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The discussions we have have allowed us to not just take a pulse of what is happening at your sites, or or within your teams, but also I was able to use comments people had stated (as general comments, not quoting peoples names) when talking with the district in regards to shared concerns. Each of you has a voice in this Union. I hope that you can feel that and will help us to embrace and empower what we each have to use for our profession and our work.
Thank you for all that you do daily for each other and for our profession. You are the reason there are successes in TUSD, you are the reason the students come to school. You are AMAZING in all that you do!
Here’s the latest from TEA:
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TEA Election Results - Thank you for those that took the time to vote. Results should be posted at your sites with exact numbers. The following people have all been reelected for another two years:
Margie Wright - Elementary Director
Allison Goodlander - Treasurer
Angelica Jimenez - Secretary
Paul Tschida - Vice President
Lisa Hickman - President
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Special Training at TEA Office
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State Budget - We will know more in May, but we are hopeful that The Governor will continue to honor his original budget he previewed in January and Education will have zero cuts, and no offsetting budget tactics.
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Change in Programs - The reduction/ changes to the ILT/MTSS program is based on the fact that TUSD was using ESSER (Covid) funds to fund the ILT/MTSS program, not because of any budget cuts by the state. ESSER (Covid) funds were a short term funding source meant to fill the holes in education areas that were created due to Covid. The monies were intended to be completely spent by the end of this year, with some small residuals being left and needing to be completely spent by 2025. Even at the sites that had MTSS previously, they rolled all of those positions into that funding so ALL of those positions must go away, or be reconfigured and renamed to be moved to other funding sources.
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Currently TEA sees several different ways this could work within our contract, but we have not had, that anyone can recall, this number of people who would be coming back into the classroom at one time.
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If you were only in that position for one year, that means you are protected contractually and will be assigned back at your site you left for one year.
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TEA has requested an MOU to arrange and make sure that the process of all teachers returning to the classroom is consistent and follows a set pattern.
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There is a timeline set with the new positions being filled, and then they will start the process of returning people to classrooms.
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Retirement - If you are considering retirement, or you have already decided:
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First, check with CalSTRS to make sure that you have all items in order and that all of your years of service are accurate.
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Notify the district. They are currently trying to figure out numbers for assignments and what will be needed. If you know, it helps all parties to prepare.
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Make sure that TEA knows so that we may also prepare for your retirement and make sure you have the correct information as it pertains to CTA Retired.
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Temp/Prob/Perm
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Signing intent to return - By this point if you are a permanent employee you should be, or should already have, been offered an intent to return letter from the district. You have until June 30th to sign the intent, but you must sign that you have received the notice. This intent means that you are agreeing to return for the following year and have employment with TUSD. Again, it is not due to the district office until June 30 (it says so on the intent to return document), but the earlier they have them returned the better they can prepare for the next year as it pertains to job assignments.
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Probationary - If you are probationary, you should be offered an intent to return form to sign, just as a permanent teacher, with the same parameters. If you have not, please let TEA know.
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All Temps - Just like in last years, TUSD will be releasing all temporary contracts at an upcoming School Board Meeting. We do not know at this time how many will be asked to return. With declining enrollment and changes to categorical areas, there are fewer spots than in the last few years. All temps should be told by their admin, and/or receive a letter from the district letting you know of the release.
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Talk to your Admin. And keep tabs on how their numbers are for the coming year. While everyone is unsure, they may know ahead of us as to the projections they are being presented by the district.
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Make and complete all of your doctors/ dentist/ vision apps - Your health insurance stays until August 31st, 2024.
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Please keep looking, even if Tustin is your favorite place in the Universe, we are all in this to have our own education space, make a difference, and receive a paycheck. You deserve to have a home somewhere, even if that is not in TUSD. Make sure to cover all of your bases and to hope to return to Tustin, but also make sure to take care of yourselves and your career moving forward. TEA wants you to be here, but we also want to make sure that all of us in this field are happy, have a home and have permanent status.
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Employees who are laid off or who are not re-elected are eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits.
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AP Summer Training - If you have been told by (or even asked nicely) to attend an AP Summer training in order to be able to teach AP classes next year…that is not OK. TEA firmly believes and has let at least two admin already know that, anything done during the summer:
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May NOT be mandated
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If someone chooses to go all expenses must be paid.
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You should be getting paid in order to attend something during your unpaid time off in Summer.
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Admin. May not use it against you as contract states:
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Ongoing District Discussions: After talking with so many people 1:1 we have even more items we were going over with the district. The following items have been brought up/ discussed with our Superintendent, Dr. Johnson, Our Chief Financial Officer, Harold Sullins; Dr. Maurita De La Torre and within our elementary meeting with Maggie Villegas.
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Safety - The following are items that have been brought up due to not just our rep council or other times we have heard of instances, but also from the visits that we have made to sites, through your feedback and our overall ongoing issues as it pertains to the following.
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In The Classroom - Continued discussion on the safety of adults in the classrooms. This is an ongoing and continuous discussion as so many people are being hurt in their own classrooms at the hands of students. This will continue to be a larger discussion going forward.
