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Monday, 19 September 2011

Tips from the Line

I commented to a friend the other day on something I found rather alarming: Striking has become normal. It has set into a mundane routine. In the morning, I check the weather and dress accordingly in preparation for walking the picket line. I have turned into a seasoned veteran of the strike line. I must say the mostly Republican bones in my body are a bit shocked to admit this. (I think my elbow is a bit more Democrat and my metacarpus lean a bit more to the Libertarians. The rest of my bones try to keep them under control.)
Here are some tips if you ever find yourself out on the line:
1) Car pool: Aside from doing good for the environment (according to my elbow), it makes good sense as a member of the community. There is already limited parking around most schools. No need to upset neighbors.
2) Check the weather forecast: it looked cold and rainy this morning. My mid afternoon, I had pealed off 2 layers and wish I had my straw hat to shield me from the glorious sun. Fortunately, I did layer my clothes.
3) Wear comfortable walking shoes: I know, a bit of a no-brainer but I've seen people out there in flip-flops and heels.
4) Get your facts straight: Oh it pains me, absolutely causes me agony to overhear another teacher tell a passerby, "They are trying to get rid of all the old teachers." or "Teachers want to be fairly compensated." Of course we want to be fairly compensated, but that isn't the real issue here. I don't think anyone in Administration really wants to get rid of the older teachers. Many are a source of mentoring and assistance for us younger teachers. The not-so-great-ones? Well goodness, do you think seniority really has anything to do with that at all?
Make sure you know why you are on the line. Read everything. Not just the Union paper or website and not just the information from the District. Find as much as you can and weigh it out yourself.
5) "Its for the kids" really doesn't work. Everyone wants what is best for them and we can argue for hours on who knows best. Just describe it honestly.

Friday, 16 September 2011

Tricky Issue(s)?

I really like information.
I just read the most recent proposal from the Tacoma Education Association (dated 9/15/11) to the Tacoma School District. It was provided by the Tacoma School District.
One of the biggest hints that I might be getting "PR"'d or "spun" is when I'm not allowed to compare apples to apples. So, here I have the TEA's apple provided by the Tacoma School District. What do I compare it to? The District hasn't offered to share their proposals.
It seems there are 3 major issues: Class size, pay and the evaluation plan. I was told by the TEA that the school district will not bargain the first two until the TEA accepts the evaluation plan (without any changes).
This made me wonder. When asked, "What are the issues?" Someone could honestly say, "Pay, class size and evaluations." The first two are a lot easier to understand and wrap up in a sound-bite.
I was told by a negotiator that the Union has offered compromises, including creating committees to create rubrics for the subjective points, therefore making them objective and acceptable. It was denied.
If you have more information to offer me, please contact me. I'll pass on more information as I get it!

Update on the pay section:
My friend Erin Sand explains it like this:
Our current contract has a 1% increase built in each year. The proposal asks for .5% next year, not 1.5%, which makes it a decrease. The district is cutting 1.34% due to state budget cuts, so the proposal will, in effect, decrease our salaries by only .34% instead of 1.34%. Next year it would be a .84% decrease. No raise.

But wait! There's more! (Updated 9:14pm)
Below is the most recent Union proposal for dealing with teacher transfers.
MOU For Displacement Study
During the 2011-2012 school year a joint committee of administration (three members), TEA (3 members + 1 UniServ Director) and two outside experts (one chosen by each party) will undertake a thorough study of an alternative process for displacement. The committee will meet at least 6 times during the 2011-2012 school year. At the end of the 2011-12 study the committee will provide a report to be distributed to the Association membership for ratification of any further action regarding displacement.
The committee’s charges will include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Research best practices around displacement using data including data from districts around the nation.
2. Develop a draft displacement criterion program including (process and tool(s)) based upon above research.
3. Create a job description, training materials, and training timeline for the development of a displacement review committee. It is important that the review committee not be peers so that certificated employees may speak to their appeal.
4. Recommend training of principals to provide the following outcomes:
a) an increased understanding of the contractual issues related to this section
b) an opportunity to test with hypothetic teacher data to prove all principals can rank the same using the same data.

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

A few comparisons

I am sorry, but this is going to be a bit of a jambled ramble. It is late and I need some serious sleep so I can decide what to do tomorrow.
A few thoughts.. fun and otherwise:
I wonder what it is like to be a doctor. I really don't think it is much like ER.. and even less like Scrubs. Fun shows though. I've been to doctors, some years more often than others, yet I still don't know what they do for other people. I can make some vague guesses about their long hours and difficult patients. I'm not going to presume to know what it is like to actually be a doctor.
Most of us have had teachers too.
I was talking with another teacher-friend the other day and she asked, "I wonder how many of them have thrown a birthday party?"
That got me to thinking.... Let's imagine, shall we?

