May 20, 2009

EA
the ADVOCATE
SD

SDEA Rocks!

n Launch of new drop n SDEA reaches out to

system a great success the Sweetwater Union
Inside
page 8 page 10
the ADVOCATE

Features
the ADVOCATE
___________________5
Congrats to Bill!
SDEA Board Member Bill Freeman
has won Teacher of the Year!
___________________
10
We Are Not Alone
Sweetwater guest columnist Lau-
ren McClennan sheds light onto
her District’s bargaining issues.
___________________ 12
Tribute: Don Morrison
SDEA members remember former
SDTA President Don Morrison.
Letter from the President and Vice President
___________________________________________________________
A DISTRICT AFTER MACHIAVELLI’S OWN HEART
While they may seem random, the District’s series of bizarre and unten-
able suggestions reveals a disturbing pattern.
Letters
6
________________
MYTHBUSTERS
SDEA members dismantle Grier’s VEBA offers helpful hints for
bogus math.
C ontract acts F
11
____________________________ 4
REGARDING GOVERNANCE
Get to know the real facts sur- With special guest Bill Freeman, SDEA-R: UPCOMING EVENTS
rounding your school’s SSC and the Advocate explores what a true The coming months offer many
SPSA.
_______________________________________ May 20, 2009 The ADVOCATE 3
Drop Everything: SDEA Action a Success
8
Letters in Solidarity
Camille Zombro
SDEA President
Marc Capitelli
10393 San Diego Mission Rd. Ste.
SDEA Vice President
Phone
100, San Diego, 92108
Fax
(619) 283-4411 (619) 282-7659
Web
www.sdea.net advocate@sdea.net
Email
SDEA Advocate is published monthly
A window into the District’s soul
by the San Diego Education Asso-
ciation. Limited advertising space is SDEA Members— are attempting to divert our attention away from the
available; rates on request. Letters to
The Overton Window is a political theory, weeks of class time lost to mandated tests, away
the editor and other conent may be
submitted for consderation via email. developed by a conservative think tank, designed from the impact of wild fluctuations in programs
to change policy by moving public opinion across serving our neediest students, and away from chronic
2008-2009 OFFICERS
PRESIDENT the many shades of gray between two opposing understaffing in support services and high class
Camille Zombro agendas. It works kind of like this: An individual sizes. The most personal attack is that on our own
cover photo courtesy of Kristin Brown/ above photo by Camille Zombro VICE PRESIDENT has an agenda to do something really terrible — families — attacking our hard-fought healthcare and
Marc Capitelli privatizing public education for instance. While that prolonging our low-ranking salaries.
Above: Monroe Clark Middle School teacher Connie Gearhart is SECRETARY may be the ultimate goal, it would be unacceptable The superintendent is at the forefront, needlessly
one of the many teachers who served as Drop Captains for SDEA’s Gretchen Casey Nakanishi in current public opinion. The Overton Window excising hundreds of SDEA members based on class
May 5 information drop. SDEA members manned middle school TREASURER suggests that the path toward that ultimate goal is to size increases we never negotiated. The District
Carol Wheeler
posts District-wide to distribute critical organizing materials for move public opinion, shade by shade and issue by threatens furlough days while simultaneously
SDEA association reps to share at their sites (see story, page 8).
STAFF issue, across the political spectrum — until one day shopping around the use of federal stimulus money
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR we turn around and privatization is before us. The for an extended work year. In the most laughable
Cover: Teachers at Silvergate Elementary are standing strong in Steve Johnson
theory recognizes that the way to get what you want examples, Grier has suggested converting an early
support of our bargaining campaign. UNISERV FIELD ORGANIZERS
is not to propose the next logical step, but something childhood facility into a high school!
Morgan Thornberry Elsie Norgard
Donald Moore Craig Leedham three or four steps out. As the opposition responds, This chaos is clearly aimed at making us think
Abdul Sayid flabbergasted, to what is an absurd suggestion in the that such proposals as the notorious “Plan A” are
CONTROLLER/PROPERTY MANAGER current political climate, the dialogue is dragged acceptable. When the District frames the debate by
Diana Hayes slightly toward accepance of the goal. By proposing providing limited unpalatable options, it conditions
3 Departments CONTRACT SPECIALISTS
Jonathon Mello
COMPUTER TECH/MEMBERSHIP/IT
something four steps out, the campaign is able to
successfully move the agenda one step.
Consider the voucher initiatives which have
us to accept that some of them must be inevitable.
In effect, we are being Windowed! The District
proposes layoffs, backs off at the last minute, and
Larry Moreno
cropped up twice in California and several other then turns their sights to furlough days. By telling
SECRETARIES
the ADVOCATE Maureen Purvis Tina Daniels states. While most voucher initiatives have failed, us that we should be grateful to keep our jobs in the
ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT/ the discourse surrounding these initiatives has first place, the District expects that we will accept
SECRETARY moved public opinion on other issues. Though as inevitable rollbacks in salary and benefits. Even
Nanette Najera vouchers failed, the campaigns succeeded in creating though we all know our salaries are about 4 percent
Health and Benefits Advocate Columns SDEA ADVOCATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Erin Clark
a space where the public now accepts the splintering
of schools by cyclical reorganizations, chartering,
below the county median, members are being
pressured into believing that furloughs, higher class
14
___________________________ 13
____________________________ and the surreptitious privatization of mandated sizes, salary cuts or freezes, and healthcare cuts are a
SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE consultants and outside tutoring under NCLB. The fait accompli. They are not.
