President's Message
Sandra Larsen, President of the Petaluma Federation of Teachers
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PFT President Sandra Larsen was honored with the California Federation of Teachers Women in Education Award at the 2018 CFT convention
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January 2026
Happy New Year! I hope you had a lovely holiday and break. Mine was quiet because my husband caught the virus going around. Thankfully, he is on the mend. We were at home most of the break, which gave me time to clean and organize my house. You can come to my house right now and open any drawer or closet, and it will be organized. Sadly, I am not good at keeping it organized, so they will be back to being messy by the spring.
I do have plenty of joy in my life. My family is healthy, and my grandchildren are thriving. My 7th grandchild is due the first week in February, and I can't wait to meet him or her. We all need to take time to remember joy and all that we have, especially now.
Regardless of your political affiliations, this is a difficult time for our district, state, and country. There is much unrest and a sense of dread about what will happen next. I have gotten to a place where I believe nothing could surprise me, and then something else happens. I take a long walk every day, which helps me clear my mind and relax. It is essential for my mental health. Please make sure you are doing what you need to stay healthy.
Evaluations
Article XII of our contract addresses evaluation. Evaluations are an essential part of professional growth and an opportunity to demonstrate your work with students. As a professional, you should take your evaluations seriously and be prepared with a well-crafted lesson. We expect administrators to take your evaluation seriously as well. They should schedule a pre- and post-meeting with you before your observation and be in your classroom at the agreed-upon time. During your observation, they should give you their full attention and stay until the lesson ends or the agreed-upon time. Contact your site rep immediately if you believe this did not happen for your evaluation process. All evaluations must be completed by May 5, and knowing these deadlines helps you plan accordingly.
If you receive an evaluation indicating you are not meeting district standards, contact me and/or your site rep immediately. We can offer support and find you a coach. There is still time to demonstrate improvement and improve your evaluation. If you are not a permanent teacher and do not meet district standards, you will most likely be non-re-elected and will no longer be employed at PCS. A permanent employee who does not meet district standards will be given an improvement plan and offered a coach. PFT is here to help you before that happens.
Budget Committee
I hope you read the email Matthew sent on Friday afternoon regarding the budget crisis and the necessary cuts the District faces. These cuts will affect all of our members and our students, but they must happen. We do not want the District to become insolvent. You only have to look at Santa Rosa City Schools to know how impactful insolvency is. Many of our members worked to pass Measure I in November because we realized the impact of these budget cuts. It still saddens me that we came close but failed to get the necessary votes.
The District formed a budget committee made up of labor partners (PFT and CSEA), administrators, classified management, and community members. PFT had three voting members on the committee. Todd Siders, Tammy Elliott, and I served on the committee. This work was difficult and emotional. Making over 6 million dollars in cuts is never easy, as it will affect our students and colleagues. Most of the cuts represent someone's job. I was proud to work with Tammy and Todd and appreciated their expertise and dedication.
Scholarship Reminder
PFT is proud to offer the Gary Ravani Memorial Scholarship, a testament to our commitment to education and our members. This $500 scholarship is awarded to children of “PFT members in good standing” who are graduating from high school in 2025-26 and attending a community college, a four-year college, or another institution of higher learning. Applications are available at pft1881.org and must be submitted by February 28. Late submissions will not be accepted. We encourage all eligible students to apply and be part of this inspiring tradition. Contact me if you have questions or need an application.
Congratulations to Kevin Hansen (Ruth Hansen) and Nate Meirik (David Meirik), who have submitted their complete applications.
Willie Brown
We are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with the district to offer the Willie Brown Reduced Workload Incentive in recognition of your dedication. Eligible members can work part-time and receive full-time health and retirement benefits for the 26-27 school year. To be eligible, you must be 55 years old or older, have 10 years of retirement credit, and have worked for the district for five consecutive years. You may work for up to five years in this program before you retire. The deadline to submit your letter of intent to participate in this program is February 27. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Spring Elections
Our constitution outlines which officers will be elected each year. This year, we will hold elections for President, Jr. High Vice President, and Secretary. Each officer serves for two years. Members will have an opportunity to nominate fellow members or themselves for any of the offices in March, with the election scheduled for the first week in April. Your participation helps shape our union's future, so be sure to stay informed about these dates and consider nominating yourself or others.
On-the-Job Injuries/Illnesses
Article X of our contract deals with the safety conditions of employment. It states that the District Administration shall make reasonable provisions to ensure that no unit member works under unsafe conditions.
Despite everyone's best efforts, workplace injuries do happen. If you are injured or have a work-related illness, follow the steps below to protect yourself. Report all injuries or illnesses to your administrator immediately. If it is an emergency, dial 911. Contact RESIG at 707.836.7457 to speak to a Triage Nurse, who will take your claim information and assist with medical care. Return the Work Status Report form to HR after treatment. If you need assistance or have questions, contact your supervisor, Human Resources at 707-778-4608, or me at 707-696-5118. Your safety and well-being are our priority.
