KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
The ABCFT negotiating team met with the district on Tuesday, December 19. We received the district’s latest proposal and were able to present a counterproposal during the session as well.
To reply to the question of “why don’t we have a deal yet? what is the hold up?”, our team continues to go to the table with an approach of cautious optimism that we can come to an agreement. I believe that the district team would like to come to an agreement as well. We have a number of shared goals. For example, both sides would like to be able to finalize a calendar for the 2024-2025 school year.
But we are talking about priorities, and this is often represented by funding and where to allocate it best. The district has concerns about what next year’s budget will be, the state has adjusted the COLA downward for 2024-2025 and this negatively impacts the projections for balancing a three year budget. ABCFT is aware of these challenges, and we are mindful of being able to find compromise on a financial path that supports stability. We have a history of working constructively with the district when the economy struggles and budget deficits necessitate cuts.
But, as I have written in previous updates, we are also cognizant that the current COLA of 8.22% is available for 2023-2024 and maintaining our competitiveness with other districts requires an increase to our compensation package. This year is this year. Next year is next year. The concept of saving for a rainy day makes sense but there also has to be a recognition that money should be spent thoughtfully and with purpose when it is available. If we always save for a future emergency when times are good and don’t have funds when times are bad, there will never be conditions when a raise feels possible.
Our position is that the time for a raise is now.
We do not currently have any further negotiations scheduled. The Governor’s initial budget comes out in January. My understanding is that the district would like to wait until seeing this proposed budget before coming back to the table but we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.
Happy Holidays to everyone. Enjoy time with family and friends. Happy New Year!
In Unity,
MEMBER WELLNESS - Kaiser Webinars & Resources
Guided Meditation: Cultivating Gratitude This Holiday Season
This webinar is apart of our Mindful Mondays Webinar Series. Kaiser members can join weekly on demand and on-going webinars for mindful practice of how to incorporate gratitude into your daily life for this season and going forward. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
Mindful Mondays Webinar Series Practicing Mindfulness Resources
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.
“The biggest challenge was technology, technology, technology,” - a superintendent speaking about the pandemic year
Reading this quote really illustrates the incredible shift that is going on in education and the rest of modern culture. Being able to assimilate technological changes influencing what we do at work and in our personal lives is a tremendous challenge as a human being in our present culture. Teachers have been under constant pressure to follow these changes, but the jury is still out on how schools and technology will work in education.
The ABC Unified School District has been able to forge our well-earned reputation as a forward-thinking district by the great things that teachers do in their classrooms. ABC pioneered teacher voice as a guiding factor in curricular decisions, site leadership, and academic freedoms. For twenty years we have championed systematic labor-management collaboration as a best practice in realizing the mission of public education. Labor management has been a gateway for teacher voice and expertise in decision-making. The labor-management backdrop helped this district become a leader in implementing Common Core when it was released on districts across the country. We were one of the only districts in the county to train teachers directly on how to lesson plan, create pacing guides, and create opportunities for teachers to train fellow teachers. Most districts used limited district teams to implement Common Core, and most districts were not able to navigate this curriculum change with significant success. ABC trained almost 200 teachers directly in the early days of Common Core, which was unheard of in educational circles. I credit Dr. Sieu with that brilliant idea among many of her initiatives.
We have another moment in time that feels similar to that situation. I don’t think it's an emergency and we collectively don’t have to do something about it right away, but I want to put it on your radar if it isn’t already. I’m speaking about the impact of AI on educators and students, but I want to share a perspective as food for thought.
I was in college about twenty-five years ago…maybe more, but I was in my master's program when spell check technology quickly became universal. I remember that when I started using spell check and grammar check technology, the grades on my term papers tended to increase. I was suddenly a better writer! Well, no, I wasn’t a better writer but I was using tools to help me to deliver the content of my term paper without the annoying misspelled words and grammatical errors. I’m sure that there were a number of professors at my university who probably felt like those early spell-check years were uncomfortable because they had been the spelling and grammar police for so long. For some, I bet it looked like cheating at the time, but over the years, it became universally accepted that spell-checking and grammar tools are sensible and helpful ways to increase productivity. Maybe we should think of AI as a futuristic spell-checking application.
