HomeAll PostsContract

Contract

Members now pick up 50% of Health Care Costs!

October 1, 2013

Below are two documents from the Vallejo City Unified School District. The first is the certificated salary schedule and the second health benefits document showing VCUSD’s and employees share of health benefits.

It’s important to keep in mind two things. First, VCUSD employees, both certificated & classified, have not received any pay raises since 2008. Second, the District was able to reach fiscal solvency and come out of state receivership due to the sacrifices its employees made.

As we head into negotiations with the District, we hope they keep in mind the sacrifices already made and recognize that if their goal is to truly attract and retain quality employees – they need to be willing to pay for it.

Evaluations, Calendar Survey & Organizing Committee

September 26, 2013
Almost every year we have unit members raise valid issues and concerns regarding the evaluation process. We have around 70 new colleagues this year, so I really think it is important to makes sure that there is a clear understanding of this process.
Attached you will find the CSTP’s quick guide. I’ve pulled the Standards & each objective directly from our contract into this new document. I’ve attached both the Word document & the PDF document as people like to use both. (This document may be different from the one sent out earlier – please disregard the earlier document and use the attached.)
Remember with the evaluation process, unit members are supposed to pick an OBJECTIVE from a STANDARD – not select the whole STANDARD. (I’ve already seen one communication from a site administrator who wrote that the STANDARD was the objective – this is incorrect!)
As an example, if I want to work on Standard 1:  Engaging and Supporting All Students in Learning
·   Using knowledge of students to engage them in learning
·   Connecting learning to students’ prior knowledge, backgrounds, life experiences & interests
·   Connecting subject matter to meaningful, real-life contexts
·   Using a variety of instructional strategies, resources, & technology to meet students’ diverse learning needs
·   Promoting critical thinking through inquiry, problem solving, & reflection
·   Monitoring student learning & adjusting instruction while teaching

Each bullet point is an OBJECTIVE. Unit members under Process A, may select one objective from three different standards, or 3 objectives from one standard, or one objective from two standards and one standard. However, as you can see just from Standard 1 referenced above, being evaluated on every single bullet point times three different standards would be virtually impossible.
Again, using the example above, as someone under Process B, I could select Standard 1, second bullet – “connecting learning to students’ prior knowledge, backgrounds, life experiences & interests.” My evaluation plan is then developed from that objective.
Unit members under Process A have two formal observations. Unit members under Process B, the evaluation shall include self evaluation & may include classroom observation(s) and/or other mutually acceptable evaluation techniques (11.2.3).
Everything that is mutually agreed upon between the evaluator and unit member needs to be clearly articulated in the evaluation plan. 
I am encouraging unit members to reach out to our new colleagues to help them through this process.
Calendar Survey & Committee
Continue to take the online survey OR the hard-copy survey on the calendar. One of the concerns expressed was the desire for VEA to share the results. I will makes sure that this happens so that people will know going into the process what information will be shared with the District.
My plan is to notify those who want to be on the committee by next Tuesday, October 1st, through District e-mail. We will also schedule our first committee meeting within the next couple of weeks.
Organizing Committee
We are looking for unit members for our Organizing Committee. VEA will have its first bargaining session with the District next Thursday, October 3rd. The Organizing Committee will examine effective ways to best support our Bargaining Team in their efforts.
I am also looking at scheduling a meeting for next Thursday, October 3rd starting at 4:30 – location TBD, for a Bargaining Update & to provide additional information for anyone who is interested in being on the Organizing Committee.

 

