What OEA is doing for you: 2013-14 OEA Issues/Actions/Resolutions

2013-14 OEA ISSUES

ACTIONS / RESOLUTIONS

·    District needs to be transparent about issues that impact teaching and learning. ·    At one site, a student was sent back to class during a teacher’s prep time ·    At one site, an optional tech training was scheduled during teachers’ duty-free lunch ·    Principals need to support teachers during IEP meetings ·    Teachers need assurance from the District that their children will have enrollment priority ·    Need clarity regarding the collection of field trip money ·    Class placement of Special Ed students needs to be fair and equitable ·    Teacher transfer compensation for teaching a combo class needs to be consistently applied. ·    A few tenured teachers whose previous evaluation met or exceeded district criteria have felt pressured to take on a focus question that is not consistent with what they feel will help them grow professionally. ·    Teacher workload is at an all-time high. ·    Principals need to be reasonable with teachers and consistently treat them with respect

·    OEA now has a Blog to discuss issues that impact teaching and learning. ·    Site Rep met with Principal and this practice has not happened again. ·    Charles met with Principal & District Leadership and half-day release time is now being offered for these trainings. ·    Charles & Colleen met with District leadership to discuss this important issue and Brian Inglesby will continue to provide ongoing training opportunities. ·    OEA Leadership has been working with the District on this important issue and it will be discussed at the December Board of Trustees’ meeting. ·    OEA Leadership will discuss this with Superintendent. ·    Site Reps need to collect data regarding this issue so OEA Leadership can discusses it with the District. ·    In our contract it states, “A returning teacher who is voluntarily or involuntarily reassigned to a grade level or subject that the teacher has not taught for at least three (3) years is eligible for up to $400 for materials. ·    On page 34 of our OEA-OUSD Contract, it states, “A reflective evaluation provided upon agreement between the teacher and the administrator, to tenured teachers whose previous evaluation met or exceeded district criteria.” ·    OEA needs to organize and address this issue. ·    OEA Leadership needs to address this with Principals and the Superintendent.

Task Force Recommendations

From Sleepy Hollow Parents' Club News, November 8th:

Facilities Task Force Update

The Facilities Task force wrapped up its community and district meetings this past week and presented its recommendations to the OUSD Board of Trustees on Monday, Nov 4th.  After having community meetings at each school site and three additional task force meetings, the group recommended the following as priorities for the remaining $13.2 million dollar facilities improvement account left in the "Pulte" monies.

• Temperature/Climate control in classrooms throughout the district
• Bathroom upgrades throughout the district
• Establishment of a maintenance fund reserve
• $100K per elementary site and $200K to OIS as a discretionary facilities fund
• Solar project at OIS
• Shade/Rain cover at school sites on the yards/play areas
• Necessity of transparency /accounting on all expenditures
• The need to all address items on Appendix E of the district facilities needs plan in a systematic and intelligent way

The Board will vote on these priorities at the December 9^thOUSD Board of Trustee meeting.  Parents are encouraged to attend this important meeting to ask questions.  PC would like to thank Paul Dolan for representing Sleepy Hollow on the Facilities Task Force and for the many hours he put in helping frame these important recommendations.  If you would like learn more, click here: http://www.orindaschools.org/board/agendas

to listen to the audio of the OUSD trustee meeting. The Facilities Task force segment begins at minute 1:28.  The decision making has now shifted to the Board of Trustees.  Click here:

http://www.orindaschools.org/boardmembers

call or email the Trustees with your questions, comments and/or suggestions.

See blog page on this issue for more background. 

CTA'S State Council Votes to Seek Bill Making Kindergarten Mandatory

After decades and decades of California failing to make kindergarten mandatory, State Council voted unanimously to sponsor legislation to make it so. A legislator will now be sought to carry the bill.

As proposed by the Council's Early Childhood Education Committee, all students who turn 5 years old by Sept. 2, 2014, and every year after, would have to attend kindergarten. Currently, students "who do not attend kindergarten are at a distinct disadvantage when they come to first grade in terms of achievement levels, oral language development," and other areas, a report to Council stated. Also, many parents of kids in kindergarten now pull them out of class routinely because there are no truancy consequences.

Research shows Hispanic and African American children, English learners, and students from low-income families are hurt the most if they enter first grade without experiencing kindergarten. First-grade teacher Kimberly Chevlin told the Council State Legislation Committee about students struggling if they have not had any kindergarten learning. This puts these children "at a huge disadvantage with their peers" at Murrieta Valley Unified School District, Chevlin said.

