Newsletter+Mar.+2007

The previously announced March General Meeting has been converted into an STRS update and moved later in the spring. Place and time will follow when finalized.
 * UPCOMING**

Universal healthcare is getting a lot of play in the news this year. Keep up to date with the following links: ►healthgrades.com- attempts to rate hospitals and physicians. There is an interesting list of the “50 Best Hospitals in the U.S.” (some entire states don’t have even one of the best hospitals-CA has 4). ►webmd.com-attempts to answer medical questions. ►http://www.onecarenow.org/– attempts to clarify SB 840 which would greatly expand health coverage at the governmental level.
 * HEALTHCARE NEWS**

In order to communicate better with all teachers, DTA president Ken Trapp is visiting all school sites for a pizza lunch. He will be at Jefferson March 12th, and then at Lincoln March 26th.
 * DTA Pres. Is on the MOVE**

In order to keep up to date with school board goings, DTA is encouraging teachers from a specific 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. The dates for March and April are below.
 * Board Meeting Visits Planned**

March 8 -Roosevelt March 22-DHS April 12-WIS April 26-Lincoln

Board members can be contacted here: ►Judy George- [|jageorge@tularehhsa.org] ►Bev Keel Worrell-[|bevworrell@sbcglobal.net] ►Mary Villarreal-[|mhv1_99@yahoo.com] (underscore between 1 and 9) ►Ron Froese-[|ron.froese@reedleycollege.edu] ►Victorio Rojas-[|vrojas@cvrc.org]

Be looking for the DTA Teacher of the Year nomination forms. The criteria for selection is listed on the form, as well as the deadline for submission.
 * DTA Teacher of the Year**

Copies of the contract and the new DUSD directory are still in the works. Volunteers are welcome to collate.
 * Contracts**

All teachers with graduating high school students qualify for their child to receive the DTA Scholarship. Application forms will be available soon from your site rep.
 * DTA Scholarship Forms**

Our bargaining team continues to meet for planning sessions. This time around the entire contract is again up for approval, even though we just sealed this year’s deal in January.
 * Negotiations Are Calm, Moving Forward**

If your credential needs to be renewed so that you can continue working next fall, your renewal must occur online, and the 150 hours of ongoing education is now only a “recommendation” and is no longer needed to receive your new credential. You will however, have to pay for the salaries of all the people in the Credentialing office by still submitting the fee to cover the cost of the paperwork processing.
 * Credential renewals Simplified**
 * http://www.ctc.ca.gov/**