Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/812811
" The district is in the best financial position in its history, with over $98 million in reserve," says SCTA President Nikki Milevsky. "But our students go without credentialed teachers because the board refuses to invest in our kids. We're coming together to ask Superintendent José Banda and the board to put our kids first." SCTA leaders have started an online petition urging the district board to work with teachers to make Sacramento City a "destination district" in California. Go to sacteachers.org to sign the petition. ALUM ROCK CONTRACT TO STEM TURNOVER After one long year of difficult negotiations in a district with high teacher turnover due to low pay, the Alum Rock Educators Associa- tion (AREA) reached a contract agreement in March. As a motivation to lower class sizes, Alum Rock Union School Dis- trict will have to pay teachers slightly more if class sizes rise above 24 students in all transitional kindergarten to third-grade classrooms. Students who have been affected by the district's shortage of speech therapists will benefit from the settlement, which raises therapists' sal- aries to the same as school psychologists' to ease the shortage. The contract provides raises of 8.25 percent over two years, along with a one-time bonus this year of 3.5 percent off the salary schedule. That will help the San Jose district recruit and retain teachers more effectively. "Being able to attract and retain our teachers prevents turnover and is a direct benefit to our students," says AREA President Jocelyn Merz, noting that about a third of the district's teachers have less than five years of experience. AREA's 600 members ratified the contract with a 99 percent yes vote. AREA held four major job actions and rallies during months of negotiations, and was successful in gaining support from parents and the community. By Cynthia Menzel, Mike Myslinski, Ed Sibby and Frank Wells. #OurVoiceAtTheTable Photo: Ed Sibby PERRIS TEACHERS RATIFY CONTRACT After months of organizing at school board meetings and marches with parents and other community members, members of the Perris Elementary Teachers Association (PETA) over- whelmingly ratified a contract settlement that keeps outstanding teachers in the community. In 2017-18 the Perris Elementary School Dis- trict calendar will increase from 184 to 185 days — time allocated for professional development and instructional improvement to benefit stu- dents. Teachers will be compensated with a 0.54 percent increase to the salary schedule for the added workday. PETA also won an across-the-board salary increase of 5 percent retroactive to July 1, 2016, and an additional 2 percent retroactive to Jan. 1, 2017. A final 1 percent increase will be effective in July. CALAVERAS AT IMPASSE OVER CLASS SIZE Calaveras Unified Education Association declared impasse and is going to fact-finding over class size. Kindergarten classes currently have 32 students, and all classes continue to grow because fewer teachers are choosing to work in Calaveras Unified School District. Last year, CUSD lost 14 teachers, not count- ing retirees; many were replaced with interns. Teachers say students' education is being compromised: CUSD cannot attract and keep quality teachers because salary and benefits are not competitive, so students are being taught by underqualified teachers and substitutes. Photo: Courtesy SCTA 32 cta.org advocacy