SDEA and SDUSD have reached an agreement that will create better caseloads and new workload protections for special educators, concluding the special 60-day workload bargaining process agreed to during negotiations for the 2008-2013 contracts. This settlement marks real progress toward the priorities that SDEA’s special educators shared during the bargaining listening sessions with 4,000+ members two years ago. The language of the agreement will be incorporated into Article 30: Special Education of the new 2010-2013 contract, and will take effect for the 2010-2011 school year. However, there remain real areas of need that will be addressed through a joint SDEA-SDUSD process to continue negotiating special education workload. The parties will work over the course of the coming year to create and refine a workload model that must be implemented in the 2011-2012 school year.

To read a more detailed summary of or to download the signed agreement, visit the Bargaining Updates page.



Members who enroll are guaranteed disability insurance without having to provide proof of good health now through June 30. In addition, members may also enroll for $25,000 of life insurance without having to provide any medical history or proof of good health as well. SDUSD’s teachers are not eligible for state disability insurance—if you do not purchase disability insurance then you do not have disability coverage.

CTA only endorses one Life and Disability Insurance provider, and that’s Standard Insurance Company. Now is your time to learn about the importance of Disability and Life Insurance and get the coverage you need. Contact your site representative to learn about events happening in your area or visit Member Benefits at www.cta.org to learn more. You can also reference the informative materials and enrollment form recently mailed you.

For costs and further details of the coverage, including exclusion, and any reduction or limitation and the terms under which the policy may be continued in force, please contact Standard Insurance Company at 800-522-0406.

Evans’ and Jackson’s reversal of their unnecessary and harmful decision to lay off teachers is no coincidence. This victory was the direct result of SDEA members acting collectively to encourage the Board to do the right thing. If you have not yet watched the video prepared after our accountability session with Trustee Evans, please take seven minutes to do so now:

http://www.youtube.com/SDEAUnion

When we speak together, we are powerful. It was our collective voice that moved School Board members to oppose layoffs, and that same voice that will allow us to advocate effectively for our schools, our students and our profession.

Together We ARE Stronger!

Scott Barnett

The June primary election is right around the corner. The SDEA Representative Council voted to recommend Scott Barnett for School Board in District C, the seat currently held by incumbent John deBeck. Barnett is a parent of two SDUSD students and a past member of the Prop. MM oversight committee.

The decision to recommend Barnett came on the heels of several decisions by incumbent deBeck to lay off teachers, push for impasse in bargaining, and his increasingly hostile and divisive attitude toward educators and SDEA in particular. In Barnett we find an intelligent and creative political veteran who we believe will fight for the things we believe in: protecting our classrooms, demonstrating respect for education professionals, and making sound decisions regarding the future of SDUSD.
Barnett can be contacted at scott@scott-barnett.com.

For a full list of SDEA, CTA and Labor Council recommendations, click here.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves:

SDUSD has a Human Resources Problem, NOT a Budget Problem

SDEA members recognize the District is in a tight spot, needing to cut about 250 teaching positions to balance their budget. But the District already has nearly 500 vacancies among the teaching ranks—making the 250-position cut easily attainable without a single layoff notice.

That’s because hundreds of temporary contract employees (many of whom have worked in our schools for five or more years) have already been told their positions will be cut. Dozens more SDEA members will retire or resign. These hundreds of employees will already be missed and their lives are already being disrupted. The School Board knew this when they met in a closed meeting yesterday—with no public notice that layoffs would be discussed—and yet 4 out of 5 voted to lay off 112 teachers. They are now filling their 250-position budget hole with over 600 teaching positions.

Why did four Trustees vote for layoffs?

Trustees Evans and Jackson had committed to SDEA members (on numerous occasions) that layoffs were the last possible action the Board would consider. In voting for layoffs, they join Trustees Nakamura and deBeck with their long and shameful history of voting against our students’ best interest. This action is a shocking reversal on the part of Evans and Jackson, and evidence that these four Trustees place a higher value on forming an unnecessary human buffer around their budget than on providing a stable learning environment for San Diego’s children.

Why add insult to injury with 112 more probationary layoff notices? Call or email these elected representatives and ask for yourself.

