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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December 2022 - President's Message
Winter Break is in sight! It doesn't seem that long ago that we were meeting at the Casa Field for our Welcome Back. There was hope at that time that this would be the year that things would finally return to "normal". It did not take long to realize the damages caused by COVID are still with us. Our students continue to struggle to learn appropriate behaviors regardless of their age or grade and we all are experiencing the stress that accompanies those behaviors. High school teachers learned that they needed to increase their minutes and change their schedule which led to a longer day a few days before school started.
Under "normal" circumstances, we all need a break at this time in the year and this has not been an easy year for any of us. It is vital that we all give ourselves the grace that we have given our students, their families, and our colleagues. You are important and your mental health is an essential part of who you are. We all need some time away to recharge. Personally, I am excited to have all three of my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren together for Christmas. That doesn't happen often, so I will cherish the time. I hope you take care of yourself during our break. I wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season and I look forward to working for you in 2023.
Reminder to Check Salary Schedule Placement and Leave Balance I realize I have included this in my last message, so this will be your final reminder. It is very important that you check your salary placement and keep track of your leave balance. There have been errors discovered and corrected this year. You will get back pay if there is a mistake in your placement on the salary schedule. Likewise, you should think of your leave as money and keep a close watch on it as well. You can find your gross salary on your pay warrant. Multiply that amount by 11 (12 if you are a year-round employee or teach at MCCV or Penngrove) and you will see your annual salary. Next, refer to the salary schedule to see where you are placed. You can find the salary schedule on the PCS website under Departments, Human Resources, Salary Schedule. It is always a good idea to keep track of your leave balance each month. It is even more important if you are absent due to COVID. Contact HR immediately if you believe there is a mistake in your salary or leave balance. Of course, you can always contact me with any questions as well.
Negotiations Update Your negotiations team has been working hard to secure the best possible contract for us all. We met with district negotiators on December 2 and have another all-day session scheduled for December 14. The District has assured us they will be ready to discuss salary at that time. In addition, the Stipend Committee has been meeting to look at current stipends and to make suggestions for needed changes. The findings from the stipend committee will be submitted to negotiations for final approval Progress has been slow, but we are making progress. Remember that all pay increases including stipend will be retroactive to July 1, 2022. PFT negotiators not only have to write sub plans and miss valuable time with students, but they also have to make time to meet as a PFT team. The team discusses strategy and writes proposals so that we are prepared when we go to the negotiation table. I believe this is one of the strongest teams we have had and Todd Siders (Casa) is doing a great job as our chief negotiator. I am proud to work with them and they are doing an amazing job representing you. Remember to thank them when you see them.
PFT 2022-23 Negotiations Team
Todd Siders, Chief Negotiator - Casa
Tammy Elliott - McNear
Stephanie Foster - SOCC, Valley Vista
Shana Friedman -Casa Terry Griffin- PJHS
Jenny Hlebakos - Penngrove
Sandra Larsen- PFT President
Erinn VanderMeer - Kenilworth
Cecilia Valdinos - Psychologist
Shared Decision Making Shared decision making (SDM) was established in 1989 with the addition of Article XX to our contract. It is unique to our district and valued by staff and administration because we all know that when it is used correctly it works. By now members at every site have heard the annual shared decision-making presentation. I encourage you to keep shared decision making at the forefront of every staff decision. SDM is only as strong as the people who use it. Do not be afraid to ask how shared decision making was used with regard to any issue at your site or at the district level. The only way we can correct the "mistake" of not using SDM is to speak up. You can find the Shared Decision Making document on the PCS website on the left side of the Human Resource page. Feel free to contact me if you have any concerns that shared decision making is not being used properly at your site.
