KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
The ABCFT negotiating team is meeting with the district on Tuesday, September 26.
Last week I wrote about the costs of benefits as they relate to bargaining. This week I want to note another ongoing cost, the one related to the steps and columns on our salary schedule.
Each year there is a cost associated with the teachers and nurses who advance to a higher salary on our schedule, either through another step or year of service or the movement to another column linked to attaining more units or a particular degree. Sometimes a member may move “down” in terms of the years of service and “over” or “across” in terms of the A, B ,C ,D, or E columns in the same year.
This year, Mr. Nguyen has estimated the costs of maintaining our step and column movement at $500,000. There are a number of factors that go into generating the actual number. For example, I have written previously about declining enrollment and the significant impact that losing students has to our overall funding. There are, however, some slight savings compared to the negative impact of no longer having as many students. Fewer students eventually means fewer teachers and nurses as well. Fewer teachers and nurses mean less of a cost for maintaining the movement on steps and columns.
The costs of steps and columns is often linked to our number of retirements. The district has a target for the number of retirements required to break even with the costs of step and column advancement. If we have fewer than that number, there is a cost. If we have more than that number, there is a net savings. Since potential retirees are typically at the top of the salary scale there are savings associated with having our highest compensated employees retire to hypothetically be replaced with new hires that are near the beginning of the salary schedule. If, for example, a teacher making $100,000 were to retire and the teacher hired as a replacement makes closer to $50,000, that difference of $50,000 is a real savings of ongoing dollars.
The negotiating team is always alert to ways to identify these types of savings and make them available for compensation. We will continue to seek out creative ways to increase pay for our members despite declining enrollment.
In Unity,
HEALTHY LIVING - KAISER PERMANENTE RESOURCES
ABCFT has made the mental and physical health of its members a priority. The impacts of burnout (depletion) are real and unfortunately, teachers and nurses are not immune to the struggles to find balance. California officials and labor unions are pointing at data trends that show that educators need additional resources for wellness.
ABCFT recently contacted our Kaiser Permanente Labor Liaison, Alicia Loncar for additional resources. Some of you may remember Alicia for her pre pandemic wellness sessions at Fedde Middle School, where she introduced ABCFT members to some of the “hidden” programs that Kaiser has available for their members. We hope to have more opportunities this year to work with Alicia to provide additional wellness support for ABCFT members. Here are a few key resources she shared with us this week:
How to prevent burnout – School Employees Webinar
An educator Exclusive! Invite your members to the webinar, Booster Shot: How to prevent burnout! Tips, tricks and the science behind habits and well-being with Deb Friesen, MD.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 / 3:30 – 4:00 pm PT
Just in time for the mid-semester loll, we are hosting a webinar specific to educators with a 30-minute power session to support their well-being. To Register
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR EXECUTIVE BOARD
Megan Mitchell - Vice President of Elementary School
6th Grade Teacher- Cerritos Elementary School
The wise prophet, Mariah Carey, once said, “I’mma do the best that I can, with what I got!”
Is it just me, or does it seem hard to believe that we’ve already completed our 5th week of the 2023-2024 school year! In some ways the weeks are speeding by, while the days sometimes seem never ending. Like usual, the school year is underway and I’m taking this rollercoaster ride through the ups and downs.
During my first five weeks as the ABCFT Vice President of Elementary, I have had the opportunity to meet with our newly appointed Equity Officer, Dr. Blain Watson, have my first PAL Meeting with our new Director of Elementary Curriculum & Professional Learning, Dr. Christine Balbuena, and most importantly, I have had the opportunity to check in with ABCFT members.
On September 5th, 6th grade teachers across the district had the opportunity to participate in a voluntary training for the 6th Grade District Writing Assessment. While the training is common for 6th grade teachers to have, this time around a few things were different. 6th grade teachers have been told ahead of the writing assessment that the genre will be Argument, and we were notified that we will also receive the writing scores before the close of the second trimester. Click here for more information on the Whitney High School Admission process.
Starting in October, I will hold virtual town-halls on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, as a space for elementary teachers and nurses to connect with our fellow colleagues across the district to shed light on any concerns or questions that pertain specifically to elementary teachers and nurses. Register to attend here.
I am super excited and optimistic about connecting with teachers and helping to support empowering ABCFT members and our union as a whole.
