Award-Winning Newspaper of United Teachers Los Angeles • www.utla.net Volume XLV, Number 4, December 18, 2015 Growing coalition stands against Broad-Walmart plan Parents, students, educators, and community groups urge LAUSD School Board to pass motion opposing market-driven reform.

A growing coalition of parents, stu- Empowerment. “Eli Broad has no right to dents, educators, and community groups tell us what’s best for our children, and I is calling on the LAUSD School Board to don’t welcome nor appreciate him and his take a stand against the plan by Eli Broad Wall Street friends deciding our future.” and the Walmart heirs to greatly expand As an added demonstration of support, unregulated charter schools at the expense several letters were presented to the School of neighborhood public schools. Board signed by members of the eight At the December 8 School Board LAUSD unions and the Los Angeles County meeting, a stream of speakers urged the Federation of Labor; by eight prominent Board members to pass Scott Schmerelson’s local and state community organizations motion against the Broad-Walmart plan (Alliance of Californians for Community and called for District officials to invest in Empowerment, Clergy & Laity United for Sustainable Neighborhood Community Economic Justice, Coalition for Humane Community groups Labor unions Schools—a positive alternative to defund- Immigrant Rights of L.A., Labor/Com- ing and deregulating public schools. UTLA munity Strategy Center, Los Angeles Al- and our community allies will be back at the liance for a New Economy, Schools L.A. next School Board meeting, January 12, to Students Deserve Grassroots Coalition, repeat our push for the motion’s passage. Strategic Actions for Just Economy, and “The main purpose of the LAUSD Board the Youth Justice Coalition); and by long- is to oversee and to protect our public time community organizations Community education system and make it the best Coalition and InnerCity Struggle. possible to serve all students—not to hand Schmerelson’s “Excellent Public Educa- over the future of our children to private tion for Every Student” resolution would companies and billionaire funders, who put the School Board on record as opposing have never experienced our struggles,” all market-driven education reforms such said Martha Sanchez, a parent of three as the Broad-Walmart initiative. The Broad- LAUSD students LAUSD parents LAUSD students and a member of the Walmart plan that was leaked to the press Alliance of Californians for Community in September contains numerous references Speakers at the December 8 School Board meeting included (clockwise from lower right) 20th Street parent Karla Vilchis, Roosevelt student Marc Arenas and Bernstein STEM student Ivana Rivera, parent and Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment member Martha Sanchez, Associated Administrators of Los Angeles President Juan Flecha, and (not pictured) Majority of members support UNITE HERE Vice President and former L.A. County Fed head Maria Elena Durazo and the financial restructuring former Assemblymember and LAUSD School Board President Jackie Goldberg. to students and schools as “market share” intends to replicate, the majority of them and dues increase and labels teachers as “human capital.” were charters. If implemented, the Broad-Walmart plan In sharp contrast to the Broad-Walmart Ballots to be mailed to members next month. would trigger a race to the bottom by plan, UTLA is working with parents, forcing schools to compete for resources, students, and community members for threaten LAUSD’s financial viability by Sustainable Neighborhood Community Through chapter meetings, one- than 850 chapter leaders citywide. draining the District’s budget, and create an Schools. These are schools that are accessible on-one conversations, phone calls, Together we are fighting back unregulated education system that would and equitable for all, have a well-rounded and the petition drive, the majority against the billionaires and their leave high-needs students behind. curriculum, involve parents and educators of UTLA members have pledged to hand-picked bureaucrats who want The community fight against the Broad- deeply, are connected to the community, vote “yes” in support of the Build to undermine our students’ educa- Walmart plan is helping to shape the and have well-resourced wrap-around ser- the Future, Fund the Fight campaign tion, cut our health care, take away LAUSD superintendent search and bol- vices and restorative justice programs. More to build a stronger UTLA, with the our pensions, suppress our voices, sters UTLA’s call for a leader with no ties to than 40 leaders of innovative school-based resources needed to take on the and bankrupt our union. the Broad Foundation or similar corporate- programs convened at UTLA last month battles ahead. Their endorsement Ballots for the vote will be mailed reform entities. The Schmerelson motion, (see story on page 5) to discuss specific connects with the overwhelming to members’ home addresses on in its highlighting of community schools, aspects of their work and how to expand support of the UTLA House of Rep- January 15, arriving around January should act as a roadmap for the District’s success models across the district. resentatives, all 48 UTLA officers 19. Read more, including a voting new leadership. and Board members, and more Q&A, on pages 6 and 7. In response to the backlash against the Citywide chapter chair meeting on Broad-Walmart initiative, proponents of January 7: UTLA will be holding a citywide the plan now claim they are not focusing chapter chair meeting on Thursday, January solely on the expansion of unregulated 7, to review a roadmap for 2016. Chapter charter schools—yet Great Public Schools chairs will receive important materials for Now, the new organization formed to push members and discuss the Build the Future, the campaign, is being led by executives Fund the Fight voting timeline, the national from the company ExED. Funded by a “walk in” for public schools on February 17, banker and other billionaires, ExED helps and the impact of the Broad-Walmart plan charter schools manage their business op- on the search for a new superintendent. Two erations and offers start-up services to new sessions (location to be announced) have charter schools. In the initial list that Great been scheduled to accommodate those who Public Schools Now released on December have professional development meetings on 7 of “the kinds of schools” the organization that day: 12 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 United Teacher President’s perspective

PRESIDENT Alex Caputo-Pearl NEA AFFILIATE VP Cecily Myart-Cruz AFT AFFILIATE VP Betty Forrester The nation and the next superintendent ELEMENTARY VP Juan Ramirez SECONDARY VP Colleen Schwab will be watching in early 2016 TREASURER Arlene Inouye SECRETARY Daniel Barnhart Let’s send a message with an overwhelming vote for Build the Future, Fund the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Good Fight and a powerful national walk-in.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS By Alex Caputo-Pearl NORTH AREA: Kirk Thomas, Chair (Eagle Rock ES), Karla Griego (Buchanan ES), Rebecca Solomon UTLA President (RFK UCLA Comm. School), Julie Van Winkle (Logan Span School) I hope that you are enjoying some rest SOUTH AREA: Ingrid Villeda, Chair (93rd Street ES), and relaxation. You deserve it. This is a Ayde Bravo (Maywood ES), Ayesha Brooks (Markham MS), Maria Miranda (Miramonte ES) time of year when we have many special EAST AREA: Gillian Russom, Chair (ESP Academy), moments. In the leadup to the winter Ingrid Gunnell (Lane ES), Gloria Martinez (Rowan ES), break, I’ve been lucky enough to already Adrian Tamayo (Lorena ES) be a part of some very special moments. WEST AREA: Erika Jones Crawford, Chair (CTA Director), Noah Lippe-Klein (Dorsey HS), Rodney Lusain Four that I’ve had in just one week in (Los Angeles HS), Jennifer Villaryo (Grand View ES) December illustrate the powerful direction CENTRAL AREA: José Lara, Chair (Santee EC), that we’re headed at UTLA. Kelly Flores (Maya Angelou), Paul Ngwoke (Bethune MS), Zulma Tobar (Harmony ES) December 7: In a gathering at UTLA, VALLEY EAST AREA: Scott Mandel, Chair (Pacoima I was blown away by what our col- Magnet), Victoria (Martha) Casas (Beachy ES), Mel leagues are doing around the city related House (Elementary P.E.), Alex (David) Orozco (Madison MS) to building Sustainable Neighborhood VALLEY WEST AREA: Bruce Newborn, Chair (Hale Charter), Melodie Bitter (Lorne ES), Wendi Davis Community Schools. Roosevelt High (Henry MS), Javier Romo (Mulholland MS) School teacher Roxana Duenas powerful- HARBOR AREA: Aaron Bruhnke, Chair (San Pedro HS), ly broke down a community-connected, Karen Macias-Lutz (Del Amo ES), Elgin Scott (Taper ES), Steve Seal (Eshelman ES) culturally relevant, student-empower- ing curriculum that she developed in ADULT & OCCUP ED: Matthew Kogan (Evans CAS) collaboration with her colleagues and BILINGUAL EDUCATION: Cheryl L. Ortega (Sub Unit) community partners. UCLA Community EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: Corina Gomez (Pacoima EEC) School teacher Kirti Baranwal described HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Linda Gordon the dual-language and parent engage- SPECIAL ED: Darrell Jones (Byrd MS) ment programs at her school that foster SUBSTITUTES: Fredrick Bertz academic achievement and deep col- PACE CHAIR: Marco Flores laboration. We are refining and project- UTLA RETIRED: John Perez ing our proactive vision of what schools need through advocacy for Sustainable AFFILIATIONS American Federation of Teachers Neighborhood Community Schools. National Education Association December 8: At the LAUSD School Board, as parents, students, educators, Alex with the staff at 42nd Street School STATE & NATIONAL OFFICERS NEA DIRECTOR: Sonia Martin Solis community organizations, and labor CFT PRESIDENT: Joshua Pechthalt partners spoke in favor of LAUSD Board will gather in front of their schools at the passion I have found in these site meet- CTA PRESIDENT: Eric Heins Member Scott Schmerelson’s motion chal- beginning of the school day and do coor- ings. We discussed the Build the Future, CTA DIRECTOR: Erika Jones Crawford lenging the Broad-Walmart plan, I was dinated “walk-ins,” showing a reclaiming Fund the Fight campaign, and the entire CFT VICE PRESIDENT: Betty Forrester NEA PRESDIENT: Lily Eskelsen Garcia particularly struck by Maria Elena Du- of our schools, a call for reinvestment faculty signed the petition in support of AFT PRESIDENT: Randi Weingarten razo’s comments. The former head of the in our schools, and a pushback on the the dues increase and joint membership. Los Angeles County Federation of Labor billionaire agenda. This is strategically We had a great time—and it was even UTLA COMMUNICATIONS and current UNITE HERE National Vice aligned to influence the debate in the na- a little bit extra-special because, on the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Alex Caputo-Pearl President of Immigration, Civil Rights, tional presidential primaries. We will be walks I used to take my son on when he COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS: and Diversity spoke powerfully to the making history as we move forward our was a baby, I would pass by the front of Kim Turner, Carolina Barreiro, Tammy Lynn Gann emergence of a community-labor coali- local struggles in support of community 42nd Street School every day. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Laura Aldana tion in favor of educational justice and schools and against Broad-Walmart—and These interactions over the course of EDITORIAL INFORMATION against privatization, with UTLA playing make these struggles immensely more one week in December illustrate UTLA’s a leading role. She referred to the letters in UNITED TEACHER powerful by placing them in a national powerful path that I am lucky enough to 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Fl., LA, CA 90010 support of Schmerelson’s motion from the context. Locally, the walk-ins also will be be a part of. Email: [email protected] UTLA main line: (213) 487-5560 labor organizations representing LAUSD a powerful way to introduce our union to To continue our momentum in the employees and from 10 major commu- our new superintendent and show that short-term, and to be financially sustain- ADVERTISING Senders Communications Group nity organizations. Something powerful UTLA is a united force, working with able and powerful for the medium- and Bruce Loria: (818) 884-8966, ext. 1107 is happening. parents, students, and the community to long-term, we need to focus the month December 4: A few days before both of build the Schools L.A. Students Deserve. of January and the first week of February UNITED TEACHER accepts paid advertisements from outside companies and organizations, including UTLA these, I was on a phone call with leaders December 11: Since September 1, I have on the Build the Future, Fund the Fight sponsors and vendors with no relationship with UTLA. Only from the Chicago, Miami, Milwaukee, been at lunch and after-school site meet- campaign for the dues increase and joint approved vendors can use the UTLA logo in their ads. The and Pittsburgh teacher unions, orga- content of an advertisement is the responsibility of the ings at nearly 100 schools to discuss the membership. The future of the union, the advertiser alone, and UTLA cannot be held responsible nized through the Alliance to Reclaim UTLA 2015-2017 strategic plan and the Schools L.A. Students Deserve campaign, for its accuracy, veracity, or reliability. Appearance of an Our Schools. It was one of many con- need for a dues increase and joint mem- our health benefits, and public education advertisement should not be viewed as an endorsement or recommendation by United Teachers Los Angeles. versations about building toward a co- bership in our state and national unions. more broadly depend on our voting “yes” ordinated national action, across 30 dif- I have loved every minute of these meet- on this initiative—it is that simple. ferent cities, in support of Sustainable ings—they are truly a time to connect Two of the people who most want the United Teacher (ISSN # 0745-4163) is published monthly (except for a combined June/July issue) by Neighborhood Community Schools and with, dialogue with, and learn from our Build the Future, Fund the Fight initiative United Teachers Los Angeles, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., against privatization and the billionaire- members. On December 11, a Friday after to fail are Eli Broad and John Deasy. The 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Subscriptions: led undermining of public education. school, I met with the entire faculty of 42nd last thing they want is a strong, financially $20.00 per year. (Price included in dues/agency fee This unprecedented coordinated national of UTLA bargaining unit members.) Periodical postage Street Elementary School, in a meeting or- sustainable UTLA. Broad, Deasy, and their paid at Los Angeles, California. POSTMASTER: Please action, which UTLA is playing a lead role ganized by their wonderful chapter chair, allies may even do what they have done in send address changes to United Teachers Los Angeles, in, will happen on February 17. Educa- Brenda Hunter. It was compelling to have several other circumstances—attempt to 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. tors, other school employees, parents, an entire faculty stay after school on a recruit educators into playing lead roles in Telephone (213) 487-5560. students, and community organizations Friday—quite reflective of the energy and (continued on next page) 2 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE We love teaching, and we are looking (continued from previous page) forward to a Super Superintendent coming Speaking out our way. billionaire-funded legal actions to under- Please keep these qualities in mind as mine unions. In this case, that would mean you search for the perfect person to run recruiting a UTLA member to challenge Educators answer: What me to further suggest you steer clear of candi- and represent the L.A. Schools that OUR a winning result of this vote on the dues qualities should our next dates with strong business or political ties. This Communities Deserve. And come and visit increase and joint membership. We are superintendent have? would preclude anyone associated with us sometime! Soon! taking every precaution to make sure the The following letters are from UTLA the interests of Eli Broad. These people are —The Teachers of John W. Mack voting process is secure and transparent. members to the School Board as part of UTLA’s not educators. They have zero classroom Elementary School The vote is being conducted by an outside email-writing campaign on what our schools experience to influence their policy choices UTLA Central Area firm, Integrity Voting Systems—the same need in the next superintendent. and should not be firm that has run officer elections. Ballots trusted with the task will be sent, collected, and counted by this Dear Los Angeles Unified School District of making decisions independent firm. Ballots will be mailed to Board Members, to impact the educa- members’ home addresses January 15 and I am writing to encourage and request tion of students in should arrive around January 19. You can that as you search for a new superinten- the second-largest find a detailed Q&A on the voting process dent for our district, you emphasize the district in our nation. on page 6. UTLA members are welcome importance of an educator in your choice. You have a daunt- to observe the ballot count on February As a teacher in this district for the last ing task ahead of 10 at the UTLA building. 12 years, I have worked in a low-per- you, but I urge you With a powerful, and even an over- forming school in South L.A. and now to take into account whelming “yes” vote on the dues increase as a magnet teacher in San Pedro. I have the needs of our and joint membership initiative, we can seen how vastly different the needs of our students. Educators do much more than prepare UTLA for our students can be throughout our district. KNOW good instruc- current fights and for the future. We can I have also seen and experienced numer- tion, and daily make send a message to Eli Broad; his employee, ous changes in leadership, both at school decisions to positive- John Deasy; and other privatizing billion- sites and at the district level, and know ly impact and assure aires that we are united, organized, and so how a lack of experience in education can student learning. Mack Elementary teachers created a visual to help communicate to determined that we are willing to invest adversely affect student learning. I believe Please make sure you the School Board what they want to see in the next superintendent. more in our union. We can send a message that an essential requirement for our new choose a superinten- superintendent must be that he or she has dent with a passion and heart for education We welcome letters to the editor and will informed by classroom experience, because Two of the people who most a depth of knowledge and experience in print as many as possible in the space education. I would strongly encourage that that’s where the magic happens! available. Letters may be edited for length want the Build the Future, you require all candidates to have a minimum —Matthew Wright and clarity, and they do not necessarily of 10 years’ classroom experience as well as Fifth-grade teacher reflect the opinions of UTLA or its officers. Fund the Fight initiative to a minimum of 10 years as an administrator. Park Western Place Elementary A deep understanding of instructional By mail: Editor, fail are Eli Broad and John choices and the educational needs of our Dear School Board Members, UNITED TEACHER students is an essential quality of our What better way for teachers to show 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Deasy. The last thing they future district leader. their ideas than in a Bubble Map? We hope Los Angeles, CA 90010 want is a strong, financially My firm belief that our new superinten- you enjoy this! We hope it’s memorable to By email: [email protected] dent must be at heart an educator compels you and that you get OUR message. sustainable UTLA. In this issue to LAUSD and charter employers that plan to attack health benefits that we are systematically and financially preparing 4 Parents, students, and educators identify priorities 5 Sustainable Neighborhood ourselves to go to battle over this essential for LAUSD spending Community Schools item. We can send a message to the new Strong turnout at LCAP input sessions sends clear message superintendent that we are a force to be reckoned with, a force with momentum, to LAUSD on class size, staffing, and other issues. 5 Big red Tuesday photos as we head into contract reopeners. 5 Broad and allies gave millions in secret donations to We also can send a crucial message na- 6 Voting Q&A: Build the School Board campaigns tionally, as the Supreme Court hears the Future, Fund the Fight billionaire-backed Friedrichs v. CTA case It’s not the first time Broad used “dark money” to hide his that would make it legal for employees involvement in an election. 12 Milestones to gain the benefits of the union without 8 Judge issues injunction against Alliance for unlawful contributing their fair share of dues. Al- 14 WHO awards though the CTA was named as the defen- anti-union campaign dant, the decision could affect all public Parents, elected officials call on management to support fair and neutral 16 UTLA Retired sector unions in the United States and thus process for organizing. undermine nationwide the collective voices of teachers, firefighters, nurses, and others 22 Classifieds who serve the public. One reporter called this an existential battle for union surviv- 23 Grapevine al—but it is really much larger than that. In this time of obscene income inequality, when middle-class and working-class fami- lies are falling further and further behind, unions are one of the last forces holding the Get connected to UTLA line on wages and benefits. Labor partners Facebook: facebook.com/UTLAnow across the country are joining forces for this crucial battle, and a successful Build the Twitter: @utlanow Future, Fund the Fight vote strengthens YouTube: youtube.com/UTLAnow the national labor movement by showing Why are parents, stu- that we in L.A. are committed to ourselves, dents, and educators our future, and our union. demanding lower class I wish you all a warm and happy winter sizes? This sign from break, and I look forward to connecting the Dorsey High news with you in 2016 for another active, en- conference spells it out. gaging year. Read more on page 4. 3 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 Community priorities emphasized at LCAP input sessions LAUSD officials hear consistent demands for lower class sizes, fully staffed schools, and other key items.

