KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
On the evening of Wednesday, March 6 the ABCUSD school board approved our ratified agreement by a vote of 7-0.
This is excellent news and the culmination of a long bargaining process. Thank you to ABCFT members Tanya Golden, Michael Hartshorn, David Hind, and Catherine Pascual who stayed until the vote. We were some of the last people present at the meeting so our presence and applause was definitely noted. It was a good opportunity to recognize the board members for their pro teacher vote.
“When can we expect to see the raise in our paychecks? When will we receive our retro check? When will we receive our one time payment? Will they be paper checks or direct deposit?”
All of these questions have been put forward and our Human Resources department in conjunction with our Payroll department is preparing a response.
In Unity,
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Elementary
ABCFT has thirteen vice presidents that represent the various departments and programs in the ABC School District. Each month these officers meet to discuss any issues or situations that may be happening in their area of expertise. The YOUnionews is working to provide an opportunity for your elected officers to speak directly with the ABCFT membership. Here is this weeks report…
Megan Mitchell - Vice President of Elementary School
6th Grade Teacher- Cerritos Elementary School
“I’m tired, I’m tired, I’m tired!”- Marva Whitney
February may have been the longest year in 2024!
Elementary teachers, as the Backyardigans would say, we are currently “into the thick of it.” (R.I.P. Janice Burgess, creator of The Backyardigans). Between our Monday report card deadline, STEM and Reading Olympics, getting ready for Open House, CAASPP testing around the corner, and a canceled then rescheduled track meet, we’re barely treading water. I want to thank the teachers who reached out to me to share their feelings and I want you to know that I see you, I understand you, and your feelings are absolutely valid. During a recent conversation with a fellow elementary union member, this stuck out to me, “I can’t continue to be expected to take on extra responsibilities and commitments when I am not given enough planning time to prepare or I am expected to just agree to do something because it is ‘for the kids’.”
This is regarding Student Leadership, Spelling Bee coordinator, and track coach/advisor. All of these are adjunct positions that used to be stipends at some school sites. This is ongoing, throughout the year, requires tons of outside planning, and working on the weekend.
We love our students. If we didn’t love and care about our students, we wouldn’t be in this profession. However, part of feeling respected and valued as a professional is being treated as a professional. Elementary adjunct duties has been an ongoing discussion. ABCFT negotiating team will examine ways to address this ongoing issue during master contract negotiations in the 2024-2025 school year.
During the month of March, there will not be an Elementary Town Hall meeting. We will reconnect in April to provide an opportunity for elementary teachers to share any concerns or ask any questions you may have. If you are interested in attending, please register here.
Reminder: Teacher resources in the ABCUSD Elementary Teacher Resources file (Use your abcusd.us account)
Elementary Academic Services Resource link
MEMBER-ONLY RESOURCES
2024 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference
Join us live March 19-21 for the virtual conference event of the year. Register now to set your schedule for three days of 35+ free sessions designed to support your work as preK-12 classroom teachers, aides, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, specialized instructional support personnel, higher education faculty, and parents and caregivers.
Click here to Register for the 2024 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference
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.
“No issue should be off the table as long as its good for students and fair for teachers.” - Randi Weingarten AFT National President.
One of my duties as assigned is to be a representative for ABCFT at the national level as part of AFT’s Program and Policy Committee. This national committee is comprised of about sixty members and it is a privilege as one of the 1.7 million AFT members to have the opportunity to be a part of the PPC as the ABCFT representative. Four times a year this group meets either virtually or in person to discuss the latest issues in education, trends, policies, and the impact on AFT members. The most valuable part of being a part of the PPC is to hear about issues before they fully impact the education world. What I learned this week about AI only reinforced my belief that as members of ABCFT, we all need to understand not only how this tool can help to decrease workload but also how we will need to protect the very core of our job as teachers.
