Friday, October 17, 2014

[Solano County] Vallejo school district staff protest for higher wages


Community members address recent bullying report


October 16, 2014
Vallejo Times-Herald
By John Glidden

Teacher salaries and reaction to a [grand jury] report on bullying at Vallejo High School were among the hot topics as more than 100 people packed the multipurpose room at Steffan Manor Elementary School for Wednesday night's lively school board meeting.
Among the crowd for the public forum portion of the Vallejo City Unified School District meeting were district teachers who came to support the California School Employees Association, which represents district classified staff.
"We have reached a tentative agreement with the district," announced Sheila Gradwohl, president of the Vallejo Education Association, which represents district teachers.
During the Oct. 1 meeting, district teachers showed up to protest low wages and asked the board for help.
According to the 2014-15 VCUSD certificated salary schedule, the first step and range a credentialed teacher can make in the district is $40,862. At nearby Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, a teacher in the same range and step will make $48,111 and at Napa Valley Unified School District, teachers make $50,611, according to salary schedules from the FSUSD and NVUSD, respectively.
"Please do for the CSEA, what you did for us," she said to cheering from classified staff and teachers.
CSEA President Michael Rhoads also spoke during public comment, saying district staff suffered from the district's fiscal mismanagement 10 years ago, which forced the state to take over district operations for numerous years.
Rhoads also said that CSEA members have to decide whether to use their salary on food, shelter or health care.
"Take control of the district and do the right thing," said Rhoads to the board, as he concluded his remarks to loud cheering from district staff and teachers in attendance.
Several members of the public also spoke about the spring 2014 Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges report — which highlighted bullying and other issues at Vallejo High School.
"I'm concerned with Vallejo (High School) losing accreditation," said local resident Anzell Loufas during public comment.
Also speaking during public comment was Burky Worel, local citizen and a candidate for the school board this November.
"I wish you for once would take responsibility," Worel said to the board.
Worel also spoke about the May 2013 Solano County Grand Jury report, "Safety at Vallejo High School," which noted lack of discipline enforcement, non-adherence to the student handbook, absence of communication between the Vallejo City Unified School District, the VHS administration and teachers as major issues at VHS.
"The same reports keep coming out," he said about the WASC and grand jury report.
Current VHS Principal Roxanne Brown-Garcia also spoke during public comment about the conditions at the school.
"Two days after I was hired, I sat down with Dr. Shackelford and we discussed the report," Brown-Garcia said. Alana Shackelford is the district's Director of Partnerships & Community Engagement.
"We do not try to hide anything," Brown-Garcia added. "We are building a culture of excellence."
Brown-Garcia said that part of her plan at VHS is not to use the term "at-risk" to describe VHS students.
"The students are 'at promise,'" she said as many in the crowd applauded.
District Superintendent Ramona Bishop said during the meeting that the WASC report was an internal memo, given to the school and district by the commission.
"(VHS) is in no danger of (losing) WASC accreditation," she said.
Bishop also said that another WASC visit is planned.
In addition, parents from each of the district's full service community schools spoke about the positive influence the various schools have had on their respective children. A showcase on the full service community schools was the main focus of the special meeting.


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