CTA: STOP GRADE TWO TESTING
goal was not —  initially — to actually institute Our families, our profession and our schools are
Now is the time to end this bur- MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Elizabeth Ahlgren vouchers (that will come later, aided by the guise of at stake. We cannot afford to slide across the shades
avoiding workplace injuries. densome, unnecessary test. some even more absurd anti-education suggestion). of gray between our vision for quality schools toward
____________________________ Rather, the goal was to lay groundwork for the less a Draconian vision of a system based on testing and
NEA: HEALTH CARE REFORM MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
obviously insidious incursions by the private sector a determination to divide and conquer the education
F
rom the ditor E Majors changes to the health care
Jim Groth
SDEA M i s s i o n S t a t e m e n t
into public education which have indeed resulted
from the voucher proponents’ clever prestidigitation.
profession. It is up to all of us to reframe the
public discourse. Talk with your students’ parents,
system at the national level may Shade by shade, are we moving away from a system your neighbors, your politicians. Our students, our
2 0 0 8- 2 0 0 9
____________________________ be on the horizon. The members of SDEA are dedicated to
of free public education for every child? communities and our families are depending on us!
THE DAY OF THE TEACHER ___________________________
providing a quality public education.
As a professional union advocating the Using this same lens, now consider where In Solidarity,
interests of certificated staff, students
and the community, SDEA/CTA/NEA will SDUSD is moving. The District has attempted
implement its membership commitment
to frame the discussion about budget cuts around
through involvement in politics, building
coalitions, negotiations and grievance “sharing the pain” while ignoring critical issues such Camille Zombro Marc Capitelli
Day of the Teacher would look like. opportunities for retirees. advocacy and educational programs.
as workload, special education and class size. They SDEA President SDEA Vice President
4 The ADVOCATE
Words from the Editor and Special Guest
Reflections on the Day of the Teacher
May 13 has been declared the Day of the Teacher — the
one day set aside to honor the work performed by thousands
of dedicated professionals as we prepare the next generation of
Americans for the challenges of adulthood. Allow us to share with
you the greatest gift we might hope to receive today.
This is the gift we want for the
Day of the Teacher — the ability
to do our job the way we know it
needs to be done.
Imagine: Today, we and our thousands of colleagues across
California walk into our classrooms and greet twenty to thirty
students. We smile, knowing that our curriculum will not be
constrained by arbitrary requirements developed by people whom
we have never met, and who have certainly never met the children
in our classrooms. Our lessons will meet the unique needs of our
students, engaging them in critical thinking and problem solving.
We will not determine what they have learned by looking at the
bubbles they fill in. Instead, we will base our evaluations on the
conversations we have with our students, the conversations we see
them have with each other, and the writing they produce.
This is the gift we want for the Day of the Teacher — the
ability to do our job the way we know it needs to be done.
Instead, today we will walk into classrooms packed with as
many as forty or more students shell-shocked from the barrage of
government-mandated tests they have just endured. Our curriculum
remains straight jacketed by the need to prepare students for the
next onslaught of assessments— AP tests, District benchmarks,
county year-end assessments, the high school exit exam… never
mind any tests that teachers may want to design themselves to
assess the actual classroom curriculum.
The sad reality is that the typical fifth-grader in the San
Diego Unified School District takes thirteen different lengthy,
high-stakes, mandatory assessments throughout the year. Some,
such as the California Standards Tests (CST), are drawn out over
as many as ten days. Schools rearrange their schedules entirely
around testing, with students subjected to weeks of anxiety-filled,
modified school days devoid of actual instruction — for just one
of the thirteen tests. When the time required to prepare for and
administer these assessments is added up, testing robs students of
more than a month’s worth of classroom instruction each year.
Bizarrely, many of these tests measure duplicate skills. If the
CST effectively measures students’ knowledge of reading, writing
and arithmetic, then why does our District feel compelled to
create additional tests measuring the exact same thing? No teacher
questions the need to hold both students and teachers accountable.
But does anyone really believe that it takes thirteen different tests
to do so?
These tests are divorced from the actual classroom curriculum,
May 20, 2009 May 20, 2009 The ADVOCATE 5
SDEA honors our Teachers of the Year
This past week, SDEA members chose
forcing teachers to teach to the test three of our brightest to represent us as
rather than to the kids in the room. SDUSD Teachers of the Year. There are
Editor-in-Chief, NBCT
Instead of deriving from students’ qualities common to all three: dedication
Erin Clark
needs, instruction is increasingly to their students, commitment to their
driven by a focus on numerical data. profession, and passion to make sure that
Curriculum has become something failure is a word their students never learn.
that happens to the classroom, not There is not just a belief that they can make
something that is developed in the a difference, but that their students will
make a difference in the world they are
classroom. Because these tests fail to
assess thinking skills that students will inheriting.
