MOU Apr. 15, 2021: Distance Learning, Hybrid In-Person, and Summer School
MVTA Bargaining Team Communique
CTA Special Education Conference April 30 - May 2, 2021
Register for the first ever CTA Special Education Conference here:
https://www.cta.org/event/2021-special-education-conference
2020-2021 CC/HS Alternate Faculty Representative
Letty Cardenas is the 2020-2021 Children’s Center/Head Start Alternate Faculty Representative.
CTA Information for School Employees and Parents Regarding Testing Optout
From: https://www.cta.org/our-advocacy/opt-out-of-standardized-testing
School Employees’ Rights Regarding Opting Out of Testing
“What are my rights as an educator? As a teacher, may I inform parents about their right to excuse their child from CAASPP state testing?
A California regulation allows educators to inform parents of their right to opt out of high-stakes testing for their child, but prohibits them from soliciting or encouraging the parent to do so. Section 852 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations provides that: “An LEA (local education agency) and its employees may discuss the CAASPP assessment system with parents and may inform parents of the availability of exemptions under Education Code section 60615. The LEA and its employees shall not solicit or encourage any written exemption request on behalf of any child or group of children.” 5 C.C.R. § 852(c)
Questions inevitably arise about the difference between informing parents about opting out and encouraging them to opt out. Each situation must be evaluated on an individual basis, but the clearly permissible end of the spectrum would be simply to inform parents of their right to excuse their child from the Smarter Balanced Assessment of the CAASPP system without offering any opinion about the test itself, or the effect the test would have on their individual child. Responding to questions from parents or guardians about opting out without actively encouraging such questions would also be acceptable. At the opposite end of this spectrum would be actively criticizing the test in a parent conference or back-to-school night and urging or soliciting parents to opt out. In addition, such criticism may not be protected under the First Amendment since a school district could reasonably view this as disruptive to test administration.”
You Can Opt Out Know Your Rights - English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese
Video: MVTA Thank You! Drive Thru Event
Here is a video highlighting many of the educators that came to the event to pick up their goody bag! It was good to see and connect with everyone for at least a little bit.
2021 NEA RA Local Delegate Election
The two (2) delegates and one (1) successor delegate for the 2021 NEA Representative Assembly are:
Ramona Chandler, Jacquella Payne, and Dinorah Jimenez, respectively.
Special Election Results: 2021 Treasurer
Letty Cardenas is elected MVTA Treasurer for the remainder of the 2020-2021 term.
The announcement of results, Teller’s Report, and certified results from Simply Voting are attached.
✨Remember to RSVP✨
Link to RSVP to the Movie Night Drive-thru is in a PDF sent to your email.
MVTA Bargaining Update - March 3, 2021
Why March is National Women’s History Month
As recently as the 1970s, women’s history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum or in general public consciousness. To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration for 1978. The week March 8th, International Women’s Day, was chosen as the focal point of the observance.
Each year, the dates of National Women’s History Week, (the week of March 8th) changed and every year a new lobbying effort was needed. Yearly, a national effort that included thousands of individuals and hundreds of educational and women’s organizations was spearheaded by the National Women’s History Alliance.
National Women’s History Month
By 1986, 14 states had already declared March as Women’s History Month. This momentum and state-by-state action was used as the rational to lobby Congress to declare the entire month of March 1987 as National Women’s History Month. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.
Information shared by Jacquella Payne, Equity Team Women’s Rights Contact.
CTA Women's Rights Committee Feedback Survey
The Women’s Rights Committee seeks to promote women’s involvement and role in the labor movement, women’s history, and women’s rights.
Survey Link: https://bit.ly/3sQut5p
(This survey is an opportunity to respond to this new committee. You are welcome to respond and for conference click “Equity and Human Rights Conference” or if you have attended one of the other conferences but missed meeting with them click what best describes that conference.)
Information shared by Jacquella Payne, Equity Team Women’s Rights Contact
Special Women's History Month Series!
Tuesday Takeovers...for Racial and Social Justice!
RSVP at https://bit.ly/RSJ202103
March 9, 4-5 pm - CTA Women Balancing Union Leadership and Family
March 23, 4-5 pm - Other Issues Impacting CTA Women During COVID
Webex information will be emailed.
The CTA Human Rights Department is partnering up with the new CTA Women’s Rights Committee to plan these 2 Tuesday Takeovers for CTA members.
The event will be recorded and available on the CTA webpage.
Have questions? humanrightsdept@cta.org
#WeAreCTA
Information shared by Jacquella Payne, MVTA Equity Team Women’s Issues Contact.
2020-2021 CC/HS Faculty Representative Results
The 2020-2021 CC/HS Faculty Representative election has concluded and the three (3) Faculty Representatives are Tommy Velasquez, Maria Aguilar, and Samara Baker. There is a tie for alternate Faculty Representative between Letty Cardenas and Natalie Casillas; a run-off election will be held March 16 - 21.
MVTA Thank You! Drive-Thru Event
Spirits were lifted at the MVTA Thank You! Drive-Thru event that was held this last Monday, February 22nd from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the Madrid drop-off area. The Membership Engagement Committee, through the use of a grant from CTA, was able to put together this event to celebrate MVTA educators.
Each teacher received a Starbucks gift card, a customized pencil, and (all emblazoned with the MVTA logo) 2 pens, a cute cookie, a face mask and a mug!
Each teacher was entered into a raffle and given a flyer with information on how to receive more raffle tickets toward the $50 grand prize drawing.
Teachers that weren’t able to make it will receive their logo items at a later event.
Signup To Be Notified About COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
If you need your COVID-19 vaccine, California residents can go to this website and sign up for an appointment. The website asks you a few questions so that it can assign you to a Tier and if you give them your cell phone number they will notify you when it is your turn.
Here is the link to signup: https://myturn.ca.gov/
CTA 2021 Equity & Human Rights Conference
When: February 24 - 27, 2021
Where: Online
Theme: Truth, Healing, Action
Cost: Free
University Credit & Professional Growth Hours: Free (see CTA.org/credit for more information)
Featured Sessions & Presenters:
Opening Keynote by Little Steven;
A Panel on Communities Organizing for Justice;
Melina Abdullah;
Jackie Byers;
Human Rights Awards
How to attend and to find out times and session information:
Video: MVTA Retiree Panel Held February 17th
MVTA held a retirement panel on February 17 via Zoom and a number retirees shared information about the issues to consider when deciding to retire.
Some are newly retired, and some have been retired for a while, so there was a wide perspective.
Also, it must be said that this is NOT a replacement for a CalSTRS Retirement workshop or a meeting with a financial advisor.
Here is the link: MVTA Retiree Panel
MVTA Thank You! Drive-Thru Event
The MVTA Membership Engagement Committee, using funds from the CTA Member Engagement Grant, is having a special event to acknowledge your hard work.
Please find the RSVP link in your personal email with “MVTA Thank You! Drive-Thru” in the subject line.
