Award-Winning Newspaper of United Teachers • www.utla.net Volume XLVII, Number 3, November 17, 2017 Thousands rally to Save Our Schools Parents and educators demand progress from the district and the state.

WEST AREA VALLEY EAST & NORTH AREA VALLEY WEST AREAS

SOUTH & CENTRAL AREAS EAST AREA HARBOR AREA

Raucous rallies on November 16 that pumped up the crowd, and the group “We are gathered here stretched from Harbor City to North Hills marched to the sound of honking cars. East today for one reason: to fight displayed the positive spirit of public edu- Area turned Mariachi Plaza into a lively for what we deserve from cation while sending a serious message demonstration for public education, with the district,” Monroe High about what’s at stake if we don’t stop Aztec dancers, drums, and chanting. At student Cindy Ruiz said at starving our schools and start supporting in the West Area, the Valley rally. “Teachers, educators. Parents, students, educators, members formed a human billboard along who want to see successful and community groups massed under the Olympic Boulevard, with the spirited tone futures for the students they “Save Our Schools” banner at six locations set by the LA High marching band. At teach, are paid little for the across the district, and each event had its Narbonne High, the Harbor Area com- jobs they do. Taking away own flavor and energy. munity stretched into a long picket line healthcare, taking away pay UTLA’s North Area marched from and ended the rally singing along to “Lean raises, and laying off teachers is no way forced to sit in crammed classes? When commuter-heavy Wilshire and Vermont on Me” and swaying together side to side. to thank them for everything they do.” will we finally get what we deserve?” to Young Oak Kim Academy, with the A big turnout of Valley East and Valley Ruiz asked the students in the crowd: The rallies took place during a week UCLA Community School Korean drum West members shut down Haskell Avenue “How many times have we as students sat with two contract bargaining sessions band providing the driving beat. At outside Monroe High School, where the in overcrowded classes where it is difficult with LAUSD—full contract bargaining Diego Rivera Learning Complex, where marching band set the stage for a speaker to learn? How many times have we had to and healthcare bargaining. South and Central Areas rallied, the kids program with parents, community groups, go to the nurse and she wasn’t available? In October, thanks to our escalating rock band from Miramonte Elementary teachers, and students. Been forced to take standardized tests and (continued on page 7)

Side-by-side summary: UTLA & LAUSD contract proposals Page 4 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 United Teacher President’s perspective

PRESIDENT Alex Caputo-Pearl NEA AFFILIATE VP Cecily Myart-Cruz AFT AFFILIATE VP Juan Ramirez Organizing and actions work ELEMENTARY VP Gloria Martinez SECONDARY VP Daniel Barnhart TREASURER Alex Orozco We’ve made progress on healthcare, and now we escalate our campaign even more. SECRETARY Arlene Inouye By Alex Caputo-Pearl EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Good UTLA President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS A few weeks ago, as I was walking out NORTH AREA: Karla Griego, Chair (Buchanan ES), from a lunch meeting with members at Van Mark Ramos (Contreras LC), Rebecca Solomon (RFK Deene Elementary in the Harbor Area, I UCLA Comm. School), Julie Van Winkle (LOOC Liason) heard a familiar voice call my name. I gave SOUTH AREA: Maria Miranda, Chair (Miramonte ES), Ayde Bravo (Maywood ES), L. Cynthia Matthews Veronique Gathers, a plant manager and (McKinley ES), Karen Ticer-Leon (Tweedy ES) member of the Teamsters union at Van EAST AREA: Adrian Tamayo, Chair (Lorena ES), Deene, a hug. Her son, Marquise Williams, Ingrid Gunnell (Salary Point Advisor), Erica Huerta was one of the most remarkable social (Garfield HS), Gillian Russom (Roosevelt HS) justice student leaders I have ever worked WEST AREA: Erika Jones Crawford, Chair (CTA Director), Georgia Flowers Lee (Saturn ES), Noah Lippe-Klein with, back in the early 2000s—he was at (Dorsey HS), Larry Shoham (Hamilton HS) Dorsey High School in South LA while CENTRAL AREA: José Lara, Chair (Santee EC), I was teaching at rival Crenshaw down Kelly Flores (Hawkins HS), Tomas Flores (West the street. We talked about Marquise, and Vernon ES), Claudia Rodriquez (49th Street) family, and kids, and then Veronique said, VALLEY EAST AREA: Scott Mandel, Chair (Pacoima “I’m so glad all the unions are working Magnet), Victoria Casas (Beachy ES), Mel House (Elementary P.E.), Hector Perez-Roman (Arleta HS) together on our healthcare. I couldn’t be VALLEY WEST AREA: Bruce Newborn, Chair (Hale prouder of that. Let’s fight and win.” Charter), Melodie Bitter (Lorne ES), Wendi Davis A year ago this month, LAUSD sent me (Henry MS), Javier Romo (Mulholland MS) a letter stating that the district wanted to HARBOR AREA: Steve Seal, Chair (Eshelman ES), open healthcare bargaining a year ahead Canyon Elementary staff with Alex on a school visit. Karen Macias-Lutz (Del Amo ES), Jennifer McAfee (Dodson MS), Elgin Scott (Taper ES) of time. There were several pages attached, ADULT & OCCUP ED: Matthew Kogan (Evans CAS) arguing for draconian cuts to our health- How dare the district elementary report cards and benchmarks. care. I replied that there is a year left in the How dare the district spend two years • A flat-out rejection of our proposal BILINGUAL EDUCATION: Cheryl L. Ortega (Sub Unit) agreement and we’ll bargain at the right threatening our healthcare! How dare to allow Local School Leadership and EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: Corina Gomez (Pacoima EEC) time—not a year in advance. LAUSD threaten to punish educators for Shared Decision-Making councils have HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Over that year, the LA Times, which LAUSD’s financial dilemmas when the Mallorie Evans (Marlton Spec Ed) more purview over how LCFF funds are Eli Broad funds, continued to regularly district has done little over the past few spent at school sites. It shouldn’t just be SPECIAL ED: Lucia Arias (Knollwood ES) publish attacks on public sector employ- years to address being 46th out up to the principal. SUBSTITUTES: Benny Madera ees’ healthcare, often straight from a group of 50 states in per-pupil funding. How This is unacceptable. PACE CHAIR: Marco Flores called Cal Matters, which Broad also funds. dare the district threaten the funding for UTLA RETIRED: John Perez Meanwhile, Nick Melvoin ran an un- our healthcare when the corporate charter From starving and privatized precedented $13 million campaign for majority on the LAUSD School Board is to thriving and sustainable AFFILIATIONS School Board, based largely on attacking giving money away every time a new American Federation of Teachers The public wants a civic institution of National Education Association our healthcare. is authorized or a failing education that is high-quality, sustain- All of this culminated with LAUSD’s charter school renewed. able over the long-term, and serves all STATE & NATIONAL OFFICERS pronouncement at the bargaining table this How dare the district stonewall us on CFT PRESIDENT: Joshua Pechthalt students. Our students, communities, and CTA PRESIDENT: Eric Heins past September that the district would be salary and offer just a 2% one-time bonus. city need this. CTA DIRECTOR: Erika Jones Crawford deeply cutting our healthcare. How dare the district refuse to move on We as educators need this—with an em- CFT VICE PRESIDENT: Juan Ramirez A month later, the district came back to our proposals on the class size and staffing phasis on the sustainability question—for NEA PRESIDENT: Lily Eskelsen Garcia the table and offered a three-year health- our students deserve. AFT PRESIDENT: Randi Weingarten our long-term job security, healthcare, and NEA DIRECTOR: Mel House care agreement with no increased costs In the face of Celerity, PUC, and Ref the opportunity to work as proud educa- for members. This is very significant Rodriguez’s high-profile corruption, how tors within a thriving school system. UTLA COMMUNICATIONS progress, and it is a direct result of our dare the district refuse to negotiate basic The state of California and LAUSD have EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Alex Caputo-Pearl organizing and escalation: our September charter school regulation that is needed chosen starvation and privatization for our COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Anna Bakalis 26 Big Red Tuesday, October 11 Picket for to save the civic institution of public COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS: schools over appropriately funding them. Kim Turner, Carolina Barreiro, Tammy Lyn Gann Power, more than 800 chapter chairs in education. The state has done this by allowing per- ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Laura Aldana place across the city (more than we’ve How dare LAUSD disrespect its educa- pupil funding to be 46th out of 50 states. ever had), hundreds of Contract Action tors in our classrooms and schools, the LAUSD and its corporate charter major- EDITORIAL INFORMATION Teams in place at schools, our strong people who spend every day working with ity have done this through its history of UNITED TEACHER collaborative work with the seven other our youth. We see this disrespect through: approving charters and declining to fight 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Fl., LA, CA 90010 Email: [email protected] employee unions, and our unprecedented • LAUSD’s flat-out rejection of our pro- for the survival of the district. UTLA main line: 213-487-5560 building of the Reclaim Our Schools LA posal to increase administrator account- We have to fight for victories for our ADVERTISING coalition, including more than 15 parent, ability in providing support for teachers in schools right now, while we also, crucially, Senders Communications Group Brian Bullen: 818-884-8966, ext. 1108 community, and civil rights organizations. addressing student discipline and school fight right now for pathways to a sus- Organizing and escalating actions work. climate issues. The district also rejected our tainable future—funding-wise, charter UNITED TEACHER accepts paid advertisements from We saw it in the 2014-15 contract cam- proposal to form joint intervention teams outside companies and organizations, including UTLA regulation-wise, and more. If we don’t, sponsors and vendors with no relationship with UTLA. Only paign and the 10% salary increase. We see to provide enhanced support to schools we will annually be facing negotiations approved vendors can use the UTLA logo in their ads. The it now with healthcare. We see it now with dealing with severe student discipline centered on cuts to student services, cuts content of an advertisement is the responsibility of the advertiser alone, and UTLA cannot be held responsible National Board Certified teachers—the issues, and our proposal to have Local to healthcare, cuts to jobs. for its accuracy, veracity, or reliability. Appearance of an district just recently pulled completely off School Leadership and Shared Decision- To do this, we must address seven ele- advertisement should not be viewed as an endorsement the table its wrong-headed proposal to cut Making councils produce, and monitor or recommendation by United Teachers Los Angeles. ments in this contract campaign and the NBCT pay and force them to move schools. implementation of, school-site discipline broader Schools LA Students Deserve cam- Your work at school sites is the key to our and climate plans. paign to build a thriving, sustainable, truly United Teacher (ISSN # 0745-4163) is published nine times a year (monthly except for February, June, and organizing and escalation. • LAUSD’s top-down directives on public education system in Los Angeles. July) by United Teachers Los Angeles, 3303 Wilshire We must keep up that organizing and standardized testing. The district has 1. We must recruit and retain great edu- Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Subscrip- keep pushing on healthcare. We must not responded to our bargaining pro- cators. Increased salary, healthcare, and tions: $20.00 per year. (Price included in dues/agency ensure that any multi-year healthcare posals giving educators more discretion fee of UTLA bargaining unit members.) Periodicals great learning and working conditions postage paid at Los Angeles, California. POSTMAS- agreement does not deplete the healthcare over what tests are administered in our are crucial to this, as we face an oncom- TER: Please send address changes to United Teacher, reserve. If it does, that will be used by the classrooms. ing national teacher shortage. Our current 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA district to justify an attack on healthcare • LAUSD’s top-down mandates without bargaining proposals on salary, class size, 90010. Telephone 213-487-5560. in future years. adequate support and time given, such as (continued on next page) 2 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE scale it upward and outward. using it as a foundation for con- 6. We must stop the priva- versations with parents about (continued from previous page) tization and unregulated char- how to get accurate information staffing, and professional respect regarding terization of LA education that and a foundation for stronger re- student discipline, site decision-making, destabilizes and financially lationships. Chapter chair Maria testing, and mandates are key. undermines our neighbor- Lopez and vice chair Sheila 2. We must shift LAUSD’s budget pri- hood schools every day (the Vargas at El Sereno Middle orities toward the above. It is not okay other half of the enrollment School used the CAT structure for LAUSD to have much larger unre- decline is due to the unregu- to drive conversations across stricted reserves (percentage-wise) than lated growth of charters). This the entire campus about turning most large school districts in the state. charterization also creates a out to the October 11 school-site It is not okay for LAUSD to consistently race to the bottom in educa- picketing and the November overproject spending in its books and tional and work standards. The 16 rally. The responses and the supplies fund, and use the rest as an un- district needs to respond to our resulting numbers were excel- accountable slush fund. School Accountability bargain- lent. CATs are our present and 3. We must win 20 x 20, because shift- ing proposal, which outlines our future on how we will put ing LAUSD’s budget priorities will not common-sense accountability organized school-site power be enough to build a thriving, sustain- standards with charters that behind pressing local issues, able, public school system, in the current could be legally implemented grievances, parent organizing, context of California being in 46th place tomorrow. Moreover, as our or- and citywide priorities. among the states. This is our campaign ganizing and escalation intensi- Our model works, and we for California to increase school funding fies around our contract, and its need to double-down on it: or- to $20,000 per student by 2020. This is waves hit Sacramento, efforts ganizing for the here and now, not pie-in-the-sky—other states already to change state charter school organizing for the future, and do it. This is not unachievable—we are law must be twinned with our building strategic escalating one of the biggest unions in the state, 20 x 20 advocacy. actions. Let’s continue pushing with connections to thousands of parents, 7. We must organize ourselves and make even more progress and with enormous potential power. The for the long-term. Educators are on healthcare. Let’s organize LAUSD School Board and other elected always going to be a driving for salary, class size, staffing, officials have already signed on to the idea voice in making schools better. Our November 7 news conference with parents and educators outside professional respect, charter of 20 x 20. Now, we need to spur them Our voices are more power- LAUSD Board headquarters amplified our call for Ref Rodriguez to school regulation, and Commu- into action. In California, the sixth-larg- ful when we are organized— resign and targeted the charter lobby’s attempt to roll back account- nity Schools. Let’s celebrate the est economy in the world and the birth- around school-site issues and ability measures. Read more on page 6. leadership of school-site leaders place of , Google, Apple, and around citywide issues. The like Veronique, Kyla, Ernestina, Silicon Valley, there are ample avenues lifeblood of this organization is Contract Parents weren’t always getting accurate Maria, Sheila, and parents from Reclaim to 20 x 20: closing tax loopholes on the Action Teams, which chapter chairs and information about what was happening Our Schools LA, and let’s multiply those wealthiest corporate commercial property leaders have formed this year at hundreds at Plummer and often did not have infor- leaders. Let’s organize against the choice owners, closing the carried interest tax of our schools. Chapter chair Kyla Fields mation from an educator’s point of view. to privatize our schools rather than fund loophole on high-end financial transac- and vice chair Ernestina Hernandez at The CAT collectively developed a flyer them. Let’s organize for a sustainable, tions, getting the promised and decades- Plummer Elementary in the San Fer- for parents and has been distributing and high-quality, thriving public education overdue federal and state funding for nando Valley used their CAT structure posting it in every corner of the campus system. I hope to see you at your school special education, and more. to address a pressing school-site issue. (one of the strengths of employing CATs), site soon, and keep up the great work. 4. We must attract students and families to our public district schools and nurture their long-term commitment to our In this issue schools. LAUSD has gone from 800,000 students to less than 600,000 students over the course of a decade. Great educators 4 Where we are in bargaining 11 Student voices: Time to and lower class sizes will partly help us increase enrollment, but there must be Side-by-side summary of UTLA’s and LAUSD’s proposals. end random searches much more. We must take outside-the-box actions to make our schools more attrac- 6 Community demands Ref’s resignation & 12 Using the power of your LSLC tive through efforts such as removing charter accountability unused bungalows and creating more Parents and educators protest the effort to reduce green space. Moreover, we must press 13 UTLA-supported PD options the district to use its substantial influ- transparency and oversight on charter operators. ence to help with family and community 14 HHS organizing stability outside the classroom, which we 8 UTLA Board united behind contract demands are doing through our Common Good All Board of Directors members endorse our 15 Bilingual issues bargaining proposals by, for example, bargaining platform. increasing the stock of affordable housing 16 Passings in LA (half of the decline in enrollment is because of the unaffordability of living 10 Why we should worry about private equity in LA), creating a legal defense fund for It is no coincidence that the same forces responsible for 16 Accolades families facing immigration issues, and undermining workers’ rights have been leading the charge advocating for free public transporta- toward privatization of public goods like education. 16 Committee events tion for students. These help families concretely, while also building powerful 20 UTLA-Retired coalitions with parents and communities as we show unambiguously that “we have your back.” 5. We must show a proactive concrete vision for what our public, district schools should be, and we must start funding that Get connected to UTLA model of schools. We have put forward a Facebook: facebook.com/UTLAnow bargaining proposal to invest $10 million into the transformation of 20 schools into Twitter: @utlanow YouTube: youtube.com/UTLAnow Community Schools—schools with a Check out broadened curriculum, parent engage- more photos ment, wraparound services, fully support- from the ed restorative practices, and an emphasis November on teaching, not testing. It’s working in 16 rallies Cincinnati and Austin, and it can work on page 7. here—let’s invest in these 20 sites and then 3 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 Latest from the table: Full contract and healthcare Side-by-side summary of UTLA’s and LAUSD’s current full contract proposals.

