State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell invites everyone to acknowledge and honor the state's more than 300,000 dedicated teachers during California Day of the Teacher on May 12.

"I commend our teachers for all their hard work in helping our children succeed academically," O'Connell said. "Test scores for the past five years show that student achievement is on the rise across the state, and we can thank our teachers for playing such a vital role in this success."

This year's California Day of the Teacher theme is, "Reclaim, Reconstruct, and Rebuild," as chosen by the event's sponsor, the Association of Mexican-American Educators, Inc.
More than 20 years ago, former Sen. Joseph Montoya (D-El Monte) wrote SB 1546 proclaiming, "Dia del Maestro," based on the Mexican and Latin American tradition of recognizing teachers. The day was entered into state legislation in 1982, and in 1985, the California Legislature set aside the second Wednesday in May as the Day of the Teacher.
For more information, please visit the organization's Web site: www.amae.org.

The Board of Education presented a Day of the Teacher Resolution to the Association Thursday, May 6.

The April 26 Contact reported that Education Code 51512 prohibits tape recording of classes without teacher consent. The law includes secondary and elementary settings.

Book Mark Our Web Site
montebelloteachers.org

Take a minute and check out the Association’s website. We are at: www.montebelloteachers.org.
You can find most forms and contract information on the web.
The site is also linked to TSA special services as well as CTA and many, many other interesting sites. The site is also linked to the MTA office and the members of the Executive Committee.
Email the MTA office regarding web page suggestions.

Cristina Pelayo Wins
César E. Chávez Memorial
Education Award

Cristina Pelayo (LME) and her student Gabrriella Shibata have been selected by the California Teachers Association as recipients of the 2004 César Chávez Memorial Education Awards Program. Cristina and her student both win $500.

What Are My Rights Concerning
Summer School?

The Contract addresses certain aspects of summer school. The following information appears in Article IV. Hours and Assignments Section J. page 6. The information can also be found on Montebelloteachers.org.

The following regulations are established governing employment and assignment of summer school personnel:

1. Regular Bargaining Unit members in the Montebello Unified School District shall be given preference in summer teaching appointments.
2. Assignments shall be made from those Bargaining Unit members who have an application on file with the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources.
3. Bargaining Unit members assigned shall be expected to complete their assignments unless, due to decrease in enrollments, it becomes necessary to discontinue classes.
4. Bargaining Unit member assignments will be made by the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, and the best interests of the students will be a major consideration in all teaching appointments.
5. The Human Resources division shall send a notification concerning summer school application procedures to each school in the Montebello Unified School District. Bargaining Unit members shall have a period of at least two (2) weeks in which to make formal application for summer school employment to the Human Resources Office.
6. The decision as to which Bargaining Unit members are selected for summer school employment shall rest with the summer school building principals with approval of the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources. In making these decisions, the principals shall take into consideration the following criteria as determined by the application form and individual interview:

a. When all other factors are substantially equal, preference shall be given first to Bargaining Unit members who have taught the grade and/or subject in question on a regular basis during the preceding year at that site.
b. Bargaining Unit member's area of competence.
c. Quality of teaching performance.
d. Bargaining Unit member's attendance record.
e. Willingness to accept an assignment away from the regularly assigned school.
f. Appropriate teaching credential.