ABCFT - YOUnionews - December 17, 2020
KEEPING YOU INFORMED - COVID-19 Update By Tanya Golden
Keeping informed about the newest stay-at-home orders and vaccines can turn into a part-time job that few of us have time or the energy to spend. So here is the latest. Earlier this week, I attended a Kaiser Permanente sponsored web seminar, COVID-19 - Updates on the Latest Science to learn more about the COVID testing and vaccinations. The most reliable COVID-19 test is the PCR test which is collected with a nasal or throat swab and has 100% accuracy. The other test is rapid antigen-based and accuracy can vary from 75-90% based on when and how effectively it is administered. Coming to the market soon is the all-in-one home test kit and it’s too early to know its accuracy.
There are two COVID-19 vaccines currently available. Moderna mRNA with 94.1% effectiveness and Pfizer mRNA with 95% effectiveness. Both have short term side effects with fatigue and headaches being cited the most. The presenter explained the reason for the feelings of fatigue was due to the participant’s system creating antibodies to fight the virus. Both require two shots scheduled weeks apart. The vaccine will last about one year if you get the full inoculation. If a person received only one shot then the immunity reduces to just a few months. For those that have already had COVID, they are being encouraged to get the vaccine. Children 16 and under were not a part of the COVID vaccine trials and are not encouraged to get the vaccine at this time. You can find more information from CFT about the vaccines and COVID-19.
So now you probably know more about any shot you’ve ever taken and you may be asking yourself what’s the timeline for teachers to get one if they choose to do so. Currently, there are three phases to the timeline since the vaccines are in limited supply.
Phase 1: Healthcare providers and nursing home residents
Phase 2: Essential workers, teachers, and first responders
Phase 3: Preexisting conditions, 65+ and then the adult general population
The presenter optimistically stated most Americans can be vaccinated by April. Unless, the pharmaceutical industry can step up production and the medical community can efficiently offer vaccines, to me this date seems ambitious and unlikely. I hope I am wrong and the vaccine is available within the described timeline to all that want to take it. It is guesstimated that 75-80% of the population needs to be vaccinated for immunity within a community. Here’s more information about the vaccine timeline.
The vaccine is an important part of moving past our current situation and getting back to ‘normal’, but the safety practices we’ve been hearing will continue to play a vital role in stopping the spread. So, yes, wear your mask, stay 6 feet apart, wash your hands regularly, refrain from touching your face, and follow the stay-at-home orders especially as we leave for winter break. Here are more resources to help inform you about this ever-changing situation.
ABCUSD Safely Reopening Schools and Dashboard
ABCUSD COVID-19 Resources for Staff
What You Need to Know About the Vaccines
How Full Are ICU Hospital Beds Near You?
KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
The negotiating team will be meeting with the district in January following the release of Governor Newsom’s preliminary budget. There are so many moving parts at the state and federal level that I won’t attempt to make predictions but we will keep everyone in the loop as soon as we have up to date information.
As many of you have no doubt been following in the news, there are a number of districts who have been proposing new policies regarding grades and grading. ABCFT has also been carefully tracking state legislation regarding timelines for potentially returning to in-person instruction as well as proposals regarding testing. As testing and grading are obviously linked, we will be paying close attention to any such proposed changes and supporting CFT in our efforts to lobby for common-sense solutions that are supportive of both students and our members.
Last week, I wrote about how many holiday traditions are having to be put on hold given our virtual environment. But I have been gratified to hear about the many sites that have shown their commitment to making events happen no matter the challenges. Yesterday, for example, the Tracy High School white elephant gift exchange lived on, albeit at a distance. That creative spirit is what makes our union special and allows me to be thankful despite the most difficult of circumstances.
Another group that I am thankful for is our teachers on special assignment, or TOSA’s. These are colleagues who work hard to assist all of us. Sometimes they are put in an untenable position, providing support to their peers yet being associated with unpopular district positions. In no way did I intend my criticism of district messaging regarding grades to be construed as putting any of the presentations by our TOSA’s in a negative light. I apologize for taking the words out of context and no way meant to undermine the hard work of our TOSA’s. As I wrote, “I value the presenter and welcome the discussion” and am grateful that we have fellow teachers who are providing training to help us navigate the myriad of obstacles we have had to face this year.
Stay healthy, stay safe, recognize, and celebrate our wins, and we look forward to the promise of what a new year may bring.