Because attendance is not mandatory, kindergarten attendance rates are the lowest of all grades in the Oakland Unified School District, and this law would change that, said Kei Swensen, a kindergarten teacher there and a Council delegate. She fought for this bill as a member of the Early Childhood Education Committee. "It's exciting," she said after the Council's vote. "The problem is that academic standards include kindergarten and are not in alignment with California law because attendance is not mandatory."

Employee Children in Orinda's Schools?

Here's the e mail record of progress on this important issue to OEA members:

On Nov 4, 2013, at 8:14 PM, "Charles Shannon, OEA president <cshannon65@gmail.com<mailto:cshannon65@gmail.com>> wrote:

OEA Members,

One of our Board members spoke with Julie Rossiter on Friday regarding the District Policy on employee's children in district schools.  Since there are 2 Board Policy numbers (5111 and 5117), and AR's that apply to this, the two of them agreed to set up a meeting with Joe the week of Nov. 11th to discuss this issue further in hopes of putting it on the December Board Meeting Agenda.

Attached is the California School Board Association Sample Policy.

The most important issue is what does Ed Code say? See Ed Code 48204, which is referenced in CSBA Sample Policy for BP 5117

CSBA Sample Policy BP 5117 (from 4th attachment):

...."Note: In addition, Education Code 48204<http://gamutonline.net/displayPolicy/137760/5> authorizes a student in a participating district to be deemed a "resident" in order to attend a school in the district where his/her parent/guardian is employed (Allen bill transfer); see AR 5111.12<http://gamutonline.net/displayPolicy/259628/5> - Residency Based on Parent/Guardian Employment."

For Ed Code 48204, see paragraph pasted below from the link that follows:

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=4.&title=2.&part=27.&chapter=2.&article=1.

  48204.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil complies with the residency requirements for school attendance in a school district, if he or she is any of the following:


(b) A school district may deem a pupil to have complied with the residency requirements for school attendance in the district if at least one parent or the legal guardian of the pupil is physically employed within the boundaries of that district for a minimum of 10 hours during the school week.

Regards,

Charles


On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 6:54 PM, Charles Shannon <cshannon65@gmail.com<mailto:cshannon65@gmail.com>> wrote:
Dear OEA Members,

OEA Leadership has been working through this important issue with the District since the start of the school year.  We are gathering information, consulting with CTA Staff, reaching out to the OUSD Board of Trustees, and requesting legal opinions/information.  We will provide updates as information becomes available.

Thank you for your continued interest and thoughtful replies,

Charles


On Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 10:20 PM, Charles Shannon <cshannon65@gmail.com<mailto:cshannon65@gmail.com>> wrote:
Dear OEA Members,

At our last Board Meeting, Heather Raser stood before the OUSD Board to share her thoughts, feelings, and opinions about inter-district transfers (IDT) as it relates to employees children and her own personal experiences.  Please read her speech that follows.

Thank you,

Charles Shannon,
OEA President

Heather’s Message to the Board of Trustees

My name is Heather Raser and I am currently a school counselor for the Orinda Union School District.  I stand before you today to urge you to reconsider how the district handles inter-district transfers as it relates to your employees.

12 years ago, I was thrilled to take a job at OUSD; a top rated school district.  When the district hired me, I was led to believe that someday if I decided to have children, they would be able to attend OUSD because of my employment status through the Allen Bill.  I made the choice to live outside of Orinda in a more affordable area, while knowing someday my kids would be able to get an excellent education.  I became fully immersed in my job and as a member of this community.

In 2010, I experienced a considerable amount of stress around my son’s pending inter-district transfer for Kindergarten. I kept hearing the district was changing their policy on IDT’s and ultimately the message that I heard, it didn’t matter anymore if you were an employee - it was all about the numbers.  My son’s IDT was eventually approved the day before school started.  I was relieved. Sadly, a few years prior, it didn’t work out for several teachers’ families. They were told that there was not enough space for their Kindergartners to attend OUSD.  To my knowledge this was the first time historically that any employee was denied an IDT for their child.  It seemed so unfair and so many of us were disappointed in the district’s lack of support.

This school year, I applied for another IDT’s for my daughter to enroll in OUSD.  The district denied my request due to lack of space.  I was devastated.  I honestly thought the district would take my request seriously, especially considering that they had previously accepted my son.  In all my years working for OUSD, I have never felt more unappreciated and unaccepted, and after all is said and done, I felt like I was just a number.  No longer did I feel valued, no longer did I feel proud.  I actually felt embarrassed to work for OUSD.  As an educator and parent in this community, I have built a strong support network of people.   So perhaps you can imagine what it was like for me when people asked me about how my family was doing and more specifically, how my kids were enjoying school.  I was honest, I told people what was happening.  Every single staff member, community member, and friend that I talked to was appalled that the district was treating their employees this way.  As you all know, I appealed the districts decision, and eventually my daughter was enrolled. No other employee should ever have to experience what I have experienced.  There is no rational that you could possibly give me to make this policy acceptable.  This is clearly unsupportive of your employees and their families.

