Vallejo Education Association

The Vallejo Education Association (VEA) is the exclusive representative of all the certificated employees in the Vallejo City Unified School District.

On Thursday, we received word that approximately 17 teachers would be rehired for the 2009/10 school year. In our conversation with the District, it was noted that two positions were open and unfilled at Vallejo Charter School. When questions were asked regarding this issue, we were told that it had to do with possible credentialing issues.

Imagine my surprise when I checked my District e-mail on Friday to see both positions listed. I decided to check Edjoin to see how the positions were listed for the charter school. The first position posted is for an Expeditionary Learning Teacher - 5th Grade and the second position posted is for an Expeditionary Learning Teacher - Math/Science. We believe that both positions can be filled by two of our laid-off teachers. It is my recommendation that any teacher who has received a lay-off notice and who is interested in these positions, please call Kelli Stephens at 556-8921 ext. 50019. (Re-hired teachers should not have to complete an application, submit a resume, or submit a letter of recommendation as requested on Edjoin.)

Summer school is now in session, however, I have received several e-mails from teachers stating that they have more than 30 students in their classes. Please be advised that NO summer school class should have more than 30 students. If you have more than 30 students, notify your administrator that additional students need to be removed immediately. Teachers will NOT be paid for summer class size overages!

Finally, during our conversation with the District on Thursday,questions were asked regarding how the 17 teachers were assigned to their new positions. Teachers were not allowed to pick positions, but rehires were done based on grade level taught and seniority. In the past, the District allowed teachers to pick open positions based on seniority. This procedure is not in the contract, rather, in the past it was something that the District agreed to let teachers do.

If you are trying to get in contact with me, either send me an e-mail or call me at (707)552-8487. If calling, please leave me a detailed message with the time that you called.

Information for Teachers Facing Lay-offs/Reassignment/Involuntary Transfers
June 5, 2009

We understand that a lot of people have a lot of questions about being laid off. There is much anxiety surrounding losing one's job. Too many teachers have not felt supported by the District. VEA hopes to help remedy that situation. We need to be here for our colleagues to help them through this difficult time as much as possible.

This web-site will have ongoing updated information for those who have been RIF'd. We will also provide information on the involuntary transfer/reassignment process. Much of this information has been given to your Site Representative as a hard copy.

Important Note: If the EDD wants your union number, CTA has advised putting 1 (for Region 1). This is for the online application.

Despite VEA and CSEA best efforts at the last School Board meeting, it appears that the wall still exists. The Bargaining Team met with the District for another round at the table. For a quick synopsis of what transpired at today's bargaining session, please refer to May 2nd and April 26th updates found below.

When the District was asked for more bargaining dates, the next available date provided by the District was June 17th - after school lets out for the summer.

Before the start of the May 6th School Board Meeting, many VEA and CSEA members brought a huge assortment of boxes to build a wall. This wall of boxes symbolized the wall that has been created by Dr. Bull and the many administrators on Mare Island.

Katherine Catanzarite, Co-President, spoke about this wall as both VEA and CSEA brought boxes into the board room, stacking them up to build the wall. After the meeting, it was requested by the Board that the boxes be removed. Ron West responded to the Board by asking if administrators could help VEA and CSEA remove the wall. The meeting was adjourned for a brief five minute break so that the wall could be dismantled. The administrators sitting in the front row were quite displeased (with more than a few grumbling their displeasure) that they had to help dismantle the wall.

The point was obviously missed by those in which it was intended! In response toWednesday's action at the start of the five minute break, Dr. Bull reportedly walked up to Ron West and Wendy Kandel and said, “The wall only exists because it is a fantasy in your mind.”

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, May 6th at 5:00 p.m. The Action Team is asking for all of us to be a part of the VEA and CSEA "shoe box" wall building party. Please bring as many shoes boxes as possible. If you cannot attend, please give any shoe boxes to those who plan on going. More details will be provided when you arrive at the District Office.

Prior to the start of the meeing, CSEA and VEA will be providing high quality hot dogs and bottled water. This will begin at around 4:00 p.m.

Please tell your colleagues, including all CSEA members at your school site, about this ACTION event.

Nothing much happened at the bargaining table with the District on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. As a repeat of the previous session, there was ongoing discussion about Article 5: Hours, along with some time spent ont Article 13: Professional Rights and Responsibilities.

Please keep in mind that while the District may choose to discuss money in a public forum, either through the newspaper or at school board meetings, nothing can be decided without it being brought to the table with the VEA Bargaining Team. As of the last round of negotiations, the District has not brought any type of economic packages to the table. It is important to keep in mind that old adage, "just because you read it in the paper, doesn't make it true!"