Important dates to remember:
September 28, 2023: Technical Writing Training, 3:30-4:30pm via Google Meet
October 2-6, 2023: Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 11, 2023: 6th Grade District writing assessment. (Students cannot opt out)
October 18, 2023: Make Up Day
October 30, 2023: WHS Scoring Begins (will be about a 6 week process)
December 5, 2023: ELA Readiness Assessment (Whitney Admissions ONLY, students can opt out)
December 6, 2023: Math Readiness Assessment (Whitney Admissions ONLY, students can opt out)
December 12, 2023: 6th Grade Reading Assessment Make-Up
December 13, 2023: 6th Grade Math Assessment Make-Up
Elementary Coaches are available for help during office hours and by appointment.
Michelle Joyce (Imagine Learning, Renaissance, McGraw Hill)
Julie Yabumoto (Renaissance, RCM)
Amber Prieto (Savvas Math & Savvas History)
Reminder: Teacher resources in the ABCUSD Elementary Teacher Resources file
Use your abcusd.us account.
Elementary Academic Services Resource link
For Elementary Education Issues please email Megan at Megan.Mitchell@abcusd.us if you have any questions or concerns.
MEMBER-ONLY RESOURCES
Hispanic Heritage Month Activities and Lesson Plans
In an increasingly interconnected world, our classrooms are more diverse and representational than ever. These microcosms of global culture provide rich environments where young minds can explore and appreciate the histories, stories, and contributions of myriad cultures. Among these narratives, Hispanic and Latino voices have played a pivotal role in weaving the rich tapestry of American history. It is crucial for preK-12 schools and communities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 and honor the influence and significance of these voices.
It's an opportunity to educate, to connect, and to cultivate appreciation and understanding. With the United States’ growing Hispanic and Latino population, it becomes even more vital to ensure that our children, irrespective of their cultural background, understand the depths, the struggles, the joys, and the nuances of Hispanic history and culture.
It's a poignant fact that children can develop biases and prejudices as young as three years old. Hence, preK-12 education becomes a critical phase to lay the groundwork for an inclusive and accepting mindset. This collection emphasizes the importance of proactive education – using stories, art, music, history lessons, and more – to showcase the beauty of Hispanic culture and its undeniable influence on American society.
ACADEMIC SERVICES UPDATE
This month’s academic service update is vital for all teachers. We hope you will take a moment to look at this monthly report, which discusses changes in academic services that could impact your classroom. This document provides the union with a means of giving the District feedback on the many programs or changes they are proposing at any time. Without your feedback or questions on these changes, it is harder for ABCFT to slow down and modify the district’s neverending rollout of new projects. Please submit your comments and questions to the appropriate ABCFT liaison.
For Elementary curricular issues, please email Megan at Megan.Mitchell@abcusd.us
For Secondary curricular issues, please email Catherine at Catherine.Pascual@abcusd.us if you have any questions or concerns.
Click Here For This Month’s Full Report
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. This weekly report informs members about issues impacting their working/learning conditions and mental well-being. Our work as a Union is a larger conversation and united we make the YOUnion.
“There is a leader in every seat in this room.” - A comment made at the 25th annual PAL Retreat meeting where every site representative and every principal spent the day discussing the future direction of the ABC School District.
Yesterday was ABC’s PAL Retreat, which started in the 1990’s as a yearly site rep training that morphed twenty-five years ago to become what is known today as the PAL Retreat (Partnership of Administration and Labor). This yearly practice is when the district leaders and site representative leaders sit together to discuss the state of their site/program and how they will work together to create safe spaces for critical conversations to find solutions that tackle collective challenges. I like to think of it in terms of a city, where the principals function like a mayor and the site representative(s) function like firefighters. When those two parties work together for the common good of employees and the student community the site will flourish, similar to a well-functioning municipality. The power of the PAL Retreat is that it provides a time for partners to meet. Let me go back to my metaphor for a second where there needs to be a time on the calendar when your firefighters meet with the mayor to discuss changes or challenges impacting the city. The PAL retreat provides a space and the structure for site reps and principals to have ground truth conversations about the school site so that together they can find solutions that best fit the school community they serve.
Next week, we will have more information about the data that was collected from the PAL Retreat and some of the critically important conversations that were happening in the room yesterday. However, I want to pass on the most important culture shift that was expressed by almost all participants yesterday. The statement that “we need to embrace the term UNIFIED in our name to include community,” abolish south-side-north-side divisions, stop the school site competitions and divisions that have fractured us so that as a UNITED district we have one voice for public education. There were multiple moments throughout the day where these sentiments were expressed and applauded. In my opinion, it is a significant shift in the way we think about each other and speaks volumes about the desire and need for district leadership to recognize that all educational partners are asking for cohesiveness so that we can tackle the onslaught of challenging situations together rather than acting in solitary sink or swim situations. Let that bounce around in your head a little because I think it is a cultural change in the way we have thought in the past and it is a watershed moment of opportunity for positive change.