AI is something as significant as spell-checking. How it will be used in the future in our classrooms has yet to be clearly drawn out, but the sky looks limitless. Most districts will work with their teachers on how to use these AI tools with students to “enhance their learning,” and teachers in those districts will enjoy limited success. However, most teachers will not fully reap the benefits of this technology and the impact it could have on their own lives. In ABC, there are discussions about how employees across the district can benefit directly from using AI technology. We have to learn about how to manage our apprehension about this new technology and just as we mastered the common core curriculum, there is a plan in ABC that is forming that could once again lift our reputation as a lighthouse district.
There are major discussions between the administration and ABCFT about how we as a district can take the approach of training teachers on the benefits they can gain from lesson planning with AI, improving activities, shortcutting letters to parents, streamlined grading systems, and a number of time saving strategies that will take something off your plate of responsibilities. Teachers need to realize that AI can help to provide more “living time” by shortening the time needed for tasks. I know there are a number of digital pioneers in ABC who are already riding this wild horse of discovery. Moving forward, teachers need to understand this technology fully so that they can create the classroom curriculum of the future. Teachers can’t afford to have another thing on their plate that interferes with their own personal lives. Everyone, especially teachers, deserves a life outside of work, but to have that life, you need to have the gift of time. Looking to the future, I have hope that maybe AI will help teachers to find balance. This is my hope—food for thought.
I hope all of you have a wonderful Winter Break! It’s WELL DESERVED!
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
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----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
School staffing shortages creating bigger class sizes
Administrators are being pushed to increase class sizes because of teacher vacancies, according to data released Thursday by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). School leaders relied on other strategies, too, for making do amid shortages. About 40% said they used their teachers and staff to perform duties outside of their intended role, while 24% shared teachers and staff with other schools. The shortages had other effects on school life, including disruptions in student transportation, fewer extracurricular activities, and a reduction in student services. Overall, one in five schools said they had multiple teacher vacancies, a problem that especially affected large schools, those in high poverty neighborhoods, and those with enrollments primarily of students of color. In broad terms, the data reflected improvements compared with a year earlier, but also underlines how the fallout of the pandemic continues. NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr said in a statement that it “does signal progress,” while also expressing concern about the large share of students behind academically.
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
The U.S. House has passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, a bipartisan bill allowing whole milk and 2% milk to return to school cafeteria menus as part of the National School Lunch Program. If approved by the Senate, H.R. 1147 would reverse 2010 legislation that restricted schools to serving fat-free or 1% milk. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, said in a statement that passing the law “would be a critical step towards empowering parents and securing our children’s well-being.” Not doing so, she said, would prevent children from getting important nutrients and “threatens to inhibit their development.”
----- STATE NEWS -----
California school dashboard returns in 'full color'
The California School Dashboard, the state's academic accountability and improvement tool, is back after a four-year hiatus. It rates the performance of schools, districts, and charter schools, along with 13 student groups, using color-coded indicators. The dashboard was introduced in 2016-17 to provide a broader look at school performance and conditions of learning. It replaces the previous ranking system and focuses on specific actions for improvement. The dashboard marks a shift away from punishment to guidance and assistance for low-performing student groups. The color ratings reflect both the current status and one-year change, encouraging improvement. The dashboard includes indicators such as chronic absenteeism, English learner progress, suspension rates, graduation rates, and college/career readiness. The equity report provides a breakdown of student groups and helps identify achievement gaps. Districts and schools performing poorly in multiple priority areas are eligible for differentiated assistance. This year, districts must address low-performing student groups in their Local Control Accountability Plans. The return of the dashboard provides valuable insights into school performance and accountability.
School leaders' challenges in 2024
School leaders will next year face challenges including chronic absenteeism, declining enrollment, and the need to turn the tide on academics. Rates of chronic absenteeism have surged in recent years, posing a concern for schools as it could affect academic recovery efforts. Districts are working on improving outreach and building programs to engage students. The federal COVID aid deadline is approaching, and districts will have to reshape their budgets as funding runs out. Declining enrollment is also impacting budgets and may lead to school closures. Academic performance has suffered, with a drop in math performance and a disconnect between perception and reality in grades. Divisive politics continue to disrupt classrooms and school board meetings. Despite these challenges, school leaders are determined to find a way forward and support students in an increasingly combative environment.
