Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing! In this case our 2009 SAUSD thread has so many comments on it that it is now running too slowly. So we are starting this new thread for the second half of 2009.
So far this year we have had plenty to write about. The State budget cuts have had a devastating affect in Santa Ana. Layoffs have ensued.
To top this all off, the SAEA cut a weird deal with the SAUSD that essentially cut benefits for all the younger teachers. And then the SAEA held elections.
Now more budget cuts loom…and all the other issues remain. I expect this thread will fill up too before long…
Typical SAUSD, break the intent of the law if they can get away with it. Sort of like ignoring our contract on class size knowing that they will only get a slap on the hand three years later after the union has spent major time and energy in the grievance process. If change is to occur, the entire grievance process needs to have some teeth and the contract needs to have specific financial consequences to the district. At this point, they can say sorry all the way to the bank. I’m sooo fed up with it!
One potential resolution which can be indicated on a grievance form is compensation to the teacher in a specific amount based on the number of students by which the contract was exceeded and on the number of days during which this violation occurred. Clear contractual violations which are not resolved by Level III should be taken to arbitration where the arbiter can uphold the grievance and rule that the district must compensate the teachers. I think it is unlikely that the District will change its practices until these grievances are carefully written and carried through to arbitration.
Hello
I have long searched for a good forum
Best regards
# 341-342
Red was correct. I was the one stating the comment about furlough days, not her. I have no intent on checking with payroll on whether school police were put on 11 months or a 2 day per month furlough because frankly, what’s the difference? Two days a month for 12 months is 24 days and 11 months is something like 23.XXX number of days. In other words no matter what you call it, the fact remains no school police were actually cut.
According to the last budget reduction chart I read dated June 9 under the board reports, at least 1 DSO was actually cut but no police officers were cut. If this information isn’t correct or has changed I’m sure you can provide me with the correct information. I also stated, ongoing open applications for substitute school police officers are listed on job Ed. I see no such substitute listing for DSO’s. Therefore I stand by my previous comment that DSO’s have been cut while school police seem to be a protected species.
This dialogue started by my defending your officers against someones allegation of officer intimidation towards a parent. If you are going to turn into a drama queen over syntax, and then decide you are going to stomp your feet and threaten to run off (as you or another officer has done before when confronted about school police conduct) then perhaps I was hasty in defending your department over this allegation. I would hope you work with more maturity than you show here.
# 323/337: Well first it was a campus cop and now it was an associate superintendent. I have no clue where you are going with this especially since it seems to be a few years old and you have no intention of putting out anything more than a few vague comments.
Schools have been violating school site elections for years. District admins do not know how to comply with by-laws. And teachers and classified employees have been part of this deception. It’s no surprise SAEA runs rigged elections.
Well, their LUCK is running out is all I have to say….
Today I got a letter regarding the hire back process if they do hire back. One of the points said to call Blanca to get on the sub list. I called and she wants us to write a letter saying we have been RIF and then she will check our information to see if it is current and then give us a call to go in. Now as my friend stated, shouldn’t the union take care of the letters for us. It should be easy to just say to her I want on the list. Has anybody else called her?
#357
Don’t be surprised to pay the $75.00 again for fingerprinting!
Everyone NEEDS to remember this when Susan Mercer runs for election again…
Susan, what are you doing to get the people on that sub list PRONTO? The people are waiting to hear from you or do they have to have Patricia do that, too?
Perhaps Susan has escaped to Argentina.
anonplus #354…I give you kudos for attempting to provide accurate information, but attacking my maturity level is not necessary and provides another reason to avoid blogging here. There is a lot of finger pointing and blaming going on here. It’s a tough time for everyone, and pitting various departments and employees against one another accomplishes nothing.
You and I both know the Board and Super’s office do not make wise financial decisions, and the employees have little control over those decisions. Ask Juan Hernandez why they cut one DSO and no officers. Makes no sense.
