Issue 8
Blueprint News May 3, 2013
Volume 74
“Teacher Spirit Week” Lunchtime Hiatus Part of Negotiation Strategy
AEA President: “Maybe the community will recognize how much we go above and beyond base requirements” Megan Yee Feature Editor
Visit www.acalanes unnoticed by school blueprint.com for expersonnel, many of tended stories, photos, whom overheard and video content. Among the typical hustle and bustle of school life, comments and rumors nearly all Acalanes teachers, beginning in early from students throughout the week. February, quietly posted signs on classroom doors “Most kids just don’t understand what [Teacher and sported buttons, both bearing the seemingly Spirit Week] is, said Principal Aida Glimme. “The simple phrase “I was here for Acalanes.” other ones were really misinformed and saying Weeks later, students noticed a second set of door [teachers] are on strike, which is nowhere near the signs flatly stating, “I will not be available at lunch truth. I think there is a lot of misunderstanding during the week of April 15-April 19”, along with from the student perspective of what it is.” blue fliers, resembling Leadership’s usual School The AEA explains that Teacher Spirit Week Spirit Week calendar posters, promoting what was was, in part, meant to allow staff members to dubbed “Teacher Spirit Week.” enjoy their allotted lunchtimes together, instead For five days, most teachers of by themselves in their participated in light-hearted classrooms as many teachers staff bonding activities, such usually spend their thirty-five as pizza parties and dress-up minute break. days, during their thirty-five “The purpose of [teacher minute lunch break, wherein spirit week] is for us to come many were not available to together as a staff and celmeet with students. ebrate the fact that we love beThe week and the buttons ing professionals at this school were also part of an Acalanes and to observe our pride in Education Association (AEA) being teachers. It’s something strategy to enhance the teachwe don’t do a lot because we ers’ position in salary and spend our lunches, a lot of contract negotiations with the times, helping students,” the Acalanes Union High said English teacher Natalie School District (AUHSD) by Moore. accentuating their dedication AEA president Carpenter to students and attempting to indicated that there was more inform other members of the to the strategy behind Spirit school community to take noWeek and the messages retice of the amount of personal lated to teacher bonding. time teachers give to students Teacher Spirit Week “notibeyond contract terms. fies the community that we’re The slightly cryptic mesin negotiations. We knew During a board meeting on Wednesday, April 17 amidst Teacher Spirit Week activities, AEA members sages printed on the buttons attend a board meeting with signs that tell of all the extra work teachers have put in over the years. that the students would talk and signs were also the first in Teachers from all four schools in the district attended to work toward their common goal of negotiatto their parents and mention a string of strategies intended ing salary increases. that this is what the teachto communicate with parents ers were doing, but we didn’t on the assumption that students would notice that including some who spoke of “lunchtime strikes” mean it to be a negative thing,” said AEA president something was different than usual and indicate or protests. Nick Carpenter. “Maybe the students and the that to their family members. However, more than “If you think about it for five seconds, anyone community would recognize how much we go anything, these efforts have caused confusion and who uses the phrase “lunchtime strike,” which above and beyond our base requirements.” prompted questions from the student population I’ve heard from a couple of students, that’s pretty Misha Buchel, an Acalanes math teacher and regarding the meaning behind the phrase. much an oxymoron,” said math teacher Misha member of the AEA negotiating team, echoed An informal survey revealed that twenty-one Buchel, a member of the AEA negotiating team. Carpenter with respect to the contract negotiaout of the forty-three students surveyed were not “How do you strike during your lunch hour when tion aspect of the “I was here” messages and Spirit aware of the significance behind the phrase “I was you’re allowed to take a break and eat food? A Week. here for Acalanes.” Additionally, sixteen out of couple of students asked me if teachers are on “Right now, we’re in negotiations with the school twenty-four students remembered Teacher Spirit strike at lunch. I completely reject that [idea] and I district for a salary increase. It’s just a part of the Week, which seemed to be a function of teachers think that just goes to show the level of that some process of laying out what we feel like we’ve acexplaining the purpose to their classes. people have of a lack of understanding of the extra complished,” said Buchel. The lack of teacher availability during lunch stuff that we do that is beyond the scope of what Students, in general, were somewhat aware of struck many students as something out of the our job is.” the teachers’ intentions to point out how much ordinary, causing confusion and many misconcepThis lack of student understanding did not go uncompensated, personal time tions among the student population.
