PEA

focus
on educators
California Teachers Association

focus on educators is an award winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA www.peateachers.org

Statement of Mission
The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society. to have access to this document and sure the sidewalks are not raised to each site is to go over key points at perhaps cause you a fall. Since it is the beginning of each school year. dark in the morning and dark when Did this happen? Please make sure, you head to your car, make sure as this is another aspect of keeping lighting is available and adequate. you safe. In your classroom, make sure the carpet is tight and no cords are Finally, I want to also make sure exposed to cause you to slip, trip or that you feel safe as an employee fall. You should also feel safe as a Volume XXII, Number 4 with your administrators. You teacher with your relationship with In this Issue should always feel supported and your students parents. Make sure to Presidents Message & that your principal has your back. record any parent contact and key Informational Items ..pgs. 1-4 If this isnt the case, discuss with points of the conversation. Do not Announcements..p.3 other people at your site and ever allow a parent to threaten you. Thank You Corner.p.3 approach your principal as a group There is an Ed Code on this (44811) Community Outreachp.4 with your concerns. It is always and a penal code (71). Let the Bargaining.p.5 imperative to have documentation, parent know to stop their attack as Rep. Council Photos.p.5 data, and write-ups of the events to they are violating the law that CTA News....pgs. 6-7 bring with you. Have a rep or even protects you. Seek outside PEA Calendar.... .The Last Page ask me to join you and your group. assistance either in the form of It is not unreasonable to ask for another teacher or the principal. PEA Presidents Message what you need, as the final result is PEA made a strong effort to work May you have a safe and happy to feel safe at work. Article 11.1.1 with the district to make sure that holiday and New Years of our contract states that members EVERY volunteer on campus will celebration! shall not be required to work in have to sign a document before they unsafe conditions or to perform enter. This document informs them Please remember how important tasks that endanger their wellbeing. of the expected behavior and the you are to your students and to the So stand your ground! Demand to various laws to back up the community. Your safety should be safe! Your working conditions expectation. Make sure your always be a priority. Make sure you are your students learning volunteers are officially signed in. follow a few safety tips to ensure This is another safety measure. conditions. that you have a safe experience Wag More and Bark Less! coming to work every day. Next, PEA also made a strong effort to make sure EVERY school site When getting from your car to the Chris Coan, PEA President has its own personal School Site classroom, please check to make Safety Plan. EVERY member was

DECEMBER 2012

PEA Leadership 2012-2013 President Chris Coan

Willow Cove Elementary/ PEA Office

Rep. Council Meeting Calendar

September 19 October 17 November 14 December 19 January 23 February 20 March 20 April 24 May 15 June 5 ***********************************

Elementary Vice President Cindy Joy

Parkside Elementary

Secondary Vice President Shelly Bascomb

Pittsburg High

Secretary Tammy Carr

Highlands Elementary

Treasurer Gale Higgins

Stoneman Elementary

School Board Meeting Calendar

August 22 September 12 & 26 October 10 & 24 November 14 December 12 January TBD February TBD March TBD April TBD May TBD June TBD ***********************************

Committee Chairs Grievance Committee Richard Higgins Pittsburg High Negotiations Team Dawn Cova - Chair Political Action Committee Iris Contreras - Chair Elections Chair Vacant Human Rights Committee Vacant Womens Issues Committee Allison Azevedo - Chair O-Team Vacant CTA State Council Representatives Iris Contreras PEA Denise James, Sara Savacool, Robert Strickler - AEA Alternate Pandora Bethea - AEA CTA Director District C Terri Jackson NEA Director for California, District 3 Greg Bonaccorsi Technical Editor Susan Harrison PEA Site Secretary

Are you Getting your PEA Information???