Michael Crawford enlightens the
need in the real world, the teaching of
those skills is vanishing from today’s students of Monroe Clark Middle School
Teacher of the Year
Bill Freeman
to the scientific world, but knows that
assessment-centered classrooms.
Complexity of thought and mastery of his students need to be involved beyond
content simply cannot be expressed in their classroom. He engages them in
a bubble filled in with a number two Clark’s “Circle of Peace Club” and meets
pencil. Part of the problem is that these the exacting challenge of teaching new
tests are often written by people who teenagers with lessons designed to capture
lack expertise in the field of study being their innate curiosity.
tested and in students’ needs. Just as insurance companies have no Philippe Poncey leads by his example
business telling doctors how to treat their patients, committees of of bringing his students to the world, past
non-teachers have no business telling teachers how to best address and present. His school trips have brought
the needs of the children sitting in front of them. his students to the shores of historic
What teachers need are smaller classes to allow for D-Day Normandy and to the stage with the
personalization, and an end to the absurd number of mandatory compelling “Laramie Project” he produced
in his drama class. He has shown his
students the tragic outcome of intolerance.
No teacher questions the These experiences have opened his
students to the possibilities of choosing a
need to hold both students and better journey and making a world more
open to all.
teachers accountable. But does SDEA is proud that our Elementary
Teacher of the Year is a leader in our Union
anyone really believe that it takes family! Bill Freeman never stops. His day
photos by Camille Zombro
thirteen different tests to do so? starts well before the bell and does not end
until well past sundown, even in summer. Top: Michael Crawford (left) and SDEA Board Member Bill Freeman
tests inflicted on our students. Instead, we find our District using the Giving his students personal attention (center) represent excellence in teaching as SDUSD Middle and El-
during class, before and after school are
budget situation to increase class sizes and further reduce teachers’ ementary Teachers of the Year at the May 5 recognition ceremony.
autonomy. These tests are also incredibly expensive. Estimates of Bill’s trademarks — along with the many
Boy Scouts who have been recipients of his Above: SDEA President Camille Zombro (center) congratulates
the District’s testing costs for the 2009-2010 school year are as
time and devotion. Bill struggled through Scripps Ranch HS Teacher of the Year Peter Burrell (left), Pacific
high as 1.6 million dollars — nearly double the preceding year.
Remarkably in these troubled times, the Dis-trict would rather the worst of our nation’s racial prejudice Beach MS Teacher of the Year Kim Oliver-Vacha (right) and all of the
fund its bloated asses-sment program than allocate the money to and still came out knowing that each child site teachers of the year for their accomplishments as educators.
keeping class sizes sane. that we come in contact with can learn, no
Our greatest hope is that the Day of the Teacher brings a matter the problems that may be part of His experience as a Union rep has been organizing not just when we have problems
renewed fo-cus on our most important task: creating an educational their baggage. motivated by that same desire. Our contract but constantly we create an atmosphere
environment that truly inspires and challenges our students. Until Bill has been a teacher and Union and the work we do to strengthen it ensures where teachers and Union members are
our District demonstrates a willingness to support teachers in activist since the late nineties, becoming that future teachers will have a real voice in part of the decision-making process and not
creating that ideal learning environment, we cannot truly call any active in our Union because he saw the the work they do as educators and stewards just recipients of it.
day the Day of the Teacher. need for teachers to have a real voice in of tomorrow. Thank you to all our Teachers of the
what and how they teach. Bill teaches Bill applies this theory at Porter Year, Michael, Philippe, Bill, and the
As submitted to the San Diego Union-Tribune by Erin Clark, each day because teaching is “one of the Elementary by working to ensure teachers dozens more who were chosen by their
National Board Certified Teacaher in Social Studies-History and few professions where you can reach into have a seat at the table as policies and colleagues to represent our schools as site
Bill Freeman, SDUSD Elementary School Teacher of the Year. the future and affect positive change.” curriculum are made and discussed. By teachers of the year.
6 The ADVOCATE
Letters to the Editor
Math teacher dismantles Friday Notes falsehoods
Dear Superintendent Grier—
This letter is a response to the
“Where Does San Diego Unified Stand”
article published online in the “Friday
Notes” on April 3 (http://www.sandi.net/
fridaynotes/2009/0403.html). Your staff
compared San Diego Unified School
District (SDUSD) to 62 other school
districts that have at least 20,000 students.
According to the article, SDUSD ranks:
• second in certificated salary expense
per student (listed as “certificated
expenditure per ADA”);
• second in full-time equivalent teachers;
• twelfth in administrative expense per
student.
In addition, the article points out that:
• teachers received a salary increase of
4.7 percent last year, and
• in an effort to cut costs, you have
eliminated 204 positions in the district
offices, saving $16.5 million.
