AFT AFFILIATES IN DETROIT KICK OFF LITERACY TRAINING CAMP POSTED: 8-26-2010

Members of Detroit's AFT-affiliated education unions were joined by Detroit Public Schools students, parents, community sponsors and members of the National Football League Players Association on Aug. 9 to kick off a Back-to-School Literacy Training Camp. The goal of the free camp is to help DPS students in grades 4-7 fight summer learning loss and start the school year better prepared for the upcoming statewide standardized tests (the Michigan Educational Assessment Program, or MEAP). The camp is the brainchild of the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees, the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals and the Detroit Federation of Teachers, whose members staff the camp as "learning coaches" working with students to hone their literacy skills for the upcoming academic year. "Our unions realize that improving education is more than showing up for work during the school year," says DAEOE president and AFT vice president Ruby Newbold. "You have to engage the kids and the community year round and get everyone excited about school and learning." The camp is being co-sponsored by the Health Alliance Plan, which provided substantial resources and school supplies for the camp. Former pro football player Nolan Harrison also will make an appearance at the event, courtesy of the NFLPA. "It is wonderful to see so many different people and organizations involved in this effort," says DFT president and AFT vice president Keith Johnson. "This camp shows what's possible when unions, parents, the business community and other stakeholders work together to put education first." The camp ran from Aug. 9-13 at the Detroit Federation of Teachers offices. More information is available online at www.AStrongerDetroitforOurKids.org.

ACE'S INNOVATION PAYS OUT POSTED: 8-11-2010

The AFT Innovation Fund is the first union-led, private foundation-supported effort that provides grants to AFT affiliates nationwide to develop bold education innovations in public schools. "Many out there will be surprised to learn these proposals come from education unions, which are not afraid to take risks and share the responsibility for student success," AFT president Randi Weingarten says. "These projects are designed by members and their unions, and include school and community partners—a vital combination that gives these new ventures the potential to be sustainable and improve student outcomes. That's the real promise of these exciting initiatives." The Anchorage Council for Education (ACE) team, lead by Corinne McVee, was awarded Innovation Fund monies for their proposal to help at-risk students earn diplomas by training "graduation coaches" in high schools. ACE is made up of staff who provide school and student support services. Graduation coaches act as mentors, coaches, teachers, parents, social workers, counselors, friends and confidants to at-risk high school kids, helping them successfully navigate and graduate from high school. Graduate coaches have an important role in the Anchorage school community. Since the position was introduced, using ARRA funds, graduation rates have risen. Some of the grant money is being put toward tracking the data surrounding graduation coaches. The hope is that analysis of the data and the program will lead to recommendations on best practices that can be shared with other districts. Data analysis can also drive creation of professional development. ACE’s proposal for the Innovation Fund "shows the union’s willingness to think creatively and collaboratively about improving student performance," said Barbara Byrd-Bennett, chair of the AFT Innovation Fund advisory board. We are looking forward to seeing graduation rates continue to rise in Anchorage. Thanks to the forward thinking of the graduate coaches and the union, this wonderful program gets to grow.

BIG WIN FOR FLORIDA PSRPs! POSTED: 7-28-2010

More than 1,200 secretaries, clericals and paraprofessionals in Osceola County, Fla., will be represented by the AFT after a hard-fought union election. These paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs) have joined forces with teachers in a local that will now represent almost 4,300 employees in the eastern Florida school district. How tough was this election? To give you an idea, during the mail-in ballot count that started June 24, the school administration delayed for more than two weeks the counting of the last 68 ballots from prekindergarten and extended-day workers. The superintendent had repeatedly tried to block these workers from the unit and had conducted an active anti-union campaign that included other delaying tactics, captive audience meetings and negative leafleting. Nevertheless, employees pulled off a tremendous get-out-the-vote effort, culminating with the vote in favor of the union. Osceola PSRPs had started their push for a union in February 2009, meeting every week for a year and a half and never wavering. At the AFT PSRP conference this past spring, support staff from around the nation met some of the brave Osceola staff who, at that point, had been dug in for a year, fighting for the right to organize. "My dad was a custodian," said Kathy Donato, president of the Osceola Classroom Teachers Association, "and it was always my dream that the [education staff professionals] would be joining us." AFT PSRPs covered a huge banner with praise and support for the Osceola workers, and AFT secretary-treasurer Antonia Cortese noted that members needed no prompting to jump to their feet and cheer for them. "We are a union, all of us, brothers and sisters," she said, "and as long as we stay together, we'll be strong." With this big win under their belts, members of the NEA/AFT merged local plan to rename themselves the Osceola County Education Association. They're ready to start building membership and to reach that first contract.

