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Safe School Legislation
A safe school environment is a prerequisite for learning. Violence in schools is a problem that affects negatively the learning and working environment for students and school staff. Sometimes disruptive and violent behavior occurs on the school bus, which is also considered part of the school. To exacerbate the problem, too often acts of violence or serious behavior problems in school or on the school bus are not resolved effectively or expeditiously by school administrators.
In West Virginia, state affiliate AFT-West Virginia and the independent West Virginia School Support Personnel Association (WVSSPA) collaborated on a school safety initiative called "Discipline without Delay" to address the issue. Carrying this message to and lobbying the state legislature resulted in the recent passage of House Bill 4368, which addresses the increasing acts of student violence and disruptive behavior in West Virginia schools. This legislation should help to make W.V. schools safer learning and working environments for students and staff.
One major highlight of the bill is that a school bus driver must be a member of the Local School Improvement Council (LSIC), which must review disciplinary measures and examine fairness and consistency of disciplinary actions at the school. The bill also includes tougher penalties for disruptive students, a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for students and school personnel, and a legislative finding that "Democratic citizenship and productive adulthood begin with standards of conduct in schools that should be safe havens for learning with high standards of conduct for students."
"It's uncommon for such significant legislation to be passed on its first attempt, and it's due to the coalition with WVSSPA that we succeeded in driving home the message that it was time to implement better discipline policies without delay," said AFT-West Virginia staffer Bob Morgenstern. "This is a major accomplishment that shows the importance of strength in numbers," said Jackee Long, WVSSPA president. "Our bus drivers are excited about the role they will play in student safety in our schools and on our buses."
Go to http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/HB4368%20ENR%20SUB.htm. to see the complete version of HB 4368. (April 9, 2008)
The Heat Is OFF!
The wheels on the bus went round and round—but how hot was it on the non-air conditioned Caddo Parish school buses at the beginning of the school year, during the dog days of summer in Shreveport, La.? The answer: Uncomfortably hot, with some temperatures rising to more than 100 degrees and some as high as 116 degrees.
That information was gathered by the Caddo Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel (CFTSP), with help from the AFT health and safety program. In August 2007 participating drivers used thermometers supplied by the local to measure temperature and humidity ranges in their buses over a three-day period as they transported students.
When Caddo federation president Jackie Lansdale presented the information to the board, she made a suggestions that included carrying water on the bus, training drivers to recognize heat distress in children and starting school later in August. The board's response was "Stop talking about school-related problems or be fired!" The CFTSP responded with an "Ungag our Educators" campaign that included a speech by Lansdale before the board, an article in the local newspaper and brochures distributed to members (http://www.ungagoureducators.org/ ).
The Caddo Parish school board sets the date for the beginning of the new school year at its February meeting. The first day for students in the coming school year has been moved to one week later; students and the community have the union to thank for the change. (Mar. 10, 2008)
Houston School Bus Drivers Push for Better Health Coverage
Healthcare in America may be excellent, but the cost of healthcare makes it inaccessible for many working people and families. In Houston, school bus drivers are among the lowest paid Houston Independent School District (HISD) employees and most of them do not have heath insurance. Bus drivers make less than $20,000 annually and, for the most part, pay healthcare costs out of pocket. Many employees face a dilemma similar to that faced by the elderly, who often must decide between medication and food The district does offer health insurance to its lowest paid employees, but Houston Education Support Personnel president Wretha Thomas says that "80 percent of members don't have health insurance because it's unaffordable."
Thomas has been pushing for a limited benefit plan for school bus drivers and other HISD employees who make less than $20,000 per year. During the last school board election, the local endorsed two candidates who pledged to support their need for affordable healthcare and a living wage. Their candidates won. However, one candidate they had endorsed, Manuel Rodriguez, refused to support their agenda once elected.
After submitting a number of proposals, the district settled on a health discount program with a flexible spending account that would cut deeply into the number of uninsured employees. The program would give the bus drivers and other employees a $500 medical debit card that would allow them and any family members access to various healthcare coverage, including medical, dental and vision. Employees would receive a discount on services from participating providers. The bill would be paid using the $500 medical card at the discounted rate. The district is holding open enrollment through April, and the program will begin May 1. The $9.95 monthly premiums will be paid by the district. "The plan adds up and puts more employees on the road to affordable healthcare," says Thomas. The district is looking to expand the program by using clinics around the city that would give discounts to HISD PSRP employees and their families. (Feb. 26, 2008)
Happy Ending for School Bus Privatization
The San Antonio independent school district had more students than it could accommodate in its transportation system so it contracted with the city for $2 million per year to provide transportation. When the city recently decided not to renew the contract, the district looked to solve the whole transportation issue with privatization.
