Educators Discuss QEIA Successes

Where do California teachers go when it’s their turn to learn?

The Brandman School of Education.

More teachers choose Brandman University. Last year we issued over 1,400 The Brandman School of Education teaching credentials. That’s more than Cal State LA, UC San Diego and Cal State San Francisco combined. How does a new school get so big, so fast? Graduate Degrees: • Education Simple. We’re not new. Brandman is the new name for Chapman University • School Counseling / School Psychology College, and we’re changing more than our name. • Special Education • Teaching Our School of Education has a new dean and a sharp focus on helping the next generation of teachers embrace technology and innovate in the classroom. Credential Programs: • Multiple Subject / Single Subject Best of all, we are still part of the Chapman University System, and we are • Education Specialist • Preliminary / Professional still a private, non-proﬁ t university. Everything we do is about helping you Administrative Services advance your education and your career. • Pupil Personnel Services — School Counseling and School Psychology Call 800-581-4100 Click brandman.edu Follow

Brandman University is accredited by, and is a member of, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Credential, authorization and professional certificates in education programs are accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

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client: Brandman University prepared by: Dentsu America proofreader ______description: Education Ad - creative director: B. Gantt FP 4C B art director: B. Gantt art director ______number: BUCO-0250 copywriter: B. Thompson copywriter ______Live: 7.375” x 9.7” studio: A. Barolia Trim: 8.375” x 10.875” production manager: studio ______Bleed: 8.625” x 11.125” trafﬁ c manager: account exe. ______publication: Cal Educator account sup. ______management sup. ______product specialist ______issue date: December Issue OK TO RELEASE ______material close: 11/5/2010 RECEIPT OF THIS ADVERTISING MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SPACE ORDER.

Where do California teachers 2010 • JAN. 2011

go when it’s their turn to learn? DEC. 2010 • JAN. 2011 CONTENTS

FEATURES 8 Shining lights 10 Literacy starts in the family 11 Math made cool 12 Sociology comes to life California Teachers Association December 2010s*ANUARYs*ANUARY6OLUME)SSUE6OLUME)SSUE 12 Taking it on the road 13 Healing drama 14 Great job 15 Success needs no debate HOW YOU SHINE 16 ‘School Pride’ comes to Needles page 8

Proven reforms help low-performing schools page 18

CalSTRS lowers rate of return MAKING A DIFFERENCE page 26

18 CTA’s Quality Education Investment Act gains steam RA STATE DELEGATE DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY FORM — PAGE 37

22 ‘Second opinion’ protects Montebello health benefits On the cover: 23 School pool option explored Seven educators who bring their subjects to life — math, drama, auto shop, debate, 26 Q&A: CalSTRS lowers rate of return employment training, sociology and family literacy — are among the many shining 28 Carlsbad teachers provide leadership in shooting crisis lights in the CTA family. The Brandman School of Education. Story on page 8.

More teachers choose Brandman University. Last year we issued over 1,400 The Brandman School of Education teaching credentials. That’s more than Cal State LA, UC San Diego and Cal TAKING A STAND State San Francisco combined. How does a new school get so big, so fast? Graduate Degrees: 30 La Habra strike ends in litigation • Education Simple. We’re not new. Brandman is the new name for Chapman University • School Counseling / School Psychology College, and we’re changing more than our name. • Special Education • Teaching Our School of Education has a new dean and a sharp focus on helping the next generation of teachers embrace technology and innovate in the classroom. Credential Programs: ACTION • Multiple Subject / Single Subject 32 New governor, Legislature take first steps to bridge • Education Specialist Best of all, we are still part of the Chapman University System, and we are $28.5 billion budget gap • Preliminary / Professional still a private, non-proﬁ t university. Everything we do is about helping you Administrative Services 33 March 2 is Read Across America advance your education and your career. • Pupil Personnel Services — School Heads up: Conferences and deadlines Counseling and School Psychology 34 Call 800-581-4100 35 CTA/NEA-Retired to elect State Council rep and At-Large Director Click brandman.edu 36 You can represent CTA at NEA’s convention Follow

2-3 Dec.2010.indd 3 12/23/10 5:02:02 PM BUCO0250_Education_CalEducator_em0.indd 1 11/5/10 3:11 PM client: Brandman University prepared by: Dentsu America proofreader ______description: Education Ad - creative director: B. Gantt FP 4C B art director: B. Gantt art director ______number: BUCO-0250 copywriter: B. Thompson copywriter ______Live: 7.375” x 9.7” studio: A. Barolia Trim: 8.375” x 10.875” production manager: studio ______Bleed: 8.625” x 11.125” trafﬁ c manager: account exe. ______publication: Cal Educator account sup. ______management sup. ______product specialist ______issue date: December Issue OK TO RELEASE ______material close: 11/5/2010 RECEIPT OF THIS ADVERTISING MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SPACE ORDER. ¡Sí Se Puede! Por Qué No? EDITOR IN CHIEF Malaika Costello-Dougherty ¿ STAFF WRITER Sherry Posnick-Goodwin CTA WEB EDITOR Karyn Ferrera Donhoff CTA WEB EDITOR Tiffany Hasker EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Craig Hamilton B Y CTA PRESIDENT DAVID A. SANCHEZ CTA ELECTED OFFICERS PRESIDENT David A. Sanchez love the holiday season. While we’re catch- petition by the hired representatives of the Par- VICE PRESIDENT Dean E. Vogel ing up with good friends, repeating old ent Revolution. There are a lot of questions sur- SECRETARY TREASURER Gail M. Mendes family traditions, and taking time to reflect rounding this law and the petition filed at I on the years behind us, we also renew our McKinley, and the Compton Education Asso- BOARD OF DIRECTORS Larry Allen, E. Toby Boyd, Donald L. Bridge, Tyrone V. Cabell, focus and begin to hope and plan for a good ciation is working with CTA to make sure the Mikki Cichocki, Elana Davidson, Don Dawson, Dana Dillon, year ahead. law was followed, that parents weren’t misled, David Goldberg, Jim Groth, Eric C. Heins, Marty G. Meeden, Every day, CTA members are working to and that the community knows the truth. George Melendez, Theresa Montaño, Mary Rose Ortega, make things better for our students and our pro- McKinley is actually a school that is a perfect Cynthia Peña, Jim Rogers, Bonnie Shatun, Marc Sternberger, fession. And it’s not the easiest thing to do, given example of how educational change can work Michael Stone, Curtis Washington our current economic climate. We already know when teachers, administrators and parents work EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Carolyn Doggett that the fiscal forecast for next year is dismal. together to best meet the needs of students. Al- ASSOCIATE EXEC. DIRECTOR Rebecca Zoglman The state is facing a $28 billion deficit. Gover- though the Parent Revolution was able to target COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Jonathan Goldman nor-elect Jerry Brown convened a group of lead- McKinley Elementary because it has not met the CONTRIBUTORS ers from across the state to discuss the budget a statewide API target of 800 out of 1,000 points, Scott Buschman, Dave Earl Carpenter, Dave Crosland, few weeks ago. I attended to make sure our law- McKinley students have been making steady Len Feldman, Bill Guy, Sheri Miyamoto, makers know that public schools and colleges and significant progress for the past three years. Mike Myslinski, Kamran Nasser, Frank Wells have endured a disproportionate amount — And they have been making this progress since EDITORIAL INFORMATION more than 50 percent — of the budget cuts in the implementation of CTA’s Quality Education California Educator is published for the information the past three years, totaling $21 billion. Investment Act (QEIA). McKinley is one of and edification of its members. The editorial philoso- Our educators have been making sacrifices, nearly 500 schools serving at-risk students that phy is governed by the policies of CTA. Articles and advertising reflect that philosophy. too. The country’s and state’s economic woes are receiving $3 billion in additional resources Letters to the editor may be sent to [email protected]. have left many of our local school systems over an eight-year period to lower class sizes, Publication of advertising in the California Educa- cash-strapped. Even those districts with rainy align professional development using student tor does not indicate CTA approval of the product or day funds are fearful to spend them, not know- data, and create a collaborative approach to re- of the companies that purchase advertising. ing how much more rain lies ahead. Local form among parents, teachers and other local Advertising rate card and information is available chapters throughout California have stepped stakeholders. The good news is that McKinley’s from WebSolutions, Media Division, up to the bargaining tables this year with a API score has risen more than 70 points in the 5666 Spruce Harbor Court, Las Vegas, NV 89122 clear understanding of what’s possible, what’s last two years alone. With continued progress, (702) 838-3434; FAX (702) 838-3355 fair, and what’s best for the learning and work- and to the credit of McKinley’s educators and CTA/NEA membership dues for the fiscal year, ing environments of students and teachers. the QEIA system, McKinley could be out of Pro- Sept. 1-Aug. 31, are $805, including a $20 voluntary Educators have taken concessions when they gram Improvement in the next few years. contribution. Up to $26.30 of CTA annual dues is were necessary and fought against them when The results McKinley is seeing from its par- designated for CTA/ABC political activ ities to support state and local candidates and/or initiatives and is they were excessive. This was the case for Cap- ticipation in QEIA aren’t unique. A recent re- not deductible for income tax purposes. istrano teachers earlier this year, and it is the search report shows that QEIA schools averaged case right now for the La Habra Education As- nearly 50 percent greater growth in API scores Subscription to the California Educator is $10/year, available only to persons or institutions not eligible sociation. I joined LHEA members and their than similar non-QEIA schools in 2009-10. Just for CTA/NEA membership. dedicated local president, Danette Brown, on three years into the eight-year program, we are the picket line recently to stand up against pro- already seeing promising results in closing the California Educator (ISSN 1091-6148) posed permanent take-backs, to stand up for achievement gap. is published monthly except January, July and August for $6.17 per year (included in dues) by: our teachers and our students. It’s this type of teacher-led reform effort that And just a bit north in Compton, our teach- can transform our struggling neighborhood CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION ers and students are under an attack from a dif- schools into thriving ones that serve all students 1705 Murchison Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010-4583 ferent angle. A privatization-driven group and engage our communities. These efforts and (650) 697-1400; FAX (650) 552-5002 [email protected], www.cta.org known as the Parent Revolution has filed a peti- results give me hope for the year ahead. Through tion to turn McKinley Elementary School into collaboration, through working with parents Postmaster: Send change of address to a charter school. This is the first use of the “Par- California Educator, P.O. Box 4178, and lawmakers as partners, we can build a better Burlingame, CA 94011-4178. ent Trigger” law implemented last year by the state for public education. Legislature, and chaos has ensued for this small Periodicals Postage Paid at Burlingame, CA, neighborhood school. Many parents claim they and additional mailing offices. were misled and intimidated into signing the

¡Sí Se Puede! [Yes we can! Why not?], words inspired by César Chávez, ¿Por Qué No? encourage us to remember that, together, we can achieve great things.

