Thursday, May 20th VUSD Board Meeting at Foothill Oak, 7:00pm
Please be reminded that we need your support at this meeting. We have several parents who have volunteered to speak about their frustration that the VUSD Board is pushing for PERMANENT class size increases in K-12. These parents, who are part of a fast- growing group of community members, provide a vital voice in our fight to protect a powerful learning environment in our schools. They will be speaking early in the meeting and need our support. Please be there for them.
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The District wants to increase the student minutes 4 days a week in K-5 to allow for an early release Wednesday. This is teacher prep time that would be used for teacher collaboration and meetings. The school site leadership team would be in charge of determining what would occur on those Wednesday meetings. We are concerned that at some sites it would be under the direction of administration and not the teachers. Are we willing to give up prep time to collaborate? A surveymonkey will be sent out this weekend to K-5 teachers to ask that question.
Meetings: Place, time and date:
*Monday, May 17th, Vista Magnet Middle School Gym
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
*Wednesday, May 19th, Empresa Elementary MPR
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
*Thursday, May 20th, Lake Elementary School MPR
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
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Thursday, May 6th
Please join us in the first of many rallies and demonstrations protesting the VUSD proposal of permanent class size increases. Wear black on Thursday, May 6th and come walk with us from 4-6 p.m on the 78 overpass at Vista Village Drive.
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Thursday, April 15th: VUSD Board meeting at Washington Middle School
Please arrive by 6:30 to receive the plan for your participation in the presentation of the "Resolution of No Confidence in Joyce Bales." Considering the overwhelming number of signatures on the resolution, it is fundamental to our process that the VUSD Board see the people who continue to fight for powerful education in Vista Unified.
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Wednesday, March 10th: Mediation Day #2, VTA Office
The mediation will be held at the VTA office starting at 9:00 AM. Parent groups are organizing to spend the day there, but we would like you to involve yourself as well. Please come after school in black to line the halls and street with signs, letting the District Management know that we continue to be committed to pressuring them into a fair and equitable solution to the impasse.There are three possible outcomes at this mediation. 1) A solution to the impasse is discovered which will be brought to the membership for approval. 2) The mediator decides to have a 3rd meeting next month. 3) The mediator decides that no resolution is possible and that the fact-finding process should begin.
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Thursday, March 11th: Board Meeting, FoothillOakElementary School, 7:00 PM
We are looking for 100% of the membership to come to the board meeting to show our commitment to maintaining a strong educational experience in VUSD schools. The Board needs to look more closely at the Budget Advisory Committee list of recommendations and your presence at the meeting can help. When the Board sees our numbers, it helps them to understand that they need to continue a dialogue with the Association if it is going to find a reasonable solution to the budget crisis. Have no doubt-- you matter at all these meetings and rallies to keep them talking. Every person matters.
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On Thursday, February 18th at 7:00pm at Foothill Oak Elementary School is a VUSD Board meeting. We need 50% of each school’s staff to come. We understand that it is difficult to find the time to go to another meeting, but continued pressure on the board and VUSD management is critical. Make no mistake, you are fighting for a fair and reasonable resolution to this crisis and you have a lot to lose of you do nothing.
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On Monday, February 15th at 8:00am support our negotiating team on the first mediation day at the district office. More specific information on that event will come later, but please plan to attend the mediation in the morning and then in shifts throughout the day to let the district and community know that supporting teachers equals supporting students.
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On Wednesday, February 10th from 4-5pm is our Total Member Unit Meeting at Temple Heights. The purpose of this meeting for the entire VTA membership is provide an opportunity to hear from both VTA and CTA speakers about the “state of our union,” the state of the impasse, and the future state of education in California.
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On Thursday, January 28 at 5:00 p.m., V.U.S.D. School Board Work Study Session
(location: Roosevelt Middle School, 850 Sagewood Dr., Oceanside, 92057) We will need new and additional faces to show that our attendance will be ongoing for the long haul and not just a momentary blip on the radar screen. We would especially like to have parents come and speak to the Board and show their support for teachers. If you haven't spoken to your PTA or parents please try to do so soon.This meeting will most likely be the time and location where the school board members must determine and finalize the 2010-11 Budget and therein their priorities of how they "truly" values teachers. Please have as many teachers attend this meeting as possible!
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On Tuesday, December 8 at 5:30 p.m., in the Vista City Council Chambers on Escondido Ave., the Vista City Council is declaring this date DEE SMITTH DAY. You may remember that last month Dee, one of our teachers, rescued a young boy who was being mauled by rottweilers. I believe that this woman showed amazing courage, risking her own safety to help this child. I am so glad that the city is honoring this deserving woman.
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On Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Vista Magnet Middle School gym, the Vista Superintendent and Board of Trustees will be honoring students who achieved perfect scores on their CSTs last spring, and recognizing schools and teachers. Fortunately, VMMS is across the street from the City Council meeting, so it may be possible to attend both events.
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On Wednesday, December 9, Washington Middle School is having a McTeacher Night fundraiser at the McDonald's at 3794 Plaza Dr., in Oceanside, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The principal, Michael Marcos, and other staff members will be there to serve attendees. Mr. Marcos has provided me with a packet of flyers (you must have a flyer to participate), so let me know if you'd like to attend and I'll get flyers to you. McDonald's donates 25% of your order back to the school