A “Sidebar agreement” is something added to an already ratified collective bargaining agreement.
“Sidebars” are most used and abused by BOEs dominated
by machine politics and party bosses.
"Sidebars" are used to buy votes during election time. They are used to reward political supporters,
family, and friends. They are “gifts” paid for with other people's tax dollars.
"Sidebars" are quietly snuck in when nobody is looking.
If the terms of a “Sidebar” are discussed during collective
bargaining, those terms should be included in the ratified agreement (not added
later).
The Lodi BOE approved a “Sidebar” on February 25,
2015. The public wasn’t aware of
it. It wasn’t discussed publicly. It didn’t appear in the papers. It wasn’t written across Mike Cardone’s
Tahoe: "Support some Lodi teachers. Not all.".
In the middle of the term of the last teacher contract, the Board
approved making an additional $500 payment to every teacher on Step 15 (top of
guide).
Nancy Cardone voted “YES” on the “Sidebar Agreement”.
Some problems with Mrs. Cardone’s “Yes” vote:
1) Mrs.
Cardone should not have voted on any LEA agreements because she had multiple
relatives in the bargaining unit.
2) Mrs.
Cardone’s daughter-in-law and sister-in-law each received an additional $500
payment from the vote (beyond their salary and longevity pay that was already
ratified).
3) There
was not a quorum of board members able to vote that night due to conflicts of
interest.
4) Doctrine
of necessity was not invoked before the members voted. It was required.
5) The
Board’s “Doctrine of Necessity” had to be included when the “agreement” was
sent to the County Superintendent for approval.
A copy also had to be sent to the School Ethics Commission. Lodi violated state statues.
6) The
agreement was a gift to Nancy Cardone’s relatives.
Only the teachers at the top of the salary guide received
a $500 payment from the “Sidebar”. Some of
those teachers were already receiving over $101,000.
Who
didn’t receive a $500 payment?
· Beginning
teachers that start lower than other districts,
· Teachers
that didn’t reach the “bubble",
· High School teachers that have been leaving in droves after a few years employed by the district.
This is just another example of self-serving
politicians and phony union leaders.
Link to “Sidebar agreement”:
Link to February 25, 2015 minutes:
Mrs. Cardone used her Board seat for personal gain. She engaged in unethical behavior. She violated public trust.
The Board Attorney was present for the meeting.