4 California Educator | DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011

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what’s new at CTA.ORG what’s new at CTA.ORG

Represent CTA at the NEA RA Make a difference! Represent CTA by serving on the policy-making body for the National Education Association in Chicago this summer. CTA members can access the Declaration of Candidacy form from the CTA website or learn more about the RA by visiting the NEA website. www.cta.org/racandidacy

Newsletter editor? We’ve got content for you! New fodder for your chapter newsletter is available through our CTA member Chapter Leader Corner. Get ready-made news items on The Standard Insurance Company, the La Habra teachers strike fund and more. www.cta.org/chapnewsletters

FAQs at the ready for CTA members Need a refresher on tidbits and facts about CTA? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page to get answers from everything from benefits of membership to how policies are made at CTA. www.cta.org/FAQs

For additionalfor our web Educator exclusives content, at cta.org look

Create a cartoon concept We invite members to send in cartoon concepts for address: California Educator Magazine future issues of the Educator. All we ask is that your ideas CTA Communications deal with current events in education and captions are 1705 Murchison Drive no longer than one sentence long. Please send your Burlingame, CA 94010-4583 cartoon ideas through e-mail: [email protected] fax: (650) 552-5002 mail, fax or e-mail.

Dave Crosland, Dave [email protected] Crosland, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011 | www.cta.org 5

4-7 Dec.2010.indd 5 12/22/10 5:53:09 PM LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor, I am proud that my union stood up for discussion. We should be spoken to like dealt with raising taxes, spending and “tax fairness” in the last election. But I am the adults that we are — many of us who borrowing was rejected. However, new discouraged by the extraordinarily shal- have spent years engaged in local, state research shows that with the election low election analysis in the most recent and national politics. In these danger- of a new governor, California voters are California Educator (“2010 big election ous times for public education, holding beginning to feel more confident. We’ll wins,” November), in particular around members at arm’s length is a recipe for continue covering the political landscape the defeat of Proposition 24. weakness as a union and irrelevancy for in California in this Educator, and we en- “Unfortunately, CTA-sponsored Propo- the California Educator. courage readers to share their thoughts. sition 24 … was rejected by voters.” That’s John Green it, seriously? Why? Are California voters Castro Valley Teachers Association too conservative? Did we run a weak cam- (Letter sent through Facebook) paign? Were we just plain snookered by Send us your the Chamber of Commerce’s attack ads? Editor’s note: Thanks, John, for your comments thoughtful letter. We went to press right I can’t believe that leadership and staff Letters to the editor regarding stories haven’t spent days wrapping their heads after the election results came out. We appearing in California Educator may be around this loss. And how many times would like to take this opportunity to sent via mail, fax or e-mail. have I heard from CTA that members provide some analysis. CTA has looked at address: California Educator Magazine ought to be “part of the conversation”? the results of the election, exit poll data CTA Communications 1705 Murchison Drive We are asked to volunteer our time to and post-election survey research. Voters Burlingame, CA 94010-4583 get out the vote, but not to discuss the here in California and throughout the fax: (650) 552-5002 results in any meaningful fashion. country were and still are very concerned e-mail: [email protected]

I believe California’s educators are about the economy, jobs and taxes. In

more than intelligent enough for this California, every statewide measure that UPDATE

Constructive discussion follows that leaves out controversial documentary the dedication of In a high-pro le panel discussion in Silicon America’s educators. Valley Dec. 14, CTA Vice President Dean Vogel “We didn’t see continued the constructive criticism of the the teachers who education documentary Waiting for Superman are putting in extra that was outlined in a package of revealing hours above and stories in the October California Educator. beyond the duty The controversial lm by Davis Guggen- day” to improve stu- heim scapegoats teachers and their unions dent learning, Vogel for the problems in public schools. Vogel noted. He called told the panel it simpli es complex educa- for conversation tion issues and fails to include interviews and collaboration

with knowledgeable education experts like among all educa- photo by CTA Mike Myslinski Diane Ravitch or Linda Darling-Hammond tion stakeholders, including charter school ABOVE: CTA Vice President Dean Vogel makes a of Stanford University. Instead, billionaire advocates, instead of the divisiveness the point about Waiting for Superman to John Danner, Bill Gates and divisive former District of movie has provoked. CEO of Rocketship Education charters (center), and Columbia schools chancellor Michelle Rhee Joining Vogel on the panel were Diane Jim Lianides, superintendent of Sequoia Union High are allowed to paint a misleading picture Continued on page 38 School District.

6 California Educator | DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011

4-7 Dec.2010.indd 6 12/22/10 5:53:11 PM Jan. 7 Deadline for Human Rights Award nominations Jan. 14 Deadline to enter César E. Chávez Awards program Check out the new Jan. 14-16 Issues Conference, Las Vegas jan 2011 Jan. 21 Deadline for CTA Gold Award nominations interactive digital Jan. 21-23 Good Teaching Conference, San Jose version of California Jan. 28-30 Region III Leadership Conference, Torrance Educator online! Visit us at www.cta.org. Feb. 4 Deadline to apply for CTA Scholarship Feb. 4-6 CTA State Council of Education, Los Angeles feb 2011 Feb. 11-13 CCA Winter Advocacy Council Feb. 25-26 NEA Pacific Region Conference, Portland, OR Feb. 25-27 CLMS/CLHS Annual Conference North, Sacramento

March 2 Read Across America March 4 Deadline to apply for MLK Jr. Scholarship mar 2011 March 4-6 Equity and Human Rights Conference, San Jose March 18-20 Good Teaching Conference, Orange County Flip through pages, click links, April 1-3 CTA State Council of Education, Los Angeles print stories, e-mail copies to friends april 2011 April 15-17 CCA Conference/Spring Council and WHO Awards and many other great features. April 30 El Día de los Niños calendar

May 1-7 Teacher Appreciation Week May 11 School Nurses Day may 2011 May 11 California Day of the Teacher May 17 CTA ESP Day

jun 2011 June 3-5 CTA State Council of Education, Los Angeles June 30-July 5 NEA Representative Assembly, Chicago

July 18-22 Presidents Conference, Asilomar jul 2011 July 31-Aug. 5 Summer Institute, UCLA

DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011 | www.cta.org 7

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Rosa Hernandez Literacy starts in the family Rosa Hernandez Teachers Association of Long Beach

take English and vocational classes, daughter, Adrian, is learning English,” and then join their children two says Enma Sandoval through an interpret- mornings a week. er. “The other benefit is that I’m learning “My goal is to prepare students how to become a better mother.” for kindergarten, but it’s also to When story time is over, the young- empower these families,” says sters are told to take their parents to play Hernandez. “Sometimes when stations scattered throughout the class- children first arrive here, their room. “Show your mommy what you like self-esteem is low. But once they to do,” Hernandez says as parents are start working with their parents pulled by the hand in different direc- inside the classroom, their self- tions. Parents and children do word puz- esteem becomes higher and they zles, hop on letters to spell words, match participate more. It’s the same letters to pictures, and engage in other with parents.” activities. “L ’ ‘E W S ’ Many family members that Hernandez “For me, it’s great, because I hardly in English, Spanish and Hawaiian,” says has worked with have gone on to find jobs have any time at home to do these things,” teacher Rosa Hernandez to her Head Start they enjoy, receive promotions, and suc- says Angie Moreno, in the midst of play- classroom filled with excited preschoolers cessfully complete college courses. ing blocks with daughter Itzel, age 4. “I am and parents. Inside the colorful and wel- “The first benefit is that my 3-year-old usually cooking and cleaning. The time coming environment, both generations we are spending here together will change settle down for a lesson. They start by her life, and these memories will stay with making the hand gestures for spiders. above: “Miss Rosa” leads parents and students in her. Here, she gets to be the ‘little boss’ “Miss Rosa” then reads a book aloud, song in a family literacy program in Long Beach. and tell me what to do. Miss Rosa is a asking students and parents to repeat key beloW: Nicole Farjas paints while her mother wonderful teacher.” Azucena Cordova watches. phrases. She’s not just telling a story; she Hernandez is also an inspiration to par- is modeling the way parents should be ents because she was once in their shoes. reading to their children at home, says She arrived in the U.S. as an immigrant un- Hernandez, who belongs to the Teachers able to speak English, and enrolled her Association of Long Beach. child in the Head Start program. She Hernandez firmly believes that every learned English, enrolled in college and child’s first teacher is a parent and that earned a bachelor’s degree in early child- family literacy is a priority. Research and hood education. results at family literacy centers through- “I was lucky because I had a lot of won- out the country show that working with derful people support me and guide me multiple generations is the best way to lift with the right tools to help me and my up the entire family, according to the Na- child to succeed,” says Hernandez. “And tional Conference on Family Literacy. I’m trying to provide all the tools and The Head Start class, part of the Long guidance these parents need to succeed. Beach Family Literacy Program, shares a Every day I greet parents with a big smile, campus with the Long Beach Adult School, call each of them by name and show them and the schools collaborate to promote respect. I give them ideas that worked for family learning. Youngsters spend their me as a parent. I let them know that to days with Hernandez to prepare for kin- raise these children, we have to work dergarten. The parents are required to at- together. And when we are learning to- tend the adjacent adult school, where they gether, learning is better.”

