State deficit puts schools in 'precarious' position(San Francisco Chronicle © 02/04/2009)
(02-03) 20:15 PST -- In his grimmest State of Education address yet, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell pointed to a "precarious" school system all but collapsing under the weight of California's fiscal crisis. Schools expect to lose $10 billion this year alone, resulting in teacher layoffs, soaring class sizes and fewer librarians and nurses, O'Connell said in his sixt...
Hayward parents outraged by education cuts(KTVU-TV (Fox) Oakland © 02/04/2009)
Hayward Education Association President Kathleen Crummey, along with Hayward Unified parents and teachers, express outrage over state education cuts and plans by Hayward Unified to eliminate K-3 smaller class sizes....
Teachers protest education cuts(KGO-TV San Francisco © 02/04/2009)
By Lyanne Melendez SAN FRANCISCO (KGO-TV) -- The proposed cuts to education compelled teachers and parents in San Francisco to take to the streets. A major rally was underway around 5 p.m. Tuesday evening at San Francisco's City Hall. The state superintendent of schools says it's a precarious time for education. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said if these cuts go...
California's low credit rating: Investors win, taxpayers lose(Los Angeles Times © 02/04/2009)
When the state of Georgia sold 10-year bonds on Monday, it paid an annualized tax-free interest yield of 2.99% to the investors who bought the IOUs. If California tried to sell 10-year bonds now, it probably would have to pay about 4%. That shows the hard-money penalty that taxpayers of the Golden State incur for its low credit rating, which sank even further on Tuesday: Standard & Poor’s do...
O'Connell urges education improvements despite likely funding cuts(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin © 02/04/2009)
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell urged educators and policymakers to continue closing the achievement gap even as their schools prepare for staggering cuts in funding. "These times are turbulent with no clear skies ahead," O'Connell said in his state of education address. "The national economic downturn and the budget shortfall facing our state are creating...
Possible budget cuts draw parents concerns(Riverside Press Enterprise © 02/04/2009)
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 By ERIN WALDNER The Press-Enterprise BEAUMONT - Dozens of parents voiced concerns and asked questions about possible budget cuts at the Beaumont Unified School District during a public forum Tuesday night. The district is facing a $7 million shortfall for the 2009-10 school year. As a result, a budget review committee has proposed the district elimina...
Salinas Union High School District plans no layoffs this year, but still needs to cut its budget(Californian © 02/04/2009)
Salinas Union High School District leaders on the one hand are vowing no layoffs this year but on the other are drawing up an employee seniority list - just in case. The board of trustees met Tuesday night in a special session focused solely on discussing the district's budget for the remainder of this year and the next two years. But with no one knowing what cuts the deficit-ridden state may...
LIVERMORE: OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS STATE BUDGET'S IMPACT ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES(KPIX CBS Channel 5 © 02/04/2009)
* Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:55E-mail PrintLIVERMORE: OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS STATE BUDGET'S IMPACT ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES LIVERMORE (BCN) Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi and state Chancellor of California Community Colleges Jack Scott will hold a briefing today at Las Positas College in Livermore to discuss the impact of the state budget on community colleges, workforce development in the green tech indu...
Tulare, Tipton school districts brace for more cuts(Visalia Times-Delta © 02/04/2009)
BY VICTOR GARCIA vdgarcia@visalia.gannett.com Tulare-area school districts are preparing for midyear budget reductions by making spending cuts outside the classroom. The Tulare City School District is expecting as much as $3 million in midyear cuts. It plans on cutting summer school altogether this year and curtailing its energy usage. The district has also implemented a hiring freeze, a confe...
Fears of fiscal solvency arise as area school districts work toward positive certifications(Santa Maria Times © 02/04/2009)
Several Central Coast school districts say they might not be able to meet their financial obligations through 2011 if the state Legislature passes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget. State law requires districts to file budgets with their respective county Office of Education that certify they will remain fiscally solvent for at least three years. By filing a “positive cert...
Novato schools plan would cut 60 teachers and all sports(Marin Independent-Journal © 02/04/2009)
The wide-ranging cuts, which the district board will consider at a Feb. 10 meeting, are based on the assumption that the state will eliminate the funding the Novato district receives to reduce the number of students in a classroom. Officials will not know the actual cost of the state's cuts until the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can agree on a solution to California's $42 million bud...
