Letters in Solidarity: Winning All the Things on Election Day and in Our Bargaining Platform
It’s hard to believe that we’re already two months into the school year and we’re well on our way to building strong connections with students, families and our colleagues. Those connections create bridges to engage with our school communities on our union’s critical priorities as the ballots for the election have now arrived in the mail.
In SDUSD District A (Scripps Ranch, Mira Mesa, Madison, Clairemont, and some of Kearny cluster), SDEA endorsed school board member Sabrina Bazzo is up for reelection. We will be passing out flyers to families at schools throughout District A and organizing a walk on November 3 to get the word out about Sabrina, a PTA president who has been instrumental to keeping schools safe during the pandemic and stable by rescinding the layoff notices of over 200 of the newest teachers in our schools. Reelecting Sabrina is our union’s top priority in this election because without a pro-educator and pro-public education school board, it becomes much harder for us to continue organizing to win transformational changes for our students and our schools.
At the beginning of last school year, we were celebrating our 15% raise showing up in our paychecks for the first time, protecting our fully paid family health benefits and increasing counselor, secondary PE, and elementary enrichment staffing to name just a few of the unprecedented improvements that we won in our contract through our collective actions. We will soon be embarking on a statewide coordinated contract campaign for our salary increase for this school year and beyond, to fill the ongoing vacancies in our schools and end the demoralizing cycles of layoffs and cutbacks.
California is the wealthiest state in the country, yet we are failing to fully staff schools, pay educators wages that allow us to live in the communities we serve and secure the resources every student needs to thrive. If we can’t fix the inadequate state funding for public schools, we will continue to find ourselves battling the District over the impact of the latest budget crisis.
That’s why last month, SDEA leaders held union meetings at schools and programs throughout the district where members weighed in on potential improvements to our contract. The SDEA Bargaining Commission, made up of 20 educator leaders from diverse job roles and grade spans, will now review your input and surface widely and deeply felt priorities to include in our bargaining platform. We hope to join union meetings at your school or program after we #WinAllTheThings on Election Day and start refocusing our efforts on ratifying a bargaining platform that we can all commit to fight for with union educators throughout the state.
Finally, Equitable Rights for Members in Career Technical Education
SDEA members have been advocating for equity for our CTE teachers for years
Job security and due process are key benefits of a union contract, but for years our members who work in Career Technical Education (CTE) have been unable to become permanent employees. Education Code practically required districts like SDUSD to keep these educators in probationary status year after year, while educators in other areas were able to attain permanent status after a probationary period. Permanent status protects educators from being terminated without just cause and is a basic professional right.
The particular limbo of CTE teachers is an inequity that SDEA members and other union educators have been advocating against for years, proposing and supporting a variety of bills that until now have not made it into law. Our union members have been so vocal about this issue that SDUSD was one of the very few districts that went on the record in support of past bills that would have allowed permanent status for CTE teachers. This summer, SDEA members flew to Sacramento to testify in favor of AB 2245, the most recent bill that would change Ed Code’s section on permanent status. On September 29, 2024, Governor Newsom signed AB 2245 into law.
AB 2245 marks a significant victory for SDEA members
With the signing of AB 2245, state law finally allows CTE educators in our district access to permanent status. Voices from San Diego have been significant in this change - in fact, this law specifically opens access to educators in CTE programs operated by a single school district (like San Diego Unified.) Although SDEA members’ voices successfully advocated for this right for CTE teachers in SDUSD, other union educators across the state are still advocating for access to permanent status.
This bill is proof of the power of our collective voice. Together We Are Stronger!
The union difference: Support in navigating changes in employment status
SDEA leaders are connecting with our statewide affiliates to clarify which academic years would count as probationary for currently employed CTE teachers, based on the final bill language. In the meantime, union membership is one important step to accessing the full benefits enjoyed by permanent employees. Especially for educators navigating changes in employment status, union membership gives access to free legal consultation as one of the benefits available to all dues-paying SDEA members. (Because employment status is a matter covered in Ed Code and not found in our union contract, correcting any errors in legal status involves legal consultation. That free consultation is not available to those who are not dues-paying union members.) Not yet a member? Join your union today!
