St. Vrain gets needed loan

State treasurer decides reduction in training days acceptable

By Amy Bounds, Camera Staff Writer
February 12, 2003

State Treasurer Mike Coffman agreed Tuesday to send St. Vrain Valley School District the $1 million state loan it needs to make payroll this month.

Coffman considered withholding the loan because the district teachers negotiated a reduction in workloads to compensate for a 7 percent pay cut that went into effect last month.

"I am willing to accept the argument that cutting teacher professional development days and planning days will not adversely affect St. Vrain's students," Coffman said.

Teachers' union officials met with the district for almost 18 hours this weekend before reaching a compromise on workload.

Out of that meeting came an agreement to cut two training days — March 7 and May 16 — and one grading day — June 5 — from this year's schedule and reduce the hours spent in faculty meetings each month. Another six teacher training days also would be cut from next year's school calendar.

No student school days would be cut.

The district signed an agreement with the state in December stipulating the pay cuts in exchange for millions in state loans as the district works to erase a $13.8 million shortfall caused by financial mismanagement.

Coffman questioned why the district requires teacher training days if they don't directly benefit the district's 22,000 students.

"In talking to educators both in and out of St. Vrain, I've been informed that it just simply is not effective," Coffman said. "Should the taxpayer be paying for these days at all, or should teachers be spending them in the classroom?"

St. Vrain Valley school board President Kathy Hall countered that the days are valuable to update teachers on new programs and teaching methods, but it was necessary to compromise and give the days up.

She said Coffman should have forwarded the district the money Monday. She surmised he waited as a way to punish the district and set an example for other school districts.

"It was very difficult on students, parents, employees and the community — and unnecessary," Hall said.

Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said he and Rep. Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, met with Coffman early Tuesday afternoon to express their concerns. Pommer, who represents part of Longmont, said he's been hearing from many worried teachers and school district officials.

"These teachers are going to do what they need to do," Pommer said. "Having three days is not going to affect these kids' education."

After this $1 million payment, the district does not anticipate needing more state loans this school year. They originally expected to need $2.2 million this month based on conservative projections.

St. Vrain Valley's 1,100 union members still must ratify the workload agreement, and the school board must approve it. Teachers' votes are expected to be tallied on Feb. 19, followed by a school board vote.

Jeanne Beyer, St. Vrain Valley Education Association spokeswoman, said negotiators stayed away from cutting classroom hours after the district made it clear student days were off limits. Coffman had said he would cut off state aid if the school year was shortened.

Beyer said the union is considering legal action because Coffman publicly urged teachers to reject the agreement on the basis that any workload reduction would be unfair to students.

"That's pretty out of line," she said. "He's not a party to the collective bargaining agreement. Teachers are very critical of Mr. Coffman. He's never taught school to our knowledge. There's a lot of resentment that he was speaking about something that he knew nothing about."

Coffman said urging a "no" vote was simply idealism on his part.

"Teachers are absolutely sending the wrong message to the taxpayers of this district that they're not willing to make a sacrifice," he said.