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Negotiations Update - September 2012

As you probably know, we have returned to the bargaining table to negotiate our first successor agreement. Our bargaining team members include James G. Baccaro, local president; Thomas E. Miller, local vice-president; and Melissa M. Martirano, local secretary.

Please be assured that we have prioritized our proposals based on your input from the surveys you completed.

To date, we have met with the administration’s bargaining team twice, and both sessions were productive.

We will continue to update you as we make progress, and when we reach a tentative agreement, we will contact the full members with details regarding the ratification process.

Please continue to visit the site for updates. As always, thanks for your patience and support.

Welcome back

We hope everyone had a great summer! We have worked very hard to implement the annualization of our pay. Everyone should have recieved a 5 day paycheck. Please check your E-mail on a regular basis for updates from the district and us. Call the office if you have questions.

Have a super great school year!!!

Biased teacher study does not stand up to scrutiny, LFT says

(Baton Rouge – September 6, 2012) A study purporting to support a new teacher evaluation system is the product of a biased, pro-business think tank and should not be taken seriously by education reformers in Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

What to do if you are having problems with the new state teacher evaluation:
Report it! Tell us about your COMPASS experience!

Please click here to Report It! and tell us about your COMPASS experience.

September 2012 Newsletter

The September 2012 Newsletter is up and ready for digital download!

CFT Statement on the demise of AB 5

The failure of AB 5 to make it out of the California Legislature is a setback for
the education community and all those who believe education reform requires a
truly collaborative effort.
AB 5, A Best Practices Teacher Evaluation System (Fuentes), provided a much
needed step forward in improving the teacher evaluation process by
incorporating best practices, community member engagement, and local
negotiations, thereby moving away from a top-down, one size fits all approach.

Click on the above link to read more.

CFT Statement on Pension Reform

The following statement was issued today by the California Federation of
Teachers on the pension reform legislation:
We are disappointed that some elements of the pension reform plan currently
before the Legislature scapegoat public employees who have spent years
educating our children, cleaning our schools, providing services for the needy
and ensuring public safety. Public employee pensions are not the main cause, or
even a major cause, of the State’s on-going budget problems, and portrayals as
such are misleading.

Click on the above link to read more.

How to keep your brain healthy.

The attached article offers some suggestions on how a Harvard Brain Specialist keeps her own brain healthy.

President Kent's Presentation at the August 21, 2011,Union Meeting

MATC Part-time Teachers' Union, Local 6100's president, Mike Kent updates the membership during the August 21, 2012, convocation.

Video of the full meeting is posted on line.

Yes on Proposition 30

Proposition 30 Fact Sheet

www.yesonprop30.com

What is it?

INCOME TAX
Increases the state income tax on top earners by 1-3 percent for seven years, starting Jan, 1, 2012, and ending Dec. 31, 2018.

· For taxable income above $250,000 for single filers and above $500,000 for joint filers, the rate for the portion above those thresholds would increase by 1 percent, from 9.3 percent to 10.3 percent. (No change from governor’s previous measure.)

· For taxable income above $300,000 for single filers and above $600,000 for joint filers, the rate for the portion above those thresholds would increase by 2 percent, from 9.3 percent to 11.3 percent. (.5% increase over governor’s previous measure)

· For taxable income above $500,000 for single filers and above $1 million for joint filers, the rate for the portion above those thresholds would increase by 3 percent, from 9.3 percent to 12.3 percent. (1% increase over governor’s previous measure.)

SALES TAX
Raises the statewide sales tax by a quarter-cent, from 7.25 percent to 7.5 percent, for four years, starting Jan. 1, 2013, and ending Dec. 31, 2016. (Reduction from half-cent in governor’s previous measure.)

REVENUES
Approximate percentages of progressive income tax and regressive sales tax revenues:
85% progressive, 15% regressive.

Expected revenues:

First year (includes 18 months of income tax revenue): $7 - 9 billion

Ongoing: $5 - 7 billion per year

Prop 30 Talking Points

· Over $18 billion has been cut from public education over the last several years

· Without Prop 30 our schools and colleges face another $5.4 billion in cuts this year

· Prop 30 would raise up to $9 billion this year and ongoing revenue of $5-7 billion a year

· Prop 30 keeps cops on the streets and firefighters employed

· Prop 30 balances the state’s budget and pay down the state’s debt

· The tax measure is temporary

· Mandatory independent audits will assure the money is spent on schools and public safety

Is it fair?

· The top 1% has taken over 50% of the income growth over the past decade but is paying the lowest rate of state taxes than all the rest of us!

· This tax will allow the top 1% to be taxed at a rate similar to the rest of us.

· See attached flier

Polling Numbers

One recent poll (PACE/USC) indicates that the tax measure has a 55%-36% advantage. However, revenue measures generally lose support as the election nears. We have lots of work to do on this proposition.