The salary schedules are completed and ready for implementation August 1. The schedules include the 2.73% increase salary increase yielded from the formula ratified in May. The salary schedules are available at montebelloteachers.org.

The members of the 2004-2005 Bargaining Team were Bargaining Chairperson Terry SalasOrtiz (CCE), Elizabeth Gasca (RPE), Walt Lowery (MAI), Dolores Rego (BGH), and Brian Stevens (LMI). Executive Director Kathy Kohn advises the team. The 2004-2007 Contracts will be printed and distributed this fall. Bargaining reopeners for salary begin spring 2006.

The health and welfare benefits were kept in tact. Open enrollment information will be sent from Risk Management this August. Bargaining Unit members can switch from one insurance carrier to another during the month of September for the October 1 insurance contract year.

The cost of all three carriers was raised.

Kaiser 3.92%
Blue Cross 11.00%
CA Care 10.00%

The large increase in costs means that the Insurance Funds will be depleted at an accelerated rate. The Insurance Committee will continue to deal with this issue through the new school year. An open forum is tentatively scheduled for early 2006. The members of the Insurance Committee are President Margie Granado, Patti Knapp (GAE), and Brenda Wade (MAI). Executive Director Kathy Kohn is an non-voting ex-officio member of the committee.

We Have A Vital Election Nov. 8!

MTA Endorsed for School Board

Hector Chacon
Edwin Chau
Gerri Guzman

CTA Recommends
No on Propositions 74, 75, 76, & 77
Yes on Propositions 79 & 80

Are you registered to vote?

Public Outrages By State Budget
$3.1 Billion Shortfall

CTA and its Education Coalition are outraged that the new budget agreement reached by Governor Schwarzenegger and the legislature to provide $3.1 billion in funds to schools, as required by State law and the California Constitution.

The budget specifically does not provide school s with the addition $1.8 billion for 2004-2005 and the $1.3 billion for 2005-2006 required to fulfill the governor’s agreement with schools, state statute, and the constitutional requirements for public education funding.

Form the Class Size Reduction Facilities Planning Committee

The Contract specifies that Class Size Reduction/Facilities Planning Committees must be formed by the 20th day of school. The following is the contract language.

a. The principal at each participating site will create a CSR and Facilities Planning committee by the twentieth (20th) working day of the school year.
(1) Each committee will meet at least four (4) times a year.
(2) Each committee will include, but not be limited to, the principal, a teacher from each grade level elected by Bargaining Unit members at that site, classified personnel, parents, and support staff.
(3) Each committee will elect its own chairperson(s).
b. Each committee will make recommendations to the principal regarding the following aspects of CSR:
(1) Facilities Planning
(2) Grade level implementation for CSR
(3) Training for CSR
(4) Timelines for implementation and Facilities
(5) Short and long term goals for the site CSR and Facilites
(6) Other issues as determined by the committee.
c. The principal will present the CSR Plan to the committee prior to submitting the plan to the District.
d. The chairperson(s) will be responsible for the following:
(1) Notices of meetings
(2) Record keeping
(3) Maintenance of notes for publication and dissemination.
e. Committee members may seek training in some or all of the following areas:
(1) Decision making
(2) Consensus
(3) Team building
(4) Conflict resolution.
f. Committees will establish their own operating procedures.