HILLSBOROUGH BUS DRIVERS—HONORABLE AND COMMENDABLE POSTED: 6-11-2010

Timothy Driggers, an AFT member and school bus driver in Hillsborough County, Fla., recently was honored with the Celebrate Literacy Award given by the Hillsborough County PTA. Driggers was nominated by his school’s media specialist, Rhonda Hurst,for implementing a school literacy program on his bus. He was also runner-up for the "We Deliver" award for his contributions to literacy. When Driggers isn’t driving, you can find him every day on his parked bus reading to the school kids. Hurst says the children listen attentively to Driggers’ animated storytelling, while he urges them to participate. The students find it hard to leave the bus because they’re so engrossed in the stories. Diggers has read at least eight chapter books to his students this year! Driggers is just one of many commendable Hillsborough County bus drivers. Linda Williams is another driver who should be celebrated. She was covering a co-worker’s run when a power line fell on the school bus. Thinking quickly, she moved her students toward the center of the bus until they could be evacuated safely. These two bus drivers show that their job is more than simply driving the bus. They are teachers and role models, protectors and guardians. Hillsborough County and the entire Tampa area should be proud.

AACSE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE UPDATE POSTED: 5-12-2010

The American Association of Classified School Employees (AACSE) met in Washington, D.C., April 24-27, and it was a dynamic meeting! The AACSE is a coalition of organizations (including AFT) whose objective is to raise visibility and national awareness on issues representing paraprofessionals and school-related personnel. The AACSE agenda was packed. The serious tone of the meeting was set at the beginning of the meeting when a presentation about the education budget and the expected appropriations for the coming year were laid out. The message was clear. In these hard economic times, we must remain vigilant and advocate loudly and clearly on issues that affect us. With budget shortages, education cuts are often the first to go because that funding falls in the third of the budget that is "discretionary." Every budget cycle, we have to fight for this discretionary funding; it is not guaranteed. Jo Anderson, the senior advisor to secretary of Education Arne Duncan, came and spoke to the AACSE. One thing the AACSE and the Obama administration do see eye-to-eye on is funding for education. One of the Obama administration’s goals is to see the United States ranked top in the world with how many of our high school graduates go on to more learning. What a great vision! Let us get it funded! AACSE president, George Williams, ended this year’s legislative conference by emphasizing the uphill battle facing all of us. "Let’s be vigilant, vocal and let’s get it done!"

CHIPPEWA VALLEY TECH COLLEGE PSRPS CLEAN UP THEIR ACT POSTED: 5-12-2010

PSRP members clean up their act! Actually, these AFT PSRP members show all of us what a clean, class-act action looks like! The Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Support Staff Union is giving back to the community. These members are participating in an Adopt-a-Highway program in Eau Claire County, Wis. As you drive down a two-mile stretch of Eau Claire County, you will see an AFT Local 2398 sign; you may even see these members hard at work picking up cans, bottles, hubcaps and scratched-off lottery tickets! Lisa Storms, AFT-W Local 2398 president, said, "it was a sweaty and dirty job, but we got it done with smiles along the way." This is just one of many examples of how AFT locals and PSRP members are always giving back to the community. Storm notes that "the experience was a great exercise in building solidarity." This local strengthened their union while strengthening their ties to the community. AFT local 2398 is, indeed, a class act!

LORETTA JOHNSON RECOGNIZED AS A HEROINE OF EDUCATION POSTED: 2-17-2010

Reflecting on the importance of education to "lift us up in life," U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) in his column in the current issue of the Baltimore Afro-American praises AFT executive vice president Lorretta Johnson as a heroine in the field. "During Black History Month, we should remember (and applaud) the educators who gave us the power to succeed. Last Friday, for example, I had the privilege of personally thanking one of those heroines—a woman who exemplifies much of what we should be learning from our history," Cummings writes of Johnson. He reviews the highlights of Johnson's career, from starting as an elementary school teacher's assistant in Baltimore in 1966 to her pioneering leadership of the Baltimore Teachers Union's paraprofessional chapter to her current post as one of the AFT's top national officers. "Dr. Johnson never stops reminding us that the education of our children is the single most important force in building our future prosperity," Cummings writes. "We ignore her lesson at our peril." The column appears in the Feb. 6 issue of the Baltimore Afro-American; scroll to page A-11. [Dan Gursky, Baltimore Afro-American]

BUS DRIVER KEEPS COOL HEAD DESPITE INTRUDER POSTED: 1-28-2010

The safety of their passengers is a top priority for all school bus drivers. Safety was the first thing on Cindy Fulwood's mind when a man ran toward her bus full of middle-schoolers on the morning of Jan. 13 and demanded to be let in. He tried to stick his hand through the window before she slammed it shut. Then he jumped on the hood, climbed to the roof, opened the hatch and dropped into the bus. Although scared, Fulwood, a 16-year veteran school bus driver and AFT member, remained calm by remembering her training: "Safety for the children. Safety for you." With just a glance from their driver, all 44 students left from the rear exit while she tried to keep the intruder's attention. They walked through a ditch away from the bus and the busy highway in Wimauma, Fla., near Tampa. "My kids were awesome," she said. "I'm so proud of them." Fulwood tried calling for help over the bus radio and finally had to dial 911. Meanwhile, the intruder kicked open her front door and ran to a second full school bus parked right behind hers, where he forced his way through the front door. The driver of that bus demanded that he leave, which he did, but he was back on and off the bus again before being apprehended. A local TV station reported on the incident. Nobody got hurt. The intruder, 27-year-old Barry Christopher Martin, is being held without bond and faces several charges. Once the children were safely at school, Fulwood, a member of the Hillsborough School Employees Federation, sat on the steps of a colleague's bus and cried. Later, in front of television crews, she reassured parents—having sent her own child through the Hillsborough public schools. "Trust the bus drivers," she said. "We care about the kids." Fulwood's students, who have been riding her bus for three years, have practiced bus evacuation twice a year since she was assigned to the route. Since passing a resolution in 1987 on school bus safety, the AFT has actively supported the development and expansion of bus safety education programs in schools, including regular evacuation drills for students and safety training for drivers.

SCHOOL WORKERS FIGHT FOR PROMISED RAISES POSTED: 1-12-2010

Members of AFT 6049 Oklahoma, in Tulsa, ratified a new contract providing a 28-cent hourly pay increase on Dec. 12. Since then, the school superintendent has been claiming he never struck a deal on the contract that applies to all 3,000 school custodians, bus drivers and mechanics of AFT 6049, even though the district signed off on a tentative agreement at the end of November. "Maybe it's buyer's remorse," local president Kelly Simon told a Tulsa newspaper. An argument arose after the fact, Simon explains, not on the size of the raise but its distribution. Superintendent Keith Ballard now says the Tulsa schools offered a 2 percent raise for all support employees but that no agreement had been reached, this despite the copy of the signed agreement Simon carried to a Jan. 4 school board meeting at which the superintendent called the union back to the table. On New Year's Eve, the Tulsa School Support Workers took their contract to the homes of school board members starting with the president. Of the seven members, three did not answer the door, but four chatted with the small delegation of union members. To make their point, they left 28 cents at the doorstep of each board member’s home, along with a card asking for their support and wishing them a Happy New Year. Candace Atchison, a special education bus driver for the Tulsa Public Schools for 25 years, understands that the city is facing hard times, but as a 60-year-old widow, she's also counting on that raise to help her survive. "Twenty-eight cents is not a lot of money to some people," she says, "but to us, it's a lot." The average school support staffer in Tulsa makes less than $18,000 per year.

AWARENESS GROWS ABOUT CELL PHONE USE IN SCHOOL BUSES POSTED: 12-22-2009

As "distracted driving" and "distracted walking" continue to rise, school bus drivers have had to become more vigilant about steering clear of pedestrians and motorists who are fiddling with cell phones. School bus drivers also are concerned about safe driving practices within their own ranks. After fielding several requests from bus drivers, the AFT surveyed local affiliates this year and found that at least two have contract language or policies on cell phones. Generally speaking, state laws and school district policies only allow school bus drivers to use a cell phone in an emergency, for example, a bus breakdown or medical emergency. Drivers must safely pull over and park before making a call. Often, drivers are required to leave the vehicle before they call. In response to the AFT survey, two local affiliates—in Florida's Madison and Orange counties—say they have negotiated contract language on the issue. Madison County Education Association’s contract says bus operators, aides and other employees involved in transporting students may carry cell phones (including hands-free devices) but are banned from using them except in an emergency that can't be handled through the bus radio or other district-owned communications device. In the event of an emergency, these employees must not use their cell phones while driving, even if the vehicle has no passengers. The Orange ESP Association contract bans the use of similar devices while a school district vehicle is in motion. If an emergency occurs, the driver must pull over and stop before calling 911.

