Hello YCTA,
You should have received your latest Blue
Thursday Crisis Flier. We hope that each
flyer gives you something to consider and talk about. The latest issue
addressed comparable salaries by citing the District website.
Did you see a blue sea of support in our new
shirts today? If you need a size
adjustment or just missed the order or even want to order an extra one, contact
Paula Manning. The original order form is attached. If you are
ordering a second shirt, please add $5 to the price quoted. We subsidized
the cost of one tee shirt per member to get everyone a tee shirt at no
cost.
Have you heard about the Board meeting Tuesday
night? YCTA members spoke
before the closed session and during the open session. Their articulate
and well crafted statements put forth the personal stories from individual
teachers or sites that show we are all YCTA. Their statements and those
of others in previous and future board meetings, help our board to remember
that YCTA is all of us not just our leadership. You may want to
listen to their statements (link).
They were wonderful.
Please join me in thanking these people for speaking for all of us. Derek
Morrison from Lincoln and Julie Barkley from Bridge Street spoke at the very
beginning before closed session. While Mark Canfield, Whitney Still, and
Ronald Dotson from RVHS spoke at the end of the open session. It makes it
easy to find their statements within the recording (the beginning and the
end). The Board President responded after each set of speakers.
Listen here. Our teachers represented us with
dignity and professionalism as they shared our stories.
Our board will continue to hear from us. YCTA will address the board again at
the next board meeting May 14. We want our board to see
that we are YCTA and that YCTA is more than our leadership. We are asking the District to Value Us, Respect Us. and Negotiate
with Us. Our expectations are reasonable and our progress will depend
upon our unity.
I summarized a bit as best I could. But instead of reading my words, I
encourage you to listen to theirs. They will make you proud of our
profession and our collective work as educators in YCUSD.
Derek Morrison, Lincoln School teacher acknowledged his many Lincoln colleagues
in their Lincoln shirts as he demonstrated to the board what respect looks like
at Lincoln School. He described the impact of professional development
provided at teh expense of teacher time with students. He has missed five
days with his students and invested 1.5 hours to plan lessons for the sub and
0.5 hour to clean up after the sub on each of those days. He addressed
the rising costs of benefits and the missed opportunity for the District to help.
He cut his prepared statement short due to the three minute time limit.
He had intended to address the shared decision making at Lincoln. He
closed his impact as teacher as he teachers kindergarten students to value and
respect each other and negotiate to resolve conflicts. He urged the board
to do the same.
Julie Barkley with many fellow Bridge Street teachers standing behind her did a
terrific job of describing the team work at Bridge as teachers and other
educators adjust their practices to serve students. She described the
Bridge Street commitment to a reflective practice that leads to their continued
improvement. She addressed the impact of relationships in the classroom,
school, and negotiations. She linked this to the lack of progress in
negotiations.
Mark Canfield thanked the board for their support of AVID and described the
emotional commitment teachers make to our students and our work. He also
addressed that the goal of board is to attract and retain the best teachers and
acknowledged that you accomplish that by paying competitive salaries. He urged
progress in negotiations. He also addressed the negative tone established when
the ABI letter was sent to our homes. He urged the board to take control
to change the tone.
Whitney Still spoke to tell the board her story starting her dream job at RV as
an art teacher, her marriage and motherhood in the following years. She
told us about her three children and the impact on her family of the district's
arbitrary decision to change the advancement practice. She urged the
board to see the human impact on her family of more than $5,000 per year and
over the course of 20 years more than $100,000. Her story was a moving
one of a mother and teacher.
Ronald Dotson also spoke though he indicated he had not intended to do
so. He gave some perspective to the challenges of special education in a
PI world, but also addressed the board goal of keeping quality teachers.
He shared his personal questioning as to why he should stay in the
district. He urged the District to move forward in negotiations.
If you read to the end, I am amazed. Listen to the audio my words cannot
do their efforts justice. I am proud to serve with all of you. See
you next week in Blue.
We are YCTA, Dina
Dina Luetgens
YCTA President
United as
Professionals
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