#358,
You are so right about them making is possibly pay the fingerprint fee. When I started in the district 2 years ago, I was told that I was hired and got the job. However, on the first day of school I had to miss the first few classes because I was at the district office to first sign on as a sub. They were waiting for approval for me to get my job as the teacher of record. They had to post the position first. So I was making sub pay for 2 months then they retro paid me back to my first day of school. Blanca will I am sure again hold a sub meeting the first day of school and make those teachers who got a long term position wait to go in. She has caused nothing but trouble in my experience. I also have heard that many teachers who got hired had to have subs in their classroom for up to 2 weeks while waiting to be fingerprinted even though they are fingerprinted through OCD. What a huge waste of money to pay two people to stay in the room let alone a sub who just gets to sit there and do nothing while the main teacher waits to get the fingerprints in to teach.
So…in a nutshell…everyone go NOW and get fingerprinted so they don’t hold it over your head if you plan to sub. Send the bill to Susan Mercer.
Like I said before, the district doesn’t want you all subbing…you cost$$$ too much. The district WILL make it difficult for you to earn YOUR daily rate trust me on that one…they are already planning on how they will do that.
It appears from the budget presentations posted on the district web site that the district is planning to go to 20:1 in kindergarten and 30:1 in the other grades. Isn’t kindergarten presently at 30:1? If the district is planning on going to go to 20:1 in kindergarten, won’t it have to rescind about 50 or 60 RIFs in addition to the 30 or so it is rescinding for TOSAs. Curiously, there doesn’t seem to be anything about QEIA mentioned in the budget presentation. I think they may be putting off any decisions about that until after a special study session the Board is going to have some time in July.
But, like I said, the kindergarten thing sounds reeally interesting. Does anybody have any information about this?
And yes, Susan Mercer, are you going to be there for the laid off teachers and help them solve the problems with the sub. list before school starts. Many teachers are waiting to see whether you will dispel the perception that you don’t care about lay offs.
Anonymous # 361,
Nothing personal but the only way to find out if you stuck around or not was to prod you a little. Personally I’d be happy for you to stick around for those rare times your department comes up here. Yes the board, Russo, and Juan Lopez have made some insane decisions but so far your department has been well shielded and even benefitted. We understand you were reduced by a month but most here were reduced, cut, fired, or forced out one way or another.
Your department suffered some serious credibility issues under Miyashiro and some of the people he hired. So don’t expect not to be kicked to the curb if you are going to just blindly defend your department by saying something just couldn’t possibly have happened because it’s your department. We both know that’s not true. I am more than willing to stand up with you on unfair allegations brought up here against your people and in return you can bring, anonymously, facts to the table I don’t have. I have nothing but respect for what your department was created to do, but I also have a lot of problems with the political machine Miyashiro turned it into. I hope you will stay.
RIF teachers and all bloggers:
I suggest you call Blanca if you have been RIF and see what she says about subbing. I want to know if she will give different information to other people. Tell anybody you know who has been RIF to call her too. Then we can all call the union and ask what they are going to do about this. The more people who call the better. I will call the union myself on Monday and see what they say.
No, let me explain how Kinder works since I taught that grade this year.
I had 32 kids in my class (all year), but the district calls it 20:1 because they use what is called CSR OPTION 2.
This means that I have 16 early birds who arrive at 7:55 and go home at 11:45 and 16 late birds who arrive at 9:35 and go home at 1:25.
I have BOTH groups (32 kids) between 9:35-11:10 is all.
The rest of the time, I am under 20. That is why they are saying they are 20:1 in Kinder. They will NOT be rescinding people FYI for this.
It is the same basically.
32 kids = Option 2 20:1 a.m./p.m. group
I hope people are understanding this and not getting all excited that they are getting rescincded.
http://www.sausd.us/1443102812408810/lib/1443102812408810/2009-10_Adopted_Budget_-_Final_%28Board%29.pdf
Here they go with their “woe is me” the state is not giving us any money garbage.
The state said they were running out of money in March and it is the end of June…they have cried “wolf” too many times that I don’t believe them.
They say this EVERY time that the Dems and Repubs meet so that they won’t act like Kindergarteners.
Of course the lawmakers don’t give a hoot if the state is running out of money…
All of the politicians get to drive home in their free cars, with free car insurance with a free gas card, plenty of per diem money, free cell phones, no look expense accounts, etc. they couldn’t care less if a budget gets passed or not.
