1. AMU Time January 2015

2.  Credentials- Please make sure that your credential is up to date.  If you need to renew or clear your credential do so right away. The process could take up to 3 months. Your credential is not valid until you receive confirmation from the CTC. Paying for your credential is not confirmation.  Members may be terminated if their credential is not current.  BTSA interviews- You are not required to do BTSA interviews. They are optional. Let your admin know if you choose not to participate.  LCFF Funding- Projections show that we are expected to receive an increase in funding from this source. Therefore, it is more than likely that we will receive a 2% raise next year. “There will be a two percent (2%) salary schedule increase for the 2014- 2015 school year and if the State of California’s Local Control Funding Formula is equal to or above the proposed funding for 2014-2015, a two percent (2%) salary schedule increase for the 2015-2016 school year.”

3.  Beginning in the fall semester 2015 Locke will be downsizing due to a continual decline in enrollment.  A Locke Transition transition committee made up of Locke members from across the academies, students, parents, principals, community partners, and classified staff met 3 different times to make a recommendation for downsizing.  The committee reviewed data, reviewed interests, reviewed options, and voted on a recommendation.  The following were the different options: Merge Locke A,C,& B together, Merge Locke A into Locke C and B, Merge Locke B into Locke C and A, or Merge Locke C into Locke B and A.  The committee made the recommendation to merge Locke B into Locke C,& A by a vote of 19-4. The recommendation was then given to the LSAC for a vote.  Finally, the Green Dot organizational Leadership Team met to make the final decision.  They upheld both the Locke Transition committee’s decision and the LSAC’s.

4.  Minutes from December Passed  AMU fundraiser coming in the very near future

5.  Budget for the 2014-2015 school year has passed  Will provide an updated expense report at the February Rep Council meeting.

7.  February 19 th -21 st organizing committee members will be attending the Organizing For Power Conference Sponsored by CTA in Glendale  Members attending are: Mark Friedman, Nicole Klanfer, Ben West, Angel Maldonaldo, ( Salina Joiner- not a member)  Purpose of conference is to learn strategies on organizing members and empowering the union  Committee may come back with an item to organize members around

8.  Due to the concerns members have raised with the Green Dot common assessments, AMU has put together a testing committee to address them.  The committee met to discuss concerns and brainstorm options that would be beneficial for members and students.  Some of the concerns raised were the following: “SPED students are burnt out/giving up.” “Testing writing on three tests-no longer accesses content knowledge.”. “No time for labs, guest speakers, enrichment activities.” “Teach to the test.” “Goes against Common Core-inquiry based, labs, reading apprenticeship.”  The committee will continue to meet to discuss options that will meet the needs of both students and teachers.  We do ask that you please take the survey provided by Green Dot. These are sent out by your curriculum specialist. The more voices that speak up and address the concerns the more validity we will have when it comes to addressing the concerns with management.

9.  Membership cards will be given to site reps at the February rep council meeting.

10.  NEA Representative Assembly Elections 2015- State and local Representative  You must choose between running for a state/local delegate  NEA RA meets once a year.  State delegates are required to attend all sessions of the California Caucus, NEA RA meetings, and take into account CTA policies when voting on NEA proposals.  Open nominations ( any NEA member is eligible for nomination and may nominate other members)  ALL NEA members within their Service Center are eligible to vote  January 30 th is deadline for Service Center to received state delegate declaration of candidacy forms  March 30 th election must be completed  More info to come.

11.  The benefits committee met twice last semester  Request for Proposals will be going out shortly( This is where our broker begins to look for quotes from insurance companies)  AMU is working hard to have options for healthcare available to us. Ultimately, this will depend on the overall cost. As a reminder the contract language states, “GDPS shall slice (i.e. use multiple carriers) or replace Cigna with Kaiser Permanente or another medical carrier for the 2015-2016 school year, if fiscally feasible, according to the Health Benefits Committee’s recommendation and so as long as cost does not exceed the cost for the Cigna plan for the 2015-2016 school year at that time.”  We are committed to ensuring that we maintain a free healthcare option for all.  Please continue to email me with any concerns you might have.

12. Locke B- Level One- Re: Verbal Warning Teacher wrote behavior referral for student who was cursing at teacher for commenting that the class was “acting like crybabies”. Student alleged to admin that teacher called him a cry-baby. GD did not conduct a proper investigation to verify student claim, and issued teacher a verbal warning. In process of scheduling meeting ARB- Level Two- Re: Written Warning Teacher received Written Warning for keeping a student outside of class to complete a reflection for not completing HW The WW was built upon a verbal warning given the previous year for sending a student to a buddy teacher; WW was for “insubordination” and “unprofessional conduct, “the WW violates progressive discipline and just cause. : Level II meeting has been scheduled and held. Green Dot has drafted their response. We are in the process of scheduling a meeting to review their response. Locke B- informal level regarding discrepancy on evaluation

13.  Bargaining team and management held their first session on December 17 th.  Sunshine letters were shared and discussed  Discussion over communicating with members took place. Will send joint messaging when necessary. However, AMU will send out updates to personal emails. Please provide personal emails to site reps so that we can keep you updated on negotiations. You will not receive updates through Green Dot email.  Teams went through the IBB process on Article 2  Both teams discussed their issues and interest on this article.  Both teams expressed concerns over teacher and admin burn out  Teams discussed new decision making tree.  Next bargaining date is February 2 nd 2015

14.  Thank you to all that participated in the survey.  Some members did not receive the survey link. We are updating our email database to ensure that all members are included.  Site reps voted on the SGP MOU at the January Rep Council meeting.  The MOU passed with all in favor with the exception of 2 abstentions.  Bonuses will be paid out in February  As of now the following will be the weighted measures for teacher evaluations.  Classroom Observation – 65%  Student Survey – 15%  360° Survey – 15%  Family Survey – 5%  MOU details will be posted on our website.

15. Thank you!! Have a great semester 2