In Unity,
MEMBER BENEFITS - WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS
Maintaining our mental health and well-being is important for all of us. ABCFT will be offering Wellness Wednesdays from 3:00 to 3:30 pm members will have an opportunity to virtually participate in Guided Meditation and Chair Yoga. These weekly sessions will give members a chance to practice self-care.
In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, you can also access mindfulness resources for all ABCFT members. For Kaiser members, you have free access to the app Calm and myStrength which offers personalized self-care programs based on the cognitive behavioral therapy model. Please be kind to yourself and find time in your busy schedule to take care of yourself.
This week, Donna focuses on uncovering the beauty and joy of ourselves. Awareness of our emotional contagion which when one person’s emotions can trigger similar emotions in others be it intentional or unintentional is discussed too. When you start feeling good about yourself then you are able to feel better about others. As teachers, please remember ALL of the good you do. Receiving love and kindness is the mediation and Ujjayi breathing is utilized during the chair yoga moves.
The session ends with a quote from ThÃch Nhất Hạnh,
“The more you understand, the more you love; the more you love, the more you understand.”
Thank you EIP Teachers!
ABCFT PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Ray Gaer
Communication is a union’s most important tool for advocating for its members at the bargaining table. Every conversation with the membership is focused on the end result of negotiating for the future prosperity and wellbeing of ABCFT members. This weekly report aims to keep the membership informed about issues that impact their working/learning conditions and their mental well-being. Together we make the YOUnion.
A flurry of activity is happening just before we go on break. First, there is a change in secondary concerning the Monday holidays that would have played havoc on those classes’ pacing. The negotiating team was able to work with the district to get a resolution for this issue. A thank you to those teachers that brought this to our attention so far in advance. Second, in a CFT meeting today, we were given a document that illustrates that Educators (which includes anyone working in schools) are part of phase 1b. You can find this document here and the information about educators is on page 3. There will be more than 2 million vaccination doses given in California before January 1, but the timing of when the doses for educators in 2021 is still being worked out.
The third hot item is AB10. Last week we mentioned that the Assembly bill AB10 was proposed by Ting in Sacramento that basically takes the decision-making power away from local school boards by making it mandatory for schools to open in-person after March 1 if they are in the Red, Yellow, or Orange tier. This is just a proposal but it is moving fast and looks like it will be amended along the way especially because it was proposed by the Assembly without input from the Senate side of the building (which is problematic). AB10 would have to pass both houses (state senate and assembly) for it to become the rule of the land so just like the negotiating you see at the federal level on TV, the same stuff is happening at the state level. Both CTA (California Teachers Association) and CFT (your California Federation of Teachers) have written letters stating the issues they have with AB10 and protesting that they were not included in the creation of this bill from the beginning. In the CFT discussion today, CFT President Jeff Freitasoutlined five talking points about the bill. One, that the timing of the bill during the peak of a COVID surge sends conflicting messages to the public and to education employees and school districts. Second, that there is still no significant testing language or access as part of the state’s proposals. Third, there still needs to be the guarantee that there is adequate funding for PPE supplies. Four, that ALL stakeholders including educators and parents be a part of this process and lastly that there is additional funding to cover lower class sizes, safe spaces, and ventilation. All in all, Rico Tamayo who is the EC/TK-12 Division Council President for CFT said it best when he stated that our main goal should be to ensure that all educators have access to vaccinations before they return to in-person situations. I think many of you would agree with that statement. As this continues to develop ABCFT will keep you informed about changes and how it will impact ABC.
Fourth, hopefully you saw the email that we have a new ABC School Board President, Sophia Tse who currently has the longest tenue on our school board. That was the big news this week at the school board. I was caught a little off guard that Dr. Sieu didn’t officially make a statement that we weren’t going to return in-person at the end of January but that is a fact people. There is no way that we will come out of a purple rating in a month, therefore, take a deep breath and know that we are virtual till at least March.
Fifth,... you know what….who cares! I’m done, your done, lets have a lite Friday and be on our long needed break, right?! Let me just quickly say Happy Holidays to you and your families. Please stay safe and healthy so we can all return and talk about how we bing watched half of netflixs or something else that brings you an absurd amount of joy. Take care of yourselves and thank you being part of a STRONG YOUnion.
