KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
On Tuesday, September 26 the negotiating team presented the district team with our proposal. The team crafted this proposal after careful deliberation. We looked at the budget numbers and took into account ongoing priorities regarding compensation packages as well as what we have heard from members in terms of addressing needs specific to their programs. Our goal remains to be able to attract top teaching talent here in ABCUSD, give them access to meaningful professional learning, and then retain our teachers and nurses by supporting them in terms of salary, benefits, and working conditions. Next steps, the district will discuss our proposal with the school board during their closed session meeting on Tuesday, October 3. The ABCFT negotiating team is scheduled to meet again with the district on Thursday, October 5.
In Unity,
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES - Your Weingarten Rights By Tanya Golden
Receiving an email or verbal request for your presence at a meeting with your supervisor can at times feel uncomfortable. Also being informed you can bring a union representative can feel alarming. There is a reason your administrator is advising you to bring union representation; ABCFT unit members have the right of union representation at such meetings. This right to union representation is also known as Weingarten Rights.
It is sound practice as well as part of your Weingarten Rights to know the topic of the meeting prior to attending the meeting. If your administrator did not share what will be, then ask what the topic of discussion will be prior to attending. Of equal importance is having a union representative present during the meeting. If your union rep is not available then ask to reschedule the meeting so he/she can be present.
During these meetings, some administrators may have another administrator take notes during the meeting. You have the right to know who will be present in the meeting prior to meeting. There should be no surprises. If you were not informed about it prior to the meeting you can ask for the meeting to be rescheduled.
Site reps and alternates receive training and support from ABCFT leadership on member representation. The primary role of the union rep is to ensure your contractual rights are upheld and due process is followed. Do not hesitate to use the services of your union representative.
GETTING TO KNOW ABC ADULT SCHOOL
The ABC Adult School held its annual Open House, Craft & Fitness Fair on Wednesday, September 13,
2023. Students and community members displayed many handmade arts and crafts and demonstrated live performances. The live performances included Ballroom Dance, Hula Dance, Chinese folk Dance,
Guitar performance, Live Painting, and Line Dance. ESL students held a flag parade and medical assistant
students provided health screening. Cosmetology students gave free haircuts and other salon services,
and attendees were invited to visit classrooms to learn more about our excellent programs. We look forward to seeing more community members for the cosmetology program salon services this school year.
ADULT SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE TOP-NOTCH!
The ABCUSD Adult School is one of the largest Adult School Programs in all of California. Adult school has two main sites: the main campus is the Cuesta Campus next to the district office and the extension campus is housed off of Del Amo Blvd at Cabrillo Lane. Adult school offers Parent Education programs, Career technical training, and courses for adults learning English as a second language. They also offer a large catalog of community education classes covering many visual arts/crafting mastery classes, performing arts, health and fitness, music and other wellness activities.
During the back-to-school celebration, Ray and Tanya signed up to be clients for the Adult School Cosmetology program that Ms. Marta Ortega and Ms. Regina Somers teach. Impressed by the program, Ray and Tanya booked appointments the following week to be practice clients for the cosmetology students. The cosmetology program offers a full range of salon experiences, such as facial treatments, skincare, haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and other services. The cosmetology student always needs practice clients, so if you have family or friends that need some cost-saving salon services they would be greatly appreciated Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 pm to 3:00 p.m.
After Ray’s return visit for a facial (his first ever) and manicure (also a first) he stated that “ it was incredibly relaxing and that the students did a remarkable job on my old face. I never knew that there were so many different kinds of skin treatments and that the students were remarkable.” Ray spoke about his experience at the ABCUSD School Board meeting that night (click here for the link).
Tanya Golden was also a student client that day remarking, “It was an amazing experience, similar to what I enjoy at my local spa without the premium pricing. The student was very personable and professional.” Not only does your patronage help students practice, the salon service prices are very reasonable. Treat yourself to one of the many treatments available.
