The Bargaining Team met Monday, March 8 to discuss retirement incentives. Bargaining Chairperson Terry SalasOrtiz reported to the Executive Committee that it was not fiscally prudent at this time for the District to implement a retirement incentive.

The Bargaining Team also made dates for May and June to begin negotiating the full contract. Bargaining surveys are due
Tuesday, March 23.

Early Retirement Open Deadline Is April 15

If you are planning on early retirement at the conclusion of the current school year, you must complete and return the option form to the certificated personnel office no later than Thursday, April 15. You must be between 55 and 60 years of age and have 15 years of experience with the District to qualify for the option. You are not obligated to include a letter of resignation at the time of completing the option form. Call Jean at extension 2329 for more information.
Retirement Benefits Workshop March 25
The District and the Association will jointly present a workshop on retirement health benefits Thursday, March 25, 3:30 p.m. at the District Office Board Room. All those considering retiring any time in the next fifteen years are encouraged to attend.

STRS Interest Rate Will Increase

In specific situations STRS allows members to purchase additional service credit. Beginning July 1, 2004 there will be a substantial increase in the cost of permissive service credit. Any purchases initiated on or after July 1, 2004 will reflect the higher contribution rate. For more information go to CALSTRS.com.

MTA Retirement Banquet Is June 11

The Association will honor the 2003-2004 retirees at a Banquet Friday, June 11. The celebration will be held at the Reef Restaurant in Long Beach. If you or someone you know is planning to retire from the District this year, please contact the MTA office as soon as possible.

Capitol Step Tickets Available

The Association has Capitol Steps tickets available for purchase.
Saturday, May 1
8 p.m.
$26 each
Contact President Margie Granado at the MTA office for more information.

HOUSSE Meetings Scheduled

Many Bargaining Unit members have been notified of eligibility for HOUSSE to receive NCLB Highly Qualified Status. A third date has been added for those interested in getting more information on how to complete HOUSSE paperwork. The meetings are at 3:30 p.m. at LMI.
Monday, March 29
Wednesday, March 31
Thursday, April 29
If requested, more meetings can be scheduled through June 2006.

Adult Education Is In the Limelight

Staff from the California Educator have been in MUSD recently, to prepare for their first ever story on Adult Education. It’s expected to be published in the May/June issue. They interviewed Phyllis Butland as the Chair of the newly formed CTA Adult Ed Caucus. They also interviewed four other adult education teachers of various subjects: High School History, ESL, Citizenship and Conversation. In addition, photos were taken of the classes.

President Margie Granado
Protests Highly Qualified Law

Contact Your Federal Lawmakers About HQT

Responding to a motion from Council, President Margie Granado wrote State and Federal lawmakers protesting the implementation of the Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) law from No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Write a letter and convey your feelings about this law!

For more information about the law go to CDE.ca.gov.

Contact your Congress member at house.gov. and the Senators at senate.gov.

Please send a copy of all e-mail or correspondence to our NEA Director Lois Hale at
705 S. Larch Street #1
Inglewood, CA 90301

Lois travels to Washington D.C. regularly to lobby for local area issues.

Dear President Bush:

The members of the Montebello Teachers Association are currently working to maneuver through the obstacles the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mandates have presented. The Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) portion of the law is insulting to veteran teachers and is unfair to teachers who recently completed or are currently completing their credential work.

Many of the “New” teachers have completed or been in an approved credential program since the implemented “cut-off” date of July 1, 2002. These teachers have done their due diligence in following all the rules and requirements set before them as they knowingly entered the credential programs approved by the great State of California. As you may know, California has one of the most, if not, the most comprehensive and challenging credential program in the nation, yet the HQT portion of the NCLB law does not allow for the work these teachers have done to count, unless they take a test. It is a shame that the government that approved this law would not have the foresight to allow those teachers ALREADY in an approved program that does not require a test the opportunity to prove their HQT status through the Highly Objective Uniform State Standards for Evaluation (HOUSSE) process.

I am asking that the lawmakers who mandate the tests and requirements of our nation’s educators reconsider and remove the cut-off date and allow those teachers who completed their credential or were in an approved credential program by July 1, 2002 to gain HQT status through the HOUSSE.

Sincerely,



Margie Granado, president