It's Scholarship Time! The Petaluma Federation of Teachers will sponsor multiple scholarships that will provide a one-time payment of $500.00 to children of “PFT members in good standing” who are graduating from high school to attend a community college, a four-year college, or other institution with a course of learning resulting in a diploma or certificate. The scholarships are for those graduating from high school in the 2022-23 school year. The Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF) will administer the scholarships. The graduating student must submit the application along with a short (250-300 words) essay describing your educational goals and how having a Petaluma City Schools Educator as a parent influenced your education. This is intended to be an annual scholarship, however since the number of applicants will vary from year to year the scholarship will be reviewed each fiscal year in the total context of the PFT budget. Applications are available online at the PFT Website. Please email the PFT President at pftoffice775@gmail.com about your intent to apply. PEF will notify students of the scholarship award and all of the details encompassing it. All completed applications along with the essay must be submitted to PFT President, Sandra Larsen, no later than February 28, 2023. Submissions may be done via email, postal mail, or brought directly to the PFT office. Late submissions will not be accepted.
November 2022 - President's Message
There are signs that fall is here all around. I love the colorful fall foliage, and the sunsets are especially beautiful this time of year. We have even had a little rain. Elementary teachers are working on report cards and parent conferences have begun while secondary teachers have completed the second grading period. There are only 6 weeks left in the first semester. Thanks for all you do for Petaluma's students and families. I hope you enjoy your hard earned break and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. The Federation has been very active in representing you in various meetings and committees. Below you will find negotiations, stipend, and calendar committee updates.
Negotiations Update Negotiations began with a half-day session on October 4. Our next session will be an all-day session on November 9. The lack of regularly scheduled negotiation sessions with the District has been frustrating for all involved, but we are hopeful that has changed and we will have regularly scheduled sessions going forward. Know that your negotiations team is working diligently on securing the best possible agreements for you and that anything negotiated will be retroactive to July 1, 2022. Remember to check your personal email for negotiation updates from our PFT office.
Stipend Committee The Stipend Committee is charged with updating all stipends for the extra responsibilities that PFT members take on, as well as ensuring there are up-to-date job descriptions for each position. The Committee met for the first time last week and will meet again on November 8. Once the committee has completed its work, it will send its recommendations to Negotiations.
Calendar Committee The work and representation of the Calendar Committee are established in Article XI Section E of our contract. Our PFT vice presidents serve as our representatives. They are working very hard with other members of this district committee to develop a calendar that meets the needs of all stakeholders. The next meeting will be held on November 15th. A special thank you to Krista O'Connor (high school), Erinn VanderMeer (junior high), and Jenny Hlbakos (elementary ) for their dedication to this committee.
PFT Dues Our dues structure is defined in Article XII of our Constitution. The majority of the dues money we collect each month is forwarded to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the California Federation of Teachers (CFT). We pay AFT $239.76, CFT $569.41, and $ 12.60 to CA Labor Fed and OLI annually for each full-time member. That means we pay $821.77 yearly for each full-time member. We add our local dues to that amount. Local dues are based on Step One Column One of our salary schedule. To calculate local dues you multiply $51,363 (step 1 column 1) by .0033 and you get $ 169.50. Last May, the PFT membership voted to add an additional $12.90 to our yearly dues which set our total yearly dues at $1004.20, or $100.42 per month, as we only pay dues 10 months of the year. Part time teachers have the amount they pay reduced to half or a quarter depending on their percentage of employment.
Personal Necessity Leave Article VIII is the section of our contract that pertains to leaves. Section C is about Personal Necessity Leave. Please take the time to read this section for yourself. You are allowed to use up to 6 days of personal necessity leave a year without giving a reason. However, you may not use more than 4 consecutive days without stating a reason. Section C.4 states that except in emergency situations, employees wishing to take a personal necessity day will notify the building principal or immediate supervisor no later than noon on the previous school day. You do not have to give the District a reason for your first 6 personal necessity days. Please remember that Personal Necessity is for personal or professional needs, not vacations. Be thoughtful about your social media posts when you take a personal necessity day. Likewise, think before you share details of your day with your colleagues. Finally, We have been working on our member database. If you have not received emails from PFT, please send an email to pftoffice775@gmail.com and we will make sure you are added to our database.