Full contract bargaining manent salary increase and requested healthcare, and it is a result of our orga- UTLA and LAUSD met again at the a counterproposal from the district on nizing for collective actions and growing bargaining table on Monday, November salary, bilingual education, and Com- solidarity with our labor partners. But 13. The district has not made any sig- munity Schools. this is not enough. At the November nificant proposals on key issues relating 16 session, we made a counterproposal to salary, lower class size, overtesting, Healthcare bargaining demanding annual increases in district more nurses, counselors, and teacher On October 26, the district made a contributions to healthcare to ensure librarians, and other critical issues. On proposal to fund our healthcare for the premium-free coverage for active and November 2, we countered their 2% one- next three years. This is significant move- retired employees and to help preserve time salary increase with a 6.5% per- ment off their original plan to gut our the healthcare reserve.

SALARY • Increase salaries by 6.5%, effective July 1, 2016 • Provide 2% one-time bonus EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT, • Create NBCT cohorts at 100 high-need schools, jointly • Increase the monthly payback amount for overpaid identified by UTLA & LAUSD, and require LAUSD to pay employees from $200 per month to $400 per month SUPPORT, AND EVALUATION NBC exam fees for participating teachers who take the • Require members to automatically enroll in a 457(b) plan • Eliminate use of Teacher Learning Framework for • Extend timeline for formal observation from exam and stay at the school for at least two years NOTE: LAUSD backed off its demand for NBC teach- evaluations and replace with California Standards for sixth week of 2nd semester to 10th week of 2nd • Maintain 15% differential for NBC teachers at all schools ers to work in one of the 100 highest-need schools the Teaching Profession semester to qualify for a 15% differential • Add 4th element to formal observation rating (“Highly Effective Practice”)

CLASS SIZE & STAFFING TRANSFERS • Eliminate Section 1.5 from the contract, which allows • Maintain Section 1.5 in the contract • Maintain administrator right to skip seniority in • Clearly define “norm day” as last instructional day of displacement process the district to unilaterally increase class sizes the fifth week of each school year • Reduce time required to initiate grievance procedures • Ensure timely placement of displaced teachers • Protect members from administrative transfers for within close geographical area for class size violations by the district arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory reasons • Reduce the secondary counselor ratio from 500-1 to 400-1 • Eliminate administrator discretion in displacement • Require 1 teacher librarian at every secondary school process, with displacements based strictly on seniority • Require 1 full-time nurse at every school • Allow counselors with a teaching credential to be • Provide every school with a choice between a district included in counselor grouping for displacement office-funded dean, PSW, or Restorative Justice purposes, as opposed to teacher grouping Advisor, to be determined by the Local School Leader- • Ensure timely placement of displaced teachers ship Council within close geographical proximity of their previous assignment • Require super-majority support by staff vote for ACADEMIC FREEDOM any school conversion, including conversion to a • Provide teachers with complete discretion to deter- • Create UTLA-LAUSD Ethnic Studies Task Force magnet school mine when and/or what standardized assessments • Ensure that teachers are not required to reapply for are used in their classrooms, beyond those required their position as the result of a school conversion by the state or federal government • Provide all teachers with the academic freedom to provide Ethnic Studies & Multicultural Literature instruction PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Require all secondary schools to provide Ethnic Studies & Multicultural Literature instruction no later • Provide itinerant employees up to 2 paid release days • Rejected UTLA proposals than the 2018-2019 school year to obtain/maintain required licensure • Require all elementary schools to provide Ethnic • Ensure greater voice for UTLA representatives on Studies & Multicultural Literature instruction, no later PDAC than the 2019-2020 school year • Expand common planning time language beyond • Create a UTLA-LAUSD Ethnic Studies Task Force to middle schools provide ongoing support for Ethnic Studies & Multicul- tural Literature instruction SPECIAL EDUCATION • Reduce special education caseload caps • No proposals SHARED DECISION MAKING • Limit all SDC classes to 2 consecutive grade levels • Empower Local School Leadership Councils with • Rejected UTLA proposals • Prevent segregation of special education students complete authority over all school-based funding, from general education program professional development, implementation of state • Provide paid release time to special education educa- and federal programs, and course electives and tors to complete federally mandated assessments program options • Create a mentor program and financial support for special education educators

ASSIGNMENTS LEAVES AND ABSENCES • Require posting of district-generated seniority list at • Require staff vote on whether schools have a coach • Add language to contract consistent with new law • Rejected UTLA proposals schools as part of matrix process position allowing use of up to 12 weeks of accumulated sick • Allow staff majority vote to determine procedures for • Require staff confirmation vote on the administrator leave by all employees for parental leave matrix development at every school selection for a coach position • Increase the number of paid days for use upon ex- • Implement matrix development process for Adult haustion of accumulated sick leave to up to 5 months Education, consistent with K-12 process • Increase the compensation for paid days beyond ac- • Provide 2 paid release days for teachers subjected to cumulated sick days from half pay to the employee’s grade/subject assignment change after the beginning regular rate of pay, minus the cost of a substitute of school year • Local School Leadership Councils shall determine whether schools have a coach, coordinator, or dean • Require staff vote on the selection of a coach, coordi- UTLA RIGHTS nator, or dean • Expand right to representation at school sites beyond • Increase reimbursement cost for UTLA to release disciplinary meetings members • Expand number of recognized chapter chairs for HOURS, DUTIES, AND WORK YEAR itinerant members • Eliminate yard duty, test proctoring, clerical duties, • Rejected UTLA proposals • Expand rights of itinerant chapter chairs to speak with class coverage, and administrative duties for second- • Establish a workload/assignment committee for members at district meetings ary counselors itinerant employees to analyze working conditions • Expand chapter chair rights in school conversion and • Require staff vote to extend faculty, department, grade and ensure equitable workload contract waiver processes level, PD, or committee meetings beyond one hour • Ensure UTLA appoints all educator representatives on • Provide a preparation period for ROC/ROP/CTE teach- district committees ers at secondary schools • Establish a workload/assignment committee for itinerant employees to analyze working conditions and ensure equitable workloads REVENUE • Ensure that itinerant employees are provided an • Approval by the BOE of a resolution supporting and • No proposals but expressed willingness to collabo- appropriate workspace, room key, restroom key, and calling for formal advocacy of 20 by 20. rate on efforts to increase revenue necessary equipment for each assignment • Allow itinerant employees to work off-site when appropriate 4 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

STUDENT RIGHTS & SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING • Cease the use of “random” metal detector searches • No proposals • Provide school-based support for students and • No proposals of students or “random” locker searches, and rescind students’ families facing eviction or housing emer- LAUSD Bulletin 5424.2 gencies, including staff training collaboration with • Approval by the BOE of a resolution supporting and nonprofit organizations calling for formal advocacy of fare-free ridership on • Identify surplus land owned by the district that can be all MTA buses and trains for LAUSD students used to develop affordable housing, with a priority of • Public support by the BOE for an end to the dispropor- housing students and their families tionate number of citations, fines, and “stop & frisks” • Public support by the BOE for laws and local involving black transit riders ordinances that improve tenant rights and support workforce housing

MASTER PLAN SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY • Expand eligibility for Master Plan salary differentials, • No proposals including for HHS and substitute members • Require an Education Impact Report and a Community • No proposals • Increase Master Plan salary differentials Impact Report as part of the authorization process for • Create employee training program to increase the new charter schools and the reauthorization of exist- number of members eligible to provide instruction in ing charter schools the Master Plan program • Require district-authorized charter schools to provide annual data on student demographics, dismissals, and expulsions • Require district-authorized charter schools to provide annual data on available green space and compliance SUBSTITUTE EMPLOYEES with local, state, and federal safety codes • Increase the continuity rate • A substitute teacher will not be considered late if • Require district-authorized charter schools to provide • Provide pay for substitute participation in professional they arrive no later than 1 hour after accepting an monthly data on student enrollment development assignment • Expand the formal role of chapter chairs and co- • Provide 48 hours of paid annual sick leave, and allow location coordinators in ensuring that co-locations accumulation of paid sick leave up to 72 hours don’t diminish the learning and working conditions at • Reduce required time for extended pay rate in special schools targeted for co-location education assignments • Ensure timely notification and engagement by the • Ensure that necessary assignment information is district with school communities facing possible provided to substitutes prior to acceptance co-location • Ensure substitute compensation for late cancellations that prevent taking another assignment • A substitute teacher will not be considered late if they arrive no later than 1 hour after accepting an assignment GREEN SPACE ON CAMPUS • Require the district to develop a plan to remove all • No proposals unused bungalows from our schools, no later than December 31, 2019 • Require the district to develop a plan to provide ADULT & CAREER EDUCATION adequate green space at all schools by December • Improve DACE transparency in providing adult educa- • Change “M” basis contracts to temporary contracts 31, 2019 tion employee information • Create joint panel to select employees for “advisor” • Eliminate “M” Basis contracts positions, with DACE Executive Director unilaterally • Improve adult education employee rights to perma- determining which schools get an “advisor” nent status COMMUNITY SCHOOLS • Reduce adult education class sizes • Creation of a salary table for adult education employees • Designate 20 schools in high-need areas for Com- • No proposals munity Schools transformation • Allocate $10 million for the 20 designated high-need schools for each of the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 EARLY EDUCATION school years to facilitate Community Schools trans- • Ensure that chapter chairs are assigned to early shift • Create an Early Education Task Force with commu- formation schedules to allow for attending UTLA meetings nity members to explore paths for expanding LAUSD • Analyze Community Schools transformation process • Move early education teachers with a BA and Elemen- early education programs for expansion to more schools tary or Early Education Credential to the Preparation Salary T Table for salary • Provide paid release for student teaching to early education teachers pursuing an Elementary or Early Education Credential • Provide 8-hour workday for early education teachers, inclusive of a 30-minute duty-free lunch • Create an Early Education Task Force with community members to explore paths for expanding LAUSD early education programs

STUDENT DISCIPLINE • Empower Local School Leadership Councils to • Rejected UTLA proposals produce and distribute annual School Climate & Discipline Plans • Increase administrator support for teachers in ad- dressing student discipline problems • Create Positive Behavior Support & Restorative Prac- tices Committee to identify and support best practices and model schools for nurturing effective student discipline approaches • Create intervention team of educators and admin- istrators to provide enhanced support to schools dealing with severe student discipline issues

IMMIGRANT FAMILY SUPPORT October 11’s #PicketforPower drew thou- • Create a $1 million Immigrant Family Defense Fund to • No proposals sands into the streets and helped push support the families of students LAUSD off its draconian healthcare cuts. • Provide training to all employees on district protocols for interaction with ICE Above: . Left: • Develop community partnerships to place immigrant Bradley Early Childhood Ed Center. Page support clinics at schools 4: Lowman Special Ed Center.

5 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 Community calls for more charter oversight, not less Charter lobby tries to fast-track changes while Ref still sits on the School Board.