There are a number of well documented reasons why teachers are leaving the profession post-pandemic. I could point to the influence of student behaviors, parent demands and expectations, teacher wellness, students who have academic and social challenges, new curriculums, changing technology, and increased teaching expectations just to name a few. As a district we are an innovative force in our professional development of Artificial Intelligence as a tool to decrease workload and to enhance our curriculum delivery. There are lots of positive things to say about these generative tools but we should all be aware of the various pitfalls that AI presents to our careers as educators and as an institution.
I’m all about decreasing workload and if technology tools can streamline our teaching and planning processes then I’m on board. Twenty-five years ago the implementation of email was at the time considered a dramatic change in how often and how easily we communicated at the school site. Before email, the most important thing you needed to know as a teacher for communication was the code on your phone message machine and the flyers you might find in your teacher box. The introduction of electronic gradebooks was another generational hurtle and the introduction of the Google classroom ecosystem was a monumental leap forward in technology. As we absorbed these new time saving technologies there was also pressure contractually about their use in evaluations, their impact on how fast a teacher responds to communication, academic freedoms, and the waves of new expectations on teachers that can get in the way of our main thing, teaching our students.
I’m still synthesizing and mulling over the various aspects of artificial intelligence and it possible workload benefits for teachers. As teachers, we need to be on guard for is that this new technology does not become a trojan horse for new evaluation expectations that could harm our profession. We need to make sure we have contract language that protects our right to grade our students and to have the academic freedom to teach the state regulated state curriculum in a way that best fits the needs of our students. So, just as we have in the past, the ABCFT negotiating team will work with you to shape a contractually protected pathway for AI in our schools in a way that works to enhance our teaching, remove workload, and provide innovation in our practice.
There’s a lot more to be said in the future about AI but I wanted you to know that your ABCFT leadership team is fully engaged in this new technological change and what how it impacts your work. There will be much more on this topic in the future.
Happy International Women’s Day. Enjoy your weekend!
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
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
Biden outlines K12 education priorities in State of the Union address
President Joe Biden outlined his administration's K-12 education priorities in a State of the Union address on Thursday. He emphasized the need for a strong education system and called for high-quality tutoring, summer learning, and career and technical education. Biden's agenda includes plans to promote high-dosage tutoring programs, address chronic absenteeism, and monitor states' federal accountability plans. He also highlighted the importance of career readiness and early education, connecting businesses and schools to provide hands-on experience, and pathways to good-paying jobs. While Biden called for universal pre-school access, he did not provide specific details on funding. Biden's speech also addressed school violence and gun safety, with a push for new gun laws and the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
----- CHILD DEVELOPMENT ----
Head Start teachers earn far less than public school peers
Teachers at Head Start child care centers, despite having similar credentials to public school teachers, earn far less. President Joe Biden aims to raise their pay, but Congress has no plans to expand the Head Start budget. Many teachers have left the job for higher-paying positions, leading to a shortage of workers. The Biden administration warns that the program is already turning kids away due to the exodus of teachers. Head Start leaders worry that raising teacher pay without additional funding would force programs to downsize, reducing the number of children served. Rural Head Starts are particularly affected, with some programs closing sites and cutting slots due to staffing shortages. While solutions like directing more federal money towards early learning and hiring community college students have been proposed, the lack of a significant cash infusion remains a challenge. Head Start teachers, who are predominantly people of color, are calling for fair pay that aligns with the program's anti-poverty mission.
Child poverty rates outweigh Head Start funding
In 2022, the number of Head Start seats available for every 100 children in poverty varied from nine in Nevada to 53 in Oregon, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. This wide gap continued even after factoring in state and county child poverty rates, so programs in states facing rising child poverty rates will continue to serve a lower proportion of eligible children. GAO recommended that Congress review and revise laws on the allocation of Head Start funding, and suggested that the Department of Health and Human Services direct the Office of Head Start (OHS) to use its grant-making authority to weigh the geographic distribution of Head Start funding across communities. The report also said the OHS should use existing data to identify Head Start access rates and determine where more resources may be needed. Head Start provided early learning and development services to nearly 790,000 children from birth to age five from low-income families during the 2021-22 school year.
