FROM TOM AUXTER, President, UFF
See the FL College System (FCS) summary of the final budget conference agreement regarding state college and community college issues (summarized below, plus attachments).
Colleagues:
Earlier this evening the Conference process reached its conclusion on the budget, proviso language, and some of the Conforming Bill items (primarily related to the Florida Polytechnic University Issue). As all of our existing Conforming Bill issues have already been agreed to, we are not expecting any changes, but you should leave open the possibility that some could occur that could impact our college system.
We expect the General Appropriations Act to be prepared and distributed sometime before midnight tomorrow, in order to allow the required 72 hour cooling off period before the Act can be voted on. We will be able to complete and distribute an updated college-by-college run at that time. Until then, I have attached the final Conference Budget Side-by-Side for the year, for your review. In addition, I offer the following summary reports prepared by College Budget Office staff:
FINAL CONFERENCE AGREEMENT 3-5-12
Attached is a side-by-side comparison with the current year budget, the initial House and Senate budget proposals, and the final conference agreement. The corresponding line numbers from the side-by-side are included for reference.
1. Total appropriations of $1.066 billion. [Line 50]
2. Increase of $28.3 million (2.8%) for the Community College Program Fund [Line 53], including:
a. Fund shift of $50,448,902 from General Revenue to Lottery (Educational Enhancement Trust Fund) Lines [Lines 4 & 8]
b. Full funding of $7.3 million for Operating Cost of New Facilities. [Lines 9 and 10]
c. Net increase of $761,007 for FRS adjustments (though legislative intent as that these changes and corresponding changes to the colleges’ employer contribution rates should net out to zero). [Lines 11 through 13]
- Increase of $7.2 million to cover FRS Normal Costs
- Reduction of $3.9 million to reduce Investment Plan allocation rates
- Reduction of $2.6 million to rebalance contribution rates for Optional Retirement Plans
- These are adjustments made to offset employer contribution rate changes for next year, enacted elsewhere in legislation.
d. 5% increase in tuition and fees (generates approximately $45.5 million if all colleges raise their current tuition by the 5%). [Line 52]
e. Additional $36 million allocated to specific colleges. [Lines 17 through 31] – No General Revenue reduction took place [Line 15] to support these projects. This was new funding to the System.
f. A contingent authorization for $430,074 to be transferred from the Putnam County School District to St. Johns River State College to support the transfer and operation of the county’s Adult Education program. [Line 27]
g. CCLA funding transferred to Florida Virtual Campus (FVC). Funding reduced 5% and portion transferred to University budget so FVC is funded equally in both budgets. [Lines 16 and 48]
h. Including tuition, there is an increase of 3.8% to the CCPF (provided every college increases tuition by 5%). [Line 54]
3. $3 million nonrecurring restored for 2+2 Partnerships. [Line 33]
4. Distance Learning Consortium transferred to FVC, including reduction of 5%. [Lines 36 and 48]
5. 15% reduction to Commission on Community Service. [Line 38]
6. No funds provided for Philip Benjamin Matching Grants. [Line 39]
Friday, March 9, 2012
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Conference Committee reaches Agreement on FRS changes
May 2, 2011
Late Friday evening, April 29, 2011, the House and Senate Conference committee charged with hammering out the changes to the Florida Retirement System reached an agreement on what will be in the FRS conforming bill. Most of the changes will not impact current FRS enrollees.
Current law is maintained for the following provisions:
· Defined benefit (DB) plan continues as currently offered (new title: “Pension Plan”). *NOTE* DB closes to elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1.
· Defined Contribution (DC) plan continues as currently offered (new title: Investment Plan). Elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1, required to enter DC plan ONLY.
· Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS) continues as in current law.
· There is no compulsory nor mandatory enrollment in the defined contribution (investment) plan – except for elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1.
Current Employees will face the following changes under the agreement:
· 3% required employee contribution of all FRS enrolled employees – except those in DROP
· Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): This is a bit complicated. *NOTE* COLA changes will not affect current retirees, including those in DROP.
• Effective July 1, the COLA benefit calculation is suspended for 5 years until 2016. Our current understanding of this COLA reform provision is that this 5-year suspension applies to current employees. The Conference Committee agreement anticipates that in 2016, the FRS COLA benefit will return to its current law status of 3% per year (assuming the FRS Trust Fund is funded on a fiscally sound basis, and that funding is available to pay for this).
