KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
Yesterday, the rep council unanimously voted to move the master contract tentative agreement to the full membership for a ratification vote.
The details of the contract were sent to all members electronically following the rep council approval last night. Here is another link to the annotated document.
A calendar of the next steps in the ratification process:
On Monday, February 6, an in-person general meeting will be held at Haskell Stem Academy from 4-5 p.m. to allow members an opportunity to ask questions and receive any needed clarification regarding the master contract tentative agreement.
Following the general meeting, an electronic ratification vote will take place via email from the evening of Monday, February 6, until Thursday, February 9 at 4 p.m.
Only ABCFT members will vote for the master contract tentative agreement.
If ABCFT ratifies this tentative agreement with a majority vote of 50%+1, it will be submitted for approval during the school board meeting on February 21.
If a majority of the ABCUSD school board (as our COPE members know, that equals four crucial votes) passes our tentative agreement we can first expect to see the new raise on our April paychecks.
We are still working with the district to get a more definite timeline for the retro check and any off schedule payment but will communicate that as soon as we get more information.
In Unity
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
Tentative Agreement Ratification Process
Tentative Agreement Timeline:
The ABCFT Executive Board voted to approve the 2020-2025 master contract tentative agreement including salary and health benefits for 2022-2023 and sent it to the Rep Council. The ABCFT Rep Council voted to approve this tentative agreement sending it to a ratification vote. All ABCFT members will have an opportunity to ratify this tentative agreement with a majority vote of 50%+1. Once ratified, the tentative agreement will be sent to the ABC School Board for their final approval vote at the February 21st school board meeting.
What does a yes vote mean?
By voting yes, members will receive all of the elements within the 2020-2025 master contract tentative agreement, including salary and health benefits for 2022-2023.
A 7% on-schedule salary increase with a 3% off-schedule payment for TK-12 Teachers/Nurses and Adult School Teachers
A 9% on-schedule salary increase with a 1% off-schedule payment for Special Education Teachers and Child Development Permit Teachers
A 13% on-schedule salary increase with no off-schedule payment for Speech and Language Pathologists
A retroactive check to August 2022 for the on-schedule salary increase
A new salary schedule for Career Technical Education Teachers giving additional salary enhancements to CTE teachers with a bachelors and/or masters degree
A 10% increase to Athletic Coaching stipends
A 7% increase to All Other stipends
An automatic ½% increase to stipends based on any future on-schedule salary increases to the TK-12/Nurses salary schedule
New Article for Child Development Permit Teachers
Increased and expanded longevity stipends for select Adult School, Career Technical Education, and Child Development Permit Teachers
Expanded time for secondary teachers to report grades
Expanded planning time with protective language for elementary teachers
What does a no vote mean?
By voting no, members will receive none of the above. ABCFT would return to the negotiating table with no guarantees regarding any of the elements contained within this tentative agreement. In addition, there is no guarantee as to when a future agreement would be reached.
ABCFT PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Ray Gaer
Consistent and regular communication is a union’s most important tool for advocating for its members at the bargaining table. Every conversation with members is focused on the end result of negotiating for the future prosperity and well-being of ALL ABCFT members. The goal of this weekly report is to keep members informed about issues that impact their working/learning conditions and their mental well-being. Our work as a Union is a larger conversation, and together we make the YOUnion.
“It’s not what is said but what is heard.” Randi Weingarten at the Program and Policy Committee (PPC) meeting this week. This is so relevant in all of our conversations with students, colleagues, staff, administrators and parents. We are constantly asking ourselves if we are hearing what is really driving the conversation or observation. Did I really hear what the person needed to tell me? It is a constant internal monologue I find myself having.
I hope that as you look over the Master Contract Tentative Agreement you see yourself reflected back in this agreement. The ABCFT leadership and negotiating team pushed for a contract that attempted to address the concerns or needs of all members in some form. In my twenty-plus years on the negotiating team, I believe this is the most comprehensive agreement we have achieved and I hope that you support our efforts to provide a comprehensive contract, competitive pay, and health care options.
