ABCFT - Week in Review - May 25, 2018
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In case you’ve missed previous Weeks in Review, you can find all of them here: ABCTeachernews To find previous editions, just click on “Blog Archive” which is the menu on the right and click on the specific week.
(ABC Federation of Teachers)
In Unity
ABC Federation of Teachers
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MEMBERS GET ACTIVE - ABCFT TEACHER LEADER PROGRAM
ABCFT TEACHER LEADERS PROGRAM: Tanya Golden TL Facilitator Profile here
Last Friday, our ABCFT Teacher Leaders held our first Showcase. Each TL presented their action research to a large audience of peers, family and friends, principals, Academic Services, Board Member Ernie Nishii, and Dr. Sieu. All the research involved educational issues that affect students and teachers in the classroom such as writing curriculum, social emotional development, teacher support systems, inclusion, block scheduling, recess time, technology, homework, and charter schools. The research results will be used to influence local and statewide education policy and practice. The professionalism and depth of knowledge the TL’s demonstrated was inspiring. I am honored to stand among these conscientious and talented educators.
ABCFT is pleased to announce we are accepting applications for the 2018-19 Teacher Leaders Program. If you are an ABCFT member and you’re interested in learning, collaborating, and discussing topics such as education, unionism, and polish your leadership skills then we want you! See below for details on how to get involved. For questions about the ABCFT Teacher Leaders Program contact Tanya.Golden@abcusd.us.
Here are the details about the 2018-19 ABCFT Teacher Leaders Program:
To learn more about ABCFT’s Teacher Leaders Program see the Teacher Leaders Profiles here to hear about the TLP directly from our Teacher Leaders.
ABCFT Teacher Leaders Applications are due by Wednesday, June 13, 2018.
Juarez Academy Annual Engineering Showcase
Last week Juarez hosted its third annual engineering showcase highlighting student science projects. Each year they choose a focus and this year they emphasized the engineering design process in which students worked on eco friendly innovations with sustainable designs. Some highlights were the use of Dash and Dot robotics/coding, eco-friendly buildings, sustainable transportation using solar power, eco-friendly urban parks, among other wonderful project that both students and teacher worked on throughout the school year. (pictured - Ray Gaer, Kevin Cizmar, Richard Jaramillo, Christine Balbuena, Tanya Golden, and Cassi Chamberlain)
CURRICULUM UPDATE
Elementary Curriculum Update:
August 22 Professional Learning Day: Teaching and Learning Institute
If you haven’t heard already, Wednesday August 22 is an optional PL day for all teachers including Adult School and CTE, nurses and children’s center permit teachers to earn additional compensation and training to support your area of work. Registration is required and will be available in the next few weeks. Once the registration is open, you will have until June 13th to sign up. More information will follow regarding the session topics as well.
Summer Opportunities
The purple paper process to apply for summer work is now in your email. All TK-6th grade teachers will have an opportunity to apply for summer hours to work on Math and ELA pacing and assessments, pulling writing anchor papers, and NGS example lessons. The Report Card Committee will also convene to work on the Report Card Maker GradeBook. Academic Services is looking for teachers to work on these important summer tasks.
Please email Tanya Golden at Tanya.golden@abcusd.us if you have any questions or concerns regarding elementary curriculum.
Secondary Curriculum Update:
August 22 Professional Learning Day (See Above)
Social Science Textbook Adoption
-High School Teacher Leaders have chosen McGraw Hill Impact for World History & U.S. History, and Pearson for Civics & Econ.. Their publisher decision will be brought to the ABCUSD School Board for approval on May 15 after the required 30 day display period. High school teacher training will be on June 4, 5, or 6. Teachers will receive an invitation for one of those days. Some teachers may opt to attend two days if they teach US or World History AND Civics/Econ (these are different publishers).
-Middle School Teacher Leaders have evaluated three (3) publishers- McGraw Hill & Discovery(online) and Cengage National Geographic. They met on April 19th and chose Cengage National Geographic. The Middle School Publisher decision will be brought to the ABCUSD School Board for approval later on n June 19. Training will take place August 22.