SAUSD Teacher,
Notice that the budget presentation says “still 20:1” in Kinder. The District is currently getting $535 per Kinder student in CSR money and will continue to receive that money next year. This is because, for half of the students’ day, there are two teachers – PM teacher works with the AM students, AM teacher works with the PM students. This brings the ratio to under 20:1 for half of the students’ day for which they can claim the $535. It’s called Option 2. They don’t need to hire any more teachers; they make the extra money with the teachers they have. That’s why the District went back to Option 2 in Kinder a few years ago.
Option 1 is what the other grades (1,2,3) have had where the students are in a 20:1 ratio for their whole day. The District receives $1071 in CSR money for those students. Now, of course, they’ll receive less, because they’ll be taking a 30% penalty and only getting money for twenty of the students in the class. It’s such a shame because the money they’re saving isn’t as much as has been portrayed to the Board and not enough to justify larger class sizes in the early grades and the loss of jobs.
Not that this is part of the discussion but did you all see the Nativo Lopez OC register article on his arrest for voter fraud.
#363
The only way to be fingerprinted is through the sub desk. They will *not* acknowledge OCDE. I was fingerprinted there and cleared in July; took the paperwork to SA and they insisted I do the same system (the same fee, again) through them in Sept. They don’t work at a fast pace and they usually only deal with changing the sub list once a year…in Sept. After all… you are only a sub.
Bratcher going to be interm Principal at Valley.. Boy here we go again.. waisting BIG money on these old timers and bringing them back to “save money” yet classified being laid off.. people are losing their jobs and getting part time people or other people to do those same jobs at less pay. Whatever..!
They better not do that to this group of folks because a group has been gathering and are planning a class action suit against them. We are “watching them” like a hawk and 1 mistake…we will all own the district. They better cut the crap and allow these folks (not me) I don’t even care about subbing really…some peace of mind. Once again, the district is choosing to put $$$ first and not people…but remember …what goes around comes around and I TRULY do believe this.
I’m new to this forum. It is really interesting reading all the comments. The question comes up repeatedly about Susan Mercer not standing up for teachers during this period. How did she get elected? Perhaps CTA would like to hear teachers concerns, since SAEA doesn’t.
The district has taken care of their own without regard for our students or teachers. They hired back the AP’s and now we are to have TOSA’s at every site! These positions will cost the district around $4.5M (@1.7M for AP’s and 36 TOSA’s at @75,000 each). It was clever how Russo reintroduced these positions as “must have” based on input from principals. We gave no input and are completely disregarded. The district should focus on teachers first, then other staff. Our students will suffer…but they don’t care!
Bunky,
Welcome and thank you for taking the time and effort to post at Orange Juice! blog
Patricia,
Is the new president and the interim executive director (in place for gladys) treating you with respect? Are they responding to your requests if you are making any?
For everyone:
Is anyone having anything good/bad to say about how the new president of your SAEA union is handling your concerns?
I cannot find Ms. Mercer’s email address on the SAEA website. I might be overlooking it. Could someone post it here or send it to me? I think that it is critical information for all members to have during this uncertain time. rvixen@gmail.com
Susan Mercer IS getting paid for extended school year, right? She wanted this position, come hell or high water, so she better be delivering the goods to all of you teachers.
I have been busy on other threads, but I wanted to let you all know that there are a couple of PERB cases in the works. I understand that the “food for thought” program was being audited on Monday/Tuesday of this past week because of the inquiries of PERB http://www.perb.ca.gov/ brought about by SAUSD employees. Among the allegations are harassment in the workplace, sexual harassment, failure to represent(classified union-CSEA), fraud, theft, malfeasance etc…
PERB has courts in Gardena and in Northern California. SAUSD employees are lucky, because the courtrooms are so close and there have been meetings already held. When the employees first brought about action/notification of PERB, superiors and union officials didn’t understand the ramifications and the harassment of employees intensified for a period of time. Now that the investigations are NOT going away, there are reports that several power abusers are on admin. leave and the others have scaled back their use of intimidation and harassment to control the flow of truth about working conditions. Definitely SAUSD managment has been put on notice.
