Bargaining Update

Bargaining Chairperson Dianne Garcia-Stevens (LMI) has announced that a settlement appears to be near. She believes that an announcement regarding a ratification meeting will be issued this week. All information regarding a settlement will be disclosed at the meeting.

The Association offers special thanks to Dianne and her team: Neal Crook (MHS), Julian De La Torre (EAI), Elizabeth Gasca (RPE), and Dennis Irland (BGH).

Enter the César E. Chávez
Memorial Education Awards Program
Awards Program Description

The César E. Chávez Memorial Education Awards Program will provide recognition for students and their teachers who demonstrate an understanding of the vision and guiding principles by which César E. Chávez lived his life. The Awards Program will honor the memory of this great man and ensure that the spirit of his work continues in the classrooms of California.

General Awards Criteria
Awards must focus on one or more of the following and show the relationship to César E. Chávez's life and legacy:

Principles of non-violence
Self determination through unionization (forming and joining unions)
Social justice for farm workers
Safe food / health / environmental issues
Human and civil rights issues
Teamwork, cooperation, collaboration, service to others
Empowerment of the disenfranchised
Innovation and education

Eligibility
One student or a group of no more than five (5) students (K-Community College), in conjunction with a CTA member. Grade level categories include:

Kindergarten - Second grade
Third - Fifth grades
Sixth - Eighth grades
Ninth - Twelfth grades
Community College

All entries are due Friday, April 5. More information and applications are available at cta.org or the MTA office.

Reminder: CTA Scholarship Forms Due
Friday, February 15

CTA scholarships for members and their dependent children are due to CTA by Friday, February 15. Applications are available at CTA.org and the MTA office.

Congratulations Dorothy Chu

Past President Dorothy Chu (CCE) won the CTA art competition. Her entry was judged the best in Region 3. The art work now hangs in the CTA Burlingame office. Dorothy received $1,000.

Council Takes A Position On
First Grade Assessment

Last Tuesday Council took a position reaffirming the previous position to find reasonable alternatives to subjecting first graders to the SAT 9 test. Kindergarteners and first graders are not obligated by law to take the test. The District requires the testing.

The Council passed the motion below.

...a joint committee, MTA and MUSD, be formed to develop, explore, and recommend alternate means to fulfill the federal requirements for the Compensatory Education for first grade in lieu of the SAT 9.

President David Lebow has contacted the District Office representatives concerning this Association policy. Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Gene Kerr will make the Districtís recommendation regarding testing first graders.

Get Wild
About Books

Itís time to Get Wild About Books and celebrate "Read across America 2002!" Friday, March 1 is the day CTA recognizes the importance and fun of reading in California by inviting everyone to pick up a book and read to a child.

CTA is proud to announce that actor Lou Diamond Phillips is the honorary chairperson of Californiaís "Read Across America" campaign. Phillips will be featured in radio public service announcements that will be sent to radio stations statewide. He will also appear at a special event on March 1 with public school students.

CTA is honored to welcome Between the Lions, the award-winning PBS childrenís literacy program to the campaign. Between the Lions characters Lionel, Leona, Cleo and Theo are helping to celebrate the theme, Get Wild About Books as they appear in CTAís published materials and on the CTA website, CTA.org.

Materials are available on CTA.org and at the MTA office.