Controller, unions keep California furlough fight alive in 2 courts(Sacramento Bee © 02/04/2009)
With thousands of state workers facing their first unpaid day off on Friday, the fight over whether Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can legally cut employee hours and pay split into two courts on Tuesday. State Controller John Chiang asked a Sacramento Superior Court judge to clarify an earlier ruling that Schwarzenegger interprets as license to furlough 15,600 employees previously thought outside of ...
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
NTA SOCIAL - FEBRUARY 20th
NTA Teachers are invited
to an
NTA Social
WHEN: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20TH
WHERE: MALABAR RESTAURANT
TIME: 2:30PM-6:30PM
Come relax, and enjoy the company of your fellow colleagues
Hors D’oeuvres provided by NTA - drinks on your own
Raffles will be held throughout the evening
(must be present to win)
Monday, January 19, 2009
CA Initiative to Focus on Classrooms Only
Below is an article from the Sacramento Bee on the CTA Initiative designed to take education out of the political football game of the State each year. Because it looks as though education will be taking the largest hit in this current budget, classrooms somehow need a way to be funded directly and not keep allowing the money to be funneled through the administrative offices at each district that fail to ensure that resources reach the classrooms. After reading many of the comments from readers this article generated, it appears that voters are angry about the state of education, and in not appearing to get a noticable return for the investment education seems to be receiving. In reality, not much of the money coming in really reaches the classroom and students in the way site budgets keep shrinking and schools are understaffed - both classified and certificated. Nevertheless, from our perspective, this step is an attempt to correct this perpetual and unfortunate educational bureaucracy.
California teachers prepare a tax-hike initiative
By Steve Wiegand swiegand@sacbee.com q{
Published: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 Page 3A
The California Teachers Association has put together an initiative that would raise the state sales tax by a penny and dedicate all of the resulting revenue to education.
But whether the group pulls the trigger on gathering signatures to qualify the measure for a special election ballot later this year will depend on what happens in the next few weeks in budget negotiations between legislators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"Our State Council of Education (CTA's top governing body) meets late this month and will make the final decision on how we move forward," CTA spokeswoman Sandra Jackson said, "after doing some internal research and looking at what the possibilities are with the governor's proposal."
Schwarzenegger has proposed a 1.5-cent hike in the sales tax for three years, as part of an effort to close the state's gaping $40 billion budget deficit.
The governor's 2-month-old plan has gone nowhere, mainly because tax increases require two-thirds approval of the Legislature, and Republican lawmakers have vowed to fall on their swords before voting for any tax increase.
Another part of Schwarzenegger's proposal would slice $5.2 billion from elementary and high schools and community colleges through the rest of this fiscal year and in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
The CTA initiative would generate an estimated $5 billion to $6 billion a year. Of that, 89 percent would go to K-12 schools, and the rest to community colleges.
The measure would restrict use of the revenue to specific purposes that include class size reduction, funding art, music and vocation education courses, and salaries for teachers and other school employees.
The money couldn't be used for administrative costs, and legislators and the governor couldn't touch the revenue. The money would be allocated to school districts based on their average daily student attendance.
There is little question the 340,000-member group, which is one of the most powerful interests in the state, could muster the money and troops to gather the 433,971 signatures of registered voters to qualify the initiative, and to run a politically credible campaign.
But the budget situation is so murky, it's difficult to handicap its chances with voters, who polls have shown love schools and hate taxes in about equal measures.
"Initiatives generally occur when the Legislature fails to solve the problem," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento.
"In virtually every revenue proposal (being discussed in negotiations), the sales tax is included. So if we solve the problem, then in all practicality it would be difficult to go to the voters to raise the state sales taxes for education."
Steinberg also said, however, that if no deal is reached and the initiative appears on the ballot, he would "most probably" support it.
Call Steve Wiegand, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 321-1076.
California teachers prepare a tax-hike initiative
By Steve Wiegand swiegand@sacbee.com q{
Published: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 Page 3A
The California Teachers Association has put together an initiative that would raise the state sales tax by a penny and dedicate all of the resulting revenue to education.
But whether the group pulls the trigger on gathering signatures to qualify the measure for a special election ballot later this year will depend on what happens in the next few weeks in budget negotiations between legislators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"Our State Council of Education (CTA's top governing body) meets late this month and will make the final decision on how we move forward," CTA spokeswoman Sandra Jackson said, "after doing some internal research and looking at what the possibilities are with the governor's proposal."
