Bargaining Update #3 – LTA/LSD Negotiations on Reopening Schools during the 2020-2021 School Year

The LTA and LSD bargaining teams met again today (Friday, July 31, 2020).  Negotiations continue on three main topics:

1.  Class sizes and concluding negotiations for the 2019-2020 school year,

2.  Language governing the safe return to in-person teaching and learning, and language governing distance teaching and learning until then, and

3.  Language governing the safe administration of the ELPAC test to new kindergartners and students new to the district, because the ELPAC must be given in-person.

1. Class Sizes and Concluding 2019-2020 Negotiations

Soon after the Covid pandemic forced the closure of schools in March, LTA offered to withdraw all bargaining proposals this year (including salary and benefits proposals) EXCEPT for the topic of maintaining small class sizes.  At the July 13 bargaining session, the district formally proposed concluding negotiations for 2019-2020 and focusing on 2020-2021.  LTA immediately reminded them that LTA had proposed the same thing back in March, that LTA would be fine with concluding 2019-2020 negotiations, but that we needed closure on the topic of class sizes first. (The permanent LTA contract sets all class sizes at 29 students to 1 teacher, but for at least the last 15 years LTA has negotiated smaller class sizes in short term MOUs [Memorandums of Understanding].  Currently, LTA has negotiated 20:1 in TK, K and 1st grade, 24:1 in 2nd and 3rd grades, 27:1 in 4th and 5th grades, and it’s 29:1 at LMS.)  On July 23, LTA formally proposed continuing with current class sizes into the 2020-2021 school year.

And today (July 31), the district stated that they “have no interest in continuing the MOU reducing class sizes.”  Just like that.  15 years of smaller class sizes and increased attention for students… over, because they’re not interested in continuing.

LSD – no counterproposal

By-the-way, LTA has also fought for norming class sizes in the Dual Language program separately to make sure neither the DL classes nor the English Immersion classes got too big, and for including students with IEPs who receive special ed services on GenEd rosters so they can be more a part of the classroom community.  Protecting those advances were also rejected by the district.

2. Safe In-Person Teaching and Distance Learning

On July 13, the district presented a vague proposal on school safety and distance learning, but the district’s proposal lacked detail and [LTA feels] would not have done enough to protect students and teachers from the risk of Covid infection.  On July 23, LTA presented a detailed, comprehensive proposal to safe in-person teaching and learning and effective distance teaching and learning until it’s possible to return.

Today (July 31), the district said they needed more time to prepare a complete response to LTA’s proposal but shared counterproposals to some portions of LTA’s proposal.  Please read both proposals and decide which one you think would do more to keep students and teachers safe and to ensure rigorous distance teaching and learning.

LSD 2020-2021 COVID-19 proposal (7-31-20)

LTA 2020-2021 COVID-19 proposal (7-23-20)

(LTA is working on a side-by-side comparison that we will post here when completed.)

3. ELPAC Testing

Under normal circumstances, the district conducts initial testing of all new kindergarten students and students new to the district in the weeks before school starts to determine students’ levels of English and provide ELD support once school starts.  However, given the Covid pandemic and the closure of schools, LTA raised concerns with bringing large numbers of students and teachers together, IN-PERSON, on otherwise closed school campuses to conduct testing this summer.  The district said it believed it could do so safely and LTA asked for details of the district’s safety plan and a formal proposal.  The district discussed its ideas on safety precautions at the July 13 and July 23 meetings but failed to provide actual proposals.  Then, last weekend, on Sunday, July 26 (between bargaining sessions) the district emailed an actual proposal and wanted to know if LTA would be ready with a response by the next session.  LTA has been waiting for over a month and district requested a response in under a week.

Today (July 31), LTA asked the district to compare its proposal to the LA County Health Department’s list of requirements for re-opening schools for in-person education.  The district declined.  In addition, LTA shared an email communication it had received the day before from the director of EL assessment at the California Department of Education in response to a question LTA had sent.  The email stated that districts should make every effort to test incoming EL students, but then listed several alternatives in case it was unsafe to do in-person testing, and further added that the state would be sending out its own set of in-person testing safety precautions in the next week or so.  Given the district’s inability to demonstrate that its plan met all LA County Health Department requirements and the state’s provision for alternative methods of assessment, LTA had no choice but to oppose in-person testing incoming students and unnecessary risks to students and teachers.