Together, SDEA members can have a real voice in their working conditions, which are also our students' learning conditions. It is that collective voice that successfully advocated for this change to Ed Code, and which will be needed to win a strong contract in the upcoming round of negotiations.
Vote Union in 2024!
It’s almost time to vote! As you do your democracy homework and decide how to vote up and down the ballot on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, voting for union candidates can help ensure that decisions at every level represent our collective priorities and the needs of our school communities.
SDEA Endorsements for November 5, 2024
SDUSD School Board
- District A: Sabrina Bazzo
- Supports higher math/science standards, expanded summer school, and smaller class sizes
- Education is more than a test score
- Mental health counseling, after-school enrichment, & nutritious meals
- District D: Richard Barrera
- Running unopposed
- District E: Sharon Whitehurst-Payne
- Running unopposed
Local Measures
- YES on Measure C: Clean Elections for SDUSD School Board
- With 2 or fewer candidates, election would only occur in general election
- More voter participation, more diverse voters
- Would save district lots of money which can be used to hire educators & support
- YES on Measure G: Let’s Go San Diego
- 12% of revenue funds affordable fares for seniors and students
- Would extend Youth Opportunity Pass Program
City of San Diego
- Mayor: Todd Gloria
- Plans to drive change on homeless shelters
- Recognizes need to improve the city’s infrastructure as communities of color are disproportionately affected
- Interested in collaborating on housing for both staff and families
- City Council, District 9: Sean Elo-Rivera
- Strong position on housing
- Major proponent of community schools
- Believes in strong partnership between city, District, & SDEA to increase services to students and communities
- City Council, District 3: Colleen Cusack
- Equity-oriented housing solutions
- Genuine care for most vulnerable students
- Record of standing up for least advantaged
San Diego County
- County Board of Supervisors, District 3: Terra Lawson-Remer
- Wants to partner with schools to improve behavioral health services
- Proponent of increased public affordable housing
- Leading the way on gun safety laws
- County Board of Education, District 4: Erin Evans
- Wants to protect equitable and high-quality public education
- Community college professor and union leader
- Social justice advocate and organizer
- Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for youth in foster care
- Endorsed through our statewide affiliate, CTA
Union Recommendations Beyond San Diego
While SDEA endorsements are focused on local races, you can vote union up and down your ballot. Our statewide affiliate, CTA, has statewide recommendations.
- CTA Voter Guide: Put in your address to see CTA recommendations for your ballot
- Read more about CTA recommendations and their process here
- If you live and vote outside San Diego Unified, see School Board recommendations from other local unions here
Flex Your Democracy Muscles! 3 Actions:
- Make your plan to vote! Every active registered voter in San Diego County will receive a ballot in the mail the week of October 6, 2024. See information and check your registration at sdvote.com.
- Support local labor candidates by getting the word out! Schools in District A will get flyers to distribute supporting Sabrina Bazzo, and all are invited to a Labor Council Walk on November 3rd, to support Sabrina and other labor candidates.
- Stay active in the democratic structure of your union! There are many ways to make sure your voice is involved in SDEA: Give input on the bargaining platform, attend your site meetings, participate in the Political Involvement Committee (PIC), and more.
SDEA Endorsement Process:
The political endorsement process is driven by SDEA members and their democratically elected leaders:
- All SDEA members have the chance to vote in elections for leaders to represent them, which includes their site representatives and the Board.
- Members can also sign up to be part of the Political Involvement Committee (PIC). Membership is approved by the Board. This group researches which candidates, measures, and issues SDEA should support, and brings those recommendations to the Political Action Committee (PAC), who are the elected Board members dedicated to political engagement.
- The final list of suggested endorsements is brought to Rep Council to vote whether or not to approve them.
