A s s o c i a t e d A d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f L o s A n g e l e s

UPDATE Week of December 7, 2009

AALA BARGAINING BULLETIN—NO. 5

Fair Share Bargaining

On December 8, 2009, Superintendent Ramon Cortines and CFO Megan Reilly presented to the Board of Education their First Interim Report for Fiscal Year 2009-10 and their Fiscal Stabilization Plan. Judy Perez, AALA President, spoke on the topic of AALA negotiations and the current budget crisis. The following are her comments.

Good afternoon, Madam President, Members of the Board of Education, and Superintendent Cortines. My name is Judith Perez, and I am the elected President of Associated Administrators of Los Angeles.

One month ago AALA sunshined our initial bargaining proposals. At that time, I told the Board that we are ready and willing to commence contract negotiations immediately. The District agreed finally to sit with us at the bargaining table beginning Monday, December 14. The first items to consider will be the four furlough days proposed for 2009-2010 and the recommendation to charge Beaudry employees for parking starting next year.

AALA members are fully aware of the District’s financial crisis, but we are hopeful that the District is committed to fair share bargaining. This means taking into consideration the fact that AALA already lost over 500 members, 20% of our membership, during the last round of cuts.

Our members—principals, assistant principals, directors and other administrators—want to remind you once again that leadership counts! Administrators are accountable for: (1) improved student academic achievement, and (2) the safety and security of students and staff members. We are working harder than ever, yet the District is expecting us to do even more with less, specifically, to: • Provide increased oversight of the instructional program, with fewer administrators to do it, • Improve the quality of teacher evaluation, with less time to observe and give teachers feedback, • Ensure students’ safety and security, before school, after school, during recess and nutrition, on the playground, at evening sports events--every day and on weekends!

AALA members will fulfill these commitments—and more—despite the financial crisis. During tough times and emergencies, middle managers hold the District together. But please keep in mind that eliminating more administrative positions and cutting the pay of those who remain will have a long-term negative impact on students and their families.

We support Board President García’s stated commitment to good jobs and good schools! AALA will do our fair share, but we ask you to be fair, as well.

Thank you. 1

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MENTOR PRINCIPAL SUPPORT

On Monday, November 30, 2009, AALA and LAUSD initiated a Mentor Principal Program to assist principals who wish to seek informal guidance from a colleague. Any and all school-related topics such as budget, fundraising, personnel issues, and parent involvement may be discussed.

At a reception at Taix Restaurant, Dr. Judith Perez, AALA President, and Superintendent Ramon Cortines addressed the mentor principals and thanked them for their willingness to lend support.

Principals initially selected to participate in this pilot program are noted below. AALA members should feel free to contact a mentor to seek advice or guidance. All contacts are voluntary and confidential, and there is no paperwork of any kind required by the District or AALA.

Elementary School Roger Avila Saticoy Elementary [email protected] Lynn Andrews Allesandro Elementary [email protected] Dr. Angel Barrett Plummer Elementary [email protected] Robert Burke Open Charter Magnet [email protected] Chris Cassidy Park Western Place [email protected] Beth Fuller Teresa Hughes Elementary [email protected] Eugene Hernandez Frank Del Olmo Elementary [email protected] Lisa Jeffery Sixty-Sixth Street Elementary [email protected] Middle School Terry Ball Dana Middle School [email protected] Robert Bilovsky Berendo Middle School [email protected] Dr. Edna Burems Curtiss Middle School [email protected] Travis Collier Dodson Middle School [email protected] John McLaughlin Romer Middle School [email protected] Scott Schmerelson Johnnie Cochran Jr. Middle School [email protected] Donna Tobin Reed Middle School [email protected] Veronique Wills Barack Obama Global Middle [email protected] School Senior High School George Bartleson Dorsey High School [email protected] Linda Calvo Arleta High School [email protected] Luis Lopez Franklin High School [email protected] Jan Lyons Sylmar High School [email protected] Michael Summe Garfield High School [email protected] Maria Torres Flores Bravo Medical Magnet [email protected] Ed Zubiate Fairfax High School [email protected]

Questions regarding the program may be addressed to Dr. Judith Perez, Dan Isaacs, or Charlotte Lerchenmuller at AALA. 2

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ENGLISH LEARNER AUTHORIZATION: More Details

On August 25, 2009, the Board of Education adopted a new policy, whereby:

All teachers assigned to K-12 schools shall be prepared to meet the needs of English Learners. Effective September 1, 2009, all newly hired K-12 teachers shall be required to hold an authorization to teach English Learners (EL Authorization) to be eligible to receive an offer of probationary employment. By March 1, 2010, all teachers assigned to K-12 schools shall hold an EL authorization. An authorization to teach English Learners shall be required of all teachers assigned to K-12 schools to be eligible for continued employment after June 30, 2010.

