Teachers to Discuss ‘No-Confidence’ Vote

In a sign of ongoing tensions in the Irvine school system, union leaders may soon ask teachers to take a no-confidence vote on the superintendent and a majority of school trustees.

A memo recently distributed to union representatives at each Irvine school set Monday as the date for the group to discuss whether to hold a vote of the full union membership.

Teachers union President Gail Rothman was on spring break and could not be reached for comment late Tuesday. Last week, she declined to comment on the possibility of a no-confidence vote, saying such discussions would be “premature.”

However, the vote, if taken, could further shake up the troubled district, which is facing a $4-million deficit and failed to pass a parcel tax that could save 120 teaching jobs and specialized music, art and science programs.

The $95-a-parcel tax failed to get the required two-thirds majority at the polls on April 11. On April 13, a coalition of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, the Irvine Co. and the Donald Bren Foundation announced a bailout plan that staves off deep cuts for a year. But the schools group is still scrambling to find enough donations to make good on its part of the $3.9-million pledge. The district also is scurrying to secure more cash from Sacramento in time for the next budget cycle.

The memo announcing the no-confidence discussion came between the failure of the tax and the announcement of the bailout.

It does not specify reasons for teacher unhappiness with Supt. Patricia Clark White and the board majority--President Jeanne Flint and Trustees Steven S. Choi and Karen Preston. However, some discontent has been simmering for months about everything from the teachers’ contract to a perceived change in Irvine’s culture.

White, who has won both plaudits and criticisms in the district for her hands-on management style, said she regretted the timing of the no-confidence discussion.

“I’m saddened by this,” she said. “It’s been an extremely difficult year--so much uncertainty and anxiety, so many jobs at stake, changes in the union contract necessitated by our financial crisis. But now is the time for us to pull together, not pull apart, if we are to succeed in our fight for greater resources for our children.”

*

Trustee Margie Wakeham said there is never a good time for such a vote--but she understands the frustrations of some teachers.

“I have grave concerns about the way the district is going,” she said. “I think what the teachers are [poised] to do, while I don’t know many details, is alarming, because never in my history here have the teachers ever voted or even thought about bringing the no-confidence issue to their members--not ever. That is of concern.”

Teachers have been unhappy over strained negotiations that eventually led to a new contract for teachers, and also over a pending administrative restructuring that began with the recent hiring of an interim chief financial officer.

That officer effectively takes many duties that used to belong to Irvine’s deputy superintendent for business services, Paul Reed. Reed, who has been with the district since the 1970s, has been on sick leave for two months; it was unclear when he would return.

Some also fear the administrative reorganization is emblematic of a changing school district culture. Depending on who’s talking, the changes either represent innovation and a chance at financial solvency, or a departure from the success-oriented school district created by founding Supt. A. Stanley Corey.

Last week, Flint said she was concerned that some segments of the school community were “pulling the district apart.” The teachers have a right to voice their discontent, if it exists, but “it needs to be talked about in the open,” she said. “It shouldn’t be something behind closed doors and underhanded.”

Trustee Mike Regele, part of the board minority with Wakeham, said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on union business unless concerns were brought to the school board.