Locals
TSTA-Conroe hosts district banquet
Each year, TSTA-Conroe hosts the Conroe ISD Teacher/Humanitarian of the Year Banquet; this year it was held on May 1. Shown in the banner at the top of this page: the TSTA-Conroe Executive Board with CISD Superintendent Dr. Don Stockton.
Locals host candidate forums
TSTA's local associations in the Hays and Killeen school districts have both hosted candidate forums for their local school board races.
Northside bus drivers go before board
Northside TSTA bus drivers spoke at the Northside ISD (San Antonio) school board meeting on April 24 about the need for a pay raise.
Senator Rodriguez signs TSTA petition
Sen. Jose Rodriguez signed the Stop the Cuts petition and spoke about the importance of funding public schools at a meeting April 12. “The University Democrats and the TSTA Student Program Chapter from the University of Texas at El Paso sponsored a Town Hall Meeting with Sen. Jose Rodriguez as guest speaker," El Paso Teachers Association President Norma De La Rosa said. "Members of the two organizations along with members of the Texas Faculty Association chapter and the El Paso Teachers Association were present to hear Sen. Rodriguez speak about the legislative process which included information on the budget, the cuts to education, and his role in serving his constituents in El Paso County. While talking about education and answering questions about the cuts and issues and concerns coming up in the next legislative session, Sen. Rodriguez stopped and confirmed his commitment to education by signing the Stop the Cuts petition. He stated that, without education, our children would not be able to buy the houses or the automobiles that the automobile dealers and realtor companies are trying to sell. He also stated that education needed to be everyone's priority."
Houston area student teachers sign petition
Twice a year, the University of Houston hosts a Student Teacher Conference for a number of universities in the Houston area. TSTA conducted two of the sessions this spring: Bullying Awareness by Bryan Weatherford and Mark Maldonado, and Tap Dancing On Legal Quicksand by Sam Blackman and Dardon Ann Hayter (part time staff from Pasadena). TSTA is the only professional organization that participates in the planning and conducting of this conference, whose official title is "Student Teaching Inter-Institutional Conference and Job Fair."
TSTA had a registration table where the student teachers filled out a registration form with their graduation date, email address, and any current professional organization membership at their university. During the Job Fair, school districts set up signing tables for openings in their districts. There were 35 school districts from Texas, as well as districts from as far away as Denver and Little Rock, and foreign areas such as the Taiwan Embassy in Houston.
Dr. Frances Smith gives the welcome from TSTA and NEA; this year, she spoke on the Stop The Cuts campaign, which resulted in a large number of the student teachers signing the petitions -- more than 350.
More than 10,000 signatures and counting!
Read about all the work local associations are doing around the Stop the Cuts Now petition drive on a special Facebook page dedicated to the drive: www.facebook.com/stopthecutsnow!
Killeen members address board about exploitive language
They may not have won this round, but they learned from the experience, and they felt the pride that comes from standing up for yourself and your peers. Ann Fitzgerald and other Killeen Education Association leaders spoke out at the March 6 board meeting over exploitive language in teachers' 2011-12 contracts that "has opened the door to teachers' workload being greatly increased with no additional compensation."
The language comes from the Texas Association of School Boards: "The District shall pay you according to the compensation plan adopted by the Board each school year. Your salary includes consideration for all assigned duties, responsibilities, and tasks, regardless of the actual number of hours or days (including days not designated on the school calendar) that you work during this Contract. Your salary shall be reduced for absences in excess of authorized, paid leave."
"According to this language change, the teacher has agreed to work as many days as the district requires, regardless of whether those are 'contract days,'" KEA said. "The...teacher can be required to work every single day of their 10-month contract, regardless of whether it is a 'work day.' This means a teacher could be required to work 300 days instead of 187. Furthermore, it does not say who sets the teacher's assigned duties, responsibilities, and tasks. Since it is administrators who determine duties, responsibilities, and tasks, extra duties can be assigned at will and some teachers will find themselves working longer hours than colleagues, and have little recourse for redress.
"It is not enough to accept good faith assurances that this will not happen. If it is not the district's intent to exploit such a language change, why include it in the contract?" the local asks.
Other locals can learn from the strategies KEA employed. They emailed members and nonmembers a video, a link to a petition, and an invitation to a meeting on Feb. 29. Thirty people attended and signed commitment cards stating they would attend and speak about the issue at the school board meeting March 6. Two members also wrote letters to the editor of the local paper at the meeting.
