As I reviewed the recent bargaining survey several comments have solutions now or were in process to be updated. Please take a few minutes to scan through the headers for any of these items that might be pertinent to you or your colleagues. As always, questions or concerns can be brought to your site reps, Exec Board Representative, Tracy, or myself. Don't suffer unnecessarily in silence. If you have a concern, then say something - there may already be an answer in part or I may be able to tell what is in the works. By voicing your thoughts and concerns, FCEA will understand what is most important to you, and how we can represent your voice.
Safety at on Campuses
Fencing will take place at all sites in the next few years. Your administration should know the exact timeframe. All sites have had cameras installed throughout. If you are feeling unsafe due to your classroom placement, please bring your issues to your site reps, so they can brainstorm ideas for all teachers or go to your admin and ask if there is an alternative classroom that could be available to you. This is a great time to ask, since it is almost the end of the year and moving to a new classroom would be easier during summer or at the end of the year.
Science/Art/CTE Labs
If the district programs and protocols for safety have unfortunate outcomes and you have stated/documented those unsafe protocols or environments, then you are covered by the district. It is when staff does not mention the issue is when some of the liability falls on the staff member. Ultimately though, even though staff members possibly will be named in a civil case, the deep pockets are the district, not us. This is also the reason you have CTA membership, you are covered for legal representation for this issue.
Discipline of Students
Due to the change in CA Ed Code, our teachers may be feeling that the students are running amok. Remember, teachers can suspend students from their class for “K” (defiance/disruption violations, but the school can no longer. An administrator cannot take this right away. If the administrators violate this code, please contact me ASAP. As long as you have completed “other means” (a simple phone conversation occurring any time during the school year), you can suspend for that day and the following day. Scott Meyer’s office, Attendance/Due Process, will be sending out a reminder email to all admin soon. Also, some of you have asked for the discipline matrix, here it is. However, there is some discretion and leeway for administrators with students. If you feel that the administrators aren’t doing enough, please contact your reps and express your feelings and facts about your situation. Reps once a month meeting is to bring issues to the administration to vet and problem solve.
Appendix D Update
FCEA is currently in discussions to update the language on Appendix D. We have sent out inquiries to all principals, Athletic Director, Special Groups Reps, and others to look over the changes that have been suggested by Peter Maroon. If you have questions or concerns about this specific issue contact your representative.
Supervision v. Adjunct Duties
FCEA has tried to address this issue with MOU #10. We will be editing this MOU for the next year to address some of the issues mentioned. However, because of certain CIF guidelines for each athletic division and the number of staff members, demands of supervision will be different. We are trying to put a max on the number of supervision duties for the comprehension high school. Middle and Elementary schools at the time when the 2023-2024 MOU was written, FCEA inquired about supervision and at the time, it wasn’t an issue. This year, there has been a rise in supervision at both levels.
For elementary, as long as the administration is distributing the supervision equally among staff and it follows the 15 minutes before or after, then it is within their rights to have you supervise students. The issue becomes if the sign-up conflicts with the teacher’s wish to be before or after school. My suggestion would be to work with the administration and reps to try to problem solve. At this point, principals can’t force you to stay after your 15 minutes. Next year, elementary chairs will be taking on this task as part of their stipend, please make sure you read carefully the fine print of the new job descriptions.
For middle school, FCEA will be trying to get an understanding of student supervision at your sites. We have been gathering data throughout the year. Look for a possible MOU for your specific level.
For all comprehensive sites, the process of signing up for supervision duties from the MOU would be a good blueprint to follow:
For all other sites/levels, your reps should be meeting with the administration and coming up with a process that can be similar to this or another equitable way. The days of “first come, first serve” should not be happening.
Required Trainings
FCEA has been working with leadership to solve this problem. We think we have come up with a solution, so please look for an MOU by the end of the year.
Combination Classes
FCEA understands that any type of combination class is difficult. At the elementary level, teachers do not get monetary compensation. What they do receive is a $250 materials stipend. They have to get prior approval for the materials and process the materials or refund through the office. They also have one adjunct duty covered, but usually there are several per staff person.
Middle School Minutes
FCEA did extensive research of the surrounding school districts, and only found one district has less minutes than we do - Sac. City. However, their early release is only 60 minutes long. When you add the 30 minutes into their week-long schedule, the net difference is one hour and 35 minutes long. All other districts are the same or more than we have. FCEA has offered to have staff present their case to the board; no one as of yet has approached us for that Board time. Here is the link for the comparison of the surrounding districts.
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