SEP 2010 FACULTY A LOOK INSIDE
A New Bond: Should We Do It? MATTERS FACULTY by David Yancey ASSOCIATION PAGE 1 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS LOCAL 6157 Personal Notes: Kathleen Fox PAGE 2 Robert Hugh Derushia PAGE 2 Sydney Sukuta PAGE 3 A New Bond: Should We Do It? Ray Collins PAGE 8 by David Yancey, FA, AFT 6157 President What Has the Union Done For You Lately? by Diane Soriano From the outset, let us all agree that realm of the facts. The overwhelming PAGE 4 there is room for reasonable debate data the district has obtained from about the efficacy of seeking a new professionals in conducting bond Retiree Corner: educational bond in November of 2010. campaigns is very positive i.e. Pounding The Pavement That being said let us also agree that favorable attitudes about us and the by Patrick Dougherty the unanimous decision of the Board of work we do by our district’s residents is PAGE 4 Trustees at its August 3, 2010 meeting very high, even in light of the past 9 to approve a bond is a hugely important months of negative press. The latest Barbequing With Paul Fong one for the students of this college data from a July survey by Godbe by Minerva Duke-Caruso district. More about those Trustee folks Research/Gain Insights shows a PAGE 5 later in this article. positive rating amongst our district Adjunct News and Views: residents at 69% and similar support for The 2010 CFT State Convention The Facts a bond. by Jory Segal On the issue of the bond itself, it is PAGE 6 important to have this debate within the —continued on page 3 A Gathering For Trustee Mayra Cruz by Arturo Villareal PAGE 7
SPRING FOUR
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SAN JOSÉ/EVERGREEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT FACULTY MATTERS ♦ SEP 2010 Personal Notes
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
PRESIDENT David Yancey x3873 VICE-PRESIDENT Frank Espinoza* x6581 FISCAL OFFICER Linda Ferrell x3231 Robert Hugh Derushia *Negotiations Team by Robert Reininger, Retired Faculty EVC REPRESENTATIVES Member AFT 6157-R FULL-TIME Deborah DeLaRosa* x6607 FULL-TIME Minerva Duke x6663 ADJUNCT Vacant *Negotiations Team Robert Derushia passed away on Earlier, Robert retired from the U. S.
SJCC REPRESENTATIVES August 4, 2010 Coast Guard as a chief petty officer FULL-TIME Fabio Gonzalez x3168 FULL-TIME Kieron Connolly x3667 where he flew rescue missions. He ADJUNCT Jesse Votaw 288-3779 Born February 25, 1933, Robert was good person that gave of himself EX-OFFICIO both professionally and privately. He is PAST PRESIDENT Mark Newton x3989 Derushia taught fabrication and GRIEVANCE Debbie De La Rosa x6607 survived by his wife, four children and NEGOTIATIONS Jory Segal x3779 assembly for the Electronics RETIREE PRESIDENT Bill Jacobs x6525 Department at San Jose City College many grandchildren. MENTORSHIP COORD. Laura Sanchez x3254 from 1983 through 1995. He was an COUNCIL OF DIVISION REPRESENTATIVES exacting and detailed instructor and he He will be missed by his family and SAN JOSÉ CITY COLLEGE prepared his students for work in the colleagues. MATH AND SCIENCE Iyun Lazik x3633 large electronics manufacturing
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES industry in Silicon Valley. Jesus Covarrubias x3885 Anne Hickling, Adjunct x3779 Bahram Behroozi x3845
APPLIED SCIENCE Pat Space, Adjunct x3782 Joe Cota, Adjunct x3781
BUSINESS/SERVICE CAREERS Carol Ramirez x3974 2 New Additions for Sydney and LANGUAGE ARTS Ron Levesque x3870 Sandra Sukuta Virginia Scales x3870 by Sydney Sukuta, SJCC Faculty Cynthia Solem x3867 Javier Chapa x3862 Rebecca Gamez x3308 grandparents first joined in 1893 in Dorothy Pucay x3860 Sydney Sukuta and his wife, Sandra, Don Mei Cao x3877 were blessed with twins, Sydaira Rose Sydney’s home country of Zimbabwe. INSTRUCTIONAL TECH/LEARNING RESOURCES and Sydney Ten’ani Sukuta, on May 8th http://www.renofirstcongregational.org/ COUNSELING AND ATHLETICS/PE Bob Wing x3945 happenings071810.htm Marc Sola x3634 2010. Sydney Sukuta is a Laser Joseph King x3115 Technology and Physics Professor at EVERGREEN VALLEY COLLEGE San Jose City College. Both Sydney BUSINESS, APPLIED TECHNOLOGY and Sandra are very grateful to COUNSELING Elaine Ortiz-Kristich x6680 SJECCD Faculty Association, AFT
LANGUAGE ARTS 6157 and its Executive Director Phuong Banh x6672 Maggie Fieler x6697 Barbara Hanfling, for the faculty Sravani Bannerjee x2029 Ken Jardin x6695 benefits they steadfastly negotiate for
TECHNOLOGY/INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES and defend, tremendously helped in Nasreen Rahim x6246 Shelly Blackman x6660 defraying the costs associated with the
