Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1491904
"We want to have a collaborative relationship. It's about setting up a structure, so everyone has a voice." —Mara Harvey, Natomas Teachers Association (if run in this story, no attribution because only one person in story) educators," says Harvey. " There's this huge well of opportu- nities for our students. A lot of people are excited to get the resources to our families." Harvey says they are currently analyzing community needs at their future community school site to determine what supports are necessary when it opens next school year. That information will be used to help identify potential needs in other schools. " The more resources we can get to our students, the bet- ter," Harvey says. "It's exciting to me because education is about bringing your community together." Harvey says talks are ongoing between NTA and Natomas Unified to reach a memorandum of understanding about shared governance. "How do we guarantee a role in leadership in this effort? We see it as fundamental to the success of community schools. That is really the key piece," she says. "We want to have a collaborative relationship. It's about setting up a structure, so everyone has a voice." Harvey says it has been helpful to have a neighboring local — Twin Rivers United Educators — that is a couple years ahead on the community schools timeline and willing to provide advice and support as needed. For local associ- ations just starting, she recommends reaching out to fellow CTA leaders building community schools in their districts. "What are other districts doing and how can that work for us," Harvey asks, adding that CTA support has been invalu- able. "CTA has been really strong behind us and there's so much excitement about it." Sac City TA made a community schools proposal that the school district refused to even discuss during bargaining leading up to their strike last March, but that hasn't stopped educators from moving forward with plans to build community schools in Sacramento. This includes successful action at the ballot box in the November 2022 election. "Community schools fit very tightly with priorities we set in 2016 and build an avenue for things we want to accomplish for our students," SCTA Vice Pres- ident Nikki Milevsky says. During their strike, three parents led more than 50 parents, students and community members in " It's amazing how similar educators' thoughts are to parents' and the community's thoughts. The goal is the success of our students." —Nikki Milevsky, Sacramento City Teachers Association STEP 3: BUILD PARENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) Members: 3,036 Nikki Milevsky, vice president 3 19 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 3