CSEA was notified to keep membership informed about the progress of these investigations. They are bound, legally, to do this. So far, the union (CSEA)has released only periodic hard copies to some of the membership. If you will remember, I asked for electronic files/links to help keep members informed. The president of CSEA at one point said that those items would be forthcoming. But that has not been the case.
You classified employees are legally entitled to get that PERB information. If you aren’t then contact your CSEA office and have it sent to you. If they refuse or if they “forget” to do it, then post it here and contact PERB, ask for the attorney in charge and tell on your union. You’ve got a dishonest group of union leaders there and its about time they find out that there are consequences for refusing to represent their members.
Employees have referenced this site and it has helped the investigations a great deal. In fact, they are spreading around business cards that Art Pedroza has supplied with the website address leading to OJ. If you think your site needs these cards, then email a physical address or school site and we’ll do our best to get them to you in a discrete fashion.
For anyone who feels strongly about posting items of concern, I encourage you to do so. Things posted here have a chance of being investigated more fully. Doing nothing, being “polite”, not forcing important issues have gotten you employees where? Fired? Harassed? In impossible working conditions?
Tell on them. Tell on them. Get serious and make demands and hold them accountable.
There is a new sheriff in town and SAUSD, SAEA, CSEA all should be concerned going forward. An audit of grievances by Jennifer Isensee should be conducted. There’s been too much denial of due process. Has there been even ONE teacher that she has actually helped? I have not heard that story yet, so tell it, if its out there.
The way that Jennifer conducted herself during your elections is more than a little suspect. Scott Miller and Jennifer Isensee using membership resources of phone and mail for their own personal gain is an outrage. If their conduct has been this “obvious”, just imagine what they have been doing on the down-low. We got a good look at Scott Miller’s arrogance when he used Art’s personal information to advertise his fraudulant services of Anger Managment.
Have courage to tell if you’ve been short changed by the district and your unions.
PERB is run by the feds.
this is susan mercer’s addy
Sue Mercer,
mercersue@aol.com
this is jennifer’s
Jennifer Isensee,
jennisaea@hotmail.com
#365 Anonplus…thank you for the prodding. You are absolutely right about credibility (and integrity) under the Miyashiro regime. The officers did not support nor agree with his methods and politics, but were continuously threatend with the potential elimination of the entire department.
The boulder has been lifted and improvements abound. Chief Valentin is leading in the right direction, but know that prior to his arrival, the sergeants and officers together had already turned the ship.
Also, for information purposes, the department has and will be receiving federal grants under the COPS improvment program, therefore more officers may be hired. Also understand that there are at least two positions that have not been filled, and staffing is very short for 24/7 coverage. The part time officer positions were again a brainchild of the prior regime, and just another way of cheating on full time positions.
Bunky -What AP’s got hired back? Elementary only or the whole lot?
The CTA exec at saea circus central is a fill-in for Gladys while she’s on vacation- from what I understand…those clowns need some adult supervision, guess even CTA is getting loads of e-mail regarding saea and sent in a watchdog.
Is there a link to a CTA ethics committee? I’d love to share some of the antics I’ve witnessed and documented.
They hired back AP’s at elementary schools with 900 students or so they said. There were AP’s on the RIF list, but they were rescinded. This year (08/09) I heard AP’s who were supposed to be 1/2 AP and 1/2 BRT, etc. were paid their full AP salary even though they were halftime teachers. Now they seem to be taking Tier 3 funds to pay them without school site council approval.
Who is filling in for Gladys? CTA sent people to ask us questions years ago when Tom was president. Nothing happened. They had answers for everything. I’ve emailed CTA president Sanchez regarding certain issues and didn’t even get a response. I think we all need to contact CTA with our concerns. Perhaps they will wake up and listen.
Who really wants to work for these people and with these people honestly? 🙂 I certainly don’t….like I said…I like collecting unemployment myself and being laid off. 🙂 I will only do it if I am desperate (sub that is) because I am in NO RUSH to go back working under HORRIBLE conditions.
