HEA - Hesperia Education Association

H.E.A. Newsletter
H.E.A.is here for you because you deserve the best.
Approved for publication by James Pace, HEA President, 2/20/03

Volume 3 - Issue 2 - February 2003
HEA/CTA/NEA

Executive Board

Jim Pace
President

Gordon Williamson
Vice-President

Jose Madera
Treasurer

Betsy Patridge
Secretary

Vernon Johns
Secondary Director

Scott Johnson
Elementary Director

Jeanne Triska
Director At Large

Rep Council

Karen Barkley
Steve Brenner
Sandy Brower
Doug Coombs
Pat Cook
Claudia Ethun
Jim Garrett
Darin Grebel
D.J. Gregory
Dorrie Hall
Ralph Heller
Margaret Kennedy
Jon Lee
Patty Liggett
Ozzie Maenpaa
Ron Magoun
Jackie Marsh
Terry McGrath
John McHenry
Kathryn Mustain
Linda Picht
Chris Pierce
Sarah Pifer
Diana Pruiett
Yolette Rios
Cheryl Roberts
Cheryl Rutledge
Lee Samuels
Rebekah Swanson
Mike Waterworth

Membership Chair
Barbara Bailey

Grievance Co-Chairs
Jim Garrett
Dick Westerhoff

SCSEBA Labor Rep
Blair Thompson

Newsletter Editor
Fran McCullough

HEA CALLS FOR A "FULL HOUSE" ON MARCH 3

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Jim Pace, H.E.A President

As many of you are aware, The Assembly and The Senate recently approved ABX18. (We are still waiting for the Governor to sign.) This bill cuts educational spending by 2.2 Billion dollars this year. But most importantly, this bill did not include any across-the board cuts, reductions to the base revenue limit, teacher furloughs or class size increase. See, our State Legislators felt that it was very important to cut the budget furthest away from the classroom. That way, the cuts would have the least impact on the students.

Unfortunately, our own school board has taken the opposite approach. They have decided to increase class size and layoff teachers. Under their plan, not one Certificated Administration job will be cut. See, instead of cutting away from the classroom, they decided to cut the classroom. If that is not bad enough, it gets worse. Perks that are enjoyed by the superintendent will continue. The same applies for the school board (Board members enjoy fully paid health benefits for them and their family along with other perks).

FACTS

District's own figures showed that last year's projected error was more than 4.3 million dollars.

District now claims they need to cut 3.75 million from next year budget.

District Independent Audit shows that The District has total reserves of more than 15 million dollars. ABX18 allows districts to spend up to 50 percent of restricted and unrestricted reserves to offset cuts.

District could save more than 1.8 million if they staffed Teacher to certificated administration (13 to1) equal to the Student/ Teacher ratio of (22 to1).

What Can We Do?

Attend the March 3 School Board Meeting 6:00 PM at Sultana High School.
We need full attendance to stop the cuts to the classroom and the layoffs.
Tell them to make the cuts away from the classroom and stop balancing these cuts on the backs of the students!

Remember to attend the General Membership meeting on March 12 at Sultana High School. You will have an opportunity to vote on furlough days and listen to presentations on the budget, salary and benefits. There will be two meetings. The first will begin at 2:15 and the second one at 4:00.

UPDATE: THERE WILL BE A GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 12 AT SULTANA HIGH SCHOOL. The first meeting will be held at 2:15 and the second one at 4:00. You will have an opportunity to vote and listen to presentations. When checking the Newsletter for updates on line, remember to refresh the page.

CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
By Vern Johns

According to Article One of the contract, HEA is the "exclusive representative for all full-time and regular part-time certificated employees". Classroom Teachers, SDC/RSP Teachers, Teachers on Special Assignment, Nurses, Speech Therapists, and ROTC Teachers are represented by HEA. All of these employees are "Unit Members" of HEA.
These are the employees who make up the HEA.

