The Association ratified the ratification package with 89% approval 775 votes yes and 92 votes no. The Board of Education is expected to ratify the contract Thursday, May 5.

DON’T SIGN THE GOVERNOR’S PETITIONS

Governor Schwarzenegger has paid signature-gatherers for his so-called reforms all over California. They might even ask you to sign, “to help schools.” What should you know about the Governor?

$2.3 Billion: Last year the governor asked parents, teachers and
Administrators to create a law to offset California’s budget crisis. The education coalition agreed to let the governor use $2.3 billion of the 2004 money destined for schools. In the agreement the governor would repay the schools this year. Breaking his promise, the governor does not want to pay the schools the money he borrowed.
Proposition 98: Not satisfied with the $2.3 billion taken away from Education last year, now the governor wants to change Proposition 98, the law that guarantees minimum funding for all California schools. He plans to give even less money for public schools.

And How Do I Get My 5-Year Stull?

Bargaining Unit members who completed their Stull Bill evaluation spring 2004 were the first to enter the five-year Stulll cycle. This spring Bargaining unit members with ten consecutive years experience within the District and have not been referred to PAR will be the second group to enter the five-year cycle.

In order to be eligible for Stull Bill contract language Bargaining Unit members must be NCLB qualified. Therefore, teachers who have been informed that they are eligible for highly qualified or HOUSSE forms should complete the paperwork as soon as possible in order to enter the five-year cycle.

Head Start teachers, infant toddler teachers, support staff, special education, and adult education teachers not involved in the highly qualified law are considered NCLB highly qualified for the purpose of the 2004-2005 Stull year. High school teachers and special education teachers will receive more information next year concerning highly qualified for the 2005-2006 school year.

And, What About the Governor’s Initiatives?

The Governor has several initiatives that he calls “reforms.” His initiatives do not improve education. Instead, these initiatives are an attack on all teachers and would have a devastating impact on salaries, job security, and pensions.
Public School Teachers. Waiting period for Permanent Status Dismissal extends a probationary period from a reasonable two-year period to an excessive five-year. Any permanent teacher can be fired without being allowed to challenge the evaluations. This initiative would deplete the system of teachers and discourages students from becoming teachers.

Excellence in Teaching Act maliciously suggests paying teachers according to the grades students obtain in a single test will improve the quality of education for Californians. This misleading initiative does not reward; it punishes teachers, students and their families as well.

Prohibition on Defined Benefit Public Pensions causes economic problems for thousands of families by substituting the secure pension teachers, firefighters, police officers, and all public employees have with a risky retirement plan. With this initiative the governor also eliminates survivor benefits for family members of police and firefighters who are killed or injured in the line of duty.

Public Employee Union Dues. Requires Employee Consent for Political Contributions. This initiative would force teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public employees’ associations to have a complicated and expensive system to collect dues from their members. Its only purpose is to make difficult for organizations to participate in the political process.

Congratulations!

Diane Kissas (CCE) and her student Jaylen Dickerson
2005 César Chávez Memorial Education Program K-12 Visual Arts Winner

Maria Mendez (MHS) & Angela Geberti, daughter of Gerald Geberti (FPA)
2005 Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Recipient