In YOUnity,
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
Check out Randi’s latest news piece about teacher burnout here: Taking on Teacher Burnout
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
More schools bringing back police
School districts nationwide are reversing plans to remove school resource officers or increase their numbers as students return to classrooms this fall. In June, for example, the Denver school board voted 4-3 to permit the "persistent presence of school resource officers" in the city's schools, which was a stark reversal from 2020 when the board voted to eliminate all SROs. Law enforcement officials say their presence in schools has been complicated by staffing shortages and new restrictions, while experts say research shows there's little evidence it will increase school safety and may in fact harm students of color. Although officers reduce some forms of violence, such as physical attacks and fights, they do not prevent gun-related incidents, according to a 2021 study from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit think tank, and the University at Albany. "The best evidence that we have to date shows no deterrent effect of where gun violence happens in schools or where weapons are brought to schools. ... Similarly, when a shooting does happen in a school, those shootings, actually, on average have been more deadly in schools with police," laments Ben Fisher, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor who recently reviewed dozens of studies on the effects of police in schools.
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
Using false addresses to get into better schools 'a nationwide issue'
In nearly half the states in the country, parents risk criminal prosecution and jail time if they use a false address to get their children into a better school, according to a report by nonprofits Available to All and Bellwether. When districts do involve law enforcement, criminal charges and stiff fines often disproportionally land on the backs of Black, Hispanic and low-income families. The report urges states to repeal laws that target address sharing and refrain from using general statutes, like those against theft or perjury, to charge parents who lie about their residence. They also support open enrollment laws that allow families to choose a school in any district, regardless of where they live.
Billings Gazette St. Louis Post Dispatch
Ed. Dept. invests in career opportunities for students with disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has announced that it will fund 20 model demonstration projects focused on improving economic self-sufficiency for children and youth with disabilities by creating systemic approaches to enhance post-school outcomes. The $199m in funding for the Pathways to Partnerships innovative model demonstration project supports collaborative partnerships between state vocational rehabilitation agencies, state and local educational agencies, and federally funded centers for independent living to help individuals with disabilities seamlessly transition to life after high school, preparing them for independent living, competitive integrated employment and community integration. Pathways to Partnerships is the largest discretionary grant ever administered by RSA.
Teachers urge greater supports for students with IEPs and 504 plans
Sixty-eight percent of teachers and 51% of administrators would like more tech support for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans, according to a survey by digital learning platform Clever. The survey also found that 56% of teachers and 59% of administrators are concerned about the availability of products that effectively serve diverse learners. In the 2021-22 school year, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of students receiving special education supports reached an all-time high for the 46 years since the federal Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was implemented
Principals urge Congress to preserve Title I funding
School leaders across the country calling on Congress to preserve federal funding for the education of low-income students. The letter, sent by The National Association of Secondary School Principals on behalf of 45 state school leader associations, warns of “drastic reductions” to Every Student Succeeds Act programs if the proposal from the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies becomes law. The opposition comes after a July House subcommittee proposal to eliminate 80% of Title I funding in the FY 2024 budget. Regardless of the final appropriations agreement, Congress has already agreed to level funding for the Education Department in FY 2024 as a result of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Although FY 2024 begins October 1, it is unlikely Congress will meet a September 31 deadline to approve the budget and would need to approve a stopgap measure to avoid a federal government shutdown.
----- STATE NEWS -----
California's internet privacy law halted by federal judge
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction to halt the implementation of a California law aimed at restricting companies' use of information gathered from young internet users. U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman stated that the legislation interferes with firms' use of the internet without sufficient justification. The law would require businesses to report on any internet product or service likely to be accessed by those under 18 and prohibit the collection of personal information about young internet users. The judge argued that the law unfairly targets for-profit businesses and not government agencies or nonprofits. The law, passed unanimously last year, was challenged by NetChoice, whose members include Google, Amazon, Meta, and TikTok. Attorney General Rob Bonta's office expressed disappointment and may appeal the injunction.
California lawmakers pass bill requiring lead testing in schools
California lawmakers have passed a bill that mandates all schools in the state to test for lead in drinking water outlets. The bill requires community water systems serving schools built before 2010 to test all potable water outlets and report the results to the school, educational agency, and state water regulators. Outlets exceeding lead levels of 5 parts per billion would be shut down immediately. The bill also requires schools to notify parents and guardians, shut down contaminated outlets, and provide an alternative source of lead-free drinking water. Schools that have replaced all water outlets after 2010 are exempt from testing. The law is estimated to cost the California State Water Resources Control Board tens of millions of dollars.