If you choose to work and stay with the SAUSD, then one must know the following:
1. You may be RIF(ed) at any time
2. You are replaceable
3. You may be asked to work under deplorable conditions
4. Your pay is going BACKWARDS, but you are being asked to do MORE
5. You will ALWAYS get the runaround and yes, you are “just a number” to the leaders.
6. If you choose to stay, then you are definitely desperate for a paycheck because you are going to have HUGE class sizes, less support, MORE paperwork, less supplies, more meetings, more state people coming in, and your check is decreasing.
7. You must KNOW that your monthly check will change because payroll doesn’t really know what they are doing…you better keep a close eye on it. Last year, many teachers were missing between $5,000-$10,000 on their W2 forms. (This will be looked into though). It has happened to MANY PEOPLE that I have talked to.
8. If you choose to stay, one must KNOW that the board is clueless and have never taught a day in their lives except Audrey.
9. You must know that the SAUSD board votes yes on whatever the district presents to them in regards to a budget, consultants and contractors (even John votes YES) on the majority of these then goes around saying…”what are they doing with their money?” YOU tell us, John???????
10. The SAUSD has over 20 pages of lawsuits at public (civil) records. I encourage you to look them up and the leaders + board members
11. After you read this, then decide if you really want a paycheck badly enough to stay?
12. Remember, EVERYTHING that you do in this district, you WILL have to do it the HARD WAY without much support and under deplorable conditions.
What I know:
1. I am good at what I do and I make a difference in the life of my students, their parents and the community.
2. I work very hard and I definitely earn my paycheck.
3. I don’t take things personally (even when they’re meant to be taken personally).
4. I don’t believe everything I’m told by administration or the district (education, in general, has never been on the cutting edge of anything).
5. I have had to make compromises but have drawn the line far more often than I have compromised (and I’ve paid the price).
6. I stand up for myself and for my colleagues.
7. I am a team player but it isn’t always the team administration or the district likes.
8. I know it’s just a job and my employer sees me as dispensable but knowing this allows me to keep things in perspective.
9. I have no intention of quitting.
#382 YOU are just the kind of person that the district LOVES and that’s why the district continues to take advantage of the FOOLS. No one is asking you to quit, but continue being a fool and allowing them to have your pay going backwards while you are doing more. March on with the rest of the yes sayers.
I call that a fool, but do what you want to 🙂
Basically, what I am saying…you will be losing your 3 days (teacher work days without kids) and will be taking even more pay cuts…just wait and see. Your Union is making deals behind the scenes and are conveniently “missing in action” again is what I am trying to tell you. YOUR CHECK is going to be less and less every year, but keep electing the same people….yes and keep the SAME people at the helm at the district while their checks are GOING UP…yours are spiraling (that’s all I am trying to say). Yes, the district loves the yes people who are like sheep. Continue to say nothing and think it is the “economy” “tough times” and more when the SAUSD has gotten MORE money than any other district and has received EVEN MORE money this year than EVER before.
I realize they are “holding on to the money” right now because the state is crying wolf to get the knuckleheads to pass a budget, but how long will the district hold on to it? They may even give themselves a raise on it or buy another Mercedes even.
Do NOT allow a pay cut people or a furlough day…but do what you want to …they won’t hire the canned teachers back even if they do this. Why? They are greedy…that’s why.
Members may not know that PERB is an option if they were not well represented by SAEA. The failure to fulfill the duty of fair representation may have been in a grievance or in some other matter.
It sounds like there may be situations where the a grievance was dropped after Level III when it should have been taken to arbitration. Cases have to be filed within six months of the union deciding not to take the case to arbitration (or of the member’s learning of the decision), and it has to be fairly obvious that the union should have sent it to arbitration. Members also need to know that they have to request, in writing, within ten days of the receipt of the Level III response, that the union send the case to arbitration. If the member doesn’t do so, SAEA may choose to not proceed to arbitration on the grounds that they didn’t receive the member’s request.
