KEEPING YOU INFORMED - School Board Election Information By Ruben Mancillas
The ABCUSD school board has four seats up for election this November.
ABCUSD board president Sophia Tse represents Trustee Area 5. Board clerk Francisco Noyola represents Trustee Area 7. Both of these incumbents are running without opposition for reelection.
Trustee areas 1 and 4 feature contested races. ABCFT and our COPE committee have scheduled candidate interviews from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 19 at the district office. Doors will open at 5:00 P.M. ABCFT members are invited to attend and have the opportunity to hear the candidates answer questions regarding their positions.
In compliance with legal guidelines, ABCFT does not use the ABCUSD server to host information concerning political actions. For more information about the endorsement process and the political actions of ABCFT members hosted on the ABCFT private Google account, please click this link.
In Unity,
Politics in the Classroom
As a follow-up to last week's more detailed article on the topic of politics in the classroom, we wanted to give you an additional opportunity to look at these guiding resources. Below is an article from this week’s Education Week New on this topic. What you see and feel about politics in the classroom is a nationwide concern for all educators.
Most teachers are reluctant to address 2024 presidential election in classrooms
A new survey reveals that the majority of teachers in the U.S. are hesitant to address the 2024 presidential election in their classrooms. The survey, conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, found that 58% of K-12 teachers answered "no" when asked if they planned to talk about the election. Reasons cited for avoiding the topic included unrelated subject matter, potential parent complaints, and concerns about respectful discussions among students. Administrators also expressed concerns about hosting voter registration drives in schools. Despite the historic nature of the election, teachers are wary of discussing politics due to deepening divisions and state laws restricting such discussions. However, some teachers have found ways to address the election indirectly, such as teaching data science and research skills or discussing local issues and state laws. The survey also revealed that a majority of schools and districts do not plan to hold voter registration drives. Overall, the survey highlights the challenges teachers face in navigating political discussions in the classroom.
The state of politics is a tricky issue for any educator and our students have many questions about the political process and how it impacts their lives and communities. We want to make sure that you are not only protected but that you are informed about what kind of conversations are appropriate in your classrooms. We’ve put together a flier that helps outline the basics of protecting yourself about politics in your classroom.
MEET YOUR ABCFT ACADEMIC SERVICES LIAISONS
ABCFT has partners across the district, which sets it apart from most educational unions. Our academic services liaisons have specific partners related to particular grade levels and/or programs. These ABCFT Executive Board members are vital to providing members with information and transparency. More importantly, they can give classroom teachers and nurses voices in district-level decision-making.
Our Elementary VP, Megan Mitchell, is our liaison for elementary curricular issues. Our VP at Large, Catherine Pascual, is our liaison for secondary curricular issues. Our VP of High Schools, Megan Harding, is our liaison for secondary PAL topics. Our VP of Special Education, Brittney Parker-Goodin, is our liaison for any special education PAL topics. Their photos and email contacts are listed below.
For Elementary curricular issues, please email Megan at Megan.Mitchell@abcusd.us
For Secondary curricular issues, please email Catherine at Catherine.Pascual@abcusd.us,
For Secondary PAL topics, please email Megan at Megan.Harding@abcusd.us
For Special Education PAL topic, please email Brittney at
Brittney.Parker-Goodin@abcusd.us
CYBERSAFETY MEASURES INCREASED TO THWART CRIMINALS
This week, the ABC School District took new measures to ensure the safety of the students and employees of ABCUSD. On Tuesday morning, many of us were shocked that we needed to create a new password to log into our ABC accounts. This measure was taken due to an ongoing data attack that was a threat to the students and employees of ABC. In anticipation of such an event, the district implemented a strategic plan the Information Technology Team had worked on over the past year.
Although this change was a surprise to most, we have learned that it was a tactic to extinguish the ongoing data threat. The presidents of ABCFT, CSEA, AFTSME, and ABCMA were notified shortly before the emails were sent to the district employees informing them of the password change. ABCFT appreciates the district's transparency prior to this implementation and the amount of information that was shared with our members. We encourage you to watch Superintendent Dr. Zietlow’s video message concerning the password change.
ABC Cyber Security update video message from Superintendent Dr. Zietlow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgdfjI4ktew
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.
“Washington didn’t cross the Delaware River alone.” - ABCFT VP of Membership Michael Hartshorn during the new teacher orientation as he explained to newly hired teachers that we are a community of educators with a combined voice and that the union's work is done through collective actions.