Schwarzenegger has proposed a 1.5-cent hike in the sales tax for three years, as part of an effort to close the state's gaping $40 billion budget deficit.
The governor's 2-month-old plan has gone nowhere, mainly because tax increases require two-thirds approval of the Legislature, and Republican lawmakers have vowed to fall on their swords before voting for any tax increase.
Another part of Schwarzenegger's proposal would slice $5.2 billion from elementary and high schools and community colleges through the rest of this fiscal year and in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
The CTA initiative would generate an estimated $5 billion to $6 billion a year. Of that, 89 percent would go to K-12 schools, and the rest to community colleges.
The measure would restrict use of the revenue to specific purposes that include class size reduction, funding art, music and vocation education courses, and salaries for teachers and other school employees.
The money couldn't be used for administrative costs, and legislators and the governor couldn't touch the revenue. The money would be allocated to school districts based on their average daily student attendance.
There is little question the 340,000-member group, which is one of the most powerful interests in the state, could muster the money and troops to gather the 433,971 signatures of registered voters to qualify the initiative, and to run a politically credible campaign.
But the budget situation is so murky, it's difficult to handicap its chances with voters, who polls have shown love schools and hate taxes in about equal measures.
"Initiatives generally occur when the Legislature fails to solve the problem," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento.
"In virtually every revenue proposal (being discussed in negotiations), the sales tax is included. So if we solve the problem, then in all practicality it would be difficult to go to the voters to raise the state sales taxes for education."
Steinberg also said, however, that if no deal is reached and the initiative appears on the ballot, he would "most probably" support it.
Call Steve Wiegand, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 321-1076.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Natomas Teachers’ Association Newsletter, Jan. 2009
Natomas Teachers’ Association Newsletter
January 2009
Happy New Year!
Calendar of Events:
§ Rep Council Meeting – Thurs, Jan. 15th 4:00 pm, LFG, Room 406
§ School Board Mtg. – Wed, Jan. 14th, D.O. 6:00 pm
§ Sacramento Educ. Coalition, Tues. Jan. 13th, 6:00 pm at CTA on Truxel.
Board Member Meetings:
§ Lisa Kaplan and Teri Burns- Monday, Jan. 12th, 4:30
§ Jules Tran- Monday, Jan. 12th, 6:00 pm
§ Bruce Roberts and Sue Heredia- Tues., Jan. 13th, 4:00
Board member meetings will all be held at Giovanni’s Pizzeria (2701 Del Paso Rd) and are generally the Monday and Tuesday before board meetings each month.
Don’t forget to check out the NTA blog:
http://natomasteachers.blogspot.com
Budget Watch
District: The district office has released a proposal of budget cuts for the next 3 years. Site reps receive copies of the budget as it is updated. Please be sure to look over the proposal and provide any input that you have to your site rep.
State: CTA has been monitoring the latest budget activities from the legislature and governor and provides us with details and what it means for teachers. Our latest update was provided on Wed. Jan 7th and will be given to site reps at our monthly meeting. Please check out the CTA website for things that you can do.
Also, CTA is hosting the Sacramento Education Coalition, which will be meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13th at CTA on Truxel, 6:00 pm. The Ed. Coalition includes CSEA, PTA, superintendents, board members… etc. Last year we also worked with state workers, daycare and elder care agency workers, and even firefighters on activities to help get the budget passed (break the stalemate.)
If you are interested in activities related to the budget, feel free to attend with Brenda (she will be there). We are encouraging our board members, superintendent and other Natomas leaders to attend the Coalition and participate. Participation could include planning and executing letter writing and office visits to legislators to encourage an education-friendly budget.
CTA recommends that we notify our teachers as to how serious the CA budget crisis currently is, and for members to expect RIF notices in March if movement has not been made to settle the budget. The difference this time, evidently, is the state of the state economy.
Negotiations Update
Nothing new to report as everyone seems to be waiting for the budget negotiations at the state level to settle.
