News
FIRST MTA Newsletter!
April 8th, 2020
MTA Message from the President - (MOU re: Distance Learning)
March 20th, 2020
From: Sullivan, Shelli
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2020 4:45 PM
Subject: DISTANCE LEARNING MOU
Dear Colleagues-
As always, I hope this message finds all of you & your families well.
Here is the MOU for Distance Learning. This comes from the intense labor of our negotiating team; I cannot express my appreciation to them passionately enough.
I again encourage you to read all of it, but I have included a few bullet points due to the many, many, questions I've received this week. Please feel free to send me any further questions you may have after you've read the entire document.
*Unit members (UM) will determine the content of their lessons within CA grade level standards.Google classroom is the district approved platform.
*UM are able to use other platforms at their discretion. (Google Meet, YouTube Live, TeacherTube, WeVideo, Zoom, etc... If there is another platform that you use, please check with the district to see if it is approved.)
*Instruction cannot be graded. Attendance cannot be taken.
*Elementary teachers will give no more than 10 hours of instruction per week. Middle school teachers will give no more than 12 hours of instruction per week.
*To provide flexibility to teachers, one may perform outside of the duty contract hours. However, teachers may not be asked to work outside of their contract hours.
*Distance Learning will be launched to our families on April 14th. Teachers can begin to research & create their lessons between now & April 3rd.
*Activities provided to students will be enrichment, engagement & review. No student will receive a lower grade due their low or non- performance during distance learning.
*No assessments can be used for grading purposes.
*Management cannot ask you to use your personal phone or personal email address to communicate with parents.
* Our contract & MOUs ABIDE!! That means that management CANNOT enforce office hours or multiple PLCs during the week. Your PLCs now and always should be meaningful & with the appropriate group. If it didn't exist BEFORE Covid-19, it can't exist now.
*PLCs must be TEACHER DRIVEN- If your PLC group decides to call an extra meeting, the teachers must agree to it.
*Staff meetings may not be more than 1.5 hours PER WEEK!
*NO UM CAN BE FORCED TO CREATE "LIVE" INSTRUCTION.
*No student can be retained due to school closure.
*Trainings being offered in the next week are OPTIONAL.
I know that there are districts doing less than we are in terms of distance learning, but there are several being asked to do much more. In this pandemic, it is the responsibility of the District Office to determine the most appropriate course for our community, & it then becomes the responsibility of your union to bargain the affects. I truly believe that your Bargaining Team negotiated an outstanding MOU for us all.
I cannot begin to express how impressed I am at the ingeniousness of our teachers. I have no doubt that you will provide appropriate, adequate, & engaging lessons because it's who you are! I look forward to seeing your creativity.
Please stay well.
Warmly & respectfully,
Shelli Sullivan
President, Menifee Teachers Association
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2020 4:45 PM
Subject: DISTANCE LEARNING MOU
Dear Colleagues-
As always, I hope this message finds all of you & your families well.
Here is the MOU for Distance Learning. This comes from the intense labor of our negotiating team; I cannot express my appreciation to them passionately enough.
I again encourage you to read all of it, but I have included a few bullet points due to the many, many, questions I've received this week. Please feel free to send me any further questions you may have after you've read the entire document.
*Unit members (UM) will determine the content of their lessons within CA grade level standards.Google classroom is the district approved platform.
*UM are able to use other platforms at their discretion. (Google Meet, YouTube Live, TeacherTube, WeVideo, Zoom, etc... If there is another platform that you use, please check with the district to see if it is approved.)
*Instruction cannot be graded. Attendance cannot be taken.
*Elementary teachers will give no more than 10 hours of instruction per week. Middle school teachers will give no more than 12 hours of instruction per week.
*To provide flexibility to teachers, one may perform outside of the duty contract hours. However, teachers may not be asked to work outside of their contract hours.
*Distance Learning will be launched to our families on April 14th. Teachers can begin to research & create their lessons between now & April 3rd.
*Activities provided to students will be enrichment, engagement & review. No student will receive a lower grade due their low or non- performance during distance learning.
*No assessments can be used for grading purposes.
*Management cannot ask you to use your personal phone or personal email address to communicate with parents.
* Our contract & MOUs ABIDE!! That means that management CANNOT enforce office hours or multiple PLCs during the week. Your PLCs now and always should be meaningful & with the appropriate group. If it didn't exist BEFORE Covid-19, it can't exist now.
*PLCs must be TEACHER DRIVEN- If your PLC group decides to call an extra meeting, the teachers must agree to it.
*Staff meetings may not be more than 1.5 hours PER WEEK!
*NO UM CAN BE FORCED TO CREATE "LIVE" INSTRUCTION.
*No student can be retained due to school closure.
*Trainings being offered in the next week are OPTIONAL.
I know that there are districts doing less than we are in terms of distance learning, but there are several being asked to do much more. In this pandemic, it is the responsibility of the District Office to determine the most appropriate course for our community, & it then becomes the responsibility of your union to bargain the affects. I truly believe that your Bargaining Team negotiated an outstanding MOU for us all.
I cannot begin to express how impressed I am at the ingeniousness of our teachers. I have no doubt that you will provide appropriate, adequate, & engaging lessons because it's who you are! I look forward to seeing your creativity.