At Local Control Accountability Plan cators, and community members. Many (LCAP) input sessions held across the city priorities were repeated consistently by this fall, hundreds of parents, students, attendees, and together they create a vision and educators spoke forcefully about for more educationally just, well-resourced what their schools need and asked tough schools. Among the priorities shared: questions of LAUSD representatives about • Small class sizes for more personal District funding priorities. attention for students. Under California’s new Local Control • Safer and cleaner campuses, with Funding Formula, local school districts are onsite health clinics. given significant leeway in determining • More counselors, nurses, school psy- how to allocate public school funding, chologists, pupil services and attendance and the new process mandates input from counselors, psychiatric social workers, community members, parents, and school and other personnel to support students’ staff. UTLA, through our Parent-Com- socio-emotional needs. munity Organizing Committee (PCOC), • Access to a broad curriculum, in- cosponsored a series of input sessions with cluding culturally relevant classes, ethnic LAUSD to give voice to community budget studies, and expanded electives. priorities during the LCAP process. The demands in many cases were prod- Turnout was strong at all the sessions, ucts of multiple meetings and strategy ses- with a solid mix of parents, students, edu- sions, during which parents, teachers, and students could dig into the issues that they wanted to bring up at the input sessions. Dorsey High student Tyonna Hatchett details community priorities for LAUSD spending at Before the session at Dorsey High, edu- a news conference before the LCAP budget input session on November 19. cators, students, and parents held a news “I’ve met with students from all over Los Angeles County, from the Valley, South and East L.A., conference to talk about their priorities and the Westside, and we all agree on four demands,” said Hatchett, a leader in the Schools L.A. for District spending and how, organizing Students Deserve Grassroots Coalition. “We need reduced class sizes, at least one college coun- with students, parents, and community selor on every campus, fully funded health care centers, and electives teachers on every campus.” members across the city, they developed their vision for what schools need. will support the priorities set by the commu- nity engagement under the Broad plan, “Our students and parents know the nity. They also expressed the need for the new which would greatly expand unregulated resources in their schools are not the same superintendent to actively oppose the recently schools whose boards are not required to as what schools are getting in Santa Monica announced plan by the Broad Foundation listen to parents and the community. or Beverly Hills,” Dorsey High chapter because it will destabilize schools by funding According to the District’s LCAP cal- chair Sharonne Hapuarachy said. “In these hundreds of unregulated charter schools that endar, the District will review input from forums, they are making it very clear that are not accountable to the community. all LCAP input sessions in the winter and it is time for the District and for us as a “If these schools open, that would present proposals to education stakeholder society to do something about that. Our mean less money for community schools groups in the spring. UTLA will be pressing students and parents demand this dis- like Dorsey, and our conditions would LAUSD to see all data collected at the ses- trict invest in public schools, and they are worsen,” said Dorsey High student Tyonna sions and for details on how they are going telling LAUSD officials how to do that.” Hatchett, a leader in the Schools L.A. Stu- to use that input. We are also preparing our Students work in small groups at the South Speakers also called on the School Board dents Deserve Grassroots Coalition. own independent reports on what came out Area LCAP input session at South Gate Middle to hire a superintendent who is committed to The LCAP forums and their strong of LCAP input sessions to use in delegation School on December 1. this type of community engagement and who turnout underscore the threat to commu- visits to School Board members in January. Send photos & stories to the School Board on the great things going on at your school We need School Board members to hear the message: Stand Up for Our School!

As part of our push for LAUSD Walmart initiative. School Board members to pass a reso- Get creative! The submissions lution opposing the Broad-Walmart could be pictures of you and your initiative, we are asking UTLA colleagues in your school shirts, stu- members to send in pictures and dents working on a project, or a great stories about the great things hap- new learning space you have at your pening at your schools. site. Some ideas of what photos can Our members are doing great include: work across Los Angeles with • Class projects respect to curriculum, parent in- • Instructional programs volvement, community partner- • Bulletin boards Open Magnet Charter School students use ships, and more, and we need • Cultural-themed events iPads to document how fast ice will melt School Board members to recognize • Math, science, or family night in a container they designed and built. The it, be proud of it, invest in it, and events photos will be used to compare results and make sure it is not undermined by • Parent center or parent events derive conclusions about the conditions that the Broad-Walmart plan. • Collaborative activities with all helped ice melt or kept it frozen. The unit Sending the photos and stories stakeholders will then involve the atomic and molecular about the great things happening at structure of water and what makes it change your school will lead up to the School Go to www.utla.net/standupfor- Teachers check out student work as part of a program between solid, liquid, and gas forms, as well Board’s January 12 meeting, when ourschool for more info and a link at the Autry National Center to promote social as what is happening on a molecular level Board members are expected to vote to a customizable email to LAUSD studies curriculum and allow educators to exchange that goes along with the changes of matter on a resolution opposing the Broad- School Board members. ideas (submitted by Allison Caesar). (submitted by Denise Cole). 4 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 Sustainable Neighborhood Community Schools: Sharing what works Leaders of innovative programs meet at UTLA.

More than 40 leaders of innovative Roosevelt teachers Jorge Lopez and Roxana school-based programs convened at Duenas presented on their culturally rel- UTLA December 7 to discuss specific evant curriculum and ethnic studies, Social aspects of their work and how to scale Justice Humanitas Academy teacher Jeff up and spread successful models across Austin talked about using your school struc- the District as part of UTLA’s push for ture to meet student needs, and Hawkins Sustainable Neighborhood Community High School teachers Patricia Hanson and Schools (SNCS). Katie Rainge-Briggs discussed developing The meeting kicked off with a panel of educational pathways and professional de- educators who shared successful programs velopment that’s aligned with them. at their schools that engage students’ emo- In the afternoon, participants talked tional, academic, and social needs. Emily about developing a common understand- Grijalva from Mendes Senior High talked ing and vision of Sustainable Neighbor- about the why, what, and how of Restorative hood Community Schools and how to Justice practices, UCLA Community School develop a multi-pronged organizing plan teacher Kirti Baranwal discussed dual- that supports and expands that vision. language programs, Lorena Street teacher In addition to the school listed above, Peggy Peña talked about the hard but re- these sites were also represented: Bernstein warding work of parent-family engagement, STEM Senior High, Bethune Middle School,

UTLA’s Sustainable Neighborhood Community Schools meeting began with a panel in which Big Red and Big Button Tuesdays educators talked about programs that engage students and their families by addressing racial, economic, and educational inequities. Pictured from left: Kirti Baranwal, Rosa Jimenez, Jorge Lopez, and Roxana Duenas. When we wear red on Tuesdays, we tell the District that we are united as col- leagues in the campaign for the Schools Buchanan Elementary School, Castelar UTLA is working with parents, stu- L.A. Students Deserve. Keep the red Elementary School, Crenshaw Business dents, and community members for in- growing! Academy, Dorsey High School, Grand vestment in Sustainable Neighborhood Every Tuesday, UTLA members are View Elementary School, Environmental Community Schools to lift up and expand also showing their support for UTLA’s RED and Social Policy at Lincoln High School, successful models as a way to address strategic plan by wearing the Build box—without a united UTLA, with the Hamilton High School, Maya Angelou High racial, economic, and educational inequi- the Future, Fund the Fight button. We resources needed to fund the fight. School, Miramonte Elementary School, ties; fight privatization; and increase en- cannot take on the threats we face—in- Nobel Middle School, Noble Elementa- rollment in LAUSD. Sustainable Neighbor- cluding Eli Broad’s unregulated, non- Email photos of your staff wearing red ry School, Normont Elementary School, hood Community Schools are accessible union charter expansion plan, LAUSD and wearing their buttons to webmaster@ Pacoima Elementary School, Roosevelt and equitable for all, have a well-rounded attempts to cut health benefits, and utla.net for us to share in the UT and High School and Magnet, San Fernando curriculum, involve parents and educators attacks on our pensions at the ballot social media. High School, San Fernando Middle School, deeply, are connected to the community, Santee Ed Complex, Stevenson Middle and have fully resourced wrap-around School, and Venice High School. services and restorative justice programs.

Broad and wealthy allies gave millions in secret donations to School Board campaigns

Coldwater Canyon Elementary Chair: Pete Ontiveros It’s not the first time Broad used “dark money” to hide his involvement in an election.