Blueprint Photo/Megan Yee
“I’m really confused. My teachers didn’t really mention anything [about Teacher Spirit Week]. All they said was that they’re not really allowed to talk to them or do anything [in their classrooms] during lunch, which is really inconvenient when I have to take tests and other things,” said sophomore Alessandra Lucas. “It was a hard week because it was the week before STAR testing, so teachers were trying to cram in all the tests, so it was really hard to get in touch with them. My mom was kind of confused because I didn’t have a real reason [to tell her] for them not being there at lunch.” Student misunderstanding also resulted in exaggerated misperceptions about what was going on,
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N3
May 3, 2013
Blueprint
“I Was Here for Acalanes”
Issue 8
“I Was Here for Acalanes”
AEA members say that they were trying to get their message out in a fashion without putting Continued from N3 students in the middle. they give to students. While some found it to be an “We’re not trying to go through the students. inconvenience, most understood that the AEA was First, we try to go through the district, obviously, trying to get a point across and supported them in with negotiations at the table and talking to the doing so. district negotiation team. Teacher Spirit Week was “I thought it was a very nice way to show everynot designed to go through the students, it’s more body how much effort the teachers put into helpto build teacher morale and show our solidarity,” ing their students and in a very classy manner too said Carpenter. because they wanted to show, if they actually only Although most students were rather indifferent worked for the times that we were paid we’re not to the whole matter, some did express discontent able to help those kids nearly as much as we do,” that teachers were not readily available on the said senior Delaney McGuire. usual basis. However, the AEA’s attempt to alert parents and The idea that students may take for granted that the greater Acalanes community of the contract teachers are usually readily available at any given negotiations and the salary increase appears to time caused some concern and even irritation have been far less effective than they hoped. Many among some teachers. students reported that they did not mention the “I have heard from other people that students “I was here” signs or Teacher Spirit week to their have been upset that teachers haven’t been availparents. able during lunch, and I just find that shocking,” In an informal survey, said AEA vice 51 out of 79 students president Lori reported that they have Tewksbury. “It’s not mentioned the signs a duty free lunch; or Teacher Spirit Week to it’s the law. The their parents. fact that people “Unfortunately, I did not assume that hear about that, and usueveryone will be ally I’m pretty plugged in. available 24/7 My son wasn’t affected by boggles my mind. it last week, but he and I If I were available are definitely appreciaat lunch and I got tive of the teachers, but that kind of reacthe message didn’t get tion to actually through to me,” said taking my lunch, Dawn Brightbill, mother I would feel like I of freshman Nico Brightwas being [taken bill and freshman class advantage of].” liaison. “Because parents As a third ramp aren’t on campus, there up to the AEA’s Above are past Blueprint covers documenting steps that have been takien in past teacher contract negotiations. was no way I could’ve efforts, an excess seen the teachers wearof a hundred ing the pins, or the signs on the door. There was a Still, there was a small handful of people who teachers and counselors from all four schools in missing link somehow: either the kids knew about both knew about and applauded the teachers’ efthe district attended the district board meeting on it but didn’t find the message compelling enough forts. Wednesday, April 17, 2013. They sat quietly in the to mention to a parent, or, in my son’s case, he “I totally support what [the teachers] did and I audience with picket signs bearing positive meswould’ve said something if he had needed to ask a understand their reasoning. I think it’s sad that sages about the work they have done in the past teacher something at lunch.” they had to go to that measure. Aside from what five years. The AEA does recognize that the “I was here” they want and deserve, I think they still tried to “The board meeting was to show the board that signs and lunchtime activities are not the fastest or accommodate the students as best they could we’re unified and to highlight all the work we’ve most effective methods of spreading their meswhile trying to make a statement and a point,” done for the last five years and all the things we sage. However, they were trying to find a way to said Krista McGuire, mother of senior Delaney do above and beyond the contract. Our teachers minimize detrimental effects on students while McGuire. really go above the base requirements to serve our still making their feelings known. The signs and There were also parents who did not approve of students. We wanted to remind the board that Teacher Spirit Week emerged as the best comprothe strategy and felt that teachers were using stuwe’ve been doing this for a long time. We can no mise between the two. dents to try to get the message across to parents. longer just keep sucking it up and providing more “We knew it wouldn’t be the most effective way “I think they should’ve used a different method of and more without being adequately compensated,” of getting the message across because it’s a procommunicating the message. The students are just said Carpenter. gression. When we think about sending our mestrying to be the best students they can be and they Key to the messages was the attempt to remind sage out, we think about ways that would have the could only get better with their teacher,” said Sothe Acalanes community of their dedication to stuleast impact on students,” said Carpenter. “As you phia Cervero. “To do this, students often need help dents and express the pride they take in doing so. build up, making signs, going to board meetings, during lunch as they don’t have any other time. “We wanted the community and our members taking a week off for lunches, have very minimal.” They shouldn’t have to put the burden on the stuto do was recognize our members for the work that Although a large amount of parents had no dent when the student could not help the teacher’s they’ve done, and for being outstanding teachers. knowledge of the AEA’s communication efforts, salary. I do believe our teachers are underpaid for We’re the number one high school district in the some had a vague idea of the the amazing work they do for your kids.” state and to do that, it really involves a team efevents taking place at school as a Past Blueprint Covers/1994 and 2009
result of their children mentioning that they could not get help from teachers during lunch. Even so, this knowledge drew mixed responses from parents. “My daughter did tell us that there was something going on with the teachers being on strike because they have not received a raise in many years, and are made to work through lunch and don’t get a break (or something like that),” said David Matz, father of sophomore Juliana Matz. “She was a bit confused about what the purpose and significance of the situation was. It left us as parents confused, and unclear as to what was happening at school. As I reflect upon it now, certainly, I would have preferred to have received a more direct message from either the teachers union, and or the administration.” Like Matz, nearly all the parents whose children mentioned the “I was here” signs and “Teacher Spirit Week” were not completely sure what was happening.
