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…
First of all, just because one person is posing questions does not make him/her naive. What makes you think that they don’t attend Union meetings, school board meetings, etc? I know that I do. I am also seeking a private lawyer this year and not even going to the Union farce Perez meeting.
In response to what makes you think you won’t be hired back? Simple…200 Reading Coaches and BRTs are going back into the classroom and I was told by a reliable source that in May they may do away with CSR because they have to borrow funds from Title 1 to keep it going. The board members continuously say that a good teacher can teacher a class of unlimited number of students, so teachers are losing hope this year that there will be few open positions after the 200 above go back to the classroom.
Yes, I think the district uses teachers to get Propositions passed (in May). I honestly don’t think they will pass because people are sick of the teachers (namely John & Ken) and are getting the people riled up. In fact, they plan to protest against the teachers so don’t count on any Prop money in May. The District will do it’s usual…more cuts need to be made and stressing out the 530 even more.
#350
You say that teachers should go to another district in the county. Most of them are laying off and what district in their right mind will hire a teacher with a Master’s Degree +30 with over 20 years of experience? Exactly…no one. So yes, they are trapped in Santa Ana. If they decide to go out of state, they have to deal with that Retirement issue of double dipping because CA teachers pay into CASTRS and not social security.
Anon,
Yes, younger teachers should be forewarned about the hazards of being employed in SAUSD.
YOU’VE got many years of experience and lots of training/education and look how bitterly you describe your plight. SAUSD employment clearly has been a difficult burden.
The reality is that it is every dog for himself in SAUSD. Better districts treat their employees as professionals and have competent management. Misery in SAUSD can just be expected and should be avoided by young, promising teachers looking for a career path.
An example of the corruption…
A few years ago, I applied to the SAUSD after taking a year off to visit family out of state. I had 13 years of experience at that time and a Master’s Degree. I kept calling the SAUSD because they would take all of my years of experience whereas other districts would only take a few years. The district would continuously tell me that they didn’t have my application on file or my transcripts. I sent it at least 3 times. I finally started to just go to school websites and contacted principals myself. I got lucky and contacted one (who is now retired), but she asked me to come to an interview. I told her that the district lost my application and files 3 times and she told me that was because I had a Master’s Degree and 13 years. She told me that I was hired which shocked me. I didn’t have to fill out any more applications or send in transcripts because of course the district really did have them. Isn’t that interesting? A job is a job and yes there’s times when we are treated like dogs, but right now there’s many teachers begging for one, so I can’t complain too much.
I had heard stories that Al Mijares hired his kid’s coach and gave him 14 years seniority in order to come to SAUSD from another district. That set presidence for other teachers who had a lot of years. Were you hired under Winston Best or Juan Lopez?
When most districts were giving out only 5-7 years, SAUSD was honoring years up in the teens. That wasn’t just a SAUSD “gift”, btw, it was enforced by the evil union 😉
Winston Best. Well, thanks to the Union then, but they failed to put one clause in…when it comes to RIF’s the 13 years don’t count. In other words, I was paid as a 13 year employee, but they don’t honor that when it comes to Reduction in Force. The Union is helpful in many aspects of course and we are grateful. I do (however) wish they would update this Ed Code to the current century.
Anon,
Just hang on. Use your wiles. You got into SAUSD before and you can keep your job again, I would bet.
Exploiting the mismanagement, inefficiencies and the established system of cronyism in the district has been a successful path for many 😉
Jane Russo certainly was booed at the town hall meeting. Everyone heard it. She deserved it. Ms Russo is a direct threat to one of the major targets of change for the Obama/Biden administration – that being “strengthening the middle class”. Jane Russo is responsible for widespread district pain forced on employees and students of our community. She has directed Juan Lopez to RIF huge numbers of productive employees like DSO’s, teachers, instructional assistants and other workers that have the most supportive contact with students. This drives away good people and weakens what can be done for the benefit of the students. Many of those who lost their jobs live in Santa Ana and that loss of income has weakened our community significantly.