The source your staff used was the
Education-Data Partnership (Ed-Data)
website (http://www.ed-data.k12.ca.us/
welcome.asp), which contains data
submitted by 85 percent of the school
districts, covering a ten-year span up until
the 2007-2008 school year. I decided to
peruse the site as well to examine the trends
and discovered information that contradicts
some assertions in the article. I found that:
• SDUSD teacher pay ranks near the
bottom amongst California districts
with 20000+ student enrollment,
• the reported “Certificated expenditures
per ADA” is a misleading statistic, and
• the district might have already
successfully addressed lowering labor
costs.
Below is an in-depth examination
of these items and how I arrived at these
conclusions. With exceptions to annotated
sources, all figures come from Ed-Data.
Teacher Pay
Mentioning the 4.7 percent increase
implies that teachers are well compensated
or even over-compensated. Let us examine
some averages compiled by Ed-Data:
The average SDUSD teacher salary,
$63,424, lags behind the state average
for all schools, $65,425. Of all California
school districts in the “over 20000
students” category, we rank 47 out of 63,
placing SDUSD teacher pay in the lower
30 percent.
Of the 16 school districts that have over
40000 students, SDUSD ranks twelfth,
placing SDUSD teacher pay in the lower
25 percent.
• SDUSD student enrollment stands
at about 131000, second only to Los
Angeles Unified.
• Los Angeles Unified pays an average
of $63391, $33 less than SDUSD
teachers. It should be noted though that
their teachers work two fewer days.
• Long Beach Unified, which has the
third highest in student enrollment,
pays its teachers an average of $70,071.
Salary averages, though, show an
incomplete picture because teachers in one
district can be more experienced/educated
than in another district. If we examine
teaching experience of these school
districts, we find that:
• SDUSD teachers have an average of
14 years experience.
• Los Angeles Unified teachers average
11 years.
• Long Beach Unified teachers average
13 years.
Therefore, despite greater teaching
experience, teachers in SDUSD get paid
less per year of experience amongst the
top three in student enrollment. This is
most noteworthy for LA Unified because a
substantially greater percentage of SDUSD
teachers (more than 10 percent) are fully
credentialed, indicating greater expertise.
Cost of Living
Starting from the year 2000,
SDUSD teacher wages have increased
16 percent. Annually, this amounts to an
average increase of 1.8 percent. However,
if one excludes the previous two years, then
that increase from 2000 to 2006, during the
economic boom, lowers to a mere 5 percent
(average 0.8 percent annual increase).
With 2000 as the baseline year, the rates
of inflation through 2006 and 2008 were
17 percent and 25 percent respectively
(source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://
www.bls.gov/bls/inflation.htm). Therefore,
May 20, 2009
teacher salary has failed to keep pace with
inflation as measured by the Consumer
Price Index this decade.
Though SDUSD teachers
received a 4.7 percent increase in salary
during the 2007-2008 year, Social Security
recipients received a 5.8 percent increase
in COLA last year (source: Social
Security Administration, http://www.ssa.
gov/cola/colafacts2009.htm). Thus, the
federal government felt that the cost of
living increased enough to require higher
payouts. According to CityRating.com,
the cost of living in San Diego is about 13
percent greater than the California average.
Arguably, one can make the case for setting
SDUSD teacher wages at a 13 percent
cost-of-living premium as opposed to the
current below-average rate.
This would mean for minimum,
maximum, BA +60, and average salaries,
the rates would be: $45,282, $91,159,
$70,624, and $73,930 respectively, not the
current below-average $39,412, $80,592,
$59,866, and $63,424.
“Certificated Expenditures per ADA”
Among schools with 20,000+ student
enrollment, SDUSD teacher salaries
rank closer to the bottom than the top.
Yet, SDUSD ranks second highest in
“certificated expense per student.” Does
SDUSD have too many teachers?
SDUSD currently ranks second
in fulltime teacher employment, but it
also ranks second in pupil enrollment.
Therefore, a number two ranking makes
sense. If SDUSD ranked third, that would
be a problem. The district with the third
highest enrollment, Long Beach Unified,
has 40,000 fewer students than SDUSD.
Ed-Data defines “certificated” as
teachers, supervisors, pupil support, and
administrators. Ratios of administrators
to teachers to pupil support to supervisors
are not uniform throughout the state’s
school districts. Therefore, the “certificated
expenditure per ADA” statistic loses its
power in comparison to just teachers or any
other group.
Since “certificated” includes
See LETTER, page 7
May 20, 2009
Letter
Continued from page 6
administrators, pupil support, and
supervisors, let us examine those
positions. According to the Friday Notes,
administrator expense, a subcategory, ranks
twelfth, not first or second. Therefore,
administrators are not the reason for the
high ADA expense ranking. That leaves
pupil support and supervisors.
