focus

on educators

focus on educators is an award winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA www.peateachers.org

California Teachers Association

Statement of Mission
The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of
teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity
and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society.

MARCH 2015

Volume XXIII, Number 7

In this Issue
- Conferences/Scholarships
- Negotiations Update/Rally Pictures
- Executive Bd. Job Descriptions
- Read Across Pittsburg Pictures
- CTA News
- Grievance Update

Dear Colleagues,
I am amazed by the unrelenting
passion and unity our membership
has demonstrated over the past few
months. We have been coming
together for so many organizing
events and I thought we had
escalated as much as we could, but
then I was blown away by the

outpouring of support from our

members, parents, students, and
community leaders at the last board
meeting and during the work-to-rule
days. It is clear that this community
supports Pittsburg teachers!
Its inspiring to see such a strong
resolve from our members to
exercise our right to secure a fair
and competitive contract. I know it
is incredibly challenging to work-torule and the fact that so many school
sites want to continue doing so until
we get a tentative agreement is very
significant! Our members are taking
a stand to get a contract that respects
us as professionals, will attract and
keep teachers in Pittsburg, and
ensures our students have the
smaller classes they deserve.
Most impressive was the support
from Pittsburg High students who
felt compelled to stand up and
advocate for themselves and the
teachers who do so much to provide
a quality education for them. It is
clear they value their teachers and
believe they deserve teachers who
have a fair contract. It is very
moving that they are willing to take

action and believe they can make a

difference for themselves and their
teachers.
We are very hopeful that the Board
of Education and District leaders
will continue to work with our team
to negotiate a fair agreement so that
we can get a settlement before we
leave for spring break. PEA has
shared
proposals
on
every
outstanding issue and is waiting for
the District to respond. We hope we
do not have to wait until another
mediation session before getting an
agreement.
As you prepare to leave for break,
take a few moments to consider how
much we have done and can
continue to do together. As
educators and union members, we
have so much collective strength to
work for the common good. Lets
continue to advocate for our
professional status and for the
quality public schools that all
Pittsburg students deserve.
In solidarity,
Dawn Cova

PEA Leadership 2014-2015

Rep. Council Meeting Calendar

President

March 23

Dawn Cova

April 20

Rancho Medanos/PEA Office

Elementary Vice President

May 18

Tammy Carr

June 1

Highlands Elementary

***********************************

Secondary Vice President

Shelly Bascomb
BTSA

School Board Meeting Calendar

Secretary

March 11 & 25

Chris Coan

April 22

Willow Cove Elementary

May 6 & 20

Treasurer

June 3 & 24

Gale Higgins

***********************************

Willow Cove Elementary

Committee Chairs:
Grievance Committee

Are You Getting Your PEA Information?

John Kleinjans Pittsburg High

Having our Site Reps collect your input, attend the monthly Rep

Chris Coan Willow Cove Elementary

meeting

Negotiations Team

and

then

report

back

to

you

is

vital

in

communication chain of our Association.

Mark Maselli - Chair

Political Action Committee

Roll call at last February 23rd Rep Council Meeting:

Jim Vaughan - Chair

Adult Ed. present

Stoneman present

Ruth Foster

Foothill present

Willow Cove present

Human Rights & Womens Issues Chairs

Heights absent

MLK Jr. present

Hillview - present

Elections Chair

Yvonne Burton

Highlands present

Michell Redfoot

Los Medanos present Rancho Medanos present

O-Team Chairs

Marina Vista present

PHS - present

Parkside present

Black Diamond present

Shelly Bascomb
Bertha Ramos

***********************************

CTA State Council Representatives

Mark Maselli PEA
CTA Director District C
Terri Jackson
NEA Director for California, District 3
Greg Bonaccorsi
Technical Editor
Susan Harrison PEA Site Secretary

Focus on Educators
is a publication of the
Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA
159 East 4th Street
Pittsburg, CA 94565
Phone: (925) 432-0199
fax: (925) 432-4854
email: info@peateachers.org
website: www.peateachers.org

the

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

2015 Contra Costa County

Teacher / Certificated Staff Job Fair

ALCOSTA Events

Substitute Teachers Needed!