AFT SPURS MOTORCOACH SAFETY PLAN POSTED: 12-10-2009

Driven in part by the AFT's briefings in Washington,D.C., and other awareness-raising efforts, Transportation secretary Ray LaHood ordered a full departmental review of motor coach safety last spring. The federal government has released a new plan to improve motor coach safety as a result. The report is available online. The Department of Transportation's (DOT)action plan, released in November, found that driver fatigue, vehicle rollover, occupant ejection and operator maintenance contribute to most motor coach crashes. The plan identifies seven priority action items it intends to address through rule making. The AFT's position on student transportation is that children should be transported in appropriate vehicles, and the safest vehicles on the road are yellow school buses. That said, the law does allow the use of other vehicles for extracurricular activities. These vehicles must meet the highest standards possible and must be driven by operators who meet the same high standards as school bus drivers. The AFT also passed a resolution early this year calling for federal legislation that requires motor coaches and their drivers to meet the same standards as school buses and their drivers. "Considering that more than 750 million passengers are transported each year by motor coach, and that motor coaches are here to stay, we need to give passengers a fighting chance when it comes to accidents and rollovers," says George Williams, a leader in the AFT-affiliated Florida Education Association and president of the American Association of Classified School Employees, who partnered with the AFT in pushing for safer motor coaches, also known as charter buses. Donna Signs, a school bus driver instructor and president of the Owego (N.Y.) Apalachin Employees Association, says her goal for motor coach safety is pretty simple. "If motor coaches were to follow the standards for school buses and school bus drivers, any accidents involving a motor coach would have fewer injuries and deaths. School buses are built like tanks, and drivers are tested vigorously."

AFT PSRP CHAPTER RECEIVES LABOR-MANAGEMENT GRANT POSTED: 11-11-2009

The relationship between labor and management can sometimes be adversarial and contentious, which does not help any organization accomplish its goals and mission. One way to alleviate tension is to form a labor-management committee. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) provides labor-management grants every year through its Labor-Management Cooperation Grant Program. These grants provide a novel approach to collaborative labor-management communication and problem solving. When Jillian Verstrate, vice president of the Oakton Community College Classified Staff Association in Des Plaines, Ill., became aware of the FMCS grant opportunity, she contacted the administration, which was receptive to the idea. The union and administration wrote a proposal to improve employee health and welfare and facilitate better labor-management communications. Their collaborative effort, with help from the Oakton’s grant department and the national AFT PSRP department, earned them a $57,559 grant. "This is called an FMCS labor-management cooperation grant, and we have the desire to work together with mutual respect to really try to impact and change employee wellness," said associate vice president for human resources Arnie Oudenhoven. "This is the first grant that I have applied for, and I’m thrilled that we received it and will be using the grant for wellness," said Verstrate. "This is a wonderful project for the classified staff, and that makes it even more special." Go to FMCS's web site to find out more about their labor-management grant program.

SECRETARIES FIGHT PRIVATIZATION ATTEMPT POSTED: 11-11-2009

When school districts find themselves with financial problems, they often see privatization of support services as part of the solution. The economic downturn has starved the finances of many state, county and local governments. In Detroit, the unemployment rate is 10.2 percent, and the schools are being run by emergency financial manager Robert Bobb, who has already privatized transportation and is considering doing the same to food service, security operations and secretarial staff. To combat this privatization threat, the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees (DAEOE) put together their Community Outreach Initiative (COI). The union, with help from AFT Michigan and the AFT, developed strategies to fight privatization, which include a Web site that features a video called "Detroit’s Heroes." It profiles school secretaries who are active in their schools and communities. In addition, a radio spot focuses on the importance of school secretaries training teams of members to speak to community organizations like the PTO, NAACP, United Way or any others that DAEOE members belong to or are associated with. The local is also developing a plan that will improve services by relying on the ideas, experience and commitment of frontline workers. "When people think of schools, two things come to mind: teachers and students," says DAEOE president and AFT vice president Ruby Newbold. "We want people to see who we are and know who we are and to let Mr. Bobb know that privatization of secretarial services is not a solution." Go to www.astrongerdetroitforourkids.com/plan to see the DAEOE Web site.

