Please join your fellow substitute teachers at our first Caucus meeting of the year. Elect officers, share concerns, and talk about contract negotiations. 

Welcome New Representatives

I want to extend a warm welcome to all of you, and an invitation to join us at one of three Rep trainings being planned for September and October. Being a Rep is an important responsibility, especially during a period of contract negotiations. Having a Rep at every school site is crucial to building a strong internal structure, and you are playing an invaluable role in helping our members to become empowered and involved. 

 
Goals for 2008-2009

Late last school year and in August I outlined some of our goals for this coming year. We’re in contract negotiations, with bold proposals based on what teachers NEED in order to create success, in a district that claims it has no money and a state that can’t even pass a budget. Our district is on the road to regaining local control, but without power over finances, we’re in a precarious position. We are faced with a poison pill in the form of a parcel tax election that would reward teachers and charter schools, and punish small homeowners. Demands for raising test scores will only increase as the bar grows higher. Where does that leave us? How can we continue to push for big ticket items like smaller class sizes and substantial raises?

 
Well, every challenge brings with it an opportunity, and one way to look at it is that we are surrounded by opportunity! I’ve said often that you can’t be a teacher in this day and age without becoming a political activist on some level. Even though many of us would rather retreat into our own classrooms and TEACH, we don’t all have that “luxury.” We live in an era where we need to be in the forefront of the REAL reform movement, the one that says that children are NOT test scores, and academic achievement is not just measured by a standardized test. That doesn’t mean we all have to be full-time volunteers for OEA, but it DOES mean we have to ask ourselves what role EACH of us will play as this year unfolds. Let’s be really honest. We still don’t have Site Reps for a number of our 108 schools plus 37 CDC’s. There are plenty of reasons: turnover, low morale, too much to do, etc. But the bottom line is that without a STRONG and well-functioning, active Site Rep structure, we cannot be a strong force and presence – at our individual school sites, at the bargaining table, in the community.

I want everyone to be very clear on what our situation is now, and what it could and should look like. On a good day there are three full-time people working at OEA on member concerns and grievances. However, Sergio is currently serving on a jury for at least two months. That leaves Nicole and me, and our CTA Emeritus staff person, Jeff Cloutier, who arrived today for several weeks.  Nicole is our lead staff person for the bargaining team, and is also doing arbitrations and QEIA. I have been directed by the Executive Board to visit sites at least 3-4 times a week over the next 6-8 weeks, with the goal of getting Site Reps and FC’s elected in every site that doesn’t yet have them. In order for this to happen, we need school sites to be empowered to take on the many day-to-day issues that arise.

 
Let me give you an example. Just last week I was asked to meet with a new principal, new Network Executive Officer (NEXO), and the Site Rep over a series of issues that had already arisen the first week of school. The Site Rep prepared an agenda, had proposed solutions for all the issues that were raised, and after our meeting called an emergency meeting of the already-elected FC to attempt to resolve one of the most burning issues. THIS is what we need at each school site.

 
There is much to be done, but I have every bit of confidence that we will be successful in energizing our members to be daily advocates for our students and our profession! We have no other choice.  

 
Beginning of the Year Report

By now most of you have heard that there was a break-in at OUSD on Tuesday, September 2^nd, and that computers were stolen from Human Resources. More information is contained in the Executive Directors’ report.

 
We started the year with only two official vacancies; now we’re already up to 15.5 and growing. The contract allows for 10 school days for maximum elementary class size to be completed, and 15 days for secondary. This means that by today, elementary schools should have their classes settled, and by September 15^th, secondary classes should be set. Please notify OEA if you are over your class size limits after these dates.

 
We have been getting reports from a number of sites that principals are now requiring lesson plans using specific templates; in some cases, teachers are being asked to collaborate with colleagues after school and turn them in on Fridays. We have told Labor Relations that this is unacceptable; that Article 9.2 in our contract outlining the requirements for lesson plans has never been implemented with OEA, and that any requested change in format is something that should be discussed in the Faculty Council. You need to have lesson plans, but you do NOT have to follow a certain template or plan. Furthermore, there is nothing in the contract that says they have to be turned in on a Friday, or that you have to write lesson plans after school. This will be communicated to principals; in the meantime, if your site administrator is asking for specific lesson plans, show him/her the contract.

 
Elementary teachers, have you heard that Open Court benchmark assessments will no longer be required? That’s according to Brad Stam, Chief Academic Officer, who says that instead the district will start using “standards-based assessments” that will allow teachers more flexibility. Let us know what this translates into at your site.

