Trustee refuses to comply with settlement

Controversy continues over a local school board trustee and the teachers union.

Conejo Valley Unified School District and the Unified Association of Conejo Teachers (UACT) had signed a settlement agreement after UACT filed a lawsuit against the district more than two years ago because of one board member. Despite signatures on the agreement by board representatives, it's unclear whether Mike Dunn, the trustee involved in the lawsuit, will agree to its terms.

UACT filed an unfair labor practice charge with the PublicEmploymentRelations Board (PERB) on March 28, 2006, after Dunn polled and repeatedly contacted UACT members regarding the winter break schedule.

When it comes to negotiating, the union is the "explicit representative" of its members said Arleigh Kidd, UACT executive director.

In January, the employment board found adequate evidence to issue a complaint. According to Superintendent Mario Contini, the general counsel of the school board has agreed to delay taking the issue to a hearing so the parties could reach a settlement.

UACT wants Dunn to submit a signed written apology and complete at least three hours of training about the responsibilities and prohibitions of board members. The settlement also called for Contini to report at last week's May 20 school board meeting on the allegations concerning Dunn, the agreement and whether Dunn had submitted an apology.

Contini and board President Dorothy Beaubien, along with UACT President Susan Falk and Kidd, signed the agreement.

But at last week's meeting, Contini reported that Dunn hadn't yet apologized.

Dunn said he made a counter offer to UACT that included a promise not to poll teachers in the future, along with confidentiality and mediation, which wasn't accepted.

"I'd like to emphasize that these are alleged violations," Dunn said. "I e-mailed 500 teachers to ask when they would like winter break to start. It was an innocent mistake. My intentions were good. Polls help me decide how to vote."

The settlement gives a June 30 deadline. If all terms are met, the complaint will be closed.

If not, the matter will move to a state board hearing and final ruling, which would add to staff time and legal costs to the school district.

"(UACT's) actions will not help our schools," Dunn said. "While teachers are being laid off, Kidd and Falk are wasting district money by muscling me around. Their harassment and persecution of me is designed to hurt me and destroy my family."

Contini interrupted Dunn, asking him to stop and warning him, "This is what got you into trouble last time."

"I'll take that chance," Dunn replied.