Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/498229
"I was shocked to discover I was one of the five posi- tions terminated from APL staff," says Christy Vail, an art and computer teacher. "The manner in which the victims of the cuts were notified is vicious. On Friday, Dec. 19, five teachers discovered their passwords and email no longer worked, which kept some of us from finishing our work for the fall semester. In addition, key fobs to enter the school building had been deactivated. Letters of termination were not received until Dec. 22 and 23. In other words, teachers were unable to fulfill their duties before being notified of their termination. Why would our principal pursue such a cruel action just days before Christmas if this wasn't a personal attack?" Not only was this unfair to teachers, it devastated students who were unable to say goodbye to teachers or receive all of their grades for work submitted. Woodson comments that fired teachers never got to complete their grade books, and one of her students who had earned an A instead was given a C. After the firings, school employees and community supporters held a protest outside the school, accusing the district of union busting. Student Destiny Latta, who calls Vail an "excellent teacher," distributed a petition asking the school to bring all of the teachers back. "I hope they are all reinstated and my voice can be heard," says Latta, a senior. Blaming it on the budget School officials claim that a $400,000 budget shortfall and a drop in attendance from 481 to 440 students made it necessary to eliminate five jobs. However, there is no evidence of a shortfall in the school's budget, and there was actually a $63,000 surplus at the end of the school year, asserts Jennifer Tarabochia, CTA staff in Redding. "To say the timing of APL's sudden financial woes is curious would be an understatement," says Vail. "In August, we had a surplus, and in December, a deficit. Strangely enough, the deficit was announced after a supermajority of APL teachers, including myself, voted to join the union." The district claims it wanted to save money, but the terminated employees were not put on a call- back list — and since their firing, the district has hired new non- union employees to replace them. "Since the five were terminated, APL hired others to take over our classes," says Vail. "One teacher was brought from half time to full plus benefits, which actually cost the school more than if they had kept me." Vail was a half-time employee with no benefits. "My letter of termination says nothing about calling me back once enrollment increases," she says. "This, along with the tim- ing of the suddenly discovered budget crisis, just days after the announcement of the union, leads me to believe this ter- mination is personal and punitive due to the formation of APLEA." Teachers vow to continue fighting Some might say teachers were fired for joining a union. Others may argue that they would have been protected from being fired if they'd belonged to a union from the beginning. But one thing is clear: The fight is far from over, and CTA is standing firmly by this fledgling chapter that has displayed such heart. APLEA has not disbanded. With the assistance of CTA staff, members filed two unfair labor practice charges against the district with PERB, and plans are under way to file a third. Youmans has no regrets about his decision to join the union. He was not treated with respect or kindness, and he says if the treatment of staff did not improve, he could not continue to work in such a toxic environment. McBroome, who is still teaching at the school, says the fight for respect and fair treatment is worth it. There are some things, she says, that are just worth fighting for. "I have full faith that CTA will help us," she says. "I feel fully supported. It doesn't mean I'm not scared to lose my job — I am. I'm afraid many more excellent teachers could lose their jobs. But it's been worth the struggle to join CTA and speak as one voice." She adds, "It's important to stand up for the students in your school. It's important to stand up for each other. It's important to stand up for yourself." Editor's note: To contact APL school board members or school director Patricia Dougherty, visit the school website at www.ourapl.org. On the picket line, from left, is Mark Youmans, who was fired; Wendy McBroome, organizing committee; Christy Vail, who was fired; and Cindy Silva, organizing committee. Advocacy 33 V O L U M E 1 9 I S S U E 8 Mark Youmans: Teachers lost their "voice" and weren't valued as professionals.