JANUARY 2022 - President's Message
Normally I would begin this newsletter with Happy New Year and talk about our restful winter break. Although I do wish you a happy and healthy 2022, so much has happened in our first week back at school it does not seem to be an appropriate beginning.
We have much to discuss, so we will have a General Membership meeting this Wednesday, January 12 at 4:30 pm. The announcement with the zoom link has been sent to your personal email. There will be a negotiations update, COVID discussion, and a chance for you to ask questions and voice your concerns. Contact your site rep or email me if you need the meeting link.
We are in the midst of a COVID spike and it seems that the number of positive cases is increasing every day. So far the increase in cases has been credited to community spread. We will know in the coming weeks if there is evidence of classroom spread. In the meantime, It is vital that we follow all safety procedures. Make sure you and your students are washing your hands, wearing appropriate masks, and that your classroom ventilation system is working properly. If you have any safety concerns, notify your administrator. Notify me immediately if your concerns are not addressed in a timely manner.
Testing is an important component of our safety plan. If you are not feeling well and have covid symptoms, you should go to the District Office for testing. There are two types of tests: antigen (rapid), and PCR. If your symptoms are mild and you believe they are not COVID related, you may be able to take the antigen test and report to work that day, If your symptoms are more severe or you believe them to be COVID related, you will need to report your absence, take the PCR test, and quarantine until you receive a negative test or are cleared to return to work if you are positive. If you have questions as to what is the best test for you, the District has a COVID team that can help you. You should never feel pressured to take the antigen test and return to school if you are not feeling well. You need to make the best decision for your health as well as the health of your students. Fully vaccinated certificated employees will be able to access the COVID Leave Bank that was established in the MOU signed on September 8, 2021. You can find that section of the MOU below.
9.8.21 MOU
The District will provide a bank of 10 days to cover COVID-related absences due to illness and/or quarantine for staff that has been fully vaccinated AND reported their vaccinated status to the District. This bank will end after the last day of school. These days will be used while staff are waiting for test results or are quarantined. Employees are responsible for reporting to the District testing site for testing on the first day of absence. If a negative testing result occurs, employees are responsible for covering subsequent absent days using their sick days. The District will establish an additional District Catastrophic COVID-19 bank of 50 days. When a PFT member that has been fully vaccinated AND reported their vaccinated status to the District, has exhausted all of their State and District COVID-19 leave banks, and additional time-off is necessary due to the direct impacts of COVID-19, they may request a withdrawal from the District Catastrophic COVID-19 leave bank. There shall be a panel of two District administrators and two PFT members appointed by the PFT Executive Council who will approve or deny applications for the additional district COVID days. When half of the days in the bank have been used, the District and PFT agree to meet and determine the need for additional days to cover expected needs.
Negotiations Update
We continue to meet with the District's Negotiation Team in order to reach an agreement for the 2021-2022 school year. The Federation has been steadfast in its insistence that we must settle parity for the 2020-21 school year. Article 5 Section C of our contract established that on February 10 of each year, the District will compare our salary schedule to the salaries of five other districts to ensure our salaries are in the 50% of our parity districts (Sonoma, Novato, Cotati-Rohnert Park, Windsor, and Santa Rosa). It is a safeguard to keep our salaries no less than in the middle of our parity districts. The teams have also discussed the reduced workload program
(Willie Brown) for 2022-23. We have not reached any agreements at this time. Our next Negotiations Session will be on January 27.
Get to Know Our Contract
We have a negotiated contract that all certificated employees work under. It is a great resource when you have a question or concerns. You can find our contract online on the PCS website. To find it, go to Departments, Human Resources, and Employee Contracts.
Personal Necessity Leave
Article VIII is the section of our contract that pertains to leaves. Section C is about Personal Necessity Leave. Please take the time to read this section for yourself.
You are allowed to use up to 6 days of personal necessity leave a year without giving a reason. However, you may not use more than 4 consecutive days without stating a reason. Section C.4 states that except in emergency situations, employees wishing to take a personal necessity day will notify the building principal or immediate supervisor no later than noon on the previous school day. Some sites require a form to be completed while others do not. If you are asked to complete a form, do so. Leave the reason line blank. You do not have to give the District a reason for your first 6 personal necessity days.