John Lee Evans: (858) 361-5151 or JohnLeeEvans@aol.com

Shelia Jackson: (619) 549-6299 or sheliajackson12@gmail.com

Katherine Nakamura: (619) 847-3192 or nakamura@cox.net

John deBeck: (619)208-2215 or jdebeck1@san.rr.com

And while you’re at it—take a moment to thank Trustee Richard Barrera for having the courage to stand with educators consistently, and to vote against layoffs: rbarrera1@sandi.net

The fight is not over. SDEA members have proven time and again that we can and will prevail in defending our students, our profession and each other. Talk to your site AR to stay informed and to find out what WE can do!

CTA only endorses one Life and Disability Insurance provider, and that’s Standard Insurance Company. Now is your time to learn about the importance of Disability and Life Insurance and get the coverage you need. Contact your site representative to learn about events happening in your area or visit Member Benefits at www.cta.org to learn more. You can also reference the informative materials and enrollment form recently mailed you.

For costs and further details of the coverage, including exclusion, and any reduction or limitation and the terms under which the policy may be continued in force, please contact Standard Insurance Company at 800-522-0406.

2010 SDEA SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!

The Dependent Application is for graduating seniors and current college-enrolled students who are dependents of a current CTA/NEA/SDEA member. The Member Application is for current CTA/NEA/SDEA members who wish to further their education. Just click on the link provided and download the appropriate application. You may also visit the SDEA office located at 10393 San Diego Mission Road #100, San Diego, CA 92108 between the hours of 8 to 5 (Mon.-Fri.). Please take note that the deadline to submit completed applications to the SDEA office is Friday, April 23 by 5 p.m. It is crucial that you write Attn: Nena Najera on your envelope when mailing in your application(s) or personally dropping it off. Good luck to all applicants!

• 2010 Scholarship Timeline
• 2010 Dependent Scholarship Application
• 2010 Member Scholarship Application

If you need further assistance with SDEA scholarships, do not hesitate to contact Nena Najera at SDEA (619) 283-4411 x120 or najera_n@sdea.net.

SDEA Officers

President

Bill Freeman: 273
Tommy Flanagan: 177
Write-ins: 6

Vice President

Camille Zombro: 346
Tom Noriega: 137
Write-ins: 1

Secretary

Lindsay Burningham: 417
Write-ins: 7

Treasurer

Ray Ruffin: 430
Write-ins: 2

SDEA Board of Directors

SDEA Board, Seat 2

Eleanor Evans: 65
Ramon Espinal: 45
Write-ins: 1

SDEA Board, Seat 3

Kisha Borden: 83
Write-ins: 1

SDEA Board, Seat 5

Barry Dancher: 43
Write-ins: 0

SDEA Board, Seat 9

Deborah Hoeltgen: 105
Write-ins: 0

SDEA Board, Seat 12

Melody Welch: 50
Write-ins: 1

CTA State Council Delegates

CTA State Council, Seat 4

Melody Welch: 242
Thomas Alforque: 199
Write-ins: 4

CTA State Council, Seat 5

Connie Gearhart: 433
Write-ins: 5

CTA State Council, Seat 9

Eleanor Evans: 422
Write-ins: 4

CTA State Council, Seat 18

Brenda Iodice: 276
Reashon Villery: 134
Write-ins: 2

CTA State Council, Seat 19

Meghann Hughes: 233
Maria Jimenez: 188
Write-ins: 4

NEA Representative Assembly*

Name                                                Votes                        Rank

Erin Andreasen Kole                         185                               10

Elida Melendez                                  153                                19

Melody Welch                                    198                                8

Paula White Wilson                          168                               14

Steven Wood                                      147                               20

Kathi Pastor                                       160                               17

Eduardo Padilla                                168                               14

Terry Pesta                                        293                                2

Kandi Nieto                                      202                                 7

Tom Noriega                                    218                                 3

Thomas Alforque                            203                                6

Gretchen Casey Nakanishi           182                                 11

Eleanor Juanita Evans                  190                                 9

Carolyn Vega                                  209                                 5

Charlotte Vouaux                          143                                 22

Kristin Brown                                177                                  13

Michelle “Mickey” Brown           155                                  18

Peter Brown                                  164                                  16

Melissa Roy-Wood                      146                                  21

Gregory Roy                                 142                                  23

Meghann Hughes                       181                                   12

Camille Zombro                          331                                   1

Tommy Flanagan                       217                                   4

*This list does not indicate which candidates were elected/not elected, nor does it indicate which delegates will be funded by SDEA. A complete list (showing elected candidates and funded delegates) will be posted on the web site as soon as it becomes available.