Nearly $2.3 million in donations to to a secret fund linked to the ultra-con- the recent LAUSD School Board elec- servative Koch brothers to support an tions from Eli Broad, heirs to the Walmart initiative to weaken unions’ political fortune, and their wealthy allies were not influence and to oppose the Prop. 30 disclosed until months after the May elec- school funding measure. The secrecy tion, reporter Howard Blume revealed behind the fund allowed Broad to hide in an L.A. Times cover story this month. his antipathy toward unions and to pub- The donations were made to Cali- licly claim he supported the tax increase fornia Charter Schools Association Ad- to help the state’s public schools. Parthenia Elementary Chair: Michael Gonzales; Co-chair: Maria Barajas vocates, a political action committee This latest news on the PAC that in Sacramento. Those funds were then shielded the School Board donations forwarded to a local committee, which is more evidence of the lengths that poured the money into the campaigns Broad and the Walmart family will go of pro-unregulated-charter-school can- to advance their agenda of deregulating didates. Had the contributions been and dismantling LAUSD. It also un- made directly to the Los Angeles PAC, derscores the need for UTLA to have a the donors’ names would have been re- vigorous political action program, in- vealed before the election—giving voters cluding voluntary member donations crucial knowledge as to who was behind to PACE (our political action fund), the campaigns. and to pass the Build the Future, Fund Broad has embraced the use of “dark the Fight initiative so that the union Muir Middle School Chair: Tammy Nettles; Co-chair: Sergio Alvarez; Vice money” before to hide his involvement has the resources to take on the billion- chair: Glenn Sequeira in an election. In 2012, he gave money aires’ agenda outside the political arena. 5 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 Building a movement through the decades UTLA honors the past and celebrates the present with a gathering of former leaders.

On October 30, UTLA had a unique students, along with advocating for a voice celebration with important UTLA leaders in our schools and in shaping public edu- from our 45-year history. The invitation cation, which has increasingly come under to the event read, “Honoring the Past, attack. All the work UTLA leaders and Celebrating the Present,” and it was part members have done in the decades since reunion, part social, as the group shared our founding—on issues such as lowering reflections on UTLA history and connected class size, supporting high-needs schools, the past to our present-day struggles. and demanding fair funding for educa- The current UTLA officers, along with tion—connect deeply with our fight today some of our UTLA staff, broke bread with for the Schools L.A. Students Deserve. That close to 20 former officers and longtime staff dovetailed into a discussion of the Build members, including one of the founders of the Future, Fund the Fight campaign and UTLA, Bill Lambert, our longtime political the need to fix UTLA’s long-term structural director. Lambert reminded us of UTLA’s deficit to keep the fight going. beginnings, when the union was formed in “Former officers from every decade of 1970 in a merger of several different organi- UTLA’s history support the BFFF campaign UTLA leaders from every decade of our history gathered at the UTLA building in October to zations, and of the five-week strike that soon because it is consistent with what we fought share reflections on our union. Some of the people present, from left: Sam Kresner (longtime followed, which solidified the young union. for, for our members and our students,” staff), Bev Cook (former officer), John Perez (former president), Don Carlos (longtime staff), Day There was much discussion of how vic- former UTLA President John Perez said. Higuchi (former president), Jerry Solender (former officer), Nina Greenberg (former officer), tories in the past have shaped our present. “It gives UTLA the resources to confront and Lois Bradford (former officer). From its beginning, UTLA has been fight- today’s challenges and it completes the ing for the basic needs of educators and merger of UTLA that we all champion.” Former officers endorse the Build Voting Q&A: Build the Future, the Future, Fund the Fight campaign 1960s-80s 1980s-2000s 2000s-10s Fund the Fight Michael Bennett Lois Bradford Mike Dreebin Betty Karnette Beverly Cook A.J. Duffy In January, UTLA members will be membership applications for all agency fee Roberta Leap Nina Greenberg Warren Fletcher voting via mail ballot on the Build the payers (status code 02) to all school sites in Elsie Myers Frances Haywood David Goldberg Future, Fund the Fight constitutional December, and the officers have mailed a amendments. We will be using the same membership application to all non-school Gerald Reedy Deborah Harrison Joshua Pechthalt independent election services company site agency fee payers for whom we have Judy Solkovits Day Higuchi Gregg Solkovits that UTLA has used for the past decade addresses. You must have paid dues and Hank Springer Wayne Johnson Alberto Valdivia to ensure the integrity of the officer and have a signed membership application Bob Unruhe Marilyn Landau Board of Director elections that are held on file before you can be mailed a ballot. John Perez every three years. Every member will be Becki Robinson sent a ballot to the home address UTLA I may not have paid dues on Jerry Solender has on file for them. November 5, December 5, January 5, or February 5. Can I still vote? How will online voting be A small percentage of members may ex- Are the voting process and placement ballot is to contact Tara Thomas in incorporated into this vote? perience a break in dues payments during guidelines the same for UTLA the UTLA Membership Department at (213) Because we will be sending every the run-up and even during the voting members at UTLA-represented 637-5165. The deadline to request a replace- member a mail ballot, the election services period. UTLA’s policy is that members independent charter schools? ment ballot is 12 p.m. on January 29, 2016. company, Integrity Voting, will also send may miss one month of dues and will not Yes. a unique, one-time, voting credential for be determined to be inactive (and therefore What can I do to help pass any member to vote online, if they choose ineligible to vote) until the second consecu- I have gone through the Hudson the Build the Future, Fund to do so. (This is the same system that was tive month. For example, if you are a sub- process and pay lower dues. I would the Fight initiative? used in the vacancy elections for EEC and stitute UTLA member who worked in No- like to vote. How can I do that? 1. You can help with calling other Adult Ed BOD members in June of 2015.) vember, but didn’t work in December, you People wishing to convert from “fair members to remind them to vote. Ask your Members wishing to vote online can do should receive a ballot in January. While share” (status code 08) to an active member chapter chair how to get involved or contact so by following the instructions that come payroll deduction is incredibly convenient, (status code 03) must have paid full member- UTLA Organizer Astine Suleimanyan at with the ballot from Integrity Voting. it is the responsibility of members to make ship dues for the preceding quarter, have a (213) 713-8523 or [email protected]. sure their dues are paid each month. The signed membership application on file, and Phone banking is happening from 4 p.m. to I was just hired by the voting period will extend into a second request a replacement ballot prior to 12 p.m. 8 p.m. every day, starting January 4. District. Can I vote? month, which could render a member in- on January 29. Please contact the UTLA Mem- 2. You can talk to members at your If you have been hired by LAUSD in active and thus ineligible to vote. Contact bership Department if this applies to you. school and remind them to vote. time to receive a paycheck on January 5, the UTLA Membership Department if you 3. You can share your support on social 2016, you should be paying UTLA dues are missing a month’s dues. There is a member at my school media. We will roll out more specifics in or agency fees. UTLA membership is not who is not an active member. the New Year. automatic. You will need to make sure I’m thinking of retiring or resigning Can they still vote? that a membership application is on file soon. Will I still be eligible to vote? Under our constitution, only active Important election dates with UTLA before you can be sent a ballot. UTLA members who retire, resign, or members (status code 03) are allowed to Contact the UTLA Membership Depart- are separated from the District or their vote. If they contact the UTLA Member- January 5, 2016: Deadline for receipt of dues ment for more info: (213) 487-5560. employer prior to January 29, 2016, will ship Department, and they don’t have a and membership changes for initial ballot mailing. not be eligible to vote in this election. membership application on file, they will I have been an agency fee need to have one on file at UTLA before January 15, 2016: Ballots mailed first class payer, and I want to vote. UTLA does not have my they can be mailed a ballot. The deadline from Everett, Washington, to home addresses. How can I do that? address. How can I vote? to request a replacement ballot is 12 p.m. Agency fee payers will need to have a Without a home address to send a on January 29. January 29, 2016: 12 p.m. deadline to membership application on file at UTLA ballot to, you are at risk of not receiv- request a replacement ballot if you haven’t re- ceived one. Contact Tara Thomas in the UTLA by January 5, 2016, in order to have a ballot ing a ballot. Receiving the UNITED What do I do if I don’t receive a Membership Department at (213) 637-5165. mailed to them on January 15. Members TEACHER in the mail is a good way to ballot by Friday, January 22? know whether UTLA has your address. Ballots will be mailed first class on January who have an application on file AND have February 10, 2016: 8 a.m. deadline for com- If you know of a member who does not requested a replacement ballot prior to the 15. If you don’t receive yours within a week of pleted ballots to have arrived in Post Office deadline to request a replacement ballot receive the UT, please have them contact the mailing date, you should probably request box. Ballots picked up from Post Office and (January 29, 12 p.m.) will have a replace- UTLA Membership at (213) 487-5560 a replacement ballot. Consistent with past counted at UTLA Building. ment ballot sent to them. UTLA delivered ASAP. UTLA elections, the only way to receive a re- 6 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 Investing in our future UTLA’s current dues structure does not provide the resources to take on all our challenges.

We have achieved a great deal together we contribute $24 less a month than educa- in the last year, but there are external forces tors in Fresno and $41 less than educators that threaten the survival of public educa- in New York City (see chart on this page). tion and the educator union movement. 2. Our local union dues have not kept up UTLA has a strategic plan that would with the dues increases of the state and aggressively address these attacks, but national unions to which UTLA members our current dues structure, which has not belong. Our state and national unions changed in 45 years, does not provide the (CFT/AFT and CTA/NEA) do critical resources to fight back. legal, political, and organizing work A key part of UTLA’s two-year strategic to push back against concerted attacks www.utlabuildthefuture.org plan is a dues restructuring that would on educator unions and public educa- increase the regular full-time member rate tion across the country. They have also because we are each members of these dues rate, will give us a stronger state and by $19 a month, starting in 2016. With a provided significant temporary funding larger unions, and they do critical work national voice while also giving UTLA dues increase, we gain the resources to take for our work in Los Angeles, but any that we all benefit from. members access to Group Legal Services on an array of attacks, including: increase in state or national dues—which 3. Our divided “AFT or NEA” membership through CTA. CTA Group Legal Services • Threats to our healthcare in 2017, have been moderate and in line with in- structure does not allow UTLA members provides invaluable legal assistance to when LAUSD will likely go after our fully flation—come out of UTLA’s already- access to comprehensive Group Legal Ser- educators that UTLA on its own simply paid health care for active employees and underfunded budget. This has created vices and denies us appropriate represen- cannot afford, such as providing compre- fully paid retiree healthcare, as will union- a huge, unsustainable structural deficit. tation in the Los Angeles County Federa- hensive assistance to educators sent to ized charter employers. Read more about Virtually all other local educator unions tion of Labor and other state and national teacher jail or educators dealing with a health care on page 8. in California “pass through” such in- bodies. Full joint membership of our local potential revocation of their credentials. • The Broad-Walmart scheme to dis- creases by increasing membership dues union, where everyone would be members UTLA members want and need this legal mantle public education by sending 50% by the same amount. This makes sense of both CTA/NEA and CFT/ AFT at one assistance. of our students into unregulated, nonunion charter schools. Losing 50% of LAUSD Resources targeted enrollment would bankrupt our district, UTLA members pay much lower dues trigger a severe loss in funding for crucial toward key areas recourses and programs for our students, than other teachers’ union members UTLA will use the increase in costs tens of thousands of LAUSD jobs, and funding to: create a race to the bottom that will hurt Teachers’ Union Monthly Dues 2015-16: a comparison all schools and all students. New York (UFT) $104 Erase our structural deficit. • Inadequate school funding that am- Pasadena $103 plifies the impact of income inequality. Centinela Valley $99 Launch a major public relations Lennox $95 and media campaign to counter • Attacks on our pensions in the state Beverly Hills $94 legislature and on the 2016 ballot. Long Beach $94 the anti-educator narrative that is • The outsized influence of unaccount- AMU (Green Dot) $94 being funded by the billionaires Glendale $92 and corporate privatizers. able billionaires who are funding every- San Diego $91 thing from School Board campaigns and Redondo Beach $91 Invest in strategic research to the spread of unregulated nonunion char- Santa Monica-Malibu $91 Manhattan Beach $90 help us take on LAUSD, unionized ters to attacks on employee pensions and Inglewood $90 charter employers, politicians, court cases targeting tenure, due process, Palos Verdes $89 and the corporate privatizers. and union rights. Torrance $88 Hawthorne $88 Baldwin Park $88 Hire more staff and provide more Our current dues structure El Segundo $88 resources to support school-site has three problems Chicago Teachers Union $88 organizing and parent-community El Monte High Union $88 engagement. 1. Our dues are simply too low. Regard- Burbank $88 less of salary, we contribute less than Lawndale $87 Fresno $87 Expand legal protection to UTLA almost every other educator union in Cali- UTLA eff. Jan. 2016 $63 members through CTA Group fornia, and significantly less than educa- $ $20 $40 $60 $80 $100 $120 Legal Services. tors in other large districts. For example,

How you can join the campaign for a stronger UTLA Build our future with a fully funded union.

UTLA members will begin voting next the UTLA office every week no matter how Check out the BFFF website pate in a phone banking campaign on month on our union’s financial restructuring, many signatures you have. Signed petitions The website utlabuildthefuture.org is behalf of the Build the Future, Fund which is critical to our strategic plan. Here’s and updated rosters can be returned to the dedicated to our Strategic Plan and the the Fight campaign. Phone banking is what you can do to support the campaign to UTLA office by taking a picture and email- Build the Future, Fund the Fight cam- happening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. every build our future with a fully funded UTLA: ing it to [email protected] or by fax paign. Read FAQs about the campaign, day starting January 4. Contact UTLA to 213-487-1262. watch the video on the Strategic Plan, Organizer Astine Suleimanyan at (213) Sign the petition and learn more about the Broad-Walmart 713-8523 or [email protected] to Ask your chapter chair for your school’s Wear red on Tuesdays attack on our schools. sign up. petition and add your name to the thou- Every Tuesday, UTLA members are sands who have already signed. You can showing their support for UTLA’s strategic Join the phone-banking campaign Vote YES when your ballot arrives also sign the petition at utlabuildthefuture. plan by wearing red and the new Build the It is critically important that we Ballots are being mailed to members’ org. Chapter chairs: Keep gathering member Future, Fund the Fight button. Email photos reach all UTLA members and provide homes in January; see the box on this signatures on the Build the Future, Fund the of your staff wearing red and wearing their them with information about our stra- page for more on the voting logistics. Fight Petition. Fax or email them, along with buttons to [email protected] so we can tegic plan and financial restructuring. Your vote matters—be sure to make a copy or picture of your updated roster, to share the unity on social media. We are asking for members to partici- it count.