-An email with the high school textbook training dates was sent out by Julianne Gray on May 4, 2017 as follows: (All trainings are from 8AM-2:30PM)
June 4th- World History (McGraw Hill) Conference Room A
June 5th- US History (McGraw Hill) Conference Room A
June 6th- Civics and Economics (Pearson) Conference Room A
-Middle schools will not be trained until Summer of 2018.
Edmentum
A New Edmentum Handbook has been created that guides the application of Edmentum throughout the district. Content Teacher Leads have been hired to oversee the work of students in their respective subjects. The Edmentum Ad Hoc Committee will meet on May 29th to plan for Summer School and the 2018-19 school year. Ross Teacher, Richard Velasco is serving as Edmentum Interim Coordinator.
Please email Rich @ Richard.Saldana@abcusd.us if you have any questions or concerns regarding secondary curriculum.
ABCFT Community Leadership Academy Workshop
Interested in becoming more involved in your community and making a positive impact on the lives of your neighbors? ABCFT will be hosting a free seminar at the Union Hall where you can learn how to become a City Council member, serve on a Parks Commission, Planning Commission, School Board, Neighborhood Board, or an Advisory Board in your community.
Date: Tuesday, May 29th
Time: 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Place: Union Hall at 19444 Norwalk Blvd. Cerritos
Neighborhood Coffee Discussing School Facilities Plan
ABCFT School Board member Ernie Nishii is looking for your input.
School Board Trustee Ernie Nishii is in the middle of his first year on the ABCUSD School Board and he is looking for input from teachers and parents about what facility improvements are most important to his constituents. Mr. Nishii is pro-teacher and pro-student and knows that teachers and students need the tools and facilities to help both be successful. If you would like have direct access to one of ABC’s teacher supporting board members, please attend his informal gathering.
Here is what he hope to cover during the meeting:
1. What is the Plan for School facilities? Security/safety? Technology?
2. How to pay for our school facilities?
3. What do YOU think?
Refreshments will be served
RSVP preferred (not required) by June 1. Ernie.nishii@gmail.com
Cerritos Baptist at 11947 Del Amo Blvd. on Saturday, June 9 at 4 p.m.
NTA Life Insurance - An ABCFT Sponsor
About three years ago ABCFT stated a working relationship with National Teachers Associates Life Insurance Company. Throughout our partnership, NTA has been supportive of ABCFT activities by sponsorship and prizes for our various events. This organization specializes in providing insurance for educators across the nation. We have been provided both data and member testimonials about how pleased they have been with the NTA products and the opportunity to look at alternatives to the district insurance choice.
Later this month, ABCFT will hold two days for members to come to the Union Hall to hear what NTA has to offer and ask questions directly with their representatives. If you are interested in hearing about insurance alternatives open only to ABCFT Members, please come to the Union Hall at 19444 Norwalk Blvd in Cerritos on either Tuesday, May 29th from 3:00 - 5:00 pm or Wednesday, May 30th from 3:00 - 5:00 pm to speak with NTA representatives.
Here are a few of the highlights of the NTA plans that set them apart from plans that we encounter across the country.
Disability Coverage
- Benefits payable for covered injury or illness
- Pays first day of a covered injury
- Pays in addition to sick days
- Pays during summer and holidays
- Pays for wellness visits
- Includes pregnancy benefit
Cancer Coverage
- Same rate for all, regardless of age
- No lifetime maximums for benefit payouts, no reduction in benefit for any additional occurrence
- Benefits payable regardless of hospital confinement
- One page claim form
- Wellness benefits paid for each covered person on plan
- Benefits paid on actual charges for skin cancer
- Portability (able to keep even after retiring)
- No reduction in benefits when individual becomes medicare eligible
Heart Coverage
- Same rate for all, regardless of age
- Benefits payable for heart disease not just for heart attack and stroke as in most plans
- Comprehensive coverage
- Coverage doesn't terminate upon use
- One page claim form
- Wellness benefits paid for each covered person on plan
- Portability (able to keep even after retiring)
- No reduction in benefits when individual becomes medicare eligible
Accident Coverage
- Benefits payable for covered accidents and injuries
- Covers on and off the job
- Payments for emergency room AND urgent care
- Program coverages include payments for hospital stay, intensive care units, ambulance, surgery, and include an AD&D.
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Click in the Educators Choice Picture below to get your CFT voter guide for your area.