I have no quick access to information
on supervisor pay, so I will make an
assumption. Most entities offer their
supervisors greater pay than other workers,
and I will assume this to be true for SDUSD
supervisors in the district offices. Based on
this assumption, it stands to reason that the
number of supervisors and/or their wages
are the reason for the high ADA expense
ranking. Why point this out? Because you
cut 204 positions in the district offices,
saving $16.5 million, or $81,000 in average
salary. This salary amount is higher than
the highest paid teacher. How many of
the 204 were supervisors? If the number
is significant, then have you already
addressed the “expenditure per ADA”
issue, not to mention “employee benefits
per student”?
Conclusion
Though the District staff has made a
very thorough analysis, I feel that many
details involving expenses require further
investigation. I strongly feel that District
expenditures on teacher salary have been
grossly misinterpreted as overweight, and
Ed-Data confirms this. I have read about
your efforts in analyzing the departmental
budgets to become more cost efficient, and
I applaud that decision and effort.
However, I feel the data presented in
Friday Notes inaccurately reflects the cost
of teacher labor, a datum I focused on most.
What validity does the rest of the data
presented in the Friday Notes article have?
Cutting costs is important, but it is also
important that we use reliable data when
making complex budgetary decisions.
Statistics like “certificated expenditure
per ADA” paint too broad a stroke, and
we must consider carefully which pieces
of information to underscore. Doing so
requires great time investment, but the
current economic situation calls for it.
—Ron Reese
Math Teacher, Patrick Henry HS
The ADVOCATE 7
All about teamwork
Coordinated Bargaining is about
putting union solidarity into action to
union leaders representing a broad cross-
section of the CTA affiliated locals in San
benefit all unions. This can be as simple Diego County. The purpose of the gathering
as sharing information about our contracts was to begin a discussion of coordinated
and bargaining proposals, or as complex bargaining. Over a third of the locals in
as coordinating timing and settlements, or San Diego County and about 30 leaders
establishing goals and standards, across all discussed common interests, discovered
the locals participating in the coordinated clear patterns across our bargaining tables,
bargaining group. and looked to the future on how we work
It is no secret that the employers together to strengthen our contracts, and
coordinate bargaining. Look no further than ultimately our unions.
the cookie-cutter solutions and bargaining In the weeks and months ahead, look
proposals that crop up across the state and for more information and opportunities
across our county: threats of furlough days, for members and leaders to work with our
drastic insurance cost shifting, bargaining allies and support all our efforts to build a
through excessive layoffs, exaggerating strong and united labor movement!
budgets, and other transparent union- Locals Represented
busting strategies. Just as we recognize Alpine Teachers Association
employer coordination when we see Cajon Valley Education Association
patterns in how administrators deal with Darnall Charter Teachers Association
our staffs, we must coordinate our efforts to Escondido Elementary Educators
establish and control bargaining proposals Association
and strategies across the County in order to Grossmont Education Association
influence favorable settlement patterns. Jamul-Dulzura teachers Association
Knowing that superintendents and La Mesa/Spring Valley Teachers
attorneys for the districts coordinate with Association
each other necessitates that we do a better Lakeside Teachers Association
job coordinating our own bargaining Lemon Grove teachers Association
strategies and goals among our own union National City Elementary Teachers
families — within the District, across the Association
county, and across the state. But knowing Ramona Teachers Association
and doing are miles apart until we make San Diego Education Association
a joint decision to start bargaining more San Marcos Education Association
effectively by coordinating bargaining Sweetwater Education Association
across all of our union families. CTA Board District P
On May 4 SDEA hosted a meeting with CTA Board District N
SDEA President Camille Zombro Site Visit Log
Working directly with SDEA members and sites is the most important work of
SDEA leadership. Each month we will include a list of the schools visited by
SDEA President Camille Zombro.
April May
1-Jefferson El. 20-Hoover HS 1-Lincoln HS
1-Ross El. 21-Hearst El. 4-Rosa Parks El.
1-Hoover HS 22-Rodriguez El. 6-UCHS
2-Memorial charter 22-Crown Pt. El. 7-Zamorano El.
3-Hoover HS 23-Muirlands MS 7-Emerson-Bandini El.
13-Hoover HS 23-Tubman Charter 8-Lincoln HS
15-Serra HS 27-La Jolla HS 8-Rodriguez El.
17-Juarez El. 28-Foster El. 11-UCHS
13-Fletcher El.
To schedule a site visit, email Camille at 13-Hamilton El.
zombro_c@sdea.net. 20-Oak Park El.
Spreading the word!
6 a.m., in the fog, parked on the sidewalk — now that Ray Ruffin, Montgomery MS                               
is a real commitment to the union! Kandi Nieto, IMC                          
On the morning of Tuesday, May 5, SDEA members Sam Cisneros, Muirlands MS                   
and staff conducted an information drop to distribute Marc Capitelli, Webster El.                                 
materials for our Day of the Teacher action to all sites. Candyce Schauer, Madison HS                
Drop Captains stayed at all middle schools from 6 a.m. to Ben Phillips, Mira Mesa HS                                 
9 a.m. so site reps could stop by to pick up packets for their Kim Oliver-Vacha, PBMS             
members. Martha Klages, Boone El.            
