Council Decides March 2003
CTA President Wayne Johnson prepares State Council for battle
CTA President Wayne Johnson’s message to the March State Council couldn’t be more clear.
"California teachers are the best in the world, but it is not enough to be the best. We are going to have to fight for adequate funding for our schools, kids and teachers."
Johnson named a number of challenges facing educators, from the massive state budget deficit to the federal "Leave No Child Behind Act" to the unprecedented number of lay-off notices that are being sent to teachers "like handbills to a rave party."
"In my 41 years as a California classroom teacher, I have never seen things worse."
Johnson pointed out that Alameda and Hesperia school districts handed out lay-off notices to every teacher in their districts.
"These districts are using psychological warfare with their teachers. It is meant to frighten, intimidate and divide teachers. This is public intimidation to try and force concessions and takebacks at the bargaining table. It’s a disgusting tactic," he said.
Administrators are also working hard to change the class size law. CTA has been able to stave off class size increases for now, and will continue to fight other attempts that come up.
Instead of getting rid of Class Size Reduction, Johnson proposed some solutions of his own - including throwing out the state’s troubled testing system, which he says only indicates the poverty level of a school. CTA is sponsoring legislation carried by Assembly member Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) that will end standardized testing of second graders and end the requirement of passing the High School Exit Exam to get a high school diploma.
Sadly, Johnson said, there are few statewide public officials speaking up for education. The one exception, he said, is State Treasurer Phil Angelides, who has advanced a funding proposal that calls for eliminating corporate tax breaks, increasing the tax on alcohol, and adopting a "split roll" where commercial properties are assessed at market value. Johnson hailed Angelides for his leadership, and cautioned that without such leadership and resources, public education "will continue to sink into the morass."
Dean Vogel elected CTA Secretary-Treasurer
 Dean E. Vogel, a Vacaville elementary school counselor, has been elected CTA secretary-treasurer. He joins CTA President-elect Barbara E. Kerr and Vice President-elect David A. Sanchez on the team of leaders that will take office June 26. A member of the Vacaville Teachers Association, Vogel has represented Yolo, Solano, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties on CTA's Board of Directors for the last seven years. He was engaged in a three-way race for the office of secretary-treasurer with two other board members, Donnell Jordan of the Desert Sands Teachers Association, and Tom Conry, of the Vista Teachers Association. In other races:
CTA's Board of Directors, incumbents Dayton Crummey (District B), Bob Nichols (District F), Cynthia Peña (District G), Mignon Jackson (District J/LA), Lloyd Porter (District M) and Lynette P. Henley (At-large) were reelected. All were unopposed. An election will be held at the May meeting for the District I seat.
NEA's Board of Directors, Patty Taylor won California's District 11 seat and Cam Werner was reelected as an alternate. Elections will be held in May for a new seat representing higher education.
On the CTA/ABC Committee, Monica Brown (District A), Sal Zendejas (District E), Suzanne Barkworth-Hinkley (District F), Floyd Worsham (District J/LA), Suzanne Vaugine (District N) and Chris Kakimi (At-large) were elected. District B's seat will be voted on in May.
Council also voted to recommend that the California delegation to the NEA Representative Assembly elect Carolyn Crowder to the NEA Executive Committee.
Doggett warns of three challenges ahead
Like CTA President Wayne Johnson, CTA Executive Director Carolyn Doggett warned CTA State Council that there are challenges ahead for members. But while Doggett acknowledged the state budgetary woes, she also alerted members to three other important issues: Class Size Reduction cutbacks by administrators, charter schools, and the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) "Leave No Child Behind" Act. All of the issues will be critical for CTA, Doggett warned.
Doggett explained that attacks on Class Size Reduction are nothing new. "This is an example of districts trying to take advantage of budget crises to do something they never even wanted to do in the first place," she said, noting that the districts’ calls for "flexibility" to increase class sizes by more than 10 percent means "big bucks" in being able to reduce the number of teachers as well as a way for administrators to avoid being held accountable for student achievement.
Doggett pointed out that CTA polls reveal that 75 percent of members want to keep the law the way it is, while 69 percent of voters also agree.
"We’re on firm ground to fight to keep Class Size Reduction where it is right now," Doggett said.
Charter schools will also be a major challenge for CTA, but also a major opportunity, Doggett said. Currently, there are 530 charter schools that enroll 161,000 students. She called on CTA to make a commitment to aggressively organize charter schools. CTA will submit a proposal to the National Education Association for a grant to organize charter schools in California, she said.
Finally, Doggett warned Council to monitor the federal ESEA, a new law that she says "sets high, high standards for teachers without the resources to meet them." The ESEA sets schools up for failure in a way that will open the door to privatization, Doggett said.
Doggett also acknowledged that the fight will be difficult but not insurmountable.
"How we meet these challenges will determine the future of our organization," she said. "But if spirit and commitment account for anything, our leaders, our members and our staff will get the job done."
State's 'Teachers of the Year' pay visit to Council
Four of the five California Teachers of the Year were honored by State Council - and in return, thanked Council members for all they do on behalf of teachers and students in California.
Virginia Avila of the Grant Union High School District, Anne Marie Bergen of the Oakdale Joint Unified School District, Connie Baumgardt Blackburn of the Escondido Union School District, and Tamara Thornell of the Oxnard School District all appeared before Council on Saturday.
Having taught three generations of students, Avila - the state’s nominee for the national Teacher of the year - thanked Council, saying, "I know the value of what each of you do...I am very humbled to be thought of as being one of the best."
Council supports Budget Accountability Act
Not only did State Council members write hundreds of letters to legislators during their committee meetings at State Council, they also gave CTA support to the "Budget Accountability Act," a proposed ballot initiative by the Service Employees International Union that promises to enact a comprehensive budget reform package that will hold the Governor and legislature more accountable for a timely and responsible budget. Among other things, the Budget Accountability Act, which is also supported by the League of Women Voters, Health Access, firefighters and health workers, will lower the vote requirement to pass a state budget to 55 percent and require a rainy day fund to help balance the budget in hard times. In other action, Council:
- Took positions on hundreds of legislative bills.
- Saluted the appointment of State Council member Curtis Washington to the California State Board of Education.
- Waived the dues of CTA members who have been called up for military service.
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