At the LAUSD School Board meeting terest involving Rodriguez and $285,000 November 7, parents and educators called in payments that he allegedly authorized out the charter lobby’s push to decrease when he was a senior executive at PUC. basic accountability and oversight require- “With a school board member under ments and demanded that embattled board indictment and numerous charter scandals member Ref Rodriguez recuse himself from locally and nationwide, now is not the time charter-related votes and resign altogether. to get rid of critical safeguards,” UTLA At the meeting, board members had President Alex Caputo-Pearl said. “In fact, been expected to take a contentious vote on students and communities need greater more than 30 charter school renewals and transparency, strengthened oversight, and authorizations. LAUSD officials were set to more power to root out fraud—not less.” recommend that a number of charter op- The CCSA and charter backers spent a erators be shut down because they refused record amount of money in 2017 to install to consent to rules and regulations spelled a charter-backed majority on the school out in the LAUSD’s “district-required lan- board, and they are fast-tracking policy guage” for charter agreements. changes while Rodriguez still sits on the The charter operators’ refusal was part board and can cast the deciding vote. of the California Charter Schools Associa- “It is the lack of transparency and the tion’s plan to use its pro-charter board ma- conflict of interest that comes from the CCSA jority—newly tenuous because of Rodri- donating big money to people like Ref Ro- guez’s multiple legal battles—to open the driguez and to our school board member, “It is the lack of transparency and the conflict of interest that comes from the CCSA donating door to greater deregulation for all charter Nick Melvoin, that puts them in conflict big money to people like Ref Rodriguez and to our school board member, Nick Melvoin, that operators. Rodriguez is facing felony and with the kids who are in public schools,” puts them in conflict with the kids who are in public schools,” Cowan Elementary parent misdemeanor money-laundering charges Cowan Elementary parent Senta Georgia Senta Georgia said. linked to his 2015 school board campaign. said at the UTLA news conference outside Separately, Partnerships to Uplift Commu- the school board on November 7. “Tradition- nities, the charter network he co-founded, al public school students need the resources recently reported possible conflicts of in- and it is not fair for these people, who get Co-location: Is your school targeted this year?

This month begins the yearly process, ed when students are recruited to and/ under Prop. 39, whereby schools may or counseled out of the charter school. be offered to a charter operator for co- Resources and support: If your school location. has been targeted before or you think How to know if your school could be it is a potential target, chapter chairs targeted: Classrooms at your school that should contact your UTLA Area rep and do not have a register-carrying teacher look for announcements in the bimonth- is space that is considered “vacant” ly UTLA News to Use email of upcom- and available for co-location per Prop ing informative meetings. UTLA’s Prop. Parents and educators outside the LAUSD School Parents from Mariana Avenue talk to the 39. Rule of thumb: If your school cur- 39 Committee has put together a range Board meeting November 7 to demand charter media about the need for accountability for rently has four vacant classrooms, of practical resources at www.utla.net/ oversight and Ref Rodriguez’s resignation. charter operators. your site may be a target for charter get-involved/issues/prop-39. Over co-location, especially if you expect the past several years, many schools millions and millions of dollars to get in agenda,” Mt. Washington Elementary your enrollment to decrease next school have had success in pushing back on their seat, to take things from our children parent Jesse McBride said. year. Recommendation: Each chapter co-location or addressing issues after and give it to other children who actually At the eleventh hour, LAUSD and chair should ask your principal for a co-location through parent-community- have more resources than our schools.” charter operators reached an agreement copy of the school’s E-CAR (Electronic educator organizing. Parents and educators reiterated the call behind the scenes. The charter lobby Capacity Assessment Review), which for Rodriguez to resign. secured some of the changes it sought, is public information. The purpose of Prop. 39 timeline “I’m here because I wanted to give Ref including allowing charter operators the E-CAR is to verify the number of November 1: Deadline for charter Rodriguez a message,” San Pascal Elemen- to get special education services from classrooms at each school and how they operators to submit written requests to tary parent Brenda del Hierro said. “I’m providers other than LAUSD, giving the are used, to calculate school operating co-locate on LAUSD school campuses. asking him to recuse himself from voting school board instead of the district more capacities, and to identify available December 1: District reviews charter and to resign. I’ve had conversations with say over charter policies, and enabling classrooms for future use. This report operators’ ADA projections and agrees him in the past, where he said he was going charter operators to sign longer lease will let your school community know or objects and responds with projections to do what was right for all students, not agreements at co-located campuses. officially how many classrooms are the district considers reasonable. just charter students. I’m just asking him In a critical win for oversight, the available and vulnerable to possible January 2: Charter operators respond to step down and to do what’s right while charter lobby did not win its demand to charter school co-location. to district’s ADA projections. he still has a chance to do what’s right.” limit the ability of the district’s inspector Issues with co-location: Oftentimes February 1: District makes prelimi- On November 6, a law firm that works general to investigate charter operators— the “unused” space offered to charter nary proposals to charter operators with with UTLA sent a formal letter to Rodri- a crucial tool for uncovering fraud and operators houses computer labs, parent eligible facilities requests. guez demanding that he recuse himself abuse in the charter sector. The inspector centers, and after-school programs, March 1: Charter operators respond from voting on charter issues. The letter general’s investigations precipitated the or the spaces are unused bungalows, to preliminary proposals. cites, among other items, a $75,000 contri- FBI raid of the Celerity charter network which could better be removed to April 1: District makes final offers to bution from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and are crucial to the ongoing conflict-of- restore playgrounds. Co-locations also charter operators. to Rodriguez’s legal defense fund. Hast- interest with Rodriguez’s PUC Schools. can have an effect on school schedules May 1: Charter operators must ings sits on the board of directors for the In the end, the expected tight vote on the and the unfettered use of facilities, notify the district in writing to accept Kipp charter school network, which had charter renewals did not materialize. The such as the cafeteria, library, and other or decline the final offer by May 1 or six schools and one proposed campus up terrible optics of a criminally indicted board common spaces. Potential problems 30 days from its receipt of final offer. If for a vote on November 7. (Read the legal member casting the deciding vote on charter with safety arise when the co-located final offers are accepted, charter opera- letter in full at utla.net.) renewals moved the showdown from the schools have a wide grade-level span, tors occupy sites 10 working days prior “It’s pretty clear Ref hasn’t stepped board room to the backroom—a sign that and surrounding schools can be affect- to their first day of school instruction. down because his billionaire supporters the community pressure and media focus want a rubber stamp on the ‘no oversight’ on Rodriguez is having an impact. 6 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

SAVE OUR SCHOOLS salary. They are still offering an unac- decision-making power to use resources funding in California to $20,000 per (continued from the cover) ceptable 2% one-time payment that will for the best impact on their students. student by 2020 is gathering momentum. do nothing to make our pay more com- A critical part of the rallies’ Save Our Our rallies this week were coordinated In October, thanks to our escalating petitive with surrounding school districts Schools message is that California has a with actions by the San Diego, Oakland, actions and all-union unity at the table, or address the looming teacher shortage. public education funding crisis. In a state and other teacher unions calling for 20 x LAUSD took a huge step forward on Our current 2017-18 salary demand is a that’s the sixth-largest economy in the 20, and on Tuesday, the LAUSD School healthcare, offering a three-year agree- 6.5% on-the-scale increase, retroactive world, there is no excuse for ranking 46th Board passed a resolution endorsing ment after pushing a package of deep to July 2016. in the nation in per-pupil funding. 20 x 20 and calling on the state to fully cuts. The priority now is to get an agree- Out at the rallies, UTLA members But a portion of the funding crisis in fund education. There are ample avenues ment that safeguards our healthcare spoke to the many issues that drove them LAUSD is of the district’s own making: to 20 x 20: closing tax loopholes on the reserve fund so that LAUSD can’t come to the streets. Currently LAUSD has much larger unre- wealthiest corporate commercial property for cuts in future years. “I’m here in support of our healthcare stricted reserves (percentage-wise) than owners, closing the carried interest tax In full contract bargaining, LAUSD and improved expenditures on kids,” Frost most large school districts in the state, loophole on high-end financial transac- continues its pattern of intransigence on Middle School teacher Mary Wrobleski and the district consistently overprojects tions, getting the promised and decades- our critical issues, including lowering said. “If we spend money the right way, spending in its books and supplies fund overdue federal and state funding for class size; ending overtesting; implement- we can really help our students. I’d like to create a “slush fund” that’s out of reach special education, and more. ing real shared decision making at school to see smaller class sizes, but even more for school needs. Through our bargaining “20 x 20 is not a pie-in-the-sky idea— sites; regulating charter operators; hiring important, I’d like to see a bigger invest- demands, UTLA is putting pressure on other states already do it,” UTLA President more nurses, counselors, social workers, ment in curriculum and training.” LAUSD to send as much money as possible Alex Caputo-Pearl said. “In California, the and teacher librarians; increasing school One of UTLA’s key proposals at the to school sites. birthplace of Hollywood, Google, Apple, discipline support; expanding green space table is to give the Local School Leadership Shifting LAUSD’s budget priorities, and Silicon Valley, this is doable and how and affordable housing; and funding a Council authority over all school-based however, will not be enough to sustain we will achieve our righteous demands proactive vision for Community Schools. funding and professional development, public education in the long run. UTLA’s that are crucial to building a thriving, sus- LAUSD officials have not budged on which would give teachers and parents 20 x 20 campaign to increase school tainable public school system.”

HHS professionals

Early Ed at the Valley West and Valley East Areas West Area

Students out in support South and Central Areas

North Area East Area Harbor Area 7 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 UTLA Board united behind contract demands

This statement was signed on October 11, the nation in per-pupil funding. California Empowering our communities—Public schools Defending the teaching profes- before LAUSD backed off its demand to deeply spends $75,560 a year on each prisoner in its are the anchors of the community. sion—Educators are everyday heroes; cut healthcare. Read the latest on healthcare system, but only $10,291 on each student. • Build Community Schools to expand we must protect against attacks. on pages 2 and 4. Corporations and the wealthiest Californians parent engagement, broaden the curricu- • Attract and retain high-quality LAUSD has made it clear that they are not contributing their fair share to the ed- lum, and increase social services at our educators through competitive would rather cut our healthcare than invest ucation of our children; instead a corporate highest-need schools. salaries, quality healthcare, and in educators and students. media campaign has been waged to blame • Increase parent and educator decision support for LAUSD employees As the elected Board of Directors of UTLA hard-working educators for the outcome of making. pursuing careers in education. we represent educators across Los Angeles years of underfunding and neglect. • Require charter schools authorized by the • Ensure all educators have healthy and we see the impacts of district, local, and Students and educators deserve better. district to provide equal access, transpar- working conditions. state funding policies on our classrooms, As a union we are advancing an aggres- ency, and due process rights for all parents • Limit incursions into instruction- our students, and our professions every sive bargaining platform in order to create and students. al time by cutting standardized day. After years of disrespect, underfund- solutions to the crisis in public education. • Invest in positive behavior support testing, top-down mandates, and ing, and mismanagement LAUSD wants Our proposals include: through real, fully-funded restorative unnecessary paperwork. to cut our healthcare, increase class sizes, justice, and through holding site ad- continue the overtesting of students, and Supporting students—Safe, high-quality ministrators accountable for their part Funding the future—Invest in our deny educators and parents a voice in how public schools are a right for all. in implementation of student discipline students and our schools. school-based funding is spent. • Reduce class size at all grade levels and and school climate plans. • Fund LA schools at $20,000 per These are not the Schools LA Students hire more nurses, counselors, social • Use the district’s leverage to help make im- pupil by the year 2020 = 20 by 20. Deserve. workers, psychologists, and teacher provements in affordable housing and support LAUSD should reprogram monies so librarians. for homeless students, access to green space As members of the elected that students and those who work with • Hire more special education teachers on campuses, support for immigrant fami- Board of Directors of UTLA we them every day are the priority. Moreover, and specialists. lies, access to public transportation without are united behind these proposals the district’s proposed cuts represent a • Invest in dual language programs and discriminatory “stop and frisk” searches, an and we are prepared to take collec- symptom of the real problem. Our schools ensure student access to ethnic studies, end to psychologically damaging “random” tive action to achieve these goals are being short changed. California, the visual & performing arts, early educa- searches of students that interfere with in- and protect the rights of educators world’s sixth-largest economy, is 46th in tion, and career & technical education. structional time, and other community issues. and students.

Alex Caputo-Pearl Victoria (Martha) Casas Mel House Jennifer McAfee Elgin Scott PRESIDENT VALLEY EAST AREA DIRECTOR VALLEY EAST AREA DIRECTOR HARBOR AREA DIRECTOR HARBOR AREA DIRECTOR

Cecily Myart-Cruz Wendi Davis Erica Huerta Maria Miranda Steve Seal UTLA/NEA VICE PRESIDENT VALLEY WEST AREA DIRECTOR EAST AREA DIRECTOR SOUTH AREA CHAIR HARBOR AREA CHAIR

Juan Ramirez Mallorie Evans Erika Jones-Crawford Bruce Newborn Rebecca Solomon UTLA/AFT VICE PRESIDENT HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR WEST AREA CHAIR VALLEY WEST AREA CHAIR NORTH AREA DIRECTOR

Gloria Martinez Kelly Flores Matthew Kogan Cheryl L. Ortega Adrian Tamayo ELEMENTARY VICE PRESIDENT CENTRAL AREA DIRECTOR ADULT/OCCP ED DIRECTOR BILINGUAL ED DIRECTOR EAST AREA CHAIR

Daniel Barnhart Marco Flores José Lara Hector Perez-Roman Karen Ticer-León SECONDARY VICE PRESIDENT PACE CHAIR CENTRAL AREA CHAIR VALLEY EAST AREA DIRECTOR SOUTH AREA DIRECTOR

Alex Orozco Tomás Flores Noah Lippe-Klein John Perez Julie Van Winkle TREASURER CENTRAL AREA DIRECTOR WEST AREA DIRECTOR UTLA-RETIRED PRESIDENT NORTH AREA DIRECTOR

Arlene Inouye Georgia Flowers Lee Karen Macias Lutz Mark Ramos SECRETARY WEST AREA DIRECTOR HARBOR AREA DIRECTOR NORTH AREA DIRECTOR OCTOBER 11, 2017

Lucía Arias Corina Gomez Benny Madera Claudia Rodriguez SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR EARLY ED DIRECTOR SUBSTITUTES DIRECTOR CENTRAL AREA DIRECTOR

Melodie Bitter Karla Griego Scott Mandel Javier Romo VALLEY WEST AREA DIRECTOR NORTH AREA CHAIR VALLEY EAST AREA CHAIR VALLEY WEST AREA DIRECTOR

Aydé Bravo Ingrid Gunnell L. Cynthia Matthews Gillian Russom SOUTH AREA DIRECTOR EAST AREA DIRECTOR SOUTH AREA DIRECTOR EAST AREA DIRECTOR

8 L E T ’ S REDEFINE THE SWEET LIFE

DIABETES

You can make changes to control or even prevent type 2 diabetes altogether. Either way, balanced nutrition and regular exercise are the keys to living a sweet life.