It’s been an all-hands-on-deck kind of week as teachers, administrators, and our classified siblings all work to create classrooms optimal for student learning. The beginning of the school year is both exciting and exhausting, and it is just a smidge chaotic, but ABC teachers and nurses are doing what they do best for students. We are a fantastic district with outstanding educators, and you should go home after your long day and never forget the impact you are making, even on those hard-to-stomach days. We are all doing good work.
I thought of some history and purpose of YOUnionews today as a topic. The YOUnionews was started on August 25th, 2017, as a weekly informational platform to engage with the ABCFT membership (then called the Week in Review till Megan Harding came up with the YOUnion tagline that stuck). ABCFT is, first and foremost, a service organization, and our customer service is something that we continue to improve upon daily. Our duty is to inform ABCFT members about contract language, negotiations, academic changes, and the overall educational landscape. We publish YOUnionews each week to raise awareness and increase the level of conversations in the lunch/break rooms. An informed membership will make better instructional, educational, and financial choices, ultimately creating better working and learning conditions. .
Every year at the new teacher orientation, we speak with new members who have made the professional choice to work in ABC, and most of them who have previous experience in education know little to nothing about their former teacher unions. Sadly, in most cases, they have had little or no contact with their previous teacher unions. I was one of those teachers, and I didn’t know I even had a union until I forgot to take my name off a ballot and was made an alternate rep at AHS, but that’s a story for another day) Many of these new teachers are surprised when we tell them about the ABCFT weekly newsletter. As a matter of fact, I don’t know of any teacher union that publishes a weekly newsletter in the United States. We would be curious to see that publication if you know of one.
For the most part, YOUnionews is a two-person enterprise, but we are thankful that we can recruit guest writers throughout the school year whenever possible. ABCFT is proud to provide you with the amount of information we do each week, and our goal is to make this newsletter a one-stop source of all things ABC news. Does it look like a polished publication? Not by any means. I like to think of it as more of a fanzine rather than a newsletter. Polished doesn’t always mean good.
In the coming weeks, we will have updates on the business of the American Federation of Teachers Convention that happened over the Summer, the building of the ABC LGBTQ+ Committee, school board political actions, the ABCFT Teacher Leader Program, the latest information from the district safety committee, and other important information for ABCFT members. If you would like to go back in time to see our first newsletter, you can find it in the link
https://abcteachernews.blogspot.com/2017/08/week-in-review-august-25-2017-we-hope.html
Have a good weekend, and don’t forget to breathe as we cross the river together.
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
Top national officers reelected, recommit to Real Solutions
On the final day of the AFT convention, delegates reelected Randi Weingarten as president, Fedrick C. Ingram as secretary-treasurer, and Evelyn DeJesus as executive vice president. Additionally, 43 vice presidents were elected to the union’s executive council.
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
Most teachers reluctant to address 2024 presidential election in classrooms
A new survey reveals that the majority of teachers in the U.S. are hesitant to address the 2024 presidential election in their classrooms. The survey, conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, found that 58% of K-12 teachers answered "no" when asked if they planned to talk about the election. Reasons cited for avoiding the topic included unrelated subject matter, potential parent complaints, and concerns about respectful discussions among students. Administrators also expressed concerns about hosting voter registration drives in schools. Despite the historic nature of the election, teachers are wary of discussing politics due to deepening divisions and state laws restricting such discussions. However, some teachers have found ways to address the election indirectly, such as teaching data science and research skills or discussing local issues and state laws. The survey also revealed that a majority of schools and districts do not plan to hold voter registration drives. Overall, the survey highlights the challenges teachers face in navigating political discussions in the classroom.
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
Schools still struggle with attendance years after COVID-19
Years after COVID-19 upended American schooling, nearly every state continues to struggle with attendance. Data collected by The Associated Press and Stanford University economist Thomas Dee shows that roughly one in four students in the 2022-23 school year remained chronically absent, representing about 12m children. Before the pandemic, only 15% of students missed that much school. Schools are working to identify students with slipping attendance and provide help, including simple solutions like postcards to parents. In California, Oakland USD's chronic absenteeism has been a major issue, but a grant-funded program that paid students for perfect attendance and provided mentorship saw more than 60% of students improve their attendance. Other schools have implemented creative strategies, such as allowing students to play organized sports during lunch to incentivize attendance. Chronic absenteeism is a significant risk factor for illiteracy and dropping out, and schools are striving to address the underlying issues causing students to miss school, including financial hardship, transportation problems, mild illness, and mental health struggles.
