An emergency rep council meeting was held on November 30 to vote on a revised OEA budget. Only 50 site representatives participated in the vote that approved the revised budget; 31 reps approved, 19 opposed.

The biggest change to the budget is the release of OEA’s Treasurer and Secretary from the classroom. The 2023-24 budget approved last spring allotted money for the release of the President, 1st and 2nd Vice President. The new budget allots release money for the President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The 1st VP that was voted in this fall will remain in the classroom this school year, so no release money is budgeted for her. At the meeting, reps were told that most, not all, of the release salaries were being paid for through grants.

While the revised budget funds salaries for newly-released officers, it does not:

• Address the money OEA owes OUSD: OEA leadership agrees that some money is owed, but not as much as the $400,000 claimed by the district. No amount is budgeted for back pay to the district in the revised budget.
• Pay for office staff: we currently have no office staff. As of November 2023 our OEA leadership has hired teenage interns at the current minimum wage.