10 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

8-17 Dec.2010.indd 10 12/22/10 6:48:17 PM Kadhir Rajagopal Math made cool Kadhir Rajagopal Twin Rivers United Educators Association Dr. Raja believes that learning has flies around the classroom at a fre- to happen in class. He doesn’t follow netic pace, lavishing points, praise, textbooks, assign homework or rewards and help. It’s a lot of work, “I spend lots of time lecturing to his but he knows instantly whether his failed all their lives,” says Kadhir students. Without homework, he students get it. Mostly, they do. Rajagopal, who is also known as finds students are more willing to To be certain his students have “Dr. Raja.” “They come from pov- pay attention in class. If they have mastered certain concepts, every erty, broken families; they have trouble, he will tutor them at lunch class has an “exit” assignment: a incarcerated parents and other or after school. math problem based on the mate- problems. But that doesn’t mean This young, energetic teacher also rial covered in class. If they get the they can’t learn math.” succeeds by reaching students on right answer, they pass the “exit” as- A member of the Twin Rivers their level. He is highly interactive signment. Students who didn’t un- United Educators Association, Dr. and uses their vocabulary. “Oh, this derstand the day’s lesson must stay Raja inspired a math turnaround at is a hecka bad boy,” he says to his stu- after class or come in at lunchtime Grant High School in Sacramento. dents of an equation while writing it for extra help. The next step is that His solution to students failing to un- on the board. Dr. Raja will call a student’s parents derstand math included developing a Mostly, Dr. Raja gives them what or their coach in sports to make system called CREATE that uses rep- students of this generation crave — sure there are consequences. Every etition to teach concepts, staying ac- immediate rewards. If students raise parent is on speed-dial. tive in class, immediate rewards for their hand and correctly solve a “I’m a bulldog,” says Dr. Raja, success, and employing tough love problem in class, for example, 10 somewhat ferociously. when students are slacking. points are immediately added to “He called my dad,” agrees ninth- their grade. If they answer a question grader Hernan Espinosa. “He had beloW: “Dr. Raja” was selected as right on the board, a piece of candy me stay after school so he could help one of California’s Teachers of the Year magically appears on their desk. If me. I didn’t know how to do this be- for 2011. they need help, Dr. Raja is there. He fore, but now it’s easy for me.”

d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011 | www.cta.org 11

8-17 Dec.2010.indd 11 12/22/10 6:48:26 PM Cynthia Siemsen Sociology comes to life

T T C Shelter in Chico. The door opens and Sharina Jackson, a student vol- Cynthia Siemsen California Faculty Association unteer, greets a homeless man with a smile, a kind word, and basic ne- cessities like soap and shampoo. She is joined by other CSU Chico students, all in their 20s, who also hand each “guest” plastic containers, At the end of the semester, each student writes a paper connecting not exceeding 25 pounds, which store most of their worldly goods. their experiences at the shelter to what they have learned in class. Their Cynthia Siemsen, chair of CSU Chico’s Department of Sociology papers reveal that volunteering at the shelter has made the course ma- and a California Faculty Association member, proudly watches her terial relevant, deepened their understanding of theory, and even in- students perform service learning that connects classroom learning fluenced their career paths in the nonprofit or social services sector. with hands-on experience. They are also proud to be part of a class that has contributed more than “This is a powerful way for students to learn sociology,” 350 hours of service to a worthy cause in their community. says Siemsen. “Every time students learn a theory, they have to The students’ T-shirts have a quote by sociologist C. Wright Mills analyze homelessness and/or mental illness in this class. They on the back: “Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a so- can understand firsthand, through volunteer work with the ciety can be understood without understanding both.” They selected homeless, how this theory comes into play.” the quote because their perspective on society has changed dramati-

Armando Hernandez Taking it on the road H leum gas and won first place in that cat- he has created. They receive credit for unlikely group of champi- egory at the event, outperforming teams “dual enrollment” at both high school ons. Many are English lan- of engineering students from UC Berke- and college campuses. guage learners from East ley and Louisiana State University. Since he also graduated from Schurr Los Angeles. Most are short This year, students are hard at work High School, Hernandez feels an obliga- of credits they need to grad- tion to give back. “I was a uate from Schurr High struggling student myself,” School in Montebello. he explains. “I was not on a But when the high school track to graduate, and had to Armando Hernandez students enroll in Armando attend adult school. But I Montebello Teachers Association Hernandez’s auto shop pro- went on to be successful, and gram, they get on track to I was the first in my family to graduate. They enter na- graduate from college.” tionwide competitions to make cars run He credits his former on green technology. And they beat stu- auto shop teacher with dents from top universities. giving him motivation. Hernandez, a member of the Mon- “He used to joke with me Luis Campos diagnoses a problem in Armando tebello Teachers Association, teaches above: that someday I’d come Hernandez’s award-winning auto shop program at Schurr auto shop during the school day. But High School in Montebello. back and teach auto shop. it’s his Transportation and Energy I said, ‘You’re crazy, I’d Program (TEP), an after-school voca- on a car that runs on biodiesel — or never want to do that.’” tional skills intervention program for cooking oil used for frying. Students are Now it’s his turn to motivate others. struggling students, that’s getting at- learning chemistry as they convert “Mr. Hernandez is an inspiration to tention while it prepares students for cooking oil to biofuel, says Hernandez, us,” says Chris Ortiz, a senior. “He pre- the future. who also incorporates traditional sci- pares us for the outside world. When we Every year, TEP students design and ence, math and English standards into go to competitions, people look at us build an energy-efficient vehicle for the his curriculum. like we’re a bunch of bad kids or trou- global Eco-marathon Americas contest Hernandez encourages students to blemakers because we’re from East Los sponsored by Shell. In 2008, his students enroll in three nearby community col- Angeles. But they stop looking at us that designed a car that ran on liquid petro- leges through a matriculation program way when we beat them.”

12 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

8-17 Dec.2010.indd 12 12/22/10 6:48:33 PM cally from this assignment, which requires 10 hours of volunteering at the shelter. Students may balk at first, but many continue to volunteer long after their course requirement is fulfilled. They do laundry, serve food and help as needed. Jackson expected to find the shelter depressing, but discovered that a sense of community bolsters the spirits of residents, who are permitted to stay 180 days. “They have a social life like a family,” she explains. “They come up with their own rules. They play ping-pong. They do magic tricks. And they all have different stories about how they came to be here.” Siemsen says her students’ stereotypes about homelessness — es- pecially the one that most homeless people are mentally ill — are shattered after working in the shelter. “What I have learned most from this experience and from my teacher is compassion,” says Stephanie Brazil. “Dr. Siemsen is the most compassionate person I know. She cares about the homeless, above: Sharina Jackson, a CSU Chico sociology student, greets guest James and she cares about her students as people. She wants us to grow as Cox as he checks in to the Torres Community Shelter in Chico. people. And thanks to her, we are doing just that.”

Jamal Speakes Jamal Speakes United Teachers Healing drama Los Angeles

D H S - When the show was performed at Dorsey el,” says Speakes. “I’d like er Jamal Speakes has created a high school in 2008, city leaders took notice and kicked in to see Hollywood Bou- musical, and it’s not something you’d see from some in-kind funding. The following year he levard shut down and Disney. The theme reflects a real issue students opened up auditions for Phi’la citywide. Stu- have this premiere at the face in Los Angeles — violence between blacks dents performed at Club Nokia in Los Ange- El Capitan Theatre with a bunch and Latinos. It’s gotten rave reviews from the les, and the city paid for 1,500 students to be of kids screaming and yelling. This mayor of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles bused in from throughout the area to see the appeals to kids, and they listen to Times, and has been featured on CBS News. show for free. That same cast performed in the message when music is involved.” “I lost a lot of students to gang violence, August this year at the NAACP Theatre Festi- Students say they are, indeed, and it’s really devastating to see a kid on Friday val held at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. listening. and not see that kid on Monday,” says Speakes, The show is taking a hiatus while Speakes “This show relates to Los Angeles youth a United Teachers Los Angeles member. “Year works to develop a script for a film based on today, because everybody knows somebody after year, it was part of the environment and the musical, as well as an educational compo- who has lost someone, or knows someone the culture of the neighborhood. I felt like I nent tied with school workshops. The drama who has gotten shot due to gang violence. It’s had to do something.” teacher has founded the Speakes 4 Them sad,” relates Mykell Richardson, 17, an en- So he wrote the script for Phi’la: The Musi- Foundation to pay for an after-school arts pro- semble cast member. “The message of this cal!, a story about an African American teen- gram to help students deal with social, racial show is that different ethnic groups can come ager who moves from Philadelphia to Los and prejudice issues. together and get along.” Angeles and falls in love with a Latina girl at “We’re focused on taking this to the next lev- Speakes says that his cast members of Af- his school. It is a modern-day West Side Story rican American and Latino students have be- with plenty of hip-hop. It’s also somewhat au- come a family of sorts, which proves that they tobiographical, as Speakes moved from Phila- are more alike than different. delphia to Los Angeles after college. “Kids don’t just wake up hating each oth- Some of his friends wrote songs for Phi’la, er,” says Speakes. “This type of behavior is including Lindsay Walker, daughter of Brenda learned from the older generation. I know Russell, songwriter for The Color Purple, and this play isn’t an end-all, be-all when it comes Grammy-nominated musician Mike Jackson. to solving our problems, but hopefully it serves as a conversation starter for evoking RIGHt: Mykell Richardson and Taylor Phillips-McKay. change in our community.”