Please stay well.
Warmly & respectfully,
Shelli Sullivan
President, Menifee Teachers Association
MOU for Distance Learning |
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MTA Message from the President - (MOU re: COVID-19 School Closure)
March 26th, 2020
From: Sullivan, Shelli
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2020 12:38 PM
Subject: MOU Addressing Catastrophic School Closures
Good afternoon-
I hope this missive finds all of our community healthy in both body & soul. I understand how taxing these times are, & I know we have the ability to rise from any ashes that may come from this pandemic. I have never before had the pleasure of working with a better group of dedicated or selfless professionals, & consequently, we will continue to thrive.
Due to the recent unexpected events, our joint negotiating teams were obligated to collaborate on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address concerns that are new to all of us. This MOU was approved by the Menifee Teachers Association's Executive Board yesterday, March 19th at 5:12 p.m. In the event of a catastrophic event, an MOU that affects all school sites needs only be approved by the Executive Board.
I must stress that this MOU continues to protect all of our rights. None of our colleagues will be expected to work outside of our normal contract hours, & we will all continue to be paid. The most important information to remember is that we are all still under contract, & as such, management can direct our work. The Department of Education is still determining the appropriate manner to offer educational services to all of our students from a distance, & the district asks that we be patient about changes that will occur frequently.
I encourage you to read the MOU in its entirety, but I have put some of the crucial items in bullet form:
*The calendar is negotiated. Your Spring Break is still yours, completely. We are not currently on vacation.
*We cannot be asked to work in the summer; the calendar must be negotiated.
*We are expected to work remotely.
*We must be available during our contractual, duty time.
*Do not travel so far that you could not return to your campus within 24 hours during contractual time.
*Abstain from alcohol or other controlled substances while you are on duty.
*End of year evaluations will occur remotely & technologically.
Additionally, I ask that we all practice goodwill & kindness. I know how frustrating these circumstances are, but we are in an historic & unprecedented era. Please do not voice your irritations on social media. This often heightens the stress of the families & communities we serve. I encourage you instead to vent to trusted loved ones, or start writing your future, Pulitzer prize- winning, journal about this historic event. As Judge Milian of the People's Court says, "Say it- forget it; write it- regret it." (Unless you win a Pulitzer for it!)
Finally, I want you to know that your union is still working for you. Our Negotiating Team is still working on the contract, & your Executive Board has met remotely to insure that your rights are being protected. Please feel free to contact me at sullivanmtabiz@gmail.com, or call me at 951.219.8524 with any questions & concerns. Please also let me know if there are any exceptional needs that are not being met during these trying times.
As always, your gal in unity,
Shelli Sullivan
President, Menifee Teachers Association
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2020 12:38 PM
Subject: MOU Addressing Catastrophic School Closures
Good afternoon-
I hope this missive finds all of our community healthy in both body & soul. I understand how taxing these times are, & I know we have the ability to rise from any ashes that may come from this pandemic. I have never before had the pleasure of working with a better group of dedicated or selfless professionals, & consequently, we will continue to thrive.
Due to the recent unexpected events, our joint negotiating teams were obligated to collaborate on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address concerns that are new to all of us. This MOU was approved by the Menifee Teachers Association's Executive Board yesterday, March 19th at 5:12 p.m. In the event of a catastrophic event, an MOU that affects all school sites needs only be approved by the Executive Board.
I must stress that this MOU continues to protect all of our rights. None of our colleagues will be expected to work outside of our normal contract hours, & we will all continue to be paid. The most important information to remember is that we are all still under contract, & as such, management can direct our work. The Department of Education is still determining the appropriate manner to offer educational services to all of our students from a distance, & the district asks that we be patient about changes that will occur frequently.
I encourage you to read the MOU in its entirety, but I have put some of the crucial items in bullet form:
*The calendar is negotiated. Your Spring Break is still yours, completely. We are not currently on vacation.
*We cannot be asked to work in the summer; the calendar must be negotiated.
*We are expected to work remotely.
*We must be available during our contractual, duty time.
*Do not travel so far that you could not return to your campus within 24 hours during contractual time.
*Abstain from alcohol or other controlled substances while you are on duty.
*End of year evaluations will occur remotely & technologically.
Additionally, I ask that we all practice goodwill & kindness. I know how frustrating these circumstances are, but we are in an historic & unprecedented era. Please do not voice your irritations on social media. This often heightens the stress of the families & communities we serve. I encourage you instead to vent to trusted loved ones, or start writing your future, Pulitzer prize- winning, journal about this historic event. As Judge Milian of the People's Court says, "Say it- forget it; write it- regret it." (Unless you win a Pulitzer for it!)
Finally, I want you to know that your union is still working for you. Our Negotiating Team is still working on the contract, & your Executive Board has met remotely to insure that your rights are being protected. Please feel free to contact me at sullivanmtabiz@gmail.com, or call me at 951.219.8524 with any questions & concerns. Please also let me know if there are any exceptional needs that are not being met during these trying times.
As always, your gal in unity,
Shelli Sullivan
President, Menifee Teachers Association
MOU for School Closure Related to Coronoavirus-19/COVID-19 |
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