Bargaining MOU: Safe Return to Schools 2020-2021

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Online - Zoom • 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

The Bargaining Team met with Dr. Lovato and his team in a Pre-Negotiation Meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to gather information for our MOU and to express members’ concerns about returning to instruction amidst the pandemic.

Topics Discussed:

1. District’s Distance Learning Plan

2. Roll-out of District Technology Training and Duration

3. Safety

4. Optional Workplace: Home Office or At Work Location

5. Special Ed Concerns

6. Head Start / Children’s Center Concerns

7. Items too late for the Agenda

Next Dates for Negotiations:

Friday, August 7, 2020 8:00 – 12:30

Monday, August 10, 2020 8:00 – 12:00

Tuesday, August 11, 2020 8:00 - 12:00

Additional Notes:

1. The MOU dated April 22, 2020 was extended on June 29, 2020:

“This MOU initially signed on April 22, 2020 shall be extended until the negotiation of a new MOU regarding the safe return to school for the August 17, 2020 start of the 2020-2021 school year.”

This statement means that until we ratify the MOU for school year 2020-2021, our original MOU remains in effect. We will continue to work from home until further notice.

2. Upon Tentative Agreement of a new MOU between MVSD and MVTA, a ratification vote will be asked of the entire Membership.

Bargaining Team:

Elena Caballero – Chair elena.caballero@live.com

Maria Aguilar maraguilar1019@yahoo.com

Jackie Trejo jacquet.mba@gmail.com

Lena Solis lcsolis7@aol.com

Leticia Urias luriasmvta@gmail.com

CTA Take Action: Urge AYE Vote on SB 614

Repeal RICA that, for 24 years, has done nothing to enhance literacy and has been a roadblock to increasing racial diversity in our teaching force.

Please contact the legislators NOW who sit on the Assembly Education Committee and urge them to support Senate Bill 614 by Senator Susan Rubio.

On August 3, the Assembly Education Committee will consider SB 614, a bill that will eliminate the Reading Instruction Competency Assessment (RICA) by 2024 and transition to a Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA). It will include foundational reading skills in the TPA and align teacher preparation to the current English language arts and English language development frameworks.

WHY?
 
As we strive to break down racial barriers in our schools and communities, we must recognize the roadblocks within our systems and make every effort to clear the path for student success. RICA is one of those roadblocks that, for 24 years, has done nothing to enhance literacy. Instead, it has served as an impediment to teachers of color entering the profession, a problem we know greatly impacts students. SB 614 will strengthen reading instruction and provide performance-based assessments that more accurately determine preparedness.

We have a critical teacher shortage in California and the impact of RICA disproportionately affects potential African American, Latinx and Indigenous teachers. This unnecessary test is creating barriers for the diverse teacher workforce our students desperately need. Currently, there are better ways to assess teacher readiness in these subject areas and all the methods used require much greater depth and learning than an outdated test like the RICA.

Teacher candidates are currently required to:

✅  Complete 600 hours of supervised practice teaching.

✅  Pass a teaching performance assessment.

✅ Perform coursework and fieldwork that includes assessment of expected knowledge and skills to teach reading and literacy.

Please contact the legislators NOW who sit on the Assembly Education Committee and urge them to support SB 614 by Senator Susan Rubio.

Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell,  @AsmPatODonnell
Capitol: 916-319-2070, District: 562-429-0470

Assembly Member Kevin Kiley, @KevinKileyCA
Capitol: 916-319-2006, District: 916-774-4430

Assembly Member Ash Kalra, @Ash_Kalra
Capitol: 916-319-2027, District: 408-277-1220

Assembly Member Kevin McCarty, @AsmKevinMcCarty
Capitol: 916-319-2007, District: 916-324-4676

Assembly Member Christy Smith, @AsmChristySmith
Capitol: 916-319-2038, District: 661-286-1565

Assembly Member Shirley Weber, @AsmShirleyWeber
Capitol: 916-319-2079, District: 619-531-7913

Assembly Member Megan Dahle, @AsmMeganDahle
Capitol: 916-319-2001, District: 530-223-6300

Tell them RICA, for 24 years, has done nothing to enhance literacy and has been a roadblock to increasing racial diversity in our teaching force.

