Well, we are in a New Year and we need to close up our 2008 SAUSD corruption thread before it becomes overwhelmed with comments. Consider this to be our new 2009 SAUSD corruption thread.
Click here to read our 2008 thread. And here are links to all our previous SAUSD corruption threads:
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2008 Comments
- SAUSD-Temporary Thread (Migration 5/16/2008) Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2007 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2006 Comments
The results of last year’s SAUSD School Board elections were disappointing. The incumbents were re-elected. Shame on the teacher’s union for supporting them! And the one new Trustee, Roman Reyna, is not likely to make a difference.
The SAUSD budget is a mess and our Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, appears primed to make it worse. So this is going to be a very tough year. As always, this forum will be here to allow you to vent about what is going on at the SAUSD!
Al Mijares is long gone, but the corruption at the SAUSD continues unabated…
When I say “go there again” I mean for help. I went to the Union to discuss something and Susan Mercer was in a hurry as usual. Also, she just had the attitude that “oh well…that’s ed code” too bad that you’ve worked 20 years and our lawyer defends the Bakersfield people. I just didn’t feel that she really cared when I went there before the hearing (just my opinion). I do not volunteer with the Union because I don’t have any desire to be part of it…simple as that. I am not bashing anyone…I am simply saying that I do not feel that the Union really cares that I am losing my job or benefits…they consider it “Ed. code” and I am just a # to them and not a member who has paid and worked in California for 20 years. No one said that I had to “volunteer” to at the Union. Some people have zero desire to be part of it. So, get off the “Jill doesn’t volunteer” kick…NO…YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME STEP FOOT IN THE UNION DOOR AGAIN FOR HELP or for ANY REASON. Thank you 🙂 now take on the day (Dr. Laura)
I never considered voting yes for the pay cut 5 years ago. I do remember that Reps. brought up the scare tactic of the state cutting our pay 10%. So I am still with Pat on that one. Could SAEA please do something about the Reps. campaigning for their own choices for officers. I am sick of the Reps. telling us how to vote. Especially with the new election. Is it even legal for them to tell people how to ?
Excuse the typos…I was in a hurry getting ready for work.
If we are going to “Jill bash”…please tell me where I was “elected” as a Union rep???? Why am I getting bashed for not going to the Union to “help”? I am not on that committee. Also, if we are going to do that …let me just say…I have written and called David Barton many times and not once has he emailed me back or returned my call. I also went there to drop off hearing paper-work and just happened to run into Susan Mercer. I’m sure she is a lovely person, but please tell me how (she) or the Union has helped me (the teachers from 2002-2009) this year? I want complete details how the Union helped that particular group (THIS YEAR) not in past years…THIS YEAR? I will change my mind about the Union if I hear that they have done something with the money that I have been contributing to the Union for the last 20 years. I think that I have “volunteered” enough of my $$$$. I need to know how and what the lawyer is doing NOW to help the RIF(ed) teachers? Is he looking and maintaining “the list” that keeps changing??? You don’t have to worry about my vote…..I am losing my job so what’s the big issue over me not voting for Susan Mercer? I would love to hear details how she is trying to keep my job “THIS YEAR” 2009 and my benefits????
Last thing…I am a “paying” member…the UNION represents ME…so what you are implying is…that I have to volunteer…go to the meetings and work for myself now????? I do enough lobbying on my own contacting elected officials. Where does it state that I need to attend the Union meetings? I am hearing that “Jill doesn’t attend the Union meetings” so she is being bashed. I am not a rep. I do not wish to be part of the Union…I am a PAYING member. I want to be represented without bias to music teachers, Bakersfield people, counselors, etc. If the Union doesn’t help my situation, then why on earth would I be happy with them???? DUH!
I see that things are getting spicy on this thread as candidates for SAEA elections have been announced at the apparent meeting last night.
Here are a few posting guidelines to help keep issues prominent and personal attacks to a minimum.
All candidates are encouraged to at least post their candidate statements to this thread. You can do so directly or request that Art or I do it. If you would like to have a new post made about you and your stances on the issues, please submit it to Art directly “Art Pedroza” and we will make sure that all OJ readers get a chance to read and comment. Please notify all your favorite candidates to come and be represented here.
To all visiting posters: Please choose one moniker for comments. It is not okay to spam these boards with multiple monikers, pretending that there are a zillion different posters who share your position. Make your point, keep it relevant and do your best to be professionally civil.
Welcome and let the games begin! –Rv
Patricia O’Neil,
Thanks for your statement and best of luck to you. You are the first and only candidate to have posted your intentions in this election to OJ so far.
Please consider sending Art a note to start a new thread with your statement, picture if you want, and any other information you’d like included.
If anyone has the list of other candidates and their email addresses, I would be happy to also issue them all a personal invitation to do the same.
I am aware that all of the candidates that are currently on the SAEA board read and have participated at our blog, so there should be no acceptable reason for them not to do the minimum and post here. However, I will do my best to contact each one directly if someone could supply me with their email addresses.
Thanks again, Patricia O’Neil, for stepping up first!
Sorry you feel that way about Susan Mercer Jill. But you are the only person I have ever known to have anything negative to say about Susan. She is well liked and admired by everyone who knows her. She will win this election in a landslide.
Jill, you need to take some responsibility and stop being such a victim. It’s so easy to sit on the sidelines and complain. A large part of your $$$$ that you pay helps afford legal counsel should you require it. By your anger, I’m sure you will.
Patricia O’Neil
Then you are as guilty of misinforming people as the people you accuse with your speech. You are talking about something that happened years ago and mislead people to think you were talking about the current tentative agreement. You failed to acknowledge the hard work that the bargaining team had to do to restore salaries. Shame on you! As far as legal representation, that’s CTA’s responsibility and not the local chapter. Is it possible that the first attorney had an opinion that you didn’t agree with?. No lawsuit is subject to a WIN no matter how much you think you are right. You were lucky that you prevailed. Lastly, you were on the board then voting member or not. It’s just convenient to say you’re NOT when you disagree and don’t get your way. I’m still NOT voting for you!
Fed-Up,
I couldn’t have said it better myself! Thank you!
Fed Up…I am posting my own name. That is something that you are not doing. Take responsibility for what? Losing my job in hard economic times and not attending union meetings??? I switched districts and take FULL responsibility for it. As far as being a “victim”…we are victims…what would you call the people who are losing their jobs? They are all victims of circumstances and of course we are not amused. Thank you “Fed up” for you post. I don’t know too many people that I talk to who are happy Ms. Mercer right now. Go ahead and bash me…I can handle it 🙂 in fact I don’t mind it at all.
Some questions.
Please raise your hand if you know the answer.
– What was the COLA that the state paid to SAUSD this year and where did it go?
Discuss the answer with someone sitting next to you.
– Who did the SAEA endorse in the last school board elections? How have these candidates voted in regard to RIFS?
Share!
– Did SAEA run a phone bank to endorse Measure G? How much of that money went to teachers?
I’m sure she will win simply because many teachers go with the status quo if they are not really affected by it (ex. losing a job or getting a RIF, + losing benefits) etc. Until they lose something, then they just keep it the same, but doesn’t anyone see a pattern here? The teachers are slowly but surely losing things including 20:1 and if you look at pay (statewide)…the SAUSD used to be one of the top (highly paid districts). They are slowly going down the list instead of UP the list. Other districts are passing us up (we are going backwards). Why? Figure that one out! The facts are there!
Answer: Right here http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS304US304&q=site%3A.sateach.org+%2BCOLA+%2B2009 …
Everyone knows what the governor proposes to give us? DUH!
Re: Candidates…the only board member that votes remotely for teachers is John Palacio, but keep in mind… he thinks that a good teacher should be able to teach 30+ kids and he isn’t for 20:1. He has voted to keep it in the past (2008), but the others didn’t vote to keep it. I have no idea what happened last night because I don’t want to know…to be honest with you.
re: the phone bank…answer is here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS304US304&q=site%3A.sateach.org+%2Bmeasure+G
I like people to see the answers for themselves…
Measure G is another one I didn’t vote for.
Jill, come on. Why do you blame the union? Why aren’t you blaming the School Board and the people they hire to mismanage the district? The union, your UNION until you opt out, has little or no control in who or how they RIF teachers. Why aren’t you putting your energies into something positive rather than ranting. I do find you entertaining, however. Remember, without the facts – AND YOU DON”T HAVE THEM, its just an opinion. Susan Mercer is not to blame. I believe she is only a member of the bargaining team. The bargaining team in this case has no authority over RIFS. Look at it like this. When flight attendants go on strike, do the flight attendants blame their union on fares? When the grocery workers went on strike, do they blame their union on the price of milk? You need to put the blame where it belongs.
I only know the COLA answer . 68 this contract and last year it was a whole 4% that the district decided not to “pass ” on to its teachers.
The union did nothing. Excuse me ,two union Reps including Mercer said ” the district does not legally have to pass the COLA to its teachers.”
Interesting , where does the money go?
I think we are tired and passive and just go along because we think we can’t do anything. We should all read the the current issue of NEA today, ” Walking the Line.” This small union of teachers had to go on strike and face down strike breakers. What do we do? We always vote yes. Well we got what we voted for I guess. The article made me cry when I thought of how we back down as soon as there is even the slightest ripple of controversy. As Mercer says, the status quo is a victory. Just ask the future retirees with less than 10 years and the RIFed teachers .
Fed Up…well at least I entertain you 🙂 Now, like I said…Susan is a lovely lady I’m sure.
Tell me then…who negotiated the benefit contract? It’s ok…I am over it..it’s over and done with now.
Trust me…I am not for 1 candidate on that school board. John is a good guy, but lately he has been getting on my nerves as well (a good teacher should be able to teach a class of 30+) when I was a kid …I learned in a class of 30+. Ok, then please (school board members) come into the room for one week and teach the kids …before voting on it…that’s all I ask 🙂
Right now, I am Fed Up with everyone 🙂 can we switch names? 🙂
Fact 1: SAUSD is the largest school district in OC.
Fact 2: The SAUSD will receive the MOST $$$ $12,969,949 (Title 1 Poverty) Stimulus Money in OC
Fact 3: Stimulus $$ expected: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act $11,703,000 (the most in OC)
Fact 4: SAUSD is expected to receive $24,672,949 (total to date) stimulus money
Fact 5: We are the largest district in OC, but paywise f9r *teachers we rank 32nd in California.
Fact 6: Districts with fastest climbing teacher salaries? http://www.sacbee.com/1098/story/1524350.html
I don’t see SAUSD on there do you?
Fact 7: Quality Education Investment Act: Santa Ana Unified School District will receive $7.6 million in 2007-08, $11.5 million per year for the next six years. This is a total funding level of $77.0 million. This represents about 2.9% of the total funding amount. Click here for the list of Santa Ana schools that will receive QEIA funding.
http://www.sateach.org/QEIA%20webpage.html and here: http://www.sateach.org/QEIA.html
Fact 8: If class size goes…QEIA goes
More coming …I have A LOT of them! 🙂 stay tuned!
Fed-Up and Fair and Logical obviously have taught for 10 years and have not been riffed. As long as they are not losing anything, they feel very comfortable telling everybody else to be reasonable. They have zero credibility with me. Ditto for Susan Mercer. She is part of the problem, not the solution. How is it that the unions in L.A. and Pomona were able to get those distrits to rescind all of the rifs, while ours can’t? As far as I know, ours hasn’t even tried. SAEA also supports one faction of teachers, those favored by Bakersfield, over those who were hired with their credentials. Now it has created two new factions with respect to benefits. This is leadership? As best I can tell, SAEA cares about one and only one thing — that is, besides collecting dues: prosecuting the grievances of very senior teachers and protecting the jobs of incompetents. SAEA is a case of us not getting what we pay for. And no, I can just hear all of you now, I am not going to go to your bull**** meetings to see how hard you work and how dedicated you are. I know for a fact that you are not dedicated to the riffed teachers, and I can only call you incomptent if you think you have accomplished anything on our behalf.
By the way, the Board voted last night to proceed with all of the rifs except music teachers and counselors. You can review the budget presentation on the board’s web site. 450 layoff notices will be on their way by May 15. But not for you, Fair and Logical and Fed Up. After we sign for our layoff letters, I’m sure we can look forward to plenty more posts from you to tell us how great SAEA is and how hard they work for us. As far as I’m concerned, I and 449 others would be better off if all of SAEA would just go away.
Rif Rif…email me sometime…jillpuich@yahoo.com
Interesting…so we will have kids reading at 2nd grade level in high school who can play musical instruments and play…oh when the saints go marching in (off key) 🙂 ok I just had to say that….I want to personally thank everyone who contributed to my layoff (The SAEA), the 4 board members (who voted to adopt new textbooks) and to keep that silly MindResearch program and I see that they approved consultant costs as well…nice…keep going…..remember…what goes around comes around 🙂 thanks for laying us off…
Below is a copy of the speech I gave at rep council on April 28. As I was speaking I left some parts out due to the time limit of two minutes.