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
New federal K-12 mental health funding available
The U.S. Department of Education has opened applications for the School-Based Mental Health and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grant competitions to help bolster the pipeline of mental health professionals serving in schools and expand student access to school-based mental health services. Grants support local educational agencies in partnership with institutions of higher education, in training school-based mental health services providers, with the goal of expanding the number of these professionals available to address nationwide shortages. To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded over $571m across 264 grantees in 48 states and territories to strengthen the pipeline. The 264 grantees supported with these previous investments are projected to help train and hire an additional 14,000 mental health professionals to provide supports to students.
Artificial intelligence and school funding formulas
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be the latest tool states use to assist with school funding formulas that potentially opens up more complications than the problems it solves. Nevada, for example, has developed a new approach to calculating aid for at-risk students using a digital tool from Infinite Campus, a technology company that sells student information systems and other data repository tools to hundreds of school districts nationwide. Nevada is one of six states where every district uses the Infinite Campus platform to keep track of students’ attendance, behavior, grades, and other details. The other states are Delaware, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Hawaii, which has only one school district. The number of students across Nevada who are eligible for at-risk aid dropped from 288,000 for the 2022-23 school year to 63,000 for the current school year, prompting widespread concerns. State officials say the previous calculations dramatically overcounted the number of at-risk students who would most benefit from additional funding. These challenges are specific to Nevada for now, but they have nationwide implications. Some feel that, underlying these issues, is states' persistent underfunding of K-12 education more broadly. Jason Goudie, chief financial officer at the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, comments: “If our per-pupil base was $20,000, I bet you we would not be having this discussion.”
Affordable Connectivity Program sunsets
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which has helped provide broadband services to nearly 23m households nationwide, officially stopped taking applications in early February. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), federal funds are expected to completely dry up by the end of April. Though congressional lawmakers proposed a $7bn bicameral, bipartisan bill in January to temporarily extend the program, the legislation has stalled. Without additional funding, the FCC warns that millions of people who were connected to home internet services through the ACP could lose access. The program provided a $30 monthly discount to eligible households to pay for broadband. According to a fall survey of 1,600 program participants released by consulting firm Benenson Strategy Group, 81% of parents enrolled in the ACP said they were worried that their children would fall behind if they lose home internet access. States can support districts by ensuring they have access to resources, or tap into already existing funds to help address larger infrastructure needs in their school communities. "District leaders could consider partnering with their communities and local governments to address internet affordability when leveraging new infrastructure access to broadband that might have recently been established through the federal $42bn Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program," adds Brian Stephens, director of stakeholder engagement at the Funds For Learning consultancy firm, which helps schools and libraries navigate the E-rate funding process.
----- STATE NEWS -----
High vacancy rates in California's school nutrition staffing
Around 12% of California school nutrition jobs stood vacant at the end of the 2022-23 school year, according to a recent survey by Food Insight Group, a food systems research organization. For context, that’s nearly twice as high as the 6.6% national vacancy rates in the accommodation and food services industry. Of the 190 California food service directors surveyed, 62% expressed concerns that they wouldn’t have enough staff to meet growing student participation in school meals, particularly since the state became the first to pass a universal school meal law in 2021. Compensation is another common hardship for California school food service directors. More than half (57%) said they are worried their pay benefits were not competitive enough to keep up with nearby institutions or businesses.
Money the 'forcing factor' behind school closure decisions
Marguerite Roza and Aashish Dhammani of Edunomics Lab explore funding as the "forcing factor" for school closure decisions. At Edunomics Lab, they assert, the rule of thumb is that when a district has under-enrolled schools, closing one of every 15 schools saves about 4% of a district’s budget, mostly in labor costs. There may also be nominal savings in facilities, but labor is far and away the largest portion (85-95%) of the budget, and savings there will be more consequential over the long term. "School closure decisions are never easy for any community, regardless of what the numbers say. But it’s the leaders’ responsibility to be good stewards of funds and ensure all students are served well. Assessing which schools are most able to leverage their money to maximize student outcomes can help leaders bring transparency to that difficult process," they conclude
California investing in alternate pathways to arts education
In response to California's teacher shortage, the state is investing in alternate pathways to arts education. Teacher residencies, part of the "earn-and-learn" model, offer on-the-job training and mentorship to candidates who may not be able to afford a conventional teacher-preparation program. Jacquelyn Ollison, program director of the California Teacher Residency Lab, highlights the benefits of residency programs in boosting diversity and ensuring access to art teachers. While plans are being made to extend these programs into the arts education space, institutional change takes time. However, there is a sense of urgency to nurture teachers who better connect with the students they teach. Proposition 28 guarantees access to arts education for all students, regardless of where they live. Arts education is seen as a way to address chronic absenteeism, student disengagement, and the youth mental health crisis.
