ABCFT - YOUnionews - January 31, 2020
ABCFT HEALTH BULLETIN - CORONAVIRUS
ABCFT has been gathering resources about the Coronavirus and is monitoring the Coronavirus situation both nationally and locally. We encourage all members and community members to become educated about how best to protect yourself during this exceptional situation. Teachers and Nurses need to be informed about the facts surrounding the Coronavirus and your calming and guiding voices will be crucial in the coming weeks.
It is most likely that ABCFT will send out updated information about the Coronavirus and its local impact on a regular basis until this national health situation passes. ABCFT encourages its members to stay informed about this situation as it develops. Below you will find some of the ABCUSD and AFT health resources that have been released over the course of this week.
Help your students understand infectious diseases and find tools to protect yourself and your community on AFT’s Share My Lesson online collection of lesson plans and resources. You’ll find everything from news program videos to research projects and analyses of past epidemics.
From the AFT bulletin:
Get information about what teachers, paraprofessionals, school nurses and custodians can do to safeguard against the virus, as well as what schools can do regarding ventilation and preventive schoolwide and districtwide policy.
Important practices include excluding children with fever and respiratory symptoms from school until symptoms are resolved; isolating sick children from the general school population when they do attend school; stepping up education and providing good reminders (posters, etc.) in classrooms and to parents on the current infection control policies; ensuring good hand hygiene (give students additional time and opportunities to wash their hands, instruct students to use soap and water); reminding students to avoid touching their faces with unwashed hands; and consider using disinfectant on high-use areas such as doorknobs. For complete information and details, see the full bulletin.
If you have specific questions please contact your immediate supervisors and email ABCFT at abcft@abcusd.us
ABCFT Teacher Leaders Program by Tanya Golden
Teacher Leaders continue to meet monthly as they progress through their action research projects. Not only is the Teacher Leader Program an opportunity for self-discovery and perfecting time management it has also led to union activism. Of the 35 current and past Teacher Leaders, an overwhelming number have been activated in our union. These activated members have transformed our local by bringing new perspectives and energy that has motivated union leadership to create opportunities for member involvement.
During a national conference call with Randi Weingarten, President of AFT and the twenty-five other locals with the Teacher Leaders Program we shared our Teacher Leaders story which you can find here. Although there are many battles for public education across the country it was enlightening to hear how teachers in California are not having to deal with the elimination of tenure like our fellow educators in Florida. Based on the stories that were shared, it is evident that educators in the U.S. are dealing with the mental health issues of their students and the impact on learning environments. Building union activists within the Teacher Leaders Program creates a stronger local as well as more advocates to fight for public education.
Also in our January meeting, Teacher Leaders had an opportunity to talk with Letty Mendoza the ABCUSD School Board Vice President. Ms. Mendoza, a teacher in LAUSD shared how she represents her community and works on the board to support students and teachers in the classroom. She also encouraged the Teacher Leader’s to advocate for education and consider running for office in their own community. We were grateful for her time and willingness to educate us on the role of the board and how important it is to listen to the needs of the teachers that are doing the work.
Nominations are now open for the 2020 AFT Convention Delegates
You may nominate ABCFT member(s) by clicking this link here ->
Please check with your nominees to make sure
they are interested in being nominated.
All nominations must reach the Union Hall no later than 4:00 PM on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
Education Budget 101 - Part 3: California Finances by Ray Gaer
This week, we will look at the funding trends for public education under proposition 98 which sets the legal minimum for education funding in California. Last week we looked at the education funding trends in California, information of the Local Control Formula Funding ADA amounts, and funds targeting special education. Click the link below for a full explanation of this weeks slides.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK - ABCUSD ED FOUNDATION
This Tuesday night community members, donors, school board members, administrators, and teachers gathered for the 7th annual Education Foundation Grant Event. Individual teacher and school grant projects were presented. For the 2019-2020 school year, there are eight special grants and twenty-two education classroom grants totaling over $50,000.
(Pictured L-R: ABC School Board President Dr. Olga Rios, Carver Teacher Connie Nam, Carver Teacher Ka Yang, Dr. Mary Sieu - Connie and Ka were presented with a $2,000 grant for continuing to provide their writing program for teachers and students. ) Congratulations to all award winners for taking the time to apply for the grant and then bringing them to life in your classroom and sites.