Please remember that Personal Necessity is for personal or professional needs, not vacations. Be thoughtful about your social media posts when you take a personal necessity day. Likewise, think before you share details of your day with your colleagues.
Peer Assistance Peer Review (PAPR)
Article XIX establishes a Peer assistance Voluntary Peer Assistance Program. There is a mandatory component for any unit member not meeting district standards, but there is also a voluntary component. Any unit member desiring assistance in order to improve their practice may apply to the PAPR Committee for such assistance on a confidential basis. You can request a peer coach if you want to work to improve in any area of your practice. Contact Julianne Kubina (PAPR Chairperson) if you have questions or would like to request a peer coach.
Gary Ravani Memorial Scholarship Reminder
PFT awards $500 scholarships to children of “PFT members in good standing” who are graduating from high school in 2021-22 and attending a community college, a four-year college, or other institution with a course of learning. Applications are available at pft1881.org and must be submitted to Sandra Larson or your site rep by February 28, 2022.
Normally I would begin this newsletter with Happy New Year and talk about our restful winter break. Although I do wish you a happy and healthy 2022, so much has happened in our first week back at school it does not seem to be an appropriate beginning.
We have much to discuss, so we will have a General Membership meeting this Wednesday, January 12 at 4:30 pm. The announcement with the zoom link has been sent to your personal email. There will be a negotiations update, COVID discussion, and a chance for you to ask questions and voice your concerns. Contact your site rep or email me if you need the meeting link.
We are in the midst of a COVID spike and it seems that the number of positive cases is increasing every day. So far the increase in cases has been credited to community spread. We will know in the coming weeks if there is evidence of classroom spread. In the meantime, It is vital that we follow all safety procedures. Make sure you and your students are washing your hands, wearing appropriate masks, and that your classroom ventilation system is working properly. If you have any safety concerns, notify your administrator. Notify me immediately if your concerns are not addressed in a timely manner.
Testing is an important component of our safety plan. If you are not feeling well and have covid symptoms, you should go to the District Office for testing. There are two types of tests: antigen (rapid), and PCR. If your symptoms are mild and you believe they are not COVID related, you may be able to take the antigen test and report to work that day, If your symptoms are more severe or you believe them to be COVID related, you will need to report your absence, take the PCR test, and quarantine until you receive a negative test or are cleared to return to work if you are positive. If you have questions as to what is the best test for you, the District has a COVID team that can help you. You should never feel pressured to take the antigen test and return to school if you are not feeling well. You need to make the best decision for your health as well as the health of your students. Fully vaccinated certificated employees will be able to access the COVID Leave Bank that was established in the MOU signed on September 8, 2021. You can find that section of the MOU below.
9.8.21 MOU
The District will provide a bank of 10 days to cover COVID-related absences due to illness and/or quarantine for staff that has been fully vaccinated AND reported their vaccinated status to the District. This bank will end after the last day of school. These days will be used while staff are waiting for test results or are quarantined. Employees are responsible for reporting to the District testing site for testing on the first day of absence. If a negative testing result occurs, employees are responsible for covering subsequent absent days using their sick days. The District will establish an additional District Catastrophic COVID-19 bank of 50 days. When a PFT member that has been fully vaccinated AND reported their vaccinated status to the District, has exhausted all of their State and District COVID-19 leave banks, and additional time-off is necessary due to the direct impacts of COVID-19, they may request a withdrawal from the District Catastrophic COVID-19 leave bank. There shall be a panel of two District administrators and two PFT members appointed by the PFT Executive Council who will approve or deny applications for the additional district COVID days. When half of the days in the bank have been used, the District and PFT agree to meet and determine the need for additional days to cover expected needs.
