BUSD
and BFT Joint Press Release<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Tentative
Agreement Announced Between BUSD and BFT<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>May 29, 2015 - Berkeley CA - The Berkeley
Unified School District (BUSD) and the Berkeley Federation of Teachers (BFT)
are pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement in the
2015-2016 and 2016-2017 contract negotiations, subject to ratification by the
BFT and approval by the BUSD Board of Education.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In the area of compensation, all BFT bargaining unit wages,
including salaries, stipends, daily rates and hourly rates shall be adjusted to
reflect a two year compensation increase totaling eight percent (8%) over two
years, comprised of a five percent (5%) ongoing increase that includes a one
percent (1.0%) increase to the District’s contribution to health
benefits, and a three percent (3%) one-time bonus paid in 2016-2017. An
additional two percent (2%) ongoing increase will occur in the second year of the
agreement contingent on state funding. More specifically:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Teachers and counselors employed for 2015-2016 school year
shall receive an on schedule increase to all rates and schedules of four
percent (4%), effective July 1, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Teachers and counselors employed for 2015-2016 school year
shall receive a one-time lump sum bonus equal to three percent (3%) of their
salary for 2016-2017.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In the event the District receives at least $2,000,000
additional dollars in ongoing state funding for Adult Education, 2016-2017
employees shall receive an on schedule compensation increase of two percent
(2%).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Effective January 1, 2016, the District will increase its
contribution to health benefits by the equivalent of one percent (1%).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The agreement clarifies the expectation that secondary
teachers regularly update the PowerSchool Grade Book, and expands qualifying
family members for bereavement leave. In addition the agreement provides for
reopeners in 2016-2017 to address important issues around instructional time
and support, and a separate reopener for compensation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>According to BFT President Cathy Campbell, “This
agreement reflects a very significant investment in retaining <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Berkeley</st1:place></st1:City>’s excellent teachers, and in
creating the conditions to be able to continue to attract talented new and
veteran teachers to BUSD. This strengthens schools, our community, and our
ability to continue to improve outcomes for students.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>”I’m happy to reach this tentative agreement
with our Berkeley Federation of Teachers (BFT)”, said Superintendent
Donald Evans after the successful conclusion of negotiations at 1:00 a.m. on
Thursday. “Our teachers provide the foundation for our children to excel,
and it’s important to keep in mind that we must continue to attract and
retain highly qualified teachers to challenge, inspire and motivate our
students”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"The School Board members are all incredibly proud of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Berkeley</st1:place></st1:City>'s hard working
and high quality teachers who are BUSD's biggest asset," said Board
President Judy Appel. "We are thrilled to reach such a positive agreement,
setting the stage for a fresh and exciting 2015-16 school year."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>_________________</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>_________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Marguerite Fa-Kaji and Catherine Ference
are the parent-volunteer facilitators of the Etree; please direct any questions
about the Etree to them at </span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><a href="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net"
title="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>bhs-owner@lmi.net</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>. To post a message, send to: </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:bhs@lmi.net"
target="_blank" title="mailto:bhs@lmi.net"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>bhs@lmi.net</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>; BHS etree archives: </span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><a href="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/"
target="_blank" title="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>http://lists.lmi.<wbr>net/pipermail/bhs/</span></font></a>; </span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>BHS website:</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><a href="http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/"
target="_blank"><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>http://bhs.berkeleyschools.<wbr>net/</span></font></a></span></font><font
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color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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color:red'>unsubscribe</span></font></u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> from the etree, send an
email to </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><a
href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" target="_blank"
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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