I’ve just returned from Washington DC after attending a Program and Policy Committee which is attended by about 60 local presidents from all over the county. This committee is basically a think tank for the American Federation of Teachers. The PPC is where Randi Weingarten tries out her latest speeches before they are public. Sometimes we lobby at Capitol Hill on education issues, and other times we share best practices. This week, I was able to share some of the details of the current TA among the members of the PPC and found that much of the language we take for granted is not the norm in other locals. For example, when I discussed that we have negotiated for permanent status for Career Tech Teachers and Child Development Permit teachers this was unheard of as an option among my colleagues. I mentioned to others how we have contract language that, if approved would increase and protect a teacher's individual planning time. I was told by many that planning time in many districts across the country has become infrequent and with the current lack of personnel is nearly impossible to schedule for many. Furthermore, having access to a free family health plan is becoming rare not only in California but all over the country. Sometimes you really don’t know what you have until you have those outside conversations.
I hope that you take the time to vote to ratify this tentative agreement. This is when being an ABCFT member means casting your vote. This is the democratic process at work.
A special thanks to the ABCFT Negotiating Team for their efforts to bring this TA to the membership. Thanks to the ABCFT Executive Board for your constant support and guidance. Thank you ABCFT site representatives for always being a guiding light and for unanimously voting to have this TA go before the ABCFT membership. Together we are all making a difference in each other's lives.
In YOUnity,
Ray Gaer
President, ABCFT
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
CFT Responds to College Board Decision to Change African American Studies Curriculum
SACRAMENTO, CA – CFT President Jeff Freitas released the following statement in response to the College Board’s release of their new official curriculum:
“I’m dismayed that The College Board made the horrendous decision to effectively erase the contributions Black Americans have made and continue to make in our country in order to appease right-wing Republicans. That the Board chose the first day of Black History Month to announce this politically-driven policy shows how out of touch the Board is with mainstream America and any educational mission.
“Educators and classified professionals are saying ‘enough’ to politicians weaponizing curricula so they can get ahead politically. The education of our youth is not a political bargaining chip.
“Our future relies on academic freedom and the teaching of our FULL history as a country to inspire critical thinking.
“To erase the history of Black Americans and the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is to erase the history of our country.”
Like so many of you, I am heartbroken and appalled at the murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of the police in Memphis.
The young man, who loved skateboarding and photography, needlessly and inhumanly had his life taken from him.
The footage is devastating and is justifiably shocking the nation.
As we said in the statement we released on Friday evening, CFT will continue to stand with communities who are targeted disproportionately by the police, in the fight for justice for every single person who should still be alive today.
But there is work to be done right now.
Tyre Nichols - Member Resources
As we begin a new school week, educators and classified professionals join parents across the country in deciding how to best talk to our students about this devastating event.
To help you out, AFT has put together free resources on Share My Lesson for teaching about race and racism. Specifically, Share My Lesson has lessons on restoring hope and dignity and resources on police and the use of force. Additional resources for your classroom and with parents are pasted below. Please pass these resources on to your members.
In the coming days, we will work with our partners to look for meaningful ways to change the organizations who are charged to protect us. Without reform, thoughts and prayers mean nothing.
As we mourn with Tyre Nichols’ family and friends, we join AFT in asking that those who plan to protest please stay safe and peaceful, as Tyre Nichols’ family has requested.
Further resource:
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has a comprehensive guide to Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom intended to help educators understand how they might address the interplay of race and trauma and its effects on students in the classroom.
The National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
The Jewish Education Project: Talking to Kids About Police Violence
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Tips for Parents on Media Coverage
Reactions you might see and how you can help in, Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators, a guide from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
A quick guide to Talking Race with Young Children from National Public Radio (NPR)
In unity,
Jeff Freitas
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-----
California ends plans for kids’ Covid vaccine mandate
California Department of Public Health officials have told EdSource that the end of the state’s COVID-19 state of emergency on February 28th effectively ends its current plan to add COVID-19 vaccinations to the list of 10 vaccinations children are required to have to attend school in person. In a statement, the department said it continues to "strongly recommend" that students and staff are immunized against the virus. It went on to say that any changes to required K-12 immunizations are properly addressed through the legislative process. There are no bills mandating school vaccinations currently pending in the Legislature. Currently, more than a third of children ages five to 11 and 67% of 12- to 17-year-olds have had their primary series of COVID vaccinations.