Having the site reps attend their monthly meeting and then reporting back to you is vital in the communication chain of our Association. Roll call at last November 14th Rep Council Meeting: Adult Ed. absent Stoneman absent Foothill present Willow Cove present Heights present MLK Jr. absent Highlands present Hillview - present Los Medanos present Rancho Medanos present Marina Vista present PHS - present Parkside present Black Diamond present ************************************

Focus on Educators is a publication of the Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA 159 East 4th Street Pittsburg, CA 94565 Phone: (925) 432-0199 fax: (925) 432-4854

E-MAIL:peatchrs@att.net WEBSITE: www.peateachers.org 2

THANK YOU Corner

PEA would like to thank the following people for helping and supporting their local association for the month of December: Thank you to Jamie Keith for hosting union meetings in her classroom and for helping to organize the PHS reps. A Victory for Public Education in November Election! Last month voters passed Proposition 30 to fund our schools and colleges and rejected Proposition 32the attempt by billionaires to silence our collective voice! These were both huge wins for our schools, our students, and our profession. Prop 30s passage ensures $6 billion will NOT be slashed from California schoolsnearly $4.5 million will not be cut from PUSDs budget. The defeat of Prop 32 ensures unions can continue to be a voice for middle class workers and CTA can continue to advocate for quality public education for all. THANK YOU to all of your effortstalking to friends, family, neighbors, community members, and for encouraging them to vote for teachers, students, and the middle class! There were many PEA members (and even friends/family of PEA) who volunteered during the campaignmaking phone calls, knocking on doors, and mobilizing our supporters to vote on Election Day. We were successful due to the time and efforts of each and every one of our volunteers! The opponents of 30/proponents of 32 spent millions to influence voters, but we prevailedproof that there is strength in numbers and people power can defeat big money.

PEA POSITIONS OPEN AND WAITING FOR YOU TO VOLUNTEER PEA needs an Elections Chair to work with our office secretary for this year. We will give you guidance and all that you need in the way of support. We have NEA and CTA elections, as well as PEA Executive Board elections each and every year. You would be working at PEA setting up the elections and then gathering a few people to help you count ballots. Elementary Grievance Chair position: Open. Get your feet wet and we will help you every step of the way. Help members and help the district follow our contract. You would be required to attend two Wednesday meetings a month....Executive Board and Rep Council. Human Rights Chair position: Open. This is a nice way to get involved. In this position you are the go between with CTA on any educational issues regarding all in education being treated fairly....students and teachers. You would be required to attend two Wednesday meetings a month...Executive Board and Rep Council, as well as attending Human Rights receptions. If you are interested contact us at: peatchrs@att.net The 2012 CTA Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Education Program Essay Contest has come to an end. The deadline was December 7. Good luck to all the entries! CTA is also supporting the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund Campaign. This memorial fund helps to recruit ethnic minority teachers into education. More information about contributions and applications can be found at the members only section of the CTA website www.cta.org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
PEA OPEN HOUSE WHEN: TIME: PLACE: January 22, 2013 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. PEA Office at 159 E. WELCOME ALL! Come bymeet PEA office staff and your Executive Board memberssee our officereview any of our files, as they are your files too! Enjoy a snack! See you there! 4th Street

Certificated Roundtable

From 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the PUSD Board Room

January 10, 2013

YOUR SCHOOL SITE REPS ARE:

School Site Adult Ed. Foothill Name Walter Ruehlig Iris Contreras, Ruth Foster, Bebe Vaughan Heights Highlands Carol Molta Heather Asselin, Carmen Belt, Lindsey Rodriguez, Sue Ellen Thomas Los Medanos Marina Vista Robert Ulrich, Myrna Young Tasharie Ameral, Danielle Jensen David Mattingly, Lisa Gonzalez (Alt.) Parkside Allison Azevedo, Joe Bruno. Lillian Blade, Paul Thompson Stoneman Willow Cove Ginny Isaacson, Vicky Krywokulsky Cassie Corder, Jim Goble, Kelly Mercado, Paul Schnurr Hillview Rancho Medanos Joanne Aragon, Mark Maselli

THE PRIDE OF PITTSBURG PIRATE CARD

$5.00 per cardgood until Aug. 31, 2013 PEA has a few PIRATE CARDS to offer to you for $5.00 each. The money from these cards will go directly to the PHS Pirates Marching Show Band. Discounts for vendors include: KFC, Country Waffles, Super Taco, Burger King (Railroad & Bailey Rd Locations), McDonalds (many Bay Area locations), Railroad Cleaners, Lumpys (Pittsburg location only), Nanas Place, Railroad Book Depot, Little Js, EJ Phair, Liberty Alehouse, Delta Bowl, Las Panchitas, La Veranda, Warrior Computer Repair, Fonseca Auto Repair, & Country Skillet (Antioch location). Must present card at time of purchase~ Offer good at participating locations only~ Equal or Lesser value~ Not valid with any other offers, coupons, or specials~ Limit one offer per card, per person, per day~ Not transferable~ Offer subject to change without notice~ Additional terms & conditions apply. For further information contact Pat Mims at 925-473-2368 or 925-473-2368. ************************************

COMMUNITY OUTREACH The 2012 Sock Drive was a Huge Success!!!

