Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1449741
CUSD is well-known statewide and beyond for its quality schools, strong athletic program, and one notable fact: In Clovis Unified's 63-year history, teachers have never had a recognized union. "When you sign a contract, they say, 'You know Clovis is not a union district,' " says Dan Dritz, 27-year teacher at Mountain View Elementary and ACE member. The lack of a teachers union in Clovis was celebrated by the district in a document called " D o c's C h a rg e ," w r i tt e n b y C U S D f o u n d i n g Superintendent Floyd "Doc" Buchanan upon his retirement in 1991, which includes numerous themes and slogans that embody the district's culture and are embraced by school di strict leadership. One sticks out: " The professionals who work in our district are proud that we do not have collective bargaining." "Clovis is adept at misattributing their success to not having a union," says Kristin Heimerdinger, 29-year Buchanan High School educator and ACE member. "Maybe it's not the lack of a union; maybe it's the hard work of educators who deserve a louder voice." Despite Doc's wishes, there has been a union in CUSD for quite some time — education support professionals in the district are represented by the California School Employees Association. Teachers, however, utilize a "faculty senate," which provides a forum for teachers to discuss and make nonbinding recommendations to district administration. School psychologists, counselors and other credentialed staff do not have repre- sentation in the senate. Clovis educators say it has ver y little power, especially compared to the strength of a union contract. Berst served as a member of the faculty senate for many years before the COVID-19 pandemic showed her how little the group could do to protect the safety of students and educators. "I saw how much was put on educators, and I realized my role as a faculty senator was very limited," Berst says. "I was motivated to learn more about ACE." W hile educators were growing tired of ever -increasing responsibilities and an administration that didn't seem to care about them, a July 2020 CUSD school board meeting was the tipping point. When the board approved returning to full-time in-person instruction, against public health reg- ulations and without consulting educators, it moved them to organize. "The district showed no sympathy or empa- thy for us," Berst says. " There was no recourse for educators." Clovis East High School teacher and ACE mem- ber Jason Roche says the decision was the last straw. He reached out to Heimerdinger, and she replied, "I've had enough." " The pandemic has just amplified the deep rot that was in the system to begin with, and we need something to fix it," says Roche. "ACE is the answer." W h e n C l o v i s s c h o o l p s y c h o l o g i s t s w e re required to return to in-person assessments of students, Soemali says, there was no plan from management about how to do so safely and no effective personal protective equipment. School psychologists asked for guidance, and the Spe- cial Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) director told them: " You're smart people, you'll figure it out." "e district said, ' You will return to work and assess these students,' even though the assessments weren't normal," Soemali says. "at really moved the psychologists." Heimerdinger says the pandemic spotlighted the deci- sion-making process in CUSD and how educators were not involved. She says it's a problem that has been festering for some time in Clovis Unified. "It's never been about decisions, but about a lack of voice," she says. "I don't want to work in a district that does not value my voice." After serving in the faculty senate for numer- ous years, Clovis East High School teacher Amy Kilburn says educators need a union to balance the unchecked power held by district leadership and move forward together for all Clovis students. " There needs to be checks and balances in o ur di stri c t . Th at w o ul d creat e a str u c ture where there would be collaboration," says Kil- burn. "This is the opportunity to see where we can f i x things and w h ere we can grow — so let's go and let's grow!" "We Are ACE" After the fateful July 2020 school board meeting, a group 25 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 2 Tamara Soemali "There is a huge disconnect between people making the decisions at CUSD and the people on the ground. It's a big reason why I'm [building ACE]." —Nancy Welch, special educator with the adult transition program