d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011 | www.cta.org 13

8-17 Dec.2010.indd 13 12/22/10 6:48:40 PM Kimber Wilkinson Kimber Wilkinson Ventura Classified Employees Great job Association

D G District, Garcia has struggled both inside mind employers she’s still interested. supermarket with a résumé and a smile the classroom and in the outside world. Sometimes Wilkinson accompanies her on her face. She asks for the manager, She desperately needs money and a job. inside the business establishment, and greets her with a handshake, and asks if Wilkinson, who has driven Garcia to other times she waits in the car and lets there are any job openings. She is told the store and to several other potential Garcia go solo. She helped Garcia put a that at the moment the store isn’t hiring, employment sites, teaches Garcia the sub- résumé together, assisted with online job and is encouraged to check back in a few tleties of job hunting en route. A member applications, and conducted “mock inter- weeks. She remembers the advice of her of the Ventura Classified Employees As- views” so Garcia is ready to answer tough employment training assistant Kimber sociation, Wilkinson’s goal is to help stu- questions. Wilkinson also talked with Wilkinson: Be persistent and be patient. dents like Garcia transition from the Garcia about grooming, hygiene and how You wouldn’t know it from looking at world of school to the world of work — to exude an air of confidence. the poised 18-year-old, but Garcia has a and get their first paid job. “I’m a really shy person, and I’m trying learning disability. As a special education “I love these kids, and I love what I to come out of my shell,” says Garcia. student in the Ventura Unified School do,” says Wilkinson. “They know that “Kimber has taught me a lot of things, they can trust me not to give up on them. like how to speak up. I am getting less And when I see them in their uniforms nervous. I have never listened to anybody beloW: Employment training assistant Kimber Wilkinson (center), who works with special education hard at work, there is no greater feeling in else the way I listen to Kimber. I know students in Ventura Unified School District, watches the world.” eventually I will find a job.” as student Dessiree Garcia (right) introduces herself Wilkinson drives Garcia to other The students Wilkinson works with for a job interview. stores where she’s already applied, to re- have disabilities including autism, Asperger’s syndrome, mental retardation and emotional disturbance. Even in a good economy, it would be difficult for some of them to find employment. But despite these barriers, Wilkinson estimates she has found jobs for 60 students ages 16-22 over the past few years. It doesn’t happen overnight. First Wilkinson “gets all her ducks in a row” to match students with the type of work and environment they will enjoy. She assesses their capabilities, evaluates parental involvement, and determines what transportation is available for the students to get to work. Mostly, says Wilkinson, she is teaching her students the art of “self-advocacy,” or how to stand up for themselves in a world where they often face discrimination. “We are always taught to not judge a book by its cover,” says Wilkinson. “Yet we do it every day and don’t realize it. Just because someone is a little different doesn’t mean they can’t be a great employee.”

14 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

8-17 Dec.2010.indd 14 12/22/10 6:48:46 PM Terry Colvin Success needs no debate

T “ ” students who had not gone through the pro- “English language learners” are not usually gram, and they scored about 20 to 30 percent paired together. But they are one and the higher than their peers on STAR testing. I’ve same in the American Dream Debate Team yet to see any student come through this pro- at Arroyo High School in El Monte, which is gram who didn’t graduate.” flourishing under the stewardship of English Students say the skills they have learned teacher Terry Colvin. will prepare them for college — and for life. Arroyo High School has many first-gen- They have learned to be articulate, to break eration Latino and Asian immigrants, and down issues, to see both sides of a problem,

many have been encouraged to join the de- and to conduct research to defend their argu- Terry Colvin bate team by Colvin, sponsor of the after- ments. During a recent class visit, teens talk- El Monte Union Education school group that meets four times a week. ed about the pros and cons of dismantling Association Not all of the group’s students are English nuclear weapons with ease. learners, but many are. Most team members “I was placed here by my counselor, and are low-income, says Colvin. didn’t know what debate was until I got into “Historically, debate teams have been the the class,” recounts ninth-grader Sarah Lam. BELOW: Jefferson Lau listens as Anthony Valentin province of hyper-verbal, highly articulate “At first I was shy, but now I’m talking a lot, Fuentes makes his argument in an exercise for the students trained to compete in this elite cir- which is good, because I’m planning on run- debate team at Arroyo High School in El Monte. cuit,” says Colvin, who was a journalist for more than two decades before becoming a teacher. “But here, we have taken the oppo- site tack. We believe that a broadly welcom- ing culture, in concert with explicit teaching and high expectations, succeeds with our students more than elitism.” It has succeeded with Christian Lin-Cobos, a senior at the school. “I am an immigrant from Ecuador, and at first it was hard to speak English and to put things into coherent sen- tences,” he says. “But the debate team has helped me a lot with my English and greatly improved my chances for college. It’s helped me to speak better and allowed me to meet people. We have a lot of fun on the field trips.” As for the field trips: Last year, students competed in 23 weekend tournaments. The team has reached the state finals five times within six years, and last year, team members fin- ished in 18th place in two categories — dramat- ic interpretation and humorous interpretation ning for school president.” and competence in the language. When — out of 256 competitors. The team won a The program is open to students in you have a program that keeps teenag- Golden Bell Award from the California School grades 9-12, and team members say they ers after school so they can talk about Boards Association in 2008 for its work with feel like a family. social policy, politics, philosophy, mor- English learners, and last year’s team president “It’s cooperative learning,” says Colvin. als and values, you’ve really got some- won a scholarship to Yale University. “Students work as a team. They are develop- thing wonderful.” “The results speak for themselves,” says ing critical thinking skills. And they are hav- Colvin, a member of the El Monte Union Ed- ing fun at the same time. I’ve had kid after kid For more information and curriculum ucation Association. “We looked at test data tell me that they are different from when they for starting a debate team, visit the for English learners who had gone through first came in. Many are unsure of themselves California High School Speech Associa- the program and compared them to similar in the beginning, and leave with confidence tion at www.cahssa.org.

DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011 | www.cta.org 15

8-17 Dec.2010.indd 15 12/23/10 3:19:45 PM ‘School Pride’ comes to Needles Story by Sherry Posnick-Goodwin coordinating the renova- Much to the amazement of those who tion, the work is actually live and work in the small, rural town of completed by volunteers. Needles on the California-Arizona bor- And Needles had plenty der, the town’s high school was selected of those. to receive a makeover on the NBC show “We have a communi- “School Pride.” When the announcement ty of 5,000 people, and was made to students in the football field, more than 1,000 people they cheered wildly while news helicop- volunteered,” says Nee- ters buzzed overhead. dles Teachers Associa- In each episode of “School Pride,” a tion (NTA) President Ju- design team helps a community fix up lie Rowan, a graduate of a dilapidated school. the high school. “We The show has two criteria for selecting sometimes forget how schools — a need for renovation and the much community sup- community’s passion and commitment to port we have, and we do the work. Needles High School fit both learned that support was huge.” above: CTA President David A. Sanchez, and categories. The show’s producers, who in- The event sparked school pride, with Needles Teachers Association President Julie clude Cheryl Hines of HBO’s “Curb Your alums who had graduated decades before Rowan wait at the community center for the big reveal. Enthusiasm,” were also looking for a rural working alongside their kids. NTA mem- school, since many of the other makeovers bers painted, moved furniture, cleaned, were urban schools, such as Enterprise and did whatever was necessary. Middle School in Compton. “People who had never met each other improve the physical condition of the While professionals are in charge of had the opportunity to work side by side to school,” says CTA President David A. San- chez, who stopped by and met with chapter leadership, administrators and community members involved with the project. During the five-day project, Needles baked in heat that sometimes exceeded 115 degrees and experienced heavy winds. But that didn’t wilt the enthusiasm of volunteers. CTA Board member Marty Meeden found scissors and cut his pants into shorts to make it easier to un- load a truck, clean and move a barbecue, and do other tasks. Other CTA Board members volunteering in Needles were Theresa Montaño, Mary Rose Ortega and

left: The hosts of NBC’s reality show “School Pride” (left to right): Susie Castillo, Jacob Soboroff,

Photo Photo by Marlene Karas/NBC Kym Whitley and Tom Stroup.

16 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

8-17 Dec.2010.indd 16 12/22/10 6:48:56 PM Photo Photo by Marlene Karas/NBC

George Melendez. state-of-the-art equipment, including a new above: The enthusiasm was infectious as different The made-over Needles High School Chevy Camaro with diagnostic equipment generations helped make over Needles High School. aired in the Nov. 12 episode and showed off for students to use. Even the “snack shack” new landscaping, a fresh coat of paint on the got a facelift. English teacher Tracy Hanline says, outside of every building, new carpeting in The school’s poor outward appearance “What we did here was make the outside every classroom, and an outdoor mural of detracted from many of the positive of the school match the inside of the mustangs, the school’s mascot. Microsoft things happening inside the campus, say school and the way we feel about our contributed money for 40 computers to go NTA members. As a Quality Education school.” in the school’s new traveling computer lab. Investment Act (QEIA) school, Needles A student lounge was created with a big High School receives extra funding from screen TV and study areas, providing a col- the CTA-sponsored legislation, which WWW Watch CTA members lend a lege-style atmosphere. The Regional Occu- has enabled it to reduce class sizes, in- hand as Needles High School pational Program (ROP) buildings were crease professional development for gets a makeover at nbc.com/school- completely redone and now house a wood teachers, and use data and benchmarks pride/video. shop, a metal shop and an auto shop with to improve academic achievement.

