1.    North East AFT addresses morale and paperwork

North East AFT president Patsy Esterline spoke to the school board on Monday, October 12th. Her remarks follow:

“Tonight I come to you to talk about the morale of teachers in this district.  This is only the eighth week of school, and the teachers are exhausted.  We are counting down the days until Thanksgiving break (29 days).  It’s not because we don’t like to teach.   It’s because the paperwork, the duty, the extended school day, the meetings, and the extra assignments are depleting our energy to create interesting, engaging, and exciting lessons.  That is where the majority of our focus and energy should be.  However, being human, with the pile of work placed on our shoulders, something has to give.  Unfortunately, teachers tell me it’s the lessons this year.

“An electives teacher told me that she is really feeling the pressure at school this year.  She said something like… “if as an electives teacher I am feeling this way, the core teachers must be extremely overwhelmed!  I don’t know how teachers are surviving this year!  How far away is the next break?”

“Some teachers have said that if they could find another job that paid them what they made, they would be gone tomorrow!  AFT finds this extremely disturbing.  Where has the joy in teaching gone?  It’s on the sidelines replaced by reports, meetings, and extra duty.

“Last summer the Special Education department pledged to review the Special Education paperwork with the goal of decreasing the amount of paperwork required by teachers.  Instead we have received reports that the special education paperwork is increasing with no end in sight. I’d like to read you an excerpt of a note I received from an elementary school teacher:

“I have been amazed at the number of special education teachers I know who have been crying or sick already over the paperwork we are required to do. Since teachers are teaching during the school day, they are finding they are spending many, many hours after school doing paperwork and still not getting it all done. The stress level is very high.”

“Teachers do have lives outside of school.  They are raising their families, and/or taking care of their parents or grandparents.  They have hobbies and interests that fulfill them as individuals.   They cannot spend every waking moment or every ounce of energy on their job.  That leads to total burn-out quickly. 

“Please act on reducing paperwork and other duties which take away from the teacher’s primary focus, delivering quality instruction.”

2.    More issues addressed recently

AFT has addressed numerous issues with the NEISD Board of Trustees and the administration in the past few months

·         Minimum Grade:  Texas AFT went to court to stop some districts from requiring a minimum grade, such as a 50, rather than the actual grade the student earned.  The court supported AFT’s position.  While NEISD had stopped requiring a minimum grade, some NEISD principals were still enforcing it.  The administration agreed to communicate to principals that there could not be a required minimum grade.

·         Paperwork Reduction:  North East AFT has addressed the school board for several years on the need to reduce paperwork.  This summer, the administration reported to the school board that the Special Education Department (which accounts for 25%+ of all paperwork) will make an effort to reduce the paperwork required; however, to date no report has been made and teachers report an increase in special education paperwork.

·         The Teacher Workday:  The demands on teachers have increased incrementally over the past few years, with no decrease in other teacher responsibilities. This has created a great pressure on many teachers.  AFT addressed this issue with the school board in September, but as yet, no action has been taken.

·         3-year PDAS cycle:  AFT has again asked for a 3-year cycle with no exceptions. This would place NEISD on a par with other Bexar County districts and would show respect for the professionalism of NEISD teachers.  AFT asked for this several years ago, but the administration and board responded by only putting in a two-year PDAS with exceptions.

You can support North East AFT in working on these issues by attending NEISD school board meetings and showing your support for changes. The board meetings are usually the second Monday of each month.

3.    Will NEISD gain $7 million from Obama’s Education Jobs Bill?

The recent federal Education Jobs Bill provides NEISD with an estimated additional 6.7 to 7.0 million dollars in funding for NEISD, which is not currently reflected in the budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.  The law specifies that the funds must be used only for compensation and benefits and other expenses, such as support services, necessary to retain existing employees, to recall or rehire former employees, and to hire new employees, as well as, to help avoid a Reduction In Force.

Attached to the Texas allotment is a requirement that the money be in addition to state funding, not a substitute for state funding.  This is because Texas violated the intent of the original stimulus money by reducing its education funding to districts equal to the stimulus money.  Consequently, the Education Jobs bill required Texas to use the money over and above the state funding level.  Governor Perry has refused to accept the conditions and has gone to court to fight the restriction.  The fate of the money is undetermined for now.

4.    Notable Quote on Teaching

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.  The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” ~ Carl Jung

5.    Join North East AFT today!

Now is the time!  If you think teachers and support personnel need a strong voice, now is the time to add your strength to ours.

North East AFT is the only organization that works in NEISD for teachers and support personnel and speaks regularly to the school board on issues that concern teachers and support personnel.  We have spoken out on paperwork, meetings, pay, benefits, respect, time, discipline, and student expectations, just to mention a few issues.

North East AFT always represents you at school board meetings, as well as other meetings that are important to your future.  We are a strong, effective presence at the local, state and national levels, and we’re working for you.

-Join the only organization addressing the issues you care about. 

-Join the organization that keeps you informed about what's happening in NEISD and elsewhere in the education world. 

-Join because your colleagues are depending on you for support.

-Join the North East AFT! 

To join, download the membership application and mail it to us at the address below.

North East AFT – 6800 Park Ten Blvd., Suite 123-N, San Antonio, TX 78213