• For current employees, this means that an employee’s COLA benefit will be prorated across the total number of years of career service. Take, for example, an employee who has 25 years of creditable service on June 30, 2011, and continues to work for another 5 years for a total of 30 years of career service. Upon retirement, that employee’s COLA benefit would be calculated by dividing the number of career service years that include COLA credit by the total number of years of career service -- in this example, dividing 25 years (COLA credit) by 30 years (total career service). Thus, the COLA benefit to which the employee would be entitled is 2.499% (instead of the current law COLA benefit of 3%).
Employees entering FRS employment on or after July 1, 2011 face the following changes:
· For employees who initially enroll in the pension plan, on or after July 1, vesting increases to 8 years (from current law: 6 years).
· Although DROP continues intact, employees entering DROP on or after July 1, 2011 will earn a reduced interest rate of 1.3% (instead of current law 6.5%)
· Average final compensation will increase to 8 highest years of creditable service for employees enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 (instead of current law: 5 highest years)
· The retirement eligibility for age for employees enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 will increase to age 65 years (from current law: age 62).
· The retirement eligibility for years of creditable service will increase to 33 years (from current law : 30 years).
· Employees who enroll in the Defined Contribution Plan on or after July 1, 2011 will be 100% vested of employer contributions after 8 years of creditable service.
May 2, 2011
Late Friday evening, April 29, 2011, the House and Senate Conference committee charged with hammering out the changes to the Florida Retirement System reached an agreement on what will be in the FRS conforming bill. Most of the changes will not impact current FRS enrollees.
Current law is maintained for the following provisions:
· Defined benefit (DB) plan continues as currently offered (new title: “Pension Plan”). *NOTE* DB closes to elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1.
· Defined Contribution (DC) plan continues as currently offered (new title: Investment Plan). Elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1, required to enter DC plan ONLY.
· Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS) continues as in current law.
· There is no compulsory nor mandatory enrollment in the defined contribution (investment) plan – except for elected officials and senior management hired on or after July 1.
Current Employees will face the following changes under the agreement:
· 3% required employee contribution of all FRS enrolled employees – except those in DROP
· Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): This is a bit complicated. *NOTE* COLA changes will not affect current retirees, including those in DROP.
• Effective July 1, the COLA benefit calculation is suspended for 5 years until 2016. Our current understanding of this COLA reform provision is that this 5-year suspension applies to current employees. The Conference Committee agreement anticipates that in 2016, the FRS COLA benefit will return to its current law status of 3% per year (assuming the FRS Trust Fund is funded on a fiscally sound basis, and that funding is available to pay for this).
• For current employees, this means that an employee’s COLA benefit will be prorated across the total number of years of career service. Take, for example, an employee who has 25 years of creditable service on June 30, 2011, and continues to work for another 5 years for a total of 30 years of career service. Upon retirement, that employee’s COLA benefit would be calculated by dividing the number of career service years that include COLA credit by the total number of years of career service -- in this example, dividing 25 years (COLA credit) by 30 years (total career service). Thus, the COLA benefit to which the employee would be entitled is 2.499% (instead of the current law COLA benefit of 3%).
Employees entering FRS employment on or after July 1, 2011 face the following changes:
· For employees who initially enroll in the pension plan, on or after July 1, vesting increases to 8 years (from current law: 6 years).
· Although DROP continues intact, employees entering DROP on or after July 1, 2011 will earn a reduced interest rate of 1.3% (instead of current law 6.5%)
· Average final compensation will increase to 8 highest years of creditable service for employees enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 (instead of current law: 5 highest years)
· The retirement eligibility for age for employees enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 will increase to age 65 years (from current law: age 62).
· The retirement eligibility for years of creditable service will increase to 33 years (from current law : 30 years).
· Employees who enroll in the Defined Contribution Plan on or after July 1, 2011 will be 100% vested of employer contributions after 8 years of creditable service.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Protests Scheduled for April 14th and 18th
April 14th- Sign Waving and protest of Rick Scott at WSRE. WSRE will be airing Jeff Week's "Conversations" interview with Rick Scott on April 14th, 15th, and the 17th. We will be protesting the interview. Keep in mind that WE ARE NOT protesting WSRE TV but are protesting the interview with Rick Scott so we need to be clear with our signage that the protest is directed towards Rick Scott and not towards WSRE or Pensacola State College.