Quit while you’re ahead Watch for sneaky sugars Make more moves

Smokers are 30–40% more Hidden sugar in savory staples Mix up your fitness routine. likely to develop type 2 diabetes like pasta sauce and salad Cardio and strength training than nonsmokers.* Ready to quit? dressing add up fast — and won’t can help control type 2 diabetes, Get help breaking the habit at satisfy a sweet tooth! Compare but the greatest benefit comes kp.org/quitsmoking. labels to pick low-sugar options. from a workout schedule that includes both.

Want more sweet ideas? Visit kp.org/diabetes and pinterest.com/kpthrive.

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Services covered under a Kaiser Permanente health plan are provided and/or arranged by Kaiser Permanente health plans: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., in Northern and Southern California and Hawaii • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc., Nine Piedmont Center, 3495 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, 404-364-7000 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., 2101 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, 500 NE Multnomah St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. Self-insured plans are administered by Kaiser Permanente Insurance Company, One Kaiser Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612. Please recycle. February 60531213 2017 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 Speaking out Why we should worry about private equity It is no coincidence that the same forces responsible for undermining workers’ rights have been leading the charge toward privatization of public goods like education.

By Samir Sonti And their business model is no longer UNITE HERE Local 11 limited to the kind of plunder depicted in Stone’s film, whereby corporate vul- Workers have always had good reason tures encircled companies, seized their to stand in solidarity with educators. After most valuable assets, and disposed of the all, you teach our children. If for no other carcasses that remained. Toys ‘R Us and reason than that, your well-being is in- other bankrupt retailers can attest to the separable from our own. And there is more fact that private equity still does plenty of to our common cause than just that. We that, but in recent years they’ve set their all stand to benefit from a robust public sights on much more. sector that mitigates the inequalities and Now private equity is on a mission to insecurities our economic system too often profit off control over public goods. produces. Public education is a central After the financial crash in 2008, private pillar of such a public sector. equity firms scooped up foreclosed homes It is no coincidence that the same forces by the tens of thousands, and they are responsible for undermining workers’ now the largest landlords of single-family rights have been leading the charge residences in the country. Around the U.S., toward privatization of public goods like these same companies also exploited cities’ education. The two attacks are part and desperate need for cash to purchase—that parcel of the same process of the upward is, to privatize—basic things like municipal transfer of wealth and power that has water systems and fire and ambulance On October 19, UNITE HERE held demonstrations in 40 cities across the U.S. to protest the been ongoing for years. While some of services. There are today places where, as growing power of private equity firms and the impact on working people and public services. those forces, like the Walton family, do the New York Times has put it, you call 911 Locally, UTLA members joined the UNITE HERE Local 11 rally in Brentwood (above). little to mask their agenda, others are less and Wall Street answers. visible but no less dangerous. The private equity industry has also set used the California Charter School Facility All the while, private equity firms, One of these is the private equity indus- its sights on public education. Several in- Program and other forms of public support many of which are based in California, try, and in mid-October UTLA members dustry leaders sit on the boards of charter to build what the researcher Gordon Lafer get away with paying the capital gains tax joined with more than 500 hospitality and organizations, and many more provide has described as “a portfolio of privately rate of 20%. Educators and housekeepers food service workers from UNITE HERE financial support for the cause of so-called owned Los Angeles-area real estate now in Los Angeles hotels pay a higher share Local 11 in Brentwood for a rally to expose school reform. Some of these prominent worth in excess of $200 million.” of their income in taxes. private equity for what it is. private equity executives were among Some private equity firms, like Leeds It is a disgrace that California public Private equity employs more than 11 those, along with Eli Broad and others, Ventures and Quad Partners, actually spe- schools rank 46th out of 50 in per-pupil million people in the , and found to have made undisclosed contri- cialize in investments in the “education funding, and UNITE HERE Local 11 is as of 2016 the industry owned $2.5 trillion butions to the campaign against Proposi- sector.” As Mitch Leventhal, a vice chancel- proud to support UTLA in your fight for 20 in assets. That is the size of California’s tion 30, which provided a much-needed lor at the State University of New York, and by 20—reaching $20,000 per pupil funding economy, the sixth-largest in the world. funding boost to California schools. educational economics researcher Ina Tang by the year 2020. Achieving this much- From the predatory investors of the Included in this group was Tony Ressler, have observed, public K-12 education offers needed investment in public education 1980s who specialized in sophisticated head of the private equity firm Ares Capital “significant profit potential” from “service will require standing up to those forces, forms of financial engineering—think Management and a former longtime board providers that offer curriculum, educational like the private equity industry, that see Gordon Gekko from Oliver Stone’s Wall member of Alliance College-Ready Public software, and student assessments.” To privatization of public goods and exploi- Street—private equity has grown into Schools. Alliance, one of the largest charter these investors, the opportunities to make tation of working people as two sides of one of the largest owners of our society. networks in Los Angeles, has over the years a buck off education seem limitless. the same coin.

On the line with Local 99 Union-to-union support for shared priorities.

UTLA members at Alta California teacher aides, custodians, bus drivers, or guardians of school-aged children. Elementary, , and others providing essential student Next up for Local 99 contract actions: a and other sites joined SEIU Local 99 services at LAUSD schools. Nearly 50% of march on the LAUSD School Board on members in their series of rolling infor- SEIU Local 99 members are also parents December 12. mational picket lines that began October 25. Weeks earlier, Local 99 members joined UTLA at our October 11 Pickets for Power. The union-to-union support under- scores the commonality of our struggles and the shared priorities of improving student services by increasing staffing levels and improving wages to recruit and retain experienced staff. Local 99 school workers have been in contract negotiations with LAUSD since March to try to address these concerns. UTLA and Local 99 are also in critical healthcare bargaining together, along with representatives of all LAUSD employee unions. UTLA members work side by side with UTLA members walk with SEIU Local 99 SEIU Local 99 people every day—the members at Alta California Elementary on union represents 30,000 cafeteria workers, Local 99 joins UTLA’s Pickets for Power on October 11. October 25. 10 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

News from UTLA/NEA Time to end “random” searches The practice criminalizes students and doesn’t make schools safer.

Students speak: Random searches searches. Students at Dorsey are not random High School, a predomi- nantly black school, get By Grace Hamilton searched more than any Marshall HS Student other school I talk with. This goes along with all the Dozens of times a day, school deans evidence that says schools and security walk into LAUSD classrooms with black students face and pick out five students to conduct a more searches, more polic- “random” search. They take us out of ing, more criminalization. class and into the hallway where they go Muslim students are also through our belongings. We are told they targeted for searches based are searching us for weapons, but they on stereotypes that make frequently take our classroom supplies, them out to be dangerous. like White-out and highlighters. This is The only purpose these a random search … except they are not “random” searches serve is By Cecily Myart-Cruz random. My name is Grace Hamilton, and to criminalize, traumatize, Marshall HS student Grace Hamilton UTLA/NEA Vice President as a senior at John Marshall Senior High, and degrade racial and I am against “random” searches. ethnic groups in schools. board members, including Ref Rodriguez, In my School for Advanced Studies The justification behind searches is Monica Garcia, and Kelly Gonez. This issue, I’m giving my column to Grace classes, I don’t get searched for weapons that they protect students, teachers, and The school board held a meeting on Hamilton, one of students leading the fight against during class time. But in my regular administrators by keeping weapons and October 24 entirely devoted to the issues LAUSD’s “random searches” policy. When you classes, which consist of mostly Latino violence out of schools. But less than 4% of of searches. Ahead of that meeting, we hear from the students about the impact of these students, that’s where I’ve been searched. schools in America conduct searches. Most handed out “Against Random Searches” searches—the lost instructional time, the feeling At Marshall, non-magnet and non-honors districts have figured out that schools that buttons and informational flyers to stu- of being dehumanized—it brings the issue home. classes get searched more often. conduct searches are no safer than those dents across dozens of schools to start a UTLA has stood with students in calling for “Random” searches are not random. I that don’t. Blacks and Latinos are blamed conversation about the random search- an end to random searches, the NEA heard and meet regularly with students from more for the school shootings that happen, when es at the schools, and students and our passed a new business item on the issue, and it than 15 schools involved in my organiza- 90% of elementary and high school shoot- allies were out in strength at that board has become one of our proposals at the bargaining tion, Students Deserve, the student-led ings were done by mostly upper-middle meeting. Through these actions, we are table. I’m proud that UTLA is taking on this issue. grassroots group leading the fight to end class white Americans. letting LAUSD know that we reject both There is no evidence that searches keep the current policy of random searches weapons and violence out of schools, but during class time and any proposal of there is evidence of mistrust between searching us as we enter school grounds. students and administrators because of Our immediate solution for this semes- them. This distrust prevents students from ter is to end these searches, expand safe Volunteer to Help Children speaking in confidence about weapons on passage programs, and ensure there are campus and working with them to deal counselors available. Love Reading! with peer conflict. They lower the self- Our medium-term solution is to fund esteem of those targeted and make them real Community Schools, which includes feel as if they’ve done something wrong, lowering class size, more counselors, more when really the policy is wrong. arts and electives, real restorative justice, Students Deserve is a grassroots coali- and wraparound services like school tion made up of LAUSD parents, teachers, health clinics, therapists, and more. The and students. We have teamed up with Asian-Pacific Health Center we have at Join LA’s BEST After groups such as Black Lives Matter, Youth Marshall is extremely helpful to all stu- Justice Coalition, and the American Civil dents. They do everything from giving School Enrichment Liberties Union to end these searches. Since shots to doing physicals and STI tests. Program & AARP last year, we have had two major events, LAUSD needs to end the current including Making Black Lives Matter in Our random search policy in order to stop Foundation Schools at Dorsey High School and our End criminalization in schools and replace it Experience Corps to Random Searches rally at the school board with conditions that will help all students feel genuinely safe. change a child’s life! in May. We’ve also met with various school Volunteers 50+ years of Join an information session in Downtown LA! age will be trained to work Improve your vIsIon with kinder to second 10/30 - 4:00 11/09 - 4:00 Improve your lIfe! grade students in small 11/14 - 5:00 groups to tutor them 11/29 - 4:00 Special Discount in reading during the 12/08 - 3:30 For UTLA Members after school hours. 12/11 - 4:00 CALL NOW!

™ AMERISIGHT INSTITUTE To RSVP and get more information, please contact: • Free Consultations Christine Posadas • LA’s BEST AARP Coordinator • Financing Available 213.745.1900 x 52961 • [email protected] 14914 Sherman Way • , California 91405 888-999-4202

11 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

Secondary matters Who runs your school? At sites with Local School Leadership Councils, it’s a coalition.

have to its fullest potential. All too often, putting the existing contract language site budget. When the principal alone teachers at schools with non-functioning to work is just as important. has the power to set the budget (which LSLCs have frustrations with senseless It comes down to two things: de- creates the positions that form the core of PD, out-of-control student discipline, un- mocracy and power. Are our schools the “Instructional Leadership Team” at a supportive administrators, and a general going to be characterized as democratic, school), we have a situation that can’t be sense of arbitrary or top-down decision- in the sense that decisions are made called “democratic,” and relationships of making at the school site. Sound familiar? not by one person in an office, but power that implicitly trade job security It doesn’t have to be that way, and in fact, by many people, in an open meeting, for acquiescence to the principal’s ideas an active Local School Leadership Council and by voting if need be? At some of how the school should be run. If the is a key piece of how we can change these schools this might be hard to believe, principal alone can decide whether you kinds of conditions. but many LAUSD principals actu- have a job at the school next year, do you There are several key LSLC respon- ally do have some good ideas about think that might change how you would sibilities that exist in our contract right what schools can be doing to better talk about their ideas? now. The LSLC has the right to deter- serve our communities. Oftentimes the This is why your UTLA Bargaining mine the “staff development” program. strength of these ideas comes not just Team has proposed that in addition to The LSLC should be a place where the from the principal’s own experience, but the important powers already granted to By Daniel Barnhart student discipline issues are discussed because they develop ideas and plans the LSLC, the democratically elected LSLC UTLA Secondary Vice President and a common approach is agreed upon. by talking with teachers, parents, and should have the authority to determine This is because the LSLC has the purview students about their own experiences in how to budget for the expenditure of ALL Who runs your school? Ask your- over the “student code of conduct.” The our schools. When principals know that school-site funds. The power to set the self this question, and give yourself a LSLC determines the daily schedule of their plans are going to have to win budget is key to setting the tone for the moment to find an honest answer. If the school (within the limits established the votes of other educators, parents, entire school: whether important deci- you said “the principal,” you’re prob- by district policies and state law) as well and students at an LSLC, their whole sions will be made collectively, in a way ably not alone. And if your answer in- as the schedule of school events such as approach shifts toward inclusivity and that empowers all members of the school cluded, in some way, teachers, parents, Back to School night or when minimum away from their perceived authority to community, or whether all the power over students, and other educators at your days are used. The current contract lan- “call all the shots.” the school community will be in the hands school, it is likely that your school has guage for the Local School Leadership Which brings us to “power.” At the bar- of one person. a functioning Local School Leadership Council can be found in Article 27 of gaining table, when we have repeatedly Council (LSLC). the UTLA-LAUSD contract. Improving brought forward our proposals to restore Having issues with your LSLC? Please Too many of our schools either don’t Article 27, by adding to it, is a key part the role of the LSLC in local, school-site talk with your chapter chair, or possibly have an LSLC or don’t use the one they of the UTLA bargaining platform, but decision making, the district’s representa- your CAT member who talks regularly to tives have been explicit in saying that they your chapter chair. Chapter chairs or des- “don’t want to lessen the authority of the ignees can send potential issues to sec- principal as the instructional leader.” And [email protected]. that statement has everything to do with We’re with you reinforcing the idea that principals should be focused on “having power over” people and not be focused on “building power Using the power all the way. with” people. The best principals whom we work of your LSLC with aren’t paranoid about losing their authority; they are open and engaging Existing rights under the with all members of the school commu- contract nity. When these principals have ideas Per Article 27 of the UTLA- about changing things at their schools, LAUSD contract, the Local School they talk with and listen to the people Leadership Council has determina- involved. (Does your principal do that?) tion over the following: They model leadership by doing what • Staff development program leaders do: get people to follow them. Teachers you know who are instructional • Student discipline guidelines leaders are recognized as such because and code of student conduct they do things with their teaching that • Schedule of school activities you would want to emulate, to “follow,” and events and special schedules if you will. From the calm and focused Supporting communities with union • Guidelines for use of school way they set the tone in their room, the equipment, including the copy expertise and long-term alliances. engaging way they interact with students machine and draw them into meaningful dialogue, At UnitedHealthcare, we’re dedicated to those and the graceful way they balance waves • Some local budgetary matters we serve — providing affordable, innovative of student energy (or lethargy), real in- health care programs that honor hard work and structional leaders make you want to do Current LSLC contract commitment with comprehensive solutions. as they do. proposals Articles such as “an” and “the” are In current bargaining, UTLA is We provide a broad portfolio of customizable powerful. Every educator at your school seeking to further empower Local health care plans as well as dental, vision, life whose practice others want to follow is School Leadership Councils by and disability offerings to help you get the right AN instructional leader. When the prin- giving them authority over: coverage at the right price. cipal is referred to as THE instructional • all local budgetary matters leader, what’s really being said is that For more information, call there is no room for democratic deci- • all local PD Carissa Green at 714-252-0350. sion making, that there is no time to see • programs such as BIC if a principal’s ideas can gain buy-in Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare • course offerings Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided among those who will have to imple- by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates. Health Plan coverage provided by or through UHC of California. MT-1131802.0 ment them, and that they alone should • student testing that is not a state 4/17 ©2017 United HealthCare Services, Inc. 17-4317 have the power to decide which posi- or federal mandate tions will be carved out of the school- 12 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