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Quill and Scroll/ “I Was Here for Acalanes”
May 3, 2013
Blueprint
Issue 8
Blueprint Members Receive Seven National Quill and Scroll Awards Adrienne Lee Arts Editor Five staff members of Acalanes Blueprint were awarded national Quill and Scroll awards in April for their individual work in writing, photography, and cartooning. The Quill and Scroll International Society selected the awarded entries out of thousands for high school journalists, which annually recognizes individual student achievement in journalism. “[I’m] really proud of the students,” said Blueprint’s adviser Larry Freeman. “It feels great.” Blueprint won awards in a broad span of categories, including opinion, news, feature, arts, photography, and editorial cartoon. “[By winning these awards in different categories,] it covers a lot of bases of what Blueprint’s about,” said Freeman. Former Managing Editor and senior Alice Bishop won an editorial award for her piece “Acalanes Needs to Shift from Tolerance to Acceptance.” “I was excited because I have never won a Quill and Scroll Award before so it was an exciting thing to be honored senior year,” said Bishop.
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fort,” said Carpenter. “Its students, the district, the community, the parents, but also the teachers, and sometimes teachers feel like they’re not recognized for the outstanding work that they do. [The “I was here” posters are] just a way to show off our pride in the work that we’ve done and let the community know that we’ve been here for our schools and that we’ve worked hard for them.” Ultimately, through informing the community and raising board awareness of the importance of work recognition and pay issues, AEA hopes to receive a salary increase through negotiations. “Our goal is to reach an agreement with the district for our contract for this year and next year. In that contract agreement, we are looking for a modest salary increase,” said Carpenter. “We’ve been working hard for the school district and for our students for the last five years, and we have not received a raise. We continue to work hard through the tough financial times and it’s getting to the point that we can no longer personally sacrifice for that anymore.” District Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Chris Learned, did not necessarily see the large teacher turnout in the way AEA envisioned. “I actually listened to Mr. Carpenter as he gave his speech, and then everybody left. But I didn’t really hear any comments. I was, frankly, so busy with the board agenda, I really was more interested in that than what was going on in the audience,” he said. Learned did, however, notice the tie between the turnout and teacher determination regarding negotiations. “I just think that they’re showing their solidarity,” said Learned. “That’s what they’re trying to get across.”
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Junior Clare Varellas, former News Editor and current Editor-in-Chief, earned the news category award for her story “Boy Scout Denied Membership and Eagle Award due to Sexuality,” an extensive news article regarding Ryan Andresen, a Boy Scout whose Eagle Project was revoked due to his sexuality. Although getting ahold of Andersen was an almost impossible task, Varellas was able to interview Andresen himself, and her ambition truly paid off. “I felt that it was an [issue of] importance in the community and I wanted to investigate it further and make the information I found available to the public,” said Varellas. Junior and staff writer Adrienne Lee was honored for “Movie Review: Life of Pi” in the film review category and “Turgidity Fires Up the Fryer with Fresh-Cooked Food” in feature. Blueprint was also recognized for its excellence in graphics. Head cartoonist and junior Ruth Shaffer was recognized for her editorial cartoon “Fiscal Cliff.” Senior photographer Brad Wash earned two accolades with his cross country and football photos.
The Quill and Scroll Awards has certainly capped off Blueprint’s 2012-2013 year in a rewarding way. Blueprint would like to thank the Quill and Scroll International Society for the honor.