WHAT: Sign waving and protest of Rick Scott interview
WHEN: April 14th from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
ADDRESS: 1000 College Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504
APRIL 18th- Tax Day protest at Bank of America. This tax day has been extended to Monday April 18th. We will meet up and picket B of A on this day as they received billions in bailout money during the first quarter of 2009 to show the hypocrisy of Florida legislators and Rick Scott who are pushing through the legislation with budget cuts that affect working families in Florida while giving tax breaks to corporations. Senators and House representatives say they have researched all options thoroughly to resolve the economic issues of Florida and can have found that cutting across the board in the public sector will resolved the budget problem in Florida. We know that's not true as there are plenty of corporate tax loopholes that can be filled that will help. Legislators refuse to tax corporations and we'll show them on the 18th as well as the rest of the general public that we will not let Florida be a tax free corporate haven. We need to bring a large crowd for this action so please start spreading the word. Also, signage needs to be specific to why we picketing.
WHAT: Tax Day protest at Bank of America
WHEN: April 18th from 4:00 P.M to 5:30 P.M.
ADDRESS: 5041 Bayou Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32503
For more information, contact F. Lee Pryor, NW FL Mobilization Coordinator, FL AFL-CIO at (850) 380-9761.
WHAT: Sign waving and protest of Rick Scott interview
WHEN: April 14th from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
ADDRESS: 1000 College Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504
APRIL 18th- Tax Day protest at Bank of America. This tax day has been extended to Monday April 18th. We will meet up and picket B of A on this day as they received billions in bailout money during the first quarter of 2009 to show the hypocrisy of Florida legislators and Rick Scott who are pushing through the legislation with budget cuts that affect working families in Florida while giving tax breaks to corporations. Senators and House representatives say they have researched all options thoroughly to resolve the economic issues of Florida and can have found that cutting across the board in the public sector will resolved the budget problem in Florida. We know that's not true as there are plenty of corporate tax loopholes that can be filled that will help. Legislators refuse to tax corporations and we'll show them on the 18th as well as the rest of the general public that we will not let Florida be a tax free corporate haven. We need to bring a large crowd for this action so please start spreading the word. Also, signage needs to be specific to why we picketing.
WHAT: Tax Day protest at Bank of America
WHEN: April 18th from 4:00 P.M to 5:30 P.M.
ADDRESS: 5041 Bayou Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32503
For more information, contact F. Lee Pryor, NW FL Mobilization Coordinator, FL AFL-CIO at (850) 380-9761.
Senate Budget Committee to Vote on Union Busting Bill
Lines have been drawn
ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Union Busting BillIs up this week in Senate Committee!
This Wednesday at 1:30pm, the Senate Budget Committee will vote on Senate Bill 830, the Union Gag Bill.
This legislation would deny access to dues deductions from public employees’ paychecks if they choose to be a member of a union. In addition, SB 830 takes away workers’ rights to participate collectively in political activities by outlawing deductions for political funds. If SB 830 becomes law, it will restrict the political rights of thousands of Florida’s families.
SB 830 only targets public sector unions. This bill would not apply to the other 364 organizations that the State of Florida offers payroll deductions, which includes giant insurance and investment organizations.
SB 830’s counterpart in the House (HB 1021) has already been passed, and this is one of the final steps of this legislation before it heads to the Senate Floor for a final vote!!!
Call the Senate Budget Committee TODAY, tomorrow and Wednesday morning and tell them to vote against this anti-middle class, anti-democratic legislation. Tell them: "Stop the attacks on my rights. It is my choice to join my union and I do not want politicians in Tallahassee taking away my rights."
Budget Committee Members Contact Information
Alexander, JD (Chair) (R) 17 (850) 487-5044
Lynn, Evelyn J. (R) 7 (850) 487-5033
Negron, Joe (Vice Chair) (R) 28 (850) 487-5088
Margolis, Gwen (D) 35 (850) 487-5121
Altman, Thad (R) 24 (850) 487-5053
Montford, Bill (D) 6 (850) 487-5004
Benacquisto, Lizbeth (R) 27 (850) 487-5356
Rich, Nan (D) 34 (850) 487-5103
Bogdanoff, Ellyn Setnor (R) 25 (850) 487-5100
Richter, Garrett (R) 37 (850) 487-5124
Fasano, Mike (R) 11 (850) 487-5062
Simmons, David (R) 22 (850) 487-5050
Flores, Anitere (R) 38 (850) 487-5130
Siplin, Gary (D) 19 (850) 487-5190
Gaetz (D), Don (R) 4 (850) 487-5009
Sobel, Eleanor (D) 31 (850) 487-5097
Hays, Alan (R) 20 (850) 487-5014
Thrasher, John (R) 8 (850) 487-5030
Joyner, Arthenia (D) 18 (850) 487-5059
Wise, Stephen R. (R) 5 (850) 487-5027
Listed by: Name, Party, District, Phone number
ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Union Busting BillIs up this week in Senate Committee!