Elementary notebook PD done right UTLA offers professional development options that work for teachers, drive professional growth and foster student success.

to enhance instruction. UTLA is proud LOOC: Helping schools ISCA: Teaching the to offer professional development that gain autonomy through lesson design process focuses on student achievement as well as leadership models The UTLA Institute for Standards, facilitates collaboration among colleagues. The Local Options Oversight Com- Curricula and Assessments (ISCA) pro- We encourage you to read on to find the mittee (LOOC) works with schools vides an intensive lesson design study program that best suits your needs. to help them gain autonomy from process that enables teachers to col- the district by becoming Expanded laboratively create and systematically Salary points: Advancing School-Based Management Model improve engaging, intellectually chal- on the salary schedule (ESBMM) Schools, Pilot Schools, or lenging, standards-based performance Earning salary points is how educators Local Initiative Schools (LIS). Some assessments and units that spark student on the T Salary Table move up in yearly freedoms that autonomous schools curiosity and perseverance. ISCA semi- salary and earn more in retirement. For enjoy are: nars deepen participants’ knowledge every 14 salary points, you move to the • Opting out of district-mandated of both subject matter and pedagogy. next box, or “schedule,” on the salary table. assessments Participants receive technology support It is recommended that educators earn the • Selecting staff and administrators and time to think, develop, write—to- maximum—98 salary points—by the end • Choosing alternate curricula gether. Participants build professional By Gloria Martinez of their ninth year so they can move on • Creating innovative schedules learning communities naturally, around UTLA Elementary Vice President toward earning the “career increments” on The first step in the process of be- creating effective lessons and assess- the salary table. If, however, you are past coming autonomous is to attend one ments. ISCA’s seminars are for all sub- Whether you are on a quest to max out your tenth year and haven’t yet earned 98 of the 2018 informational workshops. jects, courses, and grade levels and all your salary points or expand your own salary points, you still can continue to earn The dates and locations are as follows programs, from Advanced Placement professional growth, UTLA offers a variety points and move up on the salary table. (you only need to attend one set of to Special Day Classes. Participants rate of professional development options to Salary points can be earned in a variety of workshops): ISCA as a unique and profound experi- help you achieve your personal progress. ways, including courses from accredited • Thursday, February 1, and Thurs- ence to refine teaching skills and prepare UTLA is committed to supporting our institutions, travel, PDs and workshops, day, March 1, at Local District Northwest for National Board Certification. Courses members on their professional growth. We and presenting salary point courses. (South Conference Room) are approved for salary points. know that quality professional develop- • Monday, February 5, and Monday, ment is key in achieving the Schools LA For more info: Contact LAUSD Professional March 5, at Local District South (Sellery For more info: Contact Charlotte or Day Students Deserve. Development Advisors Ingrid Gunnell (213- Room II) Higuchi at 213-639-0800 or dhiguchi@utla. Our programs, detailed below, are high- 241-5486) and Esmerelda Khoury (213- • Thursday, February 8, and Thurs- net and visit iscaonline.org. quality, research-based, and designed 241-5485) or visit https://achieve.lausd.net/ day, March 8, at Local District West Page/1848. (Training Room 1) The Support Network: Helping • Monday, February 12, and Monday, educators achieve National PAR: Teacher-to-teacher support for March 12, at UTLA Board certification effective instructional practice All workshops are after school, from The Support Network (TSN) is a The Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) 4:30 to 7 p.m. Teachers, administrators, collaboration between United Teach- Program is a joint UTLA-District collab- and parents are all welcome to attend. ers Los Angeles and the Los Angeles orative program created and designed Unified School District that provides to provide teacher-to-teacher support For more info: Contact Julie Van Winkle, the a comprehensive program of profes- for effective instructional practice. PAR UTLA liaison to LOOC, at julie.vanwinkle@ sional practice support for National provides a slate of professional develop- lausd.net or 213-241-8772. Board Certification for pre-candidates, ment classes open to all teachers. Classes first-time candidates, and continuing address topics including Classroom Man- Strategies for Student Success: candidates. The program includes: agement, Backward Planning for the Teacher-developed, research- • A curriculum created and presented Smarter Balanced Assessments, Short- based workshops by National Board Certified teachers Text Writing Across the Curriculum, In- Strategies for Student Success (SSS), • Pre-candidacy/orientations in the formational Text & Project-Based Instruc- brought to you by the American Fed- spring, summer, and fall of each year tion, Designing Lessons for 21st-Century eration of Teachers, launched in 2013 at • 10 hours of NBCT-facilitated Assess- Learners, Building Strong Connections, UTLA. Currently, SSS classes are spon- ment Center exercise simulations the Power of Presence, and more. Classes sored by the California Credit Union and • 20 hours of NBCT-facilitated pro- are provided during summer, spring, and open to all educators. UTLA’s SSS site is fessional practice seminars for portfolio winter recesses, as well as on Saturdays the only one west of Texas. preparation during the school year. All classes are free How are AFT’s SSS classes different • 30 hours of NBCT-facilitated study of charge to all LAUSD teachers, and all from most professional development? groups in certificate/certificate alike areas are approved for credit toward a salary • They are very interactive. • 40 hours of additional support in point. To register for classes go to MyPLN, • They model best practices/teaching cross study group, drop-in sessions, and and search PAR. strategies based on research that can be conferences customized for use in the classroom with • Subject-specific workshops as needed For more info: Visit the PAR website at achieve. all ages of students. • TSN-certified trained facilitators with lausd.net/PAR or call Susan Masero, PAR • They build skills and foundational ongoing training throughout the year coordinator, at 213-241-5501. knowledge in identifying, reading, and • Research-based protocols applying quality research to practice. • A successful program for full candi-

• They are developed by National dacy, retake, and renewal candidates

BINGO Trainers (classroom teachers) under the • Salary point credit available for com- LATINO KDGN direction of the AFT Researchers. pleting the process Custom ‘Tools’: The SSS classes are approved for • Leadership opportunities for candi- salary point hours, and educators dates, presenters, and facilitators TIGER/tigre, TURTLE/tortuga can obtain certification to teach the

—PAN AMERICAN POSTER FREE classes. For more info or to sign up for a free orienta-

FREE! —WINNER’S TOOL KIT*— ! tion workshop: visit www.thesupportnetwork. ABC CAUTION For more info: Visit www.utla.net/resourc- net or contact Michael de la Torre, NBCT, TSN es/utla-pd-opportunities or contact Susie program coordinator, at mdelatorre@thesup- 13604 Whittier Blvd. www.phonicsforlatinos-abcsincommon.com Whittier, CA 90605 Chow, NBCT, at [email protected]. portnetwork.net.

13 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

From the Secretary A new age for HHS employees Building real power and a voice for health and human services professionals.

to a school site. • We are holding an ongoing series • Instead of one chapter chair for each of meetings to discuss pressing issues of of the HHS groups (some numbering more concern, to network, to prioritize HHS than 500 members), we have changed the issues for bargaining, to develop our or- structure to parallel the area district meet- ganizing structures, and to build relation- ings our HHS members attend. There are ships with each other. now up to eight chapter leaders for the • We are building Contract Action HHS groups that have over 200 members: Teams (one CAT for every 10 HHS psychologists, nurses, PSA counselors, members) to facilitate communication PSW counselors, speech and language among our members. therapists, PT/OT therapists, and second- Read the two pieces on this page to hear ary counselors. more from two people critically involved Speech and Language Specialist chapter chair • We are providing specialized trainings in the changes: a UTLA staff representative Heather Teixeira speaks at the Make It Fair for HHS leaders at the UTLA Leadership who has been organizing HHS members Townhall about the need for increased funding Conference and other times through the year. and a new psychologist chapter chair. for public education.

By Arlene Inouye UTLA Secretary UTLA HHS rep: Health and human services professionals touch lives

I had no experience with my union By Pablo Murillo for communicating with a when I first started working as an LAUSD UTLA Area Representative set group of members, es- speech and language specialist. My first pecially around contract encounter with UTLA was through the When people remember their days talks. The role of the CAT Speech and Language chapter chair, who in school, often they think of a teacher goes well beyond bargain- gave union news at our district meetings with whom they spent most of their ing, though, and it holds the and asked us to report if our caseloads time. However, we also interacted with permanent solution for our went above the California Ed Code re- other people besides the teacher. If a HHS members’ challenges. quirements of no more than 55 students. student got sick, he or she went to see If an issue affecting several We were also encouraged to report un- the school nurse; if there was trauma of our HHS members is acceptable working spaces, such as in a involved, the student saw the school’s occurring throughout mul- closet, near the bathroom, or even outside. psychologist; or if there were problems tiple sites, now through The newly expanded psychologist chapter chairs meet at UTLA During my 18 years as a health and at home, a PSW or a PSA was there for the CAT, we will be able to in September. Michael Pobanz, Northwest Valley chapter human services professional, I learned support along with other health and have clear communication chair, is on the left. that the union, which was our collective human services professionals. None regarding who is being af- voice, was the place where we could take of us made it out of school without the fected, pinpointing the site locations and sup- for HHS members. In bargaining and in action on issues in the workplace, and help of our HHS members. porting evidence. The CAT is our artery of life, we can only achieve that which we get results. I also turned to UTLA around Itinerants developing a union team communication and action in the union, and are well-organized to achieve. We still social justice issues I cared about and identity: For a long time, it has been chal- our contract action team leaders, chairs, and need more people to complete the CATs found unity around them. Today, I feel lenging to organize our HHS members vice chairs are the white blood cells. across the many programs in HHS. Do the privilege and responsibility as a UTLA under our UTLA flag. Unlike classroom Be part of the CAT solution: However, not underestimate the difference you can officer to be in the fight for our rights, our teachers, our UTLA HHS members often this idea will not work unless we have make in your union. Call UTLA and ask contract, and a quality public education for do not work in one location over a long many of you as HHS professionals decid- to speak to your Area representative and every student. Truly, public education has period of time. Instead, many are assigned ing to become part of this solution. We are say, “I want to be part of the new vision become the civil rights issue of our time. to multiple locations and work any variety seeking members who want to make a dif- to build power and a voice for our HHS UTLA is an incredibly democratic of days at a school or clinic. A chapter chair ference and build real power and a voice members. What can I do to help?” union, where someone like me, one of our at a school can go several weeks without health and human services credentialed having a single interaction with one of professionals, has had opportunities to our itinerant members, with HHS staff New HHS chapter chair: Health and human services professionals rising step forward and be a leader. It wasn’t often going to their separate department long ago that I would hear members say, meetings. This has negatively affected the By Michael Pobanz structure of HHS within UTLA, we are “I didn’t know that speech and language development of a team union identity for Psychologist Chapter Chair now able to have our own local psy- experts [or other HHS professionals, such our HHS members and resulted in feel- Northwest Valley chologist UTLA meetings and UTLA as nurses and counselors] were part of ings of disconnect and subsequently a chapter chairs (previously we had UTLA.” lack of power and union voice within the As with many health and human ser- one chapter chair for more than 500 Today, you will see HHS members at district. If our UTLA HHS members lack vices employees, school psychologists can psychs!). I am the first chapter chair for rallies, events, school-site pickets, and this continuity because of their itinerant feel like lonely islands floating around the school psychologists in the Northwest parent-community meetings in leadership assignments, how can UTLA organize district. We gather about once a month for (Valley) unit and this year we held our positions as we organize together around them in conjunction with developing a a few hours to listen to a PD presentation, first UTLA local psychologist chapter our issues and sustaining public education. much-needed union team identity? with no time to talk about any changes meeting ever. We are stepping forward in new ways A decision by members: First, every administrators have handed down and the I was even able to meet with the and building structures that go beyond member in HHS must decide that he or she impact those changes have on our students UTLA bargaining team, and we got mobilization during times of crisis, such will become active in the union. The power and our work at the schools. HHS and school psychologist issues as when there were cuts to HHS positions of any union depends on the involvement While class size is an important issue for on the table for our new contract nego- during the recession. The changes we are of the membership. UTLA has changed our teachers, psychologists similarly have many tiations. Within our local UTLA psych making will build our power and carry structure to make HHS leadership more issues with workload, which for us, by group, we have also formed smaller us forward as leaders in this movement. possible by having a chair and vice chair contract, must be “reasonable.” The district Contract Action Teams (CATs) of eight Here are some of those changes: in each of our eight UTLA areas to give has abused the interpretation of “reason- to ten members to better communicate, • We doubled staffing support to our steady leadership to our itinerant groups. able” for school psychologists long enough. organize, and mobilize. It is a new age HHS members, which is the most profes- Building on this, our new HHS chairs Without organized resistance, school psy- for HHS employees and school psy- sionally diverse and spread-out group of and vice chairs are working with UTLA chologists and other HHS employees have chologists, and we know teachers will UTLA members. Many HHS members staff to develop Contract Action Teams just rolled with the punches (ouch!). walk side by side with us as we all push (itinerants) work at several school sites (CATs). CAT members take responsibility However, with the new organizational for important changes in our contract. and often do not have a strong connection 14 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 Bilingual issues Casa Libre: A refuge for unaccompanied minors in LA. Get

