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…
Let’s get down to business and solve this problem, folks! We have a way to solve the economic crisis in CA. We should be spending our efforts educating people about Propositions 1A-1F. If they don’t pass, and let’s face it- OC won’t pass them, we are facing additional cuts to the education budget. Do you know that there is a law that allows school districts to RIF employees on August 15th if they did not do so in May? If there are additional cuts after May 19, districts like GG will be forced to RIF. As with every law, this loophole will go into effect very soon.
Jill, I bet you can’t resist. It’s not in your nature!
Anon Teacher,
Then I guess the question wasn’t that important if you didn’t even bother to follow up. Get real! Each school received a copy of it’s staff’s senority list. I go my number from my rep. Let’s take some responsibility. How did you every get through school to become a teacher?
Thanks for everyone who sent email addresses for some of the candidates. I understand that the official list of candidates will be out soon and that OJ will be notified.
You can also keep an eye on the SAEA website directly: http://www.sateach.org/ Jeff Goldberg is the webmaster and the site is full of information for teachers.
Does anyone have Julie Menghini’s email address? I understand that she is also running for a position in the upcoming elections.
Thanks again!
Opionion: I support Robert for president because I feel he will not sell us out.
Question: Is a teacher vested after having worked 75% of the year (on the tenth year)?
Hope: Members will challenge the election in order to honor secret ballot voting.
#578-The lawyers on this blog appear to understand Bakersfield a lot better than you do. Why shouldn’t I listen to them? And let’s be clear. SAEA did get some rifs rescinded earlier than the district intended last year, but did so at the expense of other teachers on the seniority list, like myself, who were moved down. All of the rifs were rescinded in the end anyway so SAEA really accomplished nothing more than alienting so many teachers who will never trust it again because of its shameful choice to pit Bakersfield teachers against teachers hired with credentials, and to favor the Bakersfield teachers. It is clear that those of you who claim that SAEA has no role in rifs are wrong because SAEA had at least enough control over the rif process last year to intimidate the district into redoing the seniority list a couple days before the hearing. And that control continues this year. I am lower down on the list than I would be if SAEA had not twisted the district’s arm into preparing this year’s list to again favor the Bakersfield teachers. Bakersfield is not Ed. Code and the district is not required to follow it. I think the lawyers on this blog, especially #307 and 370-372, explain it quite well.
Susan,
You evaded my questions. They are stated pretty clearly in my post #575. I did not ask you about stuffing envelopes for the sham hearing, the results of which were fixed in advance, so that Carlos would have his butt covered as he again sold all of us down the river. Once again, here are the questions I would like you to answer:
1. How is it that the L.A. and Pomona teachers’ unions successfully pressure their districts into rescinding rifs while SAEA does nothing? While it is teachnically true that SAEA does not rif or create a seniority list, it is not true that SAEA has to stand idly by year after year while so many teachers are riffed. Why is SAEA so passive when compared to Pomona and L.A.? Those unions go the press. They attend the Board meetings and are vocal. They rally the community in favor of the teachers. SAEA does none of that. I don’t want to hear about Pink Friday. You know that’s not what I’m talking about.
2. To the extent SAEA has put any pressure on the district with respect to rifs, it has forced the district to favor the Bakersfield teachers. How can SAEA so blatantly favor one faction of teachers over another? Don’t tell me Bakersfield is the law. It isn’t. See posts 307 and 370-372. Why won’t you admit that SAEA has a conflict of interest, and do something to help those of us who are on the losing side of that conflict?
If all you’re going to tell me is how hard you work, how you and all the other SAEA hacks volunteer their time, how my views would be changed and my world elightened if I would only come to your meetings and see the dedication, blah, blah, blah, save it. I’m with Jill. I’ve heard these speeches too many times. Please just answer my simple questions above — if you can.
Robert, I invite you to answer these questions too. I was unaware of you and your candidacy before your name appeared in this blog, but I hope that you can offer some alternative to the seven years of corruption and apathy at SAEA when it comes to rifs. New teachers matter. I’m sick and tired of spending $95.00 a month to an organization whose primary and sole interest seems to be the support of disgruntled and incompetent teachers who deserve to be fired anyway. We need a shift in priorities.
Comments to # 577
You wrote:
“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.”
I am demanding that the union work harder and smarter to avoid teachers being laid off or their benefits getting cut.