The District strongly recommends that all administrators who do not hold an EL authorization begin the process to acquire it. No deadline to obtain certification is currently in place. However, because of potential administrative reassignments and reduction in force for 2010-2011, we urge you to be prepared.

The current option for EL authorization is passing the California Teachers of English Learner (CTEL) examination or completing CTEL coursework and then applying to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for a Cross-cultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) certificate.

The following information and resources are available to assist you:

. Universities/colleges that have been approved to offer CTEL coursework may be accessed by going to http://134.186.81.79/fmi/xsl/CTC_apm/recordlist.

. California State University, Long Beach and Stanford University will evaluate combinations of CTEL coursework and CTEL tests when issuing CLAD certificates. Interested K-12 teachers will want to email CSULB’s Dr. Ron Reese at [email protected] and/or Stanford University’s Veronica Fern-McElarney at [email protected] for additional information.

. District administrators choosing to pursue EL certification by taking the CTEL examination may attend Lace's CTEL Test Preparation classes at a reduced fee. These test prep classes will qualify participants for a District issued CTEL examination voucher.

. If you wish to take online CTEL preparation classes, go to http://www.kdsi.org/LAUSD-CTEL.

. The next CTEL examination is scheduled for June 12, 2010. For information, go to http://www.ctel.nesinc.com/.

If you have additional questions about CLAD certificates, please email [email protected] or call Certificated Employment Operations at 213-241-5100 and ask to speak to your Local District Credentials and Contract Assistant. If you have questions about the Board of Education’s EL policy, contact Derek Ramage, Coordinator, Certificated Employment Operations, at [email protected] or 213-241-4669.

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ACADEMIC DECATHLON VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The 2010 LAUSD Academic Decathlon competition, the 29th annual, will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2010, and Saturday, February 6, 2010, at Roybal Learning Center, 1200 West Colton Street, Los Angeles 90026. Past support by administrators and teachers for this competition has been outstanding, and that support is needed again this year, especially on the first date, January 30, for the Speech, Interview and Essay events. Volunteer applications are available at all participating high schools, Local District offices, and at www.acadecala.net. Contact Cliff Ker, Academic Decathlon Coordinator, at 818.654.3714 or at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Special Request for Retired Administrators: Readers are needed to score the student essays on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Beaudry, 25th Floor. If you have questions regarding this request or can help read the essays, please contact Cliff Ker at the numbers above. Validated parking will be available in the Visconti garage.

OPERATION SCHOOL BELL

Last year over 6,000 LAUSD students' lives were brightened by gifts of clothing and school supplies from Operation School Bell, a service project of Assistance League of Southern California, which is a nonprofit organization that provides support to LAUSD students from families with extreme need. To continue its mission the organization could use your help. Visit their website, www.operationschoolbell.org, for more information about the organization and how you might be able to assist.

Operation School Bell's fine work will be on display Saturday, December 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Assistance League of Southern California, 1370 North St. Andrews Place, Hollywood, where volunteers will dress over 200 deserving LAUSD students. On Tuesday, January 12, Operation School Bell on Wheels will visit Dayton Heights School to dress a similar number of students.

HOLD THE DATE!

The ACSA/AALA California Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate Forum is scheduled for January 21, 2010, from 5:30-8:00 p.m., at Los Angeles Central High School #9 (the new arts HS), 450 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles.

AALA APEIS SURVEY

Soon, AALA will invite all current APEISs to complete a survey about their working conditions. AALA members may recall that Superintendent Cortines sought to eliminate the APEIS position entirely. AALA’s filing of a Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) complaint forced the District to rescind the proposed elimination. The District, however, reduced the number of APEIS positions, which resulted in many APEISs serving more than one school.

If you are an APEIS and do not receive the e-mail invitation to participate in the survey, please contact AALA at [email protected].