Unaccompanied minors, the majority priority. Other than help with schoolwork implementing Prop. 58 (the Multilingual of whom are teenage boys, face almost and tutoring in Spanish and English, Bus- Education Initiative) and UTLA needs to connected insurmountable hurdles. Federico Busta- tament and his wife, Nadine, help them be a major part of that movement. Come to mente, the director of Casa Libre, a home organize their lives and learn about public our next Bilingual Ed Committee meeting to UTLA where some of the boys live in the historic transportation, city services, immigration on November 29 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 828. MacArthur Park neighborhood, spoke of the services, laundry, cooking, and other daily challenges that these boys face. The majority activities. The boys’ new school friends —Cheryl Ortega are from Guatemala, and then El Salvador, are regular visitors and all can make use UTLA Director of Bilingual Education Honduras, and Mexico, in that order. Most of the computer room, the laundry room, [email protected] of the boys arrive speaking only one of 26 the dining room, and the pool table. Loren, indigenous languages, primarily Quiché, a wonderful volunteer, has come every a Mayan tongue. The boys at Casa Libre day for the past five years and cooks for are enrolled in the Newcomer Program at the household. The boys, with the direc- ESTATE PLANNING Belmont High School, where they face the tor, have cleaned up and refurbished this Want to avoid probate? challenge of not only learning English, but 115-year-old, 10,000-square-foot mansion Seeking peace of mind? advancing in their academic studies. Some that was built by an English immigrant, Don’t do it yourself. Let a fellow teacher be have attended school previously; some have John Parkinson, in 1902 for a family of your lawyer. Sheila Bayne is a full time not. Some are well on the road to a diploma. 11 children. In his spare time, Director teacher with LAUSD and has been an active One boy who is 23 just graduated. He was Bustamente is learning Quiché. member of the California Bar for over 30 years. a full-time student, held a full-time job, and Casa Libre is a home for these boys, Complete Estate Planning Package: lived on his own in a single room. not an institution. They are cared for and n Living Trust All of the boys at Casa Libre hold down valued for their courage and life skills, n Living Will/Advance Health Care Directives jobs after school and on weekends. They and, I would say, loved. A nonprofit orga- n Power of Attorney work as dishwashers, gardeners’ assis- nization whose building is owned by the n Trust Transfer Deeds tants, general maintenance workers, and city of Los Angeles, Casa Libre depends n Pour-over Will and supporting documents other jobs that require hard, physical work. entirely on donations. I am wondering n Personal consultation Discount for UTLA Members: Bustamente reports that when these kids when someone will step up and offer such Facebook: arrive at the U.S. border, they must affirm a refuge for teenage girls. There is none in “fear of violence” as a compelling reason Los Angeles now. facebook.com/UTLAnow to come to the U.S. Often girls as young $750 as 12 have been given contraceptive pills Multilingual education moves forward: (Joint trust for spouses: $ 1095) Twitter: @utlanow by their mothers for when, not if, they We need the brains and voices of our bi- Also: n Probate n Conservatorships are raped on their journey toward safety. lingual teachers, whether or not you are in CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF SHEILA BAYNE YouTube: at 310-435-8710 At Casa Libre, navigating life in a large a program but nevertheless are committed or e-mail: [email protected] youtube.com/UTLAnow American city, where the school may be to language rights and language learning. State Bar #123801 larger than the town they came from, is a LAUSD is moving rapidly forward with

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15 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 Passings Accolades At age 45, Tess Jerusha Damon died with Venice High sports medicine teacher honored as a dignity surrounded by her parents, Paulette and Nathan Blumstein, and her four sisters, California Teacher of the Year. Nell Galles, Brette Otten, and Bree and Brynne Blumstein, in her North Hollywood bungalow. Kirsten Farrell, a health science and Born in Honolulu, Tess grew up in medical technology teacher for Venice Kaneohe and Kailua. Hours spent ex- Senior High School, was named last ploring beaches, tide pools, streams, and month as one of five 2018 California woody trails nurtured her love of the Teachers of the Year. She is the only natural world and developed her curios- Los Angeles teacher this year to receive ity, patience, and keen observation, all of the honor. which served her well as an artist. Farrell created one of the first L.A. In 1984 her family moved to West Hol- Unified sports medicine teams, which lywood, where she attended Bancroft Junior she founded at Venice High in 2004 in High. In 1985 the family moved to Northridge. partnership with the West Coast Sports Tess graduated from Sutter Middle School and Foundation. In addition to teaching stu- Cleveland High School Humanities Magnet. dents about anatomy, medical terminol- Tess graduated from UC Santa Cruz with ogy, and the ability to treat athletic inju- a bachelor’s in psychology. She then studied ries, the program helps them recognize art at Pierce Community College, became Tess Jerusha Damon signs of concussions and trains them a substitute teacher, and earned her K-12 1972 –2017 in CPR, use of defibrillator, and other teaching credential in art at National Uni- life-saving techniques. versity. This June she completed her Moder- her classes to imbue them with a sense of A 21-year teaching veteran, Farrell ate/Severe Special Education Credential. wonder, empathy, and humanity. has served Venice High for 15 years as She taught art at Patrick Henry Middle Tess’s passion for art and nature shaped a regional occupational program and School for five years, establishing an art her life. Her home was a tasteful minimal- career technical education teacher. She Kirsten Farrell, a new California Teacher of program there, before teaching ESL in ist oasis of art and plants, welcoming her has taught a variety of courses, includ- the Year, created one of the first L.A. Unified Japan for a year. She toured Thailand beloved hummingbirds, phoebes, alligator ing sports medicine, medical terminol- sports medicine teams. before returning home to L.A. lizards, and all living creatures. Her special ogy and sports therapeutics. She is also After a long-term special education as- connection with her nieces Leilani and a certified athletic trainer. family, I am thrilled when I meet grand- signment at Sutter Middle School, Tess Lorelei Galles delighted her. “I have always been—and continue parents of current students who pro- was rehired by the LAUSD as an itinerant Tess was generous, compassionate, sen- to be—inspired by my students and claim ‘Proud to be a Gondo!’” visual arts teacher in the Elementary Arts sitive, helpful, intelligent, resourceful, and my many dedicated colleagues every Education Branch. She taught hundreds of fun. With her Japanese cat Nichiobi, she single day,” Farrell said. “I appreciate To submit news for “Accolades”: Email students in multiple schools over a 17-year lived an independent life of quiet beauty that Venice is a true community school. details and photos to UTnewspaper@utla. span. She loved her students and her work, and enriched the lives of all who knew her, Having grown up in a mobile, military net. believing in the importance of arts edu- loved her, and now mourn her passing. cation to stimulate creativity, thinking, Donations in her memory may be made self-expression, and confidence in her stu- to the Audubon dents. She shared her love of nature with Society or the Burbank Animal Shelter.

COMMITTEE EVENTS

UTLA African American Education Committee

Presents the Forty-Fifth Annual Community Conference

Saturday, February 3, 2018

7:30 AM to 4:30 PM

UTLA Building 3303 Wilshire Blvd. Room 815 Los Angeles, CA 90010

Presenters, Panel Discussion, Entertainment, White Elephant Sale

Continental Breakfast and Lunch

Early Registration before January 24, 2018 $20 Register on Saturday, February 3, 2018 $25.00.00

Parents free! Students free with ID!

*Teachers, you can use AAEC Conference hours to build point credits.

For more information contact: UTLA Conference Secretary: Debbie Reid at UTLA (213) 368 Janice L. Lee Conference Chair (818 -3686232 4846 )

16 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 Be UTLA’s voice at the AFT UTLA/AFT 1021 delegates to CFT Convention in July 2018 Convention to be elected January 25

UTLA/AFT members will elect convention is the most important policy- CFT to hold annual convention in Costa Mesa, March delegates at the January 25 General making body of the national federation. 23 to 25. Membership Meeting (UTLA building, All AFT-affiliated UTLA members are 6 p.m.) to represent the union at the eligible to be elected delegates to this National Convention of the American event; delegates who fulfill their official UTLA members will elect delegates the coupon below to nominate themselves. Federation of Teachers in Pittsburgh, obligations will receive a stipend to cover at the January 25 General Membership The coupon must be returned by July 13 to 16. a portion of their expenses. Interested Meeting at UTLA to represent the union at January 12. At the convention, AFT members from members can fill out the coupon below to the statewide convention of the California around the country will gather to debate nominate themselves. Federation of Teachers. Motions for the meeting: All motions and vote on important resolutions and con- The coupon must be returned by At the convention, CFT members from must be submitted to UTLA/AFT 1021 four stitutional amendments. The biennial AFT January 12. around the state will gather to debate and weeks prior to the general membership vote on important resolutions and con- meeting on January 25. Motions can be sent stitutional amendments. The annual CFT to AFT 1021 President via fax at 213-251-9891, Convention is the most important policy- mailed to 3303 Wilshire Blvd. 10th Floor, Los making body of the federation. Angeles, CA 90010 or emailed to jramirez@ 2018 AFT Convention self-nomination form All UTLA members are eligible to be utla.net by December 28, 2017. Please indi- elected delegates to this event; delegates who cate “AFT 1021 motion” in the subject line. Name fulfill their official obligations will receive Motions submitted prior to the meeting will Employee No. a stipend to cover a major portion of their be posted on the UTLA/AFT 1021 link at least expenses. Interested members can fill out two weeks prior to the meeting. Home address City/Zip Email 2018 CFT Convention self-nomination form School Phone # to contact you Name I hereby declare that I am a fully paid member of UTLA. I wish to nominate myself as a delegate to the 2018 AFT Convention to be held in Pittsburgh Employee No. from July 13 to 16. Home address Signature This form must be returned by January 12 to UTLA/AFT Vice President Juan Ramirez at 3303 Wilshire Blvd., City/Zip 10th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010 during regular business hours (9 p.m. -5 p.m.) or by mail. Nominations will not be taken from the floor or by fax/email. Elections will be held at the general membership meeting on Thursday, January 25 at 6 p.m. at UTLA. Email

School

Phone # to contact you

I hereby declare that I am a fully paid member of UTLA. I wish to nominate myself as a delegate to the 2018 CFT Convention to be held in Costa Mesa from March 23 to 25.

Signature This form must be returned by January 12 to UTLA/AFT Vice President Juan Ramirez at 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010 during regular business hours (9 p.m. -5 p.m.) or by mail. Nominations will not be taken from the floor or by fax/email. Elections will be held at the general membership meeting on Thursday, January 25, at 6 p.m. at UTLA.

LAUSD HUMAN RESOURCES Dual-Language We’ve proudly cared for Union members and families for over 20 years! Teachers Needed At Blue Hills Dental, your oral health is our first priority! We offer full service dental care for your whole family from The District is currently seeking candidates to staff exams and cleanings to cosmetic and Arabic, Armenian, French, Korean, Mandarin, and complex care such as: Spanish bilingual programs at the Elementary and Secondary levels. 5 Convenient Los Angeles Locations! Cudahy Panorama City There are current vacancies, as well as expected 7903 Atlantic Ave, Ste G 7942 Van Nuys Blvd Long Beach West Covina future growth in these programs. 2306 E 7th St 1208 W Francisquito Ave, Palmdale Ste E If interested, please email Jacob Guthrie, Talent Acquisition 2140 E Palmdale Blvd Specialist, Human Resources Division, at Jacob.guthrie@lausd. Hablamos Español #BlueHillsDentalSmiles net for more information. *Invisalign discount is applied to regular full price treatment and may not apply to contracted insurance plans. 17 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

Involvement opportunity 2018 NEA Convention set for Minneapolis UTLA holding elections for convention delegates.

By Debby Schneider and Laura Carls The NEA Representative Assembly will affiliated with the Department of Defense, the highest number of votes (by a plurality) UTLA/NEA Election Committee meet in Minneapolis, June 30 to July 5, will give input, gather information, and will have an opportunity for a three-year 2018, during which delegates representing formulate and update NEA’s positions term at the local level. One-year terms are Ready to become involved in education their local unions from throughout the on various legislative and policy issues. available for state delegates. issues at a national level? United States, including overseas locations Educational concerns affecting local, state, and national unions may be brought Election process for delegates to the floor by any delegate. The excite- The process for the NEA Representa- ment of deliberation and voting begins tive Assembly delegate elections will be NEA Representative Assembly Annual each day at 7 a.m. during the California as follows: Voting for local delegates will state caucus and never slows down. This take place at the February 7 UTLA Area Convention slated for July 2018 in Minneapolis excitement, plus the numerous CTA- and meetings. The top vote-getting candidates NEA-sponsored activities, serves to enter- will be named as delegates following the Would you like to become a UTLA/NEA delegate to the 2018 Representative tain and educate exhausted but inspired counting of votes on February 9. Assembly Annual Convention in Minneapolis? From June 30 to July 5, 2018, UTLA delegates. The UTLA/NEA election committee members affiliated with the NEA/CTA will be in attendance at that convention. UTLA/NEA members who run for the will then formulate the state candidates’ 2018 Representative Assembly and receive ballot from those names of people who For a member to be eligible not only to become a delegate, but to serve in the UTLA/NEA Representative Assembly, a self-nomination form must be complet- ed and returned to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA President, by 5 p.m., January 4, 2018. There will be two categories of delegates: local and state. Local del- egates will be elected on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at the eight UTLA Area UTLA/NEA RA election meetings. State delegates will be elected Tuesday, April 3, at the UTLA/NEA Service Center Council meeting from 3:30 to 6:30. A complete set of election absentee ballots available rules will be sent to each person submitting a self-nomination form. UTLA/NEA members on formal leave will be able to vote in the 2018 Term of office for local delegates is three years, beginning July 2018. State NEA Representative Assembly election by absentee ballot. The ballots delegates are elected yearly. are available to any teacher on formal leave from a school or worksite and can be obtained by completing an absentee ballot request (below) UTLA/NEA Representative Assembly Self-Nomination Form and submitting it to UTLA by U.S. mail (no faxes/email) by January 4, Please Print 2018, no later than 5 p.m. All ballots will be due back at UTLA by 5 p.m. on the appropriate date (use timeline). Name

Employee Number UTLA/NEA Members on Formal Leave Request for Absentee Ballot for UTLA/NEA Representative Assembly Elections Mailing Address Please Print

Name Home Telephone Employee Number Non-LAUSD Email Address Mailing Address School

UTLA Area (Circle One) N S E W C VE VW H Name of School Ethnicity (Circle One) Non-LAUSD Email Address Asian/Pacific Islander African American UTLA Voting Area Caucasian (not Spanish origin) Chicano/ Check one: CTA/NEA Board member Formal LAUSD leave I wish to have my name placed on the (check one): I am requesting an absentee ballot for the following election: Local and state ballot Wednesday, February 7, 2018 (ballots due back 2/7—Local) Tuesday, April 3, 2018 (ballots due back 4/3—State) Local delegate ballot only State delegate ballot only All above information must be completed for this request to be valid. If my name appears on the local delegate ballot, and I am elected as a local delegate, I hereby give my permission to have my name removed from I hereby declare that the above information is accurate. the state ballot.