There are other situations where a PERB case may be appropriate, other than those where the union failed to proceed to arbitration. For example, a grievance may have been dropped at an earlier level without justification or there may be some other manner in which the union failed to properly represent the member. As I said above, these have to be obvious violations of the union’s responsibility to represent the member in order to have a chance at prevailing with PERB.
If it’s a matter of some form of discrimination by the District, the member has to choose between arbitration and PERB or other appropriate state or federal agency (although there may be exceptions to this rule). If a member does not feel that they would be well represented by the union in arbitration, they might choose to file directly with the public agency.
I have filed two cases (which I wrote myself) – one against the union and one against the District. My cases were a little complicated, but it sounds like other people might have more straightforward issues.
I would be happy to help anyone who may want assistance in writing a case for PERB.
To Patricia:
When did Susan send the letter to the RIF’d teachers? I think you are premature in giving her accolades when “working on it” doesn’t mean she did anything yet. It should already be done.
The Special Study Session, which isn’t televised, will determine use of stimulus money. There hasn’t been any discussion that I know of to reinstate CSR. In fact, I did a little calculating and based on current site enrollment we won’t have enough positions for the displaced teachers from the sites, as well as the curriculum specialists, etc. coming out of the district office to return to the classroom.
The next board meeting after July 14th isn’t until August 11th I believe.
Since everyone seems disgusted with SAEA, why don’t we initiate a vote to go back to an open shop, paying dues if we wish. Perhaps if they have to work for our dues, they will respond and provide better services. As it is they get our $ no matter what and don’t have to account for it. How could we get a vote started to change to an open shop? Anyone know?
I heard from Susan Mercer (President Elect)
First, Susan…glad you are still around. I thought you were in Argentina there for a sec 🙂 I do appreciate that you are responding and trying to assist those who have lost their jobs.
Let me SUMMARIZE for you what is going on…
Susan is working with Human Resources to have RIF’d teachers rolled over into the sub-system and to establish a process by which the sub-system will give priority to RIF’d teachers as stated in Ed Code. <—thank you especially for those who really need this money (susan)…keep us posted
RIF’d teachers get paid their daily rate, not sub pay, after subbing for 21 days out of 60 retroactive to the first day. <—I thought it was 20 days???
Summary of what will happen next….
The budget includes staffing grades 1-3 at non-QEIA schools at 30 to 1 and 25 to 1 at QEIA schools. Also, the Board approved to fund one “out-of-the-classroom” teacher at each elementary school. This does not mean the District will rescind 36 teachers. This will open positions for District displaced Multiple Subject teachers.
According to the District the following will occur. First the District will finalize the staffing of schools. Next, the District displaced teachers will select from open positions. Finally, teachers on the RIF list will be called back by seniority and credential to fill open positions. Displacement meetings are expected to take place at the end of July or the beginning of August.
There will be special study session on the District Budget on July 14th at the District Office. At that time the Board will review different options and the cost of implementing class size reduction. The School Board will be voting on budget decisions on July 28th.
_______________________________________________
Next, I have a few questions:
1. Can you post or send “the list” in order of seniority out (it is PUBLIC RECORD) OCREG posted it. We must KNOW our # at all times.
2. Displaced teachers would also like their # posted. They also need to know when they will be choosing their assignment. They may be on vacation and they do not want someone else choosing their assignment.
3. I know some subs who have already accepted LONG TERM positions. They cannot do this if teachers have PRIORITY over them. Will you be making sure that is done? I know 1 teacher now who is a sub at Garfield and she told me that she accepted a long term spot over there. She can’t do that…someone who was let go needs that FIRST PRIORITY.
4. Do they have to be re-fingerprinted?
We NEED the lists POSTED SUSAN…it will save everyone time. It is public record.
Thanks in advance and for getting the people let go on the SUB PRIORITY LIST.
I understand and see CLEARLY what happened. They didn’t RIF enough teachers and they HAD to allow the BRTs back to their spots to open ups positions for the displaced.