This Wednesday at 1:30pm, the Senate Budget Committee will vote on Senate Bill 830, the Union Gag Bill.
This legislation would deny access to dues deductions from public employees’ paychecks if they choose to be a member of a union. In addition, SB 830 takes away workers’ rights to participate collectively in political activities by outlawing deductions for political funds. If SB 830 becomes law, it will restrict the political rights of thousands of Florida’s families.
SB 830 only targets public sector unions. This bill would not apply to the other 364 organizations that the State of Florida offers payroll deductions, which includes giant insurance and investment organizations.
SB 830’s counterpart in the House (HB 1021) has already been passed, and this is one of the final steps of this legislation before it heads to the Senate Floor for a final vote!!!
Call the Senate Budget Committee TODAY, tomorrow and Wednesday morning and tell them to vote against this anti-middle class, anti-democratic legislation. Tell them: "Stop the attacks on my rights. It is my choice to join my union and I do not want politicians in Tallahassee taking away my rights."
Budget Committee Members Contact Information
Alexander, JD (Chair) (R) 17 (850) 487-5044
Lynn, Evelyn J. (R) 7 (850) 487-5033
Negron, Joe (Vice Chair) (R) 28 (850) 487-5088
Margolis, Gwen (D) 35 (850) 487-5121
Altman, Thad (R) 24 (850) 487-5053
Montford, Bill (D) 6 (850) 487-5004
Benacquisto, Lizbeth (R) 27 (850) 487-5356
Rich, Nan (D) 34 (850) 487-5103
Bogdanoff, Ellyn Setnor (R) 25 (850) 487-5100
Richter, Garrett (R) 37 (850) 487-5124
Fasano, Mike (R) 11 (850) 487-5062
Simmons, David (R) 22 (850) 487-5050
Flores, Anitere (R) 38 (850) 487-5130
Siplin, Gary (D) 19 (850) 487-5190
Gaetz (D), Don (R) 4 (850) 487-5009
Sobel, Eleanor (D) 31 (850) 487-5097
Hays, Alan (R) 20 (850) 487-5014
Thrasher, John (R) 8 (850) 487-5030
Joyner, Arthenia (D) 18 (850) 487-5059
Wise, Stephen R. (R) 5 (850) 487-5027
Listed by: Name, Party, District, Phone number
Thursday, April 7, 2011
FLORIDA HOUSE ED COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SAYS HE'LL KILL COLLEGE TENURE BILL
HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU Thursday, April 7, 2011
A House plan to end tenure in state colleges could be dead.
Rep. Bill Proctor, a St. Augustine Republican who heads up the House's education committee, asked college presidents at their meeting this morning what they thought of the bill that would end multi-year contracts for full-time faculty at the state's community colleges. The bill popped up two weeks ago soon after the legislature passed an overhaul of teacher tenure in public schools.
"I've got it on the agenda," he said, "or I can kill it." But he wanted to know what they thought.
Dr. Eileen Holden, chairwoman of the Council of Presidents, told Proctor that the group's steering committee opposed the bill.
"Very good," said Proctor.
Proctor said outside the meeting that he had been surprised by the bill's appearance two weeks ago. He said he considers the matter over "unless I get instructions to run it."
The bill was pushed by Rep. Erik Fresen, chairman of the K-20 Competitiveness committee. He has said the bill is a result of conversations he'd had with unnamed college presidents who felt "handcuffed" by requirements of contracts. Critics said ending tenure for college faculty would put the state at a hiring disadvantage. The bill had passed out of the K-20 Competiveness panel on a party-line vote
HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU Thursday, April 7, 2011
A House plan to end tenure in state colleges could be dead.
Rep. Bill Proctor, a St. Augustine Republican who heads up the House's education committee, asked college presidents at their meeting this morning what they thought of the bill that would end multi-year contracts for full-time faculty at the state's community colleges. The bill popped up two weeks ago soon after the legislature passed an overhaul of teacher tenure in public schools.
"I've got it on the agenda," he said, "or I can kill it." But he wanted to know what they thought.
Dr. Eileen Holden, chairwoman of the Council of Presidents, told Proctor that the group's steering committee opposed the bill.
"Very good," said Proctor.
Proctor said outside the meeting that he had been surprised by the bill's appearance two weeks ago. He said he considers the matter over "unless I get instructions to run it."