Your child is celebrating another year around the sun. Time for a party (I love a good celebration). You throw a party for your darlings and his/her friends. Most parties end after 2 hours. Yours will be 7.5 hours long. Instead of 10 guests, there will be 28. Instead of choosing the guests, they will be assigned to you. Some will come half an hour late and others will leave half an hour early. Instead of hiring a clown, you will be the entertainment. When they leave the party, they need to have memorized the math standard and be able to explain the learning target to a family member. You get two half-hour breaks, one of planning and one for lunch. No bathroom breaks outside of those times for you.

In Grad school, someone passed around a letter from a dentist. I liked that one too. It was one of the first times I really thought about teacher evaluation systems. I remember it said something like, "What would happen if Denstists were rated on the health of the patient's teeth? Genetics didn't matter, nor did eating habits. What they did outside of the office is up to the patient. The dentist is responsible for the quality of those teeth."

I am not one for imfamitory rehetoric. I want facts... not pathos. Both sides seem to feed us just enough information to rile us up.
Tomorrow is going to be interesting. I honestly do not know what I'm going to do. Do I side with my law-breaking union and many fabulous co-workers that love and trust because I do believe this strike is right... or do I abide by the law?

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

· The Tacoma Education Association (#TEA) is currently on strike. #Tacoma Public Schools is at a stand-still and students are at home. (Don't worry kids, you'll still get to make up the time. I'll be with you during the summer too.)

I really don't like striking. To me, it is an antiquated method of passive rebellion. It just isn't my style. I have other things of value to my school district... like my words. So, here come some ...

One of the most frustrating things for me has been the constant wonder about the level of bias in the information I've received.

Below, you will read the exact post from the school district.

In Red my thoughts, including what I've heard from the TEA.

I'd like you to read it and let me know what you've heard. Maybe we can compile it all and ease some of the confusion.

I learned today that in the negotiation process there are "Proposals" and "Suposals." There is an understanding that Suposals not be published because they are like brain storms as they try to compromise on the Proposals.

TPS published its most recent Suposals in the chart below to compare to the Union's Proposal from the start of contract negotiations.

The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of the latest proposals offered at the bargaining table between Tacoma Public Schools and the Tacoma Education Association on the three main unresolved issues.

Issue: Class Size

Tacoma Public Schools

Maintain the existing class size limits in the current collective bargaining agreement

Tacoma Education Assn.

Reduce class size limits by 1 at each grade level

As stated above, this was the Proposal from the TEA. The current proposal is to maintain class size limits, so most of the information is out of date.

Notes

· The District withdrew its original proposal to increase class size; TEA has not changed its position on reducing class size since negotiations began

· The TEA proposal ignores the fact the district has lost $13 million in state funding for smaller class sizes

· The TEA proposal would cost the district an ongoing cost of $1.8 million a year

Issue: Dealing with the State’s 1.9% reduction
to the teacher salary schedule

Tacoma Public Schools

The TEA bargaining unit can accept one of the following options:

Option A

Maintain the current salary schedule
AND
Effective Sept. 1, 2011

· One (1) less personal day

· One (1) less individual optional day

· One (1) less building day

OR

Option B

Reduce the salary schedule by 1.35% and offer teachers the equivalent of 2.5 furlough days and scheduled individually in full- or half-day increments with the principal.

For A and B, the District will reinstate these days should the Legislature reinstate the 1.9% reduction

For A and B, reopen the contract to address salaries for the 2013-2014 school year.

Tacoma Education Assn.

Maintain the current salary schedule

Convert 4 full student days to 4 half days

One of the latest proposals I heard from the district was for teachers to take 4 half days. These days will be covered with substitute teachers. I have 3 issues with this:

1) How is hiring substitutes saving the district money?

2) In the past, we were told that to avoid being absent to help our students succeed more.

3) Over the last 3 years, I can't count the number of times I've had 40+ kids in my classroom because the district couldn't find a substitute for another teacher in the building.

Notes

· The TEA proposal maintains their consistent goal of achieving a pay increase despite funding cuts

· The TEA proposal results in teachers working fewer hours in classroom for the same pay

· The TEA proposal reduces student learning time by making four full school days into four half days

· The TEA initially proposed to increase salaries by 1%

· The TEA proposal has not changed since August 31

Issue: Assignment/Reassignment/Involuntary Transfer

Tacoma Public Schools

For the 2011-2012 School Year

Maintain current seniority-based standard

Establish Joint Committee with TPS and TEA to review best practices related to credentials, performance and building fit as categories for decision-making; Superintendent and certificated staff to meet in groups to develop additional input from staff; accept anonymous feedback electronically.

In July 2012, the Committee shall meet to prepare findings and recommendations to be provided to the Superintendent and TEA President.

Establish a Peer Review Committee of 5 to 7 K-12 certificated employees who have applied for and been trained to accept petitions from employees who disagree with a displacement decision. The review will be blind and Committee members will not know the identities of the Principal and staff involved. The Committee will make a recommendation on the petition to the Superintendent. Committee recommendations and the Superintendent’s decision will be subject to Article XIV- Grievance Procedure, including arbitration by a neutral third party.

