LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO BLAINE WILSON IN HIS AND OUR EFFORTS TO RETURN
HIM TO OUR SITE. I WISH TO THANK ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO WROTE
THESE LETTERS AND SIGNED THIS PEITION OF SUPPORT.
james a.galgano: uesf local 61 buildingrepresentative
UESF LOCAL 61 UNION BUILDING COMMITTEE POTLUCK MEETING
JANUARY 22ND, 2008-TUESDAY AT 12:10PM IN THE LIBRARY
WOMENS UNION TEE SHIRTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE $5.00DOLLARS EACH
TENTATIVE AGENDA ITEMS:
A. UPDATES OF SITE CONCERNS, EVALUATIONS, SAFETY AND DISCIPLINE ISSUES
B. READ,REVIEW AND REVISE GOAL 1 OF SCHOOL SITE PLAN FOR 2008-2009
SCHOOL YEAR.
C. UNION CONCERNS: PROPOSED CUTBACKS, MISTLI AND BENCHMARK TESTS
D. OTHER MEMBERSHIP CONCERNS
· PLEASE BRING SOMETHING TO SHARE
· PLEASE ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING
· THANK YOU!!!!
UBC MEETING JANUARY 14TH,2008 MEETING SUMMARY:
PARTICIPANTS: 22 UESF MEMBERS ATTENDED(THANK YOU)
UBCREPRESENTATIVES/ALTERNATES:
C.MALTBY,J.GERBER,L.WOOTEN,A.BROWN,M.MCCACHREN,D.BRYSON,L.SCHUKNECHT///
V.GONZALEZ,L.SPEARS,J.SHELDON
DISCUSSION: REVOLVED AROUND
· NEED FOR DAY OF TRAINING FOR EMRGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING FOR ALL
FACULTY AND STAFF
· ADMINISTRATION ARE NOW IN VIOLATION OF TIMELINES AND DATES ACCORDING
TO CONTRACT
· PRINCIPAL NEEDS TO INFORM EACH TEACHER IF THERE IS A STUDENT IN THEIR
CLASS WITH A TRACKING BRACELET OR HAS A HISTORY OF ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR
UNDER PENALTY OF LAW.
· REVIEW OF PROPOSED FEBRUARY CALENDAR
DISCUSSION ON ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS PROPOSED
MEETING WITH OUR SITE UBC TO EXPLAIN IN THEIR VIEW OUR ROLE IN THE
SCHOOL AND SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL
A. JANUARY 18TH,2008 DATE UNANNYMOUSLY VOTED DOWN
B. UNANNIMOUS REQUEST FOR DENNIS KELLY AND LINDA PLACK TO MEET WITH THE
UBC AND THEN AFTERWARDS MEET WITH OUR UBC ,THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS, LABOR RELATIONS DIRECTOR, AND SFUSD LEGAL IN ORDER
TO PREVENT SFUSD FROM UNDERMINING THE UBCÕS ROLE WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.
C. FACULTY AND STAFF AND UBC MEMBERSHIP OVERWHELMINGLY DECLINED TO MEET
WITH MS HEPPERLY JANUARY 18TH,2008, AT 8:30AM AS SHE PREVIOUSLY
REQUESTED UNTIL:
1. ANOTHER DATE AND TIME IS CHOSEN WHEN DENNIS KELLY AND LINDA PLACK
ARE ABLE TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE.
2. A MORE REASONABLE DATE AND TIME IS ALSO CHOSEN WHEN WE WILL ALL BE
ABLE TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE OUTSTANDING CONCERNS.
3. OUTSTANDING CONCERNS WITH CURRENT ADMINISTRATOR'S MANAGEMENT STYLE
AND ACTIONS ARE PROVIDED TIME TO BE DISCUSSED AND RESOLVED
UESF Building Rep & Activist Trainings
All UESF Building Reps, Union Building Committee members, and
interested activists are invited to attend any of our trainings
throughout the school year. If you plan on attending any of the
trainings, please RSVP to Meg Kimura 956-8373.
