Elected representatives from each of the 13 school sites will meet Thursday, Sept. 4th, our first meeting for the 2008-2009 school year. Rep council will hear a negotiations update, vote to endorse candidate(s) in the Novemeber school board election, and meet with our new CTA Representative, Kenya Spearman.
Here is a list of the site representatives from last year:
American Lakes - Naomi Nakahara
Bannon Creek - Barbara Martinez
Heron K-8 - Cora Victorine, Mike Turner
Jefferson - Amber Allison
Natomas Park Elementary - Lauren Frazier, Bret Greenfield
Two Rivers - Jerry Lovejoy, Kris Nanry
Witter Ranch - Jim Clarke
Natomas Middle - Anthony Katsaris, Emilio Moran
Leroy Greene Middle - Kristin Rocha, Justin Vorhauer
Discovery High - Mike Torres
Inderkum HS - Jill Blunk, Ken MacPherson, Patricia Hite-Leech
Natomas HS - Joel Schweiger, Mara Harvey, Sally West-Morgan
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
How Does the Negotiations Process Work?
After sending an recent update to teachers, we received some questions about how we communicate and how some items get negotiated. In fact, one of the most frequent questions NTA gets from teachers and parents are about how our calendar becomes finalized. With other districts that surround Natomas USD, such as Sac City, with a school calendar that begins after Labor Day, many ask why and how we have arrived at the calendar we have.
In Natomas, we have schools coming off of a year-round schedule, so our current calendar reflects a compromise between the YR and traditional schedules. Indeed, across this state, many districts believe a shortened summer positively benefits students. They have also felt that the traditional calendar is a leftover from an outdated agrarian lifestyle. Fad? Could be. Will the pendulum eventually swing the other way? Probably. Child care, vacations, and student employment all are affected by the calendar in some way. We hear from teachers on both sides of this...some who want more breaks in the year, and others who want less to keep the summer break... so how do we balance all of the points of view of our 580 members?
In the meantime, NTA uses a survey to determine membership priority. An idea that might be important to a small number of members might not reach the top of the priority list, or might be negotiated in another year, as we have to operate in the manner that best supports the majority. For example, we have more elementary teachers in this district than secondary. Often, they are the majority. However, we work hard each time to cover as much of the members' priorities that we can - both secondary and others. Also, the district must be willing to listen.
Depending on how many teachers complete a survey, it's possible that a vocal minority can get their point across. If members can rally their site’s members to fill out the survey, and make something such as the holiday breaks a big priority then it can become a priority. Also, if the union and the district do not come to an agreement on the calendar, the district has the right to simply declare what the calendar will look like in terms of start dates and break dates.
Finally, a word on communication - because there have been questions about how members can communicate effectively. Formally, NTA sends out a paper newsletter every month to all members, as well as holding monthly meetings with an elected representative or two from every school to make decisions and discuss current issues affecting our teachers and schools.
CTA and NEA help us by sending us information we need to know about, and guide us in legal and fiscal matters, as well as other helpful practices for associations. CTA Legal helps us know about our rights - for example, we are informed that it is not advised for district email to be used for NTA business, except for general meeting and specific notifications from elected site reps, as it is not secure. Whenever possible, we ask members for their home email addresses, and officers are available by phone as well. Formally and informally, elected officers and site representatives gather information from teachers across the district to inform NTA leadership of what is going on, and helps ensure the contract is being followed. Often, we spend our time working with the district to improve working conditions in the classroom, and working with the community to partner with and appreciate our teachers and their continued and daily hard work.
NTA and the district have a mutually agreed upon contract. We are currently negotiating the 2008-2009 contract with the district. As everyone else in CA is doing, we are waiting for a satisfactory state budget to be reached soon!
