Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/939681
CAVA: Educators Closer to Strike In January, contract talks between California Virtual Educators United (CVEU) and California Virtual Acad- emies (CAVA) were certified for fact-finding, bringing the 444-member union one step closer to a possible strike. If that happens, it would be the nation's first "virtual strike" of unionized educators working in an online school. CVEU has been negotiating with CAVA for over a year. This will be their first collective bargaining agreement since teachers unionized, a move bitterly fought by their employer. Although progress has been made in areas of workload and achieving permanent job status, salary remains a sticking point. CAVA teachers earn thousands less than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. One reason is that much of the taxpayer money that supports CAVA is sent out of state. CAVA is run by K12 Inc.; nearly half its revenue goes to that for- profit, Virginia-based provider of technology and curriculum, which passes on much of that money to its investors (including U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos). CVEU has made ensuring that more resources stay in CAVA schools to support CAVA students part of their #FixCavaNow campaign. "Quality virtual schools can provide a needed and unique learning opportunity for stu- dents," says CVEU President Brianna Carroll. "CVEU mem- bers believe in this platform and want to fix CAVA so students, not profits, are the priority." Alameda: Educators "Anchor" Community Frustrated with teacher turnover that hurts students, Alameda Education Asso- ciation members launched a community organizing campaign in late January to remind the public that educators "anchor " the city. But because they make the lowest salaries in Alameda County, many are leaving for better pay elsewhere. The campaign asks businesses and their customers to show support for teachers by placing an anchor-themed AEA sign in their windows. "Our community is built on strong family relationships with our teachers," says AEA President Judith Klinger. " This campaign is reminding the public that when teachers leave for higher pay in neighboring districts, it undermines our community." How low is pay? Klinger says a fifth-year teacher in Alameda Unified School District can take home $10,000 to $20,000 more in neighboring Bay Area districts. A first-year teacher who is paying premiums for family medical cov- erage takes home only about $31,000. Happy Valley: Not So Happy Attracting and recruiting qualified teachers for the students in this small Shasta County community is a priority for teachers. The offer from Happy Valley School District to freeze teachers' pay and add extra duties has made educators unhappy. Happy Valley Teachers Association members did their homework and learned that administrators have nearly 25 percent in reserves, around $1.5 million, and can afford to devote funding to student learning. One way to do that is to give the modest increase teachers are asking for. HVTA members at Happy Valley Elementary School in Anderson. National City: Impasse After months of negotiating with little progress, the National City Elementary Teachers Association is at impasse with National School District. Teachers are frustrated; the district has declined proposed language addressing workload concerns and classroom conditions, and a salary increase that would make National City in San Diego County a destination for new educators in this time of teacher shortages. Hundreds of teachers have participated in organizing actions, including signing petitions and rallying at school board meetings. Many have spoken publicly about the lack of quality materials from NSD and the hours they spend outside of school searching for meaningful cur- riculum — with no compensation. NCETA President Christina Benson says, " The NSD claims they are broke. However, for the past five years, they have failed to spend new money received under the Local Control Funding Formula on students or on teachers. NCETA knows that you can't put students first when you put teachers last, and our members stand united in our resolve to achieve a fair contract." At press time, the next mediation date was scheduled for mid-February. 41 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 018