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=Latest DTA News= Last updated {$revisiondate}. Joint Statement 24 May 2011

The Dinuba Teachers Association and Dinuba Unified School District met on Tuesday May 24 for negotiations. They discussed the updates of the projected improvements of the state budget situation and its effect on the fiscal status of DUSD. Proposals were exchanged, discussed, and are being evaluated. A future meeting date is pending.

Governor Jerry Brown signed California’s 2011-12 State Budget by the constitutional deadline. The Democrat-majority budget plan that was passed late Tuesday night and sent to the governor protects the integrity of Prop. 98 and provides $48.7 billion in funding to K-14 education, guaranteeing that local districts get the same level of funding as last year. This is a difficult budget containing painful cuts to higher education, health care, public safety and other programs, but it is the best that Democratic lawmakers could do in the face of Republicans’ refusal to allow a vote on tax extensions.

 · 2011-12 Proposition 98 funding will be the same as the year that has just ended (2010-11), including deferrals. · A special provision has been included that prevents another round of RIF notices by the August 15 deadline because of low revenues. This provision is in place for one year, July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012. This will keep districts from “over-RIF’ing” and give our students and teachers some stability for the next school year. · The Quality Education Investment Act will be fully funded. =Approved State Budget Prevents Additional Layoffs= = = As part of the budget package, lawmakers approved AB 114, which for this year prevents school districts from issuing additional layoffs in August and essentially waives three-year reserve requirements. The law repeatedly states that each school district shall project the same level of revenue as it received in 2010-11 and shall maintain staffing and programs commensurate with that level. Some school district officials are crying foul, but let me be clear this law is designed to ensure stability for students and schools, avoid midyear cuts and prevent districts from gaming the system.

The approved budget also protects the integrity of the state minimum school funding law by requiring that any funding shortfalls must be restored and it fully funds CTA’s Quality Education Investment Act, which provides additional resources to lower-performing schools

=California Leaves its Mark on the NEA RA= With nearly 1,200 delegates, CTA was the largest delegation at the NEA Representative Assembly earlier this month in Chicago. It was a lively convention with passionate debate from educators across the country. Delegates re-elected NEA President Dennis Van Roekel and approved the early endorsement of Barak Obama for U.S. President. While we certainly don’t agree with all of his education policies, this endorsement was about fighting for the future of our country, the middle class and our rights as union members. It was the right decision for NEA and the California delegation supported the recommendation. Vice President Joe Biden laid out what’s at stake in a commanding speech to delegates. Expressing our concerns about Obama’s education policies, CTA led efforts to pass New Business Item C which directs NEA to communicate aggressively, forcefully, and immediately that we are appalled with many of the so-called school reforms from Education Secretary Arne Duncan. This includes his policies of using test scores to measure student and teacher achievement, focusing on unproven and limited solutions for improving schools and failing to correct the problems of No Child Left Behind.

Delegates also united against the unprecedented attacks on educators and America’s working class by approving a $10 dues increase to support NEA’s Crisis Fund. The money is designed to help states with pro-public education outreach. In California, we are facing attacks on our secure retirement and a new “Paycheck Deception” initiative. This initiative, which would restrict how union members spend their own dues money and participate in elections, is now in circulation by well-financed, anti-union forces. Do not sign these petitions and spread the word to your colleagues, family and friends. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =California is in a State of Emergency= = Join and LEARN = California is in a State of Emergency and we all need to sound the warning. Following the vote by CTA’s State Council of Education, plans are underway for a special week of action, May 9-13, to draw attention to the drastic state budget cuts destroying our public schools, colleges and communities, and calling on the Legislature to pass the temporary tax extensions.

Lawmakers have already cut more than $12 billion from the state budget, but have not extended the revenue portion of Governor Brown’s proposal. Legislators need to finish their jobs and pass the revenue extensions. It’s time to say enough is enough and mean it. We are asking educators to participate in a sit-in at the State Capitol during that week. To help focus local activities each day, we are using the acronym LEARN. Monday, May 9: Focus on **__L__EGISLATIVE** activities Tuesday, May 10: Reach out to **__E__VERY PARENT** Wednesday, May 11: Use Day of the Teacher to **__A__PPRECIATE Educators and ALLIES** Thursday, May 12: Promote the need for **__R__EVENUE** for schools and other essential services Friday, May 13: It’s **__N__OT BUSINESS AS USUAL.** Attend a regional rally. We are reaching out to other education, labor and community groups to join us. The Association of California School Administrators is already on board. So please work within your local chapter to make this week a success and then join others on Friday for a regional rally near you. Rallies are being planned in Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego. And while we are focusing on this week, the actions and outreach need to start long before then and continue long past the week of May 9-13. CTA will be holding its annual Chapter President’s Lobby Day on May 18.

The time is now to make our voices heard and speak up for our students, our schools, and the future we all want for California. WE ARE ONE!

Your help is needed to persuade lawmakers to pass the governor’s tax extension measure that will head off more cuts to schools and other vital public services. It’s crucial that calls be made beginning today using CTA’s 888 toll-free number. More information about the issue and about the number is included in the Action Alert that is embedded below.



= If you want to get the best out of = = a person you must look for the = = best that is in her or him. = Bernard Haldane

=**"It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do**= =**yourself"**=

Eleanor Roosevelt

We are asking all teachers on each site to fill out a log for DTA to keep track of time spent on activities outside of contractual time.

 * The Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA) governs labor-management relations in California’s public schools. Basically, the law gives DTA the right to be the exclusive rep. The law requires DUSD to bargain with you. This means that they can't go and bargain with members without you about contractual matters.**


 * 3543.3. Negotiations**


 * A public school employer or such representatives as it may designate who may, but need not be, subject to either certification requirements or requirements for classified employees set forth in the Education Code, shall meet and negotiate with and only with representatives of employee organizations selected as exclusive representatives of appropriate units upon request with regard to matters within the scope of representation.**

**Board Meeting Visits Planned**
In order to keep up to date with school board actions, DTA is encouraging teachers from a each school to be at the public comment portion of school board meetings. It is a great time to bring up positive things happening in your class or school and also to suggest changes, if you have suggestions. This is informal, but you may be hearing from your building rep. about participating. =**Weingarten Rights.**= - 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.

**The Dinuba Teachers Association is here to protect and promote the well being of its members. We are working to improve the conditions of teaching and learning. We are here to advance the cause of quality public education. We work to ensure that the dignity and civil rights of all teachers, children and youth are protected. Finally we are here for you to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic working conditions.**