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Local Control Funding Formula

March 9, 2014

Local Control Funding Formula

CTA believes the state and federal government should provide adequate funding for education in order for schools districts to fulfill the goals of providing a quality education and necessary resources to meet the individual needs of all students.

We agree with the Governor that we must make education in our state more equitable, “Equal treatment for children in unequal situations is not justice.” CTA also agrees that students with the greatest needs (English language learners, foster youth and low-income students) require additional resources to achieve the state’s academic standards. That is why the CTA State Council of Education adopted its Budget Principles that define support for the Governor’s proposed Local Control Funding Formula as one that provides equal funding for students most in need, restoration of the deficit factor, an annual cost-of-living adjustment while the formula is being implemented over a period of several years, and full funding for K-3 Class Size Reduction Program. Additionally, CTA believes funding must be based on enrollment and that quantifiable data is consistently applied and publicly available. Funding for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards is of paramount importance to CTA, therefore, we commend the Governor for allocating $1 billion to do so.

Key Points
  • CTA believes the LCFF addresses education funding on the basis of fairness and equity among all of California’s students. At a time when more than 50 percent of the state’s population is comprised of ELL students and others who require additional resources to educate, it’s our responsibility to stand behind a proposal that seeks to provide a fair and equal opportunity for all students to succeed.
  • After years of drastic cuts, it is necessary for the future of our children and the future of California that money owed to students and public education begin to be restored. Funding for California schools and colleges has been cut by more than $20 billion over the last four years. It’s time our students had a chance to focus on learning instead of facing threats of larger class sizes, fewer classes to choose from, higher tuition and fewer teachers in the classroom.
  • At the same time, CTA supports the re-distribution of these dollars so that equity and fairness can finally be established after all the years of major inequities with the current funding system. We applaud the Governor for taking on such a bold and historic proposal.
  • Funding for the implementation of the CCSS is extremely important in order to give educators the proper training and professional development to make the transition as seamless and efficient for all, as well to provide students with textbooks and resources reflective of the new standards. While it will take a lot more than $1 billion the Governor has proposed, it will certainly help move in the right direction.
  • CTA supports the Class Size Reduction program for grades K-3 within the LCFF, but maintain it should return to the 20 to 1 ratio as it was prior to 2007-08. Studies consistently demonstrate greater student achievement among students in smaller classes where educators can reach each student and provide individualized attention based on needs and strengths.
  • The LCFF allocates resources to school districts, county offices and charter schools based on student needs by providing supplemental and concentration grants. The LCFF also provides schools with greater flexibility and greater authority over these resources and it requires each district to adopt a local accountability plan. CTA believes the accountability plan must assure that supplemental dollars are sent to local school districts and spent on disadvantaged students.
  • California has dropped to 49th in the nation in per-pupil spending in the last year and has consistently hovered in that range during the last 20 years. While the LCFF does not provide sufficient funding to get California to at least the national average, it’s a proposal that will significantly increase overall state spending for all schools while providing additional resources to disadvantaged students.
  • CTA welcomes the upturn in the economy as we move into better financial times as a state and funding is fully restored to our schools.

High standards pay off for Teacher of the Year

March 9, 2014

High standards pay off for Teacher of the Year Ainsley Harris

Posted:   03/08/2014 01:07:04 AM PST

Cooper Elementary School teacher Ainsley Harris, center, poses with a few of her fourth-grade students Friday in front of a school mural. Harris was named

Cooper Elementary School teacher Ainsley Harris, center, poses with a few of her fourth-grade students Friday in front of a school mural. Harris was named this week the Vallejo City Unified School District Teacher of the Year. (Lanz Christian Bañes/Times-Herald)

 

It’s a good thing Ainsley Harris’ principal waited until the end of the day to tell her the good news.

“I was a wreck,” said Harris, of the smiles and tears of joy she shed when she learned she was the Vallejo City Unified School District Teacher of the Year.

Harris formally accepted her plaque at Wednesday’s school board meeting.

A fourth-grade teacher, Harris has been at Cooper Elementary School for the last four years.

Harris didn’t always know whether she wanted to go into education. As a student at San Diego State University, a friend encouraged her to look into teaching.

“I just did it. I got my credentials and I never looked back,” said Harris, who grew up in Marin County and still lives there today.

Because at the time she was in her early 20s and herself not too far removed from high school, Harris decided to teach at the elementary level rather than the secondary schools.

Her first job after getting her credentials from Dominican University a decade ago was at Patterson Elementary School, where she was encouraged to apply by another friend and former teacher at that campus.

As an educator, she’s encouraged group work with her students and said her poster-festooned classroom — with little desks set up in fours — usually has a buzz of noise as students work together.

“Kids are talking, which to me is a good thing,” Harris said, adding that she makes sure the students stay on task and are talking about their assignments.

Harris holds both herself and her students to high standards.

“If you believe in your students and you give them high expectations and you put new opportunities for them, and they succeed at them, it makes them grow,” Harris said.

Achieving Teacher of the Year had always been something at the back of Harris’ mind, but nothing that really dominated her everyday life for the last 10 years in the classroom. But when Cooper Principal Susan Walls pulled Harris into her office, she was unable to hide her excitement.

“She just told me I was nominated, and I started crying,” Harris said.

Harris, a single mother, said most of her free time is spent raising her 3-year-old son. She loves to cook, but hates the precision of baking. Harris said she wasn’t sure whether she’d want to try working at a high school level — or even try her hand as an administrator.

Perhaps she’ll follow in the footsteps of Solano Middle School teacher Angelo Bracco, who last year was not only the Vallejo Teacher of the Year, but also Solano County’s and California’s top educator.

But Harris is sure of at least one thing.

“I love my classroom, and we’re in Room 24,” said a smiling Harris, whose students made sure to ask her for a shout-out in the newspaper.

Contact Lanz Christian Bañes at (707) 553-6833 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @LanzCBanes.

Special Election

December 7, 2013

There will be a Special Election for VEA Vice Preseident and CTA State Council Representative. Voting will take place from Wednesday, December 11 through Thursday, December 19th at each school site.
[notice]There will be a Special Election for VEA Vice Preseident and CTA State Council Representative.  Voting will take place from Wednesday, December 11 through Thursday, December 19th at each school site.[/notice]

VEA’s Toys for Tots Drive

December 5, 2013

VEA’s Toys for Tots drive was a huge success!  Many thanks to all those who participated. The toys were delivered into the welcoming hands of our Armed Forces at Rep Council on December 5th.  Donations will continue to be accepted at many drop-off points including Toys ‘R’ Us in Vallejo and Solano Mall.  More information can be found at www.toysfortots.org

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.

Come get your VEA Swag!

August 22, 2013

VEA is pleased to announce the opening of our VEA Store – We Are Educators. We have a variety of items, including shirts (for men, women and babies!), mugs, skins for your computers and a host of other items.

You can buy your VEA swag by going to our VEA Store. VEA earns a small profit on each item sold. These proceeds will go to our VEA College Scholarships for the children of our VEA members.

Visit the store and buy your VEA swag now!

Remember, VEA wears VEA Blue on Thursdays!