When people refer to HEA, they are talking about all of its Unit Members. HEA is not just the classroom teachers who volunteer to help on Executive Board, Rep Council and Negotiating team. HEA is all of the committed folks working with kids everyday to help them reach a test score of 800 by 2010. HEA is all of the certificated employees who are dedicated to helping Hesperia's students develop goals for life and the ability to reach them.

EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTION
By Barbara Bailey

Four HEA Executive Board positions will be open soon. These positions are for a two year term which will begin on 7/1/2003. The deadline for Nominations is March 13, 2003.

You need to to send a nomination statement to Barbara Bailey if you would like to nominate another person but please check with them first to make sure they are interested in running for the position.

You will need to do the same if you are interested in running and are nominating yourself. Send your nomination to Barbara Bailey at Lime Street via inter-district mail, o-mail, or phone call

The election ballots will be given out at the March 27 Rep Council meeting and will be due back to Barbara Baily at Lime Street by Wenesday April 9. Barbara will make the election results announcements shortly thereafter.

BY THE #'S By Jose Madera, HEA Treasurer
A few of you have noticed that your staff development buy back days are now being paid at $264.70 versus last year's days paid at $283.00. What happened? HUSD subtracts its mandatory/statutory costs for benefits such as: Workers Compensation, State Unemployment Insurance and Medicare. For 2002-2003 the district is required to subtract STRS benefits in addition to the aforementioned. The breakdown: California Department of Education/HUSD Business Services Instructional Time & Staff Development Reform Program (SB 1193) 1999/2000 Apportionment made in support of SB1193 (Ed Codes 44579-44579.4) $273.91 per day (minus the cost to the District for mandatory/statutory benefits) $266.00 paid $ 7.91 District cost	2000/2001 Apportionment $282.48 per day (minus the cost to the District for mandatory/statutory benefits) $274.00 paid $ 8.48 District cost 2001/2002 Apportionment $293.42 per day (minus the cost to the District for mandatory/statutory benefits) $283.00 paid $ 10.42 District cost 2002/2003 Apportionment $298.29 per day (minus the cost to the District which included the STRS effective 7/1/02) $264.70 paid $ 33.59 District cost

DID YOU KNOW? By Jeanne Triska
Are You Considering Long-Term Care Insurance? CTA offers "CAT Long Term Guide" "Highlights of the guide include: · Shopping tips and questions to ask you carrier or agent · A detailed comparison of top eight long-term care · An assessment of your personal situation and the appropriateness of long-term care"	Remember that CTA offers health and wellness information, life insurance, disability insurance, a Baby Wise Program, and travel, entertainment, and purchasing discounts. For more information you can link to CTA through www.hesperiateachers.com under the "Links" tab or call (650) 552-5200 *Taken from "Member Benefits Organizing Plan"

CTA/NEA Link
"We are in for the fight of our lives"
By Scott Johnson

We Need to Put The Act in Political Action!!!! Wayne Johnson, President of CTA recently said, "We are in for the fight of our lives." Johnson added that School Services, a consulting group for administrators and school boards, a service HUSD's D.O. subscribes to, has recommended that districts expand class size and reduce teachers to balance the budget on the backs of the students and those who actually do the work of education, the teachers.

What can you do to help? You are HEA! You need to get involved if you are interested in establishing education as a sound and productive endeavor in Hesperia. We are in the process of setting up a political action team to inform the community of Hesperia exactly what is going on with their school system. We need to put pressure on the existing school board. They need to know what needs to be done for the good of the students, parents and teachers of Hesperia.

We need to remind HUSD that this is not their school system. This school system belongs to the people of Hesperia. It can only be run into the ground with waste and mismanagement if we allow them to continue their misguided ways.

This is a call for you to get involved. We need you to become active. We are setting up a political action team to address the above issues. If you are interested in helping secure your future please contact your site HEA Rep. as soon as possible.

HEA has over $10,000.00 in the Political Action account.
This money "will" be spent on the next school board election.
Money, by itself, is not enough. We need everyone's help.
We can make a difference in Hesperia!!!