7 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 Judge issues injunction against Alliance for unlawful anti-union campaign Parents, elected officials call on management to support fair and neutral process for organizing.

In another major step forward for edu- “It is disappointing that the Alliance has cator organizing, on December 3 L.A. Su- engaged in unlawful behavior that com- perior Court Judge James Chalfant issued pelled the state of California to take the issue a preliminary injunction against Alliance of Alliance’s violations to court,” Stern MASS College-Ready Public Schools for its unlawful High School teacher Xochil Johansen said. anti-union campaign. The move requires the “We hope the injunction will lead Alliance charter chain’s management to immediately and its schools to take responsibility for cease harassment of teachers and counselors their illegal actions, repair the damage done, who are joining together to form a union. respect our rights, and reach an agreement Alliance management and all schools are for a fair and neutral process as we organize. now restrained from blocking access to facili- As educators we are organizing our union ties, blocking union email, polling to identify because we take our responsibility to our union supporters, and maintaining and spon- students and our schools seriously. When soring anti-union petitions. They also must we have a real voice in decision-making, not monitor or surveil organizing activity. our entire school community will benefit.” The injunction, sought by California’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), LAUSD School Board discuss Alliance comes after an earlier temporary restraining injunction: At the December 8 meeting, order issued in October. PERB has already LAUSD School Board members discussed issued four unfair practice complaints against the injunction placed on the charter chain Gabriela Garcia, parent of a student at Alliance College Ready Public Schools, calls on Alliance for violations of California labor and affirmed their understanding that Al- Alliance to reveal the amount of money used for the anti-union, anti-teacher campaign law, and the injunction issued by the L.A. liance must comply with the Educational instead of student needs. Superior Court remains in effect until the pro- Employment Relations Act. ceedings on all the complaints are completed. teachers who are exercising their rights,” Political leaders send letters of support: Since the Alliance educators first went Parents decry money spent on anti-union said Rosalba Naranjo, a parent of two stu- Alliance educators have been finding public in March with their drive to orga- campaign: Parents of students at Alliance dents at Alliance Richard Merkin Middle support from elected officials, who have nize a union with UTLA, administration schools held a news conference in No- School. “The Alliance has tried to tell parents been sending letters to Alliance manage- has conducted a campaign of coercion vember to announce that they are filing that letting educators have a voice will harm ment that call for fair and neutral environ- that has included, among other violations, a Public Records Act request to find out our kids and Alliance has even instructed ment for organizing. Letters have come threatening individual teachers with pos- how much money Alliance is spending on me as a parent not to sign anything that sup- from State Treasurer John Chiang, State sible impact on their evaluations if they its anti-union campaign against educators ports our teachers. I don’t understand how Controller Betty Yee, State Superinten- engage in union activity and denying instead of their children’s needs. disrespecting the voices of teachers and the dent Tom Torlakson, Assemblymember union members and organizers their right “We’re getting barraged by misleading voices of parents who support them helps Patrick O’Donnell (chair of the Assembly to speak with other educators after school phone calls, petitions, flyers and all kinds our children. If anything, what Alliance is Education Committee), and Speaker of the hours on school property. of stuff encouraging us to interfere with doing sets a really bad example for our kids.” Assembly Anthony Rendon. LAUSD financial report confirms threat to employee health benefits UTLA will organize against the cuts and will need resources to do so effectively.

The cost to insure LAUSD employees few teachers’ unions in the state where against what likely will be a substantial increased funding from the state. UTLA has been a hot-button issue for many years, members pay no monthly premium for push by LAUSD officials. will continue pushing for expanded state but the pressure on health benefits has individual or family coverage and are Apart from the attack on health ben- funding and the financial sustainability intensified under a new report by an in- eligible for lifetime health care upon re- efits in its report, the financial review panel of public education by organizing for the dependent financial review panel issued tirement, depending on length of service. made a number of positive recommenda- extension of Proposition 30, which will be in November. Moving to a lower-cost, “comparable” plan tions to increase District revenue, such as on a statewide ballot in November 2016, The third-party panel was convened by would likely mean some combination of: implementing an aggressive dropout pre- and joining coalitions to reform the com- Superintendent Ramon Cortines to look at • the loss lifetime coverage; vention program, curbing the loss of enroll- mercial property tax system to better fund LAUSD’s long-term financial issues and to • institution of monthly premium ment to charter schools, and advocating for education and social services. recommend actions to take to maintain the payments; fiscal solvency of the District. • increases in out-of-pocket fees; and According to the panel’s findings, • new fees to cover dependents. LAUSD will face a budget deficit over the The panel also made the recommen- Report pushes health care cuts next several years, starting in the 2017-18 dation to “freeze all healthcare expendi- In its report to the School Board on November 10, an independent panel school year, with low revenue linked to tures for five years,” meaning that annual recommended that LAUSD help balance its deficit by cutting health care. two major factors: the level of state funding increases in health care costs would be These recommendations are from page 21 of the “Report of the Indepen- and the drop in student enrollment. The passed on to employees. dent Financial Review Panel”: report made it clear that efforts like the UTLA’s current health care agreement Broad-Walmart plan, by draining LAUSD covers the calendar years 2016 and 2017 • “Seek to negotiate changes in the employee benefit plans to lower costs enrollment and leaving the highest-need (with an extension into 2018 if certain to the level offered by other comparable school districts.” students to be educated with less money, criteria are met), but the report recom- • “Renegotiate the health benefits agreement and freeze all healthcare threaten the District’s financial solvency. mends that LAUSD renegotiate that expenditures for five years.” As part of the panel’s proffered solu- agreement, and LAUSD officials will be tions to LAUSD’s deficit, the report called using the financial report as leverage to • “Require staff to pay part of the premium if they choose to add family for a dramatic change in active employee push for cuts. member coverage.” and retiree health benefits to help find Our health care package is relied on • “Negotiate a cap on District heath care expenditures to reflect the de- “significant savings” in expenditures. by tens of thousands of active and retired cline in the number of students and staff. Plan changes might be needed In its presentation before the School members and it serves as an effective periodically to avoid exceeding the cap.” Board (read it at utla.net), the panel recom- employee retention and recruitment tool. mended that LAUSD “negotiate changes UTLA, along with our labor union partners LAUSD officials will be using this report to mount a major push for cuts in in employee benefit plans to lower costs who bargain with us for health care, will health benefits. UTLA will resist any attempts to roll back coverage, but to the level offered by other comparable resist attempts to cut benefits, but we will winning the fight will take a fully funded, united union. school districts.” UTLA is one of the need resources and strength to organize 8 100, Portland, OR97232. Self-insured plansare administered byKaiser Permanente Insurance Company, OneKaiser Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612. your overall well-being. For ahappier, healthier you, sometimesallittakes isalittle gratitude. 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Please recycle. 60245314 November 2014 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 Members to vote on Build the Future, Fund the Fight dues restructuring

Members will begin voting next month 3) joint membership in both state and decreases to the membership. Any change (These amendments shall take effect on the Build the Future, Fund the Fight cam- national unions at one dues rate in the dues structure must be voted on by at the beginning of the next fiscal year, paign. Ballots will be mailed to members’ In order to implement the UTLA Strategic the membership. September 1, 2016.) homes on January 15 and are due back by Plan 2015-2017, and strengthen the union in The dues for children’s center child de- This motion passed the Board of Directors by a February 10. See the Q&A on page 6 for the face of future challenges, shall the UTLA velopment teachers shall be one and one- vote of 32-0 at the meeting on October 14, 2015, more information on the voting process. Constitution be amended to read as follows: half percent of their basic salary schedule and had a First Reading at the House of Repre- Article II, Section 1, Subsection b. (Schedule 15, 19 Step 1 3 ) on ten months’ sentatives on October 21, 2015. The motion had a Build the Future, Fund the Fight The dues of UTLA shall be one and one- basis or equivalent. Second Reading at the House of Representatives campaign proposed constitutional half percent of the basic salary schedule Article II, Section 1, meeting of December 9, 2015 and was approved amendments (Step 2-B) and shall include membership As a condition of membership in UTLA, 160-20. The proposed amendments must now be The immediate effects of the proposed in the state and national organizations as a certificated employee must also be a approved by the membership, as they involve a constitutional amendments below are: each member chooses. The actual dues member of the California Teachers Associa- change in the dues structure. 1) a dues increase of $19 per month for shall be rounded off to the lower dollar tion and the National Education Associa- full-time members, $16 for Early Child- figure, and annual salary at 24T9 on the tion or be affiliated with UTLA with and Pro and con statements are printed as hood educators LAUSD Salary Schedule, and shall include be a member of the California Federation submitted and are not corrected for 2) the pass-through of future state and local and affiliate dues. UTLA shall pass of Teachers and the American Federation grammar or spelling nor fact-checked national dues increases and decreases through future affiliate dues increases and of Teachers, AFL-CIO. for accuracy.