In Natomas, we have schools coming off of a year-round schedule, so our current calendar reflects a compromise between the YR and traditional schedules. Indeed, across this state, many districts believe a shortened summer positively benefits students. They have also felt that the traditional calendar is a leftover from an outdated agrarian lifestyle. Fad? Could be. Will the pendulum eventually swing the other way? Probably. Child care, vacations, and student employment all are affected by the calendar in some way. We hear from teachers on both sides of this...some who want more breaks in the year, and others who want less to keep the summer break... so how do we balance all of the points of view of our 580 members?
In the meantime, NTA uses a survey to determine membership priority. An idea that might be important to a small number of members might not reach the top of the priority list, or might be negotiated in another year, as we have to operate in the manner that best supports the majority. For example, we have more elementary teachers in this district than secondary. Often, they are the majority. However, we work hard each time to cover as much of the members' priorities that we can - both secondary and others. Also, the district must be willing to listen.
Depending on how many teachers complete a survey, it's possible that a vocal minority can get their point across. If members can rally their site’s members to fill out the survey, and make something such as the holiday breaks a big priority then it can become a priority. Also, if the union and the district do not come to an agreement on the calendar, the district has the right to simply declare what the calendar will look like in terms of start dates and break dates.
Finally, a word on communication - because there have been questions about how members can communicate effectively. Formally, NTA sends out a paper newsletter every month to all members, as well as holding monthly meetings with an elected representative or two from every school to make decisions and discuss current issues affecting our teachers and schools.
CTA and NEA help us by sending us information we need to know about, and guide us in legal and fiscal matters, as well as other helpful practices for associations. CTA Legal helps us know about our rights - for example, we are informed that it is not advised for district email to be used for NTA business, except for general meeting and specific notifications from elected site reps, as it is not secure. Whenever possible, we ask members for their home email addresses, and officers are available by phone as well. Formally and informally, elected officers and site representatives gather information from teachers across the district to inform NTA leadership of what is going on, and helps ensure the contract is being followed. Often, we spend our time working with the district to improve working conditions in the classroom, and working with the community to partner with and appreciate our teachers and their continued and daily hard work.
NTA and the district have a mutually agreed upon contract. We are currently negotiating the 2008-2009 contract with the district. As everyone else in CA is doing, we are waiting for a satisfactory state budget to be reached soon!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Negotiations Update
NTA Negotiations Update August 2008
The NTA would like to welcome back our current bargaining members and offer a warm welcome to our new bargaining unit members.
The following is a reminder of items currently on the bargaining table. While the district is waiting for the state budget to be settled your NTA bargaining team is eager to get back to the table. It is hopeful that we will begin negotiations in September.
Contract Proposals:
The Natomas Teachers bear the responsibility of educating the students of the Natomas Unified School District. Teachers work diligently providing a quality education by delivering knowledge and instruction, planning lessons, providing assessments to cover the California State Standards, and other essential tasks related to the education of our students. It is recognized that teachers are the best resource the NUSD has to offer its’ students. In order to preserve this vital resource the NUSD must recruit, retain, and reward its teachers. Our proposals will recruit, retain, and reward highly qualified teachers, increase student achievement, and close the achievement gap by:
Article IV and Article VI Salaries & Benefits
v Increasing salaries including adult education wages
v Increasing district contributions to health benefits
v Reconfiguring longevity
v Increasing substitution pay for retirees and off-track teachers
v Increasing tutoring wages & stipends
v Providing retirement incentives
Currently on the table:
Ø NTA’s Compensation Proposal: All bargaining unit members will receive 100% of state funded COLA to be added to the salary schedule. In years of no COLA or deficit COLA, a 2% increase will be added to the salary schedule. Increase in adult education salaries.
Ø NTA’s Health Benefits Proposal: All bargaining unit members will receive 100% of the dollar amount of the median family medical plan. This would eliminate any mandatory out of pocket expenditures.
Article X Class size
Lowering class sizes in grades 4-12
Article V Hours of employment
· Adjusting the school calendar for paid collaboration time.
Increasing elementary preparation time
Decreasing time spent on duties outside the classroom
Article XIII Special Education and Special Subjects Specialists
Developing language for special educations programs.