 
Measure N Parcel Tax

AKA “Jack’s Tax,” this is a stealth parcel tax measure thrust onto the ballot by Jack O’Connell against the wishes of the majority of the School Board, the Central Labor Council, and any OEA leadership in town to know it was happening. In short, it would charge each Oakland parcel owner $120/year for 10 years; 85% of the taxes would go to teacher salaries, 15% to charter school programs. In a tight budget year, some would call us crazy for going against money for salaries. But we need to look at the bigger picture. We’ve sent you the Executive Board’s arguments against it, and later in the meeting we want to hear from you.

 
Before then, I want to add some information. The polling that preceded this stealth tax was unequivocally enlightening:

Teachers are who we believe in, and whose opinion we’ll follow

We want our teachers to be paid more

When you add charter schools to the polling, the numbers favoring this proposed parcel tax drop dramatically

Our job tonight is to take a position for, against, or neutral on this tax, and then decide how widely we’ll publicize our position. The Executive Board voted unanimously to oppose it. If we decide to vote against it, we need to do so with eyes wide open and with maximum involvement from our members, especially those who are Oakland residents.

Budget Stalemate

As you know, California is still without a budget. CTA held a statewide day of action September 5^th calling on the legislature to pass a balanced budget that minimized cuts to education. We say we need to go a step further and call on the legislature to pass a budget with NO cuts to education, health care, or social services! We are calling on our members to hold an OEA day of informational leafleting on Wednesday, September 17^th before school. This will be an opportunity to call on our members to distribute both our leaflet against budget cuts and the new Parent Teacher Connection (now called “Create Success”) in front of school sites. The PTC also includes an article about the Parcel Tax, so it will be a good time to start making those connections with parents around important issues facing us.

Bargaining Report

David de Leeuw

Committee Appointments and Executive Board Vacancies

In your packet is a list of Committee Appointments; under Officers’ Reports our Second Vice-President will move these for adoption. We still need to fill some of the Chair positions, and all of the committees need members. Please consider signing up for a committee on the volunteer sheet in your packet.

We have one Officer and two Executive Board vacancies which will be filled by election at the October Rep Council. All of these positions are interim positions; two-year term elections will be held in April. The vacant positions are:

1. Secretary (vacated by Manny Lopez, now First Vice-President
2. Seat 5 (vacated by Steve Miller, who resigned from Executive Board September 2^nd)
3. Seat 11 (to be filled by a counselor, speech therapist, or psychologist)

We will also hold elections at the October Rep Council for delegates to the Central Labor Council; these will also be interim positions, with elections for two-year terms to be held in April.

If you are interested in any of these positions, please be sure to attend the October Rep Council meeting.

Until interim elections are held for Central Labor Council delegates, the Executive Board voted to appoint Bob Mandel and Tania Kappner as “temporary interim delegates” so that they could attend today’s CLC meeting in an official capacity.

Website

The Executive Board voted on September 2^nd to stop requiring members to register for a “Members Only” section due to the problems that have been reported in accessing this area. Our original purpose in having a “Members Only” section of the website was to be able to conduct secure online forums. Since we aren’t presently using this capability, we decided to open up the website and make it more accessible to all.

Member Socials/Seminars

We hope to see all of you at our first social of the school year this coming Friday, September 12^th, from 4:00-7:30pm at La Estrellita! We’re aiming for a social a month, so keep those Fridays free!

We plan to start having monthly seminars and trainings on a variety of topics; stay tuned for more information.

Presidential Endorsement

As you know, both CTA and NEA have endorsed Barack Obama for President. A motion made at the Executive Board last week was referred to Rep Council for discussion tonight. As you know if you’ve been reading the Oakland Teachers’ listserve, there are many strong opinions on this issue. I urge everyone to respectfully remember that there are as many opinions as there are individuals, and all are deserving of a hearing.

In Memory of Deidria Etheridge

On August 26^th the Grass Valley community lost a beloved teacher. A third-grade teacher for over 21 years at Grass Valley, Dee was remembered on Saturday, September 6^th in an incredibly moving celebration of her life. Parents, teachers, and dozens of former students spoke about the effect Dee had had on their lives in a series of eloquent, tearful, and humorous stories.  Executive Board member Relena Ellis and I both spoke and presented Dee’s family with a plaque on behalf of OEA. As we do the difficult, important, life-changing work that we do, let’s all remember that we have very profound impacts on the children whose lives we touch every day, and we don’t always know what they are. Hearing the many young people who came to honor their former third grade teacher was an amazing testimonial to just how true that is.

