Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/587184
(VVUSD) board meet- ings with concerned parents and educators, the Val Verde Teachers Association (VVTA) reached agreement with VVUSD. The three-year agree- ment, ratified by a 628-141 vote, will assure that Val Verde's teachers will remain in their community as districts ramp up competition for new educa- tors across California. Provisions include an off-schedule bonus for 2014-15 of 4 percent, a 7 percent increase for the 2015-16 school year that includes 1 percent added to the health benefits cap, and an addition- al 3.5 percent increase in 2016-17 to be paid out in whatever designation VVTA requests, including using a portion of the monies for health and welfare benefits improvements. Agreement was also reached to extend the work day five minutes and add one additional non-instructional day for training and curric- ulum planning. Throughout the organizing campaign, Val Verde's teachers emphasized the adverse impact of delaying settlement and voiced con- cerns that talented educators were pursuing employment in other districts because of noncompetitive local pay. (Many districts in Riverside County, where VVUSD is located, are continuing a policy of refusing to release employ- ees from their contracts because they cannot fill the vacancies.) VVTA President Albert Trudel believes community support for educators was the difference in this negotiations cycle. "As our parents and community made their voices clear in calling for settle- ment, the district has responded with what we believe is a fair and responsi- ble agreement." Long Beach City College Certificated Hourly Instructors (LBCC CHI) joined the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO — one of several Community College Association (CCA) chapters that have done so. CHI was recognized as a new affiliate union at the federation delegates' meeting in September. From left: Rusty Hicks, ex- ecutive secretary-treasurer, LA County Federation of Labor; Karen Roberts, CHI president and a CCA board mem- ber for part-time faculty; and Vivian Malauulu, CHI member and candidate for the Long Beach City College Board of Trustees. 44 cta.org Advocacy DOCTORAL Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.) (La Verne Campus) CREDENTIALS AND CERTIFICATES § Multiple and Single Subject § Administrative Services § CTEL § PPS: Education Counseling § PPS: School Counseling § Mild/Moderate: Education Specialist § Reading and Language Arts § Child Life Specialist § New Learning Technology BACHELORS § Educational Studies (formerly Liberal Studies) § Child Development MASTERS § Educational Leadership § School Counseling § School Psychology § Special Education § Reading § Special Emphasis § Child Life § Child Development (also online) College of Education & Organizational Leadership 1950 Third Street La Verne, CA 91750 "La Verne provided the tools to make me an effective educator." WASC accredited, CCTC and CAEP approved. Programs offered at campuses throughout California. s Call: 877-GO-TO-ULV Email: degreeinfo@laverne.edu Visit: laverne.edu Natasha Burrell 7th Grade Honors Math Teacher