Republican states push for more religion in public schools
Republican-governed states like Louisiana and Oklahoma are making moves to promote religion in public schools, challenging the Constitution's "establishment clause" that separates church and state. Lawmakers in 29 states have proposed bills promoting religion in schools, driven by opposition to liberal curriculums and the Supreme Court's rightward shift. The National Association of Christian Lawmakers has been coordinating legislative efforts, producing model bills for states to introduce. The Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of religious rights in recent years. If new laws on religion and public schools are challenged at the Supreme Court, it will have to determine if they make a denominational preference or coerce people to participate in a religion.
----- STATE NEWS -----
Gavin Newsom urges schools to restrict smartphone use
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is sending letters to school districts, urging them to restrict students' use of smartphones on campus. The efforts are part of a broader push to reduce distractions in the classroom and address the impacts of social media on children's mental health. While cellphone bans are already in place at many schools, they aren't always enforced. Newsom's letter emphasizes the importance of creating an environment where students are fully engaged in their education, free from the distractions of phones and social media. The debate over banning cellphones in schools is not new, but some experts argue that finding alternative solutions should be explored. While some schools and districts in California have already implemented bans, others believe that decisions regarding cellphone use should be made at a local level. Troy Flint, spokesperson for the California School Boards Association, said: "Cellphone usage and social media usage on campus is certainly a serious issue and one that deserves a close examination. But those decisions are very specific to certain schools and certain communities, and they need to be made at a local level."
California school districts urged to convert surplus property into housing for teachers
California officials are encouraging school districts to convert their surplus property into housing for teachers, staff, and even students. The state wants every district to become a landlord and believes that California's schools have enough land to solve the housing shortage. However, some superintendents and education analysts are skeptical, saying that districts should focus on education rather than real estate development. Despite the challenges, some districts have already embarked on housing projects, and the success stories highlight the positive impact on teacher retention and student outcomes. While there are concerns about the feasibility of districts taking on the role of landlords, there is growing interest in education workforce housing as a solution to the housing affordability crisis. Workforce housing not only benefits teachers and staff but also brings quality-of-life, community, and environmental benefits. California officials are providing financial incentives and resources to support districts in their housing endeavors.
California high school students to take ethnic studies before graduating
Next school year, California high school students will be required to complete a semester of ethnic studies before graduating. State legislators are now trying to add "guardrails" to the law to prevent antisemitic content from being included in the courses. Assembly Bill 2918 would require local educational agencies to develop the course and instructional materials in conjunction with stakeholders. Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to prevent the course from being co-opted by those with an anti-Jewish bias. However, opponents, including the California Teachers Association, argue that the bill is overly prescriptive and undermines successful programs already in place. The bill has received support from organizations such as the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California and the Anti-Defamation League. The Senate Appropriations Committee has placed the bill on the suspense file, and its fate will be decided on August 15th.
California students to benefit from new education laws
California students will experience several changes in the upcoming school year. New education legislation includes requirements for climate change instruction in all grades, free menstrual products in elementary school bathrooms, and the expansion of transitional kindergarten. Additionally, colleges in California must now disclose the costs of course materials and fees. Students enrolled in transitional kindergarten are exempt from taking the English Language Proficiency Assessment. Furthermore, children on Medi-Cal who are 12 or older can now consent to mental health treatment without parental approval. Willful defiance suspensions are banned for all grade levels, and schools are prohibited from outing transgender students. These new laws aim to provide students with better access to education and support their overall well-being.
----- DISTRICTS -----
Chicago Teachers Union proposals could create $4bn deficit for Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools estimates that the Chicago Teachers Union's proposals, including raises for educators, would create a $4bn deficit for the district by the 2029-2030 school year. The union made recommendations for raising more money to support the district, including increasing taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations, and suing banks for predatory lending practices involving CPS in past years. The district's budget director stated that granting just 52 of the union's contract proposals would widen the district's deficit from a projected $509m next fiscal year to roughly $3bn, with the gap growing by another $1bn by fiscal year 2030. Deficits are already projected for the next five years, and the district will have to find more funding or make cuts to staff and programs to balance future budgets. The Chicago Board of Education passed a budget for the upcoming school year that closed a $505m deficit, but it does not include funding for a new teachers contract.
Preschool enrollments in Los Angeles County decline
Preschool enrolments in Los Angeles County have been declining due to various factors, including declining birth rates, a shortage of early childhood educators, and families moving to areas with lower costs of living. Another contributing factor is the expansion of transitional kindergarten programs, which serve four-year-olds exclusively at existing public schools. Some families are choosing transitional kindergarten over community preschool centers, leading to thousands of vacancies in preschools. However, parents still face challenges in finding and enrolling their young children in nearby, affordable childcare. The lack of centralized public information about options and enrollment disparities across the county further exacerbates the issue. While many preschools have vacancies, some, like Oakdale School in Valley Village, are full. Finding enough teachers for preschools has also been a challenge.
