2008 Holiday Social, Dec 5
Friday, December 5, from 3:30 to 6:30 PM at Ninfa's, corner of West and Jones Roads. Appetizers and door prizes.
July 2005 Newsletter
Welcome back to the 2005-2006 school year! Where has the summer gone? Your Cy Fair officers have spent a good bit of time planning and preparing for the new year, and we have good news to share!
LEGAL BRIEFS:
Last May a grievance was filed in regard to the Thirty Minute Duty Free Lunch schedule for the district’s high schools. Most teachers were receiving only 25 minutes – only the teachers in the fourth lunch period had 30 minutes. The grievance was settled at Level I, and all high school teachers are now guaranteed 30 minutes of duty free lunch this fall, all thanks to one teacher who was quite brave!
In July, one of TSTA’s lawyers filed a level one grievance on behalf of one of our ESPs who works in maintenance in regard to promotion and leave time policies. The grievance was settled to his satisfaction! We are so pleased that our members were able to follow the process to fruition.
These two settlements are good evidence that the process works, and that TSTA can support our members when a law has been broken.
PDAS (Professional Development and Appraisal System):
Last May, several of our members experienced difficulties when preparing for and during their summative evaluations. In order to prevent these situations next year, we will have information regarding PDAs in each newsletter and on our new website so that if members are having difficulties, we can help prevent end-of-the-year problems. I recently met with Linda Merrell, Director of Staff Development, and shared our concerns with her. She is aware of the difficulties which were experienced last year.
Randy Johnston, TSTA representative, and I will present an in-service on PDAs in October (for professional growth hours) that will highlight preventing problems. We must be proactive and knowledgeable if we want our evaluations to accurately reflect how we teach and manage our classrooms, complete professional growth, and interact with our colleagues, parents and the community.
PDAS – Make a “To Do” List!
1. The district gives due dates for the completion of the goal setting conference, so ask for an appointment with your evaluator if yours has not occurred.
Level I teachers:
Do arrange for your observation when you don’t have something else that is taking a lot of your time, like progress reports, etc. It never hurts to give them a “heads up” when you have planned something special which you think they will enjoy seeing.
Level II teachers:
Since the walk-throughs are so short, too often we are giving the students practice time or administering quizzes, etc., and evaluators don’t have the opportunity to see the great things we do. Again, let them know when your great teaching moments are going to occur.
NOTE: Remember, if you have not seen an appraiser by the last day of the fall semester, start investigating. Empower yourself, so you do not “pay the price” in summative next May.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The state legislature has done no work this year to date which helps education. Almost everything bill which appears has something which will hinder student learning and teacher performance. There are ways you can help, if you haven’t so thus far. Call TSTA, tell them you are a member and want to be added to the “robo call” list. If you do that, you will receive an automated call from TSTA State President, Donna Haschke, informing you of a pending bill and how it affects educators. You are given your TSTA number and then have the opportunity to be directly connected to your state legislator. I have participated in this program since its inception, and these calls have been instrumental in the defeat of the bad education bills. Or, you can also call directly and write letters. It doesn’t matter; just make sure you DO SOMETHING!
August 22 Newsletter
The school year is up and running, and teachers are already talking about when progress reports are due --too soon. Your TSTA officers have been busy getting out the word about TSTA, recruiting new members, and assisiting members with problems.
We had a successful NEO (New Educator's Orientation) and were able be there for two mornings, and by the end of the second day, we had 17 new members, a record for Cy Fair.
We assisted a member in maintenance whose promotion had been denied due to absences. TSTA's legal staff worked with the Cy Fair administration to adjust the promotion and absence policy and now nine maintenance men have recieved their promotions.
Lat May TSTA filed a grievance on behalf of our high school members who didn't have 30 minute duty free lunches, and now we are all receiving 30 minutes. For those who have to change classrooms or just need a break, this has been a big help in our school day.
Cy Fair TSTA also assisted teachers in one cotent area who felt they needed more help from their subject area coordinator. The request was made, the teachers recieved the help they had requested, and the changes have helped the teachers do their jobs.
Ready for Rita
TSTA, in conjunction with NEA, is ready to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. TSTA and NEA are taking the following steps now to assist our members:
• NEA is expanding its current relief efforts directed toward members impacted by Katrina to any members in Texas affected by Rita. NEA President Reg Weaver on September 20 presented TSTA President Donna New Haschke with a check for $100,000 to help with hurricane relief. Grant applications are available online at www.tsta.org.
• TSTA will maintain a list of key links to organizations that are providing relief to Hurricane victims and FAQ’s online at http://www.tsta.org/news/current/hurricane-relief.shtml.
• TSTA wants to hear from our members who have been negatively impacted by Hurricane Rita. The best way to contact us is to go to www.tsta.org and click on the help center icon. Please tell us your circumstances and how we can get in touch with you. You can also call us toll free at 877-ASK-TSTA. Ask to be connected to the TSTA Help Center.
• Finally, a great many of our members have already left the Gulf Coast. If you have a way to share this information with another member, please do so.
"The financial pinch is real and it hurts."
Frances Smith, President, CyFair TSTA/NEA, addressed the May 12 CFISD board meeting. Her complete comments on the impact of the legislative budget and the economy follow.
"As we approach the end of another school year, contrasting emotions are running rampant among the district's students. On one side, there are the graduating seniors whose parents and families are ecstatic regarding their impending graduation, awards given, scholarships which have been awarded, and the feelings of a job well done after 13 years of schooling. We can also celebrate successful TAKS tests for most students and advancement to the next grade level. On the other hand, we must work to make sure that those who did not complete all of the requirements have a plan and have the resolve to complete the plan, so that they may advance to the next grade level, begin careers or continue their educations.
For the district's teachers, there is a great sense of uncertainty, especially, of course for those who are on the excess list. While many hope that, eventually, they will get another contract, others are busy sending applications and going on interviews, and there is no sense of relief until the contract is signed. For those who do have a job, most know that nothing is certain, as almost all teaching teams have had to be reduced in number of teachers. So, even if a teacher has been in a certain position for a number of years, is quite competent, and enjoys it, it is not certain that he/she will be in that position next year. I have been questioned numerous times as to "what I might know" about the district's situation; no one is resting easy and many expressions are strained.
The Texas legislature managed to put a lock on Cy Fair's finances at a time when the highest rates of inflation and rising food and gas prices are occurring that we have seen in many years. Therefore, it is no wonder that so many teachers feel trapped, even if they have been prudent financially. For those who have endured unexpected financial problems, there are few choices. Many have already found second jobs and/or are applying to teach summer school for the first time. The financial pinch is real and it hurts.
For the district's high school teachers, the change to seven periods a day will mean an additional 30 students, even more at home grading, which for some of us, is already difficult if we have young families. We understand the change was inevitable due to the increased state graduation requirements, but teachers often feel that there has been no thought as to the consequences for them.
We recognize that finances and state laws have put the district within difficult parameters; however, even though the budget is tight, it would send a signal to our teachers, if there could be a raise to cover inflation, at minimum. Educator's salaries are modest at best, and the abrupt rise in groceries prices, and especially gasoline prices, has caught many in a real vise grip. We ask that they receive some compensation for the forces beyond their control to assist them during such a difficult time."