In Unity and love to you all,
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-----
Los Angeles schools extend no-fail policy amid pandemic
Los Angeles USD officials have deferred any falling grades from this semester until at least January 29th, the latest effort by the nation’s second-largest school district to avoid penalizing students under increasing strain during the surging coronavirus emergency that continues to upend their education and worsen family hardships. The move extends a modified version of the district’s “no fail” policy of the spring semester, when campuses first shut down at the onset of the pandemic. The policy grew out of district concerns about the rise in D and F grades, a pattern mirrored across the country in school systems that have closed campuses and relied on distance-only learning. Among the problems faced by students is inconsistent or inadequate internet access and a poor learning environment at home. The district directive, sent out by the Division of Instruction and initialed by Chief Academic Officer Alison Yoshimoto-Towery and Senior Executive Director Pedro Garcia, also revealed that the percentage of failed classes among Latino high school students is 24.9%; for Black high school students, it is 23.2%, compared with 12.9% for white students and 7.6% for Asians.
Biden Calls On Governors To Have Schools Open Within First 100 Days
Fox News (12/16, Barrabi) reports President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday “reiterated his call for most schools to reopen within his first 100 days in office” during a virtual call “with a bipartisan group of about 30 state governors.” Biden emphasized that school reopenings are a key step in his incoming administration’s plan to combat the pandemic and is calling on governors to assist in ensuring that schools within their states have the resources needed to safely reopen. Biden said during the call that reopening schools will “take a lot of money, but we know how to do it. If we have the money and the funding everything from ventilation to more teachers to smaller class sizes – a whole range of things.”
----- EDUCATION RELIEF -----
Bipartisan COVID Relief Package Includes $54 Billion For K-12 Schools
Education Week (12/15) reports the $748 billion bipartisan coronavirus relief package unveiled Monday “includes $54 billion for K-12 schools, and also has $7.5 billion for governors to spend on K-12 and higher education.” The bill excludes state and local government aid, as Republicans have balked at the idea. However, such aid, “which would also help schools survive a decline in tax revenues, is part of sidecar legislation that’s technically separate from the main $748 billion aid bill.” The bipartisan bill “would provide nearly three times the $31 billion the CARES Act provided for both K-12 and higher education, said Sarah Abernathy, the deputy executive director of the Committee for Education Funding.” However, Abernathy said it is hard “not to notice that the $54 billion in dedicated aid for K-12 public schools is less than what was in the Democrats’ first HEROES bill from May, and the Republicans’ HEALS Act from July.”
Forbes (12/15) contributor Adam S. Minsky writes the proposed package includes “an extension of existing student loan relief to April 1, 2021. A previous summary of the proposed stimulus package had suggested the extension would be to April 30.”
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
K-12 schools under heightened threat of cyber attacks
A Joint Cybersecurity Advisory missive, coauthored by the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, has warned that malicious cyber actors are targeting K-12 schools to launch ransomware attacks, steal data and disrupt distance learning programs. Attacks against K-12 schools during August and September made up 57% of reported ransomware incidents, compared with 28% of attacks between January and July. Cyber actors are viewing the schools as targets of opportunity and attacks are expected to continue through the 2020-2021 academic year. The FBI is advising schools not to pay ransomware demands, as they do not guarantee the release of data files and may further embolden bad actors to commit additional attacks.
Betsy DeVos reflects on time in office
As her term in office approaches its final month, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos discusses her tenure with Frederick Hess, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and the director of the think tank’s Education Policy Studies. Mrs DeVos begins with her confirmation process in 2017, after which she took office with “fresh eyes and a laser focus on rethinking the way we approach all aspects of work at the department.” Asked for an anecdote that captures what it’s like to be Secretary of Education, she recalls talking with a group of young African American students in a Milwaukee school which used a voucher program, “and looking outside at a sea of middle-aged white protestors who apparently thought those students didn’t deserve that opportunity,” describing it as a “pretty good microcosm of what my experience in office was like.” On what advice she would give to her successor, she says: “Put students first. When doing what’s right for individual students is your number-one priority, everything else becomes much clearer.” Separately, during a departmentwide virtual meeting to government employees, Mrs DeVos reportedly told staff: “Be the resistance against forces that will derail you from doing what’s right for students. In everything you do, please put students first - always.”
