Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1543424
approaches their collective goals for their students and schools relentlessly. "We listen to what our members want, and we fight to win those things to help them be better teachers," says LUTA Vice President Tiffany Fuhrmeister. "We have learned that no doesn't always mean no, and we just keep working and chipping away on important things. Our eyes on the prize is making things better for our teachers so they can serve our students." Lin c o ln Uni f i ed w oul d lo se $12.6 mi l lion in funding if Prop. 55 expired, which Collette says LUTA leaders have been repeating during th eir ask s to m emb ers to h elp supp or t and participate in the campaign (including a fun video they posted to YouTube). Site reps will continue following up with members until they reach their goal, and the LUTA executive board plans to text members who have not yet signed. Collette says she's not surprised by the success of the blitz because LUTA leaders know their sites and have been organizing to win, whether it's on Election Day or to defend their contract. "In between signature gathering, we also filed two demands to bargain, initiated one grievance and informally represented a member over an evaluation," she says. LOW E L L : Local Reaches Signature Goal, Eyes 100% Lowell Joint Education Association (LJEA) members were wait- ing in lines to sign Prop. 55 petitions when President Margaret Palmer visited school sites in December, as the local was one of the first in CTA to reach the goal of collecting signatures from 85% of members. The 32-year transitional kindergarten teacher says LJEA's campaign started last year when its representative council adopted a resolution of support. Palmer said LJEA understood the importance of the campaign and also took it as a challenge. "It took us two weeks, but we did it," exclaims Palmer. Palmer credits CTA's Local President Release Time grant for a big part of the success, allowing her to visit all six schools regularly and build with her members at each site. She let educators know when she was coming, leaving with a stack of signed petitions. "It was just about utilizing the time I had and my relationships with the teachers," Palmer says. "e neat thing about meeting in the lounges is that they were filled with classified employees as well, who wanted to know what was going on — so I ended up gathering signatures from about 30 classified employees, too." Aiming for 100%, Palmer is planning follow-up visits to collect signatures from the members remaining who have yet to sign. With almost a quarter of their school district budget at stake with a Prop. 55 extension, Palmer says her mem- bers know that services for Lowell students are on the ballot this November. "There aren't extras to cut, so it would have to come from programs and supplies," she says. "I can't even imagine what that would look like." CA J O N VA L L E Y: It's All About School Site Structures, Relationships and Organizing "e success of our effort reflects the strength of our internal communication structures, the dedication of our site repre- sentatives, and the trust members have in their association's leadership," says Cajon Valley Education Association (CVEA) Lowell Joint Education Association members are all-in for the Prop. 55 extension - one of the first locals statewide to reach signature goals. 18 cta.org LJEA Pres. Margaret Palmer Feature