Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/274063
Advocacy holders to decide the best way to help their students. The new budget includes a funding increase of $244 million for the UC and CSU systems, which holds tuition at existing levels. State funding for community colleges includes an 11 percent increase in 2014-15. And while greater funding is still needed to restore our higher education system, this is moving in the right direction. Rather than dollars coming from the state that can only be used for speciļ¬c categorical purposes, LCFF supports local decision making that targets local pri- orities created by teachers, parents and the education community. This shift recognizes that some students need extra resources to succeed and allows local stake- Alpine Teachers Association ATA members express their relief to be going back to teach their classes Feb. 25 after accepting a contract settlement following a three-day strike over significant cuts in salary and health benefits. Parents and colleagues from local chapters showed their support. ATA President Gayle Malone says, "Though still painful, this settlement can serve as a basis toward a more harmonious relationship with the district, es- pecially as new funding comes in to hopefully alleviate Alpine's fiscal difficulties." Photo by Bill Guy S OM E LO C A L C H A P T E R S struggled to reach agreements. As always, good relationships and resources within the district and community are factors in a good bargain. McKinleyville Teachers Association In rural Humboldt County, teachers are at impasse with the McKinleyville Union School District and have demonstrated and mobilized for months. After going six long years with no raise, the district is offering only 2 percent while out-of- pocket costs for health care premiums are soaring and some educators are taking second jobs to make ends meet. The next session with a state mediator is March 28. Courtesy photo San Ysidro Education Association At press time, SYEA's last mediation session was taking place. The district is seek- ing 8 percent salary cuts in each of the next three years, despite receiving millions of dollars of new money under the LCFF. They also insist on maintaining high class sizes, while budgeting the receipt of Grade Span Adjustment funds intended to facilitate reduction in class sizes. We want what's right, not what's left www.cta.org 37 M A R C H 2 0 1 4 Educator 03 Mar 2014 v2.0 int.indd 37 3/6/14 10:52 AM