The Bargaining Team met with the District for another long day. For the six hours of scheduled bargaining time, we actually only faced the District for approximately 90 minutes. A lot of the time was devoted to Article 5: Hours. Again, no economic proposals were brought to the table by the District.

Pink Friday
March 9, 2009

Plan to be on Vallejo's waterfront on Friday, March 13th. The plan is to start gathering at 3:00 p.m. at Curtola and Mare Island Way and stretch along the waterfront. Wear Pink, bring signs and encourage everyone you know to be there. Talk to your friends, neighbors, and your staff at your school site. Let's show VCUSD that education matters in Vallejo!

Need more info? Contact Ron West.

Pink Slipped
March 7, 2009

Almost 20,000 teachers in the state of California have received pink slips according to CTA's latest figures on the Pink Friday website. At the school board meeting in Vallejo on Wednesday, March 4th, VCUSD decided to give pink slips to 190 of its teachers. Ron West and the Action Team did an incredible job showing what 190 teachers represent in Vallejo. Did you know that approximately seven teachers equals the salaries of Dr. Bull and Dr. Damelio? Parent Melissa Cole also spoke before the Board and generously agreed to send her speech so that it could be posted here.

Below are some links to the media coverage of Wednesday's school board meeting.

CBS 5

KGO 7

KTVU 2

Times Herald 03/05/09

Times Herald 03/06/09

Your Opinion is Needed
March 4, 2009

An online survey has been put up by Dr. Bull in order to get feedback on her performance in VCUSD. This is one way to let Dr. Bull know the realities of our classrooms and our school campuses. Complete the survey and then come back to the blog and give us your feedback.

Two Actions YOU Need to Take!
March 2, 2009

On Wednesday, March 4th, there will be a rally at the school board meeting. This will begin at 4:45 p.m. The school board meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. and it is anticipated that the number of teachers who will be receiving RIF notices will be announced at this meeting.

On Friday, March 13th it is when the School District will be required to give RIF notices. VEA's Action Team is planning an upcoming action to coincide with CTA's "Pink Friday." More information will follow within the next few days, so check your e-mail and/or your mailbox at school for more information.

According to CTA, 17,777 teachers have already received RIF notices as of March 2, 2009. Show support for your colleagues and stand up for our profession.

Getting Things Done!
February 9, 2009

Action Team met last Wednesday at Vallejo High School. By all accounts it was a great meeting with nearly ALL schools represented. It seems the more the District drags its heels and spends money on frivolous items, the more teachers are getting fired up and getting things done!

Comparing Teaching Salaries
January 11, 2009

The Sacramento Bee has an online feature that compares teaching salaries in each county. In "See how well your school district pays its teachers," you can use their drop down menu to locate Solano County. According to their figures, teachers in Vallejo saw a decrease of -8.1% when adjusted for inflation after 2004. We are also at the bottom for the highest amount that can be paid ($71,305) while Fairfield Unfied is the highest.

Action Meeting
January 5, 2009

The next action meeting will be January 7, 2009 at Vallejo High School. Start time is 4:00 p.m. and the meeting is in room 75.

VEA Prevails in Arbitration
July 29, 2008

VEA and the District entered into an arbitration on paying teachers for class size overages from the 11th to the 16th day of school, last May. The District argued that teachers were not entitled to be paid for their overages from the 11th to the 16th day. And, in fact, the District, since being taken over by the State, has not paid for class size overages for that period. VEA has maintained that under the contract teachers were entitled to pay for that period.

VEA and the District received the arbitrator's award yesterday and she found that the District had violated the contract and that teachers who carried overages between the 11th and 16th day of the 2006-07 school year were entitled to class size overage payments.

The District now must review its records and pay teachers for any overages that they carried during that period of time. The arbitrator has maintained jurisdiction on this arbitration to ensure that the teachers are paid.

Two Year Calendar Ratified

This past Friday and Monday, elections were held on the tentative agreement that had been reached with the District. With 380 votes in favor and 185 opposed, the two year calendar was ratified. The first student day for the 2008-09 school year is August 20th. New calendar will be posted on this site as soon as they are ready.

Information about calendar ratification by VEA unit members will be available soon.

We are excited to announce that we have set up blog for our VEA members. Blogs are a very interactive forum in which issues can be posted and discussed. Our VEA Blog can be found by pointing your browser to http://www.myvea.org/wordpress. Please be sure to drop by and post a comment.

You may now e-mail the Bargaining and Action Teams directly with your questions and concerns. Look under "Contacts" on the left-hand side of this page and click one of the e-mail links. This will open your e-mail program.

Our contact information:
Address: 4735 Central Way, Suite C, Fairfield, CA 94534
Phone: (707)864-6193 Fax: (707)864-6284.