Shout-out to everyone gathering signatures for this historic measure and to everyone who raised their voices together on social media for Education Awareness Week last week! With every conversation and signature gathered, we are one step closer to victory for our students. 

If you didn’t get a chance to last week, be sure to follow @WeAreCTA and @Schools1stCA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. It’s never too late to share why you support Schools & Communities First on social media with the hashtag #SchoolsAndCommunitiesFirst.

ICYMI: California SPI Tony Thurmond joined other elected officials and endorsed Schools & Communities First last week and signed a petition to put it on the ballot. 

Take Action:

• Share and spread the word: CTA President Boyd’s column in EdSource: Voters can help deliver world-class education and thriving communities to students
• New posters for download on cta.org/taxfairness are great to bring to community events and share with friends, family, and coworkers. 

I’m forwarding this email for Manolo Garcia in the Human Resources Dept.  If you have any questions about it, please email him at ManoloG@vacavilleusd.org – Todd

Happy Friday!

Your January pay warrants include the retro of a 1% increase for 18/19, the retro for the 2.5% increase for 19/20, as well as retro for Section K (Coaching, Extra Duty, etc.). The retro for Masters, National Board Certification, and Doctorate awards is not included in the January pay warrant but will be included in the February pay warrant along with the one-time off the salary schedule $500 (pro-rated for FTE) per member.

Sincerely, Manolo C. Garcia, Director of Human Resources

Here’s the agenda for Tuesday

Schools and Communities First – Council attendees were reminded that this proposed initiative, which would return nearly 12 billion dollars to public schools, is behind on signature gathering.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to be sure to keep collecting signatures to ensure that California voters will have the chance to decide on this initiate in November.  For more information go here, for a presentation you can share with your members during a ten minute meeting go here.  

NBI 1/20-2 – As directed by the Vacaville Teachers Association, we carried the following New Buisness Item forwards: 

Explore the feasibility of legislation removing the six-month moratorium on working for any school district in California after returning from STRS.  One of the locals we represent is having a severe sub shortage. The district in question has retirees who are not allowed to fill those positions for six months. Allowing retirees to sub right away would help to alleviate the sub shortage, hence the request from the local. 

The Retirement Committee has asked staff to research the legality of the NBI, and staff will report back to the committee at the next meeting.  If you, or your local, would like to have an idea carried to State Council, please contact your reps Melissa Phillips, Alyson Brauning and Corey Penrose. 

Understanding Teacher Shortages in California -This new tool, developed by the Learning Policy Institute, provides detailed information on current and anticipated shortages by school district and counties. The map can be a useful tool in advocating for support and resources to remedy specific needs in a district. You can access the map here.   

Retirement information – Many members in this area are contemplating retiring this year.   Please check out these useful resources, provided by the retirement committee.  

Source 1  

Source 2  

Source 3 

Endorsements and other political issues – We met with Bill Dodd, Jim Fraizer, and Cecilia Aguilar-Curry and recommonded that all of those canidates receive the full endorsement and support of the California Teachers Association, recommendations which were approved on the floor of council.  We are also pursuing legislation amending CA Ed Code 1006 (a) to include educators who work and reside within the boundaries of a given county as eligible participants in County Office of Education elections. 

NEA RA 2020 – is in Atlanta, GA. Declaration for candidacy for state delegates are due January 31, 2020. Local and state delegate positions are open. Go here for more information. 

Respectfully submitted, Corey Penrose