So, THEIR mistake (once again) cost CSR. tsk tsk tsk
I told you months ago that there wouldn’t be ENOUGH positions available for the displaced people, but everyone said …sure there is….well…looky what is happening. I don’t need a crystal ball to predict anything nor am I a know it all. I have just been around long enough and canned long enough to know how things are is all. (Sargent Schultz may know NUTTIN’ but the fired people do)
Bunky,
We can thank Jill for her continuous prodding on behalf of the RIF’d teachers. She is a very effective advocate. Who knows if Susan would have gotten involved with the sub issue without Jill’s insistence?
There has been some discussion at the Board meetings about restoring CSR. Two Board meetings ago, Audrey asked the District to provide the cost of restoring CSR at First Grade. That information was not provided at the last meeting as far as I know. A second request was made at the last Board Meeting – perhaps by John? – this time to provide the cost for restoring CSR by each grade level. I believe restoration of CSR is next on the list of the Board’s priorities. There is a Board meeting scheduled for later in July after the study session.
Hopefully, there will be people at the study session to give statements regarding the effectiveness of CSR. A few teachers have spoken to the Board to help them realize what a difference CSR makes for the students, but the Baord Members apparently still need convincing.
As for open shop, that is explained on the PERB website. Personally, I believe we need to move in the direction of electing leadership we are convinced will be the best possible advocates. With strong leadership, we can be a very powerful and effective local.
Jill,
I dont understand why you got an email about the Rif process and I didn’t receive one. I gave my email to my site rep and I have heard nothing so far. Did you have to pay a special fee to get email from the union?
I went to SAEA’s website and there was no notice of the Rif progress that you received. I see that Scott Miller has his own section about some conference he will be attending on the website. But there is no current information that you got to receive.
I agree that we should withold our dues (if we get hired back) for the shitty job this union has done to us. The recent board members have shown again and again how greedy and self serving they are. Where the hell is our service from this lazy bunch?
Patricia, Thanks for all your posts. You and Jill have done a good job trying to keep everyone informed. I wish you had been elected president. I just do not trust the current bunch to do anything right.
I don’t want kudos…I want fairness and OPEN communication where EVERYONE is infomed and none of this “behind the scenes” garbage.
People have bills to pay and lives to carry on. THEY MUST KNOW what WILL HAPPEN if the UNION or the DISTRICT knows. Withholding info just hurts everyone. Please, even if you have to retract…open up the behind the scenes to everyone because people have lives to lead…this is not all fun and games. Please DO NOT play with peoples’ lives and negotiate/use them for your greedy purposes (to get more money).
If you truly KNOW that CSR is staying…tell them NOW even if you have to retract.
SAUSD has money on top of money. They have so much they don’t know how to spend it all. Case in point; a TOSA in every school? What is this special assignment? I have a good idea what the hours are, the beginning time is when they get in and ends before the student leave. Lunch time is about an hour, more or more. That is good for 2 million of which they say they don’t have.
How about that BTSA? Nice department to service all of your beginning teachers. How many beginning teachers does SAUSD have that they need a special department to service them. Using my Excel spreadsheet with complex formulas, I come up with ZERO. And how many district personnel are in that department? No wonder the cafeteria budget is so high.
How many times did SAUSD cut those AP’s only to hire them back? I think they do that so they could say they made $2 million in cuts and leave out the part where they say fooled you.
Classified people…do NOT for one minute think we are forgetting about you either…YOU are just as important so we will continue to not allow you to be treated like a sack of potatoes. That has got to change, too.
Top paying positions stay? baloney…
To Patricia: What leadership are you talking about? When is this miracle going to happen?
The members just elected all the people that maintain the status quo! Unless the election was fixed, our voice isn’t being heard! This pattern will continue. Do you want us to wait for two years, four years for change? Initiating a reversal from closed to an open shop will send a powerful message.
Do anyone really believe they are going to reverse their decision on CSR? I am never surprised by what the district does anymore. It could be reversed, but why put everyone through this pain?
Bunky #395 said…
Initiating a reversal from closed to an open shop will send a powerful message.
email me Bunky
jillpuich@yahoo.com
thanks 🙂
#393 I agree with you. I do know that the BRT at the school I was just at though was a hard worker and not a clock watcher so we must be careful not to lump them all into lazy do nothings. I do see A LOT of those. Do I think they are a priority? No way! Principals were whining and once again got their way.