Pro statement Con statements

The UTLA Board of Directors is united in support of investing in our union. Why this dues increase is a bad idea? about the implications. Are you able to meet your Our students, our union, our profession, and public education are under attack Since 2010 UTLA has lost approximately 13000 financial obligations with the raise in cost of living? by billionaires and corporate privatizers. We face attacks in the media, in politics, teachers which inevitably also represented a signifi- Did you know that CALSTRS will be increasing its’ cant decline in dues. However, UTLA is now using contributions by two installments of 2%. and from an LAUSD and charter employers that have been heavily influenced by that lost as an excuse to promote a dues increase by • UTLA is proposing a constitutional change organizations like the Broad Foundation. falsely claiming that UTLA is running in the red. around dues We continue to struggle with LAUSD and charter employers over funding priori- However, the latest financial report indicates that • The Pass through section will authorize dues ties, and we know that we must be prepared to fight back to defend our healthcare UTLA has a total of $31,083,466 on Net Assets. UTLA increases whenever NEA/CTA or AFT/CFT has $446,147 more than last year. Where is the crisis? increase their dues, without member approval. and retiree benefits. What is a “Pass Through” and why you should Members deserve transparency on all financial In the face of these attacks, we have a vision for the Schools L.A. Students Deserve vote against it? matters. How many new positions has UTLA created and we have shown in the last year that we can win. We have developed a strategic When our affiliates decide they want more money in the last year? What is the downsizing plan, in a plan that includes campaigns in the following areas: to pay for their so called “political work”, they in- period in which UTLA is asking for a dues increase? crease their dues to local unions. Local unions “pass Next year will be worse for members. Working 1. Contract Bargaining through” this increase to members. In the case of conditions will worsen. Members feel helpless 2. Shaping Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAP) UTLA, affiliate’s dues increases have come out of the against false allegations by students without proper 3. Public School Accountability and Sustainability general funds. Now, in addition to the $19.00 dues legal representation. The mere $20,000 covered by 4. Charter School Educator Organizing increase per month, UTLA will authorize the affili- CTA’s legal services is insufficient when compared to 5. Building Successful School Models ates a permanent pass through which will represent the $70,000 retainer required by law offices. Possible an additional permanent dues increase charged cuts in health benefits, possibly layoffs and furlough 6. Site Empowerment, Contract Enforcement, Member directly to our members without a membership vote. days, and attacks on our pensions will worsen living Rights and Working Conditions Not allowing Opposing views to this dues in- and working conditions. 7. Electoral Politics, Legislation, and Social Issues crease violates member’s rights to hear or express Vote NO for the dues increase proposal 8. Building a Stronger UTLA different opinions. It was until Wednesday, December 9th, 2015, that A key to our victory will be generating the resources to fund our union appro- Fernando Ledezma a motion to increase dues was introduced to the Eastman EL Chapter Chair priately. Our current dues structure has not changed in 45 years, has resulted in a HOR. However, UTLA leaders began their campaign House of Representatives, East Area dangerous structural deficit, has required us to take money from the limited strike to increase our dues at the Leadership Conference in August 2015. However, they continued unfairly fund to pay for our contract campaigns, and does not allow us to provide UTLA Amelia Velazquez to promote this dues increase using union resources El Sereno MS Chapter Chair members with the legal support they deserve. in violation of member’s rights to hear or express House of Representatives, East Area By investing in our union, like every serious organization does, we can win criti- opposing views. If UTLA wants a 30% dues in- cal improvements for our students, communities, and profession. We can take on crease, they should first tell us how our dues are our adversaries, get rid of our structural deficit, protect our benefits, provide the spent right now. How are your dues used? The national affiliates, UTLA shall give first priority to membership legal services that UTLA members want and need, and bring to life the strategic NEA and AFT, will tell you to contact your state action and services at the local level. affiliates, CTA and CFT. CTA and CFT will tell you plan through putting money toward more school site support, parent/community Our constitution says: “UTLA shall give first pri- to contact UTLA. UTLA.net/index shows 140 links organizing, an expanded research department, and an aggressive public relations ority to membership action and services at the local but 3 don’t work. They are “Dues Breakdown,” campaign. level”. However, this provision has been ignored “Membership Dues” and “UTLA Dues.” Now is the time to fund our union and our future. Join us in voting yes! by our leaders when they have failed repeatedly The “Fair Share Fee Payer Report” shows posi- to defend members falsely accused of crimes while tive movement with Net Assets at end of year 2013 they continue to hand over 35% of our dues money $28,147,809 and 2014 $28,307,141. However, there Sincerely, to the National Affiliates. is a big problem with Cash and Cash Equivalents The UTLA Board of Directors at end of year 2013 $6,310,799 and 2014 $2,702,102. Francisco R. Martinez Looking in the current “Financial Reports For Member of the House of Representatives Alex Caputo-Pearl Victoria Casas Matthew Kogan Javier Romo Twelve Months Ending August 31, 2015 and 2014,” will PRESIDENT VALLEY EAST AREA DIRECTOR ADULT/OCCP ED DIRECTOR VALLEY WEST AREA DIRECTOR bring only more concern to see that the expenses went Are you better off now than you were two years up after Deasy, 2014 $15,937,257 and 2015 $18,306,659. Cecily Myart-Cruz Wendi Davis José Lara Gillian Russom UTLA needs an audit not constitutional amend- NEA AFFILIATE VICE PRESIDENT VALLEY WEST AREA DIRECTOR CENTRAL AREA CHAIR EAST AREA CHAIR ago? UTLA members deserve better working con- ditions and should be properly compensated. All ments that have served us well for 45 years. Our Betty Forrester Warren Fletcher Noah Lippe-Klein Elgin Scott United Teacher is supposed to contain all travel ex- AFT AFFILIATE VICE PRESIDENT UTLA PAST PRESIDENT WEST AREA DIRECTOR HARBOR AREA DIRECTOR members deserve quality services from their union. Yet many feel services are inadequate. Building a penses plus an itemized list of funds received from Juan Ramirez Kelly Flores Rodney Lusain Steve Seal stronger union requires unity and action at all levels. our affiliates. That isn’t happening. ELEMENTARY VICE PRESIDENT CENTRAL AREA DIRECTOR WEST AREA DIRECTOR HARBOR AREA DIRECTOR UTLA has a powerful political base, yet many rank Many are upset with AFT’s association with Bill Colleen Schwab Marco A. Flores Scott Mandel Rebecca Solomon and file members are not engaged. Working together, Gates and Eli Broad, as well as support for AGT. SECONDARY VICE PRESIDENT PACE CHAIR VALLEY EAST AREA CHAIR NORTH AREA DIRECTOR we can build the strong union our students, and Most unions combine their secretary and treasurer Arlene Inouye Corina Gomez Gloria Martinez Adrian Tamayo members need, in order to have victories for public into one. Do our AFT and NEA vice presidents still TREASURER EARLY EDUCATION DIRECTOR EAST AREA DIRECTOR EAST AREA DIRECTOR education and against corporate privatization. need to be separated or can they also be combined? Daniel Barnhart Linda Gordon Maria Miranda Karen Macias-Lutz Merely raising dues will not build a stronger union. Our 7 officers cost a total of about $1 million/year. SECRETARY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR SOUTH AREA DIRECTOR HARBOR AREA DIRECTOR • Are you working longer hours grading student We may not agree with the reasons for the NEA’s or AFT’s need for additional fees. Making them Fredrick Bertz Karla Griego Bruce Newborn Kirk Thomas work or completing online district training? SUBSTITUTES DIRECTOR NORTH AREA DIRECTOR VALLEY WEST AREA CHAIR NORTH AREA CHAIR • Are you asked to guide your instruction by the automatic means we lose voicing our opinions in endless student tests and data? the matter and voting for or against them. Melodie Bitter Ingrid Gunnell Paul Ngwoke Zulma Tobar With our 10% increase in dues, our annual income VALLEY WEST AREA DIRECTOR EAST AREA DIRECTOR CENTRAL AREA DIRECTOR CENTRAL AREA DIRECTOR • Are you asked to collaborate with your col- leagues after working hours? should jump more than $1.5 million. That is a lot Ayde Bravo Mel House Alex Orozco Julie Van Winkle • Are you finding that your colleagues are being and I’m sure we’ll be getting some more small raises SOUTH AREA DIRECTOR VALLEY EAST AREA DIRECTOR VALLEY EAST AREA DIRECTOR NORTH AREA DIRECTOR observed by your administrator more often soon with the economy as healthy as it was before Ayesha Brooks Darrell L. Jones Cheryl L. Ortega Jennifer Villaryo than in the past? “The Great Recession.” Please, vote “No.” SOUTH AREA DIRECTOR SPECIAL ED DIRECTOR BILINGUAL ED DIRECTOR WEST AREA DIRECTOR • Is student discipline an issue at your school? Aaron Bruhnke Erika Jones Crawford John Perez Ingrid Villeda UTLA is proposing a 33% dues increase. Greg Russell HARBOR AREA CHAIR WEST AREA CHAIR UTLA-RETIRED PRESIDENT SOUTH AREA CHAIR However, many of our members are not informed Valley West, House of Representatives 10 FREE BOOKS & MATERIALS

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Coupon Code UTLA20 is not valid on prior purchases and cannot be combined with any other discounts. O er expires at 11:59PM EST 1/31/2016. Void where prohibited, o er is subject to change. United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 From the leadership team: Organizing for power We know the fight ahead of us and what it will take to win.

2015 was the year that showed that wide attack against public education so- UTLA is a union on the move. lidified locally in the form of the Broad- Tens of thousands of members—by par- Walmart initiative, an unprecedented, ticipating in Big Red Tuesdays, faculty half-billion-dollar effort to defund, de- meeting boycotts, our massive Stand at regulate, and dismantle public education. Grand rally, and other escalating actions— If successful, this scheme would lead to organized for and won a ground-breaking massive inequities in resources and oppor- contract agreement. The agreement—with tunities for students, cost tens of thousands a 10% salary increase and powerful new of LAUSD jobs, and create a race to the contract language—was approved over- bottom that would hurt all schools. whelmingly in the biggest contract vote We cannot underestimate the threats in turnout in recent history. front of us. To take them on, this year we Our success reflected the power we built launched a detailed, ambitious Strategic and gave us a vision of what we can do Plan that includes campaigns in the fol- together, when we organize deeply among lowing areas: our members, parents, and the community. 1. Contract bargaining 2015 was also the year that the nation- 2. Shaping Local Control Accountability

Taking pride in 2015 Plans (LCAPs) classroom, take on overtesting, fight for 3. Public school accountability and sus- investment in Sustainable Neighborhood In 2015, thousands of UTLA members victories at several UTLA-represented tainability Community Schools, prep for a substantial organized at work sites, in the streets, charter schools. 4. Charter school educator organizing assault against health benefits, and push and in our communities to win gains for 5. Building successful school models for greater state funding of education. our students and our profession. These • Protected health care by securing a 6. Site empowerment, contract enforce- 2015 has shown us that when we work victories demonstrate powerfully that two-year fully funded agreement in ment, member rights and working together, we have the power to win. Our we are headed in the right direction in solidarity with the other LAUSD em- conditions best wishes for a restful holiday season. forming an organizing union and build- ployee unions. 7. Electoral politics, legislation, and See you in 2016. ing the Schools L.A. Students Deserve social issues campaign. Together we: • Launched a detailed Strategic Plan to Alex Caputo-Pearl 8. Building a stronger UTLA PRESIDENT take on threats and continue the proac- Crucial to future victories will be gener- • Scored a major contract victory with tive fight for the Schools L.A. Students ating the resources to fund our union ap- Cecily Myart-Cruz a 10% raise and strong new language Deserve. propriately through the Build the Future, UTLA/NEA VICE PRESIDENT on class size and counselor ratios, due Fund the Fight campaign. We contribute Betty Forrester process, evaluations, and more. • Organized at dozens of school sites less—far less—in membership dues than UTLA/AFT VICE PRESIDENT to push against problem principals, at- any other educators’ union in California. Juan Ramirez • Won three out of four LAUSD School tempted reconstitutions, Breakfast in the Simply put, we will not be able to take on ELEMENTARY VICE PRESIDENT Board races, electing UTLA-endorsed Classroom, and other site-level issues. the threats we face and the billionaires who candidates George McKenna, Scott Sch- fund them without additional resources. Colleen Schwab SECONDARY VICE PRESIDENT merelson, and Richard Vladovic. • Kicked off a dynamic, focused fight 2016 will be an epic year, as we continue against the Broad-Walmart plan, framing our fight against the Broad-Walmart plan, Arlene Inouye • Supported the historic organizing of Alli- the debate on what’s at stake and forming prepare for a new round of contract talks TREASURER ance charter educators and won contract a growing coalition against the initiative. with LAUSD and charter operators, orga- Daniel Barnhart nize for a District budget that funds the SECRETARY

graduated from St. John’s Lutheran College Gresko of Apple Valley, California; and Center, Harbor City Elementary, 107th Milestones in Winfield, Kansas (’51), and Carthage David Gresko of Florida. In addition he Street Elementary, and Purche Elemen- College in Kenosha, Wisconsin (’52), and leaves his sister, Sue Orosz, of Elyria, Ohio. tary. In 1992 Richard returned to Harbor he received his Bachelor of Divinity from He was preceded in death by his City Elementary School and from there Passings the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary parents, Andrew and Suzanna Gresko; he retired in June 2003. In addition, for in Berkeley, California (’55). In May 1955 his brother, John Gresko; and his sister, almost 30 years, Richard taught ESL in he was ordained in Christ Church, Lorain, Martha Gresko. the evenings at Banning Adult School. Ohio, by the Ohio Synod of the United Lu- Richard was a mentor to many and theran Church in America. He became the touched the lives of so many more. He assistant pastor of First Lutheran Church will be sadly missed. of Glendale in June 1955. Richard is survived by his mother, He continued in the ministry until he Thelma; his siblings, Larry (Lupe) received another calling, as a special edu- Yamada, Arlene (Stan) Yokoyama, cation teacher/resource specialist with the Marion (Greg) Stewart, and Curtis Los Angeles Unified School District. He Yamada; and many nieces, nephews, taught from 1972 to 1996 at Dana Junior and other relatives. High School in San Pedro. He continued Services were held November 21 at substituting at Dana after his retirement the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Church until 2003. in Los Angeles. His family says that their beloved father Rev. Andrew P. Gresko was their best teacher. He taught them to To submit an item: Send details to Milestones, UNITED TEACHER, 3303 love, respect, and show kindness toward Richard K. Yamada Rev. Andrew P. Gresko, age 84, passed others. He said if you have a gift, you Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Ange- away in the early morning of Novem- should teach and pass it on to others. His Richard K. Yamada passed away on No- les, CA 90010 or utnewspaper@utla. ber 17, 2015. passion was his students who needed vember 5, 2015. Richard was a dedicated net. Material must arrive at least three Andrew was born in Lorain, Ohio, on special help. He will be greatly missed. teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School weeks before publication date, and June 23, 1931, and had been a resident of Rev. Gresko is survived by his wife, District for 38 years. He began his teach- please include a daytime phone num- Los Angeles since 1967. In 1949 he grad- Carol; his daughter, Lucinda (Edmund) ing career at Van Deene Elementary in 1965 ber. Photos welcomed. We reserve the uated from Lorain High School. He later Lai of San Gabriel; and his sons; Daniel and then moved on to Caroldale Learning right to edit text for length and clarity.

12 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 UTLA Asian-Pacific Committee UTLA Asian-Pacific Committee UTLA Asian-Pacific Committee UTLA Asian-Pacific Committee UTLA Asian-Pacific Committee Sue Embrey 2016 Community UTLAActivist Asian Scholarship-Pacific Committee Sue Embrey 2015 Community Activist S