Where are the Rif notices for administrators last year or this year? How about those high-priced “consultants” who suck the largest dollar amounts from our district? When are they going to stop being contracted with? Risk Management and Human Resources are run poorly and that results in high amounts paid to attorneys to undo illegal, sloppy errors. Both departments have terrible reputations of employee abuse. This is a liability for the district to bear going forward.
Jane Russo is a threat to our middle class lifestyle with her quarter of a million dollar paycheck (plus perks!) for mismanagement of our district resources. She rewards her friends with bonuses like Juan Lopez got this year. Twenty thousand dollars was what she insisted on giving Lopez during the current financial crisis. She’s a poster girl of greedy mismanagement that is so commonly being exposed now. She symbolizes the culmination of a decade of excesses at the top at the expense of those who work hardest. She’s no role model during these tough times. She’s a coward. She got caught at the town hall when everyone’s real disapproval of her came out.
Interesting # 349
You asked,”In fact, why haven’t YOU done anything about the corruption if you’re so smart?”
Answer; refer to comment #354.
When a system is so corrupt that it can circumvent federal hiring guildlines, state Government code, Education code, and who knows what else, then where would you suggest we start? The problem is systemic and I’m sure you would have taken the job too.
Anonplus you are right about SAUSDs ability to sidestep everything from employment laws, the Education code, and civil rights laws. They have been stealing money that is meant for the students and endangering students’ lives with coverups like the one at Franklin Elementary School. Funny how Camille Boden came on Board at that time to fix things environmentally (if you know what I mean).
Lawsuits that occur one at a time will be less effective than a class action lawsuit in changing SAUSD’s bad behavior.
Large numbers of teachers and classified staff that have been wronged filing a lawsuit may scare the crap out of Russo and the gang. There may not be much personal financial gain out of it, but it could change things for the better.
The way our Orange County Court system drags out the outcome of any lawsuit, it is best that you all stand united before you (individually) get picked off one at a time.
A united complaint is your only hope. I believe the Unions have to represent you when there is a breach of contract. If they don’t, then sue the Unions. For one thing SAUSD is supposed to have available for scrutiny, layoff and rehire lists showing seniority. Reread your contracts and you’ll be suprised how much they break the law.
SAEA/Union webpage updates just in:
http://www.sateach.org/David%20Barton%20retiring.html
SAEA President David Barton’s Retirement Letter
March 12, 2009
For the past three years it has been my honor to serve as President of SAEA. Thanks to your vigilance and a remarkable team of leaders, including Ron Shepherd, Susan Mercer, and Jennifer Isensee, we have been able to preserve salaries in exceptionally difficult times, protect affordable health care options, increase transparency and open lines of communication both within the Association and with SAUSD. Of course we have battled with the District when necessary and held them accountable as well…all this at a time of economic chaos, hundreds of RIF notices, frequent intransigence and your often brutal workload.
Many challenges await us in the future. However, after weighing the options and consulting with my family, I have decided to retire. It is the right time for me, but I also do this knowing full well that you have a gifted and passionately committed pool of leaders who will serve you well in the months and years to come. There will be time for a more formal good-bye later, but I did want to let you know what was happening.
Under CTA rules and the District’s emeritus program I will continue to serve as President until the end of the school year. An election for the remaining year of my term will be held starting March 24th and concluding May 21st.
I expect to remain active in education in a variety of ways–as a Board of Education member in Long Beach, as a member of the SAEA Board of Directors for 2009-10, as a member of CTA Retired and a number of other support groups. So I don’t disappear entirely!
Again, it has been my great honor to have represented you in good times and bad. The countless words of encouragement and support by you and your Reps have made my job easier. I am reminded of the words of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats who wrote:
Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,
And say my Glory was I had such friends.
My best to all of you.