Negotiations Update
We continue to meet with the District's Negotiation Team in order to reach an agreement for the 2021-2022 school year. The Federation has been steadfast in its insistence that we must settle parity for the 2020-21 school year. Article 5 Section C of our contract established that on February 10 of each year, the District will compare our salary schedule to the salaries of five other districts to ensure our salaries are in the 50% of our parity districts (Sonoma, Novato, Cotati-Rohnert Park, Windsor, and Santa Rosa). It is a safeguard to keep our salaries no less than in the middle of our parity districts. The teams have also discussed the reduced workload program
(Willie Brown) for 2022-23. We have not reached any agreements at this time. Our next Negotiations Session will be on January 27.
Get to Know Our Contract
We have a negotiated contract that all certificated employees work under. It is a great resource when you have a question or concerns. You can find our contract online on the PCS website. To find it, go to Departments, Human Resources, and Employee Contracts.
Personal Necessity Leave
Article VIII is the section of our contract that pertains to leaves. Section C is about Personal Necessity Leave. Please take the time to read this section for yourself.
You are allowed to use up to 6 days of personal necessity leave a year without giving a reason. However, you may not use more than 4 consecutive days without stating a reason. Section C.4 states that except in emergency situations, employees wishing to take a personal necessity day will notify the building principal or immediate supervisor no later than noon on the previous school day. Some sites require a form to be completed while others do not. If you are asked to complete a form, do so. Leave the reason line blank. You do not have to give the District a reason for your first 6 personal necessity days.
Please remember that Personal Necessity is for personal or professional needs, not vacations. Be thoughtful about your social media posts when you take a personal necessity day. Likewise, think before you share details of your day with your colleagues.
Peer Assistance Peer Review (PAPR)
Article XIX establishes a Peer assistance Voluntary Peer Assistance Program. There is a mandatory component for any unit member not meeting district standards, but there is also a voluntary component. Any unit member desiring assistance in order to improve their practice may apply to the PAPR Committee for such assistance on a confidential basis. You can request a peer coach if you want to work to improve in any area of your practice. Contact Julianne Kubina (PAPR Chairperson) if you have questions or would like to request a peer coach.
Gary Ravani Memorial Scholarship Reminder
PFT awards $500 scholarships to children of “PFT members in good standing” who are graduating from high school in 2021-22 and attending a community college, a four-year college, or other institution with a course of learning. Applications are available at pft1881.org and must be submitted to Sandra Larson or your site rep by February 28, 2022.
SEPTEMBER 2021 - PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Welcome back! Hopefully, you had some time to relax and recharge during your summer
break. Coming back to the classroom full-time and with full classes after 18 months has been
wonderful and exhausting. I was not used to being on my feet all day and I had to get used to
scheduled bathroom breaks. I am certainly sleeping well at night. Labor Day came just in time,
the extra day off was greatly appreciated.
For those of you who are new to our district, welcome. We are honored to have you as a
member of the Petaluma Federation of Teachers. This is my sixth year serving as PFT
President. Again this year, I will be teaching third grade at McNear. I have a new partner,
Tammy Elliott, and a new schedule. I will be in the classroom for five straight days and then in
the PFT office for 5 days, My week will begin on Thursday and end on the following
Wednesday. It is complicated, just email or text me if you have a question, concern, or need to
schedule a meeting.
Sadly, COVID did not go away over the summer. Student and staff safety is our top priority.
Your negotiations team has been busy negotiating safe working conditions. The COVID-19
Hub found on the district website is an excellent resource. You can refer to it when you have
questions or concerns. Contact me immediately if you have any COVID safety concerns that
are not addressed by your administration.
Negotiations Update
Our chief negotiator, Doug Cox, sent a sunshine survey to your personal email last week. This
survey is the first step in opening negotiations for the 2021-22 school year. Article V Wages
and Article VII Health and Welfare will automatically be opened ( negotiated) per our contract.
We will use the results of the survey to choose up to two additional articles we would like to
negotiate. After negotiators meet to go over the survey results, we will draft a sunshine letter
that will be submitted to the school board. The District will do the same. Once the school
board accepts both our letters. negotiations will be opened and we will schedule negotiation
sessions. We expect this to happen in the next 6 weeks. We will keep you updated.