Over this past week I attended/worked with unit members in representations, contract resolutions, email/text/phone call questions, site concerns, and mediations. Here are a couple of highlights from my week:
May is a super busy month and I think if you survive May you need to get an honorary Superhero pin for your accomplishment. Teachers and nurses are finishing up on testing, preparing for packing up the classroom and offices, finishing the last of the pacing guides, thinking about looming grades and report cards, voting on reps and bell schedules etcetera etcetera. The way the phones and emails are buzzing here at the Union Hall, we know that this is a time to tie up loose ends or get an answer to a question that you’ve been wondering about.
We hope that this year’s Weeks in Review have helped not only to give you answers to questions or support when you most need it. We hope that it has also given you a glimpse into what we do each day to support teachers and nurses throughout the year. Membership Coordinator, Tanya Golden and myself have worked especially hard this year to create the Week in Review so that the YOUnion is not some isolated number you call or some stranger you have to talk to if things aren’t going right.
It was our hope this year that the Week in Review would provide the ability for the Union leadership and the members to have conversations about the things are important. We hope that if you have been reading and learning with us that when you do feel the need to call or email us at the Union Hall or if you see either of us visiting your school site that you’ll feel like you have a connection with us.
Tanya and I are both teachers and we came out of the classroom to advocate for members any way we can. Just as any teacher or nurse in ABC make a personal connection with the student or parents they are working with, ABCFT wants and needs to have that same personal connection with the members. Over this year, the ABCFT email has been filled with great questions, observations, guiding criticism, words of thanks and encouragement to continue this outreach. As teachers, Tanya and I need to have the connection with the people we work with so that we understand who and what you are experiencing as individuals and we can gain insight from your expertise.
It’s our hope that you will continue to read the Week in Review because it brings a human face and voice to our YOUnion. We hope that you continue to reach out in emails and calls. We hope that you will proudly wear your Public School Proud ABCFT Member polos ( more opportunities to get those next year so keep your eye out), and we hope that one day we will see you either join us at our monthly Union Social for a beverage or perhaps you will choose to get involved in your YOUnion because you understand the ABCFT Mission to “protect and enhance the rights, working conditions, and financial well-being of those it represents, in order to promote a positive environment where teachers can teach and students can learn.”
Thank you for taking the time to read what is going on in your YOUnion. We hope that you will continue to provide us with guiding feedback on the value of what we present and what topics you would like to see us tackle in the future.
We hope you have a good weekend. See you here next week!
In Unity!
Ray Gaer
ABCFT President
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Teachers Value Their Unions: American Federation of Teachers on Educators for Excellence (E4E) Initial Survey Results
WASHINGTON—E4E released today the initial findings of its survey, “Voices from the Classroom: A Survey of America’s Educators,” and the results indicate a vast majority of teachers—union members and nonunion members alike—believe teachers unions are essential, even if they disagree or have concerns with positions the union’s membership has taken on some issues. AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement in response:
“As we await the Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, this poll, conducted by an educator group supported by philanthropists not known to be pro-union, confirms what we have seen nationwide: Educators—union members and nonmembers alike—believe that teachers unions play a vital role in their lives, and they value that voice and that representation. These initial results show the importance of strong representation and continued collective action like we’ve seen in the teacher walkouts around the country.
“Although we don’t always agree with E4E, we are encouraged that its poll shows 85 percent of all teachers regard unions as important, including 74 percent of nonunion teachers. What’s even more important about these findings is the value respondents place on the union even if they disagree with positions the union takes.
“So while the Koch brothers, Betsy DeVos and their right-wing allies spend millions to defund unions and divide teachers, it’s clear that educators still see value in union advocacy and want their voices heard. Unions help them fight for the funding and community respect their schools and students need.”
- 05/23/2018
AFT’s Weingarten to Grill Navient from Shareholder Meeting Floor
- 05/23/2018
Teachers Value Their Unions: American Federation of Teachers on Educators for Excellence (E4E) Initial Survey Results
- 05/21/2018
American Federation of Teachers on Supreme Court Ruling in Epic Systems v. Lewis
- 05/18/2018
AFT Leaders Respond to Shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
Civic Leadership Academy
If you belong to a union at work or live in a community at home, you can be a leader and the LA Fed can help prepare you. Become a City Council member, serve on a Parks Commission, Planning Commission, School Board, Neighborhood Board, or an Advisory Board.
Take action now to improve your community by applying to our Civic Leadership Academy and bring union values to public service. We are currently taking applications from union members for CLA’s Cohort #2, and attendance is required for at least four of the five Saturday sessions
ABCFT will be hosting a free seminar at the Union Hall where you can learn how to become a City Council member, serve on a Parks Commission, Planning Commission, School Board, Neighborhood Board, or an Advisory Board in your community.
Date: May 29th
Time: 3:30-5:00 pm
Stamp Out Hunger!
LABOR COMMUNITY SERVICES NEEDS YOU TO HELP SORT FOOD FOR COMMUNITY PANTRIES!
Join ABCFT union members on either day for a few hours of sorting out food. Lunch will be provided.
Please respond to ABCFT email to let us know if you are interested in helping.
Saturdays, May 26th and/or June 9th
8:00am – 12:00pm
Food Drive Location:
Where: The Salvation Army
5600 Rickenbacker Rd. Bell, CA 90201, Bldg. 1
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
Mass school shootings tend to happen in small-town America
All but one of the 10 deadliest school shootings in the U.S. took place in a town with fewer than 75,000 residents and the vast majority of them were in cities with fewer than 50,000 people. “ People in small towns and suburbia think it can’t happen here. And that is exactly the type of place where it does happen,” said Peter Langman, a psychologist who has been studying school shootings. “This type of violence is the one associated with small-town America.” The phenomenon, experts believe, is due to a variety of factors, including easy access to guns and the pressures of living in small towns that make it harder for disgruntled teenagers to adjust. Parkland, where a student gunned down 17 people, had just recently been voted the safest town in Florida.
Fears that Congress will cut funding for teacher preparation programs
Speaking before the House Education Committee this week, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos praised legislation called the PROSPER Act now being considered by Congress, although some believe that it will harm public education if it becomes law. Mildred GarcÃa, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, said the act would eliminate billions in dollars for federal student aid. “Just as disastrous,” she says, “it would mean the abdication of the federal government’s important role in supporting research and incentives that help improve educator preparation programs.”
DeVos says reporting undocumented students is a local decision
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sat before the House Education Committee this week to answer questions about the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights. At one point, Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) expressed concerns about the office's low performance and asked Mrs DeVos to recite its mission. “The Office for Civil Rights is committed to protecting the civil rights as determined under the law of this land,” the Education Secretary replied. "That's not the mission," Fudge said, before asking Mrs DeVos if she knows what it is. “I have not memorized the mission statement,” she answered. Meanwhile, Mrs DeVos said that it’s up to individual schools to decide whether to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they suspect their students are undocumented. “That’s a school decision. It’s a local community decision,” she said, adding that “we have laws and we also are compassionate.”
‘Boycott school until gun laws change’ former education secretary says
Following the shooting that killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School in Texas, former President Barack Obama's Education Secretary Arne Duncan has said it was "tragically necessary" for parents to pull their children out of school until U.S. gun laws are changed. Duncan said that the idea was intended to be provocative but that an aggressive approach like a school boycott is needed if gun laws are ever going to change. “It’s wildly impractical and difficult,” Duncan said. “But I think it’s wildly impractical and difficult that kids are shot when they are sent to school.” Meanwhile, Fred Guttenberg, the father of a student killed in the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida criticized Republican leaders after the Texas shooting, predicting gun violence would be the "No. 1 issue" for voters in November. "If you're wrong on this issue, we're going to fire you," Guttenberg said. "Because enough is enough is enough."
Student performance lacking despite higher academic standards
According to the journal Education Next, researchers found no connection between a rise in state standards and a rise in student achievement even though this is the main objective of raising the bar of test proficiency. "We find no correlation at all between a lift in state standards and a rise in student performance, which is the central objective of higher proficiency bars," the study states. "While higher proficiency standards may still serve to boost academic performance, our evidence suggests that day has not yet arrived.” The report goes on to say even though states have raised their standards, they have not found a way to translate these new benchmarks into higher levels of student test performance.
