Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/515703
Mandatory kindergarten, EpiPen follow-up, and 200 other bills The bulk of the work done at State Council happens in the 21 committees that review, discuss and make recommendations on issues and legislation that impact student learning conditions. For example, the Early Childhood Education Committee recommended a "Co-sponsor" position on AB 713, a measure by Assembly Member Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) that would make kindergarten mandatory for all students. Under this year's version of the bill, parents would be able to opt out after the first 30 days of class. In all, Council took positions on some 200 legislative bills. Among them were positions to support AB 101 (Alejo) to develop an ethnic studies curriculum framework, and SB 172 (Liu) to suspend the high school exit examination (CAHSEE) as a condition for high school graduation, and to co-sponsor AB 709 (Gipson) to require that charter schools comply with the Brown and Public Records acts for transparency and accountability. The Student Support Personnel Committee recommended a "Watch" position on two bills by Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) that expand on his SB 669 of 2014, which requires school districts to provide emergency epi- nephrine auto-injectors to trained personnel to provide emergency medical aid to persons suffering from an anaphylactic reaction. SB 738 and SB 277 protect medical personnel against civil or criminal legal actions resulting from their prescribing the auto-injectors and revise current law authorizing nonmedical school employees to volunteer to use the medical devices to provide emergency aid. • Honored Doreen McGuire-Grigg, Lakeport Unified Classified Employees Association president, as the winner of the 2015 Paula Monroe ESP of the Year Award. A special education para, she is the first education support professional (ESP) to be elected to a state position on the NEA Board of Directors. Her interaction with CTA President Dean Vogel during the award presentation was both entertaining and inspiring. See the full story on page 17. • Honored three California Teachers of the Year: Amy Laughlin, a K-6 inter- vention teacher, Savanna Teachers Association; Erin Rosselli, a kindergar- ten teacher, Orange Unified Education Association; and Christopher O'Con- nor, a high school science teacher, St. Helena Teachers Association. Unable to attend was Maggie Mabery, a middle school science teacher, Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association, who is Cal- ifornia's nominee to the National Teacher of the Year competition. • Re-elected to the CTA Board of Di- rectors Gayle Bilek, District G; Leslie Littman, District I; and Curtis L. Wash- ington, At-Large. • Re-elected CTA/ABC Committee members Roberto Rodriguez, At-Large; Mike Patterson, District D; Carlos Rico, District E; Loren Scott, District J; and Barbara Dawson, District N; and elected John Haschak, District A. • Elected NEA Directors Karen Schuett, District 8; Barbara Schulman, District 9; Linda Crow, District 14; and Julius B. Thomas, District 15; and elected NEA Alternate Director Ken Tang, Seat 2. YOUTH ACTIVISM AWARDS CTA's Peace and Justice Caucus presented Youth Activism Awards to Karen Oliva, Los Angeles; Rony Moon, Fullerton; and Dahkota Brown, Antelope Acres. Through CollegePath LA and the First Generation Club, Oliva helps first-generation students be admitted to and be successful in college. Moon started a nonprofit organization, Cooperation Act, which provides financial and emotional support to peer students around the world (cooperationact.weebly.com). Brown founded NERDS (Native Education Raising Dedicated Students) and is advocating statewide and nationally for the elimination of Native American images and stereotypes in schools. CTA & You 55 V O L U M E 1 9 I S S U E 9 IN OTHER ACTION, CTA STATE COUNCIL: