Vacaville Teachers Association – Page 7 – Proudly Educating Vacaville's Future

Apr 18

Rep. Council Agenda – April 18th

By vacatea in Uncategorized

Approval of the minutes

1. 1. March Rep Council Meeting Minutes

Approval of the agenda

New and Continuing Business

President’s Report: Todd Blanset

Treasurer’s report: Brenda Hensley

Bargaining Update: Brenda Hensley

Grievance Update: Lisa Cusi

State Council Report: Ariel Ray and Keri Tafuro

Standing Committee/Chair Reports

1. 1. Equity Team: Tricia Cowen
  2. Member Engagement: Alyson Brauning
  3. New Teacher Support: Rachel Bulris
  4. Labor Council: Corey Penrose
  5. Action: Corey Penrose
  6. PAC: Corey Penrose & Ariel Ray (PAC treasurer)
  7. Special Ed: Cynthia Coble
  8. Membership: Jax Stornetta

Conference reports:

Apr 17

Your rights!

By vacatea in Uncategorized

From fighting book bans and voucher legislation to advocating for better pay and respect, the need for educators like you to speak up has never been more urgent.

Only by coming together at school board meetings, state legislatures, and the ballot box can we achieve the resources and support all our students deserve.

Understanding your rights before you engage in any kind of political activity is critical. That’s why we put together detailed guidance for educators to understand their rights. Check it out.

Topics of our new report include:

Your rights under the First Amendment;
Participating in marches, civil disobedience, and elections;
Supporting student activism;
Responding to online harassment;
Displaying symbols of diversity and inclusivity at school;
And more!

Explore our new educator rights resources.

YOUR RIGHTS, EXPLAINED

Your union is here to help you advocate for the policies your students need and the respect you deserve. And if you are attacked for your advocacy, we have your back.

It is only by coming together and demanding the change we seek that we can fully fund our schools and help all our students—no matter their race, ZIP code, or background—to realize their full potential.

Thank you for speaking up for our students and public education.

Together, we’re heard. Together, we win.

In solidarity,

Alice O’Brien
General Counsel
National Education Association

P.S. This guide is intended to provide general information. For specific advice, you should always contact your local union or attorney.

Apr 13

Tax Deductions for Educators

By vacatea in Uncategorized

The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) offers support for low-income, working Californians. You may be eligible for a CalEITC up to $3,417 for tax year 2022 as a working family or individual earning up to $30,000 per year. Learn how to qualify and apply here.

CalEITC might also enable you to qualify for the Young Child and Foster Youth tax credits. For the former, you may qualify for up to $1,083 cash back if you had a child under the age of 6 at the end of the tax year. Learn more here.

For Foster Youth tax credits, you may qualify for up to $1,083 cash back if you were in California foster care when age 13 or older. Learn more here.

In addition, a higher educator expense tax deduction means that some educators can deduct more for classroom supplies when they file their 2022 federal returns. Learn more here.

Apr 13

CTA & Calm Free Workshop

By vacatea in Uncategorized

Save the date! CTA and Calm are hosting a free workshop on May 2 for Teachers Appreciation Day: “Bringing Self-Care to Life.”

Join us for an opportunity to connect, relax and learn how to prioritize and identify the value of self-care. We will brainstorm ideas of what self-care can look like as well as obstacles that may get in the way. Participants will create a personalized self-care plan.

Tues., May 2, 4:30-5:30 p.m. PT; register here.

If you haven’t redeemed your free Calm Premium subscription, we recommend you do so prior to the workshop:

Log into ctamemberbenefits.org/calm to access the unique CTA Calm link;
Follow the instructions on the CTA Member Benefits page;
Your 10-digit CTA member ID is required (add leading zeros if your ID # is less than 10 digits);
Download the Calm app and log into your new account.

Apr 13

Updates to Student Debt Relief

By vacatea in Uncategorized

NEA has updated its website with current information on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, created to cancel the remaining balance of federal student debt for workers who provide 10 years of public service while making 120 monthly payments on their federal student loans.

While the Limited PSLF Waiver expired last year, PSLF is still here for educators and other public service workers. Check out NEA’s tools designed to help educators through the PSLF application process, and find more information about other student debt support programs, including the White House Student Debt Cancellation Plan. Visit nea.org/mystudentdebt.