Rural California school districts feeling neglected
Rural school districts in California are struggling with a lack of attention from state leaders, according to a report by CalMatters. These districts face challenges in providing special education, transportation, teacher recruitment, and staying in compliance with state regulations. Rindy DeVoll, the executive director of the California Rural Ed Network, highlighted the amplified challenges faced by rural districts. Around 35% of schools in California are rural, meaning they are at least 25 miles from a city and have fewer than 600 students. Students in rural schools often lag behind their suburban peers in meeting state standards, graduation rates, and completion of coursework needed for public universities. The needs of rural areas are largely ignored by California policy, which is geared towards wealthier coastal communities. Rural school districts receive limited funds from Federal Rural Education and Achievement grants. Assemblyman James Gallagher emphasized the expensive burdens faced by less wealthy inland areas.
Paid pregnancy leave for educators proposed in California
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is backing proposed state legislation that would provide paid disability leave for pregnant educators in an effort to improve retention. The leave would provide full pay for a maximum of 14 weeks. Currently, pregnant teachers and other school employees do not receive paid pregnancy disability leave and have to tap into other reserves for leave after giving birth or to manage their pregnancies. They are entitled to four months of unpaid leave under state law. Paid parental leave for educators has gained traction or expanded in a number of states, including Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee, New York, and North Carolina.
School capacity concerns shadow migrant minor statistics
Customs and Border Protection encountered 145,474 minors in FY 2023, leading to a surge in enrollment in American public schools. The influx of unaccompanied migrant children has raised concerns from some about the strain on the education system. The Heritage Foundation report highlights the financial burden faced by schools, as well as issues such as classroom mismanagement and limited English proficiency. Some parents are worried about the impact on their children's education, with concerns about resources, teacher attention, and academic rigor. The report also reveals the additional costs incurred by states like California, New York, Texas, and Arizona due to the enrollment of unaccompanied minors.
----- DISTRICTS -----
Pajaro Valley Unified concerned about enrollment declines
Over the past few decades, California public schools have faced declining enrollment. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District held a special school board study session to discuss the issue. The presentation highlighted the misalignment between student enrollment and staffing needs, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pajaro Valley has experienced a 15% loss in student enrollment since 2013-14, but an upswing in staffing. The district's average daily attendance has dipped to 87% in the 2021-22 school year. Recommendations include establishing a staffing reserve, closely monitoring retirements and resignations, and considering school closures. The school board plays a crucial role in making decisions regarding reductions. The community is encouraged to focus on attracting students and valuing relationships. Declining enrollment is a necessary discussion, and efforts should be made to address the issue.
San Francisco Unified pushed to consider school closures
Amid budget challenges and enrollment declines, San Francisco Unified is considering shutting down several schools. Superintendent Matt Wayne announced the plan, stating that having fewer schools would allow the district to concentrate resources and enhance programs, teacher support, and student services. The exact number and which schools would close have not yet been determined. The district has faced challenges such as a severe financial crisis, staff shortages, and declining enrollment in recent years. The decline in enrollment is a widespread issue, with thousands of school districts across California at risk of closure due enrollment losses. Factors contributing to the decline include low birth rates, high living costs, and families opting for private schools and charters. The SFUSD plans to engage the community and ensure equity throughout the process.
Berkeley Unified faces a federal civil rights complaint
Berkeley Unified is facing a federal civil rights complaint for allegedly allowing severe and persistent harassment and discrimination against Jewish students. The complaint, filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and the Anti-Defamation League, claims that the district ignored reports of bullying and harassment based on ethnicity, shared ancestry, and national origin. Students reported incidents of antisemitic chants, threats, and indoctrination by teachers. The complaint argues that the district failed to create a safe environment and allowed teachers to promote personal political views. The district superintendent stated that they encourage reporting of incidents and will support a thorough investigation. The complaint comes amid a surge in antisemitic incidents across the country, with a 361% increase in reported incidents since October 7 2023.
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
Affordable Connectivity Program sunsets
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which has helped provide broadband services to nearly 23m households nationwide, officially stopped taking applications in early February. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), federal funds are expected to completely dry up by the end of April. Though congressional lawmakers proposed a $7bn bicameral, bipartisan bill in January to temporarily extend the program, the legislation has stalled. Without additional funding, the FCC warns that millions of people who were connected to home internet services through the ACP could lose access. The program provided a $30 monthly discount to eligible households to pay for broadband. According to a fall survey of 1,600 program participants released by consulting firm Benenson Strategy Group, 81% of parents enrolled in the ACP said they were worried that their children would fall behind if they lose home internet access. States can support districts by ensuring they have access to resources, or tap into already existing funds to help address larger infrastructure needs in their school communities. "District leaders could consider partnering with their communities and local governments to address internet affordability when leveraging new infrastructure access to broadband that might have recently been established through the federal $42bn Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program," adds Brian Stephens, director of stakeholder engagement at the Funds For Learning consultancy firm, which helps schools and libraries navigate the E-rate funding process.
----- WORKFORCE ----
High vacancy rates in California's school nutrition staffing
Around 12% of California school nutrition jobs stood vacant at the end of the 2022-23 school year, according to a recent survey by Food Insight Group, a food systems research organization. For context, that’s nearly twice as high as the 6.6% national vacancy rates in the accommodation and food services industry. Of the 190 California food service directors surveyed, 62% expressed concerns that they wouldn’t have enough staff to meet growing student participation in school meals, particularly since the state became the first to pass a universal school meal law in 2021. Compensation is another common hardship for California school food service directors. More than half (57%) said they are worried their pay benefits were not competitive enough to keep up with nearby institutions or businesses.
Teachers are still leaving the profession
Though departures have fallen since their peak in 2022, public-school teachers are still leaving the profession in higher numbers than before the pandemic, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of data from 10 states. In nine of those states, turnover remained higher than in 2019. In some places, including Hawaii and South Carolina, the increase in churn was small, but in other states, including Arkansas, North Carolina, and Virginia, teachers were leaving in substantially higher numbers than they were before the pandemic. Teacher vacancy rates in Virginia hit 4.5% this school year, the highest since at least 2015. The elevated rate is likely due to a combination of factors, and adds another challenge to schools battling learning loss and chronic absenteeism. “This is still a discouraging story,” laments Katharine Strunk, dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. ”I don’t think this level of consistent attrition is sustainable for the school system.”
Santa Barbara Unified agrees transportation contract with Zum
Santa Barbara Unified has selected Zum to provide school transportation services under a $30m five-year contract. Zum, which already serves other districts such as Los Angeles Unified and San Francisco Unified, offers advanced safety features on its buses and a mobile app for parents to track their child's bus location. The app also allows administrators to optimize routes and provides real-time data and performance reports. Zum aims to transition the school bus fleet to electric as part of its Net Zero Initiative. The company invests in training and certification programs for drivers and staff to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements and to cater to students with diverse needs and disabilities.
----- HIGHER EDUCATION -----
Bay Area campuses hit hard by big enrollment drop at California State University
The pandemic, a changing job market and questions about the value of education may have played roles.
California State University has suffered stunning enrollment losses since 2019, with some of the steepest declines at three Bay Area campuses: San Francisco State, Cal State East Bay and Sonoma State, an analysis shows.
Enrollment in the 23-campus system — the nation’s largest public university — fell by 27,881 students, or 6.5%, from 2019 to 2023, indicating that CSU has yet to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/csu-enrollment-decline-18680840.php
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