d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011 | www.cta.org 17

8-17 Dec.2010.indd 17 12/22/10 6:49:00 PM CTA’s Quality Education Investment Act gains steam left: Students at John Muir Elemen- packed a hotel conference room. tary in Merced excelled in the past “We have a real opportunity to two years because QEIA funding pro- build on the right reforms that vided smaller class sizes and time for you will hear about today — teacher collaboration. beloW: This proven reforms like smaller class classroom bull’s-eye shows the API goal of another QEIA school, Martin sizes, better training and collab- Elementary in Santa Ana. oration time for teachers, additional counselors and parental involvement.” QEIA’s reforms are lifting up learners, and about 85 percent our at-risk students, he said. “And qualify for free or reduced-price if early indications hold true, meals. QEIA is an investment that will The scope of the landmark re- continue to generate benefits for form QEIA law is unprecedented. these schools, communities and As a result of a settlement of a California well into the future.” Proposition 98 dispute between State Superintendent of Public CTA and Gov. Schwarzenegger in Instruction-elect Tom Torlakson, 2006, nearly 500 low-performing who authored the QEIA legisla- California schools with about a tion, was loudly applauded when half-million students are sharing he asked the audience, “Isn’t it $3 billion in extra resources over time to put a spotlight on the pos- eight years. The funding goes for itive things going on in California proven reforms such as smaller schools?” class sizes, more counselors, better He added, “Isn’t it time we stop training for teachers and princi- blaming teachers, and time to pals, and allowing vital collabora- point to the success?” Photo Photo by Dave Monley tion time to foster effective teach- akland educator Julie Pala- who is a member of the Oakland ing practices. new research shows results cios is rightfully proud of Education Association. “We have A new QEIA research report O the academic progress her time to make decisions about pro- symposium sets the tone unveiled at the symposium high- inner-city elementary school has fessional development and how to Palacios was one of nearly lights that success. It shows that made in the face of many chal- deal effectively with the needs of all 200 California teachers, educa- this teacher-led reform law is lenges — and she’s hopeful about of our students.” tion experts and legislative staff helping to close achievement gaps its future. New Highland Academy had members who took part in a and supporting at-risk students Despite a lower-income student an outstanding Academic Perfor- Nov. 30 CTA symposium on so they can make gains population and a campus in a high- mance Index (API) growth of 108 QEIA in Sacramento — in the face of chal- crime part of Oakland, promising points to 735 over the past two the largest public ed- lenges from pov- new data shows that New High- years, the time that QEIA has been ucation reform pro- erty, language and land Academy is making impres- fully implemented. The API is de- gram of its kind in the diversity. sive gains because of proven re- termined largely by test scores, and nation. For example, during the forms funded by the CTA-spon- the highest possible API score is “California has to stop second year of QEIA im- sored Quality Education Invest- 1,000. The state has an API goal of playing the blame game with plementation, the average ment Act (QEIA) of 2006. 800 or above for all schools. Pala- our public schools and start do- API growth of QEIA schools was “The smaller class sizes and col- cios feels that’s within reach at New ing what’s best for our children’s nearly 50 percent higher than that laboration time provided by QEIA Highland, where two-thirds of the future,” CTA President David A. of similar, non-QEIA schools. are critical for us,” says Palacios, students are English language Sanchez told the crowd that The report, “Lessons From the

18 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 18 12/23/10 10:32:27 AM sizes, said fourth-grade teacher Rebecca Stewart at Ten Lessons San Francisco’s Miraloma Elementary, which has an Learned API score of 865. “With 23 Based on interviews at 22 students in fourth grade, we QEIA schools over four actually have enough space months by an independent researcher, these 10 to move around, to have di- “lessons learned” are verse instruction.” education reform insights that all schools might learn from: Lessons from the classroom At successful John Muir Ele- School goals for QEIA were consistent with the purpose mentary in Merced (API score 1and intent of the legislation. 806), QEIA provides vital time School implementation for teachers to collaborate and plans were largely focused share strategies, educator Teresa on class size reduction (CSR), professional devel- Pitta said. “Money matters when 2opment, collaboration time, it comes to school improvement, and the adoption of curricu- lar interventions. and collaboration is critical.” ABOVE: Average annual growth in API scores: QEIA-funded schools compared Although somewhat chal- with a group of similar non-QEIA schools. Source: “Lessons from the Classroom: Sacramento’s Fairbanks Ele- lenging to implement and Initial Success for At-Risk Students.” mentary in Twin Rivers Unified maintain, class size reduc- 3tion enabled teachers to had a surge of 108 API points in focus on classroom Classroom: Initial Success for At- size reduction, professional two years to 754. QEIA keeps K-3 instruction. Risk Students,” went beyond test development, collaboration class sizes at 20 students or fewer Professional development decisions in higher API score gains and included 10 les- time and the adoption of cur- while other schools see them rise, growth schools were made sons learned from interviews ricular interventions. teacher Teri Leo said. “We’re for- in collaborative teams with conducted over four months at 22 The reforms are working state- tunate to not have 35 students in 4teacher input, leading to • greater satisfaction among QEIA schools by the independent wide. Since QEIA funding our classrooms.” stakeholders. research firm Vital Research of began in 2007, QEIA schools And in Santa Ana’s Martin El- Higher API growth schools Los Angeles. (See sidebar to the averaged a growth of 62.7 ementary (API score 779), where had more focused professional development in core right.) Courtney Malloy of Vital points in API growth, com- 76 percent of students are English 5content areas. Research reviewed the gains pared to 49.3 points in similar, learners, teacher Antonio Maga- Higher API growth schools made as a result of QEIA, and dis- non-QEIA schools. ña is grateful QEIA is keeping his used student data to guide cussed what best practices can be Poverty is being overcome. fifth-grade classes small. professional development • 6decisions. shared with other schools, as Socioeconomically disadvan- “With smaller classes, I am Higher API growth schools shown by the ongoing QEIA re- taged students averaged a able to pinpoint those students in engaged in more teacher search for CTA. growth score of 63.6 points need,” Magaña said. collaboration to develop lesson plans, create common “We wanted to make sure that versus 50.4 points in non- 7assessments, and analyze other QEIA schools — as well as a QEIA schools since 2007. What’s next for QEIA? student data. broader set of schools in the state Another round of intensive School site councils in QEIA schools are approving — could learn from what’s hap- The academic gains at QEIA training is set for CTA site con- school budgets; influence pening in QEIA,” Malloy said. schools come despite the chal- tacts at QEIA schools: in Em- on other decisions and 8stakeholder involvement The research report showed lenges for these students. And the eryville on Jan. 31; Santa Ana, varies considerably by the sustained progress being gains hold promise for closing the Feb. 18; Pasadena, March 1. school. made, measured by the state’s student achievement gap. More training details are coming The exemplary administra- growth on the state’s API. The new CTA research report to this vital statewide network of tor requirement has not been fully realized in QEIA Comparing QEIA schools to includes six profiles of successful CTA members stepping up to 9schools. similar lower-performing QEIA schools where principals, make the interventions a reality QEIA has provided valuable schools, the research found: teachers and parents comment on at their schools. resources during the state budget crisis, but schools how the program is helping stu- In the spring, CTA will be re- 10are still facing financial • Smaller class sizes matter. dents succeed. leasing a more comprehensive challenges. School implementation plans “QEIA has made a huge report that covers a broader were largely focused on class difference” in lowering class Continued on next page

DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011 | www.cta.org 19

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 19 12/23/10 3:15:45 PM range of information sources on QEIA im- program that is making a difference in class- plementation and impacts. Beginning in rooms across the state. February and continuing through June, ad- Mi k e My s l i n s k i ditional in-depth case studies will be conducted at a diverse sampling of QEIA schools. WWW To see the new 40-page CTA What will you This vital research is to provide a voice for research report on QEIA stakeholders at QEIA schools. It will uncov- progress, along with videos of teacher er promising practices that can be shared not interviews, go to www.cta.org/Issues-and- only among QEIA schools, but with those Action/QEIA. schools which have not participated in the leave undone? Educators discuss QEIA successes

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A highlight of CTA’s Nov. 30 QEIA sympo- above: Teachers sharing QEIA symposium 9LVLWZZZFWDRUJ/thestandardRUFDOOXVDW sium in Sacramento was a panel discussion success stories were, left to right, Laura Serra- 77< WRÀQGRXWKRZ7KH6WDQGDUG with teachers and a principal from successful no-Durán, Jesse Aguilar, Mylene Keipp, Julie can SURWHFWZKDW·VLPSRUWDQWWR\RX QEIA schools across the state about the power Palacios, Maria Euyoque-Garcia. of collaboration, smaller class sizes and tar- geted intervention. A sampling of the panel’s insights: teachers because of the quality of the working environment, and the quality is because of QEIA.” Mylene Keipp, instructional coach, Wilson While other inner-city Oakland schools are Senior High School, Los Angeles Unified: “QEIA losing teachers, New Highland is not, Palacios said. provides structures for collaboration.” Teachers at her K-5 campus get 90 minutes of Thanks to QEIA funding, her school’s 2,200 collaboration time each week, and a full day every students share eight counselors, meeting a QEIA six weeks, with QEIA paying for substitute teachers requirement that each counselor must have a while educators share strategies and analyze caseload of 300 or fewer students. Compare that to student data. Also, the school still provides music California’s average ratio of 945 students to one and art for a well-rounded education. counselor, the highest in the country. Laura Serrano-Duran, principal, Harborside Jesse Aguilar, teacher, East Bakersfield High Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary School District: School, Kern High School District: “We have more QEIA success has “brought our community closer time to collaborate. It makes a big difference.” together, and our parents have become more His high-poverty school, where two-thirds of involved because they are seeing the results.” students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, She discussed the power of teamwork that used the flexibility of QEIA funding to hire math and QEIA harnesses. It’s working. Her school’s API English literacy coaches, hold workshops for growth was 55 points the past two years, for a teachers, and launch a “cultures and expectations current outstanding API score of 838. committee” to look at how to inspire students. Maria Euyoque-Garcia, teacher, Felton Small class sizes help all students learn. “Once Elementary, Lennox School District, Los Angeles: the class sizes get so large, mostly you’re dealing “With QEIA, we get to do so many extra things at with behavior issues, and you’re no longer our school. It’s really made all the difference for our teaching,” Aguilar said. And getting teachers students.” involved in designing professional developing is a Felton’s API score is 797 — after a sharp “bottom-up” approach that empowers and inspires. increase of 86 points the past two years. The “I think there’s more buy-in.” emphasis is on making decisions based on student Julie Palacios, teacher, New Highland data, which is easier to collect with the smaller class Academy, Oakland Unified: “We have retained sizes that QEIA funds, Euyoque-Garcia said. )RUFRVWVDQGIXUWKHUGHWDLOVRIWKHFRYHUDJHLQFOXGLQJH[FOXVLRQVDQ\UHGXFWLRQVRUOLPLWDWLRQVDQGWKHWHUPVXQGHUZKLFKWKHSROLF\PD\ EHFRQWLQXHGLQIRUFHSOHDVHFRQWDFW6WDQGDUG,QVXUDQFH&RPSDQ\DW 77< 6WDQGDUG,QVXUDQFH&RPSDQ\6:6L[WK$YHQXH3RUWODQG25 *3/7'6&7$ *3/,)(6&7$ 20 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011 6,&7$YRO

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 20 12/23/10 10:32:35 AM What will you leave undone?