Calling all LAUSDSue Embrey High 2016 School Community Seniors! Activist Scholarship Sue EmbreySue Embrey 2016 Community2015 Community Activist Activist Scholarship S Sue Embrey 2015 Community Activist S TellCalling us what you areall doing LAUSD to change yourHigh community School Seniors! throughCallingcommunity all activism LAUSD and empowerment High Schoolfor a Seniors! chanceTell us whatto receive you areup doingto a $2,000 to change scholarship. your community Scholarships through community activism and empowerment for a will be awarded to current Tellhigh usschool what seniors you are only. doing to change your community chance to receive up to a $2,000 scholarship. Scholarships throughTell us whatcommunity you are activism doing to andchange empowerment your community for a will be awarded to current throughTellhigh usschool whatcommunity seniors you are only.activism doing to andchange empowerment your community for a To enter we require the following:Tellchance us whatto receive you areup doingto a $2,000 to change scholarship. your community Scholarships • Send us an 800-wordwillchancethrough, two be-page awardedtocommunity receive essay. to up Onecurrent activism to pagea $2,000 high and school scholarship. empowerment seniors Scholarships only. for a To enter we require the following:through community activism and empowerment for a describing your accomplishmentswillchance be awardedto receiveand to upthe current to second a $2,000 high school scholarship. seniors Scholarships only. • chance to receive up to a $2,000 scholarship. Scholarships pageSend describingus an 800 wordthe specificTowill, two enter be-page awardeddetails we essay. require of to yourOne current the project.page following: high school seniors only. describing your accomplishmentswill be awardedand to the current second high school seniors only. • Include photos and/orTo a •entervideo/DVDSend we usrequire an of 80 your the0-word projectfollowing:, two -page essay. One page page describing the specTo enterific details we require of your the project. following: (NO web links accepted)• describingSend us an your800- wordaccomplishments, two-page essay.and theOne second page • Include photos and/orTo a •entervideo/DVDSend we usrequire an of 80 your the0 word servicefollowing:, two-page essay. One page • Include completed Sue Embreypagedescribing Commundescribing yourity accomplishmentsthe Activist specific detailsand of yourthe second project. (NO web links accepted)• Senddescribing us an your800 wordaccomplishments, two-page essay.and theOne second page Scholarship Application• form.Includepage describing photos and/or the specific a video/DVD details of of your your project.project • Include completed Sue Embreypagedescribing Communitydescribing your accomplishmentsthe Activist specific detailsand of yourthe second project. Sue Embrey, educator, activist and • Provide two (2) letters of• recommendation(IncludeNO web photos links accepted)and/or from youra video/DVD of your project author, lived by her principles of Scholarship Application• form.Includepage describing photos and/or the spec a video/DVDific details of of your your project. service teacher, Director of community• (IncludeNO webservice completed links program accepted) Sue or Embrey Community Activist Suenon -Embrey,violence, educator, self-determination activist and • Provide two (2) letters of• recommendation(IncludeNO web photos links accepted)and/or from youra video/DVD of your service author,through lived unionization, by her principles social justice of your high school Counselor.• IncludeScholarship At least completed one Application Sue Embrey form. Community Activist for workers, teamwork, Sue Embrey, educator,teacher, activist andDirector of community• (IncludeNO webservice completed links program accepted) Sue or Embrey Community Activist non-violence, self-determination recommendation letter should• ScholarshipProvide be from two a Application(2) current letters of form. recommendation from your throughcollaboration, unionization, service tosocial others, justice and Sueauthor, Embrey, lived byeducator, heryour principles activist high ofand school Counselor.• IncludeScholarship At least completed one Application Sue Embrey form. Community Activist empowerment of the UTLA member. • Provideteacher, twoDirector (2) letters of community of recommendation service program from youror for workers, teamwork, Sueauthor,non -Embrey,violence, lived byeducator, self her-recommendationdetermination principles activist ofand letter should• ScholarshipProvide be from two a Application(2) current letters of form. recommendation from your collaboration,disenfranchised. service to others, and Sueauthor,nonthrough -Embrey,violence, lived unionization, byeducator, self her-determination principles social activist justice ofand teacher,your high Director school ofCounselor. community At serviceleast one program or empowerment of the for workers, teamwork,UTLA member. • Provide two (2) letters of recommendation from your author,nonthrough-violence, lived Forunionization, by selfscho her-determination principles larshipsocial justice of application packetsyourrecommendationteacher, go highto: Directorwww.utla.net school ofCounselor.letter community should At be serviceleast from one a program current or disenfranchised.Sue Embrey is mos t recognized for nonthroughforcollaboration, workers,-violence, unionization, teamwork, selfservice-determination tosocial others, justice and teacher,your high Director school ofCounselor. community At serviceleast one program or her work education the public about empowerment of the recommendationUTLA member. letter should be from a current throughforcollaboration, workers, Forunionization, teamwork, servicescholarship tosocial others, justice and application packetsyourrecommendation go highto: www.utla.net school Counselor.letter should At be least from one a current Suethe injustices Embrey is of mos thet internmentrecognized of for forcollaboration,empowermentdisenfranchised. workers,Entries teamwork, serviceof the must to others, be and submitted by 5 UTLAp.m. on member. 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National Historic Site.

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13 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 WHO awards: A chance to honor someone you know Nominations due February 12.

Ever wonder how you can recognize UTLA/NEA members who have given a colleague or chapter chair who has outstanding service in support of UTLA/ shown true leadership by going above and NEA and its members at the state or na- beyond the call of duty to help members tional levels of UTLA, CTA, and NEA. at your site? Or maybe a member who is • The UTLA/NEA Community Gold involved in the Area steering committee Award may be awarded to any person or or House of Representatives and has dedi- organization whose leadership, actions, cated time to speak to our members, help and support have demonstrated that the where needed, and walk that mile or two person or organization is a true friend of for the good of all our members? Or what public education, educators, or students about that colleague who has spoken about and merits UTLA/NEA recognition of professional matters at the state or national their accomplishments. level to make sure our voices are heard? The WHO Awards Committee looks Here is your chance to recognize them forward to honoring special members who by nominating them for the We Honor you know are doing what it takes to make Ours (“WHO”) awards, which are given us stronger, keep us united, and stand for annually in these categories: the good of all. • The WHO Local Award is for active UTLA/NEA members who have given Deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb- outstanding service in support of UTLA/ ruary 12. Nomination forms and more info NEA and its members. are at utla.net/WHOawards. Recipients • The WHO State Award is for active will be honored at a dinner on April 25.

UTLA meeting board

Upcoming meetings the UTLA building: Arts Education Committee, Asian-Pacific Educa- tion, Bilingual Education Commit- JANUARY 19 tee, Chicano/Latino Education, Gay Unjustly Housed Teachers Committee: & Lesbian Issues, Health & Human UTLA building, 4 p.m. Services, Human Rights, Inner City, Instructional Coaches, Kindergarten JANUARY 20 Teachers, Library Professionals (4:45-6 UTLA Area Meetings: See times and p.m.), Middle Schools, Multi-Track/ locations at utla.net. Year-Round Schools, Non-Classroom/ Early Childhood Education Committee: Non-School Site, Options Committee, 7 p.m., UTLA building. Physical Education Action and Dance, Professional Rights & Responsibili- JANUARY 23 ties, Pre-Retirement Issues, Salary & Substitute Committee Semester Finance, School/Community Rela- tions, School Readiness Language Meeting: UTLA building. Development Program, Secondary School Counselors, Special Education, JANUARY 25 Substitutes, Violence Prevention & UTLA/NEA Service Center Council School Safety, Women’s Education. meeting: UTLA building. Adult and Occupational Education: Check time and updated meeting JANUARY 28 info at www.aeutla.net. UTLA/AFT 1021 General Membership Meeting: UTLA building. The National Board Certified Teach- ers Standing Committee: For meeting dates please check calendar at www. FEBRUARY 3 (new date) utla.net. Elementary Committee: 4 p.m., UTLA building. Upcoming conferences Secondary Committee: 4 p.m., UTLA building. FEBRUARY 6 African-American Education Commit- African-American Education Com- tee: 4 p.m., UTLA building. mittee Conference: “Celebrating Our Blackness: Culture, Curriculum and Capably Disabled Teachers Committee: Community.” See flyer in this issue. 4 p.m., UTLA building. FEBRUARY 20 PACE Committee: 6:30 p.m., UTLA Pre-Retirement Issues Workshop: building. See flyer in this issue. FEBRUARY 17 MARCH/APRIL/MAY The following committees meet on the Asian Pacific Committee Pilgrim- same day as the House of Representatives age to Manzanar: See flyer in this from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (unless noted) in issue.

14 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015

EDUCATORS……. UTLA African-American Education KNOW YOUR BENEFITS…….. Committee

Are you new, in the middle or towards the end of your career in Education? Presents the Forty-Third Annual Community Conference This conference is for you!!!! Learn about……… “Celebrating Our Blackness: Culture,  CALSTRS Benefits Curriculum and Community”  Social Security Windfall and Offset Acts  LAUSD Health Benefits  403b and 457 Retirement Benefits Saturday, February 6, 2016

Please bring your most recent CalSTRS Retirement Progress Report 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM

UTLA UTLA Building 3303 Wilshire Blvd. Room 815 Pre-Retirement Issues Conference Los Angeles, CA 90010 Saturday, February 20, 2016 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Registration starts at 7 a.m.) Presenters, Panel Discussion, Entertainment, United Teachers Los Angeles Food & More (Auditorium) 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles

Directions: 2 blocks west of Vermont at Berendo Continental Breakfast and Lunch *Free Parking Available* *UTLA Parking Structure located off Berendo For more information contact: UTLA Conference Secretary:

Debbie Reid at UTLA (213) 368-6232 Registration at the door- $5.00 per person Open to all UTLA Members Conference is limited to the first 300 attendees *Access for the disabled is available through the elevators in the UTLA basement

15 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015

Hoover said, “The sole function of gov- our union asks for your help. Note from UTLA-R President ernment is to bring about a condition of Silver Script IS CVS: For those of you affairs favorable to the beneficial develop- in the Anthem plan, there is no change You, me, and Ahab Broad, Part 2 ment of private enterprise.” If a private from your current plan just because you enterprise educational system destroys are getting a new pharmacy card. Silver health care for millions of educators and Script is owned by CVS and for whatever By John Perez difference between our percentage of support service workers, so be it, as far reason they have sent you a new card that UTLA-Retired President members in the plans and the cost for as Broad and friends are concerned; the you need to use starting January 1. There our benefits is due to the lowered cost for goal is to make it possible for people like is no change in your plan, and you can use In the last issue I talked about how the 84% of retirees who are 65 and over Broad to make money off education. the new card as you did your CVS card. Ahab Eli Broad wants to destroy public and on Medicare. If all our retirees were We need to do everything we can to education in Los Angeles by putting half over 65, the cost for retiree benefits would keep our active colleagues employed by Perez can be reached at [email protected]. of the District’s students into new charter be 25% lower than it is today.) the LAUSD and not let their jobs be given schools. How will this affect us as retirees That brings me to how this battle against away to the privatization movement led by If you want to be added to the UTLA- and how does it play into the attack on privatization plays into the larger struggle Ahab. In this vital struggle to keep public Retired email list, send your email ad- public education and the middle class by in our country between the 1% (Broad and education public, do what you can when dress to [email protected]. the economic royalists who are the 1% of friends) and the 99% (you, me, and the rest the population who control most of the of working America). Broad and friends wealth and income in our country? have always wanted to destroy the things GRAPEVINE First, health care is one of the most im- done for the average American under FDR (continued from page 23) portant things for retirees. If Broad gets his (the New Deal and Social Security) and LBJ way, our health care will be far different (the Great Society and Medicare). They 24th annual Collective Bargaining school. The UTLA Collective Bargaining eight years from now than it is today. Very want to make Social Security voluntary Institutes for LAUSD high school Education Project is co-sponsored by the few workers in America have what LAUSD and they want to make Medicare a voucher students L.A. County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO employees can qualify for: lifetime health program. Social Security keeps millions UTLA’s award-winning Collective Bar- and the Labor and Employment Relations benefits. If half the LAUSD students are of seniors independent. Medicare is what gaining Education Project is looking for Association, with support from LAUSD. siphoned away into new charter schools, makes health care affordable for most re- teachers who want to bring this program Deadline: ASAP. Scheduling a CBI day the District will lose half its ADA, and we tirees, and making it a voucher plan and to their students. At the Collective Bar- requires three weeks in advance to recruit will end up paying for our health benefits. making seniors like us shop for health care gaining Institute, students will spend the team “coaches” from the L.A.-area In 2010 retirees made up 33% of the in a market owned by the 1%ers will leave several hours learning about the labor labor movement. Also in advance, stu- total members in our health plans but us with reduced health care at the time of movement by participating in a hands- dents need to be released from classes only 27% of the cost. Today we are 38% life we need it most. on simulation of contract negotiations, for the CBI (with a “trip” slip), to a large of the members and 29% of the cost. As People like Broad, who don’t worry aligned to content and Common Core space with tables for three to four hours. you can see, the numbers are going in about the mortgage payment or where standards. The Collective Bargaining In- Contact Linda Tubach, Collective Bargain- the wrong direction, and if the District their next meal is coming from, don’t stitute engages all students. They will be ing Education Project teacher, ASAP at loses half its employees, retirees will be really concern themselves with the con- grouped into small (four students) union (626) 233-2284 or email Ltubach.cbed- a majority of the members in our plans. sequences of their actions or proposals. and management teams, and each student [email protected]. Benefits without monthly payments will The whole privatization movement is will be responsible for a different bargain- no longer be possible, and the ability of based on a philosophy that held sway ing issue. All teams will be mentored by active employees to qualify for lifetime in America before the Great Depression labor relations professionals who volun- benefits will be a thing of the past. (The and the reforms of the New Deal. Herbert teer to “coach.” There is no cost to your

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Teacher-Organized Professional Development Elementary/Secondary Professional Development Conference UTLA 35th ANNUAL edagogy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. olitics & Scholarship Fundraiser rofessional Practice BuildingP our capacity to fight for our students and profession Sponsored by UTLA / African American Education Committee Thursday, January 14, 2016 “When I participate in a process like this where all of the teachers are creative and dedicated, it makes me feel like we have 3:30 to 4:30 the opportunity to improve our students’ education, our own education, and the educational system itself.” -Travis Miller, Augustus Hawkins High School

Kings Kids Talent Contest SAVE THESE DATES Location: UTLA 3303 Wilshire Blvd, LA, CA 90010

Speeches, Dance, Musical ISCA Presents—Curriculum and Student Assessment in Real K-12 Classrooms Teaching to Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards 5:00 to 8:00 Fundraiser and Program Saturday January 30 8AM – 1:30PM • The Argument Standard Across the Curriculum United Teachers Los Angeles • Seminars by LAUSD Teachers—Handouts of Lessons, Assessments, Student Work 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles (K-12, Sp. Ed., Gen. Ed., GATE, AP, ELL; ELA, Civics, Math, Science) Corner of Wilshire and Berendo, two blocks west of Vermont. • Unpack LAUSD’s Teacher Evaluation Form using Presenter’s Lesson (Parking structure off Berendo) • Options for Teacher-Planned and Led PD on Tuesdays • Organizing Teacher-Led Professional Development at School Door Prizes - D.J. “James” - Food, Drinks, Entertainment. Admission $5.00 Tickets available now or at the door. For additional information call Debbie Reid at (213) 368-6232 Toward a Better System of Teacher Evaluation

Saturday KINGS KIDS TALENT CONTEST APPLICATION March 5 • Demystifying and Mapping out Teacher Evaluation Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, January 12, 2016. All judgements and decisions by the AAEC judges 8AM – 1:30PM are final. • Improved Teacher Evaluation through Contract Negotiations with LAUSD • Getting Ready for What is on the Horizon Next Year Student Name______Grade______• Helpful “How to” Workshops

School______School Phone #______Lunch will be provided courtesy of the California Credit Union. Home Phone #______Participants will receive a certificate for 5 PD hours for each Saturday ( 1 salary point = 30 PD hours). Parent’s Signature Another way that 1 salary point can be earned is by attending all 3 Saturdays plus 30 hours of homework. (Participant must have already attended November 7, 2015 session) Will submit in the following category (check one): For more detailed Information and online registration go to utla.net/prodevelopment Music Singing Dancing Speech

Musical Instrument Other For January 30, contact: Day Higuchi ([email protected]) For March 30, contact Susie Chow, NBCT ([email protected]) For more information about UTLA professional development, go to utla.net/prodevelopment.