LSD 2020-2021 ELPAC Testing proposal (shared 7/26/20, presented 7/31/20)

The two teams agreed to meet again on August 13, with the goal of finalizing negotiations.  LTA will respond to the district’s proposals.  LTA understands the need to move as quickly as possible to resolve these issues so teachers can turn their focus back to where it belongs – on preparing for students and the start of school. But LTA WILL NOT be rushed into agreeing to unsafe working conditions for our teachers and unsafe learning conditions for our students, nor will we stop fighting for the small class sizes our students deserve.

In solidarity!

Posted in bargaining, class size, Covid-19, distance learning, dual language, English Learners, special ed | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bargaining Update #2 – LTA/LSD Negotiations on Reopening Schools during the 2020-2021 School Year

Today – Thursday, July 23, 2020 – LTA presented the district with the type of comprehensive reopening schools proposal that the district should have been prepared to give us weeks ago, with details on how to keep students and staff safe in every aspect of on-campus, in-person learning and, until then, specific demands on what teachers need to make distance education as rigorous and engaging for students as possible.  Unlike the district’s proposal last week, LTA’s proposal is based on most current California State Department of Public Health “COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year” and the most current Los Angeles County Department of Public Health “Protocol for COVID-19 Exposure Management Plan in K-12 Schools” regarding the reopening of schools and circumstances which would result in school/district closures, as well as Senate Bill 98’s direction on distance learning.

LTA 2020-2021 COVID-19 counterproposal (7-23-20)

California State Department of Public Health: “COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year”

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: “Protocol for COVID-19 Exposure Management Plan in K-12 Schools”

Senate Bill 98

LTA also responded to the district’s proposal to officially conclude bargaining for the 2019-2020 cycle and begin the 2020-2021 cycle.  This may seem like just a bookkeeping detail, but ending the 2019-2020 cycle would mean that all negotiations on all topics other than COVID-19 would stop and it would be months before we could begin again.  Back in May, LTA actually suggested taking everything off the table EXCEPT class sizes because teachers know that smaller classes are better for students.  Right now, the district is demanding to increase class sizes in TK, kindergarten and 1st grade (in the middle of the COVID pandemic and distance learning, no less!).  LTA’s counterproposal today echos LTA’s May offer to drop all proposals, but only AFTER the district has agreed to not raise class sizes next year.  (LTA’s proposal also includes specific provisions to ensure balance between Dual Language classes and Structured English Immersion classes, and to promote full of inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classes.)

LTA 2020-2021 counterproposal on concluding 19-20 negotiations (7-23-20)

The two teams agreed to meet again next Friday, July 31, with the goal of finalizing negotiations.  The district will be responding to LTA’s proposals and LTA will make every effort to reply back during the same meeting.  LTA understands the need to move as quickly as possible and resolve these issues so teachers can turn their focus back to where it should be – preparing for students and the start of school.  But LTA WILL NOT be rushed into agreeing to unsafe working conditions for our teachers and unsafe learning conditions for our students, nor will we stop fighting for the small class sizes our students deserve.

In solidarity!

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Bargaining Update #1 – LTA/LSD Negotiations on Reopening Schools during the 2020-2021 School Year

After many delays – some due to delays in the state budget and delays in the development of state and county health guidelines, and some… inexplicable – on Monday, July 13, 2020, LTA finally received LSD’s initial proposal for reopening schools safely during the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and on teacher working conditions during distance teaching and learning.  Unfortunately, the district’s proposal was not as comprehensive or specific as LTA hoped.  LTA will offer a more detailed, comprehensive and specific counterproposal at the next meeting between the two teams on Thursday, July 23.  LTA’s number one priority during this pandemic is making sure students, teachers and staff are safe, and LTA believes that a detailed, comprehensive and specific plan, aligned with county, state and federal health guidelines, is the best way to ensure that.

LSD 2020-2021 COVID-19 initial proposal (7-13-20)

For references, here are the emergency MOUs LTA negotiated with LSD regarding distance teaching and learning during spring 2020 and for special ed summer school (ESY) during summer 2020.  Notice the similarities.  LTA believes that these MOUs provided good structures for the for the initial emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of schools, but that continued distance teaching and learning and eventual return to in-person teaching and learning will require a much detail and specificity and will need to be more comprehensive to deal with multiple contingencies.

