I hope you are doing well and I wish you a calm and smooth testing season.  Here are some important items that are coming up.

1.     Sign the Petition! -  To avoid another $4 billion in cuts to education (= $4 million in BUSD) and a divisive election, the Governor met with the California Federation of Teachers and made some changes to his funding initiative that CTA previously supported.  As a result, we have a new compromise initiative that has less than a month left to gather enough signatures to be on the November ballot.  Please see your site rep or call the BTA office to sign a petition.  (All signers on one petition must be from the same county and the petitions must be completed correctly in blue or black ink.  Feel free to use a petition for even just one person who lives in another county.)  Return completed petitions ASAP since we will need to get them turned in to the regional office before the end of April.

2.     Happy Hour May 4^th – Back by popular demand.  Join your colleagues before the end of the year to share stories and plan summer activities.  Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided.  Join us on the afternoon of April 11^th to spiff up the back area for a nice seating area.  We’d also appreciate any gently used patio chairs and small tables or other items to improve the ambiance if you have things that are not being used.

3.     Relay for Life – Join us on May 12^th at Johnny Carson Park for our annual event to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.  Join the team or make a donation at:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/?team_id=1068452&pg=team&fr_id=36448

4.     BTA Elections – BTA is only as strong as its members.  With only 1½ paid staff, the success of BTA depends on creating a legacy of active members.  Please consider stepping up your involvement in your organization.  Many of our leaders have been on the job for many years and are willing to step aside for eager new activists.  Become a site rep and get to know how you can make changes in your school, the district and the state.  Consider running for office or joining committees, working on the website, organizing social events, writing letters or articles, or getting involved in the community.  CTA and BTA provide many types of trainings to help you find your voice and work toward ensuring a positive environment for our students.

Please reply to this email if you have any suggestions or concerns and share it with your colleagues.

In unity,

Lori Adams

BTA President

Jan-1

I hope you can find time to rest and recharge over Winter Break however you like to spend your time away from school.  Here are a few items for your consideration.

1.  PAY DECREASE –  Contrary to my previous explanations, I spoke to payroll and Ed Code demands that changes in pay must be evenly distributed among the remaining pay periods.  Therefore, the decrease for this year’s two furlough days will be evenly distributed over the remaining six paychecks beginning with the Dec. 29th paycheck.  I think this is much better than taking the hit for a full day in one month.

2.  BTA SURVEY ON THE WAY! – We will be trying out a new method for surveying members.  Using the online program Survey Monkey, we will be able to gather our own data about how our members feel about many aspects of BTA and the District.  Please take time to let us know your thoughts.  The link will be available this week and be open until mid-January to allow members plenty of time to weigh-in before BTA’s Exec Board and Organizing Team make long-range plans.  You will receive the link via email and a flyer in your box.  Please encourage your colleagues to participate in making BTA stronger than ever.

3.  PAYCHECK DECEPTION INITIATIVE QUALIFIES for the November 2012 ballot.  This initiative disguised as “paycheck protection” is yet another attempt to weaken the ability of unions to stand up for the rights of its members.  Don’t be fooled by the opportunity to save a penny in return for strengthening our foes who plan to attack our pensions, evaluation procedures, permanent status, and funding levels.  See page 34 of the November California Educator for the full story.

4.  PAC COMMITTEE FORMING – BTA is reviving the Political Action Committee and is looking for politically minded people to step up and organize our campaign activities.  Let us know if you are interested in this new and extremely important role.

5.  TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM COMING TO THE BUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION- Thursday Dec. 15th at City Hall, the District will present their plans for the new Transitional Kindergarten program.  The plan includes, two new positions to be created for a class at Mann Childcare Center and a class at Adult School Childcare Center as well as the program design.

6.  DR. DIANE RAVITCH IS COMING TO L.A. ON JAN. 17 – Location still to be determined.  Former supporter of the No Child Left Behind act has done an about face and written a book about testing, accountability and the merits of charter schools entitled, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, a must-read for all in the education community.

Important Dates

12/13 Burbank City Council Meeting City Hall

Stop WalMart in Burbank organization to speak out

12/15 BUSD School Board Meeting 6:00pm City Hall

1/11 BTA Executive Board Meeting – BTA Office

1/17 Diane Ravitch to speak in Los Angeles courtesy of United Teachers of Los Angeles

While we will be taking a total pay cut of 3.2% over two years, (1.08% in 2011-12 and 2.16% in 2012-13) this agreement includes no permanent cuts.  There will be two (2) furlough days in the 2011-12 school year on Dec. 16, 2011 and April 9, 2012.  Four (4) furlough days are tentatively in the 2012-13 school year to include Dec. 21, 2012, April 9, 2012 and two (2) staff development days to be determined once the calendar is established.

Due to members voicing their concern about the lack of available doctors on the Blue Shield Net Value plan, the negotiating team will meet with the Superintendent and Asst. Superintendent of Finance on Monday at 3:30 to review the new health insurance plans.  Members are advised to call their doctor to see if they will be covered under the new plan.  Some members will need to move to a more expensive plan to stay with their current doctor.

The negotiating teams will return to negotiate the 2013-14 agreement in August of 2012.

This concludes our negotiations for this year pending ratification of the agreement by the membership.  The bargaining team wishes to say thank you for your patience, participation and support throughout this process.

TA Successor page 1

TA Successor page 2

TA Article 5

TA Article 12