The drop system is a critical part of SDEA’s Randy Conry, Twain-Morse Campus                                 
communication structure. This new system offers a quick Randy Wheeler, Pt. Loma HS                   
way to distribute materials between monthly Representative Maria Jimenez, Kimbrough El.                           
Council meetings or during a crisis. With about 2/3 of sites Erin Andreasen-Kole, Marshall MS                   
participating, the May drop was a marked success. Karen Pearce, SDEA-Retired                            
Special thanks to all our Drop Captains: Claudia Weimer, Bayview Terrace El.               
Sue Giaquinta, Marston MS Kent Hess, Farb MS                                  
Scott Mullin, Language Academy Debbie Williams, UCHS
Marion Snell, Kimbrough El. Jonathon Mello, Larry Moreno, Maureen Purvis, Tina
Connie Gearhart, Monroe Clark MS Daniels, Steve Johnson — SDEA staff

photos by Camille Zombro

Clockwise from upper right: Claudia Weimer at DePortola MS (Bayview Terrace El.); Kandi Ni-
eto at Taft MS (Early Childhood Dept.) with Alice Marie Burke (Angier El.); Kent Hess at Farb
MS (Farb MS); Ray Ruffin Center) at Montgomery MS (Montgomery MS), standing with John
Anella (Planning and Accountability Dept.) and the Kearny HS AR; Carolyn Vega at Wilson
MS (Hardy El.); Scott Mullin at Mann MS (Language Academy); and Jonathon Mello at Lewis
MS (SDEA Staff).
10 The ADVOCATE
Sweetwater: Different district, same issues
by LAUREN MCLENNAN
Teacher, Mar Vista High School
As unions are pressured to compromise across the country,
the Sweetwater Education Association (SEA) remains stalwart in
our demand for a status quo contract. In the face of budget cuts
and “belt-tightening,” SEA members refuse to capitulate. Some
may wonder if it is obstinacy, ignorance, or pure naiveté that
motivates us to resist? But we might argue that there is something
deeper happening — a grass roots movement perhaps? Momentum
is building behind the sense that we have had enough. We have
compromised enough and we have borne the burden too long.
We will not accept further cuts that come at too high a price for
students and teachers. For years, the federal and state governments
have been chipping away at public education; we have grown
intolerant of attempts to erode the teaching profession and public
education as a whole.
Under the guise of “tough economic times,” our district has
proposed that teachers take a permanent 2 percent cut in pay,
that benefit caps be frozen, that new hires be ineligible for health
benefits at retirement, that class size be permanently increased,
and that new language be added to the contract giving the district
a “management rights” clause for any issue not explicitly stated in
the contract. Most people can take a look at many of the demands
and see two important truths: many of these permanent proposals
are completely unrelated to a temporary economic crisis, and the
district’s claims about their budgets are highly questionable if not
completely false.
Our superintendent has “re-organized” the district in ways
that cause us to question his position on non-discrimination.
Administrators and district employees are either hiding under
their desks, creating aliases so they can express dissent without
fear of retaliation, on the internet, or turning a blind eye to avoid
confrontation. In short, we are working in a climate of fear and
intimidation. This is territory previously unknown to most of us
in the Sweetwater Union High School District.
And what is the school board doing? The devastating truth of
the matter is that, metaphorically speaking, they drank the punch.
Whether it is pride or shameful ignorance, we cannot say exactly
why our board, most having held their positions for over eight
years, is following this tyrant in lock-step. Never have we seen
such a group of non-critical thinkers — they ask no questions, they
seek no clarification. They accept whatever the superintendent
claims to be truth. The superintendent and school board issued
over 100 RIF notices, only to take many of them back a month
later — torturing and frightening new teachers while claiming to
be “saving” jobs. The budget would say these jobs never should
have been in jeopardy. The education stimulus from the federal
government supports this view. Sweetwater is set to receive 11.1
million dollars over the next two years.
The tide is turning for teachers; we are frustrated and even
exasperated, but we refuse to give up. We have come to the
conclusion that now is the time to take a stand — take a stand for our
students, and take a stand for the teaching profession. We are tired
of trying to do more with less as the pressure and demands steadily
increase. We are tired of making sacrifices while the “powers that
May 20, 2009
photo by Camille Zombro
Top: Sweetwater teachers are on the march, de-
manding a fair contract from their District.
Above: Lauren McClennan (left) and Gene Chavira
(right) show solidarity with SDEA staff members.
Working with teachers in other districts helps to
strengthen the bargaining campaigns for both.
be” line their pockets with the public’s money through exorbitant
salaries and unnecessary perks. We are tired of bearing the brunt
of these cuts while the district spends thousands, even millions of
public dollars on consultants and a highly paid attorney who leads
their “bargaining” team. We are tired of trying to bargain in good
faith when our district never intended to bargain, let alone in good
faith. In short, we are fed up!
It is time for teachers, students, and parents to unite and protect
our future by protecting education! It’s time to make our voices
heard in public and through the media. It is time for parents to
question the decisions made by school boards and superintendents
— to demand to see budgets and expenses. It is time to fight for
public education!
