Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1491904
occupying the school district office and demanding to speak to the superintendent, signifying the community 's solidarity with educators and helping lead to Sac City TA's settlement victory that ended the eight-day strike. SCTA hired one of those parents to work as a community schools organizer and help build relationships. "She's been doing a great job organizing parents and school site councils for community schools," Milevsky says. "It's just amazing how similar educators' thoughts are to par- ents' and the community 's thoughts. The goal is the success of our students." Knowing that they would make no progress on community schools as long as their superintendent lacked the desire to work with them, SCTA set out on an ambitious school board campaign last year to elect leaders who would direct district management to collaborate with educators and the community. SCTA mounted an extensive community-based campaign, supporting a CTA educator and two community members who emerged during the strike as community lead- ers. In a massive victory, all three won election, flipping the school board and changing the direction of the district. " That 's been a critical step in moving forward for community schools," Milevsky says. " The teachers and community are going to fight to get true community schools for our students." Milevsky recommends working with community and par- ent groups to learn about their needs and wishes for their students. She says it was inspiring to hear from other locals and working community school coordinators at last year 's Summer Institute and learn from their experiences. " We've found CTA and NEA support to be invaluable in this effort ," Milevsky says. "It 's so powerful to know you're not alone." Montebello educators are planning for community schools on the ground and at the bargaining table, with MTA making a community schools contract proposal late last year that outlines structures for shared leadership. MTA reached a tentative agree- ment in January on a new community schools article in their contract, which establishes a joint steer- ing committee that will make recommendations regarding the implemen- tation of the community schools program, includ- ing applying for an implementation grant from the state. While the grant would provide necessary resources, President David Navar says MTA educators are ready to build community schools in Montebello, regardless of the outcome. "We want community schools in our district whether we get the grant or not," Navar says. STEP 4: PLAN COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE DISTRICT Montebello Teachers Association (MTA) Members: 1,333 David Navar, president Nikki Milevsky and SCTA ran a school board campaign last year to elect leaders who would direct district management to collaborate with educators and the community on, among other issues, community schools. Three SCTA-supported candidates won, flipping the board and changing the direction of the district. 4 20 cta.org David Navar Feature C O M M U N I T Y S C H O O L S