If you have any association questions or issues please contact your site rep(s):
· American Lakes: Naomi Nakahara
· Bannon Creek: Linda Wells
· Discovery HS: Therese Collentine
· H. Allen Hight: Allyson Kirby
· Heron: Kou Moua, Peter Talbot, Cara Kruse
· Inderkum HS: Patricia Hite-Leach, Ken MacPherson, Scott MacMillan
· Jefferson: Maureen Ramos
· Leroy Green MS: Kristen Rocha, Justin Vorhauer
· Natomas HS: Joel Schweiger, Ruth Ward Ben Layne
· Natomas MS: Emilio Moran, Anthony Katsaris
· Natomas Park: Lauren Frazer
· Two Rivers: Phil Cox, Jerry Lovejoy
· Witter Ranch: Tanya Praest, Jim Clarke, Kim Chambers
CTA will participate in the Martin Luther King Day march in Sacramento on January 19th, at the Convention Center. If you are interested in participating, please contact CTA for more information.
If you are interested in getting involved, CTA is offering the following academy for future PAC activities:
Region 2 Political Academy
Feb. 6-8 at Jackson Rancheria – Sierra Foothills
Please notify a member of the exec. board if you are interested in attending.
Here are the school board members home
e-mails. Feel free to contact them:
Bruce Roberts bruceroberts4natomas@yahoo.com
Jules Tran jules.tran@sbcglobal.net
Sue Heredia heredias@csus.edu
Teri Burns terib@sia-us.com
Lisa Kaplan kaplan4kids@yahoo.com
Brenda’s School Visitation Schedule
Wed. Jan 14th – Two Rivers Elem. (might be rescheduled)
Tues. Jan. 20th – Witter Ranch
Tues. Jan. 27th – Leroy Greene MSThurs. Jan. 29th – Natomas Park Elem
Friday, Jan. 30th – Hight Elem.
Wed. Feb. 4th – Inderkum HS
Wed. Feb. 11th – Natomas HS, Dicovery HS
Wed. Feb. 18th – Natomas Middle
Wed. Feb. 25th – Bannon Creek Elem.
Thurs. Feb. 26th – Jefferson Elem.
Fri. March 6th – American Lakes
Wed. March 11th – Heron K-8
Future Events of interest:
NTA Social – February TBA
Transfer and Reassignment paperwork and process - March
Day of the Teacher – May TBA
Election of NTA Officers – May
January 2009
Happy New Year!
Calendar of Events:
§ Rep Council Meeting – Thurs, Jan. 15th 4:00 pm, LFG, Room 406
§ School Board Mtg. – Wed, Jan. 14th, D.O. 6:00 pm
§ Sacramento Educ. Coalition, Tues. Jan. 13th, 6:00 pm at CTA on Truxel.
Board Member Meetings:
§ Lisa Kaplan and Teri Burns- Monday, Jan. 12th, 4:30
§ Jules Tran- Monday, Jan. 12th, 6:00 pm
§ Bruce Roberts and Sue Heredia- Tues., Jan. 13th, 4:00
Board member meetings will all be held at Giovanni’s Pizzeria (2701 Del Paso Rd) and are generally the Monday and Tuesday before board meetings each month.
Don’t forget to check out the NTA blog:
http://natomasteachers.blogspot.com
Budget Watch
District: The district office has released a proposal of budget cuts for the next 3 years. Site reps receive copies of the budget as it is updated. Please be sure to look over the proposal and provide any input that you have to your site rep.
State: CTA has been monitoring the latest budget activities from the legislature and governor and provides us with details and what it means for teachers. Our latest update was provided on Wed. Jan 7th and will be given to site reps at our monthly meeting. Please check out the CTA website for things that you can do.
Also, CTA is hosting the Sacramento Education Coalition, which will be meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13th at CTA on Truxel, 6:00 pm. The Ed. Coalition includes CSEA, PTA, superintendents, board members… etc. Last year we also worked with state workers, daycare and elder care agency workers, and even firefighters on activities to help get the budget passed (break the stalemate.)
If you are interested in activities related to the budget, feel free to attend with Brenda (she will be there). We are encouraging our board members, superintendent and other Natomas leaders to attend the Coalition and participate. Participation could include planning and executing letter writing and office visits to legislators to encourage an education-friendly budget.
CTA recommends that we notify our teachers as to how serious the CA budget crisis currently is, and for members to expect RIF notices in March if movement has not been made to settle the budget. The difference this time, evidently, is the state of the state economy.
Negotiations Update
Nothing new to report as everyone seems to be waiting for the budget negotiations at the state level to settle.