IN RECOGNITION OF PSRP CONTRIBUTIONS POSTED: 10-28-2009

PSRPs are part of the education team. They don’t always receive recognition for the roles they play in the education and lives of our children and their impact on education. In Oregon recently, three PSRPs, Debbie Pugh and Terrie Miller, both members of the Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA), and Fred Taylor, Hillsborough Classified United, were recognized for their contributions. Debbie Pugh, a library media paraprofessional at Holley Elementary School in the Sweet Home school district, was named Oregon’s Library Media Paraprofessional by the Oregon Association of School Librarian’s Association (OASLA). At OASLA’s recent conference, Pugh received a plaque, picture book and $200, which she donated to Holley’s teachers to use as they saw fit. She accepted her award on behalf of all the district’s library assistants and thanked them all for teaching her what she knows. She has worked six years in the district. Terrie Miller, a 13-year veteran bus driver for the Sweet Home school district, was recognized by the school board for her driving skills that avoided what could have been a serious wreck. Miller was driving some varsity and junior varsity runners from a competition in late September when she came around a sharp curve and was facing an accident. Seemingly having to choose between hitting the cars or driving into oncoming traffic, Miller calmly and safely stopped the bus beside the two cars with the nose sticking out in the left lane. Miller said she was calm during the incident, but had shaky hands when it was over. "I think the grace of God opened that itty bitty spot," said Miller. Fred Taylor, a school bus driver in the Hillsborough school district, where he has worked for 15 years, was recently honored as Oregon’s bus driver of the year for his perfect safety record and on-time performance. Taylor received his award at the Oregon Pupil Transportation Association (OPTA) conference. "It’s a pleasure to work with the kids," said Taylor. "It’s a thrill to get on the bus and drive the kids to sporting events, choir competition, field trips or home." Taylor has even attended weddings of former students.

"TEMPORARY" EMPLOYEES GET BARGAINED BENEFITS POSTED: 10-4-2009

Temporary, by definition, means for a limited time. It has become an unfair employment practice to hire temporary workers, temps who do the same work as permanent workers but who do not get salary or benefits. Such was the situation at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Ill. (A chapter of local 1600, Cook County College Teachers Union.) Pursuant to the Classified Staff contract bargained in 2008, the union and management agreed to look this year at temporary employees who were performing work similar to bargaining unit employees.The result was a great supplemental agreement for 15 temporary workers. The new college term employees now have benefits they weren’t entitled to before. They received 98 percent of the contractual benefits and the same 4.5 percent raise in 2009 and 4.3 percent raise in 2010-2012 as union employees. Three employees who were temps for more than five years got a 4.5 percent raise plus a step equivalent to a 9 percent raise. Also when their employment ends at the college, they will be entitled to severance pay. The employees were thrilled and immediately joined the union! Patty Lucas, president of the Classified Staff Association, and Jillian Verstrate, chief negotiator and vice president of local 1600, praised the negotiating process. "The administration was fair in acknowledging these workers were performing important classified duties and deserved to become part of the Classified Staff Association and receive similar benefits that we had already bargained for our 315 members," said Verstrate.

UNION SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES AED/CPR/FIRST AID TRAINING POSTED: 9-18-2009

An AED is an Automated External Defibrillator, a computerized medical device used in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm. In 2007, the state of Texas mandated that schools be equipped with AEDs, and directed which staff members in a school should be trained and certified to use them. In the San Antonio independent school district, that number was large. In collaboration with the district, the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel rose to meet the challenge. In late spring, the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel’shealth and safety trainers, with help from the AFT health and safety program and the American Safety and Health Institute, held an AED/CPR train-the-trainer training in which 40 employees were trained and certified. These trainers in turn trained and certified about 400 school personnel in AED/CPR/first aid from the transportation, food service, operations and other departments throughout the district. These new trainers will continue to train and certify their colleagues who are mandated to be certified. "The AED Awareness Class, and now the CPR certification, show our colleagues and our community that SAISD employees care about our students and their well-being,’’ said Terry Armstrong, Alliance professional development specialist and certified AED trainer, who was instrumental in the formation of the AED training.

SERVICE PERSONNEL FILE SUIT FOR SCHOOL BUS SAFETY POSTED: 9-18-2009

Student safety is important in school and on the school bus. Safety on the school bus involves student behavior, driver training and the condition of the school bus. The West Virginia School Service Personnel Association (WVSSPA) recently sued the Monongalia County Board of Education alleging that the district was putting student’s lives in danger by not properly investigating privately owned buses used to transport students. The WVSSPA allegations were refuted by the superintendent who said the school system’s policies do not in any way endanger students. According to the superintendent, the district informs each contractor of the state’s requirements and makes them vouch that they meet each requirement. WVSSPA wants a judge to order the school board to follow state law by requiring the bus companies to show proof that they meet state safety standards. Executive director Bob Brown said the district should require copies of all necessary certifications, insurance papers and driver background checks rather than just taking the carriers’ word or handwritten note that says they meet the state’s safety standards. "We’re hauling a pretty precious cargo," said Brown, "and handwritten notes don’t cut it." The suit was motivated by complaints from Monongalia County WVSSPA members about the practice. In response, Brown filed a Freedom of Information request to get more information on the district’s verification process. No hearing date has been set for the petition. In addition to the writ, WVSSPA is asking for attorney fees.