Education Week Washington Examiner
CDC outlines cost to safeguard schools against COVID-19
A new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday asserts that strategies to help schools minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission would, on average, cost U.S. school districts between $55 and $442 per student. The cost estimates of COVID-19 mitigation strategies, based on fiscal 2018 spending figures, naturally cover a range of expenses. The $55 per-student estimate would cover only materials and “consumables,” like hand sanitizer, while the $442 estimate covers those costs but also additional staff and transportation costs. The CDC’s estimate of total nationwide costs also varies significantly, the estimate for materials and consumables ranges from roughly $1.1bn to $12.6bn, while additional transportation ranges from $8.1bn to $19bn. The largest percentage increase in pandemic-driven spending in any state, based on the report strategies and cost ranges, would be 7.1% in Montana, while the smallest percentage increases in such spending would be 0.3% in Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wyoming. Notably, the agency does not include costs for changes to food-service operations, social distancing in classrooms, disposable face masks for the school population or contact tracing.
Superintendents urge 'specific and targeted' support for schools
Richard Carranza, Austin Beutner and Janice Jackson, superintendents of the nation’s three largest school districts, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, respectively, assert that getting kids back into class and helping them recover from the pandemic learning gap must be addressed by the federal government "with the same urgency and commitment as other disasters." Across the country, math performance on standardized tests lags the prior year by 5 to 10 percentile points, they warn, arguing that a major, coordinated nationwide effort — a Marshall Plan for schools — is now urgently required. Part of the problem, the Superintendents suggest, is that the Cares Act and subsequent relief packages "did not designate public school districts as recipients," adding that direct federal support for schools must be "specific and targeted." The challenges school communities face ar en’t for lack of effort by principals, teachers, staff, parents and students, the authors write, and the cost of this lifeline for schools — an estimated $125bn — is less than 20% of the total earmarked for the Paycheck Protection Program and about twice the amount provided to airlines. The federal government's failure to step up, they conclude, will allow "a national emergency to become a national disgrace that will haunt millions of children for the rest of their lives."
----- STATE NEWS -----
Changes to California paid family leave program
A report on California’s new Master Plan for Early Learning and Care quotes Sarah Crow, managing director of the First 5 Center for Children’s Policy, as saying that “Paid family leave is a key part of the early childhood arena, and it is most critical for low-income families. That has always been true, but it is even more important now when many families are at a breaking point.” The article notes that “while California’s paid family leave program applies to all employers regardless of size, the California Family Rights Act, which gives workers the ability to take job-protected leave, did not, until recently. Previously, you had to work for an employer with at least 20 employees to be eligible for job protection. Although you may have been eligible for the time off, advocates say, you may have decided not to for fear of losing your job.”
----- DISTRICTS -----
Long Beach schools delay reopening to March
Long Beach USD students will not be returning to campus until at least March 1st, due to an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases. This week, Los Angeles County announced it has fewer than 100 ICU beds available and more than 4,400 people hospitalized with the virus. “We will continue to monitor all state and local health data. The moment that we’re able to reopen schools, we’re ready to do so,” said Jill Baker, superintendent of California’s fourth largest school system. “We have the protective equipment that’s needed. We have the necessary safety protocols in place. Our facilities are well prepared.” The school district will continue to provide childcare for essential workers and families enrolled in childcare programs between January and March and continue to assess students for support services
Los Angeles Times CBS Los Angeles
LA teachers express dim views of distance learning
Nine months after shutting down public schools, a survey of Los Angeles public school teachers showed their overwhelmingly dim view of distance learning: low student engagement that is only getting worse, deteriorating grades and a lack of resources to help their students’ crisis circumstances. The survey of 502 full-time Los Angeles USD teachers, and those at the charters schools within the district, was commissioned by Educators for Excellence-Los Angeles, a teacher-led organization, and USC’s Rossier School of Education. Ninety-four percent of those surveyed said low student engagement was a barrier to remote learning. The vast majority of teachers say their students lack quiet spaces, adequate technology and high-speed internet and do not have schoolwork help from an adult. Teachers also reported that their schools were failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable students. Only 10% reported that their schools regularly met the needs of homeless students, and only 34% reported that their schools “often” support students from low-income households. “The pandemic has created barriers for all students, but we know that some are disproportionately impacted,” said Jeimee Estrada-Miller, executive director of the teacher-led group. “It has wreaked havoc for all, but it is dramatically threatening the future of particular low-income students” and other marginalized groups.
----- CLASSROOM -----
Data: Shutting Schools Down Has Hurt Poor American Children’s Learning
The Economist (12/17) reports that in America, “where schools have been significantly disrupted for the better part of a year, the first batches of reliable data are being gathered to assess how bad the damage has actually been.” A recent analysis of standardized tests by consulting firm McKinsey “found that pupils examined in the autumn had learned 33% less maths and 13% less reading than expected. For schools that are majority non-white, the learning losses were much steeper: pupils there had learned 41% less maths and 23% less reading.” In addition, research nonprofit NWEA “published its own review of autumn scores” that found “pupils slid back substantially in maths, but not reading, with few detectable differences along racial or socioeconomic lines.” Teachers in Los Angeles are likewise “reporting a stark increase in the number of failing grades – with the greatest increase in poor neighbourhoods.” The Economist says the “results suggest that the fears of worsening achievement gaps at the start of the pandemic were justified.”
----- FINANCE -----
Poway board to discuss taking $20m loan
The Poway USD board will meet on Thursday evening to vote on whether to authorize borrowing $20m in loans, to cover a lack of funding from the state due to an upcoming deferral. The board held a special meeting last week to discuss the possibility of borrowing $20m in Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes, or TRANs, due to a state funding deferral. The TRANs would be borrowed through the California Education Note Program, facilitated by Keygent. The district is looking at a cost of about $76,000 for the TRANs, with $46,000 of that being the issuance. As the TRANs could generate between $40,000 and $50,000 in interest, the total cost of having to use them will probably be about $30,000 to borrow $20m, according to associate superintendent of business support services Ron Little.
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
Remote learning here to stay, survey indicates
Even when the pandemic begins to subside, online learning is likely to remain part of many school districts’ strategies, according to a new survey from the Rand Corporation. Twenty percent of the districts and charter management organizations questioned said that they had started or were planning a virtual school or fully remote option this academic year and expected those options would remain after the pandemic; 10% said the same about hybrid or blended learning, while 7% said that a lesser version of remote learning will continue. The survey also revealed that school system leaders had major anxiety about their ability to address students’ emotional well-being and mental health as well as concerns about disparities in the opportunities students have to access schooling. When district leaders underlined the staying power of remote learning beyond the pandemic, they cited increased flexibility for students, parent or student demand, and addressing a variety of students’ needs among the reasons. Virtual schools were also the “innovative practice” that most system leaders foresaw lasting for years.
----- SOCIAL & COMMUNITY -----
Government eases rules for religious social service providers
The Trump administration on Monday moved to loosen restrictions on religious organizations that receive federal money to provide social services. Chief among the changes is the elimination of a rule requiring faith-based groups to tell clients about their religious affiliation and to refer clients to a different program upon request. It also removes a rule telling religious groups to give clients written notice about their rights, including that they can’t be forced to participate in religious activities. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the policy ensures that faith-based groups “do not give up their First Amendment rights as a condition of participating in taxpayer programs.” The new policy applies to funding from nine agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Education Department and the Department of Health and Human Services. Together, the agencies award billion s of dollars a year in grants and contracts. Civil rights group blasted the new changes, saying the previous rules were meant to protect LGBTQ people, religious minorities and others who may face discrimination from religious groups. Their sentiments were echoed by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), chairman of the House education and labor committee, who condemned the policy and said it could wrongly lead people to think they have to participate in religious activities to receive benefits of federally funded programs. The ranking Republican on the committee, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) applauded the rule and argued that it protects groups from discrimination based on their religious beliefs.
----- OTHER -----
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.
To All Members of the ABC Federation of Teachers,
National Teacher Associates (NTA) is committed in our efforts to helping educators through tough times. It’s what we do. After all…in our eyes you are the heart and soul of our communities.
Protecting you and your families has been our goal for over 45 years. Despite the current global pandemic, we are not about to slow down now. We know that many of you have had our programs for years and sometimes forget the intricacies of how they work. NTA wants to help facilitate any possible claims for now and in the future. Fortunately, all claims and reviews can be done by phone and on-line. I personally want to offer my services to guide you in the right direction with your NTA benefits.
We also apologize for not being able to finish the open enrollment for those of you who wanted to get our protection. We are still able to help by extending our enrollment window for the near future. Again, this can be done over the phone, email, or on-line.
Please contact Leann Blaisdell at any time either by phone or email.
562-822-5004
