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.
“Schools out for ever Spring Break” - Alice Cooper
We made it to Spring Break! This year’s break was very late in the school year,, and I’m sure there have been discussions about the coming years and how our Spring Breaks will be impacted now that we will start a week earlier. When you come back from Spring Break, the negotiating team will be sending out a calendar survey that will have some options to consider. Many of these options have been on previous surveys, BUT the circumstances have changed, and you may have different thoughts about moving local holidays or even considering moving spring break. Again, the negotiating team heavily leans into your survey answers as a guide to negotiating the school calendar, so your input on this upcoming survey will be extremely helpful.
This week, members of the ABCFT Executive Board represented members in the district LCAP Union input meeting that is held every year. This is the third year in a three-year LCAP cycle, so there weren’t many drastic changes to be suggested, but next year, the executive board will look at the data available on the viability of programs, take into consideration the needs of teachers and students as they provide the union perspective on what is needed to help the unduplicated students (EL students, foster students, and unhoused students) and all other students in the district. This year, we encouraged the district to provide all educational partners (classified, certificated, students, parents, and administrators) with longitudinal data about the efficacy of each LCAP program or student/teacher support. I hope that in your discussions at the school site level, you are also asking for supporting data as you make decisions on how to spend your school site or program funding. The District’s LCAP plan for next year will be presented to the school board and community at the first board meeting in June.
One of the things that came up in the LCAP meeting was the purpose and impact of certain district goals and which personnel are supported by the LCAP, and what they provide for school sites. For example, in our discussion about the number of EL students that are being reclassified, ABCFT asked for clarification on why this is important as a goal that has been set out by the State of California and the district. Dr. Carol Castro and Beth Bray gave a thorough explanation of the long-term impact of meeting the educational needs of EL students by supporting their progress to reclassification and how the reclassification has a significant impact on educational success and their statistical chances to graduate from high school. We encouraged the district to provide an easy-to-digest version of the rationale and impact so that all stakeholders and educational partners can clearly understand the reasons this policy of reclassification is so important for our students. We should all know the data and statistics that move these policies. As this information is created, we will work with the district to ensure that you all have access to this important information so that you can use this information in your decision-making process at the site/program level in the future.
Principal movement….well, not an easy subject, but it looks like the school board took to heart the input of the educational community and worked with individuals and community members to find solutions that provide dignity for all involved. That’s what it’s all about, right? Dignity is the most unpolished gem in politics and in many workplaces. Being heard and having your voice or even the opportunity to have a voice in decision-making is what has made ABC an amazing place to work. For a moment, I was worried that we had forgotten our roots, but it turns out we were just a little rusty after the heavily State mandated routines we were used to following during the pandemic. I cannot thank the board enough for being forward-thinking and listening to the community as part of the decision-making. The quality of listening to the educational community is not something that we should take for granted as we see shenanigans that hurt students' educational opportunities in local school districts like Brea-Yorba Linda or in states like Florida. When politicians lose sight that they are there as representatives for a community and begin to push personal or political agendas which hurt our students…that’s just not dignified at all. I’ll give the ABC Educational Community, including the school board, a mark in the win column for this one.
Have a terrific break, and come back ready for the last push. Free your mind of school as best you can. This is your summer warm-up!
In YOUnity,
Ray Gaer,
President, ABCFT
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