Everyday across the San Jacinto Valley, thousands of teachers, support staff and administrators are ensuring that our students receive a world class education.  We owe it to all San Jacinto Students to give them the access to an education that will best prepare them for today’s global environment. 

But bigger classes, less time for student-teacher interaction, mandated paperwork, inadequate resources, staff cuts and fewer choices will have a lasting negative impact on our students.

We can stop this from happening be making our schools a priority!

We need to make sure that our students receive a well rounded education.
We need to make sure that we keep our veteran teachers.
We need to make sure that our students receive the individualized attention they deserve.
We need to ensure that our classrooms are not over-crowded and that the class size amendment is implemented.
We need to give our teachers the time to teach and our students the time to learn.

Now is the time for us to get involved.  We cannot afford to wait for a “fix” from our elected officials.  Talk to your school board member, your state representative and our state senator and ask them to make our schools a priority.

The following are questions which De Anza has asked regarding the budget short fall and its impact.  Here are the answers to the best of my ability.

1. How does the union prioritize the issue of taking a rate reduction or temporary salary freeze in relationship to class size reduction?  Class size reduction will mean more RIFs, a salary rollback or freeze is not guaranteed to save jobs as the district is loosing students and is overstaffed.  Salary is also a negotiation item and whatever may be agreed on at the table would have to be voted on by the entire SJTA membership.

2. Does the union have a list of how many teachers there are in the district that are not NCLB or CLAD certified?  If not, why?  No, Alicia Peel and the Personnel Office have this information.  NCLB and CLAD are tie breakers.  RIF is based on the 1^st day a teacher worked, seniority, then credentials, certifications, Master’s degrees, etc. are used as tie breakers.

3. Is it the position of the union to fight for highly qualified teachers and the release of teachers meeting a lesser standard?  As teachers it is not our position to evaluate teacher qualifications.

4. Is it correct that the union chooses to not be involved in the tie breaker criteria?  If so, why?  Yes, CTA has advised all unions to steer clear of the tie breaker criteria as it may put us in a libel position.  The District is the organization which hires and fires.

5. When will the union provide those concerned with the preliminary lay off list that you will be provided with next week?  We are waiting on the District to give us their list, which will determine when it can be passed on.

6. Are budget reports available upon request?  Yes, some have received them if they have attended one of Jayne Christakos budget presentations.

7. It will be impossible for anyone concerned to be assured fair and equal treatment during the lay-off process without all the facts.  Will the union take the position to ensure that all those concerned receive complete ranking lists?  Last year during the process a lawyer came to represent unit members (if you are a fee-payer CTA does not represent you) during the process.  SJTA’s Executive Board is not versed in all the ins and outs of Ed. Code.  We depend on CTA to help in those areas.  After the list is put together the lawyer looks at it, but can only go by the information the Personnel Office gives him/her.

8. How are the positions of the union being steered by all of its members?   Each site has a minimum of 2 site representatives who attend monthly meetings, and who should in return be passing on information to the unit members at regular site meetings.  Site Representatives are also encouraged to bring site concerns to the monthly meetings.  The Executive Council takes those concerns to a monthly meeting with Dr. Fox and the DO Cabinet.  Any unit member is also welcome to attend the site rep meetings.  Members are also encouraged to attend School Board meetings