The Last 18 Months; Where We’ve Been, Where We Need To Go
by James Arlington, Webster Middle School
These past eighteen months have been tumultuous, but our new leadership has delivered for the members. TFC would like to point out that this leadership did make mistakes, but we’re also happy to say that they have learned from those mistakes, adapted quickly, and found their footing. This has resulted in a true-fighting union. The district has taken notice. They have had a real wake-up call. Over the past 18 months we have negotiated 8½% salary increases (2½% in the fall of 2005; 6% in the spring of 2007), two years of fully funded health benefits, first ever class-size reduction, first ever class-size caps, enhanced protections for chapter chairs and other activists at school sites, and a living contract which means that we can be at the table constantly. In addition, our elementary and secondary assessment task forces established in the fall of 2005, have negotiated cut backs on the number of tests teacher are required to administer and prevented others from being instituted. The district has agreed to mediation on salary issues for adult education; they have agreed to work with us on counselor issues and continued class-size reduction. Perhaps the most significant impact we have had on recent negotiations is having forced the district to use categorical monies for class-size reduction rather than for their usual out of classroom boondoggle coordinator programs. We now need to push for class-size caps in PE and real reform of adult education. Also, substitute teachers deserve to get their long-term pay on time. The Duffy Administration is committed to these goals. Next year we have re-openers for salary and benefits and two items of our choosing and the third year of this contract we will have re-openers for salary and benefits and four items of our choosing. One of the most significant aspects of our negotiations will be that while we are negotiating our third year, SEIU 99 and CSEA will also be in negotiations. If we can mobilize our 48, 000 members alongside SEIU’s 30,000 plus, and CSEA’s 8,000 plus there is nothing we cannot attain together. The key to all these gains was the renewed focus on mobilization that this new leadership brought. They inspired, cajoled and guided the membership to organize, become united—put aside past differences—and focused us on mobilization events, including the December rally, the most successful since ’89, red T-shirt Tuesdays, parent informational picketing, and faculty boycotts. We have elected a school board member, and have one more to elect in May. We are in the process of rebuilding our union. The new leadership has cut costs, streamlined the UT, rebuilt our communications department and is re-crafting our professional development unit from the ground up. We have made gains on education reform from the Belmont Zone of Choice to Parkman Middle School model (the expanded school-based management model school). We are on the right track. With this renewed focus, we have so much yet we can achieve.
TFC believes strongly that UTLA should mobilize and make our voices heard concerning the pay check debacle. Starting May 1st we believe that every teacher and health and human service professional should withhold services and work to the rule. We should boycott faculty meetings and all unpaid extra duty. Let us unite and send a message to the district that until they start paying us properly we will not allow them to treat us as serfs.
Library Media Centers
by Lynda Davidson Library Media Teacher Webster Middle School
School libraries should be at the center of every school. This sentiment was voiced by Supt. David Brewer on February 15th, when he spoke at the professional development session for Library Media Teachers. Supt. Brewer was very supportive of the role of all library professionals. Often our students do not have access to a neighborhood library, so they need to depend wholly on their school library media center. In addition, that is why our schools have to have the resources to fill the needs of all our students. Studies, especially those of Dr. Stephen Krashen show that a well-stocked Library Media Center run by a credentialed library media teacher helps raise test scores at every level. The fact that most California school library media centers do not have the suggested 18 books per student slows the progress of our students. Most of our schools have fewer than 10 books per student. Many of our students have very little reading material at home so many of our schools have to pick up the slack. There are budget concerns in school library media centers. The funding is very sporadic and many school administrations are hard pressed to give money for books and other materials, so grants, federal funds, and donations have to be sought. When a student leaves school owing money or books, a determined Library Media teacher has to chase down the offenders to get the school property back. Many people believe that the internet has made librarians obsolete. Nothing could be further from the truth. Especially in school, our students need the help of a professional to figure out what information is reliable and truthful. The internet is just one tool that the students use when they research. The Library Media teacher helps the students find the appropriate resources. They teach bibliography construction, outlining, how to avoid plagiarism, and also, how to enjoy just reading a good book. The Library Media teacher is a credentialed teacher who has taken additional college courses to obtain a Library Media Teacher Services credential. In Los Angeles Unified School District middle schools and high schools have a credentialed library media teacher. Many elementary schools are now finding that they are able to have a library media teacher; those that do not, have a six-hour hour library clerk. We have come to a point in the evolution of schools where everybody understands that having a library media center and a trained library media teacher is essential for the educational health of our students. The library media center contains a wealth of knowledge and resources that are critical for our students to be able to access.