Over 400 socks were donated by our PEA members to the Pittsburg Boys and Girls Club of America! Thanks to your efforts, over 200 children will be receiving socks during their Annual East County Christmas event on December 21. Thank you for the extra support you have given to our community!
Cindy Joy Community Outreach Chair

John Clark, Karen Falchetta Bertha Ramos

PHS

Tom Arbuckle, Cookie Freeman, Jamie Keith, John Kleinjans, Lyndsie Memory, Leilani Nisperos, Dennis OBrien, Arthur Pruyn Barbara Shabaniani

Black Diamond MLK JR.

David Gastellum, John Giaconia, Rick Pyle Sandy Follansbee, Andrea McKinney Alexis Verworn

BARGAINING UPDATE: MOU for Resource Specialists

Last month, PUSD & PEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in order to compensate Resource Specialists who complete the case management duties for up to four (4) additional students with a sixth-fifths (6/5) contract since the District has made efforts to secure an additional part-time special education teacher at Rancho Medanos for this school year, but was unable to. Here are the key points:

The 6/5 Contract shall be paid until June 13, 2013 or until each Resource Specialists caseload returns to 28 students. At any time during the school year, when a Resource Specialists caseload goes above 28 students, he/she shall have the choice of serving those students and shall be compensated with a 6/5 Contract. No Resource Specialist shall be assigned more than 28 students without authorization from PEA. Resource Specialists must give express written agreement to take on the additional case management duties. Resource Specialists at other school sites who are asked to serve more than 28 students shall be offered the same choice of a 6/5 Contract. No Resource Specialist receiving a 6/5 contract shall have more than thirty-two (32) students on his/her caseload. The agreement shall not set a precedent for future 6/5 contracts for Resource Specialists and this MOU will sunset on June 13, 2013.

In actuality, the district prefers you take 1/2 or full days since they have to pay for subs, which are paid in 1/2 or full days only; however, you may continue to use your sick time as you always have even if its for less than 1/2 day. At secondary school sites, they will often pay a teacher for "period coverage" instead of a sub if the absence is less than 1/2 day. Please check with your Principals Secretary for your schools protocol. If the secretary is going to assign another teacher to cover, then you would enter the absence in the SmartFind system, but put "no sub required". Otherwise, continue to call-in and take your time as you always have and dont feel bad about putting in for a sub. Students need healthy teachers, so take care of yourself! And if youre asked to cover for another teacher during your prep, make sure you get paid for prep coverage. Regarding other leave, remember: You now have 4 Personal Business Days in which you do not need prior approval, unless they are taken before/after a holiday or more than 2 in one week. Personal Business Days must be taken in 1/2 or full days. ************************************

If you have additional questions, please contact your Site Rep or e-mail Dawn Cova: dawncova@gmail.com ************************************

Rep Council Meeting November 14, 2012 Addressing Site Concerns

Correction to October FOCUS article Calling in a Sub?

PEA received information that the district would no longer deduct sick time in less than 1/2 day increments, however this was inaccurate. Personal Business Days may only be taken in 1/2 day or full day increments, but Article 7.2.2 states, Sick leave deduction shall be made for the portion of the normal workday that the employee is absent.

NEWS
Unions 2.0 A Look at Unions and the Education Profession
NEA and AFT Comparison on Accountability Accountability (from the report New Path Forward January 2010) The main components of the AFT teacher development evaluation proposal are: Basic professional teaching standards Every state should adopt standards that spell out what teachers know and be able to do. Districts could augment to meet specific community needs. Standards for assessing teachers practice These standards should be based on multiple measures including student test scores based on valid and reliable assessments that show students real growth while in the teachers classroom. Classroom observations, self-evaluations, portfolio reviews, appraisal of lesson plans, students written work and other projects should also be considered. Implementation benchmarks Implementation benchmarks must be established so professional standards dont gather dust. Principals and superintendents charged with putting this new evaluation system into practice need to take responsibility and be held responsible for making it work. ********************************

