Work Together, We Need You: Nominations for OEA Now Open

Hello Colleagues,

 

It’s time to elect representatives and leadership for our association for next year. Be part of our vital team, be there for your colleagues and speak up for what is right for teachers and our students. Help strengthen our contract as you develop your own leadership skills and enjoy the ability to have real influence over the direction of our district.

 

We need members from different sites to actively participate in leadership and/or representation of the teachers in Orinda. Please consider stepping forward to serve on behalf of all of us during your tenure in OUSD. The positions of Recording secretary and Membership Secretary are good entry positions on the Executive Board.

 

         Attached you will find a timeline, nomination form and jobdescriptions. Please feel free to self nominate. You may decline before the ballot is published, but it would be good for us to know of anyone who is considering the possibility.

 

If you wish to nominate someone else, please talk with them to determine their willingness to serve. Charles Shannon will contact all those nominated before placing their name on a ballot. This year we will be asking candidates to write a 30-word declaration of their candidacy.

 

Who at your site would represent your interests, communicate regularly with you, and be an advocate for you as needed if issues arise at your site? Yourself? An esteemed colleague who would at the least, be tickled to be asked? Nominate for OEA to keep us vital and effective.

 

Thank you,

 

Charles Shannon,

OEA President

A new era of local control at state level - read more about it:

PROVIDING A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION AND ALLOWING LOCAL SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SCHOOL FUNDING DECISIONS ARE CRITICAL TO IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING

Call Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson at916.319.0800, and tell him to keep fighting for local control of school funding decisions and a well-rounded education for all our kids.

A new era of local control is helping teachers, parents and community supporters design the best educational experience to meet the needs of all students in local districts. Grounded in the Local Control Funding Formula approved by the legislature, the California Department of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction are responsible for implementing and protecting the new law. In addition to parents and teachers working together to make all our schools stronger, a well-rounded education that includes career and technical education is equally important for California’s students. Learn more about these issues below and join CTA in asking Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson to keep fighting for local control and to help ensure our local schools prepare all students for the jobs of tomorrow.

• Local Control Funding Formula: The largest shift in funding for California schools is designed to make sure districts serving students with the greatest needs – low-income students, English learners and foster youth – get additional resources to achieve the state’s academic standards. It’s important that the Superintendent of Public Instruction protects the intent of this law to ensure spending decisions are made by parents, teachers, principals and the local school community.
  
  
• Career Technical Education:Not all students choose to attend college after high-school graduation. That’s why a well-rounded education that focuses on science, math, and career training for students who don’t choose college is so important. Read more about the Superintendent’s Career Readiness Campaign and encourage him to keep fighting for the technical training our students need.
  
  
• Improving Lower-Performing Schools: CTA has been leading the charge to help schools serving our most at-risk students. TheQuality Education Investment Act is providing additional resources and bringing proven education reforms to nearly 500 of California’s lowest performing schools. It’s important that these reform ideas become part of the funding decisions by local school districts as these changes have increased student learning across the state. To learn more about how the lessons from QEIA can help other schools, read two recent reports, “Cultivating Change in Schools” and “Pathways to Change.”
  
  
• Learning over Testing: In addition to implementing a new school funding plan, California schools are also implementing the Common Core State Standards to move beyond the No Child Left Behind Act, which created a system of winners and losers based on test scores. CTA supported Assembly Bill 484 to ensure that California students didn’t take outdated state tests this year and to help set up a common sense implementation of the new standards before moving to high-stakes assessements.     

Call Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson at916.319.0800, and tell him to keep fighting for local control of school funding decisions and a well-rounded education for all our kids.

Orinda school board refuses to hear complaint against principal

By Jennifer Modenessi Contra Costa Times

POSTED:   04/21/2014 09:43:42 AM PDT         see comments at bottom of post

Link to original article

ORINDA -- Three years after hearing complaints from parents about what they claim is strict and overly harsh punishment of students by an elementary school principal, a majority of Orinda School District trustees have voted down an appeal to hear a new complaint filed by a teacher against the administrator.

Board President Chris Severson, Vice President Matt Moran and board member Julie Rossiter voted April 21 not to hear a teacher's complaint against Wagner Ranch Elementary School Principal Janis Arnerich. That followed an earlier dismissal of the complaint by Superintendent Joe Jaconette. Trustees Sarah Butler and Tyson Krumholz voted in favor of hearing the grievance.

Butler said later that she voted to hear the complaint because she believes the board serves as an appeals body, and is tasked with ensuring accountability. Krumholz wrote in an e-mail that he looks to the superintendent to "engage and improve" any school site situations and would continue to press the board to prioritize individual site visits.