Happy New Year! I hope you had a lovely holiday and break. Mine was quiet because my husband caught the virus going around. Thankfully, he is on the mend. We were at home most of the break, which gave me time to clean and organize my house. You can come to my house right now and open any drawer or closet, and it will be organized. Sadly, I am not good at keeping it organized, so they will be back to being messy by the spring.
I do have plenty of joy in my life. My family is healthy, and my grandchildren are thriving. My 7th grandchild is due the first week in February, and I can't wait to meet him or her. We all need to take time to remember joy and all that we have, especially now.
Regardless of your political affiliations, this is a difficult time for our district, state, and country. There is much unrest and a sense of dread about what will happen next. I have gotten to a place where I believe nothing could surprise me, and then something else happens. I take a long walk every day, which helps me clear my mind and relax. It is essential for my mental health. Please make sure you are doing what you need to stay healthy.
Evaluations
Article XII of our contract addresses evaluation. Evaluations are an essential part of professional growth and an opportunity to demonstrate your work with students. As a professional, you should take your evaluations seriously and be prepared with a well-crafted lesson. We expect administrators to take your evaluation seriously as well. They should schedule a pre- and post-meeting with you before your observation and be in your classroom at the agreed-upon time. During your observation, they should give you their full attention and stay until the lesson ends or the agreed-upon time. Contact your site rep immediately if you believe this did not happen for your evaluation process. All evaluations must be completed by May 5, and knowing these deadlines helps you plan accordingly.
If you receive an evaluation indicating you are not meeting district standards, contact me and/or your site rep immediately. We can offer support and find you a coach. There is still time to demonstrate improvement and improve your evaluation. If you are not a permanent teacher and do not meet district standards, you will most likely be non-re-elected and will no longer be employed at PCS. A permanent employee who does not meet district standards will be given an improvement plan and offered a coach. PFT is here to help you before that happens.
Budget Committee
I hope you read the email Matthew sent on Friday afternoon regarding the budget crisis and the necessary cuts the District faces. These cuts will affect all of our members and our students, but they must happen. We do not want the District to become insolvent. You only have to look at Santa Rosa City Schools to know how impactful insolvency is. Many of our members worked to pass Measure I in November because we realized the impact of these budget cuts. It still saddens me that we came close but failed to get the necessary votes.
The District formed a budget committee made up of labor partners (PFT and CSEA), administrators, classified management, and community members. PFT had three voting members on the committee. Todd Siders, Tammy Elliott, and I served on the committee. This work was difficult and emotional. Making over 6 million dollars in cuts is never easy, as it will affect our students and colleagues. Most of the cuts represent someone's job. I was proud to work with Tammy and Todd and appreciated their expertise and dedication.
Scholarship Reminder
PFT is proud to offer the Gary Ravani Memorial Scholarship, a testament to our commitment to education and our members. This $500 scholarship is awarded to children of “PFT members in good standing” who are graduating from high school in 2025-26 and attending a community college, a four-year college, or another institution of higher learning. Applications are available at pft1881.org and must be submitted by February 28. Late submissions will not be accepted. We encourage all eligible students to apply and be part of this inspiring tradition. Contact me if you have questions or need an application.
Congratulations to Kevin Hansen (Ruth Hansen) and Nate Meirik (David Meirik), who have submitted their complete applications.
Willie Brown
We are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with the district to offer the Willie Brown Reduced Workload Incentive in recognition of your dedication. Eligible members can work part-time and receive full-time health and retirement benefits for the 26-27 school year. To be eligible, you must be 55 years old or older, have 10 years of retirement credit, and have worked for the district for five consecutive years. You may work for up to five years in this program before you retire. The deadline to submit your letter of intent to participate in this program is February 27. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Spring Elections
Our constitution outlines which officers will be elected each year. This year, we will hold elections for President, Jr. High Vice President, and Secretary. Each officer serves for two years. Members will have an opportunity to nominate fellow members or themselves for any of the offices in March, with the election scheduled for the first week in April. Your participation helps shape our union's future, so be sure to stay informed about these dates and consider nominating yourself or others.
On-the-Job Injuries/Illnesses
Article X of our contract deals with the safety conditions of employment. It states that the District Administration shall make reasonable provisions to ensure that no unit member works under unsafe conditions.
Despite everyone's best efforts, workplace injuries do happen. If you are injured or have a work-related illness, follow the steps below to protect yourself. Report all injuries or illnesses to your administrator immediately. If it is an emergency, dial 911. Contact RESIG at 707.836.7457 to speak to a Triage Nurse, who will take your claim information and assist with medical care. Return the Work Status Report form to HR after treatment. If you need assistance or have questions, contact your supervisor, Human Resources at 707-778-4608, or me at 707-696-5118. Your safety and well-being are our priority.
- Report all work-related injuries or illnesses to your administrator immediately. If it is an emergency, dial 911.
- Call RESIG at 707.836.7457 to speak to a Triage Nurse, who will take your claim information and assist you in obtaining medical care.
- The RESIG nurse will pre-authorize your visit to a nearby facility if you require medical care.
- If you cannot work because of an injury or illness, you may be placed on workers’ comp and unable to return to work until your doctor releases you.
- Following your medical treatment, return the Work Status Report form to HR.