But note: This section does not speak to civil liability. A public employee is not liable for an injury resulting from his/her exercise of discretion vested in him or her. Use of judgment in determining whether to break up a fight or not or following the districts polices will probably immunize a teacher from liability. Gov. Code 820.2 3. Weapons: You have a right to confiscate them, even if it means using some reasonable physical force. Ed Code 49001 You have a right to search backpacks, clothing, lockers, provided you are not acting in an arbitrary, capricious or harassing way. In RE: Randy G. Cal. Supreme Court case. No strip searches or rearranging of student clothing to permit a visual inspection of underclothing or private parts of a student. Metal detectors are permitted. Ed Code 49050 *********************************

The Bad Teacher Narrative Countering the Message

We dont make those same judgments elsewhere in society. Like, we dont say that high-crime areas are the fault of underperforming cops. Fellow teachers, new teachers especially, dont settle for being talked about or talked to as if you dont know the problems, possibilities, and the contradictions between the work we are required to do and that which we are in the depths of our souls called to do. Your voice, our voices, must be heard in this conversation whose impact will surely come back- not only on us, but all stakeholders with a vengeance, if it simply goes unchecked or if we leave it up to the union rep to fight our battles for us. *********************************

Teachers Legal Rights and Duties

IV. TEACHERS DUTY TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT 1. Off-Campus: no liability for student conduct or safety off campus, unless the teacher has undertaken to transport the student, or during a field trip. Ed Code 44808 2. On-Campus: no criminal sanctions against a teacher for using the amount of physical force necessary to maintain order, protect property or the health and safety of other students and staff and to maintain conditions conducive to learning. Ed Code 44807

A. Physical Violence Between Students

Reducing the Risk: Teen Suicide

SOME CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO TEEN SUICIDE (Cont.) 8. Loss or crisis in significant social or family relationship Suicide may be a reaction to: Loss of a loved one through death, divorce or separation Moving away from friends and familiar surroundings Loss of health

Loss of respect Breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend [Some possible Reasons for Suicide]

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

The levels in Maslows Hierarchy of Needs: 1. Physiological Needs These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most basic and instinctive needs in the hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met. 2. Security Needs These include needs for safety and security. Security needs are important for survival, but they are not as demanding as the physiological needs. Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhoods and shelter from the environment. 3. Social Needs These include needs for belonging, love and affection. Maslow considered these needs to be less basic than physiological and security needs. Relationships such as friendships, romantic attachments and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as does involvement in social, community or religious groups. 4. Esteem Needs After the first three needs have been satisfied, esteem needs become increasingly important. These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition and accomplishment. *******************************

Divorce, marital instability and other problems within the family may create feelings of rejection and worthlessness in a young person. Many young people who attempt suicide feel that their families just dont understand them. [Some Possible Reasons for Suicide] One study found that a quarter of all suicide victims had ended a love affair or marriage during the year before their deaths. About half of them were alcoholics; on 15% were depressed. [Harvard Mental Health Letter] Separation, divorce, unemployment, imprisonment, and death are common in the families of adolescents who attempt suicide. These boys and girls are often alienated from indifferent or hostile parents, and some have suffered from child abuse and neglect. [The Harvard Mental Health Letter] Familial factors in highly dysfunctional families can be associated with suicide: Family history of mental or substance abuse disorder Family history of suicide Family violence, including physical or sexual abuse [National Institute of Mental Health]

*********************************

PUSD Your Rights Under FMLA, CFRA, AND PDL

PDL (Pregnancy Disability Leave) is a state law that permits a female employee up to four months leave for the period during which she is disabled due to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition. An employee is considered disabled if she is unable to perform one or more essential functions of her job due to her pregnancy or related health condition. The employee is required to provide medical verification from her doctor. After the pregnancy disability leave ends, the employee, if eligible under the CFRA, may request an additional 12 weeks of unpaid leave for bonding with the new child.

Neverdoubtthatasmallgroupof thoughtful,committedpeoplecanchange theworld.Indeed,itstheonly thingthateverhas.

~MargaretMead

PEA
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Calendar
DECEMBER 2012

PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM Hanukkah Begins at Sundown PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM Winter Begins Winter Break Christmas Eve Christmas Day Kwanzaa Begins New Years Eve

JANUARY 2013
1 9 10 21 23 New Years Day PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM Certificated Roundtable PUSD Board Room 3:30 PM Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No school PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM

Next Deadline for Articles is January 14, 2013

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