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NEA EdAction: Washington D.C. Coronavirus Negotiations

Negotiations for the next coronavirus aid package are heating up in Washington this week.  

We need to make our voices heard in the next 72 hours so that our students and educators are prioritized and get the funding they need for the next school year. 

Click here or dial 1-866-374-7034 to call your senators right now.  

We are asking for: 

  • At least $175 billion to help public schools reopen safely and equitably (regardless of if instruction is online, in-person, or a hybrid); 

  • No conditions on reopening to access funds; 

  • No vouchers or carveouts for private schools; and 

  • No liability shields. 

NEA members and supporters have already sent more than 500,000 messages to Congress about the needs of our students, educators, and communities in coronavirus aid—but that may not be enough.  

Let’s leave it all on the line.  

So, even if you called before, even if you think your senator is supportive, even if you think they may not listen—make sure our demands are heard.  

Call your senators right now to demand at least $175 billion in education funding. Click here or dial 1-866-374-7034 to be connected. 

Negotiations are fragile right now. So, to meet the needs of our students, educators, and communities, we need as many people as possible to call their senators.

Let’s flood their phone lines. 

For our students, 

Lily Eskelsen García 
President 
National Education Association 

Call your senators ›

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Special Education Town Hall

This Thursday, July 30, 2020 at 3:00 pm, there will be a voluntary Special Education Town Hall with Special Education Bargaining Unit Members and the MVTA EBoard and MVTA Bargaining Team.

This Town Hall is designed to gather questions, comments, and ideas regarding our return to work in August, specifically as it affects the Special Education program.

Special Education educators will receive the Zoom invitation link through their district email.

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CTA Summer Institute: Home Edition July 27-30, 2020 #CTASI

Be sure to attend the upcoming Summer Institute: Home Edition!, July 27-30, with a focus on preparing you and your local for the challenges that lie ahead, and a special emphasis on the unique issues we will all face as we return to our school sites in this new era of COVID-19.

The Summer Institute: Home Edition! is provided free of charge to CTA members. Do not miss this extraordinary opportunity!

Click on this link for more information and to register for the CTA Summer Institute: https://ctago.org/events/2020-summer-institute/

MVTA Executive Board Update #9

Dear Members,

The budget has passed and some good news has come with it. There will be no Certificated Layoffs this August!! Although the budget did not include the drastic cuts we were expecting from the Governor’s May Revise, we need to continue to lobby the US Senate to pass the Heroes Act. We also need to continue to support Schools and Communities First, which will be on the November ballot. Look for opportunities to advocate for this community funding initiative. Showing up at the polls this fall will be more important than ever.

This week, Dr. Lovato put out information regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Leaves). This has created a lot of questions regarding our safe return in August. MVTA still has the right to negotiate the parameters regarding our return. The MVTA Executive Board and Bargaining Team will continue to work hard on your behalf.

Additionally, we have year round preschool programs, which began their new school year on July 1, 2020. We have an agreement with the District that decisions regarding moving forward with these 12-month programs will continue to be virtual. Our members will have the protection of the MOU agreed upon on April 22, 2020. In more good news, the Google training that was offered to the TK-8 staff is now being offered to the Preschool Staff, as well. Registration is currently open to all CC/HS staff.

We have attached the results of the survey that 80% of our members answered last week. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey and expressing their concerns. Of note is that the top two concerns are “Getting Coronavirus at work” and “Having to wear a face mask for long periods of time.” Since that survey was completed, we are all hearing the news about cases increasing at an alarming rate in LA County and in El Monte in particular. This is causing a lot of concern and creating uncertainty about returning to school in the fall. We want to reassure you that the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Please watch for additional surveys as we move forward with plans.

The Task Force continues to work on all of the aspects of the return to instruction in the fall. Thank you to all of our members who are volunteering their own time to participate on this Task Force. We will continue to update you as more concrete plans get solidified and recommendations are ready for presentation to the School Board. The updated guidelines for the reopening of schools from the LA County Department of Health was due at the end of June, but have not been released. Please continue to check these links for the most up to date information.