Valley and Houston take 'Core Curriculum' training
TSTA's "Core Curriculum" covers four subject areas: organizing, political action, advocacy, and local capacity. Each training is three hours. This is regionalized training, in seven regions defined by geographic area (not by TSTA region). On Feb. 18, the Valley and Houston areas participated in the first round; the Houston area was trained in local capacity and advocacy, while the Valley studied organizing and political action. They will swap trainings in March, so participants get the second half of the curriculum.
Laredo United passes 600 signatures and counting
Laredo United TSTA is activating its extensive network of Association Representatives to gather signatures building by building on the Stop the Cuts petition. So far the local has gathered 610 signatures, and the work is continuing. Laredo United has passed on the report below on the numbers, broken out by building and district, to show the result of moving systematically through their worksites gathering signatures. Congratulations to president Rene De La Vina and all of the Laredo United ARs.
Here are some numbers to add to our 193 signatures for Laredo United TSTA. The following were submitted by Laredo United ARs.
74 signatures from Transportation—LISD
63 signatures from Salvador Garcia ES--UISD
56 signatures from Nixon HS—LISD
52 signatures from Cigarroa HS—LISD
45 signatures from United South HS—UISD
35 signatures from Kawas ES—LISD
31 signatures from Bruni ES—LISD
26 Signatures from Salinas ES—UISD
21 signatures from Santa Maria ES--LISD
14 signatures from Christen MS—LISD
In addition, Laredo United leaders De La Vina, Hilario Cavasos, and Mario Zaragosa had a letter published in the Laredo Morning Times on the Stop the Cuts issue. The letter reads, in part, "Both Laredo school districts have made many changes in response to the budget cuts by the state. However, Texas continues to sit on billions of dollars in its Rainy Day Fund. With $7.3 billion by the end of the current budget cycle (Aug. 31), why should we go through another round of cuts for the 2012-2013 school year?"
North Lamar ISD touts support of Stop the Cuts Campaign
The administration of North Lamar ISD has sent out a news release to area media endorsing the Stop the Cuts campaign and featuring a photograph of Superintendent James Dawson being the first in the district to sign the petition. North Lamar is showing the way, demonstrating that local efforts like this one, to enlist support of school districts and local public officials in the campaign, should play a major role in the Stop the Cuts effort.
Check out Lorenzo Hernandez on the district website
In an article on the school district website, Lorenzo Hernandez, head custodian at Dishman Elementary in Harlingen CISD, talks about what association membership means to him.
Hays teachers win against TASB recommendations
After a long and detailed discussion, the Hays CISD Board of Trustees on Jan. 23 made a bold decision to reject the Texas Association of School Board's recommended policy change, regarding the timeline of contract non-renewal notification for teachers. Hays Educators Association and its state affiliate, TSTA, commend the school board for listening to teachers' concerns and making the right decision, and they thank all who signed the petition or got involved in the campaign by contacting school board members. (A video was emailed to all teachers in the district, along with an invitation to sign a petition calling for the continuation of the 45-day policy. The petition filled the inboxes of board members, and that was noted in the board's discussion.)
As a result of the decision to retain current policy, teachers now have a written guarantee that they will be informed of the district's intent to non-renew their contract no later than 45 days before the last day of instruction.
"The power of collective action never ceases to amaze me," said Esperanza Orosco, president of Hays Educators Association. "When educators stand alone, we are taken for granted; standing together, we command respect. I am proud to work in a district that not only makes a commitment to employee morale, but takes the extra step to make that commitment real by demonstrating a clear respect for its educators. I can only hope that neighboring districts follow our district's courageous lead."
Harlingen, San Benito celebrate a great fall
The key? Monthly meetings for association representatives and great communication on every campus and work site. On Nov. 30, the two TSTA local associations celebrated the hard work and many hours they have spent in training and structuring their AR systems this fall. Both groups have been giving school board presentations and received approval from their local superintendent to link their web page to the school's web page.
San Marcos spending $79K for election
As a result of its decision to keep school board elections in May instead of November, the San Marcos district will spend an extra $79,000. That's money needed for the kids, local president Susan Seaton says.
Congratulations to Cy-Fair and Alief!
Congratulations to President Frances Smith and all the members of Cypress-Fairbanks TSTA/NEA and President Ovidia Molina and all the members of Alief TSTA/NEA for their victories Nov. 8 in important local school board elections. All four TSTA-endorsed candidates -- Christine Hartley and Thomas Jackson in Cy-Fair, and John P. Hansen and Ann Williams in Alief -- won with over 60% of the vote. These victories demonstrate what we can achieve when local members take an active role in shaping the direction of the school boards that play such an important role in what happens in our classrooms and campuses. The TSTA Public Affairs Division helped with robo calls and mailers.
Political action tops Region 4 agenda
Region 4 held a Presidents and Leaders Summit in October that featured TSTA President Rita Haecker, Vice President Noel Candelaria, and Public Affairs Director Ed Martin. Local school board members Charles Wilson of Marshall ISD and Bruce Parrot of Dallas ISD were among the speakers.
Local activism: why it matters
In August, TSTA members proved the value of local activism in at least three locations.
Waco TSTA/NEA saves local leave days
The tools that drove their success were a free online survey, an informational flyer, and addressing the school board.
Free survey
Flyer
ESP campaign begins in El Paso
El Paso area education support professionals met this summer to kick off a countywide membership campaign. The meeting drew 55 ESPs, 26 of whom signed “commitment cards” to help with the campaign. El Paso, Ysleta, Socorro, Canutillo and Clint were all represented.
Hays rejects TASB's extra days with no extra pay
Hays Educators Association has become the second TSTA local after Del Valle Education Association to achieve a victory for teachers with regard to the exploitative contract language that has appeared in teacher contracts around the state. The troubling language emanated from Texas Association of School Boards and opened the door to teachers working up to 300 days without additional compensation beyond their base salary.
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San Angelo had a great spring
San Angelo has recruited about 100 new members. "That places our current membership at about 264 members," President Art Rios said. "This is just from campuses. San Angelo has fall visits planned with transportation, maintenance and cafeteria workers."
Del Valle: School board rejects TASB language
In a stunning victory for the fledgling Del Valle Education Association and district teachers, the Del Valle ISD school board on April 19th voted 8-1 to approve an addendum to the teacher term contract which effectively deletes the exploitative Texas Association of School Boards recommended contract language which had opened the door to teachers working up to 300 days without a penny of additional compensation.
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Previously in Del Valle
Del Valle EA urges board to reject class size increase: Michelle Cardenas, president of Del Valle Education Association, spoke to the Del Valle ISD school board on Feb.15, exhorting them to reject a proposal to increase the class size ratio for grades PK-4 from 22:1 to 24:1.
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Helping the community
On behalf of the San Benito local, President Patricia Sandoval recently presented a donation to James Flores, who works for the San Benito Food Pantry. The pantry feeds up to 250 families a week. San Benito TSTA Local is proud to partner with them to help families in need in San Benito.
Klein TSTA/NEA speaks out against RIF
Threatened with a reduction in force (RIF), teachers and support staff turned out in force for the Klein ISD board meeting Jan. 10. Klein TSTA/NEA President David Casillas and Vice President Darlene Sentesi addressed members' concerns with an agenda item proposing to use evaluations rather than seniority to determine the RIF.
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NEA program helps Pflugerville schools adapt
Using NEA's KEYS program, Pflugerville schools asked teachers, administrators, parents, school board members and others in the community how they thought the school system should be fixed. The result was a goldmine of valuable suggestions on how to change the schools to accommodate the stampede of new students.
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TSTA-Conroe school board candidates win
TSTA-Conroe hosted a very successful brunch Saturday, Oct. 30 at Denny's in Conroe for members to meet the candidates for School Board. There were 4 out of 7 candidates in attendance with 23 members in audience. Vice President Jessica Powell moderated the event with timed questions and then opened the forum to the floor.
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All three endorsed candidates win in Laredo
Last night Ernest Davila stated “the union is hot” after all of our three endorsed candidates swept the school board elections. Indeed we are “hot” and most folks in Laredo are taking note, especially the top brass in administration who normally have a big hand in the outcome of school board elections.
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News from locals on fall recruiting
Edgewood signed up 30 members at a luncheon for new teachers. Southwest Educators Association invited 52 new teachers to lunch and signed up 32. Brownsville has met its goal of 4,000 members!
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Building a power plan
Waco TSTA/NEA's executive committee works on its "building full capacity" power plan. Locals all over the state are working on their power plans this month, as a result of training at the TSTA Leadership Institute in July.
Region 1B builds a member advocacy team
Region 1B had member advocacy team training for professional and ESP members from Harlandale, Edgewood and North East, locals that are building their MAT teams to deal with local issues for members. The teams have committed to attend many hours of training and retraining to build their advocacy skills.
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NETA's new transportation representatives
North East Teachers Association President Cindy Marthes with newly elected Transportation ARs; from left to right, they are David Maldonado, representing BAC; Maurice Phillips and Dennis Johnson, representing North Barn; and George Rodarte, representing Central Barn.
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