After nearly two years of bargaining, organizing, and working together to make our voices heard, SDEA members have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a fair contract with SDUSD. With over 45% of SDEA members voting, the final tally was 3,062 voting yes and 108 voting no. With a 97% approval, the vote demonstrates a strong foundation for the upcoming years.

This contract demonstrates that, even in tough economic times, districts and unions can find solutions which protect students, parents and our entire community. Together we are stronger!

“Educators are continuing our practice of supporting public education from our own pockets,” said SDEA Vice President and Bargaining Chair Marc Capitelli. “We have once again protected our students during these catastrophic economic times. But we also recognize that this practice of cutting state support cannot continue at the expense of our students and our own families. We will now refocus our efforts on pushing the state to live up to its responsibility to fully fund a well-rounded education for every student.”

The major features of new contract include:

• Five furlough days in the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years.
• Reinstatement of all furlough days in 2012-2013, plus additional increases of 2%, 2% and 3% spread over the course of the 2012-13 school year.
• An agreement to cut healthcare costs by increasing co-pays and other minor healthcare changes.
• Contingency language guaranteeing that improvements to the District’s fiscal circumstances would cancel the furlough days or restore compensation to members.
• Improved class size protections at the elementary and secondary levels.
• Protections for nursing and counseling staffing levels.
• Protections for educators who retire during the next two school years.
• Other no-cost contract improvements. Visit the bargaining updates page for the full text of the agreement.

SDEA’s Proposed Furlough Dates Approved by SDUSD

Negotiators from SDEA and SDUSD met Friday morning, March 12, to finalize the calendar of furlough days for the 2010-11 school year. SDEA’s team came prepared with extensive input from members and site representatives. Based on the overwhelming preference indicated by members, the days selected are as follows:

• Traditional Calendar: June 14-17, and June 20, 2011 (ending the school year one week early).
• Year-Round Calendar: April 27-29, 2011 (extending spring intersession); June 17 and 20, 2011 (creating a four-day weekend after the testing window).
• CDCs: November 22-24, 2010 (giving members Thanksgiving week off), June 17 and June 20  (creating a four-day weekend). NOTE: State restrictions which require CDCs to remain open a set number of days may result in a change of dates for CDCs—we will keep members posted if these dates change.

ALL MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: Effective the 2010-11 school year, Spring Break is set an equal distance between winter and summer breaks, and is not attached to the Easter holiday. Members who observe religious holidays during this or any other time of the school year are advised to check Article 10.3.5 of the contract for religious holiday leave rights.

This is your contract and your vote.

This ratification vote is an important opportunity for SDEA members to demonstrate our strength and our unity. A strong vote turnout will show the District that we are united in our commitment to ensuring that our new contract is enforced, united in our commitment to ensuring that our next contract builds upon our hard work over the past two years. The District has heard us loud and clear over the past 22 months. Let’s make sure they hear us now.

Membership Meetings

SDEA will be conducting eight membership meetings at the SDEA office to discuss the details of the TA prior to the ratification vote. Hard copies of the agreement will also be provided at the membership meetings. Members can visit the bargaining updates page for a detailed summary and to download the TA ahead of time. The dates for the meetings are:

• Wednesday, March 3 — 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 4 — 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, March 5 — 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 6 — 10:00 a.m. and Noon

Voting Instructions

Ballots were mailed to members’ homes on Wednesday, March 3. Ballots must be received (not post-marked) at the SDEA office no later than 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 13 in order to be counted. Members who have not received a ballot early next week should come to the SDEA office to have a replacement ballot signed out to them. Only SDEA members may vote; non-members/fee-payers cannot vote. The ratification vote is occurring concurrently with the election for SDEA officers for the 2010-2011 school year. Please carefully review the voting instructions enclosed with your ratification ballot to ensure that your vote is counted!

SDEA’s leadership believes this contract represents a monumental victory for educators, students, parents and the entire San Diego community. This is likely the strongest overall education contract in California. To have achieved this success, during these difficult financial times, is a tribute to SDEA members standing strong behind their bargaining team and SDEA leadership. Let’s stand strong together again.

Together we really are stronger!