For the 2012-2013 School Year

Revise contract assignment/ reassignment/involuntary transfer criteria:

With all criteria being equal, the district will involuntarily transfer the least senior employee; provided, however, an employee will not be involuntarily transferred if another employee volunteers to transfer. The criteria include the following:

1. Requirements of the position

2. Endorsements

3. Highly qualified status

4. Appropriate Certificate

5. Evidence of setting high expectations of learning and respecting student differences

6. Evidence of creating and maintaining a safe and effective learning environment that supports learning for all students

7. Demonstrating knowledge of subject content and elements of effective instruction

8. Using ongoing assessment to reinforce and evaluate student achievement as well as planning instruction

9. Contributing to school effectiveness through collaboration with others

10. Promoting positive interactions with families.

An employee will not be involuntarily transferred if another employee volunteers to transfer, provided the volunteer is considered to be equal in regards to the above criteria.

Tacoma Education Assn.

Continue the current language: “The District will involuntarily transfer the least senior employee within the staffing category; provided, however, an employee will not be involuntarily transferred if another employee volunteers to transfer.”

The union has agreed to the first 4 items on the proposed list... so I'm not sure where the impasse is on this issue. I confirmed this with TEA President Andy Coons this afternoon.

I don't know how the district came up with the final statement in this section. I haven't met a single teacher who thinks seniority should be the only consideration. I've never heard anyone say seniority was more "student centered."

The difficulty with #'s 5-10 is they are subjective. Let's take #10 for example:

I happen to work in a school with fabulously supportive families. I think I've had great relationships with most. However, I do know of one family that called the principal, administration and the media to complain about me (not that I'd ever met the person who was complaining; they never showed up to any of the conferences we arranged and they never talked nor emailed me). How many phone calls has my principal recieved that I don't know about? How many positive letters from families would I need to counter that one interaction?

Notes

· TEA has not changed its proposal since August 31

On Saturday, Sept. 10, the district offered to change its proposal to make displacement decisions based on the following:
• Length of service
• Experience
• Building Alignment
• Ability
• Credentials

Furthermore, the district was willing to agree that an employee’s prior evaluation shall not be used for purposes of making displacement decisions and was willing to negotiate over the types of supporting materials behind these factors.
The TEA rejected this “culture change."

· TEA believes straight seniority is more student-focused than the TPS proposal that takes into account staff credentials and performance, as well as building fit, and which uses seniority as a tie-breaker.

Well, I've got to get to bed. I'll be at Jason Lee at 6am tomorrow. At least there is a Starbucks across the street so I can enjoy a warm cuppa while I march. I'm not even asking for equality. I'd just like to be understood.

Monday, 08 November 2010

Week 1

It is November, and as the weather cools, my body starts to crave warmth. This includes things from the crock pot. Warm and cozy, the foods cook to be the kind that "stick to your ribs" and "warm you to the bone." My type of yumminess in this season.

I'm going to make a turkey plan for Thanksgiving, so I'll not to poultry this week. That leaves me with beef or pork. I saw some adds for beef, so that'll be my choice this round. Since beef is supposed to be the less-good meat, with all the interruptions we have to this week, it means we'll need less meals of it.

Just a reminder: this is for my life... not yours. I mean, you're welcome to use it, but you probably won't have my schedule. This involves potlucks and company coming. Unless you are really stalking me, you probably won't have the same schedule (except my parents probably would). Oh, that brings up another point. I am feeding 5 adults and 1 child. Lois gets what I eat... which reminds me that I need to avoid some foods. (At this point I completely re-wrote the menu I was going to make.)

Foods that blend well:

Tacos to meatloaf to spagehetti to chili (a lot of beans and spices in this group, I'll be skipping it for now)

Roasted chicken: chicken noodle soup, chicken salad, mini chicken pot pies

Roasted pork: Pulled pork sandwiches, pork burritos, veg/pork curry

Pot roast: stroganoff, BBQ beef sandwiches, Mike's beef soup or harvest soup

I'm leaning towards the Pot Roast option this week.

Monday:Pot roast with seasonal vegs

Tuesday: Stroganoff (left overs for lunches)

Wednesday: (Meal with friends)

Thursday: BBQ beef sandwiches w/ creamy Squash soup

Friday/weekend: (Company coming for the weekend) Beef Harvest soup

Saturday: Leftovers (Yes, this counts, we need to get rid of all the food, right?) Besides, we have company coming, and I anticipate a meal out at some point that will generate more leftovers.

Sunday: Thanksgiving Potluck at church

Shopping list:

Beef Roast (a big one; figure 1lb per person for the week; that would be about 1/4 lb per person for each meal)

Squash (M,F)
Potatoes (M,F)
Carrots (M, F)
Mushrooms (M,T)
Onions (M, T, F)
Garlic (M, T, F)

Sour Cream (T)
Cream Cheese (Th)
Worchestier Sauce (M, T)
Wine (M, T)
Beef Bullion (F)
BBQ Sauce (Th)

Rolls (M, Th, F)
Egg noodles

A few spices I have on hand:

Italian Blend
Oregano
Curry
Salt/Pepper
Nutmeg

Off to shop! I'll update this post with pricing next. :)