Yes, the district makes a cut…reinstates them then later on says..that cuts were made lol but we are keeping everything and I have a huge folder of proof.
What can you say about the union? Sure you can say they are the district’s lapdog, that the leadership acts in their own best interest. But that would be sugarcoating it.
How did the union make the transition from an open shop to a closed one? Was it 15 years ago they took a vote, counted the votes themselves, and proclaimed victory for themselves? How many subsequent elections were held as to keep the union a closed shop or revert to an open one? ZERO. Even if there were such a vote, it would only be valid if a disinterested accounting did the actual counting and if the ballots were mailed in.
I think an affirmation to the union would be appropriate now. If the union thinks they are in touch with their members they have nothing to worry about a new election. Of course, the new executive board will do anything to keep their new position and pay. As for the members, a sack of potatoes to be sliced and served up to the district and for them to pay for the privilege.
Everyone STILL needs to continue to call the sub desk. We appreciate that Susan is trying, but we have no reason to believe that this is going to happen.
Next, people have some time to gather parents, groups, classified, teachers, everyone they know and get them to CONTACT the board members.
Pass this list of questions on to EVERYONE you KNOW and have the board answer each question individually. If they don’t answer…they are typical…yes voters.
Ask them the following…
(thanks Outsider for your input on these)
1. Why was the board allowing the district to pay for the AP’s (Assistant Principals) who were supposed to be 1/2 AP and 1/2 BRT (Bilingual Resource Teacher) to be paid their “FULL” AP salary even though they were halftime teachers?
2. Now they seem to be taking Tier 3 funds to pay them without school site council approval.
Ask them which “TIER” they plan to pay for them out of? Ask SPECIFIC questions to them. Email them…call them…do whatever is necessary.
I will list the board members on the next post. We must have people ask them SPECIFIC questions and not just say, “my daughter needs 20:1.”
3. Ask them what a “TOSA” Teacher on special assignment does and how do they “justify” hiring them back while packing rooms over 30 in elementary and over 40 at secondary?
4. How many beginning teachers does SAUSD have that they need a special department to service them? ex. (BTSA)
5. How many district personnel are in that department? BTSA
6. Ask them if they considered CSR in possibly one grade level only or two grade levels possibly?
7. Ask them if they KNOW EXACTLY how much the cost of CSR is from an outside source and NOT from the district’s budget presentation. Are they looking at Patricia’s or doing their own investigating or relying upon the SAUSD as their mentor in truth?
9. Ask them why they voted to re-instate TOSA and BRT’s?
Ask them if they restored these positions in order to open up positions for the displaced teachers?
Ask them if the decision to restore TOSA and BRTs was made in the best interest of the children or because they were pressure in doing so? (because the displaced didn’t have ENOUGH openings)
If they say it was…ask them HOW these positions would benefit children.
10. Can they honestly say that decisions that they have just made were made fairly, with investigation on their own and because they were not trying to do what the district or the union wanted them to do?
11. Ask them how they can sleep at night. (Jill)
If you have more questions for our board…write them here…they do read this…trust me…
Bunky,
The new President’s term is for one year. She is completing the second year of David Barton’s term. (David retired, as you probably know.) There will be an opportunity to elect new leadership next spring. The two Vice-Presidents’ positions will also be up for election. In the meantime, Susan and the newly elected Board members have the opportunity to prove themselves to the membership.
It is also important to elect strong Site Reps for this next school year, people that you feel will represent you well at Rep Council, people who are not afraid to speak up.
I understand your frustration and how seeking open shop may seem like a potential solution. (It’s crossed my mind, as well.) However, eliminating agency fee doesn’t mean that there won’t be the same problems with elections; it does, however, mean that many of the members who do not feel well-represented will no longer be able to vote.
I still have hope that by helping to elect candidates you support (or even running for office yourself), we can bring about the changes we hope to see. I expect that changes will be in place by the next time we hold elections for officers, changes that will help ensure complete fairness to all candidates and the opportunity for members to make fully-informed choices.