#573 By the way, the Education Code spells out the RIF process; SAEA has no power to change this.
Yes, we have the power to change Ed. Code, We must fight to change the Education Code through our state council representatives, I believe you are an State Council Representative, stop being part of the status quo, we need true advocacy.
If for everything we said “it’s been written, and we do not change it, we become accomplices of the past practices and wrong doings. Changes requires knowledge and new vision. voting for the same people, will not provide for changes.
602: I was given two different RIF numbers. I wanted to know which was correct and why my number worsened. I spoke to SAEA on the phone. I spoke to Susan in person; then I sent an e-mail. I certainly followed up.
Why the nasty attitude? And how dare you question my intelligence. Who let YOU in the classroom?
It seems that this board has become less about SAUSD corruption and too much about whining between colleagues. I’ve never seen such unprofessional behavior demonstrated here. THIS is precisely why nothing gets done.
Who should be the Santa Ana Educators’ Association President?
Vote now in our Orange Juice poll!
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2009/04/who-should-be-the-next-santa-ana-educators-association-president/
#609,
With all due respect, nothing gets done because YOUR union leaders keep aiding and abetting the corruption at the SAUSD. Isn’t it time for a change?
Art, I agree. However, I don’t think it’s JUST SAUSD and SAEA. I see far too many inept teachers on campus and they’re your biggest whiners.
# 583 has a pretty good idea. I wonder if this contract can legally be overturned. The language in the tentative agreement and power points were somewhat more that vague. The process also was flawed. Too many Reps. urging the Yes vote to unsuspecting teachers. I’d say try the legal channel what could it hurt? Would we get black-balled by our own union? Call in the CTA attorneys- Keep this going, the election is secondary. The problem I have seen is that there are not enough whiners at my site. A lot of quiet sheep.
The district is already seeking legislation to push the RIF lay off notices back to a later date. Check out the power point from the District concerning the newest budget news. A person at the recent District meeting said that they were trying to save some elementary music positions.
I would like to extend this to everyone, name-calling etc. doesn’t really get us anywhere. If we disagree with the contract where else can we express it. This forum helps to vent a little, of course the contract took something away, it was voted on, etc. I do wish the balloting had been different and information meeting could have been more informative about the give back, instead of telling us all to vote yes the reps should have just collected the ballots. Let’s try and keep it civil. I have been guilty of being frustrated too. I think I feel whoever gets voted in cannot undo this contract without some legal intervention, like comment 583 has already stated.Shouldn’t we be allowed to disagree and not be called names because we don’t go along with everything the union says.
Anon Teacher-
You have one senority number and a RIF number. Pay attention! I’m not questioning your intelligence.
Don’t vote for Julie if you want be told to pay attention and that your question was not that important.
I don’t post on message boards, but I have been sitting back and watching this for many days now. I cannot believe how the Union people are acting on this board. Show a little compassion for the people who could be losing their jobs and their benefits.
From the SAEA website, here are the candidates’ statements:
http://www.sateach.org/Candidates'%20statements%202009.html
President (1 year term majority vote) Vote for 1
Robert C. Chavez
I have proven my ability to work at our local, state, and national association levels. I am ready to work for you as your President.
Susan Mercer
I will fight to preserve and protect your rights, listen and respond to your concerns, and constantly work to maintain salaries and affordable benefits.
Patricia O’Neil
Enough is enough! Let’s make SAEA the advocate it’s meant to be. We need aggressive bargaining based on a thorough study of the District’s budget.
Secretary (2 year term) Vote for 1
Jennifer Isensee
Vote for a strong, dedicated, intelligent, and fierce defender of your rights. I’ll maintain accurate records of every SAEA meeting. SAEA needs Jennifer Isensee!
Sandra Rubio
After 15 years of SAEA involvement, my commitment has always been to ethically represent the membership. I stand to serve the interest of all members.
Treasurer (2 year term) Vote for 1
Scott Miller
I will work hard to protect your salary, benefits, and working conditions so that you can get back to teaching.
High School Segment Director (2 year term) Vote for 1
Billy Castanha
As your incumbent High School Segment Director I have worked hard to make your voice heard! I’ll work hard to protect our salaries and benefits.
Intermediate Segment Director (2 year term) Vote for 1
Hank Montelongo
I have been an intermediate school teacher for 28 years, experienced site rep, grievance committee member, organizing committee, BTSA Advisory member, and past PTSA President.