How these bills before Gov. Gavin Newsom could change education in California
Within the past week, the Legislature dispatched hundreds of bills, including several dozen affecting TK-12 and higher education.
Important education bills heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom include extending the ban on suspending students for willful defiance in high schools, creating more training for bilingual teachers, requiring gender-neutral student bathrooms by 2026, and enticing retired teachers to return to the classroom for the next few years.
We include one bill dealing with the Local Control Funding Formula that was withdrawn at the last minute but could find its way into next year’s budget. Newsom has through Oct. 14 to sign or veto bills he received by Sept. 14. Two bills to place a school bond before voters next year were also pulled; negotiations with Gov. Gavin Newsom will determine which moves forward next year.
----- DISTRICTS -----
Portland Schools and teachers at impasse over contract negotiations
Portland Public Schools and the union representing its educators have reached an impasse in their contract negotiations, increasing the likelihood of a teacher strike starting on October 23. The two sides have been unable to agree on key issues such as cost of living raises, class sizes, teacher planning time, and disruptive student behavior. Both sides must present their final offers within a week, and if no agreement is reached, a 30-day cooling-off period will begin before teachers can strike. The district's most recent offer includes a 4% annual salary increase and a $3,000 bonus for special education educators, while the union is requesting a 21.5% raise over three years. Portland Public Schools, the largest district in Oregon, has never experienced a teacher strike before.
Fresno Unified paying eye-watering substitute teacher rates amid strike preparations
The Fresno Unified Teachers Association (FTA) and Fresno Unified School District are locked in negotiations over a new contract. The union's proposal includes pay raises, lifetime benefits, and investments in students, such as free laundry service and school supplies for those in need. The district insists that student support should not be part of the contract language. With less than a month before the union's strike deadline, the district plans to pay substitute teachers $500 per day during the strike. The district currently has around 1,600 substitute teachers ready to work, but concerns remain about having enough subs and completing necessary background checks. Both sides are frustrated with the negotiation process, and fact-finding sessions have taken place.
----- WORKFORCE ----
Superintendent attrition rates remain high
Superintendents in 20% of the nation's largest school districts left their roles last year, indicating ongoing stressors in educational leadership. A new analysis by ILO Group found that 21.4% of these districts experienced leadership turnover during the 2022-23 school year. This trend of high leadership churn has persisted since the pandemic, with approximately half of the 500 largest districts replacing a superintendent between March 2020 and September 2022. The transitions come at a critical time for districts, as they grapple with learning recovery, student engagement, employee morale, and the deadline to spend federal COVID relief aid. To address this issue, states and educational organizations have launched programs to prepare future superintendents and support those new to the role. The Council of the Great City Schools, for example, has launched a program to prepare senior-level urban district leaders for the top job.
----- LEGAL -----
Federal judge blocks Escondido Union's transgender policy
The Escondido Union School District's policy on keeping transgender or gender-nonconforming students' identity private, including from their parents, has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. The judge argued that the policy goes against federal law and is medically unwise. The policy aligns with California education guidance, which emphasizes the safety and privacy rights of transgender students. State officials and LGBTQ advocates have warned that revealing a student's transgender identity without their consent can put them in danger.
-----CHARTER SCHOOLS -----
Ohio’s universal voucher program already exceeds cost estimates
The cost of Ohio’s new universal school voucher program has already surpassed initial cost estimates. An analysis by The Columbus Dispatch indicates that the state has received applications totaling approximately $432m for the 2023-24 school year, which is $34m more than forecasted by the Legislative Service Commission. The state awarded 24,320 vouchers for the 2022-23 school year and has received 70,487 applications for the current school year as of September 6. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade make up 78% of the current applications, which means they are eligible for up to $6,165 per year. The other 22% are high school students who can receive up to $8,407.
Private-school voucher use soaring in Florida
Almost 123,000 new students have received private-school vouchers in Florida after a major expansion of voucher programs. As of September 8, over 242,000 students had enrolled in private schools using vouchers through the state's main programs. Of these, 122,895 are new to the programs, with 69% already enrolled in private schools. Critics argued that the expansion would lead to an exodus from public schools, but the data shows otherwise. The Florida Policy Institute raised concerns about the cost of the expansion, estimating it to be $676m. However, Step Up for Students, the organization administering the vouchers, disputed this estimate. The voucher programs also saw an increase in students with special needs. The data did not include information about the race and ethnicity of voucher recipients. The Florida Policy Institute questioned why the report was not provided by the state education department.
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