David Barton
President, SAEA
SAEA Bargaining update just posted:
http://www.sateach.org/March%209,%202009%20Bargaining%20Update.html
Bargaining Update
March 9, 2009
On December 8, 2008, the SAEA Bargaining Team consisting of Ron Shepherd (Chair, Sepulveda), Peter Boyd (MacArthur), Susan Mercer (District Office), Louise Settino-Sobieski (Mitchell Child Development Center), and Billy West (Century) met with the District to begin negotiations for the 2008/2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Discussions revolved around Benefits, Salary, Hours of Work and Special Services (Special Education, Response to Intervention, etc). Initially, the District proposed a freeze of step and column, a reduction and/or elimination of stipends, a reduction in coaching periods, and a massive increase to benefits contributions (including a reduction for retirees), with all newly hired teachers being forced into the lowest cost HMO. SAEA’s initial proposal focused on maintaining salary and benefits, adding a “Special Services” article to the contract, and incorporating the hours of work MOU into the CBA.
In the course of eight meetings over the past three months, negotiations have narrowed. The District continues to propose a suspension of stipends (CLAD, BCLAD, Buy Back Days, GATE, etc.). However, SAEA has convinced the District to abandon its proposal of freezing step and column, and does not believe that cutting stipends provides a fair solution to the current budgetary problems. SAEA remains willing to talk about reasonable benefits changes in light of legitimate increases to the cost of the plan. The District might need to change vendors from Blue Cross to Blue Shield to save additional monies, however we are working to assure that the vast majority of members will be able to maintain their current providers.
In the current economic crisis, negotiations have been a challenge. We are continuing to protest salary and benefits, but with the knowledge that there are tremendous budgetary uncertainties, SAEA is being realistic and demanding accountability from the District for every penny. In the near future, your help will be essential to fight off long term solutions to short term problems.
From SAEA:
Important RIF Information
RIF Hearing Dates: April 2nd and 3rd at Villa Intermediate School. Office managers will be calling for subs. Please inform your office manager that you will need a sub for those dates. Try to arrive at Villa before 8:00 a.m. since parking will be limited. Carpooling is encouraged.
There will be a RIF hotline on March 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at: 714-558-5861
http://www.sateach.org/
They’re already planning a movie day at our school. The district will not be able to provide enough subs.
According to Superintendent Jane Russo “failure is unacceptable”. Could someone please explain why Jeff Bishop is still principal (6 years) over at Willard? Out of 87 intermediate schools in the county, Willard comes in 87th with the lowest test scores.
A “movie” day? That’s the type of thing that should rile up parents and at least get a mention in the paper. That’s horrible.
We all know how the SAUSD loves to RIF the MOST people in the County just to be the #1 worst budget managers in the county. Well, at least they are # 1 at something, right?
I looked at the current budget. It stated that 232 classroom teachers would be let go if CSR is eliminated.
First, don’t forget that the Reading Coaches and Bilingual Resource Teachers are going back into the classroom (approx 200 people) so…
232 – 200 = 32 (that leaves 32 positions) open if CSR is eliminated using their budget deduction of 232 teachers.
Now, if CSR is NOT eliminated for 2009-2010, then
if your number is after 232 (you are basically sunk in the water and should start looking for a job). This is a bad year to be Rif(ed) because the Reading First Grant is over unfortunately.
If the district chooses to keep the BRT’s then that could help the RIF(ed) people, but remember they like to RIF the pee ons first.
People, we need to stand UNITED and put a stop to this. The RIF(ed) teachers should schedule their own meeting without Union or District people (just an idea). I for one, am tired of my # changing 4 times in one day.
#360 thanks for the tips. Everyone is going to read the contract and hopefully we can get everyone to meet and UNITE. I am willing to do it.