How to Think, Listen, and Act Like a Building Rep: Meeting with Your
Principal
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
4:00-6:00 p.m. @ Civic Center Secondary School, Library
727 Golden Gate Ave. [map]
All UESF Union Building Committees are encouraged to send a
representative to the UBC training on Wednesday, January 30th.
Titled, ÒHow to Think, Listen, and Act Like a Building Rep: Meeting
with Your PrincipalÓ the training is an opportunity to expand your
knowledge of the contract and the grievance process. The training also
includes an advanced guide on how to best represent UESF employees in
grievance meetings with your principal.
UESF members on new UBCs are especially encouraged to attend. However,
seasoned veterans will also greatly benefit from the advanced portions
of the training.
Note: A full dinner will be served. To ensure your spot, please RSVP to
Meg Kimura at 956-8373 or mkimura@uesf.org.
Health and Safety
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
4:00-6:00 p.m. @ Civic Center Secondary School
727 Golden Gate Ave. [map]
Article 14 (teachersÕ contract) and Article 15 (paraprofessionalsÕ
contract) have powerful language that can benefit your school. Get an
overview of new contract language and the impact of the Williams
decision on SFUSD schools. This will be a hands-on workshop that will
prepare you for enforcing your UESF contract at your school site.
Teachers and paraprofessionals are welcome.
Please RSVP to Meg Kimura at 956-8373. Note: a light meal will be
served.
All members are invited to our annual UESF Winter Party this February
1st. In recognition of the primary February 5th and our parcel tax
campaign, the theme is POLITICS. Meet local political leaders. Enjoy
plenty of delicious food, entertainment, and door prizes. Mann MS art
teacher Mark Murray will DJ. Special appearance by ukelele player Hiram
Bell. No-host bar available.
What: UESF Party
When: Friday, February 1, 4:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: ILWU Local 34, (2nd & King St., SF [map])
Who: All UESF members and their families
Limited parking is available. Local 34 is easily accessible by the
N-Judah line and is just two blocks away from the 4th & King St.
Caltrain station (Muni Lines 10, 15, 30, 45, 47, and 82X stop there).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Question: My principal just established a ÔLeadership TeamÕ at my
school.
What should I expect from this new team? What are my rights?
Answer: ÔLeadership TeamsÕ are
entirely a creature of the district,
the duties and responsibilities of
which were never bargained with
UESF. What we have seen so far
is that ÔLeadership TeamsÕ have
been established to advise the
principal on various areas including
curriculum, student assessment,
and grant implementation.
Many members have contacted
UESF, concerned that ÔLeadership
TeamsÕ are doing more than
advising Ð they are acting as
quasi-management, decision-making
bodies. If so, then we have a
problem.
Because the establishment of
the ÔLeadership TeamsÕ was not
bargained with UESF, they have
no authority to determine any
changes in working conditions.
Furthermore, a ÔLeadership TeamÕ
can in no way usurp the rights of
the Union Building Committee.
We have also received some
reports that Leadership Teams are
composed of hand-picked staff,
with the obvious intention of
undermining the UBC. This is a
serious violation of the
UESF/SFUSD contract.
Some important things to
remember when considering a
ÔLeadership TeamÕ if one has been
established at your school site:
¥ You have the right to refuse to
participate in a ÔLeadership
Team.Õ You cannot be negatively
evaluated if you choose not
to be on a ÔLeadership Team.Õ
¥ The Union Building Committee
and the Building Representative
are the representatives of UESF
at the school site. Under the
contract, principals are
required to share information
and ideas with the goal of
achieving consensus on site
operations and policy, including
staffing, assignment, programming,
facilities management
and planning, staff development,
and budgeting (Article
25.3.7).
