CFT Convention (March 21-23)
Manhattan Beach
Call for Nominations
Morgan Hill is honored to be one of three locals invited to present at the plenary session. We will share our efforts to engage the larger community in meaningful discussion around how best to promote high quality public education, which included collaborating with the district to bring Dr. David Berliner to town for the Morgan Hill Education Summit.
In addition to presenting at the plenary session, we are submitting a resolution calling on CFT to seek changes in California’s charter law to better protect public school students.
We are currently accepting nominations for delegates from our local to the convention. Please email tsmhft@garlic.com to nominate yourself or a colleague. The deadline for nominations is next Thursday, February 13 at 5pm.
New District Administration Contracts
Superintendent Confirmed
At the January 28th Board Meeting, the Morgan Hill Unified School Board voted 6 – 1 to approve a contract promoting Steve Betando from Interim Superintendent to Superintendent of the Morgan Hill Unified School District. Board President Don Moody explained that this decision has been made after an extensive review of Mr. Betando’s record, and interviews with key district personnel and community members.
The details of the Superintendent’s contract include a $210,000 base salary. He will also receive the certificated rate of $9000 in health and welfare benefits. His contract also includes a 3% increase annually over the four-year duration of the contract.
We believe that his contract is competitive with other superintendents’ salaries in the county. Presently, the superintendent of Milpitas Unified has a base salary of $210,528 with an additional stipend of $10,800 and health & welfare benefits of $11,400. The superintendent of Evergreen receives $204,400 plus $17,505 in health & welfare benefits. The superintendent of San Jose Unified receives $240,00 per year. If Dr. Smith were still with the District, his base salary in 2013-2014 would have been $216,000 in addition to health & welfare and fringe benefits.
The Morgan Hill Times mistakenly reported that Superintendent Betando would receive a $225,000 base salary, which was corrected in Friday’s edition. Unfortunately, the correction was located several pages into the paper while the original story made the headline.
The Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers is supportive of this contract because we feel that Mr. Betando has proven himself to be collaborative with our members and committed to our students and community. As Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Mr. Betando worked collaboratively with our negotiations team to begin the process of restoring teacher salaries, formalizing the professional evaluation process and establishing the Teacher Support Network.
He also has led the district in creating our focus academies (JAMM and DIME) and this work will continue as we open STEAM at Walsh and an environmental science academy at San Martin/Gwinn this fall. These site level transformations have had a positive impact on our students and community.
Mr. Betando’s tireless leadership as Interim Superintendent included his overwhelming support for our students and staff by protecting our neighborhood schools and public education from corporate charter management firms like Rocketship and Navigator. His team worked collaboratively with the Federation to advocate for our students and staff with the Morgan Hill City Council, Morgan Hill School Board, and the County Board of Education.
Assistant Superintendents
In addition to Mr. Betando’s contract, the board approved three-year contracts for Dr. Norma Martinez-Palmer (Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services), Kirsten Perez (Assistant Superintendent of Business Services), and Fawn Myers (Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.
The Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers supports each of these contracts and believes that this board action will help to stabilize our district leadership at a dynamic time in our history as we continue to work daily for student achievement and community support in this new era of Common Core State Standards and Local Control Formula Funding.
Negotiations Update
MHFT has started the process of negotiations for the 2014-2015 year. We will reopen the contract for revisions as we are in the middle of a 3-year contract. Our Negotiations Team will include the following teachers: Gemma Abels (BTSA), Nancy Altman (Britton), Jeff Bernstein (Sobrato), Mary Alice Callahan (Sobrato), Chris Mink (Walsh/Los Paseos), Andrea Pecsok (JAMM), Theresa Sage (MHFT President), Lori Shoemaker (Los Paseos) and Zann Yates (Sobrato).
Our team is in the process of developing a survey in order to inform the negotiations process. Please be sure to respond to the survey when you see the link in your email as the results directly guide our team.
One of the MHUSD board goals that is fully supported by our superintendent is to make Morgan Hill Unified a highly desirable place to work. We believe that both negotiations teams will collaboratively work to support that effort.
The state of California has dramatically changed the way that schools are funded. This will certainly have an effect on our negotiations process. The district is required to make a Local Accountability Plan that includes input from all of the stakeholders including MHFT, SEIU, MHELA and parent and community groups. Local organizations including Mayor Tate and the City of Morgan Hill, Chief of Police Swing, the Chamber of Commerce and parent leaders are also included in the process. Approximately 30 categorical programs will no longer be protected funds and the new local plan will help shape how we spend the district funds. There is a very short time frame for the district to prepare the new accountability plan and develop the new budget. This process will certainly have an impact on the negotiations process as well.
Early Retirement Notification
Incentive Deadline
If you know that you are going to retire at the end of this school year, this Friday is the deadline to notify the district of your intent and receive a one-time incentive of $2,000. The district is offering this incentive because early notification allows them time to resolve staffing needs, offer transfer opportunities, and seek replacements for retiring teachers at this spring’s job fairs. Please do consider early notification if you are certain that you are going to retire.
Online Collaboration Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete this districtwide survey online. The feedback is important, and will be reviewed by Assistant Superintendent Norma Martinez-Palmer, as well as by each site team and MHFT. It is important that all of our feedback is included, so that we can protect this time and make any adjustments that are needed to maximize its effectiveness.
Paycheck Problems
If you have not already checked your paystub for any errors that may have shown up with the new year, please do so.
CFT Formula-Funded Staff Training
MHFT office staff and several Building Reps will be attending CFT training in Oakland February 6-7. This annual training allows us to serve the membership better, as we are updated on labor law issues, legislation and political developments, and innovative educational programs.
Teachers at the Mic
Thanks to Britton & Live Oak teachers for their recent presentations to the board, highlighting programs at both schools.
As we continue through the spring with the remaining presentations, it’s important that we focus on how we are closing the achievement gap, utilizing technology, and implementing the common core. It has become increasingly clear that we must take every opportunity to share with board and educate the public about our work in these areas.
Next up:
El Toro – February 11
Walsh – March 11
If you are at one of these sites, please plan to attend to demonstrate your interest in your school, and to support your colleagues who present. If you would like to be a part of the presentation, please talk to your Building Rep.
In the next issue ...
In the next newsletter, we will provide more information about negotiations, details and follow-up regarding the charter vote at the County Board, and some other interesting developments at our local school board meeting. Watch your inbox!