Special News
BACK to SCHOOL NEWS

Welcome back to a new school year! Pardon the lack of information on the website — we are in the process of redesigning the OEA website — watch for a new and greatly improved version on September 13th! Same address: oaklandea.org.

In the meantime,continue to keep those calls coming in to the OEA office about class size, longer work days, etc. Huge appreciations to the Site Reps who have already written to their Administrators informing them of what our collective bargaining agreement says about the length of our work day (see Article 10.2.1). See your Rep for copies of "Know Your Contract" in case your principal needs some reminders.

Class sizes are on the increase around the district. Remember there is a "beginning grace period" of 10 days for elementary schools, 15 for secondary (Article 15.2). The bad news is that under imposition, class sizes in K-5 can go to the limits outlined in the contract: 27 in K, 30 in grades 1-3, and 31 in grades 4-5. The only exception is in QEIA schools.) This is an excellent opportunity for talking to and organizing parents — already in my visits to school sites I’ve talked to parents who are shocked at the large class sizes.

ECE UPdate: Thanks to the efforts of parents, teachers, students and community members working with Oakland Parents Together and OEA, On Friday, August 27, the district found $2.4 million to keep 5 of 7 Child Development Centers slated for closure open through December. With state cuts to pre-school education, it is vitally important for all of us to continue to advocate for our youngest and most vulnerable students.


 

What’s Important the First Weeks of School? Message from your President

I’m sure most, if not all, teachers would agree that it’s NOT poring over test score data and starting the inevitable test prep routine. I’m fairly certain that most, if not all, teachers would agree that in the first few weeks of school, the emphasis should instead be on establishing a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment where students are engaged and enthusiastic about what they’re learning. 

Hopefully the days are behind us when we were told that instruction should begin promptly at 8:31am, and that there was no time to "waste" on classroom meetings and building social skills. With all the talk about what makes an "effective teacher," let’s change the conversation and start asking what makes an "effective" administrator? An "effective" parent? An "effective" student? The new website will have blogging capabilities so we can get your opinions on these and other issues.

Thought for the days ahead: "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." (William Butler Yeats)

Committees

Join a Committee or Caucus!

Whether your passion is public speaking or behind-the-scenes organizing, OEA needs your help!  Committees and caucuses are open to all OEA members. Some are by appointment only. To find out more, please contact OEA or the Chair of the committee directly. 

 

OEA COMMITTEES (2009-2010)                                                                                                                                                   

Bylaws: Our most current Bylaws were for 2001-2002 and CTA requires each chapter to up-date their bylaws and standing rules every five years.  Members interested in joining in this important and necessary work of reviewing our current bylaws and standing rules and bring them up-to-date please contact me by phone or email.
 
Jim Mordecai, Chair
510-205-4635
jim2812@yahoo.com

 

CAT (Contract Action Team): We are committed to making sure there’s a site Rep at every school and that every member knows what’s going on in OEA. We need more members on the CAT Team to keep the communication going in OEA!

Toni Morozumi and Trish Gorham, Co-Chairs

tonimorozumi@gmail.com

oklyntrish@yahoo.com 

     

    Communications: We write and publish the Parent-Teacher Connection and the OEA Advocate.

    Steve Neat, Chair

    steve_neat@yahoo.com 
     

      Membership and Benefits: The OEA Membership and Benefits committee is updating rosters of members, making sure fee pay members are properly accounted for, and explaining the wonderful benefits that members receive, including legal representation and insurance benefits. Please consider helping our committee! We welcome your participation in becoming more involved to help make the union stronger. As we continue negotiations, it is extremely important that we be able to efficiently contact our own members and know where they are. It is also important that teachers that want full membership benefits have them and have the information to access those tremendous benefits.

      We also serve as the OEA Social Committee, organizing regular gatherings of OEA members as well as the annual Toy Drive and Rep/Retiree event. This is a busy, active committee, and we welcome your participation!

      Amy Burns, Steve Miyamoto, Co-Chairs

      amyburns@pacbell.net, stevenmiy@hotmail.com .

       

      Special Education Caucus

      • Mark Airgood, Chair

       

      Waiver Committee

      • Relena Ellis, Chair

       

       

      APPOINTED COMMITTEES

       

      Elections

       

      ·             Paul Smith            REACH              Co-Chair

                    Aaron Stark          Maxwell Park      Co-Chair

      ·             Ed Holohan           Fremont

      ·             Anne Hurley         Oakland High

      ·             Barbara Schmidt    Sequoia

      ·             

       

       

      Personnel Committee


      • Barbara Traylor           Oakland Tech
      • Tania Kappner            Oakland Tech

       

       

      PAR Joint Committee

       

      • Selia Melero              New Teacher Support
      • Sue Scott                 Joaquin Miller
      • Virginia Johnson        Santa Fe

       

       

      Grievance Committee

       

      • Mark Airgood        Edna Brewer Middle/Chair
      • Virginia Johnson    Santa Fe
      • Susan DeNault      Substitute
      • Mary Loeser         Cleveland Elementary
      • Albertina Padilla     Encompass

       

      Budget Committee

       

      • Jack Gerson         Leadership Prep
      • Trish Gorham        Kaiser
      • Mary Loeser         Cleveland

       

       

       

      Bargaining Team

       

      David de Leeuw, Chair

      Mary Loeser

      Julie Palacios

      Jack Gerson

      Relena Ellis

      Mark Airgood

      Sonia Ramirez

       

       

      Oakland Education Association: 272 E. 12th Street, Second floor, Oakland, CA 94606 | Hotline: 510-763-0900 | Ph 763-4020 | Fax 763-6354 | Sitemap