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Overall at Sites - Discussion on the items we have been talking about since last year.
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TUSD has confirmed that they purchased all new backpacks for each room with new supplies, the buckets for lockdowns for each room, and has replenished the supplies of emergency rations/ water at each site.
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TEA continues to inquire about the wrapping of windows both on the exterior of campus and interior for those rooms that face into a pod/ hallway and, for lack of a better description are fishbowls unless the teacher inside has purchased their own coverage, or has found a way to use classroom resources to cover.
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Facilities - In one conversation it was noted that many teachers seem to get used to just living with the situations they have. Please make sure you are filling out work orders for items around facilities. We cannot be OK with word of mouth or in passing to admin. Make sure that you put in the work order, or that it is confirmed with the admin. By email. Follow up on work orders, if items are still not getting done let TEA know. We cannot just assume these are being done, but we all can work together to hopefully get these working better and with more expediency.
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TK Bathrooms - Ongoing discussion on the lack of bathrooms, not just in numbers but in the size of the facilities students have to use. The TK group was told there was a plan at the start of the year, currently TEA has not seen progress on the additional help they shared they would provide (altering height/ seats/ steps etc.). Some sites are still using Adult size facilities for students who are four years old.
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Overall Bathrooms - Concern stemmed originally from the TK bathrooms and that led to the issue that many sites are scrambling not just for facilities that are the right size, but for facilities in general enough for all students. Not to mention at some older sites that do not have enough for all employees on campus. Please let your site reps know if there are issues or lack of facilities for you or students.
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Sites/ Water Damage - Due to the rains we have even more issues with water damage, or leaking. Please make sure you are sending work orders and send in pictures with them by email for those that have the major leaks. If you have water leak proof on ceiling tiles - get them replaced! `Our working environments on the students' learning environment. It is not OK for either students or ourselves to have water leaks go unmentioned. We all have to work together. If you have new water spots (or small states formed) on your ceiling tiles, take pictures, email principals, ask for work order and fill out, follow up. If it is not done, let TEA know.
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Sites/ Air Quality - We have also had many discussions on this, and discussed with TUSD that while they may change out filters, we have asked for dates as to when they cleaned out the air ducts themselves in those rooms we have had many conversations about. So far we do not have those dates, but we will keep you posted. Please continue to put in for work orders if you feel your rooms have issues, and that includes for the air quality.
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Additional contract language that helps with facilities:
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Special Education -
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SAI Caseloads - Always trying to work for what is best for ALL parties involved and equity. While they have been keeping within the number of 28 on the caseloads, it has caused a lot of movement and uncertainty. TEA will continue to work and discuss how best to make Ed. Code adhered to while also working to make sure that students have continuity in their providers.
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Please remember if you are at 28 then any other student added to your official SEIS report would require for you to approve signing a waiver.
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A waiver only allows the SAI teacher to go to 32 and they are then provided an aide.
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Please see the Ed. Code language below:
- Task Force/ Small Work Groups -
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SLP - The SLP Task force, which is what we based the other groups on for our Best Practices with TUSD - has been meeting and continues to work on SLP caseloads.
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Psych - Psych’s have started their task force creation.
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SAI - TEA has met with TUSD and asked for two groups to be formed for SAIs - one at elementary and one for secondar
- Big Things Happening at The State Level
- AB2901, the Pregnancy Leave for Educators Act. This landmark legislation will fix a broken system for public school educators who go without any paid disability related to pregnancy. In California – the fifth largest economy in the world – one of the largest and predominantly female workforces in the state are excluded from pregnancy disability leave. More than three-quarters of educators are female and cannot earn any paid pregnancy leave. This forces pregnant educators to either “schedule” pregnancies based on the school calendar or try to get by with less pay. The time is now to end this current practice that disproportionately discriminates against women as they are required to deplete their leave balances to bear children. Sign the pledge today to support the passage of this landmark legislation, AB2901, that will grant educators what is a fundamental standard for reproductive rights in many countries across the globe: Press HERE or the link above to find out more.
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AB2901 will:
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Provide 14 weeks of pregnancy leave and help retain educators during a historic educator shortage.
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Stop public school educators from having to choose to get by with less pay or “schedule” pregnancies based on the school calendar.
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End the discriminatory practice of forcing women to deplete their leave balances to bear children.
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Close the $100,000 gap in retirement that women earn compared to their male colleagues.
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To read the actual BILL CLICK HERE
- Add your name to support the passage of AB 2901 (Aguiar-Curry), historic legislation that will finally give Paid Pregnancy Leave to educators. Click the link below. After adding your name in support there is a portion where you can tell your own story about how the current pregnancy laws affected you. Once you sign, tell a friend, pass it onto others and share far and wide.
- KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: - This is a reminder that YOU DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUSPEND A STUDENT FROM YOUR CLASSROOM. That includes a student who has an IEP. It doesn't matter if the principal agrees or not, it also does not matter if they try to tell you no. Ed. Code is on the side of the teacher and you HAVE THE RIGHT = Please print out the following if you need to place it near your desk at work - It is the same KNOW YOUR RIGHTS document from earlier this year. TEA is also happy to work with you through the process.