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HEALTH BENEFITS FAQ

Topic: Managing Your Health Benefits

Who makes decisions about the District’s health plans?

The Health Benefits Committee (HBC) is responsible for designing the Health and Welfare program of the District, including selection, addition, and/or termination of health plans or provider. The committee also proposes plan modifications such as co-pays, deductibles, and premium contributions.

Who sits on the Health Benefits Committee?

Representatives from the District and each of the LAUSD unions comprise the membership of the Health Benefits Committee (HBC). Each union is entitled to one seat per 5,000 members. AALA holds one seat on the committee. A benefits consultant and a committee chair are jointly hired by the District and the HBC to facilitate the work of the committee.

How are HBC decisions made and carried out?

All decisions are made by consensus. The District’s Benefits Administration Office administers all plans, including enrollment, dependent coverage, COBRA coverage, Medicare, student verification, and many other plan administration-related responsibilities.

Can the HBC decide to change member and dependent eligibility requirements to qualify for benefits?

No, eligibility for Health and Welfare benefits is defined in each union contract. The HBC does not have the authority to negotiate contracts or make contractual changes.

When does the HBC make decisions about the next year’s health and welfare plans?

The committee usually makes all decisions several months before the Open Enrollment period that begins November 1 of each calendar year. The 2010 plan change decisions were made in mid- September. The District and the HBC, along with its consultants, began disseminating information about the new designs soon thereafter. AALA published plan changes in its September 21 issue of UPDATE.

How often does the HBC meet and what business is conducted during meetings?

The HBC meets monthly throughout the entire year. A subcommittee of the HBC meets more often, as needed. As soon as plan decisions are made for the Open Enrollment period, the committee begins planning for the following year. Insurers and other health contractors may request or be invited to share services or products. Relevant issues arising from the current plans are discussed.

How do AALA members air their concerns or make suggestions for the HBC to consider?

Concerns and suggestions may be sent by e-mail to [email protected]. Members may also fax or mail their suggestions. All legitimate concerns and suggestions will be considered. However, suggestions that are contrary to current contract language and/or State or Federal statutes cannot be brought to the committee. 5

A s s o c i a t e d A d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f L o s A n g e l e s

NOTE: UPDATE will not be published during the WINTER BREAK. The final edition of UPDATE for this year (2009) will be the week of December 14, 2009.

The first edition of UPDATE for the year 2010 will be the week of January 4, 2010.

SAVE THE DATE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010 – The PDK-USC Chapter will host its Annual Emery Stoops Lecture Dinner at 6:00 p.m. (Social Hour at 5:00 p.m.), USC University Club (formerly the Faculty Center). Guest speakers will be Dr. Angel Barrett, California 2009 National Distinguished Principal, and Dr. Karen Symms Gallagher, Dean, USC Rossier School of Education. Cost is $40. For questions and reservations contact Teresa Miller at [email protected].

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Minimum Qualifications: Candidates are responsible for making sure all the District requirements have been met. Do not contact AALA for information regarding positions. Use the listed contact phone number.

PRINCIPAL, SECONDARY

Burroughs Middle School (3) MST 44, 600 South Mc Cadden Place, Los Angeles, CA 90005 Burroughs is an E Basis school. For information and application procedures contact Douglas Waybright, Director, Secondary Schools, at 310.253.7100. Filing deadline is Wednesday, December 23, 2009.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, SECONDARY

Helen Bernstein High School (4) MST 40, 1309 N. Wilton Place, Hollywood, CA 90028 Bernstein is a B Basis school. For information and application procedures contact Rosa Maria Hernandez, Director, Secondary Schools, at 213.241.0135. Filing deadline is Tuesday, December 22, 2009.

THE FOLLOWING POSITION IS AVAILABLE TO VIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY BY GOING TO THE AALA WEBSITE, http://www.aalausd.com. BY CLICKING ON “POSITIONS AVAILABLE” TO THE LEFT OF THE SCREEN, YOU CAN SELECT NONSCHOOL-BASED POSITIONS AND CLICK ON ANY POSITION TO VIEW THE SPECIFIC FLYER.

POSITION FILING DEADLINE DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT, MST 45, B Basis, Charter Schools Division. For information and application UNTIL procedures contact Aaron Eairleywine, Central Business Advisor, at FILLED 213.241.2656

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