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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!

Your Safety is Protected per our contract and ed code

August 21, 2013

Members,
Please keep in mind that the VCUSD/VEA Collective Bargaining Agreement has specific information about your safety in the classroom.

Per Article 9:
Per 9.1 of the VEA/VCUSD Contract – Each school site shall develop rules for student conduct & discipline.
9.1.1 – These rules & your responsibilities are supposed to be reviewed annually.
9.1.2 – School sites are supposed to provide a copy of these rules & your responsibilities on the first work day of school year.
9.1.3 – School sites are supposed to discuss the rules & your responsibilities at the first staff meeting of the school year.
9.2.2 – Members can use reasonable force to protect themselves from an attack or to protect another person, to quell a physical disturbance or to obtain possession of weapons.

9.2.4 – ASSAULT Procedure
Unit members shall immediately report cases of assault suffered by them in connection with their employment to their principal or immediate supervisor, who shall immediately report the incidence to the police.

Per Article 13:
13.7 Unit members will be informed by the district of any student assigned to his/her class who, during the previous three years, engaged in criminal or disruptive conduct at school, while going to or coming from school or during a school sponsored activity.

13.8 Unit members may suspend any pupil fromhis/her class for the date of the suspension and the following day for any of the acts enumerated in Education Code 48900. The pupil shall not be returned to the class from which he or she was suspended during the period of the suspension without the concurrence of the teacher of the class & the principal.

13.9 At the beginning of the school year unit members will be informed of, but not limited to the following procedures:
Protocol for handling verbally or physically abusive students and/or parents.

Additionally, per the California Education Code:

48900.  A pupil shall not be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion, unless the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed an act as defined pursuant to any of subdivisions (a) to(r), inclusive:

(a) (1) Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.

(2) Willfully used force or violence upon the person of another, except in self-defense.

(b) Possessed, sold, or otherwise furnished a firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object . . .

(c) Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or been under the influence of, a controlled . . . an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind.

(d) Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell a controlled substance listed . . .

(e) Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.

(f) Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.

(g) Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property.

(h) Possessed or used tobacco, or products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packets, and betel.

(i) Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

(j) Unlawfully possessed or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell drug paraphernalia . . .

(k) Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.

(l) Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.

(m) Possessed an imitation firearm.

(n) Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault . . .

(o) Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a pupil who is a complaining witness or a witness in a school disciplinary proceeding . . .

(p) Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.

(q) Engaged in, or attempted to engage in, hazing.

(r) Engaged in an act of bullying, including, but not limited to,bullying committed by means of an electronic act  . . .

48900.4. In addition to the grounds specified in Sections 48900 and

48900.2, a pupil enrolled in any of grades 4 to 12, inclusive, may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has intentionally engaged in harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against school district personnel or pupils, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to have the actual and reasonably expected effect of materially disrupting classwork, creating substantial disorder, and invading the rights of either school personnel or pupils by creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment.

48902.  (a) The principal of a school or the principal’s designee shall, prior to the suspension or expulsion of any pupil, notify the appropriate law enforcement authorities of the county or city in which the school is situated, of any acts of the pupil that may violate Section 245 of the Penal Code.

(e) The willful failure to make any report required by this section is an infraction punishable by a fine to be paid by the principal or principal’s designee who is responsible for the failure of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).

240.  An assault is an unlawful attempt, coupled with a present

ability, to commit a violent injury on the person of another.

241.2.  (a) (1) When an assault is committed on school or park property against any person, the assault is punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (2) When a violation of this section is committed by a minor on school property, the court may, in addition to any other fine, sentence, or as a condition of probation, order the minor to attend counseling as deemed appropriate by the court at the expense of the minor’s parents. The court shall take into consideration the ability of the minor’s parents to pay, however, no minor shall be relieved of attending counseling because of the minor’s parents’ inability to pay for the counseling imposed by this section.

245.  (a) (1) Any person who commits an assault upon the person of another with a deadly weapon or instrument other than a firearm or by any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, or in a county jail for not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment.

VEA Breakfast a HUGE Success!!

August 16, 2013

On behalf of the Vallejo Education Association (VEA), I want to thank all of the members who showed up to VEA’s first event of the year, our VEA Breakfast. We had about 200 people attend, eat food, hang out with colleagues and receive great information, including the President’s Report, linked below. On the second page of the President’s Report is contact information for the VEA Executive Board.

A couple of reminders! Our first Rep Council meeting is on Thursday, August 29th, at the VHS-South Campus in the library (the South Campus is the former Vallejo Middle School campus). It is from 4 to 6 p.m. Our next social event is our Chevy’s Social on September 9thfrom 3:30 to 6 p.m. If you have a smart phone, you can subscribe to our VEA calendar from this website.

Again, thank you to all who showed up today. I really do appreciate all that you do on behalf of the Vallejo Community by educating Vallejo’s Future!

Remember VEA is a member driven organization and YOU are VEA!

Your colleague,
Christal Watts
VEA President