Currently on the table:
Special Education Issues: NTA presented specific Special Education language that focused on caseloads and/or class size using a formula that assigns point values dependent upon the severity of the disability. This point value would be used throughout all special education programs.
Ø Full Inclusion Program: NTA presented language regarding full inclusion programs at all sites and on all tracks and the need to have the previously agreed upon language in the contract.
Ø Psychologist Evaluation: A new form was presented by NTA regarding psychologists’ evaluations.
Ø Learning Center models: NTA proposed that each learning center be staffed by a min. of two FTE’s.
Ø Special Education class loads/caseloads to be lowered
Ø ILS classes will have a caseload of 10 students.
We wish you all an enjoyable and successful year.
NTA Bargaining Team
Cynthia Bluewater
Anthony Agrella
Susan Jellema
The NTA would like to welcome back our current bargaining members and offer a warm welcome to our new bargaining unit members.
The following is a reminder of items currently on the bargaining table. While the district is waiting for the state budget to be settled your NTA bargaining team is eager to get back to the table. It is hopeful that we will begin negotiations in September.
Contract Proposals:
The Natomas Teachers bear the responsibility of educating the students of the Natomas Unified School District. Teachers work diligently providing a quality education by delivering knowledge and instruction, planning lessons, providing assessments to cover the California State Standards, and other essential tasks related to the education of our students. It is recognized that teachers are the best resource the NUSD has to offer its’ students. In order to preserve this vital resource the NUSD must recruit, retain, and reward its teachers. Our proposals will recruit, retain, and reward highly qualified teachers, increase student achievement, and close the achievement gap by:
Article IV and Article VI Salaries & Benefits
v Increasing salaries including adult education wages
v Increasing district contributions to health benefits
v Reconfiguring longevity
v Increasing substitution pay for retirees and off-track teachers
v Increasing tutoring wages & stipends
v Providing retirement incentives
Currently on the table:
Ø NTA’s Compensation Proposal: All bargaining unit members will receive 100% of state funded COLA to be added to the salary schedule. In years of no COLA or deficit COLA, a 2% increase will be added to the salary schedule. Increase in adult education salaries.
Ø NTA’s Health Benefits Proposal: All bargaining unit members will receive 100% of the dollar amount of the median family medical plan. This would eliminate any mandatory out of pocket expenditures.
Article X Class size
Lowering class sizes in grades 4-12
Article V Hours of employment
· Adjusting the school calendar for paid collaboration time.
Increasing elementary preparation time
Decreasing time spent on duties outside the classroom
Article XIII Special Education and Special Subjects Specialists
Developing language for special educations programs.
Currently on the table:
Special Education Issues: NTA presented specific Special Education language that focused on caseloads and/or class size using a formula that assigns point values dependent upon the severity of the disability. This point value would be used throughout all special education programs.
Ø Full Inclusion Program: NTA presented language regarding full inclusion programs at all sites and on all tracks and the need to have the previously agreed upon language in the contract.
Ø Psychologist Evaluation: A new form was presented by NTA regarding psychologists’ evaluations.
Ø Learning Center models: NTA proposed that each learning center be staffed by a min. of two FTE’s.
Ø Special Education class loads/caseloads to be lowered
Ø ILS classes will have a caseload of 10 students.
We wish you all an enjoyable and successful year.
NTA Bargaining Team
Cynthia Bluewater
Anthony Agrella
Susan Jellema
Sunday, August 10, 2008
August 2008
Another school year begins and NTA welcomed in to the district over 50 new teachers to the Natomas Teachers' Association. The new teachers attended orientation this past week, and enrolled in NEA/CTA and NTA as well as disability and other helpful resources and services for teachers. The wonderful thing for these teachers are that they are part of a larger organization in CA that provides workshops and support for teachers in many, many ways - and we will be checking in with the new teachers to see what needs they have.
WELCOME TO NATOMAS and the teaching profession!
WELCOME TO NATOMAS and the teaching profession!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