ABC Education Foundation - For more information click abcedfoundation.org
Top Free Lessons: Driving Innovation with Quality Content
When AFT launched Share My Lesson as a crowdsourcing site for educators, AFT had a strong desire for educators from across the country to collaborate on classroom resources. And, today, Share My Lesson continues as a popular open-source site that drives innovation and excellence by remaining free and open to all. Our members and content partners share and download some of the best content, while also rating and reviewing resources so we know what’s hot and what’s not. Take a look at the Top Free Lessons: Collections of the Decade.
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ABCFT PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Ray Gaer
Each week I work with unit members in representations, contract resolutions, email/text/phone call questions, site concerns, site visits, presentations, state/national representations and mediations. Here are some of the highlights of interest. Throughout the year I find articles that are interesting and food for thought;
Sometimes I write on Thursdays and sometimes I write my report on Fridays but no matter what I find the time to sit and think about the LOCAL. Sometimes I find inspiration in the books I am currently reading…
I’ve been reading a couple of books lately that have given me inspiration and perspective. The most thought-provoking book I’ve recently read is entitled, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** byMark Manson. Some of you may have seen it on the shelf somewhere and chuckled to yourself about the title. This surprising book isn’t about not caring about anything but instead, it is an entertaining self-assessment of what we care about as individuals. This is a personal journey type of book but because it is an effortless read I found it easy to read over the course of the week. If you are interested, be forewarned, the author swears like a trucker with a full swear jar but it is an entertaining bestseller and worth the read for your own personal learning. His take on entitlement made me reflect on how demanding some of our student’s parents can be at times but he provides insights on how this behavior may be developed. I found this thought-provoking because it addresses some of the self-inflicted pressures we all put on ourselves and how we can change our perspective about what we truly care about. Educators need ways to streamline their stress so they don’t burn out along the way. I think this is a good book for anyone who finds themselves wondering how to manage stress.
The second book I’ve been reading, which doesn’t have any swear words in it is entitled Start With Why by Simon Sinek. This book is more about running a company, or a union, or a classroom. It is about how dynamic leaders or teachers address their work in a different manner than most. Through examples from the business world, the author illustrates how great companies and leaders focus on the WHY of their work and not the WHAT of their work. We do this with our students all the time. We are constantly frontloading our students on why were are doing what we are doing and for student achievement, it works.
The difference between the WHY and the WHAT is that the concept of WHY is focused on the reasons why you do what you do. In contrast, the WHAT is transactional and is focused on what a person or politician can give you in a transaction. We don’t tell parents when we first meet them that we will dazzle them with wonderful report cards. However, as good educators, we tell our parents why we will focus on certain topics or skills so that they understand why we teach their children.
I think the ABC Federation of Teachers has a good WHY message. I didn’t become an ABCFT member solely because of the transactional WHAT do I get for my dues. No, I bought into being an activated union member because I was told early on WHY ABCFT is a special type of union. I got involved because ABCFT is about member voice, good working conditions, and excellent teaching. ABCFT supports excellent teaching, that reason alone had me sold. Just to highlight my point, next week all ABCFT members will receive the 2019-2020 “member in good standing” business card. Traditionally, the back of the card only had a phone number, however, this year you will receive a card that has the ABCFT mission statement on the back. That mission statement is the WHY of the ABC Federation of Teachers.
ABCFT is a medium-sized local and it has the normal struggles of all other education unions of the same size but why does ABCFT stand so tall among the crowd? I think ABCFT successful because members know the WHY of our mission. We are the proud teachers and nurses of ABC who demand the most out of ourselves and others in pursuit of great teaching experiences for our students. Our WHY is that the teacher in the classroom and the nurse in the office best know their jobs and what is needed to have the greatest impact on ABC students. Your expert voice matters and you know the WHY to best serve your students. Next week when you are in your nursing space, in your speech room, providing teacher support, or in front of your classroom, look around you and see the excellence you have created because you believe in the WHY.