Spring 2020 COVID-19 MOU (4-7-20)

Summer 2020 ESY COVID-19 MOU (5-28-20)

Additionally, LSD shared a proposal to officially conclude negotiations for the 2019-2020 school year and continue current discussions under as the banner of the 2020-2021 school year.  LTA responded that we need to resolve issues around class sizes next year and the re-employment of our teachers on year-to-year “temporary” contracts before we can consider concluding negotiations for the 2019-2020 school year.

LSD proposal to conclude 2019-2020 negotiations (7-13-20)

 

 

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2020 LTA Scholarships – Updated Extended Deadline + Online Application Only

In light of the Covid-19 related school closures and stress on our students and community in recent weeks, LTA has decided to extend the deadlines for our Mary David Scholarship (8th graders) and College/University Scholarship (graduating 12th graders).  Previously due May 2, 2020, applications for both scholarships will now be due May 22, 2020.

We have also been forced to change the change the manner in which applications are submitted.  Applicants may NOT submit their applications by mail.  We are very sorry, but we are unable to get to the post office to collect applications.  Instead, applicants may submit their applications in one of two ways:

1) Applicants can download the application as either a pdf or Word document (links below) and email the completed application back to us as an attachment at: ltawebpage@gmail.com, or

2) Applicants can complete the application directly through Google Forms, using the links provided below.

In either case, all applications must be submitted by 4:00 PM on Friday, May 22, 2020.  No exceptions will be made and no late applications will be accepted.

The Lennox Teachers Association is pleased to announce two scholarship opportunities for Lennox students!

The LTA Mary Davis Scholarship
• Named for long-time School Board trustee and child advocate, Mary Davis.
• Four $100.00 scholarships to purchase books for summer reading and high school.
• Open to all 8th graders attending Lennox Middle School.
• Award recipients will be notified in June 2020 and awards will be presented at the Lennox Middle School end-of-the-year award ceremony.

updated application >     pdf     Word doc

Google Form application

flyer

The LTA College/University School Scholarship
• Two $1,000.00 scholarships to help with college/university expenses.
• Open to all high school seniors who graduated from Lennox Middle School and are currently living within the Lennox School District boundaries (regardless of legal citizenship/residency status).
• Students must be in good academic standing and must be enrolled in a college/university by the Fall of 2020.
• Criteria for selecting award candidates will include academic and leadership achievements.
• Award recipients will be notified by mid-May 2020 and awards will be presented at recipients’ high school end-of-the-year award ceremonies.

updated application >     pdf     Word doc

Google Form application

flyer

All applications are due 4:00 PM on Friday, May 22, 202o.  No exceptions will be made and no late applications will be accepted.

Lennox Teachers Association
Supporting Teachers, Supporting Students

Posted in Animo, Covid-19, CVUSD, Dreamers, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, LMS, LMSTA, scholarships, Wiseburn | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2020 LTA Spring Elections – Postponed + Updates

Two updates on the LTA Spring 2020 Elections-

1) Due to school closure and social distancing orders because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and under recommendation of CTA, the LTA Rep Council voted on April 16, 2020 to postpone the LTA Spring 2020 Election until September 2020.  As Covid-19 events unfold and the school situation in fall becomes more clear, the LTA Elections Committee will publish new dates and timelines for the election.  In the meantime, people holding positions that were to be voted on shall have their terms of office extended for 2-3 months – President, Vice Presidents of Contractual and Curricular Affairs, Treasure (see below), and all Site Reps.

2) The current LTA Treasurer has also announced her resignation at the first opportunity (currently September), so when the next LTA election is held, the position of Treasurer will also be up for election (for 1 year, completing the current 2-year term).

Treasurer [member of Executive Board]:

  • Receives all funds belonging to the Association and is responsible for their safekeeping and accounting;
  • Pays out such funds upon orders of the President;
  • Prepares a written financial report for each regular meeting of the Representative Council and Executive Board;
  • Is responsible for an annual audit of the books of the Association and distributing a summary of this audit to the Membership;
  • Is responsible for submitting membership and financial reports to CTA, NEA and other agencies as required by law; and
  • Files state and federal tax returns for the Association
  • Stipend = $750/yr.

Anyone interesting in running for Treasurer (or any other elected office) should look for details on the positions and timelines for declaration candidacies that will be published here in late summer.

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