- Once endorsements are finalized, the PIC organizes a campaign plan to support endorsed candidates and measures. (For example, organizing precinct walks, leaflets, etc.)
2024 SDEA Awards
On May 22, 2024, the SDEA Board gave the following awards to recognize specific actions that built collective power this year:
SDEA President’s Award: Roosevelt Middle SDEA and Student Leaders
When faced with hundreds of layoffs of our newest educators, union educators and students at Roosevelt Middle led a solidarity march with parents, students, and community organizations. This was a powerful part of the collective efforts to rescind layoffs and keep our colleagues at our schools. See more photos from this action here.
SDEA Board Award: SDEA Organizing Committee
Another big part of the layoff fight was the coordination of the SDEA Organizing Committee, which mobilized across the district to defend our colleagues, our school communities, and the students who we build connections with.
The Organizing Committee arranged these collective actions:
- Signs on the doors of classrooms throughout the district, protesting layoffs and promoting the SDEA “Plan for Strong Schools”
- A school board rally that included union educators, students, families, and community allies.
- Thousands of flyers for parents asking them to contact board members and demand that layoffs be rescinded.
- Site-based accountability sessions with laid-off educators and school board members.
The power of this organizing moved the Superintendent and School Board to rescind the layoff notices for the newest educators in our district.
Executive Director’s Award: SDEA Recognition Committee
- Gretchen Casey Nakanishi, EB Scripps Elementary
- Kristin Brown, Silver Gate Elementary
The Recognition Committee is responsible for planning and organizing the Day of the Educator Celebration and for the organization of the SDEA Scholarship program. This includes coordinating scholarship applications, selection of winners, and presentation of the awards. Gretchen Casey and Kristin Brown’s dedication and hard work made this possible!
Professional Learning Opportunities for SDEA Members
Being a member of your union is an opportunity to learn and grow as an educator, connected to a wider network of professionals. SDEA members are also members of our statewide and national affiliates, giving access to a wide range of professional learning opportunities.
New opportunities are frequently highlighted in Union Notes emails that go to all members, but there is also a new website page specifically for opportunities for Professional Learning.
As we begin the academic school year, there are a few specific opportunities to highlight.
Grants to Attend CTA Conferences
To cover the costs of attending in-person conferences, there are a variety of grants available through the CTA and locally through SDEA. (Those applying through SDEA must also apply for the CTA grant.)
Some upcoming deadlines for grant applications:
- To attend the 2025 Issues Conference in Las Vegas from January 17-19, 2025, apply by October 31, 2024
- To attend the 2025 Equity & Human Rights Conference in Santa Clara, CA from March 7-9, 2025, apply by January 6, 2025
- To attend the 2025 Good Teaching Conference South in Garden Grove, CA, from March 14-16, 2025, apply by January 6, 2025
Access virtual professional learning at your convenience
The CTA Virtual Pass gives you access to a huge variety of virtual training opportunities, which you can access on your schedule. You can earn university credit and advance on the salary scale for both virtual and in-person trainings.
Get free credits toward salary advancement
CTA offers university credit through Chico State for their virtual and in-person trainings, and covers the cost of up to six of the nine credits available each term. This means that beyond free professional learning, you are getting paid more for taking advantage of learning opportunities! See more information on 2024-25 university credit here.
Note: If you recently completed credits and have not gotten your salary advancements yet, reach out to HR. It appears that transcripts from some universities (including Chico) sometimes don’t have enough identifying information to differentiate between SDEA members with similar names.
Support for National Board Certification
Have you considered becoming National Board Certified? Per the SDEA contract, National Board Certification can be used in place of routine performance evaluation procedures (Section 14.2.1.) and earns credits toward salary advancement (Appendix A, Section 2.030 or B, 2.027.) If you need guidance on navigating the process of certification, you can get support from fellow educators who have already gone through the process, through a Community of Practice facilitated by CTA. See full information and sign up for a webinar here.
Stay tuned for more!
Bookmark the SDEA Professional Learning page and watch for more opportunities in Union Notes!