Acalanes School Board President Richard Whitmore also did not provide direct comment on the large turnout, but did hint at his view on the progress of negotiations. “We’re always happy to see teachers at our meetings. It was hard to read all of the signs from our seats, but Nick Carpenter gave us some material in the meeting that I have reviewed and it reinforces that our teachers work hard on behalf of our students. I think everyone is at the table in good faith so I continue to be optimistic about positive outcomes,” he said. Teachers have not seen percentage increases to their salary schedule since the 2007-2008 school year. This, coupled with the fact that they have not received a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in the past few years and took furlough days, means that many teachers’ salaries have actually taken a hit. “For the last five years, we’ve been frozen at the current salary, and [during that time] the costs of goods and services have gone up,” said Carpenter. “If you’re stuck at the same salary and the cost of goods and services continue to increase, [the amount] you can buy goes down. Teachers really aren’t looking to get ahead; they’re really hoping to catch up and get back to the buying power that they had in 2008.” AUHSD Superintendent John Nickerson recognizes that the past five years have been difficult for the entire district due to the recession. However, as the economy continues to improve, he is hopeful that the state will provide an increase in the COLA in the near future, but appears to be taking a “waitand-see” approach. “At a minimum, we are expecting an increase of the COLA which is 1.65 percent. We’re hoping that it will be much more substantial than that because right now, we’re underfunded by the state by
almost 23 percent,” said Nickerson. “The state has a lot of ground to make up, so we’re hoping it will be more than that.” While AEA members have not received raises by way of changes to the salary schedule in the last five years, they have received some added compensation in the form of continued benefit coverage and a one-time one-and-a-half percent bonus according to district Business Services Superintendent Chris Learned. “The state has not provided us with any cost of living allowance either for the last five years. By providing the benefits, some districts will say they want all of this money to go on the salary schedule, but when you put money out for benefits, that’s money that could have gone on the salary schedule,” Learned said. “Right now, our teachers’ benefits for the last five years have been increased every year. There has been some compensation each year,” he said. Still, the AEA maintains that the district does have the resources to give teachers a salary boost. One of the concerns is that the district budget projections tend to err on the conservative side. Now that the economy is improving, teachers would like to see the some of the surplus money used for teacher salaries. “Right now, the school district is saying that yes, we have this large reserve, but there is so much uncertainty going forward that we don’t have enough information or we’re worried that the state is still going to be shortchanging us in terms of how much money we should be receiving, so as a result, our offer needs to be what it is.” Learned states that the district is doing the best it can given its current situation. “We believe we put an offer on the table that is fair and recognizes that we want our employees to earn more money, including the benefits. The
Blueprint Image/Guyar Vial
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“I Was Acalanes” Issue 8 May 3, Here 2013for Blueprint
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benefits are extremely expensive, so not only did we put salary on the table, we also put benefits on the table. Their expectations right now are quite a bit higher than what I see the district could afford right now, so we agreed to wait until after the May revision, which is governor’s revised budget, which will come out on May 14,” said Learned. The AEA also questions the accuracy of the district’s year-end budget projections, which they say have routinely underestimated actual year ending balances for the past five years. “It’s been evident over an extended period of time that they’ve been making projections that have been similarly projecting deficit spending and instead the surpluses have grown. Our argument is that we’re out of a great recession and we’re into an expanding economy “ so that after a long delay the time has come to increase salary, said Buchel. While Nickerson acknowledges that the district does tend to budget on the conservative side, he sees this as necessary, as they must budget for worst-case scenario. The district felt that this was especially important due to the tough economic times and the instability in Sacramento and Washington D.C. “There’s not the certainty that there was in 2007 and before. 2007 and before, you pretty much knew what was coming from the state and then you would build your budget. But since then, what was known when we built the budget, the last six years, what we’ve known when the budget was built and what actually came to fruition has changed. It’s very unpredictable. This coming year, as things start to stabilize after the passage of Prop 30, we’re hoping things will be much more predictable,” said Nickerson. No matter what happens with the negotiations, the AEA hopes that teachers will continue to emphasize their pride in their performance as educators and their dedication to students. Ultimately, they hope to reach an agreement that will allow them to continue serving their students and doing the job that they love. “I would like to see [that they continue] to be posted around or be worn, even when we’re not negotiating, just to remind teachers and the community that we do an excellent job and we’re proud of the job we do,” said Carpenter. Moving forward, the AEA is unsure of the direction in which both the negotiations and their related tactics will go. The AEA has a negotiation support team that assists them in the planning process for what additional steps might be taken. Their next moves will depend on how negotiations unfold, but according to AEA Vice President Lori Tewksbury, the AEA hopes to avoid having to employ more drastic measures in the future, such as contract days, which means teachers would only work the hours written in their contract, which specifies that work hours are from 7:30 am-3:20 pm with duty-free brunch and lunch. “We don’t want to have to go to work actions,” she said.