Anna Taksar
Experienced intermediate segment director, CTA rep, 27 year intermediate site rep, grievance rep, NEA/RA attendee. I’m prepared to be your top teacher advocate.
Elementary Segment Director (2 year term) Vote for 2
Linda Zapata Palmer
I come from a family of Union Activism. I’m concerned about Kindergarten and all Elementary Class sizes. I will hear and support your rights! Thanks.
Rhonda McKanna
As your current director I have advocated for improved working conditions, salary/benefit preservation, and the protection of our rights by holding the district accountable.
Julie Meneghini
I served on the Board previously. I will use this experience and my 17 year teaching experience to help us get through these stressful times.
Nora Garcia
Doctorate in Education, worked 23 years pre-K to 12th grade, NEA/RA Representative, California State Delegate Alternate, PAC Volunteer, Ethnic Minority Director At-Large, SAEA Rep.
Dianne Fleming
Special Education Teacher 12 years, Special Education Leadership Team member 5 years, Previously general education teacher. SAEA Representative Delegate Fall Leadership Conference, Volunteer nation election
CTA State Council (3 year term, majority vote) Vote for 1
Carmen Childress
I have been a site representative and alternate for many years. I am ready to take a leadership role. I will do my best.
Rhonda McKanna
Served as Alternate State Council Representative for past 3 years supporting your concerns, issues. I will work hard to support and respond to your needs.
Peter Boyd
I appreciate your continued support. I look forward to serving my Santa Ana colleagues in a new venue as your state council delegate.
Anna Taksar
Having previously served as CTA/NEA rep, Intermediate Director, Currently serving 27th year as site rep, Grievance rep. Let me be your advocate at CTA.
Elena Wise
SAEA Elementary Segment Director 3 terms, Rep. Council several years, 23 years general and special ed. Elect me to work on our issues.
Robin Scott
CTA Fall Leadership 2006 & 2008. Grievance and Election Committee member. NEA/RA Delegate 2007-present. Would like to continue to represent SAEA at the state level.
Susan,
You certainly have quite a bit of experience and you seem to know the issues. Do you know if the school district has an organizational chart or some other reference that lists all of the employees and what they do and who they report to?
Do you have any idea how many consultants that are on district payroll? Is there a place to find this information?
Some school districts will do cost shifting by cutting back on teaching staff, while retaining the shadow employees that have questionable “jobs” at the upper district levels. It would be nice to see how clean this district is run in that regard.
Thanks for any insight.
#514- Please recheck your facts. There was a budget presentation several weeks ago that said the district was going to try to lobby for legislation in Sacramento to extend the May 15 deadline, an unlikely prospect even for the most ardent optimists. But the most recent budget presentation dated Apr. 28 makes it clear that the district is plowing ahead according to the statutory deadlines. We should not be putting our heads in the sand about this. 450 teachers will receive layoff notices on or before May 15 under the district’s current plan.
Sorry. I meant #614 in my last post.
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Mr. Pedroza! Thank you for saying what many of us suspect and are afraid to vocalize!!! Let’s vote Chavez or O’Neil!
“… nothing gets done because YOUR union leaders keep aiding and abetting the corruption at the SAUSD. Isn’t it time for a change?”
Question for: Chavez, O’Neil, and Mercer
How do you feel about the CBA allowing the retirement benefits to be taken from 1999 teachers?
How do you feel about the CBA having the Wages article open to negotiation/changes as soon as the District desires?
• Continued to explain budget cuts to Legislators
• Continue working with other Districts & Educational advocates
• Requested immediate direct release of Fed funds
• Requested legislation to move the May 15th notification
back to late June
These were recommendations from the SAUSD budget meeting a few weeks ago, mainly to let teachers know who are RIFFED that you may not it rescinded by June. I was trying to be helpful not argue . I interpreted that slide to mean the District would not have to notify teachers by May but at a later date, which is hard for those looking for work. My head was not in the sand. I think it is better to know earlier if one has to look for a new job. If the District is hoping for more funding than perhaps the state county will grant them the later date. Anyone have more clarification on that. These power points from the District and The Union are not always as clear and concise as they could be. Thanks
Do you ever get the feeling that “they” know what is going to happen to the Rif(ed) people, but hold back on telling it?