———————————————
At this point, I think most of you know me pretty well. I have presented virtually at every rep council for the past three years. I have presented treasurer reports, I have explained the state and school budgets, I have clarified the hours of work and use of flex minutes, I have kept you informed on the RIF and displacement – just to mention a few.
Most of you know what I believe in and have worked hard for. I believe in open and honest communications. I believe in keeping you informed and say it as it is so there are no surprises. I believe in protecting salaries and affordable benefits, I have done this for three years as a member of the bargaining team. And last but not least I believe in protecting your rights and defending your interests.
But you might not know why I’m running for SAEA president.
First, it is easy to say things that sound good but are not based on the economic reality we live in. I believe that in this time of economic crisis you need someone who understands and has been trained in the complexities of the state and school budgets. But being able to analyze and understand budgets is not enough… you need someone who is willing to communicate this information in a manner that is easy to understand. I have done this through my PowerPoints. In this way you as the rep can explain and share the information with the teachers at your site.
Second, SAEA is largely a volunteer organization. It depends on you as a rep… and you depend on a president you can trust. A president who understands the issues and is willing to give you accurate information even if its not what you want to hear. You depend on a bargaining team that knows how to bargain in difficult economic times. You depend on a grievance committee that knows how to grieve an issue and protect your rights. You depend on a team that can communicate clearly, accurately and effectively with its members. You depend on an organizing committee that knows how to organize teachers and the community to do the right thing for teachers and students. I have been a part of each one of these committees. I believe I have the knowledge and experience to lead these different groups of volunteers you depend on.
Finally, for the past five years I have worked hard for SAEA in many different capacities, now I want to use my knowledge, my leadership ability, my math and computer skills, my passion and my experience as your president.
I hope you will vote for me and encourage others to vote for me too.
Thank you.
By the way, the Education Code spells out the RIF process; SAEA has no power to change this. SAEA and CTA make sure that the process is followed as described in Ed Code and the information the District has on each RIF teacher is accurate.
Also, the 0.68% COLA for 08-09 was eliminated in the mid-year State Budget cuts in addition to 14.9% cuts to categorical programs.
See here we go with the “ed code” speech. A nice…”sorry you lost your job” would be sufficient…thank you.
Yes, Susan, that’s right. SAEA and Carlos do the absolute minimum possible, and nothing more. You couldn’t have stated your lack of empathy or interest in the riffed teachers any better than you did. Please answer the following questions.
What exactly have you done to support teachers who are hired with credentials? The Bakersfield decision is not Ed. Code. Read posts 307 and 370-372 from Retired lawyer and Ed Code lawyer. They explain that quite well. Why did SAEA force the district to go by Bakersfield? Why did SAEA choose to support Bakersfield teachers rather than teachers hired with credentials? How are teachers hired with credentials receiving fair representation from SAEA and Carlos? Why can Pomona and L.A., THROUGH PRESSURE FROM THEIR TEACHERS UNIONS, get rifs rescinded while those of us in SAUSD have gotten nothing in that vein from our union for the last seven years? Why didn’t you save money on the massages and hire a real lawyer rather than Carlos?
POWER POINT 29 OF newly passed contract was to the point. Why didn’t the union just say those teachers who signed before 1999 work harder teach better and deserve more than teachers who signed after. Retroactivally revoking a contract is dangerous and unethical. Legal, probably. When we retire we will have worked diligently and with the expertise we each have brought to this profession. Some will retire with some better benefits than others, the sad thing is that we believed those who led us and voted ourselves out of some benefits when we are old and tired. Friends kept asking me if they can do this…I said they just did.
I think saying no,takes more energy than yes. Maybe the teachers were just too tired to fight both the district and their own union.
Jill. Grow up. You sound like a child. SAEA did not contribute to your layoff. We are living in the worst economic time since the Great Depression. Lots of people have really lost their jobs in the private sector all over the country. People are losing their homes, and health care benefits go up in triple digits every year. MOst people don’t have anywhere near the health benefits plan we have. When I tell people what my copays are when I go to the doctor they can’t believe how low it is.
