RCTA Representative Council Meeting Agenda
Redwood City Teachers’ Association Mission Statement: The Redwood City Teachers Association exists to promote and protect the professional health and longevity of its members. It is dedicated to the pursuit and support of excellent teaching, equity, collective bargaining, and fair working conditions. We are devoted to the education of the children, their families, and the community of Redwood City.
Monday, March 7th, 2022 3:30-5:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID:
Passcode:
1. Call meeting to order at: 3:37 pm
2. Land Acknowledgement: We are doing this work on the unceded land of the Ohlone Nations.
1 2 3
3. Roll Call and check in- Elected Site Representatives (✓ present)
Adelante Selby-Rita Melton and Yesenia Bravo ✓✓
Roy Cloud-Belinda Mendez and Maureen McPeek ✓✓
Roosevelt- Kohlby Hong and Chris Holm ✓
Hoover-Kevin Sugar
Clifford- Jennifer Tanti ✓
Orion-Jackie Kroner ✓
North Star-Jacob Havey ✓
Garfield-Anum Khan
MIT- Susanne Pillay ✓
Kennedy-Cindy Meek ✓
Taft-Kerry Benjamin and Kim Combs ✓
Henry Ford-Angie Teupel and Sandra Covacha ✓✓
SDC Preschool - Bernadette Garcia ✓
Preschool -Aida Ortiz Indra Hernandez ✓
Independent Study- Rebecca Robinson ✓
4. Approval of the Minutes
Motion to approve the 2/7/22 Rep Council Minutes met without objection
5. Committee Reports
Elections Committee: Steve Murray
45/306 members voted
President: Erinn Washburn
Vice President: Joan Solari
Treasurer: Steve Murray
Corresponding Secretary: Jennifer Tanti
Recording Secretary: Christina Granato
Local NEA RA Delegates: Yesenia Bravo, Erinn Washburn
Local NEA RA Delegate runner-up: Jacob Havey
Roles and responsibilities of Executive Board Members can be found in our bylaws.
Organizing Committee: Kevin Sugar, Erinn Washburn
Do we want to move back to Red Morton for in-person meetings? Hybrid?
Some members shared that virtual is much easier and more convenient. Some members shared that if we switch to in-person meetings, to wait until the 22-23 school year
California Casualty Contest
Contest date extended through March 11th!
CTA endorsed auto and renter insurance
Get a new auto quote from California Casualty and get a $25 amazon gift card
Additionally, when site reps get the survey email from Erinn, forward the contest email to all site members to enter a contest to win 2 ($50) gift cards. Site Reps who get the most entries/site can also earn a $50 gift card for helping spread the word.
Send the following message to your site members by the end of the week:
All,
Redwood City TA and California Casualty is running a fun February Contest. Please scan the code or click the link below to join in on the fun!
Our local Field Manager Norma Alfaro is planning to award two lucky association members a $50 Gift Card on Tuesday February 22nd.
California Casualty’s Auto/Home/Renters Insurance and California Teachers Association have been partners for over 70 years. This is a very popular program. Good Luck and Thank You!
Scan below or click here to enter: Redwood City TA California Casualty New Year Contest
RCTA Night Out- nothing to report back yet
Treasurer's Report- Steve Murray
2021-2022 Budget: Approved 12/6/21
Balance Checking:
Balance Savings:
January expenses:
January dues disbursement:
Retirement Committee: - Kevin Sugar, Belinda Mendez, Erinn Washburn, Kohlby Hong
10 people so far
The Office
Date?
Time?
Gift bags contained a sweet little gift/token (last year was a cute retirement/summer themed kitchen towel) and a $250 visa gift card
Can we project a short slideshow at the office?
Calendar Committee: Erinn Washburn, Pam Barsch
District would like to align Spring break with Sequoia
23-24 calendar Spring break aligned with Sequoia as well. Week of 4/8/24
Human Rights and Equity Committee: Erinn Washburn, Natalie Delahunt, Emily Farrell
CTA Training Coming Up: So You Want to Be an Anti-Racist Union (2 Day Conference)
March 9 & 16: Link to Sign Up HERE
Report back from Human Rights and Equity Conference in LA
Keynote speakers at Equity conference included Dr. Selena Gray
Nathalie Delahunt is the equity coach at Clifford, and was also a speaker at the conference
Dr. Jarvis R. Givens and his book Fugitive Pedagogy, shared about the art of Black Teaching; connects a lot to the buzz around CRT and teaching the truth in history
RCTA wants our union members to step into action and join us at these conferences! If you are willing to go to some CTA conferences RCTA will pay!
Climate Committee: Sigrid McCarthy, Silvia Antonelli, Chelsea Williams, Anum Khan
-RCTA dropped equalizing instructional minutes from the agenda.
Members raised the concern of “programs” for students versus just focusing on minutes. For example, all schools/grades should have access to music and art, but not all schools are providing this. Comes down to site by site funds
Technology: Teachers have been told that RCSD would not upgrade document cameras or projectors due to phased-out technology.
Membership Committee:-Christina Granato ms.granato26@gmail.com
Address changes for CTA database-Christina Granato ms.granato26@gmail.com
Grievance Committee: Michelle Territo, Belinda Mendez
Reach out to Erinn and Michelle if you believe your administration is violating your contract.
Bargaining Team: Brian Cagle, Michelle Territo, Erinn Washburn, Jenn Tanti
Contract Cliff’s Notes
April 4th Rep council meeting RCTA will provide a cliff notes version of your contract to make it MUCH easier to understand and navigate your contract!
Parent Liaison Committee:
6. Announcements:
SPSL-This leave will become available for use on February 19, 2022 and is retroactive to January 1, 2022 for qualifying absences. If you have taken leave between 1/1/2022-2/19/2022 for Covid related reasons, you can apply to use this leave by completing this form.
This is the staff data for us to get an overview of district climate across sites
The Parent Venture: Dr. Donald Grant (Mindful Training Solutions) ”Talking to Kids About Race, Culture and Inclusion-Thursday, April 21st.
RCSD Job Vacancies-March 10th, these open to the public.
Does anyone want to job-share next year?
7. Member Concerns:
MASKS: RCTA statement for board meeting 3/9/22
Mixed response from teachers
Some teachers are concerned with mass mask removal for students, especially in the preschool, TK, unvaccinated-aged students
Is there a way to “mandate” masks for unvaccinated students?
Some teachers are comfortable since the district is still going to provide KN-95 mask (upon request)
Hoover’s mass non-reelect teachers/probationary teachers in the future
RCTA advocated for many of the non-reelects, but we do not have power when teachers are probationary, as per Ed Code
Further steps were taken, but unfortunately, RCTA couldn’t do much for the teachers who were let go as they were probationary
Big Takeaway? Site Reps and site tenured teachers need to advocate for their probationary members because there is clearly intimidation factors, and probationary members CAN be let go for literally no reason. Help keep our teachers by being their voices when they need it, but cannot speak up for fear of job loss.
- Garfield-New Beginning Community Church donated $16,500 and suggested an SEL program through RealOptions Obria Medical Clinics- website
Meeting adjourned at 5:06 pm
10 minute meeting To Do’s:
1. Decide when you will have your 10 minute meeting and invite your members
2. Possible mask mandate lift (board meeting 3/9/22)
2. Get a list of all RCTA retirees on your site. Retiree Form that anyone can fill out
3. Come to April 4th rep council meeting for Contract Cliff’s Notes by our bargaining team
4. Next RCTA Rep Council April 4th, 2022
Resources:
Web: rctacares.com Facebook: @redwoodcityteachersassociation