Members are the Heart of our union

Greetings SLTA Members,
It has been a real pleasure getting around the schools and talking to you all.  Last week, my visits to SLHS and FTK concluded the cycle, I have now visited every school at least once.  It is clear that San Leandro has amazing teachers who are passionately dedicated to helping our students succeed.  Your ideas are forming the first draft of items which will go in the bargaining survey for 2020 - 2021.  I’ve also had powerful discussions about getting teachers' voices heard at the school site, and some of your concerns frame SLTA's monthly discussions with District Administration.  SLTA believes that more teacher voice at the policy table means better outcomes for our students.  During these visits, I’ve also been passing out CTA calendars, Member Benefits Highlights brochures and Disability Insurance applications from The Standard.  If you still want one of these items, please send me a note.
It’s not too soon to think about how the 2020 elections will impact our schools.  Campaigns for the school board, city council, state legislature, Congress and the White House will have a huge impact on our schools.  Just as significant will be local and state funding issues.  SLTA will be joining a Statewide Coalition called Schools and Communities First.  This campaign will seek to add as much as $7 Billion a year to our schools by closing loopholes in Proposition 13 which for decades have allowed corporate landowners to dramatically slash their share of the tax base at the expense of our schools and students.
SLTA will also be paying attention to local funding measures.  At the October 8th SLUSD Board of Trustees Meeting, the school board will be considering a proposal to put a Bond Measure on the ballot in 2020.  While San Leandro voters recently passed a parcel tax which provides money for ongoing expenditures, bonds are most frequently used for facilities and expansion.  San Leandro has had the most consistent student population growth in central Alameda County for the last several years, and any future progress in class size reductions and programmatic expansion will be difficult without expanding facilities.
The SLTA New Teachers Orientation will be held on Tuesday, October 1, at 3:45 at the Englander.  The program will provide valuable information about our rights and responsibilities as educators, the evaluation process, member benefits, CTA/SLTA political efforts and ways that your Union is fighting for you.  All new teachers to San Leandro are highly encouraged to attend.  Any SLTA member is welcome.
In Solidarity,
-Tom