Your RIF will probably be rescinded, just like it was last year. Our union is there to make sure the RIF procedures are done properly. That is all the a teachers’ union can do. SAEA, or any local union for that matter, can’t wave a magic wand and pound the table to get your job back when the state making drastic cuts to school districts. You have no idea how hard SAEA’s leadership worked last year and this year for RIF teachers. Most RIF teachers thank and praise SAEA for helping them. It’s only a few angry, sour people on this blog that attack, blame and criticize SAEA for their RIFs. We are all angry and upset and the economic crisis has created a lot of tension and turmoil for all of us. But it’s not SAEA or really anyone’s fault that RIFs went out.
SAUSD also does not want to RIF teachers either. They have no choice. The have to be financially responsible during this time of economic crisis.They have the county on them to submit a budget that must be financially sound. It’s easy for all of us to say that SAUSD should not RIF anyone when we are not the ones dealing with a major economic crisis.
Teachers were RIF’d all over California. It’s not just Santa Ana teachers. Thousands of teachers are going through this up and down the state. SAEA held Pink Slip day protests at 5 school sites before school started on March 13. Did you go? I was there freezing my tail off early in the morning and I didn’t even get a RIF. Lots of veteran teachers who didn’t even get RIF’d were there supporting the RIF’d teachers. My question to you is: Did you go to that protest? One person wrote on this blog that the protest was a sham. All those people who worked on their own time voluntering to get that demonstation going at 6:30 AM in the cold weather to at least get the message out to the governor that all teachers are upset about RIFs, just did it because it’s a sham? The person who wrote that has no clue how hard those people worked. And it was organized by teachers who did not get RIF’d. It’s a way to make a statement. But most teachers appreciate all the effort and hard work done. Again, it’s just a few sour grapes on this blog. And by the way, very few people even read this blog.
I’m tired of your whining. I’ve also frankly had enough of the babies on this blog who are in major denial of the difficult economic crisis we are living in. The budget doesn’t look bright righ now and if those propositions don’t pass (which you wrote on this blog that you will be voting no), the buget situation will even get worse. And at this time it doesn’t look like those propositions will pass.
You also mentioned a while back that everyone you know was voting no on the contract. Yet it passed by 82%. So now you write that everyone you know is voting no for Susan Mercer. Here is a newsflash for you. Susan Mercer is highly respected and admired by the reps and almost every teacher who knows her. Try getting out in the real world (attend a rep council meeting) and see what is really going on. Besides David Barton, Susan Mercer knows than anyone else how to lead SAEA.
And thank you Susan for stating that the whopping 0.68% COLA for 2008-09 was eliminated in mid-year budget cuts.
Rif Rif,
Bakersfield is a court ruling that all districts are now going by unless this decision is overturned on appeal. SAEA managed to get nearly 200 RIFs rescinded last year because of Bakersfield. My goodness! Shame on SAEA for doing that! Don’t listen to the so called lawyers on this blog.
#577 — Even though you did not get a rif, you state that SAEA did a lot last year for riffed teachers. As a riffed teacher myself, not in the Bakersfield category, I’m unaware of anything they did for me other than pressure the district to move me lower on the list because of Bakersfield. And that is more like something SAEA did “to me,” not “for me.” I would sure appreciate it if you would let me know anything positive SAEA did for me last year. Also, perhaps you can explain why the L.A. and Pomona unions advocate for their riffed teachers and place so much pressure on their districts that rifs have to be rescinded. Read the papers. It’s obvious. In all of that hard and diligent work that we always hear about over at the SAEA offices, has anybody ever considered calling L.A. or Pomona to find out whether similar methods could be adopted here? Maybe more riffed teachers would participate if they thought SAEA was doing something meaningful. And I’m guilty of callng Pink Friday a sham. Of course I appreciate the support I received from teachers who did not receive rifs, but I’m sorry to tell you that while I certainly appreciate the comraderie from people who had no obligation to spend time out in the cold to let me know they care, Pink Friday had and will have no effect whatsoever on us keeping our jobs. SAEA never intended it to have that kind of effect. Additionally I doubt SAEA would have done anything if Pink Friday was not a CTA-sponsored statewide event. Once again, SAEA rose up to do the minimum possible for us.
