I’ve read that the $95-a-month contribution from teachers was supposed to be used to keep K-3 classes to no more than 25 students but wasn’t. Is that true?
In the spring of 2010, Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) agreed to give $95 per month back to the district in lieu of furlough days, with the goal of keeping class sizes at 25-to-1 in grades K-3.
The agreement states:
“SCTA unit members shall contribute the equivalent of three (3) days of salaries in each of the two years 2010-11 and 2011-12 only. It is estimated that this has a value between $2.1 million and $2.4 million of unrestricted dollars in each year. This contribution shall be made through monthly employee payroll deductions in a flat dollar amount of $95 per month for 10 months from each employee for each of the two years. The Parties will explore a pass through or donation mechanism. The savings the District derives from this contribution shall be applied to restoring K-3 class size reduction (CSR) with a goal of achieving a ratio of 1:25 for the two year period. With the restoration of K-3 CSR employees, preparation time shall be provided with existing staff at no additional cost to the District.”
SCTA’s contribution of $95 a month per member amounts to $2.2 million annually, which does not cover the expense of retaining a 25-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio in all four primary grades. For 2011-12, the limit in grades 2 and 3 was raised by four students to 29.