Click here for the Salon Services Price List
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.
“We need to be clear on the journey and operate with conviction or others will get lost along the way.” - I overheard this from a veteran administrator at a table that was discussing how ABCUSD moves forward as a school district.
The word that stuck out to me about the above quote was the word conviction. I think that the negative comments about public education at the ABC board meeting last month sparked many deep and thought-provoking conversations across the school district and within the community. Perhaps we have all been waiting for a moment of clarity about our educational community and the common ground among all educational partners (especially considering the voices of those who live in the community but no longer have students attending ABC schools). Board member Yoo’s board report comments, which are overwhelmingly political in nature, were quite thought-provoking and the community has rallied in response.
At the board meeting last week, the ABCUSD Board President, Brad Beach, read a board statement that expressed the school board's desire to set board trustee expectations that reflect the foundational nature of what a school board trustee is elected to do for a school district. You can watch Mr. Beach deliver this statement during his report here. A school district and the success or failure of an administration and its employees is often dictated by the guidance of a school board. ABCFT Response @ the Board Meeting
It is refreshing to see a school board in California that is trying to address professional conduct expectations and a dedication to the institutional mission of public education. In addition to the school board's message about civility and the focus of ABC schools, many members of the board took additional time within their school board reports to stress the importance of public education and the impact that it has on all community partners. It is the common ground that binds us together. As a teacher or nurse, the school district is our employer to which we devote our lives in the mission of upholding the equity promise of public education. The ABC community is a monument to the success of public schools and serves as a magnet for families who are searching for world-class educational experiences for their children. Businesses thrive in communities with good school districts and even those without students in ABC schools benefit from increased home values. A school district is the center of any community.
Let’s not get too distracted by the rhetoric of political divisiveness. The school board clearly proclaimed that they are committed to the ABC community and ABC employees by uplifting the message of Public Education. We can’t ignore those that try to tear down the fabric of schools but we can isolate those messages and point out their destructiveness to a community. There is a reason our blue ABCFT union shirts are embroidered with “PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD”. Yes, we are PROUD!
More to come.
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
Student loan payments resume: AFT debt clinics can help
After a three-year hiatus that began during the pandemic, student loan payments are set to resume October 1. To help ease the transition, the U.S. Department of Education has made some changes, including much more generous parameters for income-driven repayment. The AFT is here to help you sort through it all and find the best path to debt relief, with weekly student debt clinics. There are over 30 virtual clinics offered in the remainder of September and October at various days and times throughout the weeks. Register here.
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
Temecula teachers' pay deal fails to get board approval
Temecula Valley USD teachers were left disappointed on Tuesday after a union deal for pay raises failed to get approval from the school board. The deal, which called for 8% ongoing raises and a 1.5% one-time raise, was supported by 97.3% of union members. However, the board's conservative majority, who critics allege are retaliating against the union's support of a recall effort, did not vote in favor of the deal, citing concerns about the district's financial situation. The deal is expected to go back before the board during a special meeting scheduled for the coming Tuesday.
Temecula student distributes LGBTQ pride flags to protest school policies
Moxxie Childs. a transgender student at Great Oak High School known as "Flag Boy," is distributing hundreds of pride flags to protest new school district policies that target LGBTQ students. The policies, recently approved by the Temecula Valley USD board, restrict the display of flags on school grounds, including classrooms. The policy, adopted on a 3-2 vote, has sparked controversy and accusations of targeting pride flags. Childs has faced both support and hostility for his activism. Despite the mixed responses, he continues to distribute flags and raise funds for LGBTQ youth organizations. The school district has been at the center of LGBTQ issues, with a conservative majority on the board implementing policies that LGBTQ advocates criticize as discriminatory. Childs and other students will participate in a walkout to protest the new policies. The student-led protest aims to rally for LGBTQ rights and student safety.
----- PASSING OF SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN -----
The death of Dianne Feinstein, California’s groundbreaking senior senator for more than three decades, was announced today, scrambling politics in both her home state and Washington, D.C.