Life-Long Learning for Educators

UCLA Extension’s Education Department off ers online courses for teachers and administrators looking to advance their qualifi cations, performance and salary. Learn more about the many credential and certifi cate programs we off er by visiting us at uclaextension.edu/teachers or call (310) 825-4191. UCLA Extension Education Programs Get there from here.

17140-15

17140.indd 1 8/27/15 9:49 17AM United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015

Involvement opportunity 2016 NEA Convention set for Washington, D.C. UTLA holding elections for convention delegates.

By Debby Schneider and Laura Carls meet in Washington, D.C., July 2 to 7, 2016, formulate and update NEA’s positions Election process for delegates UTLA/NEA Election Committee during which delegates representing their on various legislative and policy issues. The process for the NEA Representa- local unions from throughout the United Educational concerns affecting local, state, tive Assembly delegate elections will be Ready to become involved in education States, including overseas locations af- and national unions may be brought to the as follows: Voting for local delegates will issues at a national level? filiated with the Department of Defense, floor by any delegate. The excitement of take place at the January 20 UTLA Area The NEA Representative Assembly will will give input, gather information, and deliberation and voting begins each day at meetings. The top vote-getting candi- 7 a.m. during the California state caucus and dates will be named as delegates follow- never slows down. This excitement, plus ing the counting of votes on January 23. the numerous CTA- and NEA-sponsored The UTLA/NEA election committee NEA Representative Assembly Annual activities, serves to entertain and educate will then formulate the state candidates’ exhausted but inspired delegates. ballot from those names of people who Convention slated for July 2016 in Washington, D.C. UTLA/NEA members who run for the turned in self-nomination forms for only 2016 Representative Assembly and receive the state delegate ballot (a one-year Would you like to become a UTLA/NEA delegate to the 2016 Representative the highest number of votes (by a plurality) term) and those who self-nominated Assembly Annual Convention in Orlando? From July 2 to 7, 2016, UTLA will have an opportunity for a three-year for both the state and local delegate but members affiliated with the NEA/CTA will be in attendance at that convention. term at the local level. One-year terms are did not receive top votes in the local available for state delegates. delegate election. 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 com- pleted and returned to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA President, by 5:00 p.m., December 22, 2015. There will be two categories of delegates: local and state. Local delegates will be elected on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, at the eight UTLA/NEA RA election UTLA Area meetings. State delegates will be elected Monday, April 4, at the UTLA/NEA Service Center Council meeting from 3:30 to 7:30. A complete set absentee ballots available of election 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 2016 Term of office for local delegates is three years, beginning July 2016. 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/e-mail) by December Please Print 22, 2015, no later than 5:00 p.m. All ballots will be due back at UTLA by 5:00 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/Hispanic 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, January 20, 2016 (ballots due back 1/20—Local) Wednesday, April 4, 2016 (ballots due back 4/4—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 5:00 p.m., December 22, 2015, at UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn.: Cecily Myart- Signature Cruz. Until 5 p.m. on December 22, forms may also be dropped off at This request is due by 5:00 p.m. by mail (no faxes or emails) by December 22, UTLA headquarters (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) during regular 2015, at UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn.: business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cecily Myart-Cruz. Until 5 p.m. on December 22, forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) during All absentee ballots will be due back to UTLA by 5:00 p.m. on the appropriate regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. date (see timeline).

18 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015

The voting for the one-year state del- dance with CTA submission requirements. egate term will take place at the UTLA/ UTLA/NEA members running for the NEA Service Center Council meeting on 2016 Representative Assembly must be UTLA/NEA RA 2016 election timeline April 4, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the sure to use the self-nomination form on the counting of the votes will follow on April 8. facing page instead of the form supplied by NEA/RA Local Delegate election Any teacher on dues-paying leave, year- CTA. No faxes or emails will be accepted. round teachers who are off track, and early UTLA/NEA election committee members November 20, December 18: Nomination forms, timeline, and absentee childhood education teachers who are off are Laura Carls and Deborah Schneider-Solis ballot request forms in UNITED TEACHER. track may vote by absentee ballot, accord- (co-chairs), Fredrick Bertz, Andrew Carrillo, ing to CTA election rules. Marcela Chagoya, Wendi Davis, Karla Griego, December 22: Self-nomination forms and absentee ballot requests due to Ballots can be requested by completing the Rosa Melendez, Loren Scott, Yolanda Tamayo, UTLA building by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail (no faxes or emails). Until 5 p.m. on Feb- form below. Note: Our timeline is set in accor- and Mary Tello. ruary 6, forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters (see the recep- tionist on the 10th floor) during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Delegates with terms expiring in 2015 December 23: Letters sent out acknowledging receipt of nomination forms. Lucia Arias Brenda Evans Maria Miranda January 8: Absentee ballots sent out. Greg Basile Warren Fletcher Brian Muller Martha Bayer Betty Forrester Paul Ngwoke January 20: Local RA delegate elections at all UTLA Area meetings and Ellyn Bell Ronald Futch Catherine Proctor at UTLA headquarters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lorraine Butler William Gaffney Emmanuel Reyes January 20: Absentee ballots due back to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA Laura Carls Patricia Garcia Gwendolyn Scott Vice President, at UTLA building, 10th floor by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail only Spomenka Cikara Ingrid Gunnell Leonard Segal (no faxes or emails). Adelina D’Ambra Omer Hassan Gloria Simosky January 23: Area and absentee ballots counted, 9 a.m. Letters sent to win- Wendi Davis Kim Hurley Michael Ulmer ners and results will be posted at www.utla.net by the end of the next busi- Norlon Davis Ed Jacobson Ingrid Villeda ness day. Olga Delgadillo Audrey Linden Delores West February 2: Deadline to submit election challenge in writing to Cecily Myart- Carmen Esterman Grecia Marroquin Sharlyn Williams Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, provided a runoff election is not required. Joseph Esterman Blanca Mejia Please contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form at (213) 368-6259.

NEA/RA State Delegate election

March 20: State RA delegate absentee ballots sent out. United Teachers Los Angeles April 4: State RA delegate election at UTLA/NEA Service Center Council meeting at UTLA headquarters, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. African American Education Committee April 4: State absentee ballots due back to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA Announces its Vice President, at UTLA building, 10th floor, by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail only (no faxes or emails). 41st ANNUAL Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 8: Election Committee meets at 9 a.m. to count all ballots. Letters Scholarship Contest sent to winners and results will be posted at www.utla.net by the end of the next business day. We encourage you to apply to our scholarship program. UTLA/African American Education Committee/Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarships give April 18: Deadline to submit election challenge in writing to Cecily Myart- financial help to young people who desire to Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, provided a runoff election is not required. “Keep the Dream Alive” by continuing their education. Please contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form at (213) 368-6259. See your teacher for an application and guidelines. Submit the Application Form and your Essay or Poem about the life and/or writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. no later than 5:00 pm, Tuesday, March 8, 2016 Applications may be submitted by mail to: Improve your vIsIon United Teachers Los Angeles Improve your lIfe! 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010-1794 c/o Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship Committee, Attn.: Debbie Reid or they may be dropped off at the above address between 9 AM – 5 PM Special Discount Winners will be notified by Friday, April 8, 2016 Scholarships will be presented at the Awards Dinner For UTLA Members on Friday, April 22, 2016 CALL NOW! at 5:30 pm scholarship awards dinner location ™ (TBA) to be announced AMERISIGHT INSTITUTE • Free Consultations at a later date • Financing Available If further information is needed, please call Debbie Reid, Scholarship Secretary at UTLA 800/556-8852 ext. 232 (9-4) 14914 Sherman Way • Van Nuys, California 91405 888-999-4202

19 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015

Involvement opportunity CTA State Council CTA State Council Elections Unexpired Term election notice Are you interested in representing UTLA/NEA members at the state level? CTA (California Teachers Association) State Council, a policy-making body that meets By Laura Carls & for represen­tatives are covered by CTA, quarterly, has openings for representatives to fill unexpired terms. If you wish to run Deborah Schneider-Solis including hotel, mileage, and food costs. for one of these positions, complete and return the self-nomination form by U.S. Meetings begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, 7:15 UTLA/NEA Election Committee mail to UTLA/NEA VP Cecily Myart-Cruz at UTLA. The form must be received by 5:00 a.m. Sunday, and usually end around 4 p.m. on December 22, 2015. The election will be held at the January 20, 2016, p.m. both days. Subcommittee meetings UTLA/NEA members will elect CTA Area meetings. For those members who cannot vote at their Area meetings, voting on Friday evenings and voluntary caucus State Council representatives for unex- will also be held at the UTLA building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 20, 2016. pired terms at elections scheduled this meetings before and after the general year for the January 20 Area meetings. weekend meeting times can enrich the Self-Nomination Form These delegates will join the other UTLA representative’s knowledge of issues representatives when the council begins facing California educators. UTLA del­ Name for the 2016-17 school year. egates are rewarded for their time and The State Council acts as CTA’s pol- effort by getting a chance to make a state- Employee number icy-making body, meeting four times a wide difference in education. year. Each representative is expected to If you find the idea of participating on Address serve on a standing committee,­ which a statewide level intriguing, fill out and debates business items involving aca- mail in the self-nomination form on this City Zip demic freedom, retire­ment, civil rights, page to run for CTA State Council. Forms political action, teachers’ rights, and state- are due by December 22 via U.S. mail Home phone wide nego­tiation issues. State Council (no faxes or emails). Forms may also be represen­tatives also vote for CTA’s state- dropped off at UTLA headquar­ters on the Non-LAUSD email address wide officers. In the 2016-17 school year, 10th floor (attention: Cecily Myart-Cruz, all State Council meetings will be held UTLA/NEA VP) during regular business School in Los Angeles. All necessary expenses hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. School Phone

I certify that below is the signature of the candidate whose name appears above.

CTA State Council Signature Date Year-Round Absentee Ballot Request (Required) Return this request to UTLA/NEA VP Cecily Myart-Cruz by 5:00 p.m., December I am requesting an absentee ballot for the CTA State Council Election. 22, 2015, via U.S. mail to UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters on the 10th floor My vote will correspond to CTA’s election guidelines, which allow for voting by mail during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (attention: Cecily Myart-Cruz). for CTA members on formal leave. This request must be received by 5:00 p.m., NO FAXES OR EMAILS. December 22, 2015, by U.S. mail to UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn: Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA VP. I understand that my Form must be received by UTLA by December 22, 2015. request will be checked for accuracy by election committee members. Absentee ballots will be mailed January 8, 2016, and must be received via U.S. mail by 5:00 p.m., January 20, 2016.

Name CTA State Council

Employee number Unexpired Term election timeline

Address November 20, December 18: Nomina- February 2: Deadline to submit election tion forms, timeline, absentee ballot challenge in writing to Cecily Myart-Cruz, City Zip request forms in UNITED TEACHER. UTLA/NEA Vice President, provided a runoff election is not required. Please Home phone December 22: Self-nomination forms contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form and absentee ballot requests due to at (213) 368-6259. Non-LAUSD email address UTLA building by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail (no faxes or emails). Forms may also February 16: Absentee ballot for runoff School be dropped off at UTLA headquarters sent. (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) March 2: Runoff election, if needed, at School Phone during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Area meetings and at UTLA headquarters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. UTLA area (Circle one) N S E W C VE VW H December 23: Letters sent out acknowl- Absentee ballot requested for: edging receipt of nomination forms. March 2: Deadline for absentee ballots to be received back by U.S. mail (no CTA State Council January 8: Absentee ballots sent out. faxes or emails).

January 20 March 2 January 20: Elections at all UTLA Area March 4: Election Committee meets at 9 a.m. to count all ballots. Letters sent Check one: CTA/NEA Board member Formal LAUSD leave meetings and at UTLA headquarters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to winners and results will be posted I hereby declare that the above information is accurate. at www.utla.net by the end of the next January 20: Absentee ballots due back business day. Those who are not elected Signature Date to UTLA building by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail delegates will become alternates. only (no faxes or emails). Return this request to UTLA/NEA VP Cecily Myart-Cruz by 5:00 p.m., December March 14: Final date for challenges to 22, 2015, via U.S. mail to UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA January 23: Area and absentee be submitted in writing to Cecily Myart- 90010. Forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters on the 10th floor ballots counted, 9 a.m. Letters sent Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, pro- (attention: Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA VP) during regular business hours from to winners and results will be posted vided additional runoff election is not 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. NO FAXES OR EMAILS. at www.utla.net by the end of the next required. Please contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form at (213) 368-6259. Form must be received by UTLA by December 22, 2015. business day.

