This school year has started with a flurry of activity. Here are some important things you need to know:

• -1-888-268-4334: The CTA Hotline to get in touch with your congressperson. You should have each received a letter from President David Sanchez outlining the nasty ESEA Reauthorization proposal made by Miller and Pelosi. There is also information under the “No Child Left Behind” link on this website. I hope every one of you calls and gets 5 friends/family to call. They don’t have to live in California in order to use this hotline number.
•  -T-shirts: Your reps should have taken shirt orders (free t-shirts and $15 polo shirt orders) in the last two weeks. If they did not (I only got a few sites’ orders), remind your hardworking rep gently to get that list around and back to me ASAP.
•  -Black Wednesday: Speaking of shirts, please continue to wear those VTA shirts or black shirts in support of bargaining. We are continuing to post bargaining updates on this website to keep you informed. Please be patient if an update doesn’t go up immediately after the session. The meetings are exhausting and it takes a bit of time to write the update and edit by the team.
•  -School Board election: If any of you are interested in meeting candidates or discussing VTA endorsements, please contact Ernest Kimme at Vaca Pena ASAP. There are 5 candidates and 4 seats (all the incumbents are running).
•  -Grievance Committee: We only have a two-person committee right now. It would be nice to have a few more people (secondary, elementary, special education, non-classroom teacher) to represent some different areas. Contact Sylvia Aquino if you are interested in helping out. 
• -School Loop: I know this is supposed to be “voluntary” but I would like to hear about your experiences with how this is being implemented at your site. Send me stories ASAP to mathgirl70@earthlink.net. I believe that the district violated the contract when they implemented this program and I am pursuing avenues to remedy some issues I already know about.
•  -Bargaining: As you read the updates, you need to be giving feedback to your directors. Your director is listed under the “Officer and Chairs” link on this website. Executive Board directs bargaining, so the more feedback they get, the better they can direct the bargaining team.
•  -Open position for Elementary Director: Exec Board will be deciding on how to handle an opening. I can either appoint a person or we can have a special election. If there is interest, I will gladly run an election. If interested in fulfilling this role (it’s the Orchard/Alamo Directorship that is open, but any elementary person can fill it).
•  -Site Rep Elections and Site Visits: I have only been able to schedule a few site visits for the fall because I don’t know who the reps at the sites are! Please hold those elections ASAP and let me know who your reps are. J