With more a year left in Feinstein’s term, Gov. Gavin Newsom must now appoint a replacement, a possibility he dismissed only weeks ago as a hypothetical — and a fraught prospect as a race to succeed Feinstein has already been underway for months.
We have a story up now that we will continue updating.
CAL Matters
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
California State Superintendent will run for Governor
Tony Thurmond, California's Superintendent of Public Instruction, has announced his candidacy for governor of the state in 2026. “I didn’t come from money, power or influence,” said Mr. Thurmond, a Democrat, speaking in a promotional video that chronicles his childhood and journey to the state superintendent’s office. “California may be working for millionaires and billionaires, but for the rest of California, we need real change.” As state superintendent, Mr. Thurmond has seen California’s public schools through the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing teachers’ shortage, and the near-constant educational culture wars, often stepping in directly when divisive school board battles melted into chaos. Mr. Thurmond's campaign will likely focus on education reform and addressing the needs of students and teachers across the state.
Ninth state passes school choice bill
North Carolina has become the ninth state to pass a school choice bill, adopting the Education Savings Account model. The program's funding will increase to $520m by 2032. The state is the first to enact a policy without a GOP trifecta, with Republicans in the legislature cosponsoring the bill. Other states, such as Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Utah, and West Virginia, have also implemented school choice models. The Heritage Foundation praises North Carolina's move, stating that it aligns with the growing trend of states advancing universal education choice policies. School choice can obviously be expanded through various avenues, including voucher programs, tax-credit scholarships, and education savings accounts. Charter schools, magnet schools, and homeschooling are also widely accepted as forms of school choice.
Ohio's largest teacher's pension system seeks contributions increase
The largest teacher's pension system in Ohio is seeking to increase the amount that school districts contribute to the retirement system, which would cost taxpayers an additional $533m per year. Currently, employers and employees each contribute 14% of payroll into the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, with the employer contribution rate unchanged since 1983. The goal is to gradually increase the employer contribution rate by half a percentage point each year until it reaches 18%. This additional funding would provide STRS with the flexibility to enhance benefits for teachers and retirees. The Ohio School Boards Association opposes any increase in the employer contribution rate.
Districts adopting four-day weeks for cost savings and teacher recruitment
School districts across the United States have been adopting four-day weeks in recent years, citing cost savings and advantages for teacher recruitment. The practice has been most prevalent in rural and western parts of the country. However, the move has raised concerns about the impact on students who have already experienced learning loss during the pandemic. Parents also face challenges in arranging childcare for the extra weekday. While surveys show overall parental approval, support decreases among those with younger children. The shortened schedule has led to mixed academic outcomes, with some studies showing no negative effects on test scores if the other four school days are lengthened. However, the Rand Corporation found achievement differences in four-day districts over multiple years. Despite potential drawbacks, the shortened schedule has been seen as a recruitment strategy for districts competing against higher-paying neighboring districts. The article highlights the experiences of various school districts and the trade-offs involved in adopting a four-day week.
Cardona urges schools to stay open amid COVID-19 surges
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has voiced concerns about government overreach and urged schools not to shut down due to surges in COVID-19 cases. Cardona's remarks came during a ceremony honoring the Council of Chief State School Officers' Teachers of the Year. He emphasized the importance of keeping schools open and highlighted the negative impact of closures on students' education and well-being. Cardona's stance aligns with the goal of maintaining in-person learning and minimizing disruptions to students' academic progress.
----- STATE NEWS -----
California schools required to provide gender-neutral bathrooms
All California schools will be required to provide gender-neutral bathrooms under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The legislation expands on an existing law that allows students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. The bill was inspired by an attempt to restrict transgender students' access to certain facilities. The law is part of a package of bills aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ youth. California is proud to have among the most robust LGBTQ+ rights laws in the nation. Other bills signed by Newsom include cultural competency training for schools regarding LGBTQ+ student issues and the creation of a task force to identify the needs of LGBTQ+ pupils. Newsom faced backlash for vetoing a bill that would have required courts to consider a parent's support of a child's gender identity in custody fights. Critics see the veto as a move to make Newsom more palatable for a future presidential run.
California doubles taxes on guns and ammunition
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law that will double taxes on guns and ammunition. The projected $159m in additional annual tax revenue will be used to enhance security at public schools and fund violence prevention programs. California becomes the only state with its own tax on guns and ammunition. Mr. Newsom, known for his support of gun restrictions, is leading a national campaign to amend the U.S. Constitution for stricter gun control measures. The law also now includes a ban on carrying guns in public places and requires microstamping technology on semiautomatic pistols. More than two dozen "sensitive places" that are off limits to firearms, including child care centers and schools. The California Rifle and Pistol Association plans to challenge the tax in court.
California Gov. signs law barring school boards from banning inclusive books
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law that prohibits school boards in the state from banning books, instructional materials, or curricula labeled as inclusive or diverse. AB 1078 was passed in response to school districts in California voting to ban books promoting racial diversity or LGBTQ figures. Supporters of the bill argue that book banning amounts to government censorship and that it has a troubling history. Opponents, however, claim that the law takes away the voice of locally elected school board members and parents who object to certain materials. With two-thirds of the Legislature supporting it, AB 1078 immediately becomes law. Gov. Newsom stated: "We're experiencing all throughout America, and now increasingly here in the state of California, where we have school districts large and small banning books, banning free speech, criminalizing librarians and teachers. And we want to do more than just push back rhetorically against that, and that's what this legislation provides."
The Sacramento Bee Los Angeles Times
CA Dems make late move on school parcel tax limitation initiative
A late-session strategy by Democrats in the California Legislature aims to block a tax-limitation initiative that would require a two-thirds majority to pass special taxes, including school parcel taxes. The initiative, called the Tax Protection and Government Accountability Act, has already qualified for the November 2024 election ballot. However, Democrats passed Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13, which would make it harder to pass the initiative by requiring any state ballot measure raising the voter threshold for passing taxes to also require a two-thirds majority. Supporters argue that the current two-thirds majority requirement benefits wealthy communities, while opponents claim it is an attack on the initiative process. If both measures pass, the one with the most votes would govern the outcome. Cash-strapped school districts see the initiative as a major boon, as it would allow them to pass parcel taxes with a simple majority vote.
----- DISTRICTS -----
Moreno Valley school board fires superintendent
The Moreno Valley USD school board has voted to fire Superintendent Martinrex Kedziora without cause. Chief Human Resources Officer Robert Verdi has been appointed as the interim superintendent. The district did not disclose the reasons for his dismissal. “I would like to thank Dr. Kedziora for his years of service to the Moreno Valley Unified School District,” said school board President Susan Smith said. “He has exhibited a real love for the students and families of our district. Occasionally there comes a time when institutions such as school districts need to make a change in direction. That time has come for us here at Moreno Valley. We know that everyone will continue to do their best to meet all of the needs of our students and families.”
Florida teachers union raid could relate to salaries
Federal agents raided the headquarters of Duval Teachers United in Jacksonville, Florida, earlier this month, carrying away computers and boxes of financial documents. The most recent annual disclosure report from Duval Teachers United covers the 2021-22 school year and contains nothing that indicates criminal activity, though there is potentially an issue in the fluctuating salaries of its leadership executives. President Terrie Brady, who has held the position since 1999, and executive vice president Ruby George, who has been in position since at least 2004-05, have taken salaries that have fluctuated significantly. Brady’s salary ranged from $160,000 in 2006-07 to more than $326,000 in 2019-20. George received $134,000 in 2018-19 but almost $327,000 the following year. By comparison, Brady’s taxable compensation for 2021-22 greatly exceeded the amounts paid to the presidents of United Teachers Los Angeles ($140,000), the Chicago Teachers Union ($155,000) and even that of the largest teachers union in Florida, the United Teachers of Dade ($217,000). Duval Teachers United is similar in size to two other Florida teachers union locals, the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association and the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association. Their presidents made $127,000 and $152,000, respectively, last year.
LAUSD board rescinds COVID vaccine mandate for staff
The Los Angeles USD Board of Education has voted 6-1 to rescind its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for staff, citing the transition of COVID-19 to an endemic disease. The mandate, which led to the termination of over 600 employees following its introduction in October 2021, is deemed no longer necessary to ensure safe in-person learning. Board Member George McKenna was the sole dissenting vote, stating that science still supports the need for the vaccine. The decision has been seen as a victory by parties involved in legal battles against the district. Former employees and activist organizations filed lawsuits seeking to repeal the mandate. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho defended the decision, stating that it is based on scientific knowledge and current conditions. The board's resolution does not refer to any legal action and points to the winding down of emergency health declarations. The decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some employees expressing relief and others feeling discriminated against.
----- WORKFORCE ----
California's Black teacher shortage: a call for action
Numerous studies have shown that Black teachers can improve Black students’ academic outcomes, but in California, where Black Students are the lowest performing sub-group of all ethnic groups, the state has an extremely low count of African American instructors working in school districts across the state. According to the California Department of Education’s 2018-2019 Ethnic Distribution of Public-School Teachers, Black teachers disproportionately make up 3.8% of the state’s 12,000 public school classroom instructors. "Addressing the educator shortage is one of the most important things we can do to support student achievement," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. He offered the assessment at a news conference before he hosted a Teacher Recruitment Summit at the California Department of Education (CDE) in Sacramento last month. The Teacher Recruitment Summit was opened to individuals from all organizations focused on reducing the teacher shortage. The event formally launched a coalition to engage in direct recruitment of teacher candidates statewide.
----- CLASSROOM -----
Poor math skills 'a threat' to U.S. global standing
Americans' already poor scores on standardized math tests are falling even further and prompting some significant concerns. Some employers say the nation's poor math skills are a threat to the United States' global economic competitiveness and national security, while the U.S. Department of Defense has called for a major initiative to support education in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. It says there are eight times as many college graduates in these disciplines in China and four times as many engineers in Russia as in the United States. “The advances in technology that are going to drive where the world goes in the next 50 years are going to come from other countries, because they have the intellectual capital and we don’t,” says Jim Stigler, a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies the process of teaching and learning subjects including math.
----- SCHOOL REFORM TRENDS -----
Later school start times gaining traction
California and Florida have become the first states to require later school start times, in part a response to the mental health crisis affecting teens. The new laws, which mandate high school classes to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m., aim to help adolescents get more sleep. However, implementing these changes comes with challenges such as disrupted bus schedules and new schedules for teachers and staff. Other states have faced opposition from school districts and parents concerned about budget and family schedules. Numerous studies have shown that later start times improve grades, reduce juvenile crime, and enhance sports performance. Lawmakers in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Texas all had bills up this year, according to Start School Later, an advocacy group that tracks the bills, though most didn't pass. Notably, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
----- FINANCE -----
Schools brace for another potential federal government shutdown
Congress must approve a new “continuing resolution” that sets federal spending for the next year by October 1 to avoid another potential federal government shutdown. A shutdown would be the first under President Joe Biden. The last shutdown in late 2018, under President Donald Trump, was the longest in U.S. history. House Republicans have been pushing for massive cuts to federal spending, including an 80% reduction in the billions of Title I funds that high-need school districts receive. House Democrats, who have pushed to increase funding for that program, have called cuts of that magnitude represent an “assault on education.” While most federal funding for K-12 schools won’t take a hit, a longer-term shutdown could cause more substantial problems. If the government ceases operations, 90% of the U.S. Department of Education’s employees would likely be furloughed immediately, as has happened during past shutdowns. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Education’s shutdown memo highlighted the possibility that some federal grant programs for schools would be delayed or disrupted if a shutdown prevented workers from carrying them out.