If anyone is interested in either of these two books send us an email and we will see what we can do.
Have a great weekend!
In Unity,
Ray Gaer
President, ABCFT
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
The latest CFT articles and news stories can be found here on the PreK12 news feed on the CFT.org website.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
Impact of California teacher activism continues to be felt
Education, labor and civic leaders in Los Angeles interviewed by EdSource say that the impact of last year’s teacher activism has been considerable, although less visible, at least as measured by the size of teacher rallies or the number of strikes in the state. They also say a good deal of last year’s activism is now being funneled into organizing for passage of a statewide initiative called Schools and Communities First that will be on the November ballot, and is intended to raise billions of dollars for schools and community colleges by increasing taxes on commercial property. John Rogers, director of UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education and Access, has described the movement as “social justice teacher unionism,” which “emphasizes moving beyond narrow bread and butter issues (like teacher salaries) to taking on broader issues affecting schools and the communities where they operate.” “I think we’re taking the conversation where it belongs — to Sacramento,” said Los Angeles USD Superintendent Austin Beutner. L.A. Unified school board member Nick Melvoin backed that view. “There is a tacit recognition that districts don’t have the resources and that this is an issue that is far larger than Los Angeles Unified.”
----- TEACHER UNION ACTIONS -----
Little Rock Teachers Mull Plans To Counter State Decisions About District
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette (1/28) reports that members of the union representing Little Rock School District employees “to examine ways – including a job stoppage – to oppose recent district-related decisions.” The Little Rock Education Association “lost their decades-old collective-bargaining rights with the district Oct. 31.” Members attended “Monday’s meeting at the First United Methodist Church to vent as well as talk with an association attorney about issues.” Recent state and district decisions “include the notice this month to employees at four schools that they will be given nonrenewal notices in April for the 2020-21 school year if they can’t find other jobs within the district by that time.”
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
House asserts importance of Holocaust education
The House has overwhelmingly agreed to pass a bill to create a Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund. The legislation, led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), would allocate $10m over five years to assist the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in providing materials to teachers to educate students in an effort to combat the rising number of anti-Semitic instances and acts of violence. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised the effort, arguing it’s a step in the right direction in fighting back against the “epidemic of anti-Semitism and bigotry” and preventing future hate crimes. Maloney herself comments: “If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. I urge the Senate to act quickly on this bill."
SCOTUS lifts block on rule barring green cards to some taking public benefits
In a 5-4 vote on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a Trump administration rule to take effect that will deny green cards to immigrants who partake in public benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps, and housing aid. The decision lifts a preliminary injunction by a federal district judge in New York City that had blocked the implementation of the rule nationwide pending further court proceedings. Some educators have been concerned that the “public charge” rule will put the health and well-being of millions of immigrant children at risk and impose new burdens on school districts. The rule specifically states that certain educational benefits would not be factored in. They include services funded by Medicaid under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and “school-based services or benefits provided to individuals who are at or below the oldest age-eligible for secondary education as determined under state or local law.” Despite those exceptions, some educators and immigrant advocates fear the rule will dissuade immigrants from seeking certain benefits, such as Medicaid and SNAP, and that schools will have to make up for aid that might otherwise be provided for by the federal government.
----- STATE -----
Children’s mental health a cause for concern in a report on California youth policies
California is making progress improving the lives of its 9.2 million children but still lags behind other states, particularly on mental health, according to a report published Tuesday by Oakland-based advocacy organization Children Now. The 2020 California Children’s Report Card gave the state an overall grade of C- for its programs that provide health, education and family services, as well as child welfare and adolescent services for young people from birth to age 26. California earned a B for its declining suspension and absenteeism rates, which are due largely to a state ban on willful defiance suspensions in kindergarten through 3rd grade, to be expanded through 8th grade later this year. However, regarding mental health, it received on F grade for its ratio of students to counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses on school campuses. The report also noted that mental illness is the leading cause of hospitalization among California’s children. The report recommends increased funding for districts to hire more psychologists, counselors, social workers and nurses. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends a student-psychologist ratio of 1- to-700; in California, the ratio is 1-to-2,500 in some districts, according to Maureen Schroeder, president of the California Association of School Psychologists.