## 367 and 368 — I agree that SAEA and will do nothing for us and that we need to meet. We were so disorganized last year, and that is what the District and SAEA and Carlos Perez count on when they conspire together to throw our lives topsy turvy year after year. But the RIF hearing is coming up next week, and it’s still unclear where will we meet, who will lead us, and what will our argument be at the hearing? As much as we don’t like it, we can’t just complain that our District management is incompetent, which it is, that the union and District conspire together, which they do, and that we don’t like getting Riffed again and again, which we don’t. We probably have to give the judge some clear and specific ground, a contract violation or something, so he can help us.
California Ed Code 89539
1. An employee who has been served with notice of dismissal, suspension, or demotion for cause, or a representative designated by the employee, shall have the right to inspect any documents in the possession of, or under the control of, the trustees that are relevant to the action taken or that would constitute “relevant evidence,” as defined in Section 210 of the Evidence Code.
2. (a) Any party claiming that his or her request for discovery pursuant to Section 89539.1 has not been complied with may serve and file a petition to compel discovery with the Hearing Office of the State Personnel Board, naming as the respondent the party refusing or failing to comply with Section 89539.
ED Code 89541.
(a) Absence without leave of an employee, whether voluntary or involuntary, for five consecutive working days is an automatic resignation from state service, as of the last date on which the
employee worked.
The ed code does say that probs are to be let go before tenured teachers. Even though the “Bakersfield Decision” stood in a Bakersfield Court…teachers can fight this decision using this….
California’s ED Code [44949, 44955, 87743]
No permanent teacher may be terminated while any probationary teacher, or any other teacher with less seniority, is retained to render a service for which the permanent teacher is certificated and otherwise qualified. When two or more teachers have the same seniority date the District will establish tie-breaking criteria. The criteria will be published at least 5 days before the hearing.
Teachers must also sign a “Consent to Legal Representation Form” and must also acknowledge they understand that CTA represents all the members being let go. CTA cannot make contentions on behalf of one person to the possible detriment of another. Separate representatives may be assigned in the case of a possible conflict of interest.
In other words, people stated above in earlier posts that the lawyer was representing the Bakersfield Decision teachers which moved the other teachers downward and created a huge morale issue and faction. If you wish to fight this…you can using the Ed Code (above).
Someone stated (above) and they are correct…
The district is not even complying with its own policy, much less the Ed.Code. The letter that the employees received in January to verify our credential status states as follows:
“According to the Education Code, the seniority date is determined by the first date of paid service with the District in a probationary position. To obtain probationary status, an individual must have a full credential either a preliminary or a professional clear credential.”
Again, this was the district speaking in an official writing in January. So why then is the riffing being done based on hiring date, not credential date?
Rif(ed) employees need to present this issue to the lawyer and he/she must present that in the case.
I have to post this in 3 posts because it is not allowing it all in one post (my apologies).
Also, Retired Lawyer (above) is correct…
When the question is asked to SAEA and its attorney, they say that “Bakersfield is the law,” but that is not a satisfactory answer. It is true that the Bakersfield case is binding on the Bakersfield school district, but there is no way to know whether other courts will agree with it in the long run. Nobody will ever know until other districts challenge it and other appeals courts in California, and maybe the California Supreme Court, consider the same issue. The legislature could also resolve the issue if it chose to do so.
Ed Code section 44911
Service by a person under a provisional credential shall not be included in computing the service required as a prerequisite to attainment of, or eligibility to, classification as a permanent employee of a school district. This section shall not be applicable to teachers granted a one-year emergency credential under the conditions specified in subdivision (b) of Section 44252 and subdivision (h) of Section
44830.
The Bakersfield people just happened to get lucky with the judge that made the decision. Another judge may read the Ed Code and decide differently.
“Service by a person under a provisional credential shall not be included in computing the service required as a prerequisite to attainment of, or eligibility to, classification as a permanent employee of a school district.”
This means that service under a provisional authorization is temporary rather than probationary.
No Tenure Track Status. With two narrow exceptions, a person serving solely under a provisional authorization (emergency permit, waiver or temporary county certificate) is ineligible for placement on a tenure track, the road toward permanent status. This is because Education Code section 44929.21 requires two consecutive complete years in a probationary status in order to attain permanent status.
