Contract talks in two metro-area school districts have broken down, apparently leading teachers at one Boulder Valley high school to protest on Friday by calling in sick.
Sixty of the 84 teachers at 1,400-student Broomfield High School called in sick early Friday, forcing a mad scramble to staff classes with substitutes and staff.
“It is not expected to happen at that school again,” said district spokesman Briggs Gamblin, “but it may happen at another school.”
After negotiations broke down Thursday, the Boulder Valley Education Association’s executive board told teachers to “work to contract” only — essentially advising them not to do any work above and beyond. The board also told teachers to hold informational pickets after school, but did not tell teachers to call in sick, a union source said.
Boulder teachers as well as Jefferson County teachers are at an impasse with their districts over contracts for next year.
Both unions are protesting about compensation increases proposed for the 2009-10 school year.
Officials from Boulder and Jeffco teacher unions could not be reached for comment on Friday.
In Boulder, negotiations began Tuesday but reached an impasse on Thursday and are awaiting mediation.
In Jeffco, negotiations went reached impasse on Wednesday.
Deborah Fallin of the Colorado Education Association said all districts got a 4.9 percent increase in state funding for next year based on a constitutional formula — but the state is asking districts to hold back 1.9 percent of that until January.
Districts have the money, but are choosing not to spend it, Fallin said.
“Districts are getting lots of money this year, including stimulus money that is designed to be spent, not saved,” she said.
Cindy Stevenson, Jeffco superintendent, said now is not the time to fight over wages.
“The entire community is hurting right now, most industries have curtailed raises, reduced compensation and we have over 7 percent unemployment rate,” she said. “It’s not good for our community to see us fighting over compensation.”
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