Updates on Calendar and Evaluations

September 24, 2013
VEA Calendar Survey
Unit members should receive a hard copy of the calendar survey in their mailboxes within the next few days. For those to prefer to take it online, an online version has been created. As always, only do ONE survey – either the hard copy or the online version – do not do both! The online survey does require that members put in either their last name/school site OR their CTA membership number. We are doing this only for verification purposes and will be verified by Martha Hatcher, our VEA Office Manager.  This information will be removed from the survey prior to giving it to the calendar committee.
Hard copies of the survey should be given to your VEA Site Rep no later than October 10th. Site Reps should bring any completed surveys to the Rep Council meeting on October 10th.
Evaluations
Unit members who were supposed to be evaluated for this school year should have received notification by this past Friday. If your site administrator failed to notify you in writing that you would be evaluated by this date, you do not have to agree to be evaluated for this school year.
Selecting Objectives – Evaluation Process
  • Unit members who are under Process A: No later than October 15th, the unit member and the evaluator jointly select three objectives from the “California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP).” If the unit member and evaluator cannot agree on the three objectives, the unit member and evaluator each select two objectives for a total of four objectives.
  • Unit members who are under Process B: No later than October 15th, the unit member and the evaluator jointly select one objective from the CSTP’s. If the unit member and the evaluator cannot agree on one objective, then each select one objective for a total of two objectives.
  • Your objective(s) should not be the whole standard. For example, if I am choosing Standard 2, I could select 2-4, which states that my plan will be about “establishing and maintaining standards for student behavior.” From this objective, my evaluator and I would develop a plan as to what they expect to see and what I will do in order to reach this objective.
Important Points to keep in mind
What has been reported to VEA numerous times in the past few years is that some site administrators present a completed plan to members. This is NOT how the process is supposed to work.
  • This is YOUR evaluation to help you develop as a teacher.
  • Your plan should not be identical to your colleagues.
  • Unit members can do one of two things if there is a dispute regarding their evaluation plan:
    • 1. Sign but add a note that you are objecting to the plan and will file grievance. Do this right next to your signature and date it.
    • 2. Do not sign it and inform your evaluator that you plan to file a grievance.
  • If the objective selected does not require an observation, you do not need to agree to have observations as part of your evaluation plan.
    • This does not mean that your site administrator cannot come in to observe you.
    • It does mean that no observation and/or walkthrough can be used in your final evaluation report.
    • As always, document any time an administrator is in your room and ask for a copy of anything that is written.
Here is a copy of the CSTP’s (quick guide).

Important VEA Updates

August 27, 2013

Class Sizes
Per Article 10.2.1, site managers have 10 student days to adjust class sizes or caseloads. On the 11th student day, members start notifying their managers if they continue to be over. Payment for overages begin on the 11 student day, however, site managers have an additional five student days to bring class size or caseloads into compliance with the contract.

Evaluations
Per Article 11.3 – unit members need to be notified no later than the 3rd Friday of September that they are to be evaluated.

Process A
If you are probationary, received an unsatisfactory evaluation or were moved from Process B to A at the end of the school year (last year), you will jointly select 3 objectives from the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP’s). Please remember – the process is to jointly select 3 objectives – not have your site administrator select 3 whole standards.

If an agreement cannot be reached on the 3 objectives between the unit member and the site manager , the unit member selects two objectives and the site manager selects two objectives for a total of 4 objectives evaluated.

Process B
If you are permanent status, you will jointly select one objective from CSTP’s. Again, this should not be the WHOLE standard, rather it should be an objective from the standard itself.

If an agreement cannot be reached on the objectives between the unit member and the site manager , the unit member selects 1 objective and the site manager selects 1 objective for a total of 2 objectives evaluated.

Under both Process A and B – unit members need to meet with their evaluator no later than October 15th to select the objective(s).

Note:
Anything you sign on your evaluation plan, you are agreeing to be evaluated on. It is important to be actively engaged in this process. This is YOUR evaluation plan to help support YOUR practice.

Confidentiality Form
VEA supports the idea presented by the District on confidentiality. Our bottom line is and continues to be that confidentiality needs to be protected for our students and our members. Confidentiality is covered under Federal Law and State Law. We are in agreement that a form should be provided to members to remind them of the importance of confidentiality. We are in disagreement only on the language that is being provided to members.

We further believe that when it comes to the rights of our members, any changes that the District is proposing needs to be bargained with its bargaining units. Therefore, we are urging members to sign the attached form in lieu of the one provided by the District. We also believe that confidentiality is already codified as stated earlier and there may be some members who object to signing this form. Either way, we believe the decision to sign or not sign is up to each individual member and VEA will support the decision of each individual member.

Process on changing your school site calendar – it cannot be imposed!

April 22, 2013

Under the VEA/VCUSD Collective Bargaining agreement, the district is responsible for setting the start and end time of our day. However, it is staff at school sites that have the ultimate say in the hours within the day. Under 5.11, any change in the bell schedule has to go through a process, which requires a development of a leadership team (not just selected by site administration), a poll and a vote of all impacted staff.