----- CHILD DEVELOPMENT ----
Childcare providers brace ahead of funding cliff
Early learning and childcare advocates are warning of a dearth of childcare places as temporary pandemic-era funding expires September 30. According to a survey conducted by the RAPID Project at Stanford University’s Center on Early Childhood Education, nearly 25% of childcare programs would have folded without the federal emergency funding. The American Rescue Plan, which went into effect March 2021, provided $23.97bn for childcare stabilization grants to states, territories, and tribes based on the current Childcare and Development Block Grant formula. The funding was specifically targeted to help the childcare industry meet the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to calculations by The Century Foundation, an estimated 3.2m children will lose access to childcare, and about 70,000 childcare programs will close once the stabilization funds run out.
----- HEALTH & WELLBEING -----
New federal supports for mental health services in schools
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a $2.6m award to support mental health services and professionals in schools, further delivering on a key priority of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System will establish a national Mental Health Evaluation, Training, Research, and Innovation Center for Schools (METRICS) to increase support and offer new resources for schools nationwide on training mental health professionals and providing school-based mental health services. Over the next five years, BSCA will invest over $1bn in school-based mental health programs, making substantial progress towards the President's goal, as part of his Mental Health Strategy, to double the number of school counselors, social workers, and other mental health professionals available to support students' mental health needs.
Schools nationwide increasingly stocking fentanyl antidote
The Centers for Disease Control, the CDC, says that in 2021, fentanyl was involved in 84% of all overdose deaths among teenagers. Now, school districts across the country are rushing to stock a nasal spray called Naloxone, also known as Narcan, which is recognized as an antidote to fentanyl overdoses. Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of the country's second largest school district, Los Angeles Unified, is a big proponent of addressing the fentanyl crisis head-on and was an early adopter of Naloxone in schools. Richard Moody, supervisor for the Office of Student Engagement and School Support at Prince George's County Schools in Maryland, says if he had to guess how many times it was used last year it'd be "more than once a week." A national movement to get Naloxone in schools is gaining momentum. An NPR analysis found that last school year, only five of the 20 largest school districts in the country stocked Naloxone in all of their schools. This year, 11 of 20 do.
Four Irvine USD schools open mental wellness rooms
Four Irvine USD schools have opened designated mental wellness rooms on campus. Dubbed WellSpaces, the areas provide a physical space for students to release stress and talk to mental health staff. The rooms at Creekside High School, Lakeside Middle School, Plaza Vista School and Rancho Middle School incorporate nature themes and offer activities like aromatherapy and crafts. Students are taught self-regulation skills to manage behaviors and reactions. The WellSpaces were created through a collaboration between the Orange County Department of Education and the Children's Hospital of Orange County. The initiative aims to address the high rates of poor mental health among students. The WellSpaces were made possible by a $2 million donation from the Tsao Family Foundation. Other districts in Orange County have also incorporated WellSpace areas in schools. So far, 27 WellSpaces have opened in the county, with more planned in the coming years.
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
Ransomware attacks cost tens of billions in downtime
Ransomware attacks against the education community worldwide are estimated to have cost over $53bn in downtime between 2018 and mid-September 2023, according to research by cybersecurity site Comparitech. A majority of the analyzed attacks occurred in the U.S., with 386 recorded incidents against K-12 and higher education institutions costing a total of $35.1bn due to systems being down. K-12 schools accounted for most of the breaches worldwide. Overall, 2023 is on track to be a record-breaking year for ransomware attacks against education institutions. Within the first half of 2023, the group found 85 global ransomware attacks, while just 45 incidents were recorded in the same period of the previous year. Hackers have already kicked off the new school year by launching ransomware attacks against school districts, as seen in Maryland’s Prince George’s County Public Schools and Pennsylvania’s Chambersburg Area School District.
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