Leadership Opportunites
We have several opportunities for you to join the PFT leadership team. They are:
Negotiations - We have two openings on the negotiations team. We especially need a
representative for special services, but anyone interested should contact us.
Executive Council - We have openings for a special services representative, a special ed
teacher, and a SOCC teacher.
Your voice is important and you should have representation in Negotiations and Executive
Council. Contact me at pftoffice775@gmail.com if you have any questions or if you are
interested in joining the team.
General Membership Meeting
We will have a PFT general membership meeting on Monday, September 20 at 4:00. WE will
meet on Zoom for safety reasons. I have added the meeting id below and I will send you the
link via Mailchimp as well. Meeting ID: 588 702 8675
Back to School Forward Together
It was my honor to showcase Petaluma City Schools when AFT President Randi Weingarten,
CFT President Jeff Freitas, CFT Sr. Vice President Lacy Barnes, and CFT Secretary-Treasurer
Luukia Smith came to Petaluma. We started the day at San Antonio High School where the
staff used their lunchtime to have an open dialogue with our visitors. We then went to
McDowell where we were enchanted by Kelly Wood's tk class. We also learned about the work
our adult educators do on a daily basis, Next, we visited Casa Grande where we had delicious
tacos that were prepared by Pam Gutierrez's students as student leaders talked about the
culinary arts program. We discovered the work being done to preserve coho salmon when we
visited the fish hatchery. Dan Hubaker's students did an excellent job serving as our tour
guides. We were running late, so a special thank you to Petaluma HIgh for waiting for us.
When we did arrive at Petaluma High School, we found staff and students waiting for us. We
had a chance to visit the Wildlife Museum. Phil Tacatta and some of his students were great
tour guides. We then went to hear about the Petaluma HIgh Agricultural Program. Kim Arntz
and Jacob Dunn gave us an informational tour. We ended a busy and exciting day with a social
at Brewster's. Our members are doing exceptional work and Randi was impressed! She
continues to talk about the programs she observed and tweeted that Petaluma should be a
model that the rest of the country to look at! My only regret is that we did not have the time to
visit each site.
Welcome back! Hopefully, you had some time to relax and recharge during your summer
break. Coming back to the classroom full-time and with full classes after 18 months has been
wonderful and exhausting. I was not used to being on my feet all day and I had to get used to
scheduled bathroom breaks. I am certainly sleeping well at night. Labor Day came just in time,
the extra day off was greatly appreciated.
For those of you who are new to our district, welcome. We are honored to have you as a
member of the Petaluma Federation of Teachers. This is my sixth year serving as PFT
President. Again this year, I will be teaching third grade at McNear. I have a new partner,
Tammy Elliott, and a new schedule. I will be in the classroom for five straight days and then in
the PFT office for 5 days, My week will begin on Thursday and end on the following
Wednesday. It is complicated, just email or text me if you have a question, concern, or need to
schedule a meeting.
Sadly, COVID did not go away over the summer. Student and staff safety is our top priority.
Your negotiations team has been busy negotiating safe working conditions. The COVID-19
Hub found on the district website is an excellent resource. You can refer to it when you have
questions or concerns. Contact me immediately if you have any COVID safety concerns that
are not addressed by your administration.
Negotiations Update
Our chief negotiator, Doug Cox, sent a sunshine survey to your personal email last week. This
survey is the first step in opening negotiations for the 2021-22 school year. Article V Wages
and Article VII Health and Welfare will automatically be opened ( negotiated) per our contract.
We will use the results of the survey to choose up to two additional articles we would like to
negotiate. After negotiators meet to go over the survey results, we will draft a sunshine letter
that will be submitted to the school board. The District will do the same. Once the school
board accepts both our letters. negotiations will be opened and we will schedule negotiation
sessions. We expect this to happen in the next 6 weeks. We will keep you updated.
Leadership Opportunites
We have several opportunities for you to join the PFT leadership team. They are:
