Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/7398
SoCal Continued from page 26 against them. At the beginning of February, after a mere four half- day negotiation sessions with SVEA, Saddleback Valley Unified School District announced its in- tention to declare impasse. “SVEA is vigorously defending Explore new possibilities in education. Discover how a credential or master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University can take your career to the next level and expand your impact in and outside the classroom.With programs for teachers and counselors, coaches and administrators, we’re confident APU has a degree for you. APU offers: • Convenient classes 1 night a week at 1 of 8 Southern California locations. • More than 36 credential andmaster’s degree opportunities. • Accelerated programs that allow you to earn your degree in just 12–18 months. • NCATE-accredited programs recognized by all 50 states and internationally. Classes start year-round. Contact us today! Call Click Email (800) 825-5278 www.apu.edu/education graduatecenter@apu.edu our members’ right to a fair settle- ment,” says Gregg Swenson, presi- dent of SVEA, “and we’re prepared to do whatever is necessary to force the district to remain at that bargaining table and deal with us fairly, in spite of the District’s threats and bullying tactics. Work- ing together, I believe, we can find solutions that meet both parties’ interests.” Constant organizing efforts in these Southern California CTA chapters include strengthening communications efforts — both internally with their members and externally with parents and com- March 4 Continued from page 30 paign idea of holding events before school to dominate the morning television news cycle and educate communities about the cuts crisis. “Pushing back against cuts on AZUSA | HIGH DESERT | INLAND EMPIRE | LOS ANGELES | MURRIETA ORANGE COUNTY | SAN DIEGO | VENTURA COUNTY | ONLINE March 4 will help build local chap- ter solidarity around bargaining and other issues,” says San Bernar- dino educator Mikki Cichocki, chair of one key CTA strategy group and a CTA Board member. “Our goals are about stressing the local damages from $17 billion in education cuts over the last two years and the need to strengthen our union by inspiring more mem- bers to get involved. We must orga- nize our communities against school cuts and for the state ballot initiative to repeal $2 billion in cor- 32 California Educator | FEBRUARY 2010 munity members — and a variety of advocacy action at school board meetings and in community pub- lic arenas designed to educate citi- zens that fair and responsible bar- gaining is the best and most ap- propriate way for all the partners to work together to resolve com- mon problems. “Teachers understand that we are living in tough economic times and that the current decline in state funding for public schools means sacrifice on everyone’s part,” says Soderberg. “We are will- ing to do our part, but school boards aren’t listening. Reasonable people working together should be able to find solutions, but when school boards and administrators would rather work against teach- ers than with us, they will find that educators will stand up and do whatever it takes to protect the in- tegrity of our profession and our ability to provide quality instruc- tion for the students we teach.” BILL GUY porate tax breaks. Working with coalitions to build public awareness about the connection between quality public schools and good jobs is also vital.” CTA is also supporting the Cal- ifornia Federation of Teachers’ “March for California’s Future” that kicks off with a March 5 rally in Los Angeles followed by a six-week journey to Sacramento through many Central Valley towns to call attention to state cuts hurting local schools and jobs (see www.cft.org). CTA’s social networking website — www.standupforschools.org — has a list of protest events through- out the state. On the site you can also listen to new radio ads launched statewide by CTA on Feb. 16 to promote March 4 and to sound the alarm about soaring class sizes due to cuts. MIKE MYSLINSKI