We had some laughs in class at SAHS Thursday; SAUSD finally took some definitive action to protect students from swine flu. A v.p. rushed around to all classes delivering letters for parents describing our concern for flu, and an e-message in every teachers e-mailbox instructing them to download a CDC poster and post it in the room with these instructions: “1) Sneeze/cough into a tissue, not your hands (Hey! Do you have tissues in your classrooms? — students: NO!) 2) Sneeze/cough into your shirt sleeves (poster shows student coughing into elbow of long sleeve shirt – most of our students wear short sleeves.) 3) Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. –students: “There’s no soap! no warm water! no paper towels!”)
I don’t believe SAUSD administrators respect the Santa Ana community to the same degree that NMUSD admin’s respect the Newport-CDM community, where it seems 1 out of 10 parents are lawyers. Actions like SAUSD is taking has “opportunity” written all over it for an attorney if some of our students fall seriously ill with the flu.
Here’s the teachers being layed off:
Santa Ana releases list of teacher layoffs
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/layoff-employees-budget-2387926-state-year
County wide teacher layoff lists
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/unified-elementary-style-2384225-font-mso
Some comments criticize invasion of privacy by publishing these lists, but public school teachers are considered public officials, like Mayor Pulido, and are subject to public scrutiny. In a way, a bit flattering, but also why we are required to tolerate quite a bit of public criticism, without recourse to defamation laws. People can write that I’m a crummy teacher and public parasite without fear of a lawsuit; but you have to be lot nicer to Art, a private citizen.
Anonplus (#599) Wow, don’t you have a lot to say…where do I begin…
First off, you’ve ‘waited for 20 years for the employees and unions to realize that the real problem is the management at SAUSD.’ What have you bothered to do in the last 20 years to educate and inform the employees and unions? Don’t EVEN try and justify whatever it is you think you’ve done, because after 20 years, you’ve clearly done nothing effective.
Second, I have it on very reliable information that GGUSD has nearly exhausted it’s reserves and, if the state budget does not get better (think failure of 1A-F, the already unfunded $8 Billion ADDITIONAL deficit, etc.) that they will be on the verge of bankruptcy – say hello to RIF’s! Which would you rather SAUSD teachers have – as much notice to plan for the future, or live in a fantasy world that their job is secure? I vote for a reality check and letting people know as soon as possible what the future MIGHT actually hold.
You state that SAEA “negotiated a bad faith contract”. What exactly do you mean by this? SAEA negotiated in full good-faith to support the best interests of ALL SAEA members, in support of its contract with its members, with every intent of fulfilling it’s obligations to it’s members. SAEA did not mislead members regarding the tentative agreement. If SAEA leadership had not felt that this was the absolutely best deal that could have been negotiated, the members would have been told just that. Since neither you, nor most anyone else on this blog, has any idea what the negotiations entailed, how can you make such a uninformed accusation about corruption.
Health insurance is an incredibly emotional subject. Here’s a fact for you: if the District had gotten it’s way, teachers would have paid 20% of the annual premium – as much as $500/mo for a family. As for knowledge about the Blue Cross/Blue Shield switch – of course the union knew the switch was happening – but switching to Blue Shield is exactly what kept the premiums down.
Do you even know what drives the cost of health insurance? Previous years claims, the age of the group, program design, and more all drives the cost of the policy. But the bottom line is: if you want PREMIUM coverage, you pay PREMIUM prices. And let’s have a reality check here. Many sources indicated that people are inclined to go the ER for ‘routine’ emergencies (flu, etc.) because they can’t get into their doctor, or it’s a weekend or late at night [NO I’m not talking about TRUE emergencies!!!] – for years now a large number of insurance policies have included an ER Co-Pay (waived for admission) – the idea is to make people stop and think before the use the ER as a doctor’s office. The current is $50 -which isn’t a huge stretch from the $15 office co-pay. But, $100 – that will make everyone think first. Office co-pays up $5 on the HMO’s options. The good news – RX co-pays haven’t changed. It’s obvious that SAUSD, like every major employer with health insurance responsibilities, wants to provide the best coverage for the least amount of money and, like every insurer, they cost of an HMO is less than a PPO. Based on the just the co-pays, it’s looks like it costs SAUSD about 4x more to offer employees a PPO than an HMO. And nearly 70% of the district still opts for the PPO. Here’s an idea – what if the district offered the BEST HMO policy possible -$5 office co-pays, $5/RX, $100 ER-Co-pay and offered it for nearly free to everyone – think that’d be enough of an incentive for everyone to switch? I doubt if more that 25% of the district would be willing to give up what they have for nearly free insurance. But think of the millions of dollars that the district could save and use to fund the other things that everyone wants.
