By: Greg Crowl, HTA President

August 24, 2005

Dear Colleagues,

As you may have already learned, the salary raise for 2005-2006 will be 5.057% with an additional .5% increase towards our health and welfare benefit package as per our contract agreement of 2004-2005.

The 2004-05 agreement stipulated that certificated employees would receive their fair share of the base revenue limit increase that the district received for the 2005-2006 school year so, total compensation for the last 2 years is 8%. Although last year’s negotiations were very contentious at times, we start this year with a bigger raise than we have seen in quite sometime. I would like to personally thank the chairman of last year’s negotiating team Jim Brigham, along with the rest of the team Holly Guntermann, Ron Breyer, Tamara Jaimez, Robert Hudson and Jerry Hall for crafting a fair agreement that benefited our bargaining unit members and the district and gave us such a positive start for this school year. This agreement was reached because of the trust and integrity on both sides of the table that I hope will continue on into the future.

Although we have had a great start locally, we still have the governor’s special election scheduled for November that attacks our rights as an association and as teachers. With help from your site reps, your political action committee will be providing you with literature detailing the disastrous effects of the governor’s initiatives. Your direct participation will be crucial in defeating these initiatives that will, if passed, have catastrophic effects on our profession and careers. When asked please help and be part of the educational team that preserves our professional rights. Your involvement is paramount to our success.

Finally, I hope you have a great year. As always, if you have problems or concerns please contact your reps or myself so we may be of assistance. Once again I would like to thank last year’s negotiating team for such a great start. When you see them please do the same.

Respectfully,
Greg Crowl, President