Newsletter+Jan.+2007

- Calendar for 07-08. The State dept of Ed. has moved the CAHSEE up one week, so Dinuba is currently expecting ’08 Spring vacation to be in its traditional pre-Easter location on the calendar.

- DTA is befuddled and has no explanation for the extremely low (6%) response to the Superintendent’s performance review survey. This is the type of communication that can highlight areas for growth as you see it. Such surveys are more accurate when more people complete them and, and can be useful. If you didn’t complete one this year, you might consider doing so next time.

- DTA will have a General Meeting in March. Date still unknown.

- Updated contracts and new phone/address lists are being collated and will be out when finished. Both documents will be combined in a 3-ring binder.

- Dinuba’s Wal-mart has opened a Health Clinic. Whatever your feelings about Wal-mart, they are aggressive on certain price categories (like last year with the $4 generic drugs). Any downward pressure on prices will keep a lid on competitors’ pricing. This slowing of price increasing, if it actually occurs, would indirectly slow the increase in our health plan premiums as Blue Cross realizes a slowing in their own fee payouts to providers. All in all, slowing health care costs for anyone is good for everyone. (What’s good for wal-mart is good for the USA? I guess I’m pretty old to even know the original GM reference. WOW)

- DTA is compiling a list of teachers planning to retire this May. It is your retirement. Go out with a band and hoopla or just go out to dinner with a few friends. DTA is here to honor your years of work.

- dtacentral.org continues to develop. The contract should be fully up there as time allows and then you will be able to consult it any time you wish.

- Also about the contract, remember that this is a one year deal. Many of the past agreements have been 3 years. Why does it matter? because come August, the entire contract must be ratified. Be thinking about how much under COLA you will be willing to accept, (you know that it will NEVER be over COLA). Consider other areas (working hours, class size, whatever really) that should be worked on and forward your thoughts to Jennifer Wiens and her negotiations team. Check dtacentral.org for the entire member list.

- Board meeting attendance really matters. No need to even say anything. Most nights it is more interesting than TV, since you actually know most of the stars of the show!

- FYI – DTA elections will be held this coming December. President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer have a 2 year term of office. There is a small stipend paid to the holders of each of these offices. All full DTA members are eligible to hold any of these offices. Agency fee payers can not be officers.

- If you have a meeting with a supervisor in which you believe you will be discipline or terminated, you have the legal right to Association representation. If once a meeting starts and it becomes clear that the meeting is about these areas, you can have the meeting stopped at that point and reschedule at a time that you can be represented by a building rep. or other DTA representative. These are known as your Weingarten rights.