Rif, Don’t try, anon, anon, anon, and not optimistic, I hear it takes 5 to make a class action lawsuit. Set up a meeting and more than that will show. Might even get pro bono representation from some young bloodsucker or a firm with time on their hands. I would attend and I am not a district operative or Teamster Trotskyite. Really.
Thanks, Ed. Code Lawyer. Your posts and Retired Lawyer’s posts really help clarify things. I hope you won’t mind answering a couple follow up questions from what you said in your second post. You say that Carlos Perez must present our case that the district is violating its own policy because the January information letters stated that the Riffing would go by credential date and the actual list goes by hire date. But Carlos Perez shut us down last year. How can we make him present our case if he refuses to listen to us again?
We need to get this blog out to the Rif(ed) teachers. Everyone needs to tell their Rif(ed) employees about this blog. We should meet at the hearing then organize our own meeting. The board decides our fate in May (after the propositions fail) and Arnold doesn’t give us the stimulus money. We have 1 month to do this so we need to get moving. First, everyone should consult a lawyer (not one that the union presents) and we all need to put our findings together and hire one top notch lawyer to represent us if the Union doesn’t provide us with one. We don’t want Carlos Perez that’s a given. Personally, I don’t think we would lose.
Rif Rif,
You need to call the Union and tell them that the current lawyer last year represented an opposing view and did not represent you. This is called a “conflict of interest” and they will have to assign you another lawyer. I would call CTA if your Union doesn’t provide you another lawyer.
CTA cannot make contentions on behalf of one person to the possible detriment of another. Separate representatives may be assigned in the case of a possible conflict of interest.
Uncertified teacher is fired
Outrage over hiring of special ed teacher
UNION ASKS FOR LIST OF OTHER HIRES
http://news.google.com/news?ned=us&ncl=1319485262
This is not California, but it will send the message across the country that it is not legal to hire someone to teach with just a Bachelor’s Degree and no certification. I would hope that our Union would ask our district for the all of the teachers in the district as well and check their records. (Emergency Credentials and Waivers) dating back a few years as well.
Teachers weren’t the only people outraged by Mrs. Byrnes’ hiring. Special education parent Amy Olaes, whose child attends Gates Lane School of International Studies, called the move “a disservice to the children of this city and to the trained and experienced teachers that work there.”
She also believes it was unfair to Mrs. Byrnes. “Placing her in a classroom of special needs children without the training and tools to work with them puts her in a precarious position,” Ms. Olaes said.
“A special education teacher requires specific and specialized training to educate children with a range of disabilities … I appreciate the new teacher’s willingness to work with a different type of student population. But only a trained and well-qualified person should be working with our children, special needs or not.”
http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/2009/03/24/Outrage-over-hiring-of-special/1237931853.html <—-video is here
Check out LA’s Union Site…very imformative
http://www.utla.net/node
also
http://www.utla.net/rifs
They even have a flyer made for the parents. I don’t see anything like that on ours.
Anybody know which school has the most pink slipped teachers?
Willard has 22 rif’d teachers and one admin position.
Looks to be about 26 at SAHS, but… my god! … almost the entire counseling dept., top people in our performing arts (old guys retired or left just a couple years ago) … what a disaster if they go. But that’s 26 out of about 170. 22 out of Willard ???? Would anybody be left but the principal?
I think 22 would be about 1/3 of Willard’s teaching staff.
Crazy that Willard has that many RIF’s. There’s 6 at my school and they are all probationary, fully credentialed and in at least their 3rd year. BTW Willard probably has 50 teachers so that’s a bit less tnan 1/2. So much for trying to build up a school from the ruins left after Mendez opened. I don’t think many people realize what type of destructive effect the opening of a fundamental school has on a neighborhood school, just ask the veterans at Saddleback what has happened to their school since Godinez and Segerstrom opened.
