News As part of an early retirement package offered to 404 teachers,
the district had proposed supplemental benefits -- in the form of
an annuity for each retiring teacher -- if
it proved financially feasible.
Until the announcement deadline of January 31, teachers were led to believe that
all tests were met and that the PARS annuity was a go. Teachers with more than 30 years of service
to the district expressed how dejected, depressed, and demeaned they felt by
the last minute decision to pull PARS. They spoke of a damaged relationship, particularly during a year
of interest-based bargaining which requires parties to be forthcoming with information and interests.
Sandra Mack, also from Lowell and one of the 404, reiterated teachers'
outrage. She drew parallels between the District's failure to provide information or seek
input regarding its decisions to pull PARS and to close McAteer. She tearfully returned a
collection of nameless certificates of appreciation that the superintendent had
sent to teachers earlier this year and described them as symptomatic of
a relationship in which "we are told everything is hunky-dory and lovey-dovey" ...but are
"slapped in the face and kicked in the teeth."
"Making love is fine, but being screwed over is unacceptable!" she asserted.
Teachers assail board over pulling of PARS
Outraged over Superintendent Ackerman's
last minute decision to pull the PARS
offer, nearly 200 teachers marched outside District Headquarters, then filled the Board of
Education meeting room to capacity, Wednesday evening, February 13, 2002.
Teachers spoke about plans they'd made based upon district promises which they were misled
to believe. "If new economic factors were imposed for a PARS deal," hammered Luisa Ezquerro, SFUSD
veteran of more than 30 years, teacher at McAteer High and chairperson of UESF's High School Committee, "we should have been told
about this earlier. What is the magic number for financial feasibility?" Ezquerro asked,
citing a district surplus of $57 million.
As cries of "Shame on you!" came from the audience, UESF Secretary and teacher at Lowell High, Dennis Kelly scorned the district for its broken
promises of a "dignified retirement" and the "bitterness, rancor, grinding depression and
aching pain" that accompanied its "disreputable treatment of veterans of 30, 35, 40 years of service.
You have sown dragons' teeth and
planted the seeds of discord," continued Kelly. "The members of this union cannot and will not accept
your behavior."
