City, District Negotiations Stalled

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

April 28 – With the clock ticking down, negotiations between City and School District officials to diffuse a grassroots driven, school-funding initiative are at an impasse because neither side can agree on how much more than $6 million the school system will be allotted in coming years, the City Council was told Tuesday.

The two sticking points in the negotiations remain what percentage of growth in the City’s general funds would “trigger” additional monies to the school district and how much more money would be given, said City Manager Susan McCarthy.

“We could be close to resolution that would bring (an) agreement,” McCarthy told the council. “It’s difficult if the target continues to move, but as in most negotiations, you try to repackage elements from time to time.

“I would not use the term retrenching, but it’s customary to try to play with the elements and come up with a package that serves the parties’ needs,” she said. “We actually need a few more days to play with the structure and propose a structure for… the two triggering circumstances and how those would work.”

But City and district officials may be running out of time. Next Wednesday, the Community for Excellent Public Schools plans to turn in the signatures of more than 8,200 local registered voters to place the measure on the November ballot.

Once the signed petitions are turned in to the City Clerk, the measure cannot be rescinded, even if a deal is reached between City and district officials.

Some 20 leading members of CEPS sat towards the back of the council chambers as McCarthy provided additional details of negotiations, and council members, who vehemently oppose the measure, spoke their minds.

Mayor Richard Bloom called the City’s offer to provide $6 million a year with an annual cost of living increase “a very, very, generous concession on the part of the City in the context of these negotiations.”

Bloom said after the meeting that both parties had put multiple offers “on the table,” including a recent proposal by the district that would raises the “trigger” from CEPS’ 3.5 percent to 5.5 percent and lower the amount schools would receive from 1 percent to ¾ of a percent.

But none of the offers have been accepted.

On Tuesday night, several council members noted that the City would be more likely to compromise if the deal took into account unforeseen factors, such as the impact the State’s budget crisis will have on City funding.

Council member Herb Katz suggested that if the City’s revenues decrease, so should the school’s future allotment. McCarthy said the suggestion was being broached in the negotiations.

McCarthy released additional details which indicate the City and district are in agreement that the plan would have an initial term of five years and that the “trigger” would allow additional funding of “up to one million dollars.”

In addition, McCarthy said the City should expect to seek voter approval to find an “additional source of ongoing revenues” if an agreement is reached.

Superintendent John Deasy called securing long-term municipal funding for local schools the “most complex issue” he has faced during his three-year tenure. Deasy added that he was hopeful and grateful the City was working so hard to reach a solution.

As Deasy left the podium, Bloom asked, “We’re about there aren’t we?”

Deasy answered, “Yes,” as he walked away.

On Wednesday Deasy said he was confident an agreement -- which would need to be ratified by the School Board -- would be reached.

“I thought a great deal of progress has been made,” Deasy said. “I am pleased and energized by the cooperative work. I think we are close to a solution to this dilemma.

“There are still some important points that need to be hammered out, but I think we can get there,” he said. “In the best world, not having an election is a good thing.”

CEPS members said they had no comment on how they felt negotiations were being handled.

The group’s executive committee -- comprised of between 16 and 20 members -- is expected to meet on Sunday to decide whether to submit the signatures on Wednesday.

CEPS spokesman Ralph Mechur said the date was a “target,” that could be slightly delayed if an agreement seems imminent.

“We’re taking a risk by doing it, but if things are moving in the right direction, we would think it would be the reasonable thing to do,” Mechur said.

City Clerk Maria Stewart has encouraged CEPS to submit the petitions by early May “if they really want to make it on the (November) ballot for sure.”

If an agreement between McCarthy and Deasy is reached, it would need to be ratified by the School Board, which meets next Thursday, and by the City Council, which is not scheduled to meet until May 11.