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18-40 Dec.2010.indd 21 12/23/10 10:32:35 AM ‘Second opinion’ protects Montebello health benefits any districts experience sticker of-pocket costs to $700 per month. Now they the amount spent for all physician visits. shock on out-of-pocket health would be facing at an out-of-pocket cost of Another issue was the broker’s failure to M care costs as insurance rates con- $1,469 per paycheck,” she says. “We knew the monitor potential abuses by out-of-network tinue to rise. The Montebello Teachers new rates would not be sustainable. We de- providers. Of the ten highest-paid non-net- Association did something about it. cided to find out if they were justifiable and work providers, eight were chiropractors Two years ago, the Montebello Unified what alternatives, if any, there might be.” and one was a physician who received exor- School District (MUSD) received through They finally settled on CalPERS, a state- bitant fees for treating just two claimants its insurance broker 2008-09 rate renewals wide pool that provides health benefits to (the same physician had also been disci- for both Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser all state employees, as well as to public plined for fraudulent medical records, Permanente. The quoted increases were a agencies such as schools. In addition to of- among other infractions). staggering 29.71 percent for all Blue Cross fering coverage under the same Anthem The unusually high claims had been go- plans, along with a steep but more man- Blue Cross and Kaiser networks that were ing on for two years, “It was extremely ageable 3.9 percent for Kaiser plans. The previously available to MUSD employees, troubling that the broker had not alerted new rates would add an additional $7 mil- CalPERS would also provide options of us to these issues, nor had worked to help lion in health costs to a district already two Blue Shield HMOs and an additional us address those problems in a timely man- grappling with the impact of state budget Anthem Blue Cross PPO that would offer ner,” says Garcia Stevens. cut. Since the health benefit plans were significantly reduced costs. Although out-of-network issues and po- capped, the new costs would all be passed To reach this solution, GarciaStevens tential overcharging were a problem, the sin- on to employees. presented the situation to CTA’s Health gle largest factor in Montebello’s increasing Montebello Teachers Association (MTA) Benefits Advisory Coordinating Commit- health care costs was that the district was in President Dianne GarciaStevens recalls the tee, where she was coincidentally (and for- a stand-alone risk pool for its medical bene- shock she felt when, as a member of the dis- tunately) a new member. The group imme- fits. The CECHCR consultants strongly rec- trict’s insurance committee, she was initially diately suggested that she ask the district to ommended that MUSD consider migrating presented with the new rates. “Just the prior get a “second opinion” from consultants to the same or a similar plan to a larger risk year our members had gone from zero out- the California Education Coalition for pool. Several regional and statewide pools Health Care Reform (CECHCR) — a group were considered, most of them offering plans CTA and other school labor and manage- through Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser. ment groups had formed in 2005 to improve However, most of those pools would have re- The Montebello story health care quality and reduce costs through quired too long for migration and imple- provides valuable lessons education, training and advocacy. mentation. Fortunately, CalPERS was able to for other CTA chapters The MUSD insurance committee was re- provide a more immediate solution. and local school districts. ceptive to the idea of a second opinion by the Throughout this process, MTA kept its CECHCR consultants. MTA and CSEA members informed and held well-attend- Make sure the district and employee • groups are getting accurate and agreed to split the cost of the necessary in- ed area meetings in which information complete utilization information for vestigation and analysis, and the district and feedback about the benefits situation each available plan from the district’s agreed to open all insurance information for could be exchanged. Members under- insurance broker. the review. Time was of the essence, as any stood and overwhelmingly supported the Understand the broker’s contract and delay in finding a solution would by default proposed change to CalPERS. • financial incentives. put members under the newer expensive In the end, MUSD was able to save If renewal rates seem high or rates for the start of the 2008-09 year. $12.1 million on its 2009-10 renewal • unjustified, consider getting a second Despite some initial resistance from the rates, with the new rate being actually opinion. district’s insurance broker in providing all the $4.9 million less than the previous year. Make sure your plan is part of a pool necessary claims history information, the The savings were generated without any • large enough to spread risk and consultants were able to find some key rea- significant changes to benefits, access or volatility. sons for the inflated renewal rates. First of all, quality. • Get informed. Health benefits charges for non-physician service claims like “Maintaining the best possible health training is available through CTA and chiropractic and podiatry were far higher than plan has always been a top priority for our through CECHCR. expected and had not been monitored or members,” says GarciaStevens. “Getting a shared with the district by the broker; in fact, second opinion and joining a larger pool the total utilization for all professional non- allowed that to happen.” physician claims was 40 percent more than Fr a n k We l l s

22 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 22 12/23/10 10:32:36 AM School pool option explored istricts like Montebello, Stockton could save over $401 million per year. The School Pool isn’t a panacea to the and others have been able to main- Such a plan has proved successful in a health care crisis. Still, current health care D tain top-quality health plans and number of other states. cost increases are unsustainable if allowed save millions of dollars by migrating to However, the Mercer report also raises to continue. While the typical increase for larger shared-risk pools. What if school potential challenges for im- school districts in 2009 was 6 districts and their employees throughout plementation in California percent to 14 percent, some California joined to create one of the and how it would impact lo- districts received rate increas- largest pools of all? cal chapters: es as high as 40 percent for That’s exactly the possibility being ex- their plans. Those increases plored by the California Education Co- • To be successful, partici- have caused employee contri- alition for Health Care Reform (CECH- pation by all education butions to soar as high as CR), a coalition of public school labor employees would be man- $1,800 per month and have and management groups. A 1.6 million- datory. forced some workers to join member “School Pool” could lower costs • If required, the inclusion the ranks of the uninsured. and improve benefits for public educa- of retirees could signifi- Much of this cost is spent on tion employees and their families by in- cantly impact the cost sav- CTA Board member administrators for the plans Don Bridge creasing district leverage in purchasing ings of the pool. and not on actual health care. and negotiating benefits coverage. The • In order to achieve reduced administra- In fact, health care administration has Mercer Report, a 2007 study authorized tive costs, a school pool would need to grown by nearly 3,000 percent over the by AB 256, first explored this idea and be administered by a single entity, such last 30 years, while the number of physi- found that a statewide pool in California as CalPERS or a similar institution. Continued on next page

d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011 | www.cta.org 23

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 23 12/23/10 10:32:37 AM cians has increased only slightly. about health benefits is bound to raise ques- • Governance of the pool must include rep- CTA Board member Don Bridge repre- tions, when members hear this concept they resentation of all funding stakeholders. sents CTA in CECHCR and believes the are generally very supportive.” School Pool concept has the potential to Among the criteria CECHCR would re- The School Pool is still conceptual at this be a major improvement over the current quire of a School Pool: point. If and when actual legislation is scattershot and inefficient system. He says proposed, CTA would go through its normal that member education and assurance • The pool must provide a range of val- member-involved process for determining its that benefits would be maintained or im- ue-based and affordable plans that position. For more information on the School proved would be key components in any equal or exceed current offerings. Pool and other school health care issues, visit changeover to the new system. • Local control must be maintained www.ccscenter.org/cechcr. “Our goal would be to raise everyone up to over matters subject to collective Fr a n k We l l s the best possible assortment of plans and cov- bargaining. erage, letting them keep or improve what they • Plans must incorporate health pro- Look for additional health care news and for haveBAD-11-07-10594.CTA now, while at the same 11/29/07 time reducing 3:17 PM motionPage 1**dhynoski�**User programs and incentivess:dhynoski:Desktop:Work to feedback opportunities in Progress:11/29:BAD-11-07-10 on this issue at cta.org/ 5 costs all around,” says Bridge. “While any talk improve health status. issues/healthcare.

