I'd like to thank all of you who have found your way to our blog. We are the parents of Yucaipa and Calimesa, and we love our teachers! We would like to let the school board know that we want them to treat them with the respect they deserve!
Here are some important dates for you:
On Wednesday, May 9, the teachers will be picketing before school at all the school sites. PLEASE go join them! If you're able to go early, go to Yucaipa High School, the 9th grade campus, Parkview, or Canyon, about 7:15. If you go to one of the elementary schools, get there about 8 - better yet, go to both!
On Thursday, May 10, there's a meeting at the District Office with the teachers and the district. It's called Fact-Finding. During this meeting, which is closed to the public, the two sides make a presentation about why they have the position they have in this situation. (The teachers will show why they deserve a fair salary offer and the district will try to show why they don't.) Then, they're going to try to negotiate. The teachers' association is having a rally at 4:00 - and they want us there.
The rally will be at 4:00 pm on Thursday, and it'll be at the district office on Third Street. Parking will be difficult, but it's well worth the walk. There will be guest speakers, including the new president of the California Teachers Association, David Sanchez.
If all goes well, then our job is done! But if it doesn't, we'd like for you to consider a "parent strike" on Monday, the 14th of May. By keeping your child home for one day, you can help show the District how you feel.
Watch this blog- as soon as we know how things go, we'll post, and tell you whether the "parent strike" is a go or not.
Thanks so much for supporting our teachers!
Here's another picture from the picketing yesterday:
10 comments:
Hello, Pistparents,
I am a teacher in the YCJUSD. I am writing today to thank you for all the support you have offered to us over the past several months. You have been standing by us regardless of what the district has had to say so I thought it would be well worth the next few minutes to write you and tell you why we are standing firm and who we really are.
The district will tell you that they are offering us 9%. What they aren't telling you is that this is a "packaged" offer. That 9% is to be broken down into 2 years ( over 630 days) of no contract and an unspecified amount that will go into paying for health benefits. Additionally,if I were a parent, I would want to know why the district has found it necessary to hire ( at taxpayers' expense) an elite law and PR firm to handle the publicity you have received through the postal system...again, at your expense. I am aware that the board and a few adminstrators have addressed teachers as "little machines for the union...","whiners" and other unsulting terms. Well, allow this "whiner" to let you know what I do for every child who walks through my door each and every day. I have spent approximately $2000 per year over the last 6 years on school related items and professional growth opportunities. I have a total of 22 years of education and I continue to pay for workshops, and conferences. I have made myself totally available to my parents because I know that without them, I am only half as good at my job as I am with their help. I believe in them as a partner in their child's education.I spend nights awake worrying about one child or 20 and I go to school and celebrate with the children each small victory. I take on each new job the district says is critical to each child's success knowing that the only real thing in my classroom that makes the difference is me. It is an enormous responsiblity that frightens me and at the same time excites me. I love my children and each June, I hate to say goodbye and send them on. But I do. I do because I know that in August, a new group will walk through my door and I will fall in love again. And...there is nothing I won't do for them, too.
Why has my district found me to be of little value to them? I hope that with your show of support, you will demonstrate that you value me and all the others who call themselves teachers, too. Thank you all for being there. With your support...on the 9th and the 10th... we will be recognized and valued for what we do. And for who we are.
Thank you for your support, it is truly appreciated. As a 30 year educator in the district it is encouraging to see someone other than ourselves trying to right what has become a tremendous wrong. I hope that when this crisis has been resolved that you continue to watch what is happening in YOUR schools. Too often things get passed that are not in the best interest of all parties. The community needs to hear from you, the parents. You represent your children and their future. Please don't settle for anything but the best. Let's all stick together and ensure that YCJUSD schools continue to have the best educators who are paid a fair wage for the work they do.
Thanks for all your support. It was great seeing all the parents out there in their PIST shirts.
When are you planning a "parent strike" - a day like Colton parents did where they kept their kids out of school for a day. That really motivated the district. It might be great to do it soon while all the schools are testing.
As parents we stand united and demand the district do what is right and avoid a strike. Make our teachers a priority too!!! If things don't change,I'm keeping my kid at home May 14th.