And, quite frankly, you lied. SAEA does care very much about its retirees. But it also cares about its current teachers and the students they serve. What you and many like you fail to grasp is that the pot of money that we get to draw on is finite.
Did you know that, on the backs of current students and current teachers, SAUSD pays the same $15,000 premium (or whatever the current cost is) for a policy that provides SECONDARY coverage? What’s up with that? And, on top of that, retirees still get to pay their monthly portion?
Let’s see, I just went to SecureHorizon’s website and found out that there are 5 plans available – and all with ZERO PREMIUM.
If you sign up for one of these, and save the SAUSD premium, you get to keep $1500 in my pocket to use for the RX costs that you may have. Why is it fair to short current teachers raises and benefits or current students supplies and activities to cover these premiums. Every 67 Medicare-eligible retirees cost SAUSD a minimum of $1,000,000 in premiums. And every $1,000,000 has the potential to fund 20 teachers at $50,000 – serving 400-500 students.
Finally, you make some pretty strong accusations about corruption within SAEA. The leadership at SAEA is far from corrupt. They aren’t perfect, and they are the first to admit it, but they possess extremely high levels of integrity and virtue and have high moral principals. They are endorse and are focused on the genuine purpose of union – and a chapter of CTA, the fully support CTA’s mission statement:
“The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society.”
SAHS teacher (#627) I so agree with you on this one. It’s absolutely a crime that in light of this potential pandemic, that the District’s response is so flippant. Using whatever is left of each school’s supply budget, maybe they should have issued paper towels, facial tissue, soap, and liquid hand-sanitizer to each teacher.
And how about planning now for next year. The experts are all saying that as light as this episode of swine-flu may or may not be, it’s probably a ‘herald’ event – meaning that some strain of this will probably hit – and with a vengeance – in the fall. In light of that, wouldn’t it be smart for the District to contract with an agency like the Visiting Nurses Association to do site visits and offer flu vaccines next Sept/Oct at cost to all of the teaches and staff?
Maybe they should figure out a way to budget for paper towels, facial tissue, soap, and liquid hand-sanitizer in next year’s budget (BTW, have you seen what masquerade’s for paper towels and facial tissue in our public schools? About as nice a 100 grit sandpaper!)
MEGAFed-up (#624)
In response to your questions:
“How do you feel about the CBA allowing the retirement benefits to be taken from 1999 teachers?”
Cutting the supplementary insurance from ages 65 to 70 for teachers with less than ten years of service as of the date of ratification was a violation of the Association’s responsibility to fairly represent all of its members and totally unnecessary. This change has a potential future impact on half of the membership. It is not at all clear how this helps preserve our current level of benefits, as was claimed. In order to adequately represent our members on benefits issues, we need to know what the actual costs are to the insurer compared to what the District is paying (e.g., what are the profits to the carrier), and we need to investigate other options that will provide our membership with an equivalent or higher level of care at a reduced cost.
“How do you feel about the CBA having the Wages article open to negotiation/changes as soon as the District desires?”
According to the new contract, proposals on Wages and Wage Provisions and two other articles are to be made by each party by June 1, 2009. The District is prohibited from proposing to freeze step and column. I would hope the Association would only agree to reopen wages if they expected to present a proposal to increase them.
I do not believe it was advisable to set this date for presenting a wage proposal since the time, amount, and required uses of State Fiscal Stabilization Funds and Title I/IDEA money will not have been determined, or not determined far enough in advance, for the Association to prepare an intelligent proposal based on study of the District’s budget and input from the entire membership regarding the other two articles to be re-opened.
If elected President, I will ensure that our bargaining takes into account the excessive reserves the District is carrying over year after year and is based on a detailed understanding of exactly how the District is spending money. With the help of CTA bargaining experts, an agreement favorable to the membership can be negotiated, in spite of the proposals made in June.
