Re: your March 30 article, “Teachers claim unfair labor practices�:
After watching the recent Conejo Valley Unified School District board meetings about the proposed winter vacation, I was disappointed that the leaders of the teachers union, the Unified Association of Conejo Teachers, didn’t address the amount of money that the schools are going to lose due to student absenteeism, along with additional wages paid to substitute teachers.
The teachers association seems to be more concerned about attacking trustee Mike Dunn than making sure that classrooms are adequately supplied with textbooks, television monitors and computers. The “cattling� of the students in classrooms and schools has been deplorable. This union never fought for the replacement of unsafe “ghetto portables.�
This school district needs to have a comprehensive tutoring program before and after school because of the heavy homework and testing load. These are the things that I would like to see a union be concerned about.
Maybe it’s time the teachers become educated about their union representatives who don’t even obtain adequate health benefits for their membership. The filing of an unfair labor practice complaint is a waste of energy and money.
It is also about time that the public become informed that new school board members like Mike Dunn need to be elected. He was the only person to vote against a higher pay raise for the school board than was given to the teachers.
— Merle Duckett, Thousand Oaks
Way to go Merle Great to see you some out of the shadows of your great wife Suzanne
as one who has always supported org. labor it is frustrating to see how their leadership can some times be so aloof & uncaring etc.
Way to go Mike Lets get you another pardner next year!
Nick Quidwai
Dir. Concerned Citz T Oaks since 1993
Merle, you are absolutely right! The union has gotten too big for its britches. They say this is about "education", but then why did 9% of the teachers choose to stay home that same week last December? This is about power. The union contributed thousands of dollars to the 4 trustees who voted to support the union's calendar, which keeps 2 days off in October, thus forcing a shorter Winter break. The union also gave money for former candidates Peggy Buckles and Diane McKay, who spoke in favor of the union version, which is NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY!
These 2 women are very influential in the local and state PTA, which has become anti-family and only very pro-union. Buckles and McKay also spoke in favor of the gender-neutral marriage sex ed text book last summer. They will never get my vote! Switch to non-political parent organizations (PFAs and PTOs) and get rid of the leftie PTA and their "social programs" agenda in public education. Read their state website, for goodness sake, before you give another dime. Boycott the PTA and tell them why. Only 25% of schools in America still have these political PTAs. Las Virgenes and Oakpark are PTA-free zones, and are better off for it.
Cathy C again: Here is an explanation that you won't see in the newspaper as to why the Union wants this version of the school calendar. By keeping the 2 days off in October for Rosh Shashana and Yom Kippur, (something the CVUSD has done for years) that gives the union an excuse to say that the schools have to be in session longer before Christmas. But, the real reason, in my opinion, is that the senior veteran teachers want it this way so that they can take some of their 3 weeks "sick leave" during that slow week. This is evidenced by 9% of the teachers calling in absent that week! This is about keeping their perks! It is NOT about what's best for the community.
The subject of the October days off was brought up several times, but the Star did not report it. This is NOT anti-semitism, as was claimed by the Executive Director of the unions, Arleigh Kidd. But he likes to say so. Do you, or does Mr. Kidd really believe that the 23,000 kids in the Conejo all want to observe those jewish holidays? The union argument given was that surrounding districts also take those days off. Let me tell you the real story. There are 23 districts in Ventura County. Only 4 take those days; Conejo, Simi, Moorpark, and Oakpark. I say, put those days back in as instructional days, and let anyone who wants to observe those jewish holidays use the law, and cite the California Ed Code and get an excused absence.
Also, anyone who wants their family to observe the religious holiday of Easter Monday should feel free. Write a note to your principal, and explain that your child will be absent that day for a religious observance. The law says that no child will be punished, no penalties, and make up tests MUST be given. Use this right, or lose it!
Do the same at Advent next December. Write in advance, get the permission, take those days off. There will be no penalties for your child. If any principal gives you trouble, then call the superintendent's office and explain you have a legal problem.
Cathy C again: Here is California Ed Code 40205. Look at Section 7 on religious observances. Also, 8b explains that there will be make up tests given.
I hope that ALL families that want to celebrate or observe religious days, religious weddings, religious funerals, etc. will use their rights without fear of being cross-examined. Hindis, Muslims, Taoists, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, and all other religious people need to know the law, and use their rights. Tell your child NOT to answer if questioned about how they spent the day. They should counter with, sorry, that's our private family business, and why do you want to know? If they are too young to stand up for themselves, send a note to the teacher warning the school NOT to cross-examine your child on your family's religious practices.
Note: It is unclear how many days off will be excused. I've heard the CVUSD says only 2 days off a month, but I'd like to see that in writing, since the State Ed Code does not specify here.
*********************************************
Education Code 48205: Excused absences
(a) Notwithstanding Section 48200 [California’s
compulsory education requirement], a pupil shall be
excused from school when the absence is:
(1) Due to his or her illness.
(2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county
or city health officer.
(3) For the purpose of having medical, dental,
optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.
(4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services
of a member of his or her immediate family, so long as
the absence is not more than one day if the service is
conducted in California and not more than three days
if the service is conducted outside California.
(5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner
provided for by law.
(6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during
school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the
custodial parent.
(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but
not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at
a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony
of his or her religion, attendance at religious
retreats, or attendance at an employment conference,
when the pupil's absence has been requested in writing
by the parent or guardian and approved by the
principal or a designated representative pursuant to
uniform standards established by the governing board.
(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a
precinct board for an election pursuant to Section
12302 of the Elections Code.
(b) A pupil absent from school under this section
shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests
missed during the absence that can be reasonably
provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a
reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit
therefor. The teacher of any class from which a pupil
is absent shall determine the tests and assignments
shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily
identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil
missed during the absence.
(c) For purposes of this section, attendance at
religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per
semester.
(d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be
absences in computing average daily attendance and
shall not generate state apportionment payments.
(e) "Immediate family," as used in this section, has
the same meaning as that set forth in Section 45194,
except that references therein to "employee" shall be
deemed to be references to "pupil." [Members of the
immediate family, as used in this section, means the
mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, or a
grandchild of the employee or of the spouse of the
employee, and the spouse, son, son-in-law, daughter,
daughter-in-law, brother, or sister of the employee,
or any relative living in the immediate household of
the employee.]
BRAVO MIKE DUNN
Recent news articles highlight the notion that leadership of the local teacher’s union would like nothing better than to muzzle CVUSD trustee Mike Dunn. I would like to thank Mr. Dunn for his integrity in representing the wishes of parents and voters of this community. The CVUSD school board could certainly use more trustees like him.
The continuous attack by special interest groups against officials who dare to have independent views has the regrettable effect of preventing many from participating in local government.
Although it was President Tim Stephens that called for the calendar to go back for further negotiation, it has been Mike Dunn the union has chosen to punish, and all for practicing free speech, democracy, and upholding his oath of office.
Tim Stephens could have been commended for responding to public outcry when he called for further negotiation of winter break, but instead he voted in favor of the union’s calendar change which FAILED to address the concerns of the 81% majority of CVUSD constituents.
Mike Dunn has been true to his word, and has consistently represented the will of the people of this community. CVUSD trustees Stephens, Phelps, Beaubian, and Didio have once again ignored the public and instead voted in support of the special interest groups that finance their campaigns.