The teacher later asked not to be named for fear of retribution.

Because the decision was made during closed session, board members did not discuss the matter publicly or give details of the complaint. Severson issued a statement that the board could not discuss personnel information but takes all complaints "seriously and investigates them."

"The district has investigated all complaints in accordance with district policy and procedures," Severson said.

Jaconette did not comment.

The vote came despite pleas from current and former Wagner Ranch parents to consider hearing the teacher's concerns. Three years ago, Arnerich's critics decried the school's high suspension rate and disciplinary tactics they said humiliated students. Parents also criticized the handling of suspensions and other punishments they say were meted out hastily and without full investigations. They also expressed concerns about videotaped interviews of students without parental knowledge, and about possible discrimination.

Supporters have argued in the past that Arnerich, principal of Wagner Ranch since 2004, is the target of an "orchestrated" attack.

According to data from the Department of Education, 13 suspensions were reported at Wagner during the 2009-10 school year, compared with four total recorded at the district's three other elementary schools.

Some parents are still critical of what they say is a lack of due process. And on April 14, residents again rallied and asked the school board to hear the complaint dismissed by Jaconette.

"My request is based on the fact that it is one more in a growing list of complaints against Principal Arnerich's abusive and unprofessional behavior, which has been ignored by (Superintendent) Jaconette," said former Wagner parent Neil Gilbert. "Jaconette has ignored Arnerich's pattern of disrespect toward parents and insensitivity toward students and bullying of teachers that continues to this day."

Commenting on a closed session performance evaluation of the superintendent, scheduled immediately following the board's consideration of the grievance, parent Lisa Copass told the board that based on years of complaints by parents, teachers and children, trustees should consider whether Jaconette is the "right person" for the job.

"Let me remind the board that the superintendent reports to you all and you all were elected to work for the Orinda people," Copass said.

The board did not comment publicly on the superintendent's evaluation, which must be completed each year by June 30th.

OUSD Board Highlights

Underlined items are of special concern to teachers and parents. Please comment/check the comments for opinions.

Summary:
1. Complaint filed by a district employee will not be heard by the board.
2. Resignation speech by Kristen Nielsen, Core teacher at OIS
3. Bylaw to elect Board president by vote instead of rotating trustees through the post.

Public Comment for Closed Session video (attended by about 30 people for standing-room only)

Dr. Neil Gilbert PhD. UC Berkeley, spoke against the unprofessional behavior of Mrs. Janis Arnerich as principal at Wagner Ranch School and the perceived pattern of ignoring said behavior by Dr. Jaconette, her supervisor.

A parent also spoke in support of a teacher who has filed a complaint at WR and included the parent’s negative opinion of Mrs. Arnerich as a school leader.

Charles Shannon, OEA President encouraged the board to carefully review the above-mentioned complaint filed by the WR teacher.

Former WR parent who left WR 3 years ago and moved/transferred to another OUSD school. The parent objected to the unprofessional leadership of Mrs. Janis Arenrich and the parent’s appreciation for her new experience at Sleepy Hollow.

An additional WR parent requested the board to hear/read the above-mentioned complaint by the WR teacher. The parent noted that many parents have requested district office support via letters, phone calls and discussions and that those requests for help have been ignored.

Mrs. Cimon Starr encouraged the board to connect the Supt.’s evaluation to the leadership concerns at WR including the parents’ perceived protection of that principal by the Supt.

A student spoke to her negative experience with the principal at WR and that she had “hated” school because of the principal. The student transferred to another school where she has been happy. The student talked about how badly she feels for students who have to attend school under Mrs. Arnerich’s leadership. The student began to cry.

Closed session: Vote on whether to hear the staff member complaint and the superintendent's evaluation. 

Severson, Rossiter and Moran voted to uphold the Superintendent's findings against the WR teacher who filed a complaint. The complaint was not heard by the Superintendent and will not be heard by the board either.

Public Comment: Video of rest of the evenings' board meeting

Kristen Nielson's resignation speech: 15 year OIS Core teacher; organized and implemented the OIS award winning Green Team. Reason for leaving exhaustion: superintendent who does not put teachers 1^st, an unmanageable work load, administrators who do not seek input from teachers before making decisions. Teachers have to fight for over-assessed students and the right to have our children attend the OUSD schools. Ms Nielsen received Teacher of Month re Green Team, then later asked by the superintendent “why bother” with the green team. (The full text of this speech is here.)

