A teacher is a teacher is a teacher

Ray has given a timeline of how negotations are progressing but just to recap; we will use the results of our recent calendar survey when we go to the table on June 7.  We will have a general meeting on June 9 to give an update on these negotiations as well as to talk about what our "A-" budget plan looks like.

Thank you to all of those who gave us such valuable input on the calendar survey and to those who completed the Rutgers survey too.

With the unsettled budget situations these past couple of years and with negotations having to take place after the May revise we will once again be in a bit of a time crunch in terms of needing to vote on and ratify a contract before we end our school year.

We are committed to giving you as much information as possible throughout this accelerated process.  Please write or call with any specific questions, talk to your reps, read the flyers, and attend the general meeting we have scheduled for this coming Thursday at Artesia High School.

But the real purpose of this message is to offer some thoughts on truth in labeling and one of the most difficult effects of the recent budget statewide budget crisis.

I am talking about the plight of our teachers who are on temporary contracts.

Notice that I did not call them "temps"

These are not temps, they are teachers.

These are not temps, they are our colleagues.

These are not temps, these are professionals.

A teacher is a teacher is a teacher.

Our mission, rightfully, has been to protect and preserve the jobs of every permanent employee and in this accomplishment we should be justfiably proud.

Neighboring districts such as Long Beach laid off almost 800 employees while we have not lost one permanent employee.

But I am not satisfied with the status quo and I am cognizant of the value that teachers who are on temporary contract offer our district and our students.

I teach down the hallway from Steve.  He is a great math teacher.  He has two young children.  He is a friend.  I look forward to working alongside him for years.  He is so much more than a temp.  And I am willing to fight to keep valued colleagues like these at all of our sites.

Our position is a difficult one.  We may not represent teachers on temporary contract in regard to their status but we are listening to the teachers who work with teachers on temporary contract and are painfully aware of how much teachers on temporary contract add to the culture of their respective sites.  We have heard this loud and clear from a number of you and we will definitely take these issues into consideration as we negotiate in the future.

In Solidarity,

Ruben Mancillas