LA County Department of Health - Early Childhood Education Guidelines For School Administrators:

http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/education/GuidanceSchoolAdministrators.pdf

LA County Department of Health - Early Childhood Education Guidelines For Providers:

http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/education/GuidanceEarlyChildhoodEducation.pdf

We are all in this together, stay strong and be safe. Have a wonderful summer!

President:  Laura Gaber,  Lgabermvta@gmail.com  (562)822-8400

Vice President:  Leticia Urias,  Luriasmvta@gmail.com  (626)826-0885

Secretary:  Jacquella Payne,  nurseangel1@gmail.com  (909)992-8268

Treasurer:  Maria Frias,  Ms.MariaFrias@gmail.com  (909)437-4721

Member at Large:  Jenny Siebel, jsiebel8@gmail.com  (626)374-4331

Member at Large:  Ruby Huesca, huescaruby@gmail.com  (626)941-5637

NEA Ed Action: Projected Educator Job Losses In California

MVTA Executive Board Update: June 18, 2020

Dear Members,

“This is no time for us to look away,” NEA President, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, speaking regarding Black Lives Matter. “As a union of 3 million educators, stretching across the country, to every community, we have an obligation to act.  Together we will continue the call for justice and to hold powerful people to account.”

As the MVTA E-board we want to make sure that we take the time to address what happened following the death of George Floyd.  His death is more than just the death of one individual. Police injustice has also occurred right here in El Monte, as well as other places across our country.  So, as we can see it is not impacting just one group, it is impacting our entire society.  However, at this point in time we want to show support for Black Lives Matter.  Please join us in recognizing that an injustice to one is an injustice to all!

We also want to share the information from CTA about Juneteenth and more activism regarding this celebration.  You should have already received this information via email:

Juneteenth: Celebrations, Actions

Friday, June 19, is Juneteenth, a 155-year-old holiday celebrating black people and culture and the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in the United States. The day is recognized by 47 states and Washington, D.C., but is still not a national holiday. This year, during a time of widespread protests against systemic racism and police brutality, many businesses have announced they will recognize Juneteenth as a paid company holiday. Learn more about Juneteenth here.


Take part in actions to proclaim Black Lives Matter on Juneteenth and through the weekend as part of national days of action anchored by the Movement for Black Lives. Find an action near you – or a virtual event – here.


More activism:

·  Show your support and pride for our young people by adding your name to NEA/AFT’s letter to students, who are fighting for what is righteous and just and challenging us to do more every day.

·  Educators, with their middle and high school students, can join the Virtual Student Support Circle: Institutional Racism & Implicit Bias, hosted by the California Department of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Thursday, June 18, 4-5:30 p.m. Students from across the state will speak of their experiences and practical solutions to institutional racism and implicit bias in public schools. Join via Zoom (register in advance) or Facebook Live; view the recorded event on the CDE website.

Register for CTA's webinar Being an Anti-Racist Educator, June 23, 4-5 p.m. Facilitated by CTA's Equity Team, we will explore what being an anti-racist educator means, what it looks like, and how to deal with push-back and obstacles.

During these difficult times it is normal to not feel normal.  We have to make sure that we are not ignoring how we are feeling and reach out for support.  Michelle Earle has been sending out LACOE daily positives, which have some great suggestions regarding ways to address how we are feeling. As always we want to encourage you to feel free to reach out to any of your e-board members with any suggestions or ideas of how we can better support this movement.

We are all in this together, stay strong and be safe. Have a wonderful summer!

President:  Laura Gaber,  Lgabermvta@gmail.com  (562)822-8400

Vice President:  Leticia Urias,  Luriasmvta@gmail.com  (626)826-0885

Secretary:  Jacquella Payne,  nurseangel1@gmail.com  (909)992-8268

Treasurer:  Maria Frias,  Ms.MariaFrias@gmail.com  (909)437-4721

Member at Large:  Jenny Siebel, jsiebel8@gmail.com  (626)374-4331

Member at Large:  Ruby Huesca, huescaruby@gmail.com  (626)941-5637