Signature I certify that below is the signature of candidate whose name appears above. This request is due by 5 p.m., January 4, 2018, at UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn.: Cecily Myart-Cruz. Until 5 Signature p.m. on January 4, forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters This request is due by 5 p.m. by mail (no faxes or emails) by January 4, 2018, (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) during regular business hours from at UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn.: Cecily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Myart-Cruz. Until 5 p.m. on January 4, forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) during regular business All absentee ballots will be due back to UTLA by 5 p.m. on the appropriate hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. date (see timeline).

18 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

turned in self-nomination forms for only ing the form below. Note: Our timeline is the state delegate ballot (a one-year term) set in accordance with CTA submission Delegates with terms expiring in 2017 and those who self-nominated for both the requirements. Ricardo Abreu Adrian Hernandez state and local delegate but did not receive UTLA/NEA members running for the Thomas Rubio top votes in the local delegate election. 2018 Representative Assembly must be Jose Aguilar Kirsten Johnson Colleen Schwab The voting for the one-year state del- sure to use the self-nomination form on James Anderson Andrea Jones Elgin Scott egate term will take place at the UTLA/ the facing page instead of the form sup- Wannetta Ashton Michael Jones Paulette Shelley NEA Service Center Council meeting on plied by CTA. No faxes or emails will be Gwen Baker (Richards) Gloria Martinez Shelita Shelley April 3, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the accepted. As a delegate, it is your respon- Robin Branch-Scott L. Cynthia Matthews Alfreda Soriano counting of the votes will follow on April 5. sibility to attend all Service Center Council Marcela Chagoya Rosa Melendez Adrian Tamayo Any teacher on dues-paying leave, year- meetings (January 16, April 3, and May 29). Jose Delgadillo Stacey Michaels Yolanda Tamayo round teachers who are off track, and early UTLA/NEA election committee members are childhood education teachers who are off Laura Carls and Deborah Schneider-Solis (co- Lisa Dinwiddie Juan Diego Montemayor Don Tarquin track may vote by absentee ballot, accord- chairs), Fredrick Bertz, Andrew Carrillo, Marcela Veeda Fernandes Mark Muskrath Mary Tello ing to CTA election rules. Chagoya, Wendi Davis, Karla Griego, Rosa Me- Tomas Flores Didi Obi Lillian Thompson Ballots can be requested by complet- lendez, Loren Scott, and Yolanda Tamayo. Kelly Flores J.C. O’Gabahann Zulma Tobar Cecilia Flores-Adams Juan Ramirez Margarita Vargas David Goldberg Mary-Janice Rodriguez Sylvia Wolf Leonard Goldberg Narciso Rodriguez Hal Wolkowitz UTLA/NEA RA 2018 Cassandra Grady Ana Marcela Rubio Marc Wutschke election timeline Anything on your mind? NEA/RA Local Delegate election Share it with UTLA members November 17, December 22: Nomination forms, timeline, and absen- by writing a letter to the editor. tee ballot request forms in UNITED TEACHER. Send letters by email to [email protected] January 4: Self-nomination forms and absentee ballot requests due to or by fax to (213) 487-3319. UTLA building by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail (no faxes or emails). Until 5 p.m. on January 4, forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. UTLA Asian-Pacific Committee January 5: Letters sent out acknowledging receipt of nomination forms. UTLA Asian-Pacific Committee January 22: Absentee ballots sent out. Sue Embrey 2017-2018 Community Activist Scholarship February 7: Local RA delegate elections at all UTLA Area meetings and at UTLA headquarters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

February 7: Absentee ballots due back to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA Calling all LAUSD High School Seniors! Vice President, at UTLA building, 10th floor by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail only (no faxes or emails). Tell us what you are doing to change your community through community activism and empowerment for a chance to receive up Tellto a us$2,000 what scholarship.you are doing Scholarships to change your will communitybe awarded to February 9: Area and absentee ballots counted, 9 a.m. Letters sent to currentthrough high community school seniors activism only. and empowerment for a winners and results will be posted at www.utla.net by the end of the chance to receive up to a $2,000 scholarship. Scholarships next business day. Towill enter be we awarded require to the current following: high school seniors only.

• Send us an 800-word, two-page essay. One page To enter we require the following: February 19: Deadline to submit election challenge in writing to Cecily describing your accomplishments and the second page • Send us an 800 word, two-page essay. One page describing the specific details of your project. Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, provided a runoff election is not re- describing your accomplishments and the second • Include photos and/or a video/DVD of your project (NO quired. Please contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form at 213-368-6259. page describing the specific details of your project. web links accepted) • Include photos and/or a video/DVD of your service • Include completed Sue Embrey Community Activist (NO web links accepted) NEA/RA State Delegate election Scholarship Application form. • Include completed Sue Embrey Community Activist Sue Embrey, educator, activist and • Provide two (2) letters of recommendation from your author, lived by her principles of Scholarship Application form. March 12: State RA delegate absentee ballots sent out. teacher, Director of community service program or your Suenon -Embrey,violence, educator, self-determination activist and • Provide two (2) letters of recommendation from your through unionization, social justice high school Counselor. At least one recommendation author, lived by her principles of teacher, Director of community service program or April 3: State RA delegate election at UTLA/NEA Service Center Coun- fornon workers,-violence, teamwork, self-determination letter should be from a current UTLA member. cil meeting at UTLA headquarters, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. throughcollaboration, unionization, service to social others, justice and your high school Counselor. At least one forempowerment workers, teamwork, of the recommendation letter should be from a current disenfranchised. For scholarship application packets go to: www.utla.net collaboration, service to others, and April 3: State absentee ballots due back to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/ empowerment of the disenfranchised.Sue Embrey is most recognized for Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on December 15, 2017 NEA Vice President, at UTLA building, 10th floor, by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail her work education the public about Suethe injusticesEmbrey is of mos thet internmentrecognized offor only (no faxes or emails). herthe Japanesework education Americans the publicduring about theWorld injustices War II. of In the 1969 internment she helped of United Teachers Los Angeles April 5: Election Committee meets at 9 a.m. to count all ballots. Let- theto organize Japanese the Americans first Manzanar during Asian-Pacific Scholarship Committee WorldPilgrimage War and II. Inalso 1969 co- foundedshe helped 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor ters sent to winners and results will be posted at www.utla.net by the toThe organize Manzanar the Committeefirst Manzanar that Los Angeles, CA 90010 Pilgrimageworked to gain and designationalso co-founded of end of the next business day. TheManzanar Manzanar as a CaliforniaCommittee State that workedHistoric to Landmark gain designation and eventually of a ManzanarNational Historic as a California Site. State April 15: Deadline to submit election challenge in writing to Cecily Myart- Historic Landmark and eventually a Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, provided a runoff election is not required. National Historic Site. Please contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form at 213-368-6259. 19 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 Retirees’ corner Note from UTLA-R President Report of the October 13 General Assembly Meeting. Movement on healthcare. By John Perez in this column to send contributions, the Committee that addressed the issue of By Mignon Jackson UTLA-Retired President yearly contribution of UTLA-R members “Medical Plans for Retirees Receiving UTLA-R Secretary had been between $5,000 and $7,000 per Medicare” and “Retiree Health Bene- Movement on healthcare bargaining: At year. With 189 UTLA-R PACE members, President’s report: President John Perez fits Are an Unfunded Liability.” If you the time of this writing, the district had that means at a bare minimum UTLA-R spoke about UTLA-Retired support- have any questions or concerns, contact moved from wanting massive reductions will now be contributing $18,900 per year ing UTLA’s election campaign efforts Loretta Toggenburger at [email protected] or in spending on healthcare to a willingness to PACE. Fighting the privatizers, who by joining PACE—either by giving 818-516-8602. to agree to a new three-year agreement contributed $14 million to the campaigns monthly by authorizing a deduction for active and retired members. However, of the pro-charter school candidates in the from CalSTRS to UTLA-PACE or by PACE report: Cecelia Boskin was not in the district wants to cap its contribu- 2017 school board elections, is an expen- contributing by check. UTLA-PACE attendance. UTLA-Retired members are tion to a stipulated amount, with any sive proposition. As retirees we need to contributions are essential for a fully reminded that their participation in the increases in spending coming from the help in this fight, and that’s where joining funded political action committee to UTLA political process is vital and that healthcare reserve. Over time, an agree- PACE for the first time or re-joining PACE defend public education. contributions should be mailed to Cecelia ment like this will deplete the reserve comes in. If all of our 4,300 members were Perez went on to speak about the nego- Boskin, 3547 Federal Ave., Los Angeles, and cause either reductions in benefits to join PACE, we could, collectively, con- tiations for our healthcare for 2018 with CA 90066. or cost sharing (monthly payments to the tribute $430,000 per year to the fight to the district. The unions are united in district for active and retired members). keep the word “public” in public edu- wanting the district to continue funding Legislative report: Mary Rose Ortega, The movement on the part of the district cation. The privatizers want to change healthcare as it is currently (see update our legislative reporter, was not present is due to the organizing and mobiliz- our system from a public system with in his column). but information was distributed from CTA ing on the part of UTLA in its contract the public choosing the people to run the There was also the election of three and CFT affecting retirement. fight with the district and because all the system, into a private education system UTLA-Retired members to UTLA-PACE. LAUSD employee unions have made it using public money with no citizen or Congratulations are in order for Cecelia Guest speakers: Tom Morrison, con- clear to the district that they stand in governmental oversight. If you have put Boskin, Bill Taxerman, and Jim DeSalvo. sultant to the Districtwide Health Ben- solidarity on health care for all district aside the PACE card, please fill it out and efits Committee, and Mariam Hironimus, employees and retired members. The return it in the UTLA envelope. Treasurer’s report: Mike Dreebin re- LAUSD health benefits representative, fight to secure our healthcare will only ported on the UTLA-R budget balance, spoke about the upcoming 2018 ben- be permanently won when we have a Beyond Obamacare: Remember, the which is now $55,795.10. UTLA-R has 4,336 efits package. UTLA-Retired members’ national single-payer system like Medi- Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is in- members. annual Benefits Open Enrollment begins care for All. We, as retirees, need to be surance reform—not health care reform. November 1 and ends November 19, 2017. 100% behind all actions taken by our More than 20 million Americans have Health benefits report: Loretta Toggen- Changes can be made online or by calling active brothers and sisters in this fight— health care today than had it before the burger reviewed the Health Benefits 213-241-4262. There was a Q&A period at not only for our health care, but also for ACA, and that is a positive, but to ensure FAQ from the LAUSD Health Benefits the end of their presentation. preserving a free public education for all that all Americans have health care, we kids against the privatization agenda of need a national health service or a single- the current school board majority and payer system like Medicare for All. A their financial angel, Eli Broad. recently introduced bill would allow the Officer and board travel expenses federal government to negotiate the cost Join or re-join PACE: Recently UTLA- of prescription medicines for Medicare A motion passed by the UTLA House Purpose: Presented workshop. Also helped set Retired members received a letter from recipients, now currently forbidden by of Representatives calls for a report to be policy for urban councils for the year. your UTLA-R officers with a PACE a law passed under former President published in the UNITED TEACHER that signup card. To date we have received George W. Bush. Changing the law would lists all union-paid travel by UTLA officers CTA Issues Conference in Las Vegas 189 completed PACE cards. This means allow the federal government to force and directors outside of Los Angeles County. Attended by Gloria Martinez ($634), that even if we don’t recruit another new down the price of prescription medicines Below are the travel expenses incurred from Cecily Myart-Cruz ($908), Juan Ramirez PACE member from this recent mailing, and save the federal government billions December 2016 to May 2017, with an expla- ($462), and Elgin Scott ($120). UTLA-R has doubled its contributions to of dollars—dollars that could be used to Purpose: Presented workshop and connected nation as to how the travel relates to UTLA defend public education from what we expand insurance coverage to millions with educators from throughout the state to strat- business. were able to contribute before we made more Americans and at the same time egize on challenges to public education. it possible for you to join PACE. Prior to move us one step closer to a Medicare CFT Convention in Sacramento our PACE drive, from donations made for All system. Attended by Dan Barnhart ($1,493), California Labor Fed at UTLA-R meetings and my asking you John can be reached at [email protected]. Alex Caputo-Pearl ($1,325), Georgia meetings in Sacramento Flowers Lee ($764), Betty Forrester Attended by Betty Forrester in December ($2,789), Ingrid Gunnell ($770), Mel House ($541) and February ($313). ($800), Arlene Inouye ($927), Erika Jones- Purpose: To represent UTLA at the California California Association for Bilingual Crawford ($771), Matthew Kogan ($937), Labor Federation. Purpose: To plan coordinated national actions Education Conference in Anaheim Gloria Martinez ($915), Cecily Myart-Cruz to fight privatization. NEA Leadership Summit in Orlando Attended by Cheryl Ortega ($150) and ($1,867), Juan Ramirez ($734), Gillian Attended by Ingrid Gunnell ($1,254), Make It Fair Campaign Juan Ramirez ($310). Russom ($890), Adrian Tamayo ($995), Cecily Myart-Cruz ($2,370), Juan Ramirez Meeting in Oakland Purpose: To attend workshops and connect Julie Van Winkle ($753), and Jennifer Vil- ($1,578), and Elgin Scott ($784). NOTE: Above Attended by Juan Ramirez ($412). with educators statewide on bilingual education. laryo ($599). costs include fees for nine UTLA members Purpose: To strategize on passing the Make It Purpose: At the convention, UTLA represen- who presented at the summit. Fair tax initiative to support public education by CalPERS meeting in Sacramento tatives join delegates from across the country in Purpose: To develop activist leaders and prepare making corporations pay their fair share. Attended by Betty Forrester ($1,521). debating on motions and setting policy for the them with the leadership skills to lead a relevant Purpose: To alert CalPERS Board to the anti- AFT, one of UTLA’s national affiliates. union. CTA President’s union campaign against Alliance teachers being Lobby Day directed by individuals who benefit from CalPERS Statewide privatization CTA Equity and Human Rights Attended by Cecily Myart-Cruz ($752). investments. meeting in San Jose Conference in San Jose Purpose: To meet with legislators on issues of Attended by Alex Caputo-Pearl ($581). Attended by Cecily Myart-Cruz ($1,437). importance to public education. AFT English Language Learner Purpose: To strategize with state affiliates on Purpose: To attend workshops and hear speak- Cadre Task Force meeting in D.C. charter accountability legislation. ers on critical issues of diversity and equity in Charter Organizing Project Attended by Juan Ramirez ($184). education. meeting in Oakland Purpose: The ELL Educator Cadre is a nation- Meetings with legislators in Sacramento Attended by Betty Forrester ($370). wide advisory task force on ELL issues. Attended by Alex Caputo-Pearl in March Alliance to Reclaim Our Purpose: To strategize on ongoing work to ($696) and April ($1,887) and by Arlene Inouye Schools Meeting in D.C. support charter teachers to win a voice for them- The California Collaborative for ($762). Attended by Betty Forrester ($1,215). selves and for the students they educate by orga- Educational Excellence meeting in San Purpose: To meet with elected officials on charter Purpose: To plan coordinated national actions nizing a union. Francisco oversight and Community Schools legislation. to fight privatization. Attended by Cecily Myart-Cruz ($633). CFT Legislative Committee Purpose: The legislature created the CCEE to National Council of Urban Education Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools meeting Sacramento provide advice and assistance to schools in achiev- Associations Conference in San Antonio Meeting in Chicago Attended by Matthew Kogan ($274). ing their LCAP goals. At this meeting, officers Attended by Cecily Myart-Cruz ($1,880). Attended by Cecily Myart-Cruz ($620). Purpose: To strategize on legislative priorities. from urban locals gathered to go over the LCAP. 20 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017