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18-40 Dec.2010.indd 25 12/23/10 10:32:49 AM Q&ACalSTRS lowers rate of return he governing board of cial information and talked to to plan our funding over the districts and educators. But the the California State Teach- many financial industry experts next 30 years, has been set at 8 bottom-line lesson from the T ers’ Retirement System in the 10 months leading up to percent since 1995. It was re- 2008 financial crisis and the first (CalSTRS, the pension fund that the recent changes. vised downward to 7.75 percent decade of the 2000s was that the provides benefits to retiring Cal- In this case, the lowering on Dec. 2, 2010. overall cost to retire went up for ifornia educators) has made the reflects the recognition that Cal- Ch r i s Ai l m A n : Keep in mind that everyone, teachers and the gen- decision to lower the rate of STRS investment returns will be while this is a forecast, year in eral public. return from the current 8 per- more modest than the 9.1 percent and year out, our goal remains cent to 7.75 percent — a deci- that we’ve achieved in investment the same: to beat the markets Will lowering the rate of return sion that experts like CalSTRS return annually over the past 30 and generate the highest return mean that teachers inevitably Chief Investment Officer Chris years. Since 1995, our actuary has for the level of risk we’re com- contribute more? Ailman and CalSTRS Deputy predicted an 8 percent return on fortable taking. ED DE r m A n : The lawyers who have CEO Ed Derman believe will investments, which would paint a reviewed this for CalSTRS have help stabilize the fund over the rosy picture had it not been for What effect do you feel lowering concluded that the contribution long haul. We spoke with Ail- the drastic economic downturn the rate of return will have on the rates charged to existing mem- man and Derman to help CTA of 2008-09, which is forcing the fund short and long term? bers cannot be increased to pay members understand the situa- hand of many a pension system, Ch r i s Ai l m A n : In the short term, the for the benefits that are already tion and what’s being done to including CalSTRS, to down- effect is very little, so we do not in place. Therefore, existing improve the position of the pen- grade its forecast of income from expect to make any changes to teachers would not be called sion fund through these tough investments. the current year investment upon to contribute more to pay economic times. And because investment re- plan. Our task now is to meet or for the liabilities associated with turns account for the majority exceed a 7.75 percent rate of re- the current benefit plan. Higher CAliFOrniA ED U C A T O r : What does the of the income the system uses turn for the next 30 years, but contributions can be imposed rate of return mean? to pay benefits, it means there for the investment staff, we on new teachers, however, as Ch r i s Ai l m A n : There are two inputs will be more pressure to make know we still need to make an well as employers and the state. into a retirement fund, contribu- up that lower rate from the sys- additional $10 billion this year. If the rates don’t change at all, tions and investment earnings, tem’s other sources of income Long term, it does have CalSTRS will eventually deplete and the Teachers’ Retirement — its employers, the state of profound impact. You have to the trust fund and retirement Board uses the rate of return as- California, and possibly even realize it was a very difficult costs would fall entirely to the sumption to set the average fu- its members. decision for the board. They state. The rates will need to go ture earnings for investments reviewed this over 10 months. up for new members, because over the next 30 years. What amount will the rate As I mentioned, there are just none of us can expect invest- This is a difficult assumption of return be lowered from and two inputs to a retirement fund ment returns to generate a dou- to get right, but a key one to the down to? — so if you expect less from in- ble-digit return for the next two health of the system, so the board ED DE r m A n : The Investment Re- vestments, it puts more pres- decades. However, only the looked at 120 years of past finan- turn Assumption, which we use sure on contributions. Since Legislature can increase contri- our rates are set by law, it raises bution rates. the urgency for CalSTRS to work with the California Legis- What is the amount of the un- Facts on CalSTRS changes lature, the governor and its funded liability? members to develop solutions ED DE r m A n : We won’t know the CalSTRS has lowered its expected rate of return from 8 percent to 7.75 percent. to contribution rates that ev- current unfunded liability until eryone can accept. we complete the valuation — a What this means for the pension fund: We know it’s very tough on snapshot of the health of the As the unfunded liability continues to increase, CalSTRS members, the teachers and the California edu- system — in the spring of 2011. California Legislature and the governor will need to develop solutions to cation system, and the last thing If the new, reduced investment contribution rates that everyone can accept. anyone wants is higher contribu- return assumption had been tion rates for the state, school applied to the last valuation, it

26 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 26 12/23/10 10:32:50 AM would have increased the unfunded liabil- right there. As mentioned before, there are diversified portfolio will find pockets of op- ity from $41 billion to $45 billion. CalSTRS just two ways to get there. One is bringing portunity as it has in the past. I wish I could is currently funded at the level it was fund- in more contributions, and obviously, that tell you we can make it back to 90 percent ed in 1990. will take time. The other is through higher funding as fast as we did in the 1980s to than expected investment returns. It’s not 1990s, but right now that is not very likely. Can you give us a simple analogy to explain insurmountable. We did it before, in the the situation with the unfunded liability? 1980s through the 1990s, with nearly dou- Is there a silver lining to all this? Ch r i s Ai l m a n : The Investment Committee here ble-digit average annual returns. However, Ch r i s Ai l m a n : First of all, I’d like to remind our at CalSTRS knows I love to use analogies, so the past 120 years of U.S. stock market his- members that CalSTRS has been around let’s use a mortgage. For all of us, the bank tory and our current environment tell us it since 1913 and survived the Great Depres- or mortgage company tells us how much we is not reasonable to expect that pace of in- sion without missing a payment, so we’ll need to pay. In the CalSTRS case, the actu- vestment income to return. I want to point survive this crisis. I also want to assure our ary tells us the rate, which we call the out that the current economic malaise is members that their defined benefit is guar- normal cost of the pension. However, since also not likely to persist for decade after de- anteed by both the California and U.S. con- about 2000, we have been paying less than cade. To make a higher than expected re- stitutions as well as through case law. The the required rate, in other words underpay- turn we either take on more risk or find state of California, as the system’s guaran- ing the mortgage bill. Since it’s financed opportunities to generate profit that others tor, will be obliged to pick up the tab should over 30 years that underpayment com- miss. The board has already decided we all of the assets of CalSTRS be depleted. Fi- pounds to a big number. Looking at it today, don’t want to take on more risk to try to nally, even though rates may go up, or new the bank, or our actuary, says we need to earn a higher return. So the key to better members may be faced with 401(k)-type pay more per month to pay off the mort- results is to tactically manage the portfolio defined-contribution plans or higher con- gage and make up for the lost ground from in the global market and find growth op- tributions, our current members can count the past few years. portunities around the world. I think our on the defined benefit they signed up for.

When was the unfunded liability at its lowest? Ch r i s Ai l m a n : In 2000, CalSTRS had a $1.9 billion actuarial surplus. In its 96-year history, You are 1 degree of separation from changing CalSTRS has been fully funded only three your world. Which 1 will it be? years before the decade of the 2000s. The Internet bubble and 9/11 plunged the coun- 76 affordable degrees of distinction -100% online, including: try into a major recession and the invest- M.Ed., Teaching - Instructional Leadership (K-12) ment portfolio declined. M.Ed., Teaching - Special Education Master of Public Health How do you get the fund back up to a respect- M.Ed., Teaching - Elementary Reading * able amount? M.Ed., Teaching - English Language Learners* Ch r i s Ai l m a n : Pension experts consider 80 per- M.Ed., Teaching - Curriculum & Instruction for Elementary Teachers* cent funding to be a healthy level. This lat- est move puts CalSTRS at the 76.5 percent *Enrollment opens September 1, 2010 funding level, increasing the gap between 8 and 16 week graduate level courses start the assets at hand and the pension obliga- monthly at only $300 per semester hour. tion, which hasn’t changed. Sure, that’s below what’s considered healthy, but it’s not 2009 Ralph E. Gomory Award insurmountable. But it is important to re- AWARD WINNER for Quality Online Education member that the specific funding level is not as important as having sufficient funds Let us help you get started today. to be able to pay benefits into the indefinite 1.877.777.9081 future, and given our current assets and li- studyatAPU.com/education abilities, that is not the case unless contributions are increased. A pension plan should range between 80 percent and 100 percent to be considered a Respected. Affordable. Online. healthy plan — 90 percent would put us

d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011 | www.cta.org 27

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 27 12/23/10 10:32:50 AM Carlsbad teachers provide leadership in shooting crisis

left: First-grader Haley is comforted by trained therapy dog Anise from Hope Animal-Assisted Crisis Re- sponse.

down routine — run to the first open room at the first sign of trouble — many times. We are so thankful the children and our staff knew exactly what to do.” The Carlsbad Unified Teachers Association quickly initiated a series of association-coordinated responses to the crisis led by President Sally Estep. “I didn’t wait for the district to call me,” says Estep. “I called them, saying that we wanted to help. I knew that the district’s crisis plan resources and com- CTA photo by CTA Kim Kelly munity support would be in “ ourage is not the absence firing pistol shots into the play- whose wounds were not life- play, but on behalf of CUTA of fear, but rather the ground filled with the school’s threatening, were promptly and the California Teachers As- Cjudgment that something students in grades 1-3 and their transported by helicopter to a sociation, we wanted to antici- else is more important than teachers and aides, the children’s hospital in San Di- pate and fill in any gaps.” fear,” reads a banner in front of response was courageous, re- ego. Within hours, the stu- At a districtwide crisis meet- Kelly Elementary School’s now solved and disciplined, instead dents were reunited with their ing held to lay out an ongoing placid student playground. of panicked and chaotic. anxious parents, and the response plan, Estep learned The quote reminds the While three construction school’s staff were debriefed from trauma counselors with school’s more than 500 stu- workers who had been laying and allowed to go home. the Trauma Intervention Pro- dents and their families, the 30 tile for the school’s cafeteria California law gram that it was staff members who work at renovation tackled the lone requires schools imperative that the Kelly, and the nearby neigh- shooter, the students and staff to have safety students and the bors in Carlsbad, located in immediately put the school’s plans, and the staff be integrated north San Diego County, of well-honed emergency plan staff and parent as quickly as pos- how their normal routines into swift action. Within three volunteers at Kel- sible back into were interrupted by sounds of minutes of the first shot, all ly take the re- t h e i r n o r m a l gunfire on the school’s play- students and staff — including quirement seri- school environ- ground at 12:10 p.m., Friday, two-second grade girls who ously, practicing ment. The big Oct. 8. But it’s more than just a had both been wounded in their earthquake, question, though, reminder of the traumatic their right arms — were safely fire and lockdown Taryn Webb, was how best to fa- event; it’s also an affirmation locked down out of harm’s way. drills religiously. Carlsbad Unified cilitate the return of the courageous response. In another five minutes, police “You can’t allow Teachers Association to their school rou- When a gunman police later and other first responders the drills to be- tine without forc- identified as Oceanside resi- were on the scene, arresting come an inconvenience,” says ing them back into the scene of dent Brendan O’Rourke, age the gunman and securing the Principal Tessie Armstrong. the trauma too quickly. 41, jumped the fence and began campus. The injured students, “We had practiced the lock- After hearing about the