Patricia O’Neil (Teacher) (#624) So, you’re an attorney now, too? Your statement that “Cutting the supplementary insurance from ages 65 to 70 for teachers with less than ten years of service as of the date of ratification was a violation of the Association’s responsibility to fairly represent all of its members and totally unnecessary.” sounds like a legal opinion? Any chance of you telling us where you got you law degree? Maybe, in your opinion, it was potential violation and maybe, in your opinion, someone should contact an attorney (you can ask for representation from CTA), and maybe, in your opinion, it was totally unnecessary. But to state these things as fact isn’t good.
So, Patty, since you seem to have incredible insight on the subject, what other option was available? And don’t say you need more information or need to do more research – you’ve stated your position with knowledge and authority – so let’s here your alternative proposal?
Do you really think that the insurance policy wasn’t shopped out to other providers? As incompetent as SAUSD may be, they didn’t show up at the table with out at least shopping out the policy. Most of the major players were all asked to participate – but maybe you didn’t realize that it’s not a blind competition. Everyone gets to ask how many insured there are, age distribution, gender distribution, claim history, etc. So, huge claims, an aging population, not a large enough risk pool, etc. all contribute to whether or not an insurer is willing to underwrite the risk presented. And, given that insurance companies are reeling under huge claims for the events that got us into this economic crisis, is it any wonder that premiums have gone up?
I’m no expert, but I believe that both parties get to present items they want to open – regardless of what the other party wants to do, so regardless of whether or not the union wants to negotiate wages and wage provisions, they are going to have to deal with it. It may or may not have been a great idea and the timing may not be perfect, but it’s going to have to be addressed at some point in time – and besides, neither of us knows how or why the it was agreed upon. I, for one, don’t feel like second guessing anyone – so, if anyone can shed light on 1) why this provision is being opened, and 2) why so soon, I think we’d appreciate it.
You speak of excessive reserves like they will last forever – so, let’s enter your fantasy world and we deplete all of SAUSD’s reserves and spending this year…what are you going to do next year when you can’t suck the reserves dry again? Face reality…why put it off any longer than needed – take the issue on now and deal with it.
Don’t get me wrong – I believe strongly that if jobs can be saved, benefits stabilized, services restored, and students needs met by judiciously using reserves, then SAUSD has an obligation to do so – but, spending reserves does not the problem solve, it simply delays the reality until someone else has to deal with it. And people like you or Robert can then claim to have done something wonderful for union members, when all you’ve really done is saddle someone else with the tough decisions. And, by the way, I’m sure we’d all like to know exactly which CTA bargaining experts were you considering having in on the negotiations next year?
All of you seem really happy to slam SAEA for everything you perceive that they have done wrong – but do you remember the pay-restoration that you got a couple years ago? and the retroactive raise that followed? That year teachers ended up with about a 15% bump in pay – not bad for a bunch of people that you guys accuse of selling you out and failing to represent you…think about it…Give them credit for the good if you’re going to slam them for the bad and look at the bigger picture.
I kinda miss the other Sausd threads. It was easier to filter out classified, certificated, parents, etc. Anyways I was told by a teacher friend of mine that Math and Science teachers were considered “vested” even if they were not here for 10 years. I cross referenced names of newbie teachers from my old site with the riff list and it seems to be true. I would like to ask your presidential candidates if this is acceptable. If this is really in deed true what is the reasoning behind it. Maybe this next year SAEA can set an example for CSEA and SAUSD to not play favorites. What favorites? CSEA favoring custodians and dsos. Sausd favoring the district office employees and our million plus administrators. That said I would like to wish all riffed teachers good luck and let them know I’m hoping for the best. I understand how much work it is to put your self out for our students. It takes a special type of person to do this job and I thank you. Please don’t give up and resign because our students are counting on you. I have a gut instinct the district will bring you back and come after Classified again. Welcome to Sausd! Failure is unacceptable!
No, math and science teachers are not vested if they are here less than 10 years. That is a false rumor. Math, science and special ed. teachers have been protected from getting RIFs because those are high needs areas.
And by the way, our salary actually went up 18% in the 2006-07 school year.
Patty has no idea what she is talking about in regards to benefits. She doesn’t sit on the benefits committee with SAUSD, SAEA, CSEA, and retired teachers. The renewal rates for our health benefits continue going up every year. It’s an extremely difficult and complex task coming up with ways to keep our benefits costs down as much as possible. She has no idea how much SAEA has fought off from the District.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/04/villaraigosa-suggests-compromise-to-avoid-teacher-layoffs.html
Villaraigosa suggests a compromise to avoid teacher layoffs
Please don’t tell me to go to Los Angeles to work! I am posting this as an example that things can be done.