If you know of someone who may be interested, invite
them to attend:
Saturday, April 11
9:00 a.m. noon
PHS Gym

WHO Awards Luncheon

April 18, 2015
Scotts, Jack London Square, Oakland

***********************************

Majority of Public School Students

Live in Poverty

2015 Political Academy

April 23-26
Fairmont, San Jose

According to a research bulletin released by the Southern

Education Foundation (SEF), for the first time in recent
history, just over 50 percent of children attending U.S.
public schools come from low-income families.

PEA Scholarships

The trends are staggering, and yet the national debate

over public education still provides inadequate space for a
serious discussion about poverty and its impact on student
achievement.

PEA Scholarship Applications will be available for

graduating high school seniors who will be attending an
institution of higher learning in the fall of 2015.
Applicants must be the son or daughter of a parent who
is a current member of the PEA/CTA/NEA. You may
request a scholarship application form from your site
rep or by calling 432-0199 or emailing
Susan@peateachers.org.

Growing up in poverty is one of the greatest impediments

to a childs cognitive development and his ability to learn.
Their success or failure in the public schools will
determine the entire body of human capital and
educational potential that the nation will possess in the
future. Without improving the educational support that the
nation provides its low income students students with
the largest needs and usually with the least support the
trends of the last decade will be prologue for a nation not
at risk, but a nation in decline. (From NEA TODAY)

Scholarship forms must be returned to the PEA Office

(159 East 4th Street)
no later than Monday, April 13, 2015 at 4 p.m.
***********************************

Retiring or Changing Districts?

Ensuring that children in poor neighborhoods have the same

learning opportunities that children in more affluent
neighborhoods have is a pillar of Whole Child Education.

If youre retiring this year and you are already protecting

yourself and your family with coverage under the CTAendorsed Voluntary Life Insurance Plan, heres a special
reminder. If you maintain a CTA-NEA Retired Lifetime
Membership and apply within 120 days of retirement, you
and your loved ones can continue a portion of your current,
active Voluntary Life Insurance coverage. This is a limitedtime opportunity so apply now by calling The Standards
CTA Customer Service Department at 800.522.0406.

Equity in resources and programs should be in every single

school building. NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garca

If you are changing school districts, contact The Standard as

soon as possible to ensure that your coverage information is
up to date. Also, if you apply within 120 days of a district
change or transfer, you can choose to continue your
insurance coverage with The Standard at your current level,
or you can apply for Disability Insurance and up to $200,000
of
Life
Insurance.
To
learn
more
visit:
www.standard.com/cta/newhireMORE

Negotiations Update

During the first 3 mediation sessions, the District team

was unwilling to continue to bargain past 4:00
p.m. without the mediator. At the last session, they did
stay until 6:30. Your PEA bargaining team has been
willing to stay every time - all night if needed.

The District team has been unwilling to get decisions

from board members during mediation. While they
should be able to get direction and approval at a
moments notice, it seems they always have to wait
another week for another board meeting.

K-3 class sizes matter! Every other local we know about

is getting an agreement with their district to lower class
sizes with the money from the state. PEA's goal is to
ensure that the District will reduce class sizes to 24:1 as
the law requires, but so far they insist on keeping the
ability to ignore the law and go up to 32:1 on their terms.

The District is once again, in another bargaining cycle,

allowing their attorney to DRAG out negotiations! Could
it possibly be for billable hours?

The District has shown very little concern that their

delays cause you to pay more in health benefits each
month we're not settled. Furthermore, so far they have
had no interest in settling health benefits retroactively.
One board member stated it was behavior modification
because teachers were told the board wouldnt pay retro
benefits back in December; apparently were now being
taught a lesson. THAT IS NOT OK!
(On 3/11, the board member publicly stated that the
behavior modification comment was not referring to
changing teachers behaviorYou can decide for
yourself, but we certainly hope were not being punished
for fighting for a fair contract.)

What an amazing and powerful turn-out at the March 11th

board meeting! Teachers, parents, students, and
community members were out to support PEA teachers
in OUR fight for a FAIR contract! THANK YOU to the
speakers and everyone who showed up!

PEA Executive Officers Job Descriptions

President
The President shall be the chief executive office of the
Association and its policy leader.

7.

The President shall:

9.

8.

1. Preside at all meetings of the Association, the

Representative Council and Executive Board;
2. Prepare the agenda for the meetings of the Association,
the Representative Council and the Executive Board;
3. Be the official spokesperson for the Association;
4. Be familiar with the governance documents of the
Association, CTA, and NEA;
5. Appoint all chairpersons and members of committees,
and of the bargaining team, with the approval of the
Executive Board by the beginning of each school year;
6. Propose the procedures for grievance processing for
ratification by the Executive Board and the
Representative Council;
7. Suggest policies, plans and activities for the Association
and be held responsible for the progress and work of the
Association;
8. Attend meetings of the Service Center Council of which
the Association is a part; and
9. Attend other CTA/NEA meetings as directed by the
Representative Council.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Organizing Team members and other committees

established by the association
Promote support for the Bargaining Team among the
members
Be aware of the status of grievances at the secondary
sites and support the successful resolution of same
Support the Representatives in carrying out their duties
at the secondary sites as it relates to assisting members
who have been accused of violations by the
administration and reporting violations of the contract by
the administration
Support the Representative's efforts to foster a positive
attitude about the union and participation in the functions
of the union at the secondary sites
Represent the union in a professional manner at all
times
Be a resource for all members of information,
position/policy of the association and event schedules
Conduct Principal surveys and compile results
To perform all other appropriate duties as assigned by
the President

Vice President, Elementary

The most important duty of the Vice President, Elementary,
shall be to carry the message of the President to all
Elementary School members in order to activate the
members to participate positively in the association.
To do this, it shall be considered necessary for the Vice
President, Elementary, to perform the following tasks:
1. Actively attend all Executive Board meetings
2. Actively attend all Representative Council meetings
3. Perform the duties of chairman at any Executive Board
or Representative Council meetings that the President is
unable to attend
4. Actively attend meetings of the School Board when
requested by the President
5. Coordinate and assist the Representatives of the
elementary schools to assist them in conducting Ten
Minute meetings at their sites with all their members
6. Recruit members to participate in the activities of the
union at the elementary sites such as Representatives,
Executive Board members, Bargaining Team members,
Organizing Team members and other committees
established by the association
7. Promote support for the Bargaining Team among the
members
8. Be aware of the status of grievances at the elementary
sites and support the successful resolution of same
9. Support the Representatives in carrying out their duties
at the elementary sites as it relates to assisting
members who have been accused of violations by the

Vice President, Secondary

The most important duty of the Vice President, Secondary,
shall be to carry the message of the President to the Junior
High, High School and Continuation High School members in
order to activate the members to participate positively in the
association.
To do this, it shall be considered necessary for the Vice
President, Secondary, to perform the following tasks:
1. Actively attend all Executive Board meetings
2. Actively attend all Representative Council meetings
3. Perform the duties of chairman at any Executive Board
or Representative Council meetings that the President is
unable to attend
4. Actively attend meetings of the School Board when
requested by the President
5. Interact with the Representatives of the secondary
schools to assist them in conducting Ten Minute
meetings at their sites with all their members
6. Recruit members to participate in the activities of the
union at the secondary sites such as Representatives,
Executive Board members, Bargaining Team members,

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

administration and reporting violations of the contract by

the administration
Support the Representative's efforts to foster a positive
attitude about the union and participation in the functions
of the union at the elementary sites
Represent the union in a professional manner at all
times
Be a resource for all members of information,
position/policy of the association and event schedules
Plan and Organize Community Outreach Events:
Farmers Market Table; Sock Drive; Read Across
Pittsburg; and Pittsburg Health & Safety Fair
To perform all other appropriate duties as assigned by
the President

Perform banking actions.

Prepare financial statements and forecasting reports.
Work in partnership with the Executive Board to sustain
overall goals and objectives.

Annually:

Prepare annual financial report according to PERB guidelines

Submit financial information to CPA for tax returns
Provide CPA with 1099 information
Prepare and submit for approval upcoming years financial
budget.
Prepare and distribute Representative Council stipends
Semi-Annually
Prepare and distribute Executive Board Stipends
Prepare and submit PAC filings

Secretary
Duties include the following:

Monthly
Pay bills
Balance checking account
Prepare and submit updated financial report to Executive
Board and Representative Council

1. Keep a careful and accurate record of the proceedings

of each meeting, regular or special, of the Association,
Representative Council, and the Executive Board;
2. Be responsible for the distribution of minutes, notice of
meetings, and agendas for all meetings to members of
the Representative Council and Executive Board; and to
the membership when appropriate;
3. Keep an accurate roster of the membership of the PEA
Association and of all committees and this information to
the office secretary;
4. Carry on the correspondence pertaining to the affairs of
the Association as directed by the President;
5. Keep the PEA Office calendar up-to-date with events
and meetings related to PEA.

Note: please refer to CTA Accounting & Reporting Handbook for

Treasurers for training and detailed information on Treasurer
duties and responsibilities.
ELECTION TIMELINE
The Declaration of Candidacy forms are available from your
site reps as of March 23, 2015. These are due to the PEA
office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 20, 2015.

Treasurer
The Treasurer is in charge of all areas connected to PEAs
finances. This position is responsible for developing and
maintaining short and long-term fiscal planning and
accountability.

There will be a General Membership meeting for all PEA

members on April 20 from 3:454:00 p.m. at the PEA office.
At this time, any nominations can be taken from the floor and
candidates can give a speech if they so desire. After this
meeting, all candidates names and statements will be
printed on a ballot.

The Treasurer has the following responsibilities:

Exercise general supervision over the receipt and
disbursement of all funds of PEA.

The PEA Elections of Officers Ballot will be distributed to all

the school sites on May 4 and members will have from May 4
through May18 until 3:00 p.m. to cast their vote.

Exert official custody of all funds and property of PEA.

Prepare and distribute the annual budget, monthly financial

reports, and annual financial report and tax returns.

Ballots must be turned into the PEA office no later than

4:00 p.m. on May 18, 2015.

Perform such other duties as may properly appertain to PEA

and as may be provided elsewhere in the by-laws or standing
rules.
The Treasurer performs the following tasks:

Ensure the timely payments of all monthly payments and

bills.

The final results will be sent to site reps on June 1 via email.
They will also be posted in the June Focus newsletter and on
our website: peateachers.org.
PEA is a democratic association and relies on your
participation to be governed. Thank you for your support!

NEWS

API SUSPENDED THIS YEAR

The State Board of Education announced they would
suspend the outdated accountability system Academic
Performance Index for a second year. Student scores
will be available, but they will not be used to penalize
schools. The Board said the Smarter Balanced tests are
much different than the previous CST tests therefore
true comparisons could not be made.

Know your Rights and Wrongs!

Rights to Know Students History of Misconduct
and to Suspend from Class

By law, the District must provide information to you

about any of your students who have engaged in or
are suspected of having engaged in misconduct,
including criminal activities, disruptive or defiant
behavior at school, hazing, or harassment over the
past three years. You must keep this information
confidential, except as needed. (Ed. Code sec.
49079, Health and Welfare Code sec. 827(b) (2).)
You have a right to suspend a student from your
classroom for the day of the suspension and the
following day. (Ed. Code sec. 48910.)

CTA President Dean Vogel released the following

statement: As California continues to transition,
transform and revitalize our public schools with the
Common Core State Standards, old student
assessment methods must make way for the new, and
that takes time. While educators are just in the
second year of working with the new standards,
they continue to do so without textbooks that have
been aligned and the resources they need. Many
districts across the state are at different stages of
implementing CCSS and preparedness to administer
the statewide assessments. So you really cant put the
cart before the horse, especially when some of the
horses arent even in the stable.

***********************************

Grievance Update
You are NOT required to notify the office when leaving
campus at lunch.

Delaying the API another year gives teachers a full

year of teaching new standards and helping students
prepare for the new state tests. Its also time that we
get beyond one test score for measuring student
and school success. The Boards action provides the
state the much needed time to further research and
develop a system based on multiple measures of
student progress, such as student attendance,
graduation data and student readiness. It will allow the
state to create an accountability system thats centered
around the local needs of students and communities.

Willow Cove filed a grievance with the district in February

regarding the announcement at a staff meeting that they
would be required to notify the office when they leave
campus at lunch. PEA grieved this as the contract states
that unit members have a duty-free lunch. Requiring a
sign-in/sign-out or even stopping by the office to announce
your intention to leave would be an additional duty that would
impede on the duty-free time. This has NEVER been a
problem before, so were not sure why it came up now. This
was settled at Level 2 by the Asst. Superintendent HR with
a retraction of the requirement that PEA unit members notify
the office when they leave campus for lunch. You are free to
use your duty-free lunch as you see fit!
***********************************

READ ACROSS PITTSBURG March 5, 2015

PEA was excited to celebrate Read Across Pittsburg (our spin on NEA/CTAs Read Across America) with an event we started
last year. We invited special guest readers to our classrooms at Stoneman, Highlands, and Marina Vista! It was a lot of fun for
the guests and the kids! PEA would like to give a special thank you to Superintendent Schulze for supporting this event.
Thank you to the more than 30 community members and district office staff who volunteered their time to read and to make this
a successful literacy event!
Pictured left to right, top to bottom, PUSD Superintendent Janet Schulze, Sue Ferguson (Ed Services),Cindy Bridges (Bank of
the West), Arika Spencer-Brown (Pittsburg Head Start), Pittsburg City Manager Joe Sbranti, Joyce Glasper (Ed Services),
Pittsburg Chief of Police Brian Addington, George Monterrey (Community Activist), Jennifer Sachs (Ed Services)
To see more photos, go to facebook.com/pea.teachers or our website peateachers.org
Tp

To see more photos, go to facebook.com/pea.teachers or our website peateachers.org

READ ACROSS PITTSBURG March 5, 2015

After school, PEA members volunteered to read to preschool and Head Start classes around Pittsburg. PEA has sponsored this
event for several years. The preschool students really enjoy the special gueststheir future teachers! The books One by
Kathryn Otoshi and We Are in a Book! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems were a lot of fun to read and were
donated to each of the preschool classes as gifts from PEA.
Thank you to all of the PEA members who volunteered their time for this event: Pictured left to right, top to bottom, Carmen Belt
(Highlands), Debbie Frieberg (Highlands), Sue Price (Parkside), Ian Maslen (Rancho Medanos), Not Pictured: Carol Addison
(Adult Ed.), Kathy Barrere (PHS),Tammy Carr (Highlands), Chris Coan (Willow Cove), Cookie Freeman (PHS), Eduardo Lagos
(Rancho Medanos)

Calendar
MARCH
2-13
6-8
8
9
11
17
20
23
25
29

NEA-RA State Delegates Election

Equity & Human Rights Conference Hyatt Regency, S.F. Airport
Daylight Saving Time begins
PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM
PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 7:00 PM
St. Patricks Day
Spring begins
PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM
PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 7:00 PM
Palm Sunday

APRIL
1
2
3
3
5
6-10
13
13
20
20
22
22

April Fools Day

Cesar Chavez Day/No School
Good Friday/Passover begins at Sundown
Board Holiday/No School
Easter
Spring Recess
PEA Senior Scholarship Applications Due
PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM
Candidacy Forms Due for Executive Board Elections
PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM
PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 7:00 PM
Earth Day/Administrative Professionals Day
Next Deadline for Articles is Monday, April 13, 2015
STAY INFORMED @ peateachers.org

and cta.org & nea.org

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