To Rif Rif 569-
Yes, I have been in SAUSD longer than 10 years as posted in my original blog #530. I have not been riffed, but I continue to be supportive of my daughter-in-law who has been a secondary teacher in SAUSD for the past 4 years and I live with her fear of no longer being employed in her current SAUSD teaching position. She has been riffed for the past two years and her struggle with the uncertainly of employment has also been a concern for me.
Yes, Rif Rif, I have a job, but these issues touch each and every one of us, her loss of a job will affect my family as well. Do I feel that SAUSD is at fault? No, it is an uncertain time due to the nebulous state of the state/federal funds. I hope that these dedicated young teachers can be retained to continue to pursue their career goal of educating the youth of tomorrow.
I will be ready to retire in the next few years, and I only hope that these young individuals can continue to love their job of educating the youth of tomorrow as I have throughout my career.
It was Santa Ana teachers from SAEA who organized Pink Day. They put in hours of their own time. This was done mostly by veteran teachers who were not RIF’d. While this was a CTA sponsered program, SAEA’s team organized our demonstrations on our own. Every local did their own program. SAEA’s team got over 600 teachers to come out before school at 6:30 am on a very cold day. Were you there Rif Rif?
Rif Rif
If you are so enamored by Pomona and LA, why don’t you go there and apply for a job? If you are rescinded, will you thank SAEA or will you just find a new rant? You can’t have it both ways.
I have to bring up the issue about “vested” vs. not! Let’s use pure logic. If a teacher is vested after 10 years of service, then… by default, all SAUSD teachers, regardless of when they were hired, will at one point be “vested” upon reaching their 10th year of service.
So… being vested now, or not, is not the issue at hand here! The reality is that despite being vested, the Union has allowed the TOTAL ELIMINATION of retirement benefits of all potentially vested teachers!!! By the way some of these potentially vested teachers are 34 days away from completing their tenth year teaching for this District. Others may be exactly ten years away from becoming vested.
Before the RAT-IFICATION of the latest CBA, all SAUSD teachers would at one point obtain their contractual/promised retirement benefits. As of the latest CBA, teachers will be stripped of their initially promised medical retirement coverage, even when they become vested!!!
Union, don’t try to pull the wool over our eyes! This is not a matter of being “vested”. I reiterate, we will all, at one point or another, become vested upon reaching our tenth year. This is a matter of CANCELING a coverage we were contractually promised since the first day we were employed by this District! This is a classical case of taking back what was ours. This promise is now going to be broken as the Union and the District utilize a retroactive date upon entering the new CBA. This means thousands of people are being stripped of a contractual promise dating back as far as ten years, in nearly 34 days!!!
What can we do? First we need to inquire with our lawyers (yes, we have union lawyers covered with our members’ annual fee) the legality of this action. How legal is it to enforce a retroactive CBA when teachers have been working this very same year under the old contract? In other words, if we were working under the previous contract since the beginning of this academic year, over 75% of the year, how legal is it for the District to come and alter our individual contracts without our personal consent? This contract and all the promises implied in it, is being changed nearly 30 days before the year is up? It is one thing for our Union to negotiate the future, but it is a very different scenario when they are altering the past.
I know there are teachers already demanding a meeting with the Union and our Union lawyer/s in order to air all the valid questions/concerns we have been expressing here.
I’ve been teaching special ed in the district for 7 years. While I did not receive a rif, I will only have benefits until 65. I understand that it was Louise Settino-Sobieski who bargained away the retiree benefits. She is retiring this year. Typical and selfish of older teachers who want everything for right now and take from younger teachers.
Rif Rif you asked what did I do for the RIF teachers. I know that whatever I say you will criticize but you asked.
During a ten day period, a group of volunteers and I (and I am also a volunteer) put together the 530 files the lawyer needed for the hearing, labeled them and mailed them for teachers to complete. We organized the informational meeting and the hearing, we sorted and reviewed each file, we called the teachers who were missing information or did not hand in their files, we called all the RIF teachers on leave of absence and pulled all the files that had lawyer alerts. I personally reviewed all the lawyer alerts, compiled a list, submit it to the district and requested the files for each alert, reviewed the files and checked seniority dates and credentials. Called teachers back after reviewing their District file. In addition, I spoke with over 150 RIF teachers personally or by phone (including Jill who I spoke with personally for over an hour) answered their questions, listen to their concerns and fears. Explained how seniority date is calculated, what is a break in service, the impact of leave of absence, resignation, summer school or subbing on the seniority dates. Explained the difference between NCLB and not NCLB compliant supplemental credentials. Explained the Barkerfield case. Worked with the district in correcting incorrect seniority dates and credentials. I met with the CTA lawyer and reviewed all the lawyer alerts that had not been addressed by the District and helped prepare for the RIF hearing.