28 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 28 12/23/10 10:32:52 AM P:M shooting, a CUTA member were available during recess called Estep to suggest the and lunch breaks to provide ]n\ZmbhgZeOb]^hl how our association Fab[Ue[Ù^gVWIZkBSdf[U[bSfW[`Kagd stood up for us, making &"%T!&')B^S`5a_bSd[`Y&"%TS`V&') sure we got exactly what B^Sè5Zaae[`YS&"%Tad&')BdaVgUf we needed,” says Kelly 3>aa]SfFSdYWf 6SfW8g`VeS`V3>aa] third-grade teacher Sf8[jWV3``g[f[We Taryn Webb. Second-grade teacher Jana Scott says, “The as- , :ldma^:]oblhk sociation’s support by BaefkagdYW`WdS^cgWef[aèSTagfÌ`SÙ[S^ providing the Hope [eegWe 3fWS_aXÌ`SÙ[S^WjbWdfei[^^ teams was so thought- dWeba`VfafZWcgWef[aèS`VbaeffZW ful. The kids loved the SèiWdeXadS^^fah[Wi dogs, and it made it so much easier for us to go back out onto that play- - I^klhgZebs^]

CTA photo by CTA Alva Rivera bi l l Gu y

d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011 | www.cta.org 29

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 29 12/23/10 10:32:53 AM La Habra strike ends in litigation lthough the 225 members step-and-column and health of the La Habra Education benefits in the absence of a bar- AAssociation called off gained contract. their four-day strike and finally CTA President David A. San- returned to their classrooms on chez wrote to LHEA members Dec. 16, the fight is far from during their strike, “I hope you over with the La Habra City know that by standing up for School District’s superintendent your profession and by not al- and board of education. lowing your superintendent and “LHEA members returned to school board to bully you into their classrooms with heads subservience, you are perhaps held high, knowing we took the teaching your students a lesson high ground with our integrity in fairness that they might not and dignity intact,” says LHEA learn in any other way.” President Danette Brown, who More than 90 percent of leads the teachers in the K-8 el- LHEA members walked the ementary district located in the picket lines or refused to cross photos by CTA Bill Guy north Orange County city of La them on each of the strike’s four behavior by the hired substi- above: A reporter from Los Ange- Habra. “We had hoped to pre- days, and the number of La tutes. The board acceded to the les TV station KCBS 2 interviews La Habra Education Association Presi- vail through negotiation, but Habra students attending school parents’ demands that finan- dent Danette Brown (right) outside now we are seeking redress during the strike shrank from cial experts representing the Imperial Middle School on the first through litigation.” about 80 percent the first day to board and CTA make efforts to day of the strike. LHEA has filed legal motions barely 50 percent when the craft a framework within against the district’s surface bar- strike ended. which negotiations between their work sites for duty, expect- gaining, their refusal to provide Parents and community the two bargaining teams ing to reunite with their stu- the association legally required members supportive of the might be possible. dents, the district literally and bargaining information, the un- teachers literally took over in a Following lengthy talks be- figuratively slammed the doors fair multiyear contract imposi- raucous six-hour Dec. 9 school tween the financial analysts in their faces by illegally locking tion, and the illegal withholding board meeting, citing numer- from Friday until nearly mid- them out and directing them to of teachers’ salary related to ous instances of inappropriate night on Monday, Dec. 13, both sign a legal document promis- analysts agreed that their pro- ing that by gaining entry they posed framework offered pa- were giving up all rights to re- rameters that should result in a sume their strike. CTA attor- settlement. Bargaining by the neys assisting LHEA advised teams was set to start Tuesday, the teachers not the sign the Dec. 14, at 3:30 p.m., and in a documents and requested an in- gesture of good faith, LHEA junction from the California called off its strike and notified Public Employment Relations the district that teachers would Board forbidding the lockout. return to their classrooms be- At the end of the school day ginning Tuesday morning. on Dec. 14, LHEA members When teachers reported to gathered outside the La Habra district office in a rally to cheer left: President Danette Brown leads their bargaining team at the a march of striking LHEA members at start of the planned negotiations a lunchtime rally on the strike’s sec- session, joined by scores of par- ond day. ents and numerous Los Angeles

30 California Educator | d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 30 12/23/10 10:32:57 AM and Orange County area televi- ments throughout the state, the RIGHt: LHEA members sion mobile news crews. district continued to insist on Debbie Bitetto and Mindy Stolson walked the picket “It was soon apparent after punitive language that would lines each day in the four- the bargaining session started result in additional, permanent day strike with their col- that the district’s team had no cuts for the teachers. leagues at Las Positas Ele- intention of settling a contract “After leading teachers, par- mentary School. based on the framework recom- ents and the community to mended by the financial ex- believe they would honor the rooms again on Dec. 15, perts,” says Brown. “Even so, recommendations of the finan- which cost an additional LHEA’s bargaining team en- cial experts they had suggested $50,000 in unnecessary dured an almost eight-hour to help craft a mutual compro- substitute pay. charade of repeated rejections mise, the district’s bad-faith On another front, and insulting, callous counter- bargaining was yet one more LHEA is supporting ef- proposals from the district be- breach of public trust,” says forts by an organized fore talks broke off.” Brown. “During the course of coalition of outraged The district repeatedly re- their sham bargaining, the La parents and citizens to jected the framework recom- Habra City School District com- initiate a petition drive mended by financial experts mitted numerous grievances for school board mem- representing both parties, that LHEA can litigate, and that ber recall with the ultimate goal ucation Association’s strike cri- instead offering punitive pro- process is already in motion.” of ousting Superintendent Susan sis fund. You can do so via Pay- posals unacceptable to the Even though LHEA members Belenardo from the district. Pal at bit.ly/dRMFyj, or by teachers. Rejecting the experts’ reported for duty Dec. 14 and Sanchez urges CTA’s local check to: LHEA Strike Fund, recommendation of standard, were willing to work the next chapters and members who NOCUT, 749 South Brea Blvd., acceptable restoration language day, the district directed the have not already done so to Suite 42, Brea, CA 92821. common in negotiated agree- teachers to stay out of their class- contribute to the La Habra Ed- bi l l Gu y

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d e c e m b e r 2010 • j a n u a r y 2011 | www.cta.org 31

18-40 Dec.2010.indd 31 12/23/10 10:32:59 AM ACTION New governor, Legislature take first steps to bridge $28.5 billion budget gap alifornia’s governor-elect fall. That increase is tied to de- January, ahead of the official the necessary steps to provide and new Legislature have cisions by Congress to allow June deadline. schools with the funding they C already begun taking the the estates of wealthy taxpayers CTA President David A. need to provide every student first steps aimed at addressing to pass along higher amounts Sanchez attended the Dec. 14 with the high quality education California’s budget deficit, which of funds to their beneficiaries education forum and pledged they deserve.” is now expected to hit $28.5 bil- without taxation. that CTA and its Education Co- Brown is expected to release lion in 2011-12. During the December budget alition allies will continue to his preliminary budget propos- Even before taking office on forum, legislative leaders — As- fight to protect students, edu- al around Jan. 10. Lawmakers Jan. 3, Jerry Brown brought leg- sembly Speaker John A. Perez cators and public schools, have until June 15 under provi- islative leaders, fiscal experts, and Senate President Pro Tem which have already suffered sions of the state constitution and other concerned Califor- Darrell Steinberg — noted that cuts of more than $21 billion to send the governor a final nians together for two town hall state voters and elected officials over the past three years. budget plan for his review. The meetings. The first, held Dec. 7 will have to decide what kind of “Public education has suf- constitution requires the gov- in Sacramento, focused on as- state they want and how they are fered cuts that are unconscio- ernor to sign the measure into sessing the scope, breadth, and willing to pay for it. nable,” said Sanchez. “We will law by June 30, the day before causes of California’s perennial Fiscal experts projected that press the governor and legisla- the start of the new fiscal year. budget shortfalls. the state’s deficit — pegged at tors to protect public schools The second forum, which $20 billion annually — will likely from further cuts and to take Le n Fe l d m a n took place in Los Angeles on continue into the foreseeable fu- Dec. 14, gave Brown the oppor- ture without significant action tunity to convene a meeting of by the governor and legislators public officials, educators and to mitigate it. Solutions could in- education supporters to plumb clude boosts in revenue or clo- the unmet fiscal and other needs sures of corporate loopholes that of California’s public schools. are costing the state billions of At the first meeting in Sacra- dollars every year. mento, budget experts sketched As virtually his last action be- out how the state’s unprecedent- fore leaving office, Gov. ed economic downturn was ex- Schwarzenegger in December acerbated by elected officials’ called the Legislature into a spe- inopportune decisions. These cial session to deal with the bud- decisions include outgoing Gov. get shortfall. The new Legisla- CTA photo by CTA Bill Guy Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first ture, which was installed on Dec. action in office, the slashing of 6, met for a single day, choosing CTA President David A. Sanchez and Vice President Dean Vogel join in- ternationally recognized educational policy analyst and former U.S. As- the vehicle license fee, some- instead to await the inauguration sistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch, the keynote speaker at the thing experts had warned would of a more education-friendly Nov. 3 kickoff event for the San Diego Community Schools Reform initia- cost the state billions over a few governor before they wrestled tive (SDCSR). SDCSR is a new grassroots school reform project led by a short years. with the problem. coalition including the San Diego Education Association, the San Diego Fiscal experts in recent For his part, Brown called Unified School District, the San Diego Organizing Project, and Equality weeks have increased by more on the Legislature to have a Alliance. In his opening remarks, Sanchez pledged CTA’s support and re- than $2 billion their estimates new budget in place within 60 sources to help the initiative. of the size of the state’s short- days of his budget proposal in