----- DISTRICTS -----
Los Angeles schools regain control of special education
For the first time in more than two decades, Los Angeles USD is in full control of its special education system. Until this month, the nation’s second-largest school district had unique court-ordered mandates to improve and expand services for its nearly 62,000 special education students, stemming from a 1996 legal settlement. The so-called consent decree governing special education formally ended December 31, following an agreement reached in August with the lawsuit’s original plaintiffs. For district officials and some disability advocates, the decision is recognition of having met “nearly all” of the mandates of the consent decree. “The most exciting part about this is this chapter of our work will be guided by educators and parents rather than lawyers,” Superintendent Austin Beutner said. He added that the district is “not leaving compliance behind, because that’s a big part of the work.”
Glendale Unified and CSEA tentatively agree on an ongoing 1.54% raise
Glendale USD and the local chapter of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) have tentatively agreed to allocate $1.4m to wages for the past two school years, after nearly 14 months of bargaining. Union and non-union staff could see an ongoing 1.54% raise, retroactive to July 1, 2019. “It’s nice to get a check for [a one-time bonus], but it doesn’t carry on for future months... meaning it will continue every month after you sign the agreement,” said Stacy Toy, president of the Glendale chapter of CSEA. “And that’s what we’re excited about. This is an ongoing salary increase.” More than 1,100 employees affected include workers in the information technology, clerical, cafeteria, maintenance and other office departments. CSEA membership is expected to vote on the tentative agreement on Feb.7. If ratified, the Glendale Unified school board will vote on the agreement.
More California districts sue Juul
More California school districts, including Poway and Anaheim, are suing Juul, the nation’s leading manufacturer of electronic cigarette devices, alleging the company has been deceptive in marketing its products to children and is negligently damaging the health of students and disrupting their learning. In total, fifteen school districts in the state have filed suits against Juul, part of a movement to hold the company accountable for what they say is an “epidemic” of vaping that is harming students and impeding schools from educating them. The lawsuits seek compensation for financial losses suffered when students do not come to school and call for education programs and other actions to reduce youth vaping.
----- CLASSROOM -----
Students writing about their passions fuels learning
Educators are increasingly helping to channel students and turn their passions into writing with poetry slams like those held by the Sharon Public Schools in Massachusetts, or spoken word assignments used by teachers at schools like the Academy of American Studies in New York City. Allison Berryhill, an English and journalism teacher at Atlantic High School in Iowa, taps into passion blogging to allow students to choose topics they care deeply about to explore in their writing as it helps them develop stronger writing skills.
Students Motivated By Teacher’s Praise For Good Behavior, Study Suggests
ABC News (1/29, Sidhu) reports a new study from Brigham Young University concluded that “children focus on tasks up to 30% more when teachers praise them for good behavior rather than reprimand them for being disruptive.” Study leader Dr. Paul Caldarella said, “What we found would be for teachers to praise more and reprimand less if they want to improve student behavior in elementary school classrooms.” He added, “Unfortunately, previous research has shown that teachers tend to reprimand students for problem behavior more than they praise students for appropriate behavior, which can have a negative effect and worsen student behavior.” Dr. Neha Chaudhary, a child, and adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital who was not involved in the study concurred, saying, “The idea that praise can result in greater focus than can punishment is not surprising. In fact, it’s backed by science.”
The Independent (UK) (1/29) reports the study “involved more than 2,500 pupils across three US states” and found “that students spent 20 percent to 30 percent longer paying attention to tasks in the classes with the highest praise-to-reprimand ratio (PRR), compared with those where the PRR was the lowest.” Dr. Caldarella added, “Everyone values being praised and recognized for their endeavors – it is a huge part of nurturing children’s self-esteem and confidence.” CNN (1/30, Lamotte) also provides coverage.
----- HEALTH & WELLBEING -----
Coronavirus cases in U.S. are few, but some schools aren't taking chances
Although at the time of writing, there have only been five confirmed cases in the U.S. of the coronavirus that first broke out in Wuhan, China, some schools have had to grapple with the possibility that their students were exposed to the respiratory illness. In Florida's Palm Beach County, a group of 30 high school students and three teachers have been told to stay home from school after having been potentially exposed to coronavirus while attending a Model United Nations event at Yale University, according to the Palm Beach Post. The event was canceled midway through when a Chinese student was taken to a local hospital with a cough and a fever. Test results to see if the student has coronavirus haven't come back yet, but the student did test positive for the flu. Districts in other parts of the country, including Chicago Public Schools, and Montgomery County Schools in Maryland, have been taking preventative measures, including thoroughly washing hands for at least 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable, and covering noses and mouths with a tissue or cloth when sneezing. Dr. Hirotaka Yamashiro, the chair of the pediatrics section of the Ontario Medical Association, says that news coverage of the illness presents a “great opportunity” for parents to teach children about the most effective ways of preventing illness from infectious viruses.
Laguna Beach school district OKs 14-week staff training addressing students’ mental health needs
Laguna Beach USD has approved a contract agreement with the director of the Children’s School in Irvine for an optional training series for district staff members focusing on students’ mental health. The 14-week course is designed to help teachers and instructional assistants learn how to address the behavioral and social-emotional needs of students in grades four through eight. The training will be provided to certificated and classified staff members by Sabrina Schuck, who leads training and program development at the Children’s School, a private K-8 school for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and related challenges.
-----CHARTER SCHOOLS -----
Vice President Pence lauds private school voucher programs
Vice President Mike Pence visited Wisconsin on Tuesday to advocate for private school voucher programs and other school choice programs across the United States. The vice president’s appearance at the state Capitol rotunda was part of National School Choice Week, an advocacy effort meant to draw attention to K-12 education options other than traditional public schools, like public charter and magnet schools, private schools, online schools, and homeschooling. "I’m here in Wisconsin because this is where it all began," Pence said, referencing Milwaukee’s voucher program, which is the oldest such program in the country. "Wisconsin has an extraordinary record of success with school choice and every family in Wisconsin should be proud." In his remarks, Pence focused on the benefits of voucher programs for minority students in particular. "Every child deserves a fair shot at the American dream," the vice president said. He was joined at the event by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
This year's key education disruptors
Bernard Marr outlines the top tech trends that could disrupt education this year. Artificial intelligence will continue to infiltrate learning and teaching, he begins, as students interact with the connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices and other digital tools. Virtual augmented and mixed realities will create different learning opportunities to further engage students, he suggests, while new blockchain technology offers educational institutions the ability to store and secure student records more efficiently.
----- HIGHER EDUCATION -----
OCC coach among victims in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
Orange Coast College (OCC), friends and family are mourning the deaths of baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa in Sunday's helicopter crash, OCC said on its website. The members of the Altobelli family died in the Calabasas crash along with basketball great Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. Gianna and Alyssa were teammates at Mr Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks. Coach "Alto," as players and co-workers called him, was the winningest coach in Orange Coastal College baseball history, and was set to start his 28th season as head coach this week. The Orange Coast College Foundation has established an Altobelli Family Memorial.
----- INTERNATIONAL -----
UN warns of the global education crisis
The United Nations (UN) has warned of an “alarming” global crisis in education, with just 49% of children completing secondary education. About 770m adults are illiterate, added Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, most of whom are women. Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, the UN's special envoy for education, comments: "It is unacceptable that 20 years into the 21st century about 258m children and youth do not attend school, 617m children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math, and millions of refugees and internally displaced persons, and people with disabilities, are out of school.”
----- OTHER -----
Texas teen told to cut dreadlocks gifted $20,000 on 'Ellen'
DeAndre Arnold, a high school senior at Barbers Hill ISD in Mont Belvieu, Texas, who captured widespread attention earlier this month after he was told he would have to cut his dreadlocks in order to attend graduation, was surprised with a $20,000 scholarship during his appearance on the “Ellen” television this week. The conversation around the policing of black hair is picking up more traction nationwide, as more states continue to pass legislation seeking to crack down on race-based hair discrimination in the workplace and in the classroom.
NTA Life Insurance - An ABCFT Sponsor
About three years ago ABCFT started 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.
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