May 20, 2009 The ADVOCATE 11
Know Your Rights! by Morgan Thornberry
THE REAL FACTS ON THE SSC & SPSA
Composition of the SSC 
9 Teachers selected by teachers 
9 Other school personnel selected by other school personnel 
9 Parents or community members selected by parents 
9 Students selected by students (secondary only) 
9 Must be an equal number of members between the two groups: (a) principal, teachers and 
other personnel and (b) parents and, if applicable, students 
9 Classroom teachers must be majority of group (a) [see above] 
Role of the Principal SSC Rules of Order
9 Voting member of the council  9 Meetings must be open to the public 
9 No administrative authority over the SSC  9 Public may address the SSC on any item 
under the purview of the SSC 
9 Cannot veto a decision by the SSC 
9 Notice of an SSC meeting  (including date, 
9 Cannot make changes to Single Plan for 
time location and agenda) must be 
Student Achievement (SPSA) or budget 
posted at the school site at least 72 hours 
without SSC approval 
before the meeting 
Why should union members be concerned if the principal makes changes to the SPSA 
(Single Plan for Student Achievement) without the approval of the SSC? 
Such unilateral changes violate California law.  If that weren’t reason enough, union members 
should be especially wary of unilateral changes by a principal to the SPSA that set oftentimes 
unrealistic achievement goals for students.   SDUSD leaders are increasingly attempting to link the 
pay of teachers and other certificated staff to student performance.  SPSA achievement goals that 
are set solely by the principal may be a move in this direction by SDUSD leaders. 
What should I do if the principal violates the rules of the SSC? 
The SSC is mandated by California law, so violations of the SSC rules should be directed to the state.  
You can make a complaint under California Department of Education’s (DOE) Uniform Complaint 
Procedure.  Call the DOE for more information at (619) 319‐0929.  By making a complaint, the 
teachers at one SDUSD school successfully compelled the principal to rescind a widely unpopular 
SPSA that was implemented without the approval of the SSC.  Send a copy of your complaint form 
to the SDEA office (Attn: SSC/SPSA Complaints) so that union members learn how widespread the 
problem is. 
 
Sources: “A Guide and Template for the Single Plan for Student Achievement” (California 
Department of Education). 
See http://www.cde.ca.gov/nclb/sr/le/singleplan.asp 
SAN DIEGO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
  www.sdea.net
12 The ADVOCATE
A Tribute to SDTA President Don Morrison
Eulogy
— Russ Armstead, SDTA President, 1971-73
Don was my mentor, my leader, and my friend. From the
first time I met him I was impressed with his demeanor. He was
confident, wise, and humble at the same time. I marveled at the
way he could bring others into the conversation and give them the
feeling they were important.
Don was the consummate teacher. His classroom was wherever
he was: in a school room, a board room, at a convention, or even
during negotiations with the school district. He endeavored to
teach, inform, and instruct in a manner that encouraged learning.
Don used every available teaching strategy and learning style to
make his point.
One of the invaluable lessons I learned from Don helped me in
my relations with others. When I asked him how he would so often
come up with just the right solution to a sticky problem that had
been hashed over, he said, “First be a listener. Don’t be quick to
get your words into the discussion, instead listen to what is being
said and synthesize it into a solution. Often the best solutions have
been stated over and over again, but not in the right context. That
is a job for the true problem solver.” This explains why Don was
such a good listener.
I was pleased when upon completion of his term as President
of the NEA Don decided to return to the classroom. I shouldn’t
have been surprised because he was first of all a teacher. Choosing
to teach in Southeast San Diego put him in the forefront of the
need for better teaching and learning situations. He was up to it
and despite the two-year lay-off; he fell back into the grind with
vigor and success.
Don was one of the leaders of the Urban Education
Association movement. Almost single-handedly he moved the
San Diego Chapter into alliances with other urban chapters and
created within the NEA a powerful force leading to integration
of urban teachers into the mainstream and they became a strong
force for collective bargaining. He was truly a man of distinction
in American education.
One of the best bits of advice I ever received came from Don
as we flew back from San Francisco on a Sunday evening many
years ago. “Always remember that your wife is your strongest
supporter. When you need to choose between the Association and
your family, make sure the family comes first. Involve your wife
in your affairs and she will understand what you must do and how
to help you.” It was this advice that has led to 54 years of a happy
marriage.
Donald Morrison Memorial Scholarship
A memorial scholarship fund has been set up in Don’s
name. Donations may be made to the Donald Morrison
Memorial Scholarship Fund and sent to:
Geraldine Morrison
6418 Gay Lake Ave.
San Diego, CA 92119
May 20, 2009
photos courtesy of Geraldine Morrison
Top: Don Morrison addresses an audience in Ari-
zona regarding issues in education.
Middle: Don was as gifted an educator as he was
an organizer, and was beloved by his students.
Above: Don can be seen standing proud with his
colleagues during the strike of 1977.
May 20, 2009 The ADVOCATE
Stop second grade testing!