MATH/SCIENCE delivery and care of their twins. Teck Ky x6877 The twins were baptized on July 18th at NURSING Linda Hoogendijk x6264 the United Church of Christ’s (UCC)
SOCIAL SCIENCE/HUMANITIES/ARTS/PE First Congregational Church of Reno, Jack Da Silva x6610 Arturo Villarreal x6609 thus joining a church their great Randy Pratt x6592 Sydney Ten’ani and Sydaira Rose Sukuta
2 F ACULTY MATTERS ♦ SEP 2010 A New Bond: Should We Do It? - continued from page 1
The need in our district for continued identified several areas in need of the heart and soul of this district is true expansion and improvement of our improvement in our policies and and strong and our students need us to facilities to better serve our students is procedures. defend it. well established. There are also components of the new bond measure The Question Finally, many of you read my articles that will establish green energy Now we faculty must answer the same over the last several months criticizing capabilities that will offset major energy question faced by the Trustees; is this the Board for a lack of leadership. But costs at EVC and have a positive new bond the right fight to have, and here, now, we have a unanimous vote effect on our overall utility costs in the is this the right time to do it? to do the right thing in an environment district which will reduce the impact on that would intimidate many, especially if our general fund. I believe the answer is yes. It is they were up for re-election. Doing the absolutely in the best interests of our right thing especially when it could cost The Timing students and our community to finish you personally is not common in today’s It is true that an old axiom in politics is the construction projects necessary to world. that “timing is everything”. An complete both of our campuses. argument could be made that the timing I think they are right, and I think this for this bond is not the best. Much will We cannot, we should not cower in the decision is a brave one. It reminds me be made of the negative press in recent face of negative, often inaccurate press of President Obama’s decision to get months. Three separate investigations coverage, nor should we accept the health care reform when all around have been completed and for the most negative image of our district as painted him, even his closest advisors, were part found the accusations of the media by those with an agenda that is against it because the timing was bad unfounded. The trips and many of the destructive to the needs of our students, and but it was the right thing for the expenditures authorized by the Board staff and faculty. What is lost by American people. He thought the fell within the scope and guidelines of dwelling on negativity and “living our American people were worth it. the district. Investigations of the former lives in a rear-view mirror” is that we, chancellor did raise some ethical and you and I and the rest of the district’s We called for leadership, well here it is. conflict of interest issues that should be employees continue to do good The question is are we willing to rise to evaluated and acted upon if found to be work. We continue to pursue this the occasion and support our students, in violation of the law. But for the most noblest of all professions, education, our staff and be proud of the good part the three investigations only with earnest and dedication. I believe work we do, or will we shrink from the challenge? I believe we should. Personal Notes
Kathleen Fox by Alice Gosak
Kathleen Fox, former librarian at San Memorial servies for Kathleen Fox Jose City College, died peacefully at were held August 31st, at 11:30 a.m at home surrounded by her family after a Darling-Fischer, 231 E. Campbell long struggle with cancer. Kathy will Avenue, Campbell, CA, with a be remembered as a kind and helpful gathering at the family’s home from member of the college community who 4:00-8:00 p.m. remained active and kept up with a variety of interests after her retirement to Sugar Pine in the Mother Lode. 3 FACULTY MATTERS ♦ SEP 2010
What Has the Union Done for You Lately? by Diane Soriano, Adjunct Counselor EVC
Coming to My Aid After the meeting Barbara advised I want to pass on my regards and that I submit a timesheet, which was heartfelt thanks to the Union, namely then also denied by my supervisor. Deborah de la Rosa and Barbara Hanfling, who supported me for the I contacted Barbara and she and last couple of months in a tense Deborah were able to swiftly resolve situation involving my supervisor. the matter quickly and professionally.