20 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 UTLA/AFT delegates to CFT Be UTLA’s voice at the AFT Convention to be elected January 28 Convention in July 2016 CFT to hold annual convention in San Francisco, UTLA/AFT members will elect del- convention is the most important policy- March 11-13. egates at the January 28 General Mem- making body of the national federation. bership Meeting (UTLA building, 6 p.m.) All AFT-affiliated UTLA members are UTLA/AFT members will elect del- making body of the federation. to represent the union at the National eligible to be elected delegates to this egates at the January 28 General Member- All AFT-affiliated UTLA members are Convention of the American Federation event; delegates who fulfill their official ship Meeting at UTLA to represent the eligible to be elected delegates to this of Teachers in Minneapolis, July 17 to obligations will receive a stipend to cover union at the statewide convention of the event; delegates who fulfill their official 21, 2016. a portion of their expenses. Interested California Federation of Teachers. obligations will receive a stipend to cover a At the convention, AFT members from members can fill out the coupon below At the convention, CFT members from major portion of their expenses. Interested around the country will gather to debate to nominate themselves. around the state will gather to debate and members can fill out the coupon below to and vote on important resolutions and con- The coupon must be returned by vote on important resolutions and con- nominate themselves. stitutional amendments. The biennial AFT January 15. stitutional amendments. The annual CFT The coupon must be returned by Convention is the most important policy- January 15. AFT 2016 Convention self-nomination form

CFT Convention self-nomination form Name Employee No. Name Home address Employee No. City/zip Email Home address School Phone # to contact you City/Zip I hereby declare that I am a fully paid member of UTLA/CFT/AFT. I wish to Email nominate myself as a delegate to the 2016 AFT Convention to be held in Minneapolis from July 17 to 21. School Signature This form must be returned to UTLA/AFT Vice President Betty Forrester, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, Phone # to contact you CA 90010, by 4:30 p.m., January 15, 2016, in order to be included on the printed ballot. Elections will be held at the general membership meeting on January 28 at 6 p.m. at UTLA. Nominations will not be taken from the floor. I hereby declare that I am a fully paid member of UTLA/CFT/AFT. I wish to nominate myself as a delegate to the 2016 CFT Convention to be held in San Francisco from March 11 to 13.

Signature THROUGH THE ENTIRE 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR, This form must be returned to UTLA/AFT Vice President Betty Forrester, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, by 4:30 p.m., January 15, 2016, in order to be included on the printed ballot. Elections will be held at GET $20 OFF PER COURSE...UNLIMITED! the general membership meeting on January 28 at 6 p.m. at UTLA. Nominations will not be taken from the floor. SessIONS BEGIN JANUARY 15, 2016 *Registration deadline is January 8, 2016 / Discount does not apply to VPSS courses

UTLA support for housed teachers

Many teachers continue to be the Vice President Colleen Schwab (213- victims of former superintendent John 368-6237, [email protected]) or UTLA Deasy’s “teacher jail” system. Caught Treasurer Arlene Inouye (213-368-6218, off guard and often falsely accused, [email protected]). they languish and suffer alone, under Unjustly Housed Teachers Commit- house arrest and unsure of what to do. tee: UTLA provides support, guidance, Don’t be a victim of unfair job and assistance to all rehoused teachers actions and false charges. UTLA wants through the Unjustly Housed Teach- you to know: You are not alone. We are ers Committee. The committee meets here for you. monthly at the UTLA building. The USE PROMO CODE LOVE2LEARN Call or email the UTLA officers next meeting is January 19 from 4 to 6 listed below and attend the Unjustly p.m. in Room 904. The UTLA building Housed Teachers Committee Meeting is located at 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Los Quality, research based content in the areas of California Content Standards, to get the assistance and support you Angeles, CA 90010 (213-487-5560). ELA & Mathematics, and Student Mental Wellness created and tailored deserve. UTLA is ready, willing, and able to for today’s K-12 instructors. Selected courses are UTLA/LAUSD UTLA officer contacts: If you’ve help its falsely accused and unfairly approved by the Salary Point Committee been recently removed from the class- treated members. Make the call, attend room, please contact UTLA Secondary the meeting, and let UTLA help you.

REGISTER NOW@ teachstar.lacoe.edu Share your school’s good news! Powered by

Send details on awards, honors, special events, and Online Professional Development Courses brought to you by the Teachstar Online Academy, powered by the Center for Distance & Online Learning at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. great schoolwide programs to [email protected]. 21 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 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 LOVE CULTURE & CUISINE? Cruise Asia & Austra- students, and job share partner! Please email me LAUSD POSITIONS lia for 25 days. Food, Fun with an educational twist! for more information. Thanks! [email protected] AVAILABLE Secondary Teaching Techniques, Stories, Computer October 17-November 11, 2016. www.equator- Teacher Book, Quit Smoking: www.PaulRallion.com. 3tours.com, (212) 348-5449. I’m looking for a job share partner for Spring Semes- Patrick Henry Academy of Performing and Visual ter or S.Y. 2016-2017 at your school, preferably South Arts Magnet (located in Granada Hills) is seeking BY POPULAR DEMAND! We’re Going to South Afri- or East local district. I have 17 years of teaching ex- highly qualified applicants for teaching position ca Again! September 19th-October 4th, 2017, With perience in Elementary General Ed. (562) 291-8038. FOR RENT for the 2016-2017 school year. Candidates apply- Capetown & Johannesburg stays . . . www.equator- ing to our new Performing Arts Magnet must hold 3tours.com, (212) 348-5449. Job share partner wanted for the spring semester Spacious single with kitchenette, utilities included a multiple subject credential and have extensive and beyond. (The deadline is November 15.) We can in Chatsworth, $1000 monthly. [email protected]. experience working with adolescents in the per- PLANNING FAMILY REUNION . . . or does your possibly alternate semesters—either your school or forming and visual arts, with a strong emphasis in Church Group want a NEW YORK CITY EXPERI- mine, South. Twenty-plus years with LAUSD, en- dramatic performance, directing, art design or vo- ENCE? Visit splendidgrouptours.nyc, (212) 348-5449. joyed previous job share experience. Contact Su- cal performance. Candidates must be knowledge- FREE AND DISCOUNTED san: (310) 541-1472/[email protected]. able in teaching Common Core curriculum as well TAX SERVICES Job share position wanted in the Northeast side of as demonstrate the ability to design creative and LAUSD EMPLOYMENT engaging ways to integrate the arts in the core sub- FOR UTLA MEMBERS! DragonflyHill Community the San Fernando Valley. Split week or mornings. jects. Please email a cover letter with your resume Tax Services offers FREE 2014 tax return reviews Contact Mayra Nunez-Flores, (818) 203-7100. Job share/employment to [email protected]. and 2015 filing DISCOUNTS! UTLA-R Andy Griggs, available ads in LAUSD Job share partner needed for spring semester certified tax preparer, specializing in educators’ employment section are FREE. 2016-2017 at a fantastic elementary school in Various positions are open and available for quali- taxes and year-round consulting. (310) 704-3217, East L.A. I have 17 years’ experience, bilingual, fied teachers at Birmingham Community Charter [email protected]. flexible and collaborative. Looking for a teacher High School. Join a vibrant community of educa- JOB SHARE with excellent qualifications and previous expe- tors at BCCHS. Apply on Ed Join.org rience teaching 4th or 5th grade and willing to William J. Johnston Community Day School is TRAVEL Looking for someone to do a half-day, long-term work together to give the students a great educa- accepting applications for a full-time science/ sub position from April 1 until the end of the year. tion. Please send resume (so I can present to my MAGICAL MOROCCO & THE RICH CULTURE OF technology teacher. Those interested should send You work the afternoons. This is for an RSP position principal) to [email protected]. Carmen Lopez, GHANA. August 4-August 17, 2016. www.equator- letter of intent, resume summarizing experience, at a great school in Eagle Rock. Great assistant, (818) 633-4165. 3tours.com, (212) 348-5449. and letters of recommendation to: Barbara Politz, Job share position wanted on the Westside. Gen. Johnston CDS, 2210 N. Taper Ave, San Pedro, CA ED., S.D.C. or RSP. Split week or afternoons. Con- 90731 or email to Barbara Politz blp2505@lausd. How To Place Your UT Classified Ad tact: D @ (310) 505-5596. net or fax to (310) 832-7914. Print your ad from your computer or use a typewriter. Count the number of words in your ad. Area code and telephone number count as one word. Email and web address count as one word. Street address counts as one word. City and state, including zip code, count as one word. Abbreviations and numbers are consid- ered 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 running 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 pay- able in advance by check or money order. Please make check payable to UTLA. The deadline to receive your classified ad at the UTLA Communications Dept. is noon on the Monday that falls two weeks prior to the publication date. Any questions? Call (213) 637-5173. Mail ad and payment to Classifieds, UNITED TEACHER, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

Happy Holidays ESTATE PLANNING Want to avoid probate? From the Don’t do it yourself. Let a fellow teacher be Law Office of your lawyer. Sheila Bayne is a full time teacher with LAUSD and has been an active Link W. Schrader member of the California Bar for over 25 years. Complete Estate Planning Package: Former LAUSD Teacher n Living Trust n Living Will/Advance Health Care Directives Consumer and Small Business n Power of Attorney Bankruptcy n Trust Transfer Deeds n Pour-over Will and supporting documents Homeowners Association Matters n Personal consultation Discount for UTLA Members: Business Matters

Member NACBA and CDCBAA $695 (A-B trust for spouses: $ 995) Also: n Bankruptcies n Evictions (310) 413-6924 CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF SHEILA BAYNE www.schrader-law.com at 310-435-8710 Free Initial Consultation By Telephone or e-mail: [email protected] A debt relief agency

22 United Teacher • build the future website: www.utlabuildthefuture.org December 18, 2015 UNITED TEACHER GRAPEVINE Evenings for Educators at LACMA including those who have experienced to incorporate standards-based math games salary point. Date: Saturday, January 23, For over 30 years LACMA’s Evenings for trauma. Our approach offers alternatives in the curriculum. Although this workshop from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Avenue Educators series has provided K-12 teachers to classroom management systems based on is designed for third- to sixth-grade teachers, 50 Studio, Community Room, 131 North with opportunities to talk about, discover, control, punishment, and rewards that don’t teachers in other grades may register for this Avenue 50, Highland Park, 90042. Fee: $45 and create works of art. On February 9, address the root causes of behavior. Topics class. The workshop will be on January 7 (includes supplies). To register, contact learn about creativity in (and out of) the include the effects of trauma on the brain and January 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room Kathy Gallegos at Avenue50Studio@gmail. classroom. Creativity has been identified and nervous system, emotional regulation 6 at Huntington Drive Elementary School com or (323) 258-1435. For more informa- as one of the most crucial skills students techniques, connecting communication and (4435 N. Huntington Dr., Los Angeles, CA tion, please visit Avenue50studio.org/ need to succeed in work, life, and citizen- conflict resolution, supporting social and 90032). Enrollment is limited to 30 teachers. teacher-training-workshops. ship. Learn how to encourage students to emotional development, and empathy, un- If interested, you may enroll at LAUSD’s the use the creative process and the elements derstanding, and support for teachers too. Learning Zone at https://lz.lausd.net/lz/. Salary point class crucial to creativity on a daily basis both in Dates: Two Saturdays, January 30 and Feb- Contact Victoria Leon at [email protected] on cultural diversity and outside of the classroom. Enjoy com- ruary 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $225 per if you have any questions. “Valuing Difference” is an interactive plimentary parking and dinner catered by person. Units or hours: 16 hours, plus home- seminar on cultural diversity, family the Patina Group as well as a thematic cur- work. Salary points: One. Location: 1226 Teacher workshop on history, media and societal impacts, and riculum containing images, lesson plans, N. Alvarado St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. collaging family flags effective communications. The salary point and resources. Tickets are $15 per person for For information or to register, visit www. Avenue 50 Studio is holding a teach- workshop covers the important role your the evening, which runs from 4:30 p.m. to echoparenting.org/professional-services/ ing artist-led, professional development own culture plays in day-to-day interac- 8:30 p.m. For more information, please visit educator-training or email Azucena Ortiz collage workshop, inspired by artist Jasper tions and includes interactive exercises in www.lacma.org/programs/education/ at [email protected]. John’s “Flag” painting (1954-55) with a which participants review various issues evenings-educators or call (323) 857-6093. contemporary twist. Implementing an from a variety of viewpoints. The next ses- Free salary point class on Common inquiry-based methodology, teachers sions are January 23 and 24 (Saturday and Salary point class on creating Core math strategies will learn how to introduce a modern Sunday) and February 26 and 27 (Saturday compassionate classrooms “Common Core Math Strategies That art masterpiece and lead a multicultural and Sunday). The workshop runs from 9 Echo Parenting and Education is offering Work” is a free one salary point class that arts lesson that invites students to reflect a.m. to 5 p.m. on each day. The fee is $95. a salary-point class on “Trauma-Informed will present math strategies not found in the on their personal and cultural identities. Location: 8339 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, Compassionate Classrooms” and how to typical math book. Teachers will learn how Workshop is designed for upper elemen- CA 90048. One multicultural salary point create optimum conditions for learning. This to guide their students’ conceptual under- tary through high school educators inter- available. For more information or to reg- two-day salary point workshop for K-12 standing of addition, subtraction, multiplica- ested in multicultural arts education and ister, call Kari Bower at (323) 653-3332 or teachers will provide tools and strategies tion, division, and word problems. Teachers visual arts integration. Participants can email [email protected]. for creating safety to support all students, will also have the opportunity to learn how earn three hours toward an LAUSD/UTLA (continued on page 16)

Salary Advancement Courses for Educators Convenient | Relevant K-12 Applications | Practical Curriculum

Contact us for the latest schedule at nine Los Angeles Locations.

West Lost Angeles | Carson Monterey Park Karen Rose | [email protected] | 310-745-1099 Jim Burk | [email protected] | 1-800-664-6130

Downey | Downtown Los Angeles Santa Clarita | Burbank Craig Yokoi | [email protected] | 310-874-4090 Scott Cody | [email protected] | 323-496-3318

Sherman Oaks Los Alamitos Jennifer Krauss | [email protected] | 805-559-3060 Tim Brown | [email protected] | 310-292-1039

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Visit our website http://sandiego.edu/educatorsprograms

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