This was not good news for school bus drivers or San Antonio Alliance of Teachers & Support Personnel co-president Rachel Martinez, who had been working with the district's transportation director to help solve other transportation problems like the bus barn, which houses the district's 1,300 vehicles. It only had 400 parking spaces for all of them.
Martinez began working with school officials, state senators and others on the problems with privatization, pointing out the hidden costs. Also, during the search for potential parking sites, it was discovered that the district owned other property that could be used for new parking.
The money that was used for the city transportation contract will now be used to buy 75 new buses and hire 62 new drivers. Many of the bus assistants, who also double as custodians and food service workers, are working on their commercial driver's licenses (CDL) and will be hired as new drivers when they obtain their CDL. "When you push the district hard enough, you get results," said Martinez. (Jan. 31, 2008)
Employee Health Care Clinic Launched in LaJoya
The cost of healthcare in America is rising like the space shuttle going to a far away galaxy. In LaJoya, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, the LaJoya Federation of Teachers worked with the school district to launch an employee health clinic. The clinic, which is free to all district employees, looks after their basic health needs, while saving the district money. Employees have no co-pay and can get five days worth of generic medicines free. The clinic is staffed with a doctor, nurse and receptionist and is open during school sessions from 8 to 5 daily.
The motivation for the clinic came a few years ago from their neighbors down the road in the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) school district. The Lajoya Federation broached the idea a few years ago, but the school board was resistant. An initial foray into school board elections resulted in the election of their endorsed candidates. Their biggest support came from school board president, Rita Garza-Uresti, who studied the PSJA model and discovered this model of health care could save money for her district. The district will get reports from the clinic, run by Free First Healthcare Clinics, on employee usage and how much money was saved in the district health plan.
Starting next year, employees can have up to five dependents use the clinic for $25.00 a month. "This has been a tremendous success for us," said staff rep J.J. Luna. "And it's yet another example of the union working with the district to do something positive that benefits everyone." (Nov. 19, 2007)
R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Ask Me What It Means to Me
The lyrics to Aretha Franklin’s popular song “Respect” are familiar to many people. It could also serve as the theme song for the “Respect and Dignity” Campaign that is being conducted by school bus drivers in Tulsa, Okla. The campaign was spearheaded by AFT 6049 Oklahoma in response to problems with the Tulsa school district transportation department that have been exacerbated by the recent implementation of a new dress code for school bus drivers that violates their collective bargaining agreement with the district.
The school bus drivers recently held a “Respect and Dignity” rally at the October school board meeting. Members of Local 6049 Oklahoma were out in full force wearing AFT blue T-shirts and waving signs. Well over 125 of the district’s 260 school bus drivers participated in the rally. All three local television stations in Tulsa aired segments about the rally giving the school bus drivers some good exposure. Another rally is scheduled for the next school board meeting on Nov. 5. The campaign will continue until the school bus drivers get the “respect and dignity” they deserve, their problems addressed and resolved in a respectful and dignified manner. (Oct. 23, 2007)
Bilingual Conference Is Big Hit in Albuquerque
A successful bilingual conference that focused on supporting preK-5 students who are learning English as a second language was held recently at a high school in Albuquerque, N.M. The day-long event attracted hundreds of educational assistants, teachers, parents and children. “Together We Can/Juntos Podemos” was sponsored by the AFT in collaboration with its New Mexico affiliates, the Albuquerque Educational Assistants Association and the Albuquerque Federation of Teachers.
Participants attended professional development workshops presented by professors from the University of New Mexico and AFT members and AFT staff. The children had their own arts, crafts and storytelling program. Rudolfo Anaya, a widely acclaimed author of Chicano literature, was the keynote speaker. Participants also had a chance to win one of 20 books personally autographed by Anaya.
The conference featured Colorin Colorado, a Web site (whose name is based on a children’s rhyme popular in Spanish-speaking countries) for parents and educators to help primarily Latino language English language learners build literacy skills. Colorin Colorado for educators is a joint project of public broadcasting station WETAs Reading Rockets and the AFT. Everyone received free Colorin Colorado and AFT materials, including free children’s books, DVDs and instructional videos. Educational assistants and teachers received additional benefits from the newly developed multilingual literacy-building tip sheets in 10 languages that will help serve Albuquerque’s growing Vietnamese and Middle Eastern ELL student populations. (Oct. 9, 2007)
