The district's crowded Nov. 10 board meeting included thoughts from young and veteran teachers alike, who were frowning at the board members who receive free medical benefits as teachers are taking pay cuts. This comes at a time when a task force is considering the possibility of closing two or three of the eight district elementary schools due to declining enrollment and an unrestricted deficit of $4,885,315 for the 2003­04 fiscal year.

Superintendent Phil Quon said teachers received a 2.02 percent cost of living adjustment last year, but as part of the contractual agreement the teachers now have to return a 1.16 percent provision of that raise because of unpredicted negative revenue limits.

"We negotiated in very cloudy times last year," Quon said.

Quon said the trust—or legal entity of paid consultants—that purchases benefits for district employees as a group is also in the midst of serious financial problems, which could equate to mid-year increases in healthcare costs for teachers.

The Union District Educators Association, the teachers union, was represented at the board meeting by co-presidents Steve Hamm and Kevin Thompson. Hamm claimed if the 26 members of management made the same sacrifices in their healthcare as teachers, the district could save $214,000 and prevent 300 students from having to relocate from a closed school.

"This decision is a no-brainer. Keep the students, and lose the perks," said Hamm, a seventh-grade teacher at Union Middle School and a product of the district himself.

Contrary to accusations made by teachers, Quon said, the district offers salaries comparable to those offered in other districts in surrounding areas and hasn't had a problem attracting teachers to the district. He said board members do receive a health-coverage benefits package and a $240 stipend per month as part of a negotiated package. The 21 members of management, plus five board members, have a three-year contract that won't be renegotiated until it ends in June 2005. Quon said he believes in honoring the agreements made with the administration, and district administrators and teachers have separate contract agreements when it comes to salaries and benefits.

"Management did not get any raises last year or this year," Quon said. "Everyone gets a different package."

Thompson claimed that salaries for district administrators and principals have been increasing significantly more than teachers' salaries since 1999, and he asked that management make sacrifices along with teachers, making their actions match their words.

"We all agree that we'll do our part—as long as everyone is doing their part," Thompson said.

Teachers and parents said they are losing respect for the board members, threatening them with recalls and asking them to "think outside the box" to generate new ways to save money.

"This is a very difficult place to be, and if you don't think for one second board members don't feel the pain, you're wrong," said board member Sheila Billings.

The district currently owns five lease sites, mostly used as private schools and preschools, Quon said, which generate about $3 million in revenue. But audience members said closing schools to turn them into more lease sites isn't the answer to the budget shortfall.

As a potential solution to the problem, the district is examining whether to place a parcel-tax measure on the March 2004 ballot. Quon said it would be an uphill battle for volunteers to raise community support for the measure, but it could be the answer.

Polling on the parcel tax, which began Nov. 12, will gauge the level of voter support for a possible parcel-tax measure at $195 per parcel. Quon said this amount per parcel would generate about $2.5 million, enough to prevent school closures. But Quon said the challenge will be that only 18­20 percent of the district is composed of homeowners with school-aged children.

Unlike board member Cindy Goodsell, board President Gregg Berryman said he was in support of going through with the costly polling.

"I'd like to see district-wide where we stand," Berryman said. "I think it will also give us a possible feeling of how the non-parents feel."

On a more positive note during the meeting, Quon said recognition is in order for students, teachers, administrators and parents. Every school within the district scored above 800 on the Academic Performance Index (API). The API is the centerpiece of statewide accountability, measuring both academic performance and growth of schools. A cornerstone of California's Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999, the API is a numeric index or scale ranging from a low of 200 to a high of 1,000. The state recommends a performance target for all schools of 800.

The Union School District board will hold a special meeting Nov. 20 at 5:30 p.m. at 5175 Union Ave., San Jose, to address the polling results and determine the viability of a parcel tax.