Can it be that a former Title I person from Willard is now teaching a second grade class at Lowell? Didn’t this person slap a female teacher at Willard on her rear last year? Didn’t this person slap a Willard student on the back of the head this year? This person used to work in the district office. What horrible things did this person do there to have to be transferred to Willard as punishment?
If this person is now at Lowell, could it be considered a reward for slapping the teacher and the student? Willard staff members-are you paying attention? Is this what you have to do to get away from Bishop?
I’m new. Let me get this straight. I was told the RIFs were based on seniority and you are saying the principals decide who is being riffed. Which is it?
I was also told once I get tenure, I can’t be fired, is that right?
sbello … our “tenure” is not really academic tenure like at a university. After 2 years probationary status (actually attained by March 15 of your 2d year) you become a permanent teacher, meaning a different set of rules come into play. Prior to permanent status, you can be “not rehired, aka not “re-elected”) without giving cause. With permanent status you may lose your job if there is a “reduction in force” (i.e. teaching positions eliminated) as is happening now, or for incompetent or unprofessional performance for which a number of specific steps must be followed as outlined in the contract.
thanks sahs teacher. Who rifs – the principal or the district based on tenture?
sbello-
The district rifs, based off of the seniority list. HOWEVER, in some situations (like this year and last year) certain credentials (like math, science, and special ed) are protected because it is hard to get and retain those teachers. This means that the new science teacher at my site who has been in the district 5 months is not RIFed, while teachers who have as many as 10 years in the district are RIFed because they are in a non-protected subject like the arts, Spanish, or English.
Does anyone know if certain useless positions such as the Bilingual Resource “teacher” will be eliminated?
Our BRT is nothing more than a pompous “third-string” self-annointed administrator who struts around campus with a walkie-talkie trying to order everyone around. In the many years she’s been here she has actually taught students perhaps 1% of “her” time. Fully 99% of her day is dedicated to shuffling papers and her feet. Add to that her rudeness toward parents, students, and staff, and it is very difficult to see any reason to keep paying for her position.
sausd elementary teacher,
Welcome. Pseudo-administrators can be so irritating, but they are there at the direction of your site leadership. Maybe list the name of the person and she’ll be on someone’s radar for a harder look – and perhaps if only to get that walkie talkie out of her hands and have the campus less prison-like in how things are run.
Welcome, sbello and other new OJ posters. Feel free to post comments and questions. Hopefully others can help clarify the issues.
————
And FYI to all teachers in SAUSD: The tentative teacher’s union contract will be presented this coming Tuesday at 4:30 at SAEA offices on broadway. Anyone/everyone is encouraged to come and get educated on what changes we will see in our 2008-9 contract and what the negotiation team hopes to do for the next contract negotiations for our current contract year. Dinner is provided. Come and meet your colleagues who volunteer so much of their time to help all SAUSD teachers. You do not need to be a site rep. You only need to sign in as a “visitor” to get some grub and salary information.
More information can be found at the SAEA website, hosted by Jeff Goldberg, volunteer and teacher: http://www.sateach.org/
RV-
Has anyone given any thought to the idea of developing a forum rather than a blog for SAUSD issues? It would be a much more organized way for people to express their concerns regarding various issues at different levels. It may also be a way to develop more of a community rather than just individuals who come and go with their comments. I think this type of format could actually be one to initiate some real change and help people rather than just a place to complain.
Any news on the tentative agreement? I heard it’s not good for the teachers and we will be mortified by it.
another anon teacher,
I have suggested this on a few occasions, for basically the same reasons. I like the set up over at IHB and other posting sites that use forums.
I’ll ask Art to address the issue, as in the past this has been an email-only discussion. I think it’s worth revisiting now.