We can’t post our opinions if they are different from “Fed Ups” or the other names she goes by. We have a right to state our opinion (add a little humor) without being called “whiners” or babies. We were fired last night so naturally we are not rolling out the wine bottle and toasting to Susan Mercer aka your hero. It’s too late to convince us how wonderful your Union is (your best friend) who kept your job and your benefits. Thank you very much for your speech on hard economic times the day after we were fired. Don’t you think we’ve had enough of that crammed down our throats for 3 years? Whining? Stating opinions that are different from yours is not whining….maybe you are the one whining that we don’t think like you do…now you grow up…you are acting like a bully. (from the child who is a whiner and just got fired) 🙂 <—adding a little humor here…I am bidding adieu to this blog now since I said my opinion…(Fed Up, please continue to be the Union’s campaign manager)…I am not listening….if it makes you feel better…we will tell you (FED UP) that it was our own fault that we lost our job and we just need to shut up, be quiet, go to your meetings, and be a soldier marching to your drum. Will that make you happy? I have an opinion…it is not the same as yours….stop the name calling (bully) and let us have our say. Thank you! 🙂
Susan, thanks for that, but I think what RIF RIF wants to know (I could be wrong) she/he needs to speak for themselves….
What did the UNION do to try and save the teachers this year? (not the counselor or music teachers), but the teachers who lost their jobs last night?
As far as calling people and doing behind the scenes paperwork…that’s all wonderful, but what did the Union and the lawyer do / say that would help the laid off? I was at the hearing and not one word was said in our defense. I heard him defending counselors, but not us. Can you please explain what our Union did to help us? ex. What bargaining things were said to try to maintain the teachers’ jobs?
I can ask these questions without being called a “whiner” or a baby can’t I? 🙂
I am running for President of SAEA and will post my speech later. I have been reviewing the blogs since I first posted my on April 2, 2009. The facts are clear the voting of current contract should have been conducted by another method (secret ballot ) and it was not done. I am certain many of association members are going to challenge the election and rightly so. The district is not saving any money whatsoever now and remember, ” An Injury to one is an Injury to all.” Why have we forgotten that we are in this struggle together?
I will be the president who leads and defenses all our association members rights, not only a few. I have no personal agenda for running for office of President. My only agenda is to protect the rights of all our association members. Finally, I know the pain of our 538 association members who have been laid off. I have been there and truly know your pain. This is the first year that I have not recieved a lay off notice.
I will continue asking the uncomfortable questions because it is my right as an association member of SAEA, CTA and NEA. Questions about loss of our members jobs,health insurance increases, our district reserve untapped, loss of benefits and the list goes on. I have volunteered at the local, state and national levels for those who do not know my qualifications. I truly commend those who have presented a positive point of view and ask the tough questions.
” If I am serious about winning this election, I can’t live in fear about losing it.” Who is the author of this Quote? Thank you for your continual support and remember, “United we stand and divided we fall.” Vote for Robert C. Chavez, President, SAEA.
Welcome Susan Mercer and Robert Chavez.
Thank you for taking the time to post your positions and views. This is the most viewed thread on the Orange Juice Blog and our readers benefit from frank discussions by our participants.
Best wishes to all for the upcoming elections.
–Rv
To Fed-Up: I’d rather have you move to Pomona or L.A. so I could move up on the seniority list. Based on your moniker and your tone, I think all of us, including your students, would be better off if you seriously consider that.
To answer your question, I will NOT thank SAEA if my rif is rescinded. If that happens, it will not be because of anything SAEA did. Apparently, you want me to acknowledge that SAEA has no control over rifs, but to bow down to thank them in the event of a rescission. Do they control rescissions? If they do, as you apparently think, why aren’t they advocating for them?
Jill-
Bully? I don’t think so. An I’m not Susan. I’m someone that has worked with you for a number of years and see that nothing has changed. You have alienated and burned bridges at school sites and web sites. I have an opinion too. Or, does that make you a bully for not allowing me to express mine of you?