Pasadena Star-News Press-Telegram
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
Harnessing AI for strategic testing: Revolutionizing education and boosting student achievement
As educators gear up for the new school year, they are exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize education, particularly through strategic testing. AI tools like ChatGPT can create diverse, personalized, and low-stakes assessments quickly, enabling teachers to leverage the "testing effect"—a phenomenon where students retain more knowledge through frequent testing than traditional studying. By incorporating AI-generated assessments, educators can enhance student learning, save valuable time, and focus on personalized instruction. This approach offers a balanced, effective way to integrate AI into classrooms, promoting both student achievement and teacher well-being.
----- WORKFORCE ----
Teachers warn of declining mental health and job satisfaction
After an uptick in morale last year, new research suggests teachers across the country are experiencing worsening mental health and are less satisfied with their careers than they were a year ago. The findings come from the EdWeek Research Center's an annual report, which surveyed 1,487 public school teachers and 131 private school teachers between January and March of this year, on behalf of Merrimack College. Teacher job satisfaction hit an all-time low in 2022, with just 12% of public school teachers saying they were very satisfied with their jobs as they grappled with the fallout from disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Though job satisfaction climbed last year, it slipped slightly this year to 18% of public school teachers saying they were very satisfied. "Unfortunately, it's not getting better," said Tim Pressley, a professor of psychology at Christopher Newport University. "Teachers were burned out, had no job satisfaction, low morale during the pandemic, and that has just continued as we've come out of this pandemic." The report highlights several key takeaways, including teachers' desire for better working conditions, higher pay, and more support for student discipline. It also notes that mental health impacts vary by age and race, with younger teachers and white teachers reporting more negative effects. The report emphasizes the importance of administrator support and the connection between teacher and student mental well-being.
Education Week News Education Week News
Shortage of bus drivers causes disruption in school transportation
Before the pandemic, Orange County, Fla. had 70,000 students riding 800 buses to school. However, due to a shortage of bus drivers, the number of students riding the bus has dropped to 53,000 on 500 buses. This shortage is not unique to Orange County, as many districts across America are struggling to fill open bus driver positions. The consequences of this shortage include longer wait times for students, fewer options for families, and increased headaches for administrators. Chronic absenteeism has also been linked to bus driver shortages. Districts are trying to find solutions, such as hiring contractors and making adjustments to operations. Some districts have been successful in addressing the shortage, while others continue to face challenges. Buses in Orange County now make two trips to each school building every morning and afternoon, with the same driver transporting two busloads of students, meaning that some staffers have to arrive at work earlier to greet students when they arrive or leave work later to wait for the last ones to leave. “It's not ideal, this current situation,” said Bill Wen, the district's senior director of transportation services. “But it's what we have until we're able to figure out that magic wand for everyone to get enough drivers.”
----- HEALTH & WELLBEING -----
Signs of improvement seen in teen mental health
Teen mental health showed “some signs of progress” in 2023 after record-high levels of mental health challenges in 2021, according to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Last year, 40% of high school students said they had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year, according to the report, down from 42% in 2021. Fifty-three percent of female students and 65% of LGBTQ+ students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year, compared with 28% of male students and 31% of cisgender and heterosexual students, the report found. The CDC recommends that schools teach students to recognize signs of mental health challenges; promote mindfulness; promote social-emotional learning; enhance school connectedness; provide behavioral interventions; and support staff well-being.
-----CHARTER SCHOOLS -----
Millions of dollars spent to support school vouchers and choice programs
Millions of dollars are being spent this year to steer voters toward candidates for Republican-led Legislatures who support school vouchers and will play a crucial role in implementing school choice programs across the U.S. Pro-voucher groups, including the School Freedom Fund, American Federation for Children, and Americans for Prosperity, have invested heavily in primary elections to ensure the success of their agenda. Tennessee and Texas have seen significant spending in their primary elections, with millions of dollars poured into supporting voucher-friendly candidates. Despite facing resistance from Democrats, and some Republicans, the push for school vouchers continues to grow in Republican-dominated states. The recent victories in Tennessee and Texas have given pro-voucher advocates hope for the future. However, critics argue that focusing solely on primary voters may not be representative of the average voter and could undermine democracy. The battle for school vouchers is far from over, with proposals being considered in many more states.
No comments:
Post a Comment