California releases annual school ratings
California has released its annual performance ratings of school districts and charters, showing improvements in chronic absenteeism but little change in other areas. The ratings are part of the California School Dashboard, which rates schools and districts in seven different areas. San Diego County's average graduation rate remained virtually unchanged, while 3% of students were suspended. The most concerning metric is chronic absenteeism, which remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels. The dashboard provides overall ratings for each school and district, as well as ratings for student groups. Low-performing districts and charters are eligible for support in improving. This year, 22 local school districts and 18 charters, plus the county education office, qualified for support.
The Bakersfield Sandie Gunion Tribute
----- DISTRICTS -----
Temecula Valley Unified bars pornography from learning materials
The Temecula Valley Unified School District board has approved a policy to bar pornography from learning materials. The 3-2 vote followed a discussion over the policy's timing and criticism from residents who fear it will censor valuable lessons and classic literature. The decision has sparked controversy, with some supporting the move to protect students from explicit content, while others argue that it may limit academic freedom. The policy aims to filter inappropriate content and ensure a safe learning environment.
Chino Valley School Board rejects raise amidst contract negotiations
The Chino Valley School Board has rejected a 5% raise on a 3-2 vote, citing ongoing contract negotiations with teachers who are seeking an increase in salary and benefits. Board president Sonja Shaw proposed the raise, noting that the last increase received by the board was 2% in July 2018. Also, less than a year after the board agreed to rotate leadership roles among its members, a majority of the board has rescinded the policy and given Sonja Shaw a second year as board president.
Chino Champion Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Napa Schools braced for budget challenges
Napa education leaders are grappling with the impact of California's budget shortfall on local public schools. The Napa Valley Unified School District shared its first interim budget report, predicting a state shortfall of $68bn. Due to the expiration of COVID-19-era funding and temporary adjustments to the state attendance formula, the district expects flat or lower revenue in the coming years. This could result in cutbacks to district programs and departments, including funds for addressing student learning loss. While layoffs are not anticipated in Napa, school staff cuts are likely elsewhere in the state. The district may implement a hiring freeze and make reductions at the secondary level due to falling enrollment. The Napa County Office of Education also received a sobering budget report, indicating lean financial years ahead. The state's fiscal outlook is concerning, and changes and cuts will be necessary to ensure solvency. The revenue drop-off is comparable to previous economic downturns, and the state faces a tough time unless there is a quick turnaround.
San Francisco Unified faces significant deficit after pay increases
The San Francisco Unified School District is projecting a combined spending deficit of almost $611m in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years after giving out "historic" pay increases to staff. The district estimates a $194.4m deficit in 2024-25 and a $420.5m deficit in 2025-26. The raises included a $9,000 salary increase for teachers in 2023-24, with another 5% raise in 2024-25. The district also approved salary increases for members of the Service Employees International Union. The district had to use federal emergency money to balance its budget in 2021. Enrollment has been declining, and the district expects further loss of students in the future. The district's financial situation is worsened by the possibility of cuts to state funding due to a projected deficit and a spending freeze across all state agencies.
----- WORKFORCE ----
Why five superintendents decided to walk away from their jobs
California school superintendents have been leaving their jobs in large numbers this year. Many reached retirement age; others, tired of dealing with the aftermath of pandemic school closures, are retiring early or leaving for other jobs or business opportunities. Some are just looking for a change.
Then there are the superintendents who, having put off plans for retirement to help districts through pandemic closures, now finally feel comfortable enough to leave.
The result: a turnover of superintendents, with older, more experienced veterans being replaced by new, less experienced leaders.
EdSource interviewed five California superintendents who either recently left or are leaving their jobs, to better understand what compelled them to step down.
https://edsource.org/2023/why-five-superintendents-decided-to-walk-away-from-their-jobs/701601
-----CHARTER SCHOOLS -----
Charter schools facing financial strain amid belt-tightening
A missed bond payment at a Minnesota charter school highlights the financial strain faced by charter schools amid belt-tightening. Higher salaries and dwindling federal COVID aid are stretching revenues and squeezing budgets, leading to repayment problems in the charter school bond market. The decline in demand for these bonds could spell trouble for charter schools and their bondholders. The slowdown in charter school bond issuance and the rising rates on "ultrasafe" bonds have limited already stressed schools' access to new financing. The building boom in charter schools has ended, and the door for refinancing at low rates appears to be closing. Rapid inflation and slow revenue growth have driven up expenses for charter schools without a comparable increase in revenues. Investors are growing wary, and some charter schools are running afoul of their lending agreements. The financial stability of charter schools is increasingly now being questioned, as they face financial challenges and bond repayment problems.
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