In unity,

Betty

You no longer have to register as a member to gain access to all of the website.  Until we create a members only discussion forum, all of our information is public.

To access the contract online, just click on "Resources" and then "OEA/OUSD Contract 2005-2008."  

At the September 8th Representative Council, OEA Site Reps voted unanimously (with one abstention) to oppose Measure N, the so-called "Outstanding Teacher for Every Oakland Student" tax. The Central Labor Council voted that same night to oppose this ill-conceived, Trojan horse of a ballot measure. But because it was pushed through without community input, there was no time for an "oppose" position in the voter pamphlet. 

What follows is the message that will go out to community organizations, PTA’s, elected officials, and the general community. We need your help in getting the word out — get us the names of community groups, sign up to speak at your PTA or church, or schedule time for someone to come from OEA or Central Labor Council!

 Teachers Say: "N" Stands for "NO!"

County Auditors oppose Measure N because it is not sustainable.

The Oakland School Board votes 6 to 1 against Measure N.

If this parcel tax is supposed to help teachers, why are teachers opposed?

Let us explain why teachers and many others oppose Measure N, “Jack’s Tax,” on this November’s ballot. (This tax of $120/parcel would allot 85% to teacher salaries and 15% to charter school programs.) The facts:

Lack of public input, support, and accountability

Sacramento State Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell slipped this tax increase onto the November ballot at the last moment with virtually no public input. That’s why there’s no “opposed” statement in the voter pamphlet.

So long as the state controls school district finances, there is NO assurance that public tax monies will go to teachers and students.

Charter school gravy train

Like many urban districts, Oakland faces declining enrollment. Jack O’Connell’s commitment to charter schools is driving the district to bankruptcy.

Oakland has the highest percentage of charter schools in the state.

Charters are publicly funded but privately-run, often discriminate in the students they select and keep, and are not accountable to the public.

Charter schools have not proven to be any more successful than traditional schools.

Measure N takes 15% off the top for elite private charter schools. This shortchanges the remaining 37,000 district students. It invites even more charters to Oakland to grab a greater share of Oakland’s public money.

No school runs on teachers alone!

There’s not one penny in Measure N for essential support staff: custodians, clerical workers, Instructional Assistants, food service workers, and skilled maintenance.

Why would Oaklanders want to pay a second parcel tax?

In February, voters in Oakland already passed a permanent parcel tax for schools.    Measure N is another regressive tax that taxes homeowners at the same rate as large developers and corporations.

Wide Community Support is needed

Community leaders are working toward a measure for the 2010 ballot that involves all stakeholders, keeps taxpayer money in public schools, and provides for all employees.

Measure N is bad public policy, bad education policy, and taxation without representation.  It’s unfair and it’s discriminatory. Teachers and school employees say, “N’” stands for “NO!” VOTE NO on N on November 4^th!

Signed by: Presidents and Chief Stewards of Oakland Unified School District’s employee unions ( Oakland Education Association, AFSCME 257, AFT, SEIU, UAOS, Building Trades, CSEA, Teamsters); School Board Directors Alice Spearman and Chris Dobbins

SAVE THE DATE! 

Friday, September 12th, 4:00-7:30 pm

La Estrellita Restaurant at the corner of E. 12th Street and 5th Avenue in Oakland

Bring your colleagues and spend an evening relaxing and socializing!

Great food, drinks, and company! 

You should have recently received a packet of information at your school site, including a welcome letter from your President, information on the change in what you pay for your health care, an announcement about our September 12th Social,  "Know Your Contract," and the 2008-2009 CTA Pocket Calendar. But, no membership card! No, it’s not a mistake — we had fully expected to have the membership cards from CTA in August, but were recently told they won’t be ready until September. There should have been a strip of paper in each envelope explaining this, but it was small and you might not have noticed it. Sorry for the inconvenience — your card will be mailed to you as soon as it arrives! Thank you for being OEA members!

If you were the Site Rep last year, are planning to continue this year, or are new to this but interested, please join us September 8th for Rep Council! You’ll be the first to hear the latest on what to expect as we head into a challenging year of contract negotiations, budget cuts, and continued efforts to get rid of No Child Left Behind!

When? September 8th, 4:00-6:30pm

Where? Oakland International High School, 4521 Webster Street