RUSD CEO Exceeds Authority

The Journal Times reported today that the recently passed teacher contracts included a 3.3% increase which is below the state imposed QEO of 3.8%. In the Journal Times defense, they did not report this as fact, they were quoting Randy Bang’s, RUSD board member, comments. However, they did fail to confirm the facts. Hicks, sans elected officials and legal counsel, negotiated 2 separate contracts and DID EXCEED his authority.

I believe the paper left out an important fact. The 2005-2007 and 2007-2009 were separate contracts, not combined as the paper implied. You cannot average the 2 together; it was 2 different votes and 2 separate contracts and therefore cannot be averaged together, as Bangs suggested.

The ratified contract has language in it that is illegal; first we are told that items cannot be taken out - the vote had to be "up" or "down", yet 7 board members felt that it was their civic duty to vote for a contract that held illegal language and one that exceeded the fiduciary guidelines simply because they were told there is a side agreement that dealt with taking that illegal clause out of the contract. This side agreement was not shown to any board members. Julie, the sole dissenting vote, said she would approve the contract if shown a written statement showing the clause is removed. However I failed to see this document being passed around. If by law, items cannot be taken out of the contract, why was there even a vote with the illegal clause still in the contract? My lingering question, if there is language in the contract that is not “compliant with the law”, is the contract even legal???

I certainly agree that our teachers deserve a big fat raise, but Hicks cannot keep doing things his own way. Our district cannot afford any more of Hicks “lone wolf” tirades. He has alienated and broadsided our teachers with the QDM, RT, CT and CP. Now the board members and the community….How can anyone continue to support this district with the leadership we currently have?