- A teacher may suspend any pupil from his/her/their class or class period for any act discussed in the “grounds for suspension and expulsion” section above, for the day of suspension and the day following. Educ. Code §§ 48910; 48900.
- The suspension must be immediately reported to the principal and the student sent to the principal for further action.
- The student may not be placed in another regular class during the time of the class suspension. Educ. Code § 48910.
- The teacher must also request a parent/teacher conference regarding the suspension as soon as possible, with a counselor or school psychologist, if possible. This means that you should call and talk to parents to work out a date to meet. This does not say it has to be in person, the conference may be on the phone or by Zoom.
- An administrator must attend the conference at the request of the parent or teacher. This does not say they HAVE to attend. If a principal will not attend, then you may still hold the conference to be in compliance with Ed. Code. If you are told to reschedule by the principal or change what you have already begun, make sure to let the admin. Know that you are following California Ed. Code, and ask if they are wanting you to break the Ed. Code. You may still move forward with the suspension from your classroom.
- The pupil shall not be returned to the class from which the pupil was suspended without the concurrence of the teacher and principal. Educ. Code § 48910.
- A student with an IEP is not exempt from this. You may still suspend as long as you are not suspending for something that is manifested and part of their defined reason for the IEP.
- March Is:
- National Nutrition Month - National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits. This year's theme is "Beyond the Table," which addresses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition, from food production and distribution to navigating grocery stores and farmers markets — and even home food safety and storage practices. The Eatright.org website has LOTS of resources from items to use in the classroom to 50 ways to celebrate. Resources may be found HERE.
- National Women's History Month - Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. Women’s History Month 2024 will take place from Friday, March 1 - Sunday, March 31, 2024.This year's theme celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.”
- Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day - March 30, 2024 - March 30 of each year is designated and set apart as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, a day having special significance pursuant to California Education Code Section 37222. On Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, all public schools and educational institutions are encouraged to conduct exercises recognizing the contributions of all those involved in the Vietnam War and remembering the sacrifices they made for their country.
- Cesar Chavez Day March 31, 2024 - Cesar Chavez Day is a U.S. federal commemorative holiday, proclaimed by President Barack Obama in 2014. The holiday celebrates the birth and legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez on March 31 every year. Many service commissions organize service activities on this day.
- California Department of Education Resources for teachers includes lessons for almost every grade and level. RESOURCES HERE
- National Park Services Resources HERE
- Los Angeles County has a website with great RESOURCES HERE.
- Member Benefits:
- ASPIRING EDUCATORS - Do you have a Student Teacher? Would you like to help them out and give them a gift that protects them? For $30 you may sponsor your student teacher to join CTA ASPIRING EDUCATORS - they may also pay for themselves, but it would make a great gift to an aspiring educator you know or think fondly of. They receive many benefits we do as CTA members and also have their own conferences and ways they help to work with people as they look for their first jobs in teaching. Join HERE
- The Standard: With CTA-endorsed Disability insurance, your claim can qualify for additional benefits. Benefits are paid directly to you in addition to your CTA-endorsed Disability benefits. Learn more and apply for coverage at https://www.ctamemberbenefits.org/thestandard
- Newly hired educators and education support professionals have a limited-time special opportunity to apply for CTA-endorsed Disability insurance and up to $400,000 in Life insurance1 from Standard Insurance Company without having to answer any health questions. The Standard is the only CTA-endorsed provider for Disability and Life insurance.
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Members must apply within 270 days from starting their new job. Learn more or apply at standard.com/cta/newhire.
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District Transfer? CTA members who previously had coverage with The Standard must re-apply to continue coverage at their new district as coverage doesn't automatically transfer.
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Life insurance helps protect CTA members’ loved ones in the event of their passing. They’ll also get access to additional features you can use now.
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Disability insurance can help protect CTA members’ paychecks if they’re unable to work due to an injury, illness (including mental health conditions) pregnancy or childbirth. They’ll receive funds paid directly to them to use for things health insurance doesn’t cover. Benefits can be used for rent, mortgage, groceries, student loans and more. Where health insurance pays your doctor, Disability insurance pays you.
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California Casualty - CTA Members! California Casualty’s Music and Arts Grant program is back and will award individual members with a $250 grant for their classroom or program. The California Casualty Music & Arts Grant was established to provide support for K-12 public schools negatively impacted by reduced budgets. California Casualty has partnered with education associations for many years. We understand the importance of music and arts education for children. As a member of one of our partnering education associations, you can apply for a grant award of $250 for a music or art need at your school. Applications are accepted through July 2nd, 2024! Apply today!
Have a wonderful rest of your week! Please enjoy Spring Break. Rest, recharge and do whatever you want!
In Unity,
Lisa Hickman
President, Tustin Educators Association
State Council Representative
Teacher, Heideman Elementary
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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