----- Florida’s African American Studies Ban-----
DeSantis' African American studies course ban faces legal challenge
Three Florida high school students could sue Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after the state Education Department rejected a new Advanced Placement course covering African American studies. While the College Board has announced that it will revise the course, which is till only its "pilot" stage, Ben Crump, a high-profile civil rights attorney, said he will file the lawsuit on behalf of the three students if DeSantis does not allow the course to be taught in the state. "By rejecting the African American history pilot program, Ron DeSantis has clearly demonstrated that he wants to dictate whose history does — and doesn't — belong," Democratic state Rep. Fentrice Driskell said at a news conference in Tallahassee, announcing the lawsuit on Wednesday. The course is the latest addition to the AP program, which helps high school students earn college credit.
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
More U.S. adults enjoy postsecondary credentials
A new report from the Lumina Foundation shows that the percentage of working age adults who’ve earned a college degree or other postsecondary credential reached 53.7% in 2021, a nearly 2 percentage point gain over 2019’s 51.9% and the highest number since the organization began tracking educational attainment levels more than a decade ago. “This is exciting because this gain represents the largest two-year increase we have seen,” says Lumina’s Courtney Brown. “This is also the first time every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have experienced increases in the proportion of residents holding associate or bachelor’s degrees or higher.” The percentage of adults in the U. S. between the ages of 25 to 64 with college degrees, certificates, or industry-recognized certifications, has increased from 37.9% in 2009 to 53.7% in 2021, a gain of nearly 16 percentage points.
Teacher shortages worsening in several states
Reports on teacher shortages nationwide suggest the challenge is worsening. In Colorado, 85% of educators recently said teacher shortages are significantly or somewhat worse now compared to previous years, according to a Colorado Education Association survey. The South Dakota Department of Education recently told state legislators the turnover rate has nearly doubled for educators between fiscal years 2021 and 2022. Some 84% of Minnesota public school districts and charter schools said they are affected by teacher shortages in a very significant or significant way, according to a survey of 285 school systems by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. That’s a significant increase from 2021 when 70% of surveyed districts reported the same concern. The surveyed districts in Minnesota said the top three factors contributing to teacher shortages are the lack of applicants in the candidate pool (91%), the inability to compete with the wages and benefits of local employers (67%), and the negative perception of teaching and education overall (57%). Encouragingly, many potential solutions are gaining traction however, including grow-your-own programs, registered teacher apprenticeships, and educator salary hikes.
Tennessee schools need billions in infrastructure investment
Tennessee needs to invest more than $9bn in its aged K-12 education infrastructure over five years, according to the latest Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations report, an increase of nearly 9% from an assessment done just a year earlier. Of that amount, about $5.4bn is needed for renovations and technology improvements, while nearly $3.6bn is needed to build additions and new schools. The report comes as officials nationwide wrestle with how to cover the soaring costs of school construction, which have doubled in the last decade due to rising material and labor costs. One study in Tennessee shows a direct connection between student achievement and the condition of school buildings, while another study from New York found that poor building conditions can lead to higher rates of chronic absenteeism.
Post-pandemic academic loss persists globally
The pandemic’s disruption of education persists for students around the world, according to the first meta-analysis of global learning loss. Researchers analyzed results from 42 studies of primary and secondary students in 15 high- and middle-income countries, including the United States, conducted from the start of the pandemic in 2020 through March 2022. Students in all of those countries experienced both delays in their expected academic progress compared to prior years and loss of their existing skills and knowledge, particularly in math. Gaps between low-income children and their wealthier classmates also have widened worldwide since the pandemic began. “Children still have not recovered the learning that they lost at the start of the pandemic, and this means that government programs seem to have been successful in avoiding further learning deficits as the pandemic continued, but they did not succeed in recovering the learning deficits that arose early in the pandemic, to this point, at least,” says Bastian Betthäuser, an assistant sociology professor at the Sciences Po Center for Research on Social Inequalities in France and associate researcher in public policy at the University of Oxford, England, and lead author of the study, which found evidence of worsening academic inequities across every grade as recently as March 2022.
----- STATE NEWS -----
Will arts education cuts in proposed California budget have a big impact?
Amid looming economic uncertainty and fears of recession, the governor has proposed cutting $1.2 billion of one-time discretionary funding for arts and instructional materials in his pared-back 2023-24 state budget, which responds to a projected $22.5 billion budget shortfall. However, the loss of that block grant money can be largely offset with the nearly $1 billion earmarked for arts education through Proposition 28, many arts advocates say, softening the blow.
