Connections
Anacortes Education Association                                             April 20,  2010

Promoting the cause of public education, by assisting in all statewide activities of the Washington Education Association and by representing AEA members to the public, the school board, the administration, and the profession.

 

Race to the Top

As our District considers whether it wants to sign the Race to the Top Partnership Agreement with the state, we want to highlight the bargaining issues affected by the Partnership Agreement:

 

 The Partnership Agreement requires the signature of the District Superintendent and encourages, but does not require the signature of the Local Association President. The state is encouraging Superintendents to get union signatures because it generates more points on the state Race to the Top application.  I have looked into the issues that we face by signing on, I have discussed it with WEA and our Uniserv Rep, and I perceive that it is in our best interests to support the Partnership Agreement.  WEA supports this opinion and believes that we are in a better position than many other districts to sign on. 

 

 A copy of the Partnership Agreement is linked here. Note the language on page 5 under: G. Collective Bargaining. WEA was very involved in drafting this language. The intent of this provision is to make clear to Districts and Superintendents signing the Partnership Agreement, that all collective bargaining rights are insured.

 

 WEA conducted five regional meetings for local and council Association presidents over the past month regarding Race to the Top. The major request from those meetings was a simplified, scripted power point that could be used to explain Race to the Top in order to solicit feedback from the membership about signing on to the the Partnership Agreement .  Please take a moment to review the power point and the notes that go with it..

 

Most of the items required in the agreement are outside of our bargaining control.  But the reasons that I would like to sign on is that we are already implementing, or planning on implementing all of the required Actions:

 

            1. We have already adopted common core standards in math and English..

 

2. Along with support form WEA, we are one of 6 districts, who will be testing a new evaluation process which could potentially become the State standard Evaluation criteria.  This aspect of our contract was opened at the last bargaining session at the association request.  Peter Donaldson has been working on a committee to design a more effective evaluation process.

 

3. We are already implementing enrichment programs for students who are not achieving their individual potential based on value added assessments like MAPS testing, and formative assessment conducted through out the year..  So we already have continuous implementation and teacher utilization of formative and summative assessment data informing instruction. 

 

4. We are already participating in a number of the optional activities such as: The new technology center, Drop out prevention, AP programs, First Robotics, STEM etc

 

            5.  Finally, There is the potential to bring in a substantial amount of money  for our district.

 

Please email me with any questions

 

Carl Dellutri

Anacortes Education Association President

http://anacortesea.org

cdellutri@asd103.org  cdellutri@anacortesea.org

 

 

 

 

 


Text Box: President’s Message – We are striving for Excellence! We are striving for Excellence! Excellent schools have great teachers. How do we attract and keep excellent teachers? We provide fair compensation, security, respect and recognition. We recognize that teachers have their own families that also need their attention. Excellent schools place students in classes that work. How do we get classes that work? We limit the size of a class to insure that our students get the attention they need to be successful. We give teachers the time they need to develop good lessons, assess student progress and provide immediate and meaningful feedback. We insure that students and teachers have access to safe and modern facilities, current technology and any other tools that they need to be successful Excellent schools provide a meaningful learning experience. How do we create this type of culture? We recognize the expertise of our teachers. We remember that they are professionals. We guarantee professional freedom in the classroom and allow teachers to present their curriculum in a manner that they feel best meets the needs of their students. But we also recognize the need for teacher to continue to learn. So we must provide the staff with meaningful professional development and training.

Your Association Leadership

Putting Members First

President – Carl Dellutri AHS

Vice President – Joe Furin AHS

Treasurer – Jodi Wireman  AHS

Secretary – Kecia Fox ISV

Grievance Officer: Scott Burnett

Information

·         Local WEBSITE -- Bookmark the following web address for a link to our Association Website: http://anacortesea.org/