There is a lot of research out there that shows significant connections between happy employees and quality job performance.  More and more organizations are utilizing forward thinking strategies to attract new and maintain current employees.  For example, organizations are creating on-site childcare for their employees because it’s evident that employees are happier when their children are safe and close by, therefore allowing them to be more productive in their jobs.  As we all know, being an educator is a highly rewarding profession, however, it is also a very underpaid profession.  There are very few “perks” to working in education.  I see before us one very simple “perk” that our district can easily maintain.  That “perk” is to simply allow your employees children to attend OUSD schools.  This has been a common practice that has been widely used across the country for decades.  More specifically, the Acalanes Unified School District, our feeder high school district actively allows their employees children to attend AUSD.  I urge you, please re-look at your policy.  We work hard and our children should be allowed to benefit from our hard work.  Please value us as employees and do right by us.  Don’t our own children deserve the best too?

In closing, as a school counselor and a member of this community, I see it as my responsibility to guide, educate, and support everyone in my life.  Our own OUSD mission specifically uses words such as community, support, develop, and character.  We know that we have built a strong academic experience here at OUSD, but we also have a responsibility to build and model appropriate behavior.  Your staff members deserve a clear policy that supports our children.

Thank you for listening and thank you for your time.

Heather Raser

OUSD Board Meeting Highlights from OEA

11/4/13 OUSD Trustees Meeting Highlights from OEA

Video of the meeting

Adriana Ayala and Angie Edwards recognized as teacher and classified employees of the month.

Item K. Monthly Budget and Enrollment Updates

Lottery funds to district was $27.000.00 and now decreased to $8,000.00. Also no longer have categorical funds. That money is now in the revenue limit line. $28 million has increased to $30 million under the funding formula.

Item K passed 5-0

Energy Audit: identify a series of energy efficiency projects; light controls

Looked at solar. Is recommending energy efficiency prior to a solar program. Prop 39 permits planning funding; Nov and Jan deadline. Orinda allocation = $500,000.

CA has a lot of ”classic” schools, meaning old. Calculated a savings to investment ratio.” Prop 39 will pay for some or all.” Trustee Butler asked if Prop 39 might address energy efficiency and solar. “Should be able to combine some of both.”

Trustee Butler asked about wall/roof insulation. One elem. in particular has higher energy utilization. Also asked about inoperable gym windows located near ceiling line. Has to do with air flow/circulation. Trustee Krumholz asked additional questions about gyms. Trustee Severson asked about lighting quality and about lighting cost contract shared between city and OUSD at WR .

Trustee Butler mentioned AC. The report indicates that adding air conditioning will markedly increase electricity costs, yet can be better integrated under solar. Trustee Butler returned to solar. Advantage to do school by school or all at once. Auditor recommended all at once due to bidding process. Also recommended best value vs lowest bid. There are some roof ballast systems and 80-90% of schools use shade structures in parking lots. Also asked questions about finance options.

A lengthy discussion among Trustees followed the report.

Adam Miller mentioned that solar opens positive options for AC. Under the A-10 tariff AC may have a disproportionate impact on electricity bills. Under A-6 tariff , solar reduces that demand. May be more cost effective to increase solar than replace windows/insulate. Without solar the cost of AC will be magnified. It is possible with a pre-paid PPA, a competitive price and well-designed systems, the IRR for solar is over 10% and payback is 9-10 years.

Steve Eydam pointed out that DR has different type of school furnaces that are inefficient. Steve wanted to affirm that teachers are not misusing energy. The school also has louvered windows that add to heat loss.

Facilities Task Report by Trustee Krumholz

Recommendations:

Temperature and indoor climate controls for classrooms, libraries, MPR, refurbish restrooms as needed, allocate a portion of the dollars to each school site for discretionary use ($00,000. per elementary, $200,000. to OIS, Wagner Ranch Nature Area will receive 1/3 of the elementary amount).

Transparency to public about how the funds are spent/appropriated,

Further investigation into funding solar at OIS,

Improve grounds to facillitate comfortable student environments (shade, rain cover, playground, lunch areas),

Address facilities projects in Appendix E of the Master Facilities Plan, June 2013

A lengthy discussion among Trustees followed the recommendations.

Trustee Severson attended a bus meeting and reported that bus ridership is up.

Trustee Krumholz attended the Diverse Abilities Open House and the Andy Schipper Parents’ Presentation.

Trustee Butler is part of the committee for the Advocacy Day in Feb.

Respectfully submitted by,

Colleen Sullivan

OEA VP