If you have any association questions or issues please contact your site rep(s):
· American Lakes: Naomi Nakahara
· Bannon Creek: Linda Wells
· Discovery HS: Therese Collentine
· H. Allen Hight: Allyson Kirby
· Heron: Kou Moua, Peter Talbot, Cara Kruse
· Inderkum HS: Patricia Hite-Leach, Ken MacPherson, Scott MacMillan
· Jefferson: Maureen Ramos
· Leroy Green MS: Kristen Rocha, Justin Vorhauer
· Natomas HS: Joel Schweiger, Ruth Ward Ben Layne
· Natomas MS: Emilio Moran, Anthony Katsaris
· Natomas Park: Lauren Frazer
· Two Rivers: Phil Cox, Jerry Lovejoy
· Witter Ranch: Tanya Praest, Jim Clarke, Kim Chambers
CTA will participate in the Martin Luther King Day march in Sacramento on January 19th, at the Convention Center. If you are interested in participating, please contact CTA for more information.
If you are interested in getting involved, CTA is offering the following academy for future PAC activities:
Region 2 Political Academy
Feb. 6-8 at Jackson Rancheria – Sierra Foothills
Please notify a member of the exec. board if you are interested in attending.
Here are the school board members home
e-mails. Feel free to contact them:
Bruce Roberts bruceroberts4natomas@yahoo.com
Jules Tran jules.tran@sbcglobal.net
Sue Heredia heredias@csus.edu
Teri Burns terib@sia-us.com
Lisa Kaplan kaplan4kids@yahoo.com
Brenda’s School Visitation Schedule
Wed. Jan 14th – Two Rivers Elem. (might be rescheduled)
Tues. Jan. 20th – Witter Ranch
Tues. Jan. 27th – Leroy Greene MSThurs. Jan. 29th – Natomas Park Elem
Friday, Jan. 30th – Hight Elem.
Wed. Feb. 4th – Inderkum HS
Wed. Feb. 11th – Natomas HS, Dicovery HS
Wed. Feb. 18th – Natomas Middle
Wed. Feb. 25th – Bannon Creek Elem.
Thurs. Feb. 26th – Jefferson Elem.
Fri. March 6th – American Lakes
Wed. March 11th – Heron K-8
Future Events of interest:
NTA Social – February TBA
Transfer and Reassignment paperwork and process - March
Day of the Teacher – May TBA
Election of NTA Officers – May
Thursday, December 11, 2008
LFGMS SafetyTask Force to be created
A Notice from Dr. Hanson, Associate Superintendent:
A Task Force with the new secondary director and new assistant principal will be created to review, revise, implement the LFG school safety plan and all student discipline policies, practices and procedures. The first meeting will be held in January, and the membership will reflect a cross section of staff members who are committed to working through some tough discussions and willing to create, examine and support viable solutions during these tough budgetary times.
Any LFG teacher interested in serving on this Task Force should contact Dr. Hanson either by email or phone. The LFG Leadership Team, NTA site reps & principal will be apprised once the task force has been formed. After school meetings will be compensated, and Heyman Matlock, Coordinator of Student Services, Mr. Evans, & Dr. Hanson will serve as ad-hoc members and provide any support that may be requested.
Dr. Hanson and Mr, Kenley, Secondary Director, will attend the next regularly scheduled LFG staff meeting on December 17th and will be available to answer any questions that teachers may have about the work of this Task Force.
She also concluded:
We must continue to work together and continue our commitment to doing all that we can to ensure the academic success of the students @ LFGMS.
A Task Force with the new secondary director and new assistant principal will be created to review, revise, implement the LFG school safety plan and all student discipline policies, practices and procedures. The first meeting will be held in January, and the membership will reflect a cross section of staff members who are committed to working through some tough discussions and willing to create, examine and support viable solutions during these tough budgetary times.
Any LFG teacher interested in serving on this Task Force should contact Dr. Hanson either by email or phone. The LFG Leadership Team, NTA site reps & principal will be apprised once the task force has been formed. After school meetings will be compensated, and Heyman Matlock, Coordinator of Student Services, Mr. Evans, & Dr. Hanson will serve as ad-hoc members and provide any support that may be requested.
Dr. Hanson and Mr, Kenley, Secondary Director, will attend the next regularly scheduled LFG staff meeting on December 17th and will be available to answer any questions that teachers may have about the work of this Task Force.
She also concluded:
We must continue to work together and continue our commitment to doing all that we can to ensure the academic success of the students @ LFGMS.
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