Parent from Lafayette: concern about low funding for the Lamorinda schools.

Accounting parent followed the money from property taxes to Sacramento.

Request school financing on the agenda for a future discussion. Focus: equal access for education for all children

Charles Shannon: Teacher Appreciation May 14: complimented teachers and staff for their work in OUSD.

Employees of the Month: teacher = Jennifer Dodd

Maintenance = Mark Mortenson

Cooperation is a powerful tool. OUSD is very special. Kids excited about learning, wonderful teachers who make a difference. Glad to be a part of the team.

Bryan Inglesby complimented OUSD teachers and recognized that May 14, 2014 is the Ca Day of the Teacher. Trustee Butler asked if the district does anything for teachers on this day. Dr. Jaconette said that the district tells parent's clubs so they can put together some kind of teacher appreciation event.

May 19^th, Classified Employee Day

Charles Shannon thanked classified employees for their constant contributions to our school system.

Lengthy discussion about a variety of facilities improvements at WR.

Retaining wall, reroofing, hillside repair, and shade area approved.

Glorietta: hillside repair approved

Approved 2014-2015 Budget Guidelines. Trustee Severson would not allow questions from OEA President, Charles Shannon.

Board Bylaw BB9100: Refers to how the president of the board is appointed.

Background: The existing bylaw suggests that new board members be appointed vice president and then rotated into the presidency. This was ignored when Trustee Krumholtz was not appointed, in favor of Trustee Moran (who has served for much longer). The president of the board sets the agenda with the superintendent and as such, this is a powerful position.

Trustees Butler and Kromholz not in favor of changing bylaw; deters teamwork and would remove opportunity for a Trustee who has not served as an officer to be considered to serve.  The new bylaw language makes the appointing of the president a straight vote, potentially allowing one board member to serve for a long time. 

Approved by Severson, Moran and Rossitor

2014-15 Budget Assumptions

Projected OIS current: 903, projected: 882

TK-8 current = 2503 projected: 2456 (-47)

Staffing for upcoming year appears static except at Glorietta

Rossitor supported maintaining 20:1 ratio in primary grades even though state is now recommending 24:1. Trustee Krumholz concurred however concerned that state will not be funding 20:1 in OUSD at previous rate.  Previously, $1071 per student for 20 students in a class. Funding has dropped to $718 and OUSD only receives 28% of $718 = $517 per student.

Director of Technology: shared position with Moraga School District. Individual hired would be paid 40-60 by Moraga and Orinda. Lengthy discussion by Board.

CTA News: Insurance Offers

California Casualty Lowers Insurance Rates for CTA Members

California Casualty turned 100 this year, and you get the present! California Casualty is rolling back California home insurance rates. Effective April 1, 2014, CTA members can expect an average savings of 16% on homeowners insurance*. The reduction extends to renters too.

Even deeper savings are available with these new rate-reducing options:

• Claim free discount
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Combine your auto and home insurance with California Casualty and you could save an additional 18%.

You can have it all – fantastic rates and great service! It's the gift you have been waiting for – now's the time to call. California Casualty is ready to meet, or exceed your insurance expectations. How much can we save you? Call one of our advisors now for a quick coverage comparison,1.800.800.9410 or visit www.CTAMemberBenefits/calcas.

Rate reductions don't happen very often. Take advantage and call or go online today! MORE

*Existing policy holders will see the new homeowner policy rates at their renewal on or after April 1, 2014.  Because of the new underwriting of these policies, some existing policyholders may see an increase in their premium.  If this occurs, policyholders are encouraged to contact California Casualty and discuss their new premium reducing options.

Why switch to CTA-endorsed Disability and Life Insurance?

CTA members have unique insurance needs. That's why CTA makes Voluntary Disability and Life Insurance plans available to CTA members through Standard Insurance Company (The Standard). The plans have unique features specifically designed for education professionals, including:

• Provisions to allow for continuation of coverage during temporary layoffs and labor disputes.
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• Coverage for disabilities occurring both on and off the job.

The need for disability and life insurance is very real. Each year, almost 5,000* of your peers receive much-needed help from the CTA-endorsed plans.

From April 1 through May 31, 2014, members who have disability and/or life insurance coverage through another provider have a special opportunity to make the switch to the only CTA-endorsed Disability and Life Insurance plans. To start the change-over process, call The Standard's dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at800.522.0406 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time.

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For costs and further details of the coverage, including exclusions, benefit waiting periods and any reductions or limitations and the terms under which the policy may be continued in force, please contact The Standard's dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800-522-0406 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. MORE