Rif RIf
That’s my point. Thank you for exposing your circular logic. Your beef should be with the district. You want it both ways. SAEA has nothing to do with RIFs except to make sure the process is followed correctly!
So then give your name? Look, I really could give a hoot what anyone thinks of me…Fed up. You hide behind your name and rant. Give your name.
Jill,
You have every right to express your opinion like everyone else. But I don’t think you realize how immature you sound. You literally sound like a child as one of the writers on the blog noted. SAEA continues to work for all the RIF’d teachers. Just because your RIF hasn’t been rescinded yet, doesn’t mean our union is working for you. The District simply still doesn’t know what the May revise budget will be like. Much will depend upon whether or not the propositions pass. The same propositions that you wrote a while back that you will be voting down.
I know you won’t get it no matter what I say, or Susan writes, or anyone else on this blog tries to explain to you. But that’s okay. I’m writing this for the other people who read this blog.
I do hope your RIF is rescinded, and if you have 7 years in this district, then I’m sure you have a good chance of coming back again next year.
Robert-
I think we need a president that will put actions before words. What do you plan to do to as president to “protect” your laundry list of causes? Let’s get real…you don’t have an agenda?
If Fed Up is named Julie then I really don’t give a hoot. She was as credible as the Enquirer. Like I said…I plan to state my opinion and whatever anyone thinks of me is either here nor there…it doesn’t hurt me whatsoever. Enjoy your day!
Like I said…I don’t really care what you think of me or anyone else. 🙂 You can call me whatever you wish if that makes you feel better about yourself.
This is the LAST thing I am saying to Fed up…I am not even going to respond to your rants now because you are just trying to egg me on. I am not playing that game with you. If I sound like a “baby” that’s ok…I am having a little fun here 🙂
Who would have thought that 3 years ago the SAUSD corruption thread would turn into the SAUSD teachers and teacher’s union election forum? Since SAEA is almost as corrupt, self serving and disingenuous as CSEA and SAUSD, I suppose we are still operating in the ball park.
So now we have the teacher’s union hacks attacking the union dissenters and vice versa. While both are writing a lot, neither is saying much of anything new. The bottom line is simple. The union negotiated a bad faith contract, supported it, pushed it, and got it ratified. Now they have to live with it. While the union hacks quickly want to change the subject to the elections a few teachers, for good reason, refuse to let the contract issue go and are being bombarded by the union hacks with a barrage of name calling. That figures.
The teacher’s union can make no claim of victory in this contract. The seizure of the 65-70 medical benefit issue by many was simply a stroke of good luck for the union as they quietly negotiated a 1% insurance premium increase, double co-pays for medications and increased co-pays for everything else while knowing that the district was about to switch carriers from Blue Cross to Blue Shield. Did the union even know what the new Blue Shield premium would be or did they just agree to a 1% increase blindly? If they didn’t know they are even more incompetent than I thought. If they knew what the new premium would be why was it not included in the contract for all to read? As we speak we are now receiving notices from the benefits office of this insurance change. Oddly enough not included is what the new premium cost will be to us so we can make an informed decision before open enrollment.
Then of course are the unintended consequences of the teacher’s contract. Being the ‘me first and screw you’ types, the teacher’s union could not care less about such things as their own retirees. Contrary to popular belief, the 65-70 coverage is a red herring. At Medicare age by law retirees must join Medicare and district insurance becomes secondary or supplemental coverage (at the same or nearly the same premium cost). Those retirees still benefitting with this 5 year coverage are about to get a 1% premium payment increase and double medication costs while any substantial raise to cover it is doubtful. I’m sure the retirees appreciate it.
The other unintended consequence of the teacher’s contract will be classified and CSEA. Being unable to think for themselves, CSEA will pretty much rubber stamp a carbon copy of the teacher’s benefit package and push ratification V more layoffs. Thus the cycle continues year after year.
I’ve waited for 20 years for the employees and unions to realize that the real problem is the management at SAUSD. The proof is a simple acid test that surfaced this year. The test was if any comparable district was able to manage its budget to the point where they did not need to lay off 1 teacher or classified employee then something is seriously wrong with the management at SAUSD. Garden Grove Unified managed to prove it can be done. Someone needs to take a hard look at why that is.
I’m still waiting for Susan’s reply to my e-mail that I sent out a month ago regarding my seniority and RIF numbers.