A game-changing piece of arts education legislation, Proposition 28, passed last fall, sets aside money in the state’s general fund to give school districts additional funding — about 1% of the total state and federal money they receive under the Local Control Funding Formula — for arts education. For districts with at least 500 students, the initiative requires that 80% of the funds go to hiring teachers and 20% to training and supplies, such as musical instruments.
https://edsource.org/2023/will-arts-education-cuts-in-state-budget-have-a-big-impact/684772
California launches new teacher recruitment program
State Superintended of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond last week announced a new partnership is hoping to tackle the growing teacher shortage in California. The California Department of Education will now partner with California Volunteers to help streamline the process and 10,000 of its members will have the opportunity to help fill in the gaps. At the same time the state will also host a new series of careers fairs and launch a new public service announcement campaign. "CA is doing more than any other state to address the teacher and educator workforce shortage," Thurmond said. "We want to maximize these resources and create a way for those who want to teach and become teachers to have a way to do that."
----- DISTRICTS -----
LAUSD to allow students to carry Narcan
Los Angeles USD students will be able to carry Narcan, a nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has told board members that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health “supports a clarification” in district policy, and that an update will be issued shortly. Narcan “cannot be used to get high, is not addictive and does not have any effect on a person if there are no opioids in their body,” Mr. Carvalho wrote to board members. Nor, he wrote, are there any “long-term consequences” from using it in emergency situations. Board member Nick Melvoin expressed support for the policy update, saying in a statement that “Narcan has the power to save lives and I’ve been working to expand its access to everyone in our school communities, including students themselves.” Deadly overdoses have spiked among U.S. teens, even as illegal drug use has waned in that age group, researchers have found. In Los Angeles County, 92% of teens who died of drug overdoses in 2021 tested positive for fentanyl, a county report found. Thirty-one youth died from fentanyl overdoses that year in L.A. County.
----- WORKFORCE ----
Many educators consider leaving profession
Just under a third (30%) of educators plan to leave the education profession within the next three years, according to a survey undertaken by financial services firm Horace Mann Educators Corp. in November. Another 33% said they would “maybe” do the same. For those thinking of leaving, the largest share (42%) said they would retire, though another 28% said they would consider moving to the private sector and 10% would move to another public sector position. Respondents broadly agreed that higher salaries (57%), followed by improved parent or community support (42%), and better school or district leadership (41%), would tempt them to stay. Horace Mann's Kelly Ruwe comments: “So many educators thought once we came back from the pandemic and we’re back to normal, it would just be business as usual. I think they’re now realizing we have a new normal.”
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
FBI cracks ransomware group that targeted school districts
The FBI has cracked the international ransomware network Hive, the U.S. Justice Department has announced. In coordination with law enforcement agencies in Germany and the Netherlands, the Department took control of Hive’s websites and servers used for communicating with the group’s members. The agency will be providing recent and previous victims with decryption keys they can use to avoid paying $130m in ransom demands. Hive, which used ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) methods whereby members identified victims and used an already developed ransomware strain to attack, targeted over 1,500 victims in more than 80 countries and has received over $100m in ransom payments since 2021.
----- HIGHER EDUCATION -----
College enrollment stabilizing
While the total head count for all of higher education sits 5.8% below 2019 levels, enrollment declines at colleges and universities nationwide have narrowed. According to a National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report released Thursday, declines in undergraduate enrollment began to stabilize last fall, contracting by just 0.6% compared to the same period in 2021. With more than 3,600 institutions captured in the data, the new numbers are an improvement from earlier estimates that relied on fewer schools. First-year undergraduate enrollment was a particular bright spot, as schools nationwide gained 97,000 freshmen, an increase of 4.3% over the year prior. Community colleges witnessed the largest growth in first-year students, with a 6% year-over-year increase, followed by public four-year colleges that saw head counts rise by 3.9%. Notably, enrollment diverged across racial and ethnic groups. Head counts for Hispanic and Asian undergrads rose 1.6% and 1.8%, respectively. White undergrads accounted for the steepest decline, at 3.6%, followed by Black students at 1.9% and Native American students at 1.6%. Lastly, all regions of the country showed improvement. The Northeast and Midwest posted smaller declines in undergraduates, down 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively, than in fall 2021. Enrollment was essentially flat in the West and South, where head counts grew by less than 1%.
NTA Life Insurance - An ABCFT Sponsor
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 online. 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 online.
Please contact Leann Blaisdell at any time either by phone or email.
562-822-5004
Leann.Blaisdell@horacemann.com
Click here to schedule an appointment
No comments:
Post a Comment