May 07

Action alert!

VTA has done an analysis of the District LCAP draft #1 and compared elements of the plan to trends in high priority areas from our member survey. We found the plan does little or nothing to address:
  • Competitive Salaries
  • More Planning Time
  • Teacher-Driven Professional Development
The LCAP plan includes many new programs to be implemented without thought to additional planning time needed for members to implement these new programs. It also includes a lot of professional development without consulting members on what professional development they believe they need.
There is no mention of competitive salaries in the document we can find. Starting pay in Vacaville for the fall will be $41,218. Starting pay in Fairfield is about $47,000 and starting pay in Napa is about $49,000.

VTA members, we need you to give feedback on these issues ASAP!

To do so, please click on the links below.

English  –  http://goo.gl/xAipYW

Spanish  – http://goo.gl/qGZWgb

Your feedback will go directly to the superintendents office. Responses to LCAP comments will be posted on the district website.  The opportunity for comment on the LCAP draft #1 closes on Friday, May 9th, 2014, so please take a moment and share your thoughts!

If you need additional information, or ideas of what to say, please review either of these files.

Here’s the results of our member survey:

[gview file=”http://www.vacateachers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Trends-in-High-Priority-Areas.pdf”]

Here’s the LCAP draft:

[gview file=”http://www.vacateachers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/LCAP-Draft-.pdf”]

Apr 30

E-board agenda for May 6th

[gview file=”http://www.vacateachers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Exec-Board-Agenda-May-6-docx.pdf”]

Apr 30

Support Legislation to Streamline Teacher Dismissal Process to Keep Students Safe

Call and Email Members of the Senate Education Committee in Support of AB 215

Lawmakers in Sacramento need to hear from you on AB 215 by Assembly Member Joan Buchanan and principal co-authors Senator Lou Correa and Senator Alex Padilla. CTA-supported AB 215 seeks to protect students, streamline the teacher dismissal process, safeguard the integrity of the profession, and protect our due process rights. CTA has always supported changes to the dismissal process that protect students and are fair to educators. That is why CTA worked with education stakeholders, lawmakers and the governor’s office on this measure. It is extremely important for lawmakers to hear from educators on AB 215!
AB 215 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Education Committee Weds., April 30, so they need to hear from you today! Your emails and calls to Senators serving on that committee are vital to helping gain the majority vote needed to move the bill.
Text the words CTA Action to 69866 to be connected directly to your senator on the education committee via your cell phone. (Standard text rates apply.)
Then follow up by clicking through to the CTA Legislative Action Center, where you can send a quick email to these senators whose vote on Wednesday will decide the bill’s fate.
Urge your Senator to vote YES because:
– AB 215 prioritizes, expedites and streamlines the dismissal process to keep students safe, while also safeguarding the integrity of the profession and protecting the due process rights of educators.
– AB 215 provides immediate protections for students by creating a separate hearing process for education employees who are charged with egregious misconduct such as sexual abuse, child abuse and specific drug crimes.
– AB 215 also establishes clear and timely procedures for dismissal in non-egregious misconduct cases. By expediting and streamlining the hearing process, districts will not be allowed to drag on investigations of educators who are falsely accused.
Here is more information about AB 215: talking points, fact sheet, a comparison sheet of current law vs. AB 215 and a closer look at the two hearing processes.
Thanks for taking action on this very important piece of legislation!

Apr 30

VTA’s day of the teacher celebration – May 14th from 3:30 to 5:30 at Chevys!

[gview file=”http://www.vacateachers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Day-of-the-Teacher.pdf”]

Apr 29

MEDICAL COVERAGE OPTION FOR ADULT CHILDREN UNDER AGE 26

If you have an adult child who files their own taxes, (independent), and has an annual income of less than $18,500, as well as less than $2,000 in a savings/checking account, that adult child will qualify for MediCal and receives full medical coverage. This fact will save the employee (Kaiser subscriber) $445 a month in medical coverage cost.

The adult child has to apply for medical benefits through the Department of Health and Social Services. After qualifying for MediCal benefits, the adult child will choose their medical group provider from the Department of Health and Social Services list.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Even though Obama Care allows the subscriber to keep your adult child on your medical plan until age 26, that adult child may qualify for MediCal. The subscriber (parent/employee) cannot claim any tax deduction for the adult child. The adult child must file their own taxes as independent. (Refer back to paragraph one.)

This option is applicable when you have only adult dependents. Dependents under 18 years of age do not qualify for MediCal.

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