The bill was pushed by Rep. Erik Fresen, chairman of the K-20 Competitiveness committee. He has said the bill is a result of conversations he'd had with unnamed college presidents who felt "handcuffed" by requirements of contracts. Critics said ending tenure for college faculty would put the state at a hiring disadvantage. The bill had passed out of the K-20 Competiveness panel on a party-line vote
CALLS AND LETTERS HAVING AN EFFECT. UPDATES ON DROP, FRS CONTRIBUTIONS
April 6, 2011: From FRSOptions.info
SB 2100 passes 2nd reading with amendments!
As best as we can decipher the myriad amendments, amendments to the amendments, and replacements to the amendments, SB 2100 has passed its 2nd reading and is heading to the third and final reading. The changes would seem to indicate the following:
Employee retirement contributions would be a graduated scale; 2% on the first $25,000, 4% for compensation between $25,000 and $50,000, and 6% for compensation over %50,000.
AFC will include up to 300 hours of overtime, and 500 hours of accumulated leave time.
The DROP will continue through July 1, 2016. No new enrollees after that date.
The interest rate for DROP members entering after July 1, 2011 will be reduced to 2%, it will stay at 6.5% for those enrolling before July 1.
Vesting for the Pension goes to 10 years for those hired after July 1. Only those hired in Special Risk may participate in the Pension Plan after July, all other new hires must participate in the Investment Plan.
Special Risk members retain the normal retirement date of age 55 or 25 years of service.
Accrual rates remain the same.
We have done our best to go back and forth with the language, and make the substitutions for all of the changes, and are cautiously optimistic that we have the proposals straight. The bill goes next for the 3rd reading. If approved by the Senate, it will then have to be approved by the House. That would mean HB 1405 must go through a similar process and the terms would ultimately have to be identical to become law.
YOU ARE HAVING A POSITIVE AFFECT, KEEP UP THE CALLS!
SB 2100 passes 2nd reading with amendments!
As best as we can decipher the myriad amendments, amendments to the amendments, and replacements to the amendments, SB 2100 has passed its 2nd reading and is heading to the third and final reading. The changes would seem to indicate the following:
Employee retirement contributions would be a graduated scale; 2% on the first $25,000, 4% for compensation between $25,000 and $50,000, and 6% for compensation over %50,000.
AFC will include up to 300 hours of overtime, and 500 hours of accumulated leave time.
The DROP will continue through July 1, 2016. No new enrollees after that date.
The interest rate for DROP members entering after July 1, 2011 will be reduced to 2%, it will stay at 6.5% for those enrolling before July 1.
Vesting for the Pension goes to 10 years for those hired after July 1. Only those hired in Special Risk may participate in the Pension Plan after July, all other new hires must participate in the Investment Plan.
Special Risk members retain the normal retirement date of age 55 or 25 years of service.
Accrual rates remain the same.
We have done our best to go back and forth with the language, and make the substitutions for all of the changes, and are cautiously optimistic that we have the proposals straight. The bill goes next for the 3rd reading. If approved by the Senate, it will then have to be approved by the House. That would mean HB 1405 must go through a similar process and the terms would ultimately have to be identical to become law.
YOU ARE HAVING A POSITIVE AFFECT, KEEP UP THE CALLS!
FL Tenure Bill Update
UPDATE ON THE "TENURE BILL"
PCB7193 by the House K-20 Competitiveness Sub-committee filed by Rep. Erik Fresen (R, Miami), most egregiously proposes to stop "tenure" by eliminating continuing contracts.
In support of our membership, I immediately went on record in newspaper and television interviews, and with the Chronicle of Higher Education, to express our displeasure and opposition with such a bill. The bill was a surprise to us all and the process that lead to its drafting was not inclusive of all potentially affected parties. It almost appeared to be a solution in search of a problem.
Rumors were circulating last week that this bill was promulgated by the Council of Presidents. That is NOT true. The presidents, lobbyists, and all of us involved in the legislative business for the college system learned of the bill at the same time a week ago Monday morning. The Council of Presidents has not even had a collective discussion about it. It is expected that they will discuss it at their business meeting on April 7.
The good news is that there is no Senate bill at this time. Efforts are underway to educate Rep. Fresen that much of the contracting issue he covered in the bill can already be addressed by our district boards of trustee (DBOT). The AFC is also pushing to leave tenure issues out of state government intrusion and allow each college's DBOT to deal with it if necessary.
The following analysis was compiled with the help of Margie Robertson, Chair of the AFC Faculty Commission:
1) Removes language in F.S. 1007.33 which awarded continuing contract rights to the new St. Petersburg College administrative and instructional employees .
2) Categorizes all college employees into four categories (before there was no such detail); Administrative, Educational support, Instructional Personnel, and President.
3) Specifies two types on contracts which can be issued to all personnel except the President, a probationary contract and an annual contract.
4) States that all employment is at the pleasure of the President with approval by the board of Trustees
5) Puts all employees on a probationary contract for one year upon hiring;
6) After July, 1, 2011 allows only annual contracts subsequently, except for Presidents.
7) Prohibits any continuing contract for instructors (tenure) or other right (sabbatical, etc.) unless the State Board of Education approves.
8) If annual contracts are not continued, there is no right to explanation or hearing.
9) Gives college presidents the right to terminate any contract of any employee.
10) Directs college presidents to institute evaluation systems, and
11) Sets guidelines for the reduction in force of college employees of all categories, and how to determine which employees are laid off first, second, third, etc., based on the evaluation system required above.
The Faculty Commission has also drafted a resolution, which we will hold until needed, if and when we see the bill moving forward. At this time, we expect the bill to die for this year. However, that could change at any minute. Moreover, the concepts and tenets of it may very likely re-appear next year.
Please be assured, your AFC supports its members (and non-members) and that includes faculty, support staff, career professional, classified, senior management or whatever category you are in.
Michael Brawer, MS.Ed.
Executive Director and CEO
Association of Florida Colleges
(formerly the FL Association of Community Colleges)
113 East College Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-222-3222
850-528-1082 cell
850-222-2327 fax
PCB7193 by the House K-20 Competitiveness Sub-committee filed by Rep. Erik Fresen (R, Miami), most egregiously proposes to stop "tenure" by eliminating continuing contracts.
In support of our membership, I immediately went on record in newspaper and television interviews, and with the Chronicle of Higher Education, to express our displeasure and opposition with such a bill. The bill was a surprise to us all and the process that lead to its drafting was not inclusive of all potentially affected parties. It almost appeared to be a solution in search of a problem.
Rumors were circulating last week that this bill was promulgated by the Council of Presidents. That is NOT true. The presidents, lobbyists, and all of us involved in the legislative business for the college system learned of the bill at the same time a week ago Monday morning. The Council of Presidents has not even had a collective discussion about it. It is expected that they will discuss it at their business meeting on April 7.
The good news is that there is no Senate bill at this time. Efforts are underway to educate Rep. Fresen that much of the contracting issue he covered in the bill can already be addressed by our district boards of trustee (DBOT). The AFC is also pushing to leave tenure issues out of state government intrusion and allow each college's DBOT to deal with it if necessary.
The following analysis was compiled with the help of Margie Robertson, Chair of the AFC Faculty Commission:
1) Removes language in F.S. 1007.33 which awarded continuing contract rights to the new St. Petersburg College administrative and instructional employees .
2) Categorizes all college employees into four categories (before there was no such detail); Administrative, Educational support, Instructional Personnel, and President.
3) Specifies two types on contracts which can be issued to all personnel except the President, a probationary contract and an annual contract.
4) States that all employment is at the pleasure of the President with approval by the board of Trustees
5) Puts all employees on a probationary contract for one year upon hiring;
6) After July, 1, 2011 allows only annual contracts subsequently, except for Presidents.
7) Prohibits any continuing contract for instructors (tenure) or other right (sabbatical, etc.) unless the State Board of Education approves.
8) If annual contracts are not continued, there is no right to explanation or hearing.
9) Gives college presidents the right to terminate any contract of any employee.
10) Directs college presidents to institute evaluation systems, and
11) Sets guidelines for the reduction in force of college employees of all categories, and how to determine which employees are laid off first, second, third, etc., based on the evaluation system required above.
The Faculty Commission has also drafted a resolution, which we will hold until needed, if and when we see the bill moving forward. At this time, we expect the bill to die for this year. However, that could change at any minute. Moreover, the concepts and tenets of it may very likely re-appear next year.
Please be assured, your AFC supports its members (and non-members) and that includes faculty, support staff, career professional, classified, senior management or whatever category you are in.
Michael Brawer, MS.Ed.
Executive Director and CEO
Association of Florida Colleges
(formerly the FL Association of Community Colleges)
113 East College Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-222-3222
850-528-1082 cell
850-222-2327 fax
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