I know that Art is committed to positive change in the school district and that is why he set up these archives. He’s carried official news on the site and he’s encouraged whistleblowing and posting rumors that can either be discarded or substantiated with time. His is the ONLY blog to dedicate space to everything SAUSD. When there were concerns voiced that related published articles were interfering with the discussions on this thread, he made an additional dedicated link for “news” links and other lengthy text reports.
Those “complaints” that you refer to, have often been the catalysts of change and sometimes rare action by district leaders, because once something is exposed there is a better chance that it will be at least looked at. That is why #389 might just want to toss out a name or at least the site of that walkie talkie weilding “teacher”. I mean, what could that “teacher’s” real mission be if they are constantly patrolling around the campus in an obnoxious fashion? What school site principal wants THAT question asked by a superior?
Anyways, let’s see what Art has to say, in regards to your question.
The OC Register is reporting Adams Elementary is one of 16 schools nationwide selected by Target and the Heart of America Foundation for a complete library makeover. Story is here:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-target-library-2346805-makeover-elementary
I don’t doubt that the Adams library could use new books and equipment but I wonder if Target and the foundation realize the Adams Library was remodeled just a few years ago with Measure C funds. At a time of serious employee cuts, the money might more wisely be used to support teachers and staff members instead.
394 – Target might be well-advised to look at the big picture. I believe librarians will be cut to 3.75 hours with no benefits. It doesn’t sound like the best use of their money. From a PR standpoint, it will resonate with the community though.
Yes, renovating a library with no librarian is absurd. It is so typical of the direction of education. We receive grants to get technology, with no one to support and maintain the technology. We are constantly receiving more “stuff”. No one ever really keeps track of how effective this “stuff” is because sadly, in many cases, no one ever uses it.
RV-Thanks for checking on the forum idea.
#392 in regards to the union contract, I was sent information that I posted here: Tentative Agreement has been reached and SAEA will be putting on a presentation of the final results this Tuesday evening at 4:30 in the Broadway offices behind the credit union. EVERYONE is invited and they serve food/drinks during the presentation.
I had heard that in a very difficult budget year, SAEA had managed to critically limit the cuts and damage that the district wanted to impose on teachers. Maybe you should attend the presentation and see?
another anon teacher: My pleasure. Do you have any forum styles suggestions that could be looked at? I mentioned IHB, but I think they have a custom job over there and it might be hard to replicate. I know CAPO put together forums for activism, but it has been a long time since I’ve looked at any of those…
Red Vixen,
I already knew about their presentation. However, I was looking for the RESULTS of the agreement or a summary of what went on. Yes, I can wait, but what’s the big secret?
Maybe you could decide on one consistent moniker to post under, so there is continuity in the discussions and your requests. Why keep choosing negative names?
I don’t know that there are any big secrets. The presentation will be given. I expect there might be some discussions. Maybe there will be an issue or two that needs smithing. Then I expect the whole thing to be posted onto their website, as promised.
Did you have particular areas of concern? I do know that step/column freezes will not take place. I am unclear about furlough days, but I don’t believe that there are any. I am curious about the CLAD/BCLAD and other stipends – were they removed, as the district had hoped to do?
If you are a teacher, you should plan to attend and get your questions answered directly. If you are one of the flakey administrators that were cut from the negotiations team this year, you’ll just have to wait and see 😉
Not optimistic
It’s not a big secret. The Tentative Agreement has to be voted on by SAEA’s Board before it can even go to Rep Council. Then Rep Council has to vote on it before it can be ratified by the members. It would be illegal to post the tentative agreement online or send it out to the members before the union’s Board of Directors and Rep Council voted on it first. Your union rep should have given you a general idea of the tentative agreement since it was discussed at Rep Council this past Tuesday. As Red Vixon points out, the Tentative Agreement will be presented at this Tuesday’s Rep Council. Then a discussion and vote will follow. If Rep Council votes to send it to the members for ratification, then copies of the Tentative Agreement will be sent out to all the schools and SAEA will also post it up on their web page. If Rep Council votes it down, then the bargaining team would have to go back to the table.