A CTA-sponsored bill to eliminate the second-grade California
Standards Test requirement in the Standardized Testing and
Reporting (STAR) Program effective July 10, 2010 is stuck in the
Senate Education Committee. After a long debate on April 15, the
bill fell one vote short of passing. SB 800 (Hancock) is scheduled
to be debated again in May. The elimination of second-grade
testing would save the state approximately $2 million annually and
free up instructional time. The bill would also bring the state into
conformity with the requirements of NCLB which requires testing
of students in third grade and above.
CTA representatives and other supporters of the bill testified,
that the current exam stresses children of that age and does not
provide valid and reliable information or in a manner that teachers
can use to help second grade students.
What can you do? Please take a few minutes to make a call to
Health care reform on the horizon
Health care reform may happen during this congressional
session. The current administration in Washington wants to pass
reform legislation before Congress recesses in August, possibly as
early as June. During the May NEA board meeting, we were asked
to lobby on health care. NEA has a concern about proposals that
would tax employer-provided health benefits as a means to pay
for reform efforts. The members of the House that I spoke with
did not support this concept and I let them know that San Diego
County constituents would be hit harder by such a proposal as our
geography means that our health care costs are higher than for
people living in Orange and Los Angeles counties. We pay more
so we would be taxed more if those benefits become taxed.
The Social Security Offset repeal legislation has been
reintroduced. At this time, there are 235 cosponsors in the House
and 23 in the Senate. Locally, Bob Filner, Susan Davis and Brian
Upcoming events offer exciting opportunities
The NEA Convention is coming to San Diego for the first
time ever! The annual meeting will be held from June 30 through
July 6. However, prior to that the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting
will be held from June 27-29 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San
Diego located at One Market Place, San Diego. The registration
fee is $60. If you have never been a part of a national gathering
of educators, this would be a great time to touch base with
other retired education professionals. You can register online at
nearetiredconference@nea.org. The deadline for registering is
June 8. If you cannot register online, call 202-822-7149. I hope to
see some of you there.
Please join us on June 1 for the SDEA/SDEA-R Pre-Retiree/
Retiree reception from 4-6 p.m. at the SDEA auditorium. Enjoy
food, prizes and camaraderie with “seasoned” and new retirees.
See the enclosed form to register. We need to know how many will
be attending for planning purposes. I hope to see you there.
The end of the school years is nearly upon us, but your SDEA-R
Executive Committee is already planning for next year. We would
13
key members of the Senate Education
Committee asking them to support SB
CTA Director, Disrict P
800 (Hancock) when it is reconsidered
Jim Groth
by the committee. (Remember to use
your cell or home phone. Do not use a
school phone.) Ask other members of
your school staff to also make calls.
The following members voted no
on SB 800: Mark Wyland (R) (916)
651- 4038 (he represents Northern San
Diego County), Chair Gloria Romero (D) (916) 651- 4024, Vice-
Chair Bob Huff (R) (916) 651 - 4029, Elaine Alquist (D) (916)
351- 4013, and Joe Simitain (D) (916) 351- 4011. Your phone call
can make a difference.
Jim Groth may be contacted via email at jgroth@cta.org.
Bilbray have signed on as co-sponsors.
Elizabeth Ahlgren
NEA Director, District 10
Both of our state Senators are on
board. ESEA reauthorization is on the
backburner at this time.
We are still looking for volunteers
for this year’s NEA-RA, Hope Starts
Here. Please think about being a
volunteer. President Obama will not be
there but we could see Vice President
Biden or another speaker from the new
administration. It is a fun week and you can visit even if you are
not a delegate. Check out NEA’s website www.nea.org and go to
the “Grants and Events” area for more information.
Elizabeth Ahlgren may be contacted via email at elizahlgren@
yahoo.com.
like to alert you to the first meeting of
the 2009-10 school year. It will be a
Norma Heeter
dessert meeting held at SDEA on Sep.
SDEA-R President
14 starting at 1 p.m. At that time we will
kick off the year with a calendar of the
year’s meetings being made available
to everyone. I hope to see you there.
For now, mark your calendars for the
regular SDEA-R meetings/luncheons to
be held on Sep. 14, Oct. 5, Dec. 7, Feb.
1, April 8, and June 7.
At the April 6 general membership meeting and luncheon at
the 94th Aero Squadron, we had the largest attendance in years.We
hope to continue with increased participation. In addition we had
an outstanding presentation on fraud as it relates to seniors and a
successful silent auction which earned us $130 for our new teacher
gift card project. Thanks to those who donated silent auction gifts
and for those who bid on them and won.
14 The ADVOCATE May 20, 2009 May 20, 2009 The ADVOCATE 15

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SDEA is standing together

Left: For Kumey-
aay’s “twin day”
teachers got into
the spirit, showing
off SDEA pride!

Keep sharing your

thoughts!
Until we have a contract, we will
be wearing our red SDEA shirts to
show that together we are stronger.
Send in your red shirt photos to be
featured in The Advocate! Please in-
clude contact and caption informa-
tion with photo submissions.
Advocate questions, comments
and submissions may be directed
to advocate@sdea.net.
photo courtesy of Diane Capitelli