GRAPEVINE No. 2 pencils, printer paper, and ordinary president, in 2018 students are asked to not only aware of human rights abuses, but (continued from page 19) ball-point pens, while also exploring more make a connection between their chosen are prepared to do something about them. sophisticated drawing materials. The class human rights defender and RFK, which Prizes will be awarded to students in the • Participating in workshops custom- will cover such things as quick-sketching, could be done through the use of a quote, middle school and high school divisions, ized to the group’s goals by expert con- portraiture, still life, landscape, drawing archival footage, or by including a connec- and the grand-prize-winning video will sultants. Topics may include promoting a from your imagination and from photos, tion in the narration. The contest, which has be premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival positive campus climate; Common Core drawing upside-down, and drawing with reached more than 50,000 students across in April 2018. Previous winners featured through a social justice lens; teaching the your eyes closed. Designed for beginners, the country, engages both creative teachers videos of defenders tackling Islamophobia, Holocaust; media literacy; bullying preven- this class will help you overcome your and curious students. It inspires intellectual police brutality, child labor, human traf- tion; restorative justice; and much more. fear of drawing. If you’re already an ex- vigor, the pursuit of knowledge, and the ficking, bullying, and domestic violence. • Lunch and resource materials. perienced artist, this class can serve as a daring to create change. Above all, it encour- Entry deadline is March 3, 2018. Visit www. Individuals may register for special workshop. You’ll discover ways to use ages a new generation of students who are speaktruthvideo.com for more information. open enrollment institutes. Groups of 30 art in your teaching and in your regular participants or more may register for a life. The class fee is $199 and you get one customized program. All pre-K to 12th- salary point. The class meets three Satur- grade educators welcome. Some programs days, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The dates Support for housed teachers qualify for LAUSD salary point credit. are January 20, February 3, and February Register now at www.museumoftolerance. 24. All three meetings are at the La Canada Under former superintendent John Housed teachers are not kept informed com/FreePD. Public Library conference room. Registra- Deasy, many educators were victims of the status of these investigations. No tion is online, in advance. You must register of the “teacher jail” system. Caught formal hearing takes place until the Salary point course online to be enrolled. No walk-ups. Class is off guard and often falsely accused, district reaches its verdict, so accused on healthy relationships limited to 30 participants. When the class they were left to suffer alone, under teachers have no chance to influence The new, self-paced three-salary point is full, we will have a waiting list. To reg- house arrest and unsure of what to do. the process. course, “Creating a Conducive Environment ister, go to Bartt.net and click the LAUSD LAUSD’s abuse of “teacher jail” has UTLA’s Standing Committee for Un- Through Building Healthy Relationships,” logo. You will find compete details and a lessened since the departure of Deasy, justly Housed Teachers meets monthly aims to reduce toxic stress experienced by gallery of Bartt’s artwork. For more info, but we still need to be vigilant about at the union to support these teachers. teachers. Educators find ourselves in stress- go to Bartt.net, or email Bartt at Bartt@ each and every case. From time to time the committee in- ful situations at home, on the freeway, and Bartt.net. You can also call or text Bartt Some things that UTLA members troduces motions at House of Repre- at work, but this course teaches you how to at 818-568-3595. may not be aware of: Teachers who run sentatives meetings. The committee make your classroom a “stress-free” envi- afoul of their administrators no longer also represents “reassigned teachers”— ronment for better learning. Enroll at www. Speak Truth to Power video get sent downtown to be “housed.” teachers arbitrarily relocated to other education4equity.com/lausd. contest for student filmmakers Instead, every day between 8 a.m. and schools. The next meeting is December In partnership with the American Fed- 2:45 p.m., they’re restricted to their own 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 904. Salary point class on eration of Teachers and the Tribeca Film houses and obligated to call in to the The UTLA building is located at 3303 drawing and sketching Institute, the 8th Annual Robert F. Kennedy district twice daily. They’re paid their Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010. Bartt Warburton, an LAUSD Teacher Human Rights Speak Truth to Power Video regular salaries, but they’re forbidden of the Year, is holding a workshop on the Contest invites middle and high school stu- all contact with their schools, which If you’ve been recently removed from basics of drawing and sketching. The focus dents to create short three- to five-minute can make mounting a defense difficult. the classroom, please contact Luis Vicente is on learning to draw in a light-hearted videos about the work of a human rights In the meantime, district personnel in- Ovalles, staff rep for housed teachers, at and fun environment, and participants will defender. Commemorating the 50th an- vestigate the cases of these teachers. [email protected]. draw with everyday materials, including niversary of Robert F. Kennedy’s run for

21 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 UTLA Classifieds CLASSIFIED AND DISPLAY AD POLICY: UNITED TEACHER will not accept ads for legal services in the areas of worker’s compensation or personal injury; nor advertising for tobacco or alcoholic beverages; nor advertising deemed misleading or offensive to members; nor advertising inconsistent with the programs and purposes of United Teachers Los Angeles.

BOOKS JOB SHARE LAUSD POSITIONS supports 400 9th- to 12th-grade students. We offer AVAILABLE a rigorous college prep program designed to pre- California Missions, Secondary Teaching Techniques, I’m a loyal, dedicated, hardworking second-grade pare students for university studies in fields that re- Stories, Computers, Quit Smoking: PaulRallion.com. teacher. I would like to work the morning shift for The Humanitas Magnet for Interdisciplinary Studies quire a strong background in math and science. We any grade K-5. I will come to your school. Please located on the Grant High School campus is antici- are looking for an individual able to teach Algebra contact me 818-939-8498 ASAP to job share this pating various positions available for the 2018-2019 through AP Calculus. Must have a desire to chal- LAUSD EMPLOYMENT Spring (2018) and beyond. school year. Come be a part of a brand-new magnet lenge and support students. Please send inquiries or where collaboration is key. Please send inquiries or resumes to Jayne Couchois at [email protected]. Job share partner wanted for the 2nd semester Job share/employment resumes to Ronald Arreola at [email protected]. 2017/18 school year and beyond. Your school or Various positions are open and available for quali- available ads in LAUSD mine- Harbor Area preferred. I have enjoyed my pre- Polytechnic High School’s Math, Science, and Tech- fied teachers at Birmingham Community Charter employment section are FREE. vious job share experience. If interested please con- nology Magnet anticipates an opening for a talented High School. Join a vibrant community of educa- tact me at 310-918-4163 or [email protected]. math teacher for the next school year. Our magnet tors at BCCHS. Apply on EdJoin.org.

How To Place Your UT Classified Ad A Free, Educational “Board” Game Print your ad from your computer or use a typewriter. Count the number of words in your Addresses racism and white privilege through critical thinking, social analysis, ad. Area code and telephone number count as one word. Email and web address count as and team-based discussion. one word. Street address counts as one word. City and state, including zip code, count as one word. Abbreviations and numbers are considered words and are charged individually. The classified ad rate is $1.50 per word for each time your ad runs (there is no charge for LAUSD job share/employment available ads). Multiply the number of words in your ad by $1.50. This is the cost for running your ad one time in UNITED TEACHER. If you’re run- ning your ad in more than one issue, multiply the one-time total by the number of issues you wish the ad to appear. We have a ten word minimum ($15.00). All ads are payable Ages 13+ • CCSS-Aligned • Curriculum Included (Worksheets, Glossary, PowerPoint) in advance by check or money order. Please make check payable to UTLA. The deadline For Classrooms, After-School Groups, Staff Trainings to receive your classified ad at the UTLA Communications Dept. is noon on the Monday Players will: that falls two weeks prior to the publication date. Any questions? Call 213-637-5173. Mail • Become more aware that racism exists in many everyday situations (both interpersonal and institutional) ad and payment to Classifieds, UNITED TEACHER, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los • Learn why the situations are racist (stereotyping, tokenism, cultural appropriation, etc.) Angeles, CA 90010. • Acquire tools to interrupt these kinds of situations in order to help create a more loving and just world DOWNLOAD at www.roadtoracialjustice.org • Created by Kesa Kivel

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Classes meet one night a week beginning at 4:20 PM

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies California State University, Northridge (818) 677- 2591 http://www.csun.edu/coe/elps

22 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net November 17, 2017 UNITED TEACHER GRAPEVINE Student art exhibition honoring ability to empathize with others. This pre-trip session Monday, April 23, at the additional planning period during the the 50th anniversary of the session features a special lecture by arts UTLA building from 4 to 9:30 p.m., and school day to carry out their project, and East L.A. Walkouts integration specialist Dr. Desi Cameron. your fee will be $75. Sign up via UTLA more. Selection criteria includes five-plus- In March 1968, thousands of predomi- Enjoy complimentary parking and dinner by contacting Jenny Lam at jlam@utla. years of experience teaching math/com- nantly East L.A. students walked out of catered by the Patina Group as well as net or by phone 213-368-6229 OR go to puter science in grades 7‑12 in a high-need their schools in a mass demonstration for thematic curriculum containing images, utla.net, put “Manzanar” in the search public/charter school in the greater Los civil rights and educational justice. In honor lesson plans, and additional resources. bar and it will take you to detailed info Angeles area and exemplary teaching and of the 50th anniversary of this educational Tickets are $15 per person for the evening, on each session and allow you to regis- leadership skills. Applications are due movement in 2018, Orchard Academy Arts which runs from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more ter. NOTE: A minimum of 20 participants February 12, 2018. For more information, & Media teacher Brett Drugge is calling on information and to register, please visit required in order to offer salary points. If visit http://mfala.org. teachers around the district to join a district- www.lacma.org/evenings-for-educators. you have questions regarding sessions or wide student art exhibition. His idea is If you have additional questions about the salary points, please contact: Diane Newell Free professional development inspired by Ramiro Gomez’s cardboard program, please call 323-857-6093. (818-642-0981 or [email protected]) or at the Museum of Tolerance cut-out art, and the concept is for teachers Rosie Van Zyl ([email protected]). Please The Museum of Tolerance is offering from around the district to have their stu- UTLA Asian Pacific Committee put “Manzanar” in the subject bar when grant-funded professional development dents exhibit life-size cardboard replicas of announces its 49th emailing for a prompt response. programs for teachers. Educators can sign the walkout students in popup installa- Manzanar conference up for Tools for Tolerance for Educators, tions at their respective schools. Photos If you have always wanted to attend Math for America Los Angeles an interactive, experiential program de- can be collected and featured at a website the Manzanar Pilgrimage, you not only now accepting Master Teacher signed to advance anti-bias education and devoted to celebrating the walkout legacy. can attend the April 28 Manzanar site Fellowship applications the creation of inclusive and equitable Please contact Drugge at bxd3893@lausd. bus trip, but you can also earn up to two The Master Teacher Fellowship is a schools. Programs take place in the immer- net for further information. salary points (with approval pending for five-year program designed to help excep- sive learning environment of the Museum a third). To earn salary points you MUST tional math/computer science teachers of Tolerance and are offered in one- or Evenings for Educators at attend the Pilgrimage on Saturday, April become leaders by supporting them as two-day formats. Programs include: LACMA: “Empathy Through Art” 29. The five session dates are: February they design and orchestrate an improve- • Experiencing the Museum of Toler- For more than 30 years LACMA’s Eve- 10 (with new Filipino component), March ment project focused on student-centered ance as a laboratory for human behavior. nings for Educators series has provided 10, April 23, April 28, and May 5. The cost results. Applicants apply as a team, with • Hearing personal testimonies from K-12 teachers with opportunities to talk for salary points is $225, which covers one to two other teachers at their school witnesses to history. about, discover, and create works of art. On charter bus transportation, food, and ma- site. Teachers selected for the fellowship • Engaging in facilitated discussions December 5, explore how artworks can be terials. If you wish to attend the pilgrim- receive $10,000 annually in salary support, around issues that matter. used in the classroom to nurture students’ age only, we ask that you also attend our funding to attend math conferences, an (continued on page 21)

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