At the start of the current school year, the district tried to make substantial changes to the calendars used at our middle schools. Specifically, there was an attempt to standardized the minimum days at the middle schools. While VEA doesn’t have an outright problem with this standardization, what we do believe is that ALL members should have a say in this process and a right to vote on any changes on calendars at each school site.

If your site administrator presents any change to the student/teacher work day in the the 2013-14 calendar, remind them of 5.11 of the VEA/VCUSD CBA. VEA recognizes that each school site is unique and their calendar is a reflection of what teachers, support staff, and administration has developed for a variety of reasons. No calendar should be imposed on your staff. It is imperative that any school site that believes they are being forced to change their calendar, contact VEA in order to help you through this process.

Some school sites may choose to retain their current calendar. Even if you are rolling your current calendar over into the 2013-14, school sites are encouraged to still follow the process as defined under 5.11 of the CBA, including voting on maintaining your current calendar. This vote has to take place by May 1st!

Please be advised that each school site should vote on their calendar for the upcoming school year – even if there are no changes. However, if no vote takes place, then your current calendar automatically rolls over into the next school year. NO vote equals maintaining the status quo on your school site calendar.

Please contact your VEA Director for more information.

Elementary:
Teri Nutt
Loree Tackmier
Katie Vevoda

Middle School:
Katherine Catanzarite
Lynette Henley

High School:
Scott Heinecke
Rob Raven

Adult School:
Effie Dudley

Special Education:
Deanna Dunn

Payment on Overages

November 24, 2012

If you have had overages since the beginning of the school year, you might want to check your paystub, especially if you are a secondary teacher.

For secondary teachers (middle school and high school), overages are paid $3.00 per student, per period. For elementary teachers, payment for overages is $15.00 per student, per day.

The District made a mistake and have paid some secondary teachers $15.00 per student, per period. Please do not assume that if the District made the mistake and does not catch the mistake, you do not have to pay them back when they do catch the mistake. However, the District cannot arbitrarily take the money you owe them out of your paycheck. They need to let you pay back the money and the repayment plan should be one that is mutually acceptable to both the employee and employer. The repayment plan will most likely need to end by the end of the current school year. Most of the time, repayment plans cannot go into the next school year unless it is an extraordinary circumstance.

If you have a question about your paycheck and a possible overpayment, please contact the Payroll Department at [email protected] and cc to Christal Watts, VEA President at [email protected] .

Walk-throughs & Evaluations

September 12, 2012

VEA recognizes that teachers and other educators value and appreciate timely feedback on their teaching practice. We are in support of the Superintendent’s directive that school site administrators should be visible on their campuses and should be visiting classrooms daily.

As VEA and the District works to develop a working agreement on walk-throughs and the District’s re-opener on Article 11: Evaluations, unit members should be mindful of the following:

Administrators can come into any classroom at any time to do an “informal” observation/walk through. They can take notes. However, these walkthroughs cannot be used for evaluative purposes. I am suggesting members do two things.

First, members should politely approach the administrator and request that a copy of the notes be placed in their mailboxes. If they are told “no,” then members should put their request in writing and ask for a response in writing.

Second, when the administrator leaves, members should briefly document the visit – what was the teacher and/or students doing, date, who was the visitor, etc.

If administrators are making the claim that these walk-throughs are non-evaluative, then the only way to make sure of this is for unit members to protect their contractual rights and be assertive in asking for their documentation. If they refuse and members document on their own and anything relating to a walk-through turns up on an evaluation, this may invalidate the evaluation.

Contractual Language on Observations:
11.2.5 Observations
If an observation, either formal or informal, is to be used as a basis for a final evaluation, it shall be in accordance with the following provisions.

11.2.5.1 A formal observation is defined as a classroom observation preceded by at least 24 hours notice to the unit member.

11.2.5.2 All observations shall be documented on the Observation Form. (This can be found in the back of the contract.)

11.2.5.3 Classroom observations shall be a minimum of twenty (20) consecutive minutes.

11.2.5.4 A post-observation conference will be held within four working days of each observation. The post-observation conference may be postponed by mutual agreement.

11.2.5.5 Each written observation report shall be based on at least one classroom observation by the evaluator.

11.2.5.6 The observation report may include self-evaluation by the unit member.

11.2.5.7 All observation report(s) shall be attached to the final evaluation.

An informal evaluation is defined as a classroom observation which complies with all of the provisions of this section except 11.2.5.1.