HELLO TO ALL ANONYMOUS, OF COURSE WE HAVE TO RIGHT WAS IS WRONG IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS OUR KIDS EDUCATION THAT WILL PAY IF WE DON'T. I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT WITH ALL THE SUPPORT I HAVE SEEN FROM ALL THE PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE WILL SUPPORT TILL WE GET WHAT EVERYONE INVOLVED GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE. (THE TEACHERS THEIR PAY, THE KIDS THEIR HIGH LEVEL OF EDUCATION. I JUST HOPE TEACHERS CAN STICK TOGETHER IN PRIDE UNTIL THIS IS OVER. I KNOW TENSION IS HIGH BUT WERE ALMOST THERE. LET THE PARENTS HELP AND SUPPORT TO THE VERY END. WE ARE THERE FOR YOU. THE WILL HAVE NO CHOICE WHEN WE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. WE ELECTED THEM ONCE WE WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.
yThe letter to the editor in today's SUN is an example of the one-sided view much of the community has about the offer that was made. I hope that everyone will direct people to both websites, not just the District's. There is lots to be learned and one point of view doesn't make you informed. I hope to see parents joining us in our efforts to inform the public on Wed. morning at the various school sites. Your participation is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for all of your support! I continue to be amazed at how many of our community members treat the District's information as "Fact", rather than the spin it is. They have a virtually unlimited budget, and unlimited legal resources with which to fight this battle. The law firm representing the district has suffered some setbacks of late (they represented Colton as well), and are attempting to save face at the expense of our teachers and students. Our District seems more concerned with "winning" than providing a fair settlement to teachers. A flyer distributed by YCEA showed that total expenditure on salary was lower in Yucaipa than in ANY other nearby district, as much as 11% lower in some cases. The sad reality is that I will make more money at any nearby district (except for Beaumont) EVEN IF the district raises its offer to COLA/COLA. What sort of message does all of this fighting and poor pay send to prospective teachers? The District was quick to point out that they had over 400 applicants last year; how many took better paying jobs in nearby districts? An applicant is not necessarily willing or able to take every job they apply for. So, it will be interesting to see how qualified this year's batch of new teachers is. The District is going to reap what they sow, to the disadvantage of your children. Good Luck!
I am both a parent and a teacher in this district. Therefore, I am concerned that our salary scale will not attract bright new teachers to our district. Would you take a job paying thousands of dollars less if you were offered the same job a few miles down the road? I am truly worried that some fabulous teachers will leave our district, while others won't even apply -- not because Yucaipa doesn't have great kids and parents -- but simply to be able to pay the bills.
It will be parent support that makes the difference! Thanks for all that you've done!
PIST: Thank you for the flier on my car at the little league field tonight! It made me feel great to know that others are involved in our efforts to make the YCJUSD do the right thing.
Darn tootin' I don't want a sub teaching my kids!
Hello,
As a parent of children "LEFT BEHIND", Subjected to Substitutes who SHAME our children, fail to pass over paperwork to the teachers and many OTHER things, like subs who sneak in the system " Just watch the news"... I have been a TA while my kids went to school, each and every year... Helping kids with ESL, Math, Making copies for teachers to pass out as homework,( Lack of books, not to mention how old they are, while the district OWNS NEW BOOKS )
I have been a Voter since I was 18, 100 years ago... I wonder how many people are aware of the fact that Arnold gave YCJUSD over EIGHTY - EIGHT MILLION Dollars to this district, with Very strict Limitations on it's use.. INCLUDING those monies NOT to Be used for administrativie purposes, Not to be used for ROADS...
The grant was specifically given to UPDATE the schools, Give the students Uo-to date materials, Healthy Clean schools, INCLUDING teachers saleries to commensorate with area saleries.
Nothing has been done to comensate these schools for the MASSIVE Growth of our little town, oversized classrooms. ONE counselor per grade, not enough books, SEATS, labs equipment. Mold and paint, and Pest control...
If you also Look at the Grant, it Was near two years ago, so this strike, walk out, not only is a Grand Gesture to get the admistration to WAKE UP, it would be a good idea to alert the Govenor and First lady of our state ( Maria being Heavily involed in Children and education also ) More can be done...
The NEW High school will not be ready until AT LEAST 2010, meaning, all we tax payers.
The Strikes are all good.. However using the law in which the grant was given to the district would be a really good idea to use too. The District doesn't own the media, and chanel 7 is really good about having an IE rep to cover news here...
The New High school, will not be built until Many of our children already have to graduate. The Private schools in the New area over crowed and went into the others schools, including making their students have a 6th grade campus as PRIVATE.. and their teachers are not on the same pay scale.
I Hope our Proud Lil town Does wake up, and like one poster said, we voted people IN, they can be VOTED OUT TOO...It's Far behind time our Kids get to LEARN instead of Pizza parties for attending State testing, WE ALREADY KNOW how far behind they are..The WORld knows. My Daughters graduating class in 9th grade, was over twice the size of the 9th grade class before it, now it's about trippled.
They can build all the houses in months, and it's taking over 4 years to build ONE school.
The amount of money these teachers are having to pull from their own pockets to help students have what they need to be taught is outrageous. These kids are NOT going onto college in large amounts, and it's been made so easy to drop out, or "Be bad, to go to alternative school, and do nothing"...
IT Takes Paternts Teachers, AND Counselors to get these kids to a point in life where they can Go ut into a WORK World, without being low wage earning, worker bees..
Support our Children, by Supporting the teachers, and UPHOLDING the RUles of the Grant.
GOOO Teachers...
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