President's Updates
Happy First Day of School!
MOU Short Update
Dear AREA Members,
Just a "short" update on where things stand regarding the bargaining of the return to school. First of all, I want to thank you for your patience. I know how extremely difficult this has been for many of you (and me, too). Most teachers would have been working in your classrooms long before now to create a welcoming environment for your new students. Many teachers have been planning out their lessons to start the year and provide a solid learning program. But that is pretty tough to do in this environment and without any information on what the working conditions and expectations are going to be. I get that...I share in the stress and anxiety of not having that information yet.
Since the last update when we put out the call for you to send emails to the Superintendent and Board Members regarding the main sticking points on the MOU, we have come a long way because of your actions! We have spent countless hours over the last two weeks bargaining with the district's team and we have made good progress.
Actually, we are down to only one area of differences. Since the topic ultimately can have huge implications, it is very important that we agree on specific language to protect our members from being called to report on site for frivolous arbitrary reasons. After all, we are in this situation because of a pandemic! The health and safety of our members and students are our top priority. I am confident we will settle on language that will be agreeable for the district and AREA.
As a result of the input the board members have received from the community (including those of you who reached out to them), the Superintendent called for a special board meeting to take place Monday, August 10. The purpose of the meeting is to bring the board up to date on the status of the MOU negotiations. Ideally, there will not be a need for that meeting to take place since we are still doing our best to reach an agreement this weekend. Keep hope alive!
Please try to enjoy your last weekend before the new work year begins. Once an agreement is reached, you will be the first to know!
Thanks,
Jocelyn Merz, AREA President
Call to Act NOW!
All AREA Members:
The District and AREA bargaining teams have had 4 separate bargaining dates to specifically address the changes in working conditions necessitated by the State's Order for School Closures during this Covid-19 period.
The overall threads woven throughout the District's proposals are those colored by their LACK OF RESPECT, TRUST & SUPPORT, along with their NEED FOR POWER AND CONTROL to dictate how, when, and from where we will teach our students!
It's been extremely challenging, frustrating, and disappointing...and we are not even close to a satisfactory agreement! Do we really report back 2 weeks from today (PD August 11 and students August 18)???!
The main points of contention are as follows:
- The District wants to require 40% of the instructional day to be daily, live, synchronous instruction.
AREA's argument is that this does not allow for teachers to have flexibility, based upon their professional judgment, to meet the needs of their students.
- The District wants to take away 3 hours of our prep time per week to provide for professional development.
AREA's argument is that prep time is our time to prepare...we need more time, not less, to implement distance learning! By the way, it was the District that wanted to negotiate away 2 of the PD days...now they want to carve it out of our prep time!!!
- The District wants the ability to require you to report in person to your school site with 24 hours notice.
When AREA asked for what possible reason the principal would have to require a member to report to the site, the District said something having to do with electronic devices not working. However, when AREA pressed them on the real reason they wanted this included, they said in case there were ineffective teachers...they wanted to call them to meet in person. Seriously??? We are in a pandemic!
- The District is offering NO monetary reimbursement OR materials (except laptop & hotspot) to support distance teaching off site.
AREA's argument is that the District has received almost $3 million dollars for COVID related expenses, however, they are not willing to provide any necessary resources or money to offset any personal costs incurred by members (paper, printer ink, online resource subscriptions, etc). We understand that teachers may conduct class from their classrooms, but how safe is that???
- The District is NOT willing to require a student online etiquette form to be on file at the start of distance learning, however, they will hold members responsible if there is inappropriate student behavior exhibited.
AREA does NOT want our members responsible for what we have no control over!
*****
The fact that we even have to fight to have the necessary resources and appropriate working conditions available for us to implement a successful distance learning program for our students is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET THIS DONE...RIGHT AWAY!!!
Please contact the Superintendent, Dr. Hilaria Bauer at hilaria.bauer@arusd.org and let her know these demands are unreasonable. Urge her to IMMEDIATELY direct the District team to negotiate an agreement that will support AREA during this pandemic to best meet the needs of our students.
WE NEED AN AGREEMENT NOW!
Bargaining Update
A word from our CTA president
AREAs of Interest
Clarifications & Reminders
About Us
Dedicated Educators
AREA members are offered the following health benefits choices:
Dedicated Educators
The history of America has been largely created by the deeds of its working people and their organizations--there is scarcely an issue that is not influenced by labor’s organized efforts or lack of them.— William Cahn, Labor historian
Our History
AREA members are offered the following health benefits choices:
Dedicated Educators
PURPOSE:
The idea for this timeline and ARUSD history came from the several requests from teachers who wished to know more about our school district, as well as the history of education in California. This timeline is condensed but lists significant events that have shaped the history of Alum Rock School District, the superintendents, and Alum Rock Educators Association.
AREA members are offered the following health benefits choices:
AREA members are offered the following health benefits choices:
AREA members are offered the following health benefits choices:
Medical Coverage: Anthem PPO90, Anthem EPO80, or Kaiser10 and Kaiser20
Dental Coverage: Delta Dental or Delta PMI
Vision coverage: VSP
District Office Contact:
Melody Todd
Beneifts / Insurance
melody.todd@arusd.org
ext. 6505
CTA Member Benefits Services
Medical Coverage: Anthem PPO90, Anthem EPO80, or Kaiser10 and Kaiser20
Dental Coverage: Delta Dental or Delta PMI
Vision coverage: VSP
District Office Contact:
Melody Todd
Beneifts / Insurance
melody.todd@arusd.org
ext. 6505