----- STATE NEWS -----
Charter advocates accused of misleading Obama imagery
California State Superintendent candidate Tony Thurmond supporters have accused opponent Marshall Tuck – a former charter school executive – of “shameful[ly]” misusing Barack Obama’s image and words to advocate charter schools in promotional mailers for his campaign. Critics say the mailer falsely implies that Obama has spoken in support of charter expansion in a ploy to detract voters from Thurmond, the Democrat Party’s officially endorsed choice. Charter school campaigners have been accused of similar, misleading Obama imagery in promoting Antonio Villaraigosa’s gubernatorial campaign.
----- DISTRICTS -----
National teachers vote to strike
The National City Elementary Teachers Association, which represents educators at 10 schools in the National School District, voted yesterday to authorize a strike, after failing to reach a salary agreement. Eighty-eight per cent of the 262 members that voted were in favor of action. The district has offered a pay raise just over 5%, but the union is seeking 6% for the third year of their current contract and better benefits. The district’s offer would also require 20 minutes of extra working time from teachers each day to compensate the pay raise.
Coachella Valley reduces layoffs
Coachella Valley USD officials have reduced the number of layoffs from the previously-announced 96 teachers to 65. Weeks prior to the initial layoffs, the district announced a forecast of a $10.4m deficit for 2018-19. Erik Lee, assistant superintendent of business services, said “I knew some were going to be rescinded. I expected it”. Nevertheless, Coachella Valley Teachers Association President Carissa Carrera says the district can afford to keep all but around 30 teachers. She added that the district has also neglected to inform the community about the reading intervention programs that would be cut.
----- LEGAL -----
Civil rights groups criticize DeVos’s comments on undocumented students
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s claim that schools can decide whether to report undocumented students to immigration enforcement officials, has been criticized by civil rights groups, saying her statements conflict with the law.According to the American Civil Liberties Union, public schools have a constitutional obligation to provide schooling for children, regardless of immigration status, and that means schools also cannot enforce measures that would deter undocumented children from registering and they cannot ask about immigration status or report students or their families to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
----- INTERNET -----
Imperative for schools to implement cyberbullying policies
According to Kaitlin Beckmann, a graduate education student at Marymount University, cyberbullying has become a bigger concern for many schools than traditional bullying, and schools and districts must ensure they have effective policies in place to address the issue. Ms. Beckmann suggests that the entire school community be involved so the policy is clear and consistent, and is supported by a leadership team, a strong school culture, training and shared ownership. Furthermore, she believes that the the strategy must focus on encouraging positive behavior as much as, if not more than, it does on consequences for negative actions, and it must include students in the process. Figures show that while bullying is reportedly on the decline, a reported 28% of students in the U.S. are still victims of cyberbullying, compared to 25% for traditional bullying. According to a YouthTruth survey, students report their appearance as the most common reason for bullying, followed by race or color (17%), perceptions of sexual orientation (15%), and their parents’ income (12%).
----- SOCIAL & COMMUNITY -----
SOCIAL & COMMUNITY
Wine Auction raises $285k for Santa-Monica Malibu schools
The third annual Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation wine auction has raised $285,000 for all Santa Monica-Malibu USD schools. Most schools have decided to use grants from the foundation to fund STEM programs, broaden their arts curriculum or launch student wellness programs. Endowment director Linda Greenberg thanked corporate and private participants for “our most successful Wine Auction so far.”
----- HIGHER EDUCATION -----
UC regents to scrutinize Napolitano budget
University of California regents this week plan to scrutinize the budget of President Janet Napolitano, whose office came under political fire last year for questionable spending and accounting. Regents will vote on the proposed $876.4m budget for 2018-19 during their two-day meeting, which began yesterday. Board Chairman George Kieffer said regents are stepping up to exert stronger oversight of the president's office after a state audit last year found financial problems, including an unreported $175m budget reserve.
----- CHARTERS -----
Pajaro Valley staff recommends denying charter school petition
Pajaro Valley USD trustees will consider approving a charter petition by Navigator Schools for Watsonville Prep School when they meet tomorrow. However, district staff have already recommended denying the petition, arguing that it will draw resources away from existing schools; they also say that its financial and operational plan is “unrealistic,” criticizing the use of 14% of the charter’s revenues to pay its chief marketing officer.