During the spring 2010 semester, my Sincerely, part time position with EVC was Diane impacted by changes in the adjunct priority hiring list. This was the start P.S. I must add that as I hemmed and Spring 2010 Adjunct Fall Meeting of the semester—a very busy time— hawed about contacting the union, and the changes caused some was told that my position would be another faculty member at the meeting confusion. offered to another with seniority rehire put it to me plainly, “If you don’t do Consequently, there was a preference. After my verbal and something about your pay now what misunderstanding regarding my last written attempts to be paid were will happen 20 years from now when day as a faculty member and I denied, I attended my first adjunct they will want to take away your continued to work until the date I faculty union meeting to seek support. retirement [because] you let them get away with it this time?”
Retiree Corner: Pounding the Pavement by Patrick Dougherty, Retire Chapter AFT 6157-R
At the Spring meeting of the Retired and very comfortable. Our area was in Faculty Group, I signed up to do a shift the south Almaden area around of working the phone banks for Camden Avenue. We loaded up with candidates worthy of support prior to flyers and a map. Barbara and I took the June 8th, Primary Election. one side of the street and David took I showed up at the Labor Council the other. We knocked on doors and Facility on Saturday morning, May 22, gave information on why they should at 11:30 AM ready to do my job. I support Forest Williams. The day went found Barbara Hanfling and David quickly, and I was pleasantly surprised Yancey who were ready to go do some at how enjoyable it was. The people we precinct walking for Forest Williams met were fantastic and willing to who is running for County Supervisor in engage in good conversation about the the First District. Patrick Dougherty, FA, AFT 6157-R Retiree candidates. Besides that, we had a the job at hand. I was not looking wonderful 2 hour walk and good They asked if I wanted to join them. forward to it at all. Fortunately it was a conversation. The moral of the story is: Reluctantly I said OK. We took off in nice day. The weather was like a don’t be afraid to get involved. I would Barbara’s car while I was filled in on mountain day. It was cool, a bit windy, do it again. 4 F ACULTY MATTERS ♦ SEP 2010
Barbequing with Paul Fong by Minerva Duke-Caruso, FA, AFT 6157 Representative
On Sunday, May 16th, Faculty Union classified personnel. He is not only State Universities. Paul Fong supports President, David Yancey, vice- fighting for the survival of our colleges, this bill. president, Frank Espinoza, executive but is also looking ahead at what can be Paul Fong introduced bill AB2302 that director, Barbara Hanfling, and your done to support and simplified the path is asking the UC system to study and EVC campus representative, Minerva from community college to the report back on what can be done to Duke-Caruso, from your Local AFT university. smooth the transition for our community 6157 attended a fund raiser to kick-off college students transferring to the Paul Fong’s re-election campaign for Last year, San Jose State University Universities of California. In an senator for the State Assembly (District and other universities who used to have editorial from the LA Times from 22). transfer agreements with community August 2nd, they called it “A simple colleges canceled these agreements, degree path” and they support both While enjoying a tasty chicken making the transition to the 4-year legislative bills that would establish a barbecue hosted and prepared by the college harder for community college clear process by which our students Santa Clara County Firefighters, IAFF students. A bill introduced by state can obtain a bachelor’s degree. Local 1165, I realized how proud and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima- (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/ lucky we are to have a senator who bill SB 1440) will help establish a editorials/la-ed-college- was a community college professor at clear route to attain a bachelor’s 20100802,0,2842251.story) Evergreen College and a board degree. Students from all community member for the De Anza/Foothill colleges would have the same Again, we were honored to be Community College District. This is a requirements making this an easier supporters of Paul Fong and get to person who knows first-hand what jump to the university level. Research spend time at his barbeque. We enjoyed community college is all about and the shows that a large number of our chatting with Paul, his family and also needs that we are all facing: budget students take classes in several with Randy Okamura, our Board of cuts, high student enrollment, aging community colleges, and this bill would Trustee member. We all know that facilities, non-rehiring of full-time guarantee admissions to California continuing to be a part of Sacramento faculty, and cuts to adjunct faculty and politics is very important for our union.
Board Members of the FA, AFT 6157 and SJECCD Faculty join in the BBQ for Paul Fong 5 FACULTY MATTERS ♦ SEP 2010 Adjunct News And Views
by Jory Segal, FA, AFT 6157 Negotiations Team and EVC PE Instructor
Reporting on the CFT State with the same rights of employment classroom hours as full-time colleagues Convention from an Adjunct Faculty security, equal pay for equal work, full preparing lessons and grading Perspective access to healthcare, retirement, and assignments. Repeated problems have This was my first CFT State rights of participation in joint occurred, and continue to occur, with Convention and I must admit I wasn’t governance, etc.” accurate calculation and reporting of prepared for the excitement and service credits from districts to the continual dialog that was a big part of California State Teachers Retirement the convention. I felt like I was on a System (STRS). Problems with STRS roller coaster ride with moments of reporting could be dramatically resolved extreme exhilaration followed by by a Full-time Equivalent (FTE) relative calm, and then another thrilling percentage-based reporting system. ride up and over the next hill. Note: (The San Jose Evergreen Valley I am a member of the CFT State College District has already Committee for Part-time Faculty. In accomplished the goal of this resolution January, the committee began to work as we are already on a percentage on three resolutions to be presented at based pay schedule, [pro-rata pay]). the March Convention. We met in Oakland to discuss how to approach Resolution 3: Limiting Full-Time the adjunct faculty issues to be Faculty Overload presented as Resolutions. We continued Whereas the assignment of excessive working most of the first day at the course overloads to full-time faculty in Convention and late that night we the community colleges can be Jory Segal, EVC Faculty at the CFT State presented the Resolutions. We wanted Convention detrimental to the quality of classroom to ensure all the resolutions were instruction, to the performance of understood and would pass. Resolution 2: Percentage based professional duties, to the work of Pay Schedule for Part-Time Faculty institutional development, and therefore Resolution 1: Ending Casualization (pro-rata pay) harmful to the education of students, of Academic Labor “Be it resolved that CFT will pursue This resolution deals with the reduction legislation requiring that part-time Be it resolved that henceforth full-time of full time tenure track faculty, the faculty be placed onto the same district faculty in a single community college increase in contingent, part-time faculty, salary schedules as their full-time shall be restricted to their full-time the reduction in benefits, salary, colleagues on the basis of academic workload plus a maximum of .8 [80%] employment security, and decent preparation and years of experience in of a load per academic year. Such working conditions for adjunct faculty. a manner that bears the same limitations would not supersede more The casualization of academic relationship to placement of full-time stringent restrictions that already exist employment negatively affects the time instructors on the schedule, and in locally bargained agreements. education of students. Be it further resolved that part-time “Therefore Be It Resolved that the faculty salary is to calculated, stated on Note: (The San Jose Evergreen Valley California Federation of Teachers payroll notices and class assignments, College District already limits full-time (CFT) challenges directly the and reported to STRS as a percentage faculty to a maximum of .4 (40%) casualization of academic employment, of full-time salary.” overload per semester.) insisting that from here forward all faculty in institutes of higher education Part time faculty are required to hold Our Union needs to support these shall be offered full or part-time tenure the same academic credentials and resolutions. Tune in next month and I track employment after a suitable qualifications to teach the same courses will tell you what you can do to help period of probation, shall be employed as their full-time colleagues and they facilitate the resolutions to become bills spend the same number of non- to be presented to the legislature. 6 F ACULTY MATTERS ♦ SEP 2010
A Gathering For Trustee Mayra Cruz by Arturo Villarreal, EVC Council of Division Reps
Frank Espinoza twisted my arm, so Eventually Mayra was introduced and there I was. It was a warm late spoke eloquently and at length about afternoon in June at the home of Bill her first year on the job, our present Jacobs and his wife Julie. It was my situation and the future of our district. third time at a gathering in their She also shared her values and vision beautiful home in the San Jose State as a SJECCD board member. She area. In this case, it was a gathering of shared her commitment to providing support for SJECCD trustee Mayra opportunities for all students to achieve Cruz. As soon as the door opened, Bill their educational goals. answered and I immediately felt at home. Bill is the quintessential host with the most. The next person I met was a complete surprise in that I had not seen him since he left EVC for the Mayra Cruz address the crowd. state capitol. It was great to see such an accomplished former colleague. Once we walked outside to greet the others, the tone for the afternoon was set. Anyone who has been to the Jacobs’ house knows that although the house is beautiful, the back yard is a separate reality. What the Jacobs’ have created back there is a piece of heaven that is a very tranquil piece of nature. FA, AFT 6157 Vice President, Frank Espinoza and Board of Trustees member There was a great spread with a Mayra Cruz variety of drinks at hand. It was nice to chat with Barbara Hanfling, our Executive Director of the Union and So, what is the moral of the story? Well David Yancey, our President. And it if you are ever approached by Frank was wonderful to see a mixture of old Espinoza or any other union friends, colleagues, and retirees as well. representative and are asked if you could attend the faculty picnic or any other related AFT 6157 event, be sure to accept. You will find that it will all EVC faculty, Janina Espinoza and State be worthwhile because there will be Senator, Paul Fong friends, colleagues, retirees as well as new people to meet and have a good When I asked him if he missed the time with. And in true educational classroom, in typical Paul Fong style, fashion, you will find it to be he remarked, without skipping a beat, educational and entertaining as well. “I have a new classroom” and then smiled.
Enjoying good company and conversation 7 FACULTY MATTERS ♦ SEP 2010 Personal Notes:
Ray Collins-We Will Miss Him helped me to find a rental home in By George Forrester, Vice President, Almaden Valley. I had no idea what the Retire Chapter AFT 6157-R future would hold for me with Ray and Louise. Gilda and I and our children What can one say about one of your became members of their family. We closest friends that could reveal what shared birthdays, Christmas Eves, he meant to you! On Monday, August vacations together, deaths and births. 2, 2010 Dr. Ray Collins of Los Gatos passed away peacefully. A native to the Ray had been at SJCC since 1959. He Bay Area he was born in San taught speech and communications at Francisco in 1925 and raised in the San Jose City College until he was 75 Salinas/Gonzales region. and part-time until he was 83. He started as their Drama professor under I was hired by phone and arrived at conditions that were, to put it mildly, SJCC after a long drive, alone, with my primitive. He did his productions in the family still in Eastern Oregon, with no music band room and where he might place to stay, with a car loaded with have built the sets and costumes, was University of Southern California and hastily gathered clothes and boxes. The anyone’s guess. I’m sure that his wife, the name stuck. following morning, I was introduced to Louise, and her sewing machine came the seven members of the Speech and in handy. No, they did not light the He was always in attendance, with Drama Department at SJCC. shows with candles, but remember the Louise, at all of the Music and Drama conditions were primitive. He moved on presentations. He would always praise I was terribly disoriented but one man to teach Speech and took over the radio them; never criticize. He was there for took me by the hand, and helped to station and the Radio/TV classes. me during some of my most insecure make my adjustment to the campus a These became very popular. Everyone moments. smooth and easy one. wanted to take a class from this very gentle and humorous professor. They He loved his Louise and she deserved Ray Collins brought me home where called him “Doc” after he was every bit of his love. His children, his wife, Louise, fed me, and helped me awarded his doctorate from the Shavon and Shaun and his four to select an inexpensive hotel and grandchildren, were the joy of his life. When I learned of Ray’s passing, I felt a great loss. But, Ray is not gone. He will always be a part of me.
FACULTY MATTERS PRODUCTION TEAM
Editor/Lead Writer: Barbara Hanfling Assistant Editor: Sterling Warner Copy Edit/Layout: Patti Berg Photos: Barbara Hanfling
Content Contributions and Guidance from the FA, AFT 6157 Executive Board and Faculty Members 8