Superintendent Sends Sweetwater Sub list to Colleague

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/25/sweetwater-substitutes-asked-fill-potential-strike/

Sweetwater subs told about higher paying job if they cross picket lines BY ASHLY MCGLONE TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2011 AT 1:37 P.M. CHULA VISTA — In a move angering educators in both school systems, the Sweetwater Union High School District is letting its substitutes know they can collect significantly more money in National City should a strike occur there. Sweetwater substitutes received an e-mail and phone call Jan. 21 notifying them of possible employment opportunities in the National School District, where teachers have authorized a strike. National School District is offering $250 per day to substitutes during a strike, up from the typical $115 daily Sweetwater rate. The move upset Sweetwater school board member Bertha Lopez, who teaches in the National School District. “Who in this district directed staff to go ahead and send out an e-mail regarding recruiting substitutes to work in National School District in case of a strike?” she said at Monday night’s board meeting. “To me, that item is very important because no other superintendent in the South Bay directed any staff members to do that.” The answer? “All the superintendents work collaboratively, and their superintendent asked our superintendent for support,” Sweetwater spokeswoman Lillian Leopold said Tuesday. “It will be up to each substitute to determine if they are going to take a substitute job in that district if there is a strike.” Alex Anguiano, president of the Sweetwater Education Association, was wondering about the implications. “What is the plan to deal with what may be a potential substitute shortage in our district?” he said at Monday night’s meeting. The National School District imposed working conditions in July after rejecting a nonbinding June compromise by a mediator appointed by the California Public Employment Relations Board. The union’s members voted to authorize a strike on Dec. 16, though it is still unclear if one will actually take place. The National school board passed an emergency resolution Dec. 20 authorizing the recruitment of substitute teachers to fill in should a strike occur. The board also authorized the district to close a school or suspend programs if necessary. ashly.mcglone@uniontrib.com • (619) 293-1725 • Twitter @newswriter_gal