¥ ÔLeadership TeamsÕ can discuss
any issues they please, but they
cannot make decisions outside
of a narrow range of items that
are completely under the
purview of the principal. The
Union Building Committee
must be consulted if any site
operations or policy changes at
the school are to be considered.
¥ Members of a ÔLeadership
TeamÕ have no authority at the
school site. They are in no way
supervisors or evaluators of
othersÕ work.
¥ New meetings and meeting
times must be scheduled with
the concurrence of the UBC
(Article 7.2.7)
¥ Leadership teams canÕt implement
proposed district policy
at the site level. Any new district
initiatives or proposals
must go through the UBC.
¥ UESF suggests that ÔLeadership
TeamÕ reports be made at
monthly UBC/administration
meetings.
If a ÔLeadership TeamÕ has
overstepped its advisory role, it is
important that you bring the
matter up with your Building
Representative, and discuss the
issue with your UBC. If you are
concerned that your ÔLeadership
TeamÕ has been established with
the intention of undermining
your UBC or Building
Representative, contact UESF
immediately at 956-8373.
UESF Requests More Information on
District ÒEquitable Education for all
Middle School StudentsÓ Proposal
On November 13, 2007 UESF
President Dennis Kelly sent a letter to
Joan Hepperly, the SFUSD Assistant
Superintendent of Middle Schools,
seeking more information on the new
district proposal, ÒEquitable Education
for all Middle Schools.Ó
The proposal includes the establishment
of a seventh period as a pilot program
in a few middle schools.
However, it was unclear whether the
extra period would be established for
the purpose of adding another numeracy
or literacy section or whether electives
would be added.
UESF is very much interested in making
middle schools more successful
institutions for learning. However, if
proposed reforms support more Ôdrilland-
killÕ approaches, UESF cannot support
such measures.
Of course, any lengthening of the
school day is a mandatory subject of bargaining,
and therefore cannot be unilaterally
implemented by the district. If you
have any concerns about such a program,
please attend the next Middle
School Committee meeting, or contact
UESF Middle School representative Allan
Brill at abrill@uesf.org. At press time
President KellyÕs letter had received no
response.
PrincipalÕs Expectations Cannot Be
Used in the Evaluation Process
According to the UESF contract only the
California Standards for the Teaching
Profession can be used during teacher
evaluations. However, some SFUSD principals
have informed their staff that they
will use their Principal Expectations during
the evaluation process.
This is a clear violation of the contract,
and represents a unilateral change in the
conditions of work. If your principal has
indicated that he wishes to use Principal
Expectations during your next evaluation,
contact UESF immediately at 956-
8373.
Paraprofessionals Ð Remember to
Use your Paid Family Leave Benefit
In 2002, with the help of the labor
movement, the Paid Family Leave (PFL)
Law was enacted in California. PFL provides
workers with a maximum of six
weeks of partial pay each year while taking
time off from work to bond with a
newborn baby, newly adopted or foster
child, or to care for a seriously ill parent,
child, spouse, or registered domestic
partner.
Paraprofessionals and other workers
who pay into the State Disability
Insurance (SDI) Program are eligible for
this benefit. SFUSD teachers do not pay
into SDI and are therefore not eligible.
PFL benefits will replace approximately
55% of wages up to a maximum of
$882.
The PFL program is 100% employeefunded,
and is currently over-funded,
meaning that people who are entitled to
the benefit are not taking advantage of
the program.
Certain conditions apply. Go to the
UESF website at www.uesf.org, and click
on ÔForms and DocumentsÕ for a link to
the claim form and more information
about the program. Additional forms are
also available at the UESF office.
United Educators of San Francisco, California
¥ District and union working together to reduce the need for
reconstitution by implementing a standards-based accountability system
¥ Restructured schools will use one of three options for operating
shared decision making programs
¥ Restructuring will not be imposed but allowed to evolve on a
voluntary basis
¥ Labor and management serve on the restructuring council to develop
goals/procedures for restructuring, promote site-based decision-making,
and provide guidance on restructuring plans.
