WCCUSD teachers have been working without a contract since July1, 2008. UTR and the District are in negotiations for a new contract. So far, the District has demanded these giveaways from teachers.
ELIMINATE secondary class size maximums
ELIMINATE secondary student-counselor ratios
ELIMINATE staffing provisions for libraries
ELIMINATE maximum and minimum English Learner class sizes
What do these giveaways mean for our students?
40, 50, 60 students in middle and high school class rooms
No counselors to advise students about course selections to meet graduation requirements, A – G, for the California University system and help them with completing personal statements for college/university applications
No librarians to help students develop research and technological skills needed to become literate 21st century citizens
What can you do to support your students?
Join us in a Day of Action at the WCCUSD School Board meeting on Wednesday November 19 and tell the board that students are our priority. We will not support givebacks that destroy our students’ learning environment.
Our students are our first priority and should be the districts.
Los maestros del WCCUSD han estado trabajando sin un contrato desde el 1de Julio del 2008. El sindicato de maestros (UTR) y el distrito escolar estan en negociaciones para un contrato nuevo. Hasta ahora el distrito ha demandado lo siguiente:
ELIMINAR números máximos en las clases secundarias
ELIMINAR proporciones de consejeros y estudiantes en las escuelas secundarias
ELIMINAR provisiones de personal en las bibliotecas escolares
ELIMINAR los números máximos y mínimos en clases de estudiantes que son apréndices de inglés.
¿Qué se significa estas eliminaciones para nuestros estudiantes?
40, 50, 60 estudiantes en las clases secundarias.
No habrá consejeros para guiar a los estudiantes sobre cuales cursos deben tomar; los requisitos A – G, para ser elegibles para sistema del la Universidad de California, o para ayudarlos a completar las aplicaciones o ensayos personales para la universidad.
No habrá bibliotecarios para ayudar a los estudiantes a desarrollar destrezas de investigación o técnicas que se necesita para ser personas competitivas en el siglo 21.
Unensen con nosotros en le día de acción en la junta de la mesa directiva del distrito escolar el Miércoles, 19 de noviembre y díganles a la mesa que los estudiantes deben ser nuestra prioridad. No vamos a apoyar las eliminaciones que destruyen el ambiente de aprendizaje de nuestros estudiantes .
¡NUESTROS ESTUDIANTES SON NUESTRA PRIORIDAD Y TAMBIEN DEBE SER LA PRIORIDAD DEL DISTRITO!
¿Que pueden hacer para apoyar a nuestros estudiantes?
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
A New Tone
Organizing what’s at Stake
Apparently, the theme of the October rep council was unity and organizing. The message from the leadership was unity within the local. According to Webster’s dictionary, unity is the state of being one; oneness, a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one. I have to say that all the organizing activities have come from the organizing committee and dictated to us. These activities have been extremely narrow and modest. There is too much at stake and we are not doing enough. We need to do more! I did express my concerns with the president prior to this rep council meeting.
At the October rep council meeting was an organizing activity under committee reports. Rick Willis our CTA Executive Director conducted a “Rep Council Organizing Conversation” with the rep members. We broke up into small groups and addressed two questions about organizing strategies... However, the responses were not brought back to the body for discussion. Once again, leadership missed an opportunity to listen to rep council members input on organizing or anything else. I went to the president and expressed my frustration with the format of this information gathering activity.
.We need to reach out to activist parents who are our potential allies and advocates. Dr. Harter has the ear of our activist parents. I feel we are wasting precious time by not stepping up our out reach effort to the communities. Use resources to mobilize communities.
UTR needs to boost its image, change our tone, be visible and educate the community about classroom issues. Focus grassroots energies on activist organizing activities that promote personal commitment to achieve victory in bargaining. For example, Saturday morning several of us leafleted the District’s Parent Conference Training and within one hour we made contact with over 100 parents.
The last thing we can afford is concessions. We are headed down that road if we don't reach out to build a base of support in the communities. The communities don't realize what goes on in the classroom. It is our responsibility to strike up that conversation. They need to hear our story, issues and better understand what happens to their students. Through my lens the stakes haven’t been higher than they are right now in this economic crisis.
Diane Brown
Apparently, the theme of the October rep council was unity and organizing. The message from the leadership was unity within the local. According to Webster’s dictionary, unity is the state of being one; oneness, a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one. I have to say that all the organizing activities have come from the organizing committee and dictated to us. These activities have been extremely narrow and modest. There is too much at stake and we are not doing enough. We need to do more! I did express my concerns with the president prior to this rep council meeting.
At the October rep council meeting was an organizing activity under committee reports. Rick Willis our CTA Executive Director conducted a “Rep Council Organizing Conversation” with the rep members. We broke up into small groups and addressed two questions about organizing strategies... However, the responses were not brought back to the body for discussion. Once again, leadership missed an opportunity to listen to rep council members input on organizing or anything else. I went to the president and expressed my frustration with the format of this information gathering activity.
.We need to reach out to activist parents who are our potential allies and advocates. Dr. Harter has the ear of our activist parents. I feel we are wasting precious time by not stepping up our out reach effort to the communities. Use resources to mobilize communities.
UTR needs to boost its image, change our tone, be visible and educate the community about classroom issues. Focus grassroots energies on activist organizing activities that promote personal commitment to achieve victory in bargaining. For example, Saturday morning several of us leafleted the District’s Parent Conference Training and within one hour we made contact with over 100 parents.
The last thing we can afford is concessions. We are headed down that road if we don't reach out to build a base of support in the communities. The communities don't realize what goes on in the classroom. It is our responsibility to strike up that conversation. They need to hear our story, issues and better understand what happens to their students. Through my lens the stakes haven’t been higher than they are right now in this economic crisis.
Diane Brown
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