633/635 Didn’t we all take a pay cut for two years in a row? I believe we helped out the district through a union vote. Part of that agreement is that there would be a restoration.
I wouldn’t jump up and down about the restoration. I wonder what the COLA from the state was for those two years that we were volunteered to take a cut in pay, plus the COLA of the subsequent year.? Just a question?
Also to refresh everyones memory going way back to 1999 The state was handing out money left and right to the schools. A lot were getting 10-15% raises.
I think getting something restored isn’t really a raise. The union pushed very hard for that 4% cut in pay for two years in a row; I’m glad they fought so hard to get it back for the teachers. I am glad they didn’t do a roll over like just did place with the recent tentative agreement.
I hope everyone checks with retired family, friends etc. and see what Medicare really pays for. Those 5 years are going to cost the 1999 teachers a bunch when they can probably afford it the least. Good luck finding a supplemental plan.
People need to check out the other OJ blog — dated May 3 by Red Vixen Don’t rush this one folks.
Thanks for the reference, another newbie.
Here is the link. Please feel free to add to the discussions there:
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2009/05/saea-santa-ana-teachers-union-election-jam-down/
SAEA Santa Ana Teacher’s Union Election Jam Down
Reality Check,
Thanks for not correcting my grammar and spelling too. Actually I don’t mind a good ass-whipping if it serves to bring out information that should have been clear and apparently wasn’t to more than just myself. (as witnessed in a number of other comments here)
You will have to forgive me if I don’t buy into all the union love and transparency because I have seen my unions operation from the inside out and yes corruption (often instigated and supported by SAUSD administration) is an appropriate term. Casting that loop over your union may have been an unfair overstatement based upon complaints read here and comments made to me by some of your members.
I will take your statistics as more than opinions unless the future shows otherwise. Thanks for the smackdown!
http://www.redding.com/news/2009/may/01/teachers-want-audit-of-gateway-school-district/
Wonder if our district can do this???
Maybe we need to find out what consultants the districts are hiring and for how much? An audit sounds good.
Is it true that Freddy Gomeztrejo is getting riffed? Heard he also got a pink slip.
642 – I saw his name on the list of RIF’d teachers who requested a hearing. I also saw him at the hearing last month.
Where is the list of administrators with RIF’s? The administrators are very hush about this. No one seems to know what the situation with AP’s for next year is and it might help the district with PR if people actually knew that some at that top are actually going to be cut. Let’s just hope some of these include people at the district office.
I will continue my race for president of our association. Vote Robert Chavez for SAEA President. Yes,I did oppose the tentative contact and attempted to press our reps at our meeting to vote the contract down. What happened here is a creation of a two tier system. The numbers are correct 1440 assocation members will be affected by this contract and will lose five years of benefits when they retire. True, they will have medicare but remember Medicare will only pay 80% and the rest is an out of pocket expense.
Changing the subject we are the District that will be receiving the largest sum of Federal Stimulus money in Orange county. The money can be used to save teacher jobs and the money has arrived, if our district completed the necessary paperwork ( grant applications ). Under my leadership I will continue to pressure the district to apply for these monies and make sure they are spend correctly.We all know that 538 association members laid off notices should be resinded.We all need to attend the next school board meeting and express this demand to the school board members.
Fed- Up 595 April 30,2009 Thanks for your question? First, under my leadership I will be the president for all association members. Second, I will not compromise your rights as a association member. Third, I will improve comunication between leadership and our membership ( visit all school sites during the school year). Fourth, hold the district accountable for spending and cuts.
Rif Rif 506 Under my leadership as President we will pressure our school district to do exactly what UTLA and Pomona unions have done. I am a strong proponent of basis organizing and actions such as you see occurring in LA and Pomona. Such actions will occur in our district starting 2009-2010 on my watch. I need all my supporters and those who do not support me to join me side by side to say Enough is Enough (Ya Basta Ya Basta). Those of you who truly know me realize I have said these words many times in the past and will continue in the future. ” If I am serious about winning this election, I can’t live in fear about losing it.”
MegaFed-up You are correct I will not sell out any of our Association members.
MegaFed- Up 524 I spoke up and voted against CBA twice ( Rep Council for as longer as I was allowed by the chair, President David Barton and with all associations members who agreed and did not agree). I am certain a challenge is on the way.
