Trustee and Conejo teachers union are again at odds

The Conejo teachers union and a local school board member are at odds again after disparaging comments were made about a school in Conejo Valley Unified School District.

At a recent CVUSD study session packed with parents, board member Michael Dunn supported a charter school, claiming the students would get a better education there than at Glenwood Elementary School.

Colleen Briner-Schmidt, president of the Unified Association of Conejo Teachers (UACT), spoke out against Dunn's comments.

"I am disappointed Mr. Dunn would say such a negative thing about our teachers, administration and school," Briner-Schmidt said. "We have made great efforts in recent months to work collaboratively with the school district administration. In these tough budgetary times divisive comments like his only harm the great strides we have made."

The special board meeting on Jan. 16 was held to allow school board members and CVUSD parents a chance to openly discuss housing options for the proposed Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School. Four possibilities were discussed, including placing MATES at University or Glenwood schools, or allowing the school to remain at Meadows.

The discussion turned to possible mistakes made in the course of the decision to close Meadows last year. One error, said board president Tim Stephens, was assuming it would be okay to send children to schools that weren't "similar" to Meadows— Glenwood, for example.

Dunn said that MATES should be allowed to open its charter at Meadows, and he saluted their program. Pat Phelps argued that opening a charter would hurt the district and reminded Dunn that trustees have a responsibility to all children in the district, not just the group of Meadows parents.

Phelps said they must be committed to providing the best education for all of the district's students. Dunn responded that the charter school could offer a better education than what the district could provide to Meadows students who will now be transferred to other schools.

"They'll get a better education there than they would at Glenwood," Dunn said.

The comment shocked many in the room as parents murmured and made comments, and Phelps stared at Dunn and sarcastically thanked him.

Dunn had asked what percentage of English-language learners were at Glenwood, and he was told anywhere from 50 to 60 percent.

"They are going to get a better education," Dunn told the Thousand Oaks Acorn. "That's a statement of fact. I stand by my statement that teachers must teach to the level of the lowest common denominator and that MATES offers a better education than an overcrowded Glenwood magnet school."

Dunn sent a letter to BrinerSchmidt and Jerry Morris, UACT bargaining chair, pointing out that "criticism of teachers or the quality of instruction were never commented on or implied." BrinerSchmidt wasn't at the meeting but heard about the comments from another union member.

"We will press on after this insulting comment, but it stings," BrinerSchmidt said. "Our teachers look to our board members for leadership. It will set our relationship back with Mr. Dunn, but we remain optimistic that we can stay positive and professional, and work with the school board continuing to make CVUSD a great place for our children and our community."

Dunn and the teachers union have had a stormy relationship for nearly three years. UACT filed an unfair labor charge with the Public Employment Relations Board on March 28, 2006, after board member Dunn polled and repeatedly contacted UACT members regarding the winter break schedule.

A settlement was reached in September 2008 requiring Dunn to complete three hours of training in responsibilities and prohibitions for board members in collective bargaining.

"It's extremely disappointing," said Morris. "We thought that after the unfair labor practice we'd see a change in Mr. Dunn's behavior, but his comments show a continued lack of respect for the teachers in our district."

BrinerSchmidt replaced Susan Falk as the union's president last year, and Dunn said he was happy with the change.

In September, Dunn called Briner-Schmidt "a nice person" who he believes is "normal and reasonable."

"I think they are way overreacting," Dunn said. "I thought things would improve with Colleen being there, but they are really just using every opportunity they can to destroy the only person who doesn't take money from them."

Dunn said he was also saddened that the teachers union sent out a press release regarding the matter.

"I'm very disappointed," Dunn said. "I don't think my comment warrants this kind of attention. It was not intended to be malicious. It was a routine statement."