BARGAINING UNITS BACK SUPERINTENDENT CARVALHO’S BUDGET PLAN

A plan by Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho that will help Miami-Dade County Public Schools balance this year’s budget has won the support of four of the five bargaining units that represent school district employees. 

Leaders of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Dade County School Administrators’ Association (DCSAA); Dade County School Maintenance Employee Committee (DCSMEC); and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) have all agreed to the plan, which preserves jobs by deferring some work days from the current fiscal year to the next fiscal year.  The agreement must be ratified by members of the bargaining units.

“The leadership of these unions has clearly demonstrated their desire to help stabilize our community’s workforce,” said Carvalho.

"I am just delighted that people can get together and solve problems," said Dr. Solomon C. Stinson, Chair of the Miami-Dade School Board. "Seeing you get together during a crisis is very, very invigorating," he told the union leaders.

Carvalho’s plan calls for moving a minimal number of work days from this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2009, to the following fiscal year, which begins July 1.  Employees would still receive their same annual salaries during the calendar year.

The Miami Herald called the plan “smart and creative,” and says it is “the district's best chance to avoid a deeper budget hole, massive layoffs and less spending in classrooms.”

The school district has already taken more than $300 million in budget cuts to balance this year’s budget, and is currently dealing with another $56 million in cuts, which are largely a result of the Legislature’s recent Special Session.  These reductions must be dealt with before the end of the current fiscal year, as required by state law.

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09-JJS/411/VVL

Editor’s Note: Photo attached.

(l - r) Joseph Cortese (DCSMEC), Vance Bell (DCSMEC), Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho, Sergeant Howard Giraldo (FOP), School Board Chair Dr. Solomon C. Stinson, Charles Burdeen (DCSAA), Sherman Henry (AFSCME), and Deputy Superintendent District/School Operations Freddie Woodson

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