Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1449741
" We're going to preserve what we love about the district, and we're going to improve the things that need to be improved." — Amy Kilburn, Clovis East High School teacher A Union Is Born T O F O R M T H E Association of Clovis Educators, members followed these steps: • Notify the employer of intent to form an independent employee organization, as ACE did in an April 2021 letter. Per the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA), ACE has rights and protections as an independent employee organization. ACE filed unfair labor practice charges and requested an injunction against Clovis Unified School District during this time. • Collect enough signatures from potential bargaining unit members on petitions to form a union to show there is substantial interest. If more than half sign, the organization can file with the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) for recognition. While teachers, counselors and other education professionals are still gathering signatures, school psychologists and mental health support providers (MHSP) filed for PERB recognition in June 2021 with a supermajority signing petitions. • Upon filing, a 15-day period begins, during which other employee organizations can file for recognition with 30 percent of the proposed unit's signatures. If no other organization files, the union is officially rec- ognized. If another organization files, PERB holds an election to determine who will represent the workers. During the 15-day period following the school psychol- ogists and MHSP's filing, another organization (Clovis Psychologists for Clovis) filed for recognition, spurring a majority-vote election. (Bargaining unit members are allowed to sign more than one petition.) This election was held in January and February, and a majority of members voted for ACE, which was officially recognized as their union. school psychologists and MHSPs signed union support petitions. In a letter to the Clovis community, they said that educators in CUSD should have a real voice in the decisions that impact students and educators. "It is our desire to create an inclusive culture that honors our diverse backgrounds and experiences," the letter reads. "A culture that is based on collaboration and respect, a culture that fosters open dialogue, transpar- ency and advocacy to best serve the academic, social and emotional needs of all our students." ACE member Cy Hiyane says the last two years have been eye-opening for his fellow school psychologists to see how decisions are made in Clovis Unified. Hiyane says school psychologists have been active in Clovis over the past decade, advocating for the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and appropri- ate compensation, and are eager to accomplish so much more now with a loud, unified union voice. "It's about serving our students and continuing to cre- ate a diverse workforce," says Hiyane, a 10-year veteran of CUSD. "Our students will feel our success because they will know they have a voice. We are going to advocate for them and be a voice for them." As a former student, Soemali says Clovis Unified supported her as a learner, but as a school psychol- ogist, she says there is a lack of equity in the types of special and general ed services provided to students of color. It's a common refrain among ACE educators, who say that the educational experience isn't the same for every Clovis student. "I think we do a great job, but I think we don't always do a great job for everyone," says Heimerdinger. Clovis Unified teachers, school psychologists, itinerant specialists, school counselors and other education professionals announced the establishment of ACE in an April 2021 letter to the community. 27 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 2 Amy Kilburn