Go to www.oaklandea.org to see our new and improved look!
Easier to navigate, updated more frequently — come see us!
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Welcome back to a new school year! Pardon the lack of information on the website — we are in the process of redesigning the OEA website — watch for a new and greatly improved version on September 13th! Same address: oaklandea.org.
In the meantime,continue to keep those calls coming in to the OEA office about class size, longer work days, etc. Huge appreciations to the Site Reps who have already written to their Administrators informing them of what our collective bargaining agreement says about the length of our work day (see Article 10.2.1). See your Rep for copies of "Know Your Contract" in case your principal needs some reminders.
Class sizes are on the increase around the district. Remember there is a "beginning grace period" of 10 days for elementary schools, 15 for secondary (Article 15.2). The bad news is that under imposition, class sizes in K-5 can go to the limits outlined in the contract: 27 in K, 30 in grades 1-3, and 31 in grades 4-5. The only exception is in QEIA schools.) This is an excellent opportunity for talking to and organizing parents — already in my visits to school sites I’ve talked to parents who are shocked at the large class sizes.
ECE UPdate: Thanks to the efforts of parents, teachers, students and community members working with Oakland Parents Together and OEA, On Friday, August 27, the district found $2.4 million to keep 5 of 7 Child Development Centers slated for closure open through December. With state cuts to pre-school education, it is vitally important for all of us to continue to advocate for our youngest and most vulnerable students.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the budget, there is a possibility of layoffs between now and August 15. We want to make sure our members have access to the latest information we are getting, so be sure we can reach you during the summer!
We need all OEA members to join together this coming Wednesday, May 13th in a work action, march and rally. Sign out after your students are dismissed, or an hour before the end of your duty day.
Where: 2:00pm at Harrison St. and Grand Avenue (Adams Park)
(or join us at points along the way — see the leaflet)
March to the Administration Building and speak out at the School Board!
We need to show our strength in numbers to STOP:
3% pay cut and health care caps (Kaiser just raised their rates by 8%!)
Cuts to Early Childhood and Adult Education
Worsening Educational Conditions
$77 million for consultants!
Download the leaflet MAY 13 flyer final.doc for more information – and remember, it’s better to lose an hour or two of pay than to lose 3% for a year!
Membership Committee
Presents Tools to Build a Stronger OEA
All session will be held at the Oakland RRC
Participants must RSVP to Kim Foster in the Oakland RRC
1211 Embarcadero,
The focus of this session is on working in a coalition with community groups, individuals, and other school employee organizations to promote and achieve the OEA’s goals. This session covers methods to analyze the community to determine groups and individuals who wield influence in the district; methods to analyze OEA’s interfacing with these resources; strategies to organize a working coalition within the community; responsibilities of the association when working with coalitions; and development of an organizing plan to develop an effective community coalition of the local association. This session is designed for CAT team members and OEA Reps.
If you need more information please contact the OEA membership Committee Chairs: Amy burns at amyburns@pacbell.net and Steve Miyamoto at stevenmiy@gmail.com
Snacks and refreshments will be provided
Seating will be limited to the first thirty (30) people
