Negotiated School Funding Agreement Imminent

By Jorge Casuso

May 4 – Negotiations between City and School District officials to avert a controversial school funding measure could reach “closure” by Tuesday, according to sources close to the talks.

Although City Manager Susan McCarthy, who has been negotiating on behalf of the City, has been out of town since Friday, she has remained in close contact with School Superintendent John Deasy, the district’s negotiator, her spokesperson said.

“They have been on the phone, the fax,” said Judy Rambeau, assistant to the City manager for community relations. “She hopes they will have closure within twenty-four hours.

“There’s been so much going on,” Rambeau said. “I know she’s been in close contact.”

Deasy is expected to present the negotiated terms at Thursday’s School Board meeting, school officials said.

The ongoing negotiations have picked up steam as the Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS) prepares to hand in the 8,200 signatures needed to qualify a charter amendment on the November ballot that would require the City to give the cash-strapped district at least $6 million a year.

The initiative -- staunchly opposed by the City Council and municipal employees unions -- calls for an additional 1 percent of most of the general fund if it grows by at least 3.5 percent, potentially boosting the $6 million by more than double.

CEPS representatives met Sunday, but delayed an anticipated vote on whether to hand in the signed petitions to the City Clerk, who has cautioned that the signatures must be in by early May to guarantee a spot on the November ballot.

“We’re waiting to see what the terms are, and we’ll make a decision,” said a CEPS representative who asked to remain anonymous.

“It’s come a long way, there has been a lot of movement,” the source said. “Whether it’s enough in the end, we’ll have to wait and see.”

CEPS representatives will meet again on Friday, when they will likely decide whether to go with the offer presented at Thursday’s School Board meeting or submit the signed petitions and take the charter amendment to the voters.

The City Council is expected to discuss the terms of the negotiations at its meeting May 11.