SUB GROUPS STILL SUB PAR
Despite overall rising numbers sub-groups in Menifee did not meet their AYP numbers. Part of the fallout would include forty hours worth of training for every Menifee teacher at a cost of nearly $2,000,000. To circumvent the sanction, Menifee will forgo $450,000 in Title I monies. In doing so, three Title I teachers will lose their Title I designations and be absorbed into the rank and file. To help with the Title I gap, the district will create two new TOSA posiitions. See following article.
MTA
Menifee Teachers Association
NCLB OVERHAUL URGED
You know it, I know it, and finally Congress knows it. 'We're getting to the point where we're going to have almost every school in the country failing,' said Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. 'We're going to have to change that.' Confusion over the ratings of thousands of schools across the US "is fueling President Obama's drive to rewrite the nine-year-old No Child Left Behind law. In his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, Obama called for a version that is 'more flexible and focused on what's best for our kids.' Congress is hoping to do a rewrite over the summer.
MORE TOSAs
MTA urged the administration to rethink their plan to take two additional teachers form the classroom to fill two new proposed TOSA positions. With many of our primary classrooms bulging the children can't afford fewer teachers. In addition, MTA took the position that the money could be better spent by sending our teachers to professional development training outside the district, or bringing in highly qualified experts to run workshops or seminars. When suggested to spend some of the money so teachers can be released to observe other teachers Karen Valdes said there were monies already available for that purpose.
Ih his State of the Union Speech, President Barak Obama urges overhaul of NCLB legislation.
NEGOTIATIONS TO START
'Tis the season. Negotiations at the table begin on February 10th. Dr. Callaway has once again stated her position that saving jobs was a top administrative priority. MTA wants more teachers - so we start with some common ground. The District has projected 202 additional students over the next year which we think would translate into additional positions. The members have made it quite clear that if there is anything to be axed, it should be furlough days. Seems simple enough until you factor in all the uncertainties with the state budget and the Governor's tax proposals. 'Tis the season.