In response to your second question the wage article is on the table and I will stand my ground for our members and protect their salaries along with the other bargaining members of SAEA. We will have to continue to be very cautious of the district directions look what happen with the passage of CBA. I know that no ones wants to talk about our district reserves but they will be discussed and spend all but 2% as mandated by the county and state departments of Education.
Finally, we need to talk about Special Education and how the intergration of special needs students need to be an area of protection for our general education teachers.We will need contract langauge that provides support for general education teachers and accomodates special education students in our main streamed classroom.
544 – There are all kinds of behind the scenes jockeying to keep administrators at their current staffing. Talk is that the district will no longer allocate categorical funds to sites. Money will stay downtown and district office will make decisions as to how they want to spend the site’s money. Under this plan, look for funding of administrators.
Robert, thank you for your response. I hope you’re serious about ending the passivity of SAEA and its facilitation of the rif process if you are elected and the district rifs again under your watch. Right now, I’m taking you at your word and you will have my vote. Though you didn’t say it, I also hope that you find some way to provide fairness to the teachers who have been totally screwed by the Bakersfield decision, maybe by hiring a lawyer to argue on their behalf that the district should not follow the Bakersfield decision, as has been explained by the lawyers who posted in this blog in numbers 307 and 370-372. Good luck. I hope you win.
2700 members, 1440 members are 1999ers and are affected by the tentative agreement yes vote. The math speaks for itself.. the majority voted away their own secondary insurance. Medicare pays for 80%. Does anyone have parents, or relatives that are Medicare age..? Don’t they know what they just voted away. Totally surprised but now amused
When will the Riffed teachers know if they have a job or not?
The district has given the go ahead to the administrators to place 30 kids in grades K-5 for the next school-year. Keep in mind they will follow the 24:1 model (keeping class size) but they can go as high as 30 in each room and still receive 70% of the funding. So, naturally, they will pack them to the brim (30). The people who are Rif(ed) will receive lay off notices (most likely on Mother’s Day). Happy Mother’s Day! They have to lay off the Rif(ed) so that the overflowed teachers in each grade level can take your spot. You will get what is left over if there’s anything left after the overflows move into a spot and Reading Coaches. You will be called to a summer meeting if you are rescinded and they will have a list of what positions are open and you will be given a number. You will then choose a position on their list of what is available. In other words, you will not be at the same school or in the same position if you are rescinded so make sure that you pack your things up at the end of June. Just a little FYI. Don’t expect many to be rescinded. Like I said, they will hire back some to fill the extra spots (if any) are available. No, this is not “bumping.” If you are given the heave ho on Mother’s Day, your position is considered “open”.
Ex. Say there’s 6 grade 1 teachers at your school. They will only need 4. 2 of those teachers will be placed in the RIF(ed) teacher’s open spot. This is not bumping because they won’t hire you back until after the spots are filled. If they hire you back before the end of June, your position is still yours unless they don’t have a need for your spot.
If you are in the top 3 seniority positions for your grade level, you will be ok and teaching the same thing. If you are not, plan to move grades and schools possibly.
Rif(ed) sorry to say this, but we get whatever is available and at least it’s a job. I hope that someday seniority is blown out the window and that day is coming my dear friends.
I am not a Union leader, but have gone through this process for a long time. I think you should know what is ahead for you instead of being left in the dark.
The only way that the district will go back to 20:1 is when pigs fly or do not have swine flu. The props are failing miserably. John & Ken have staged a huge protest (anti teacher) and prop on right before the election. I don’t expect them to win.
John and Ken: “If the Unions all over CA can afford to pay $7 million to get these bonds passed instead of buying books and pencils for the kids with that money, then we need to vote NO on these propositions.”
Also, the Union (not our Union), but the Union in general for CA paid over $2 million to support the gay marriage ban. What a waste of money.
2 Reality Check (#632)
Wow… Reality,
Why is it that you expect teachers to be incapable of speaking, reading, understanding? Why do you question someone’s ability at expressing themselves… “like a lawyer”? Are you forgetting that it was a teacher who taught all the lawyers out there how to question, be logical, read, and write? Seriously, teachers are not as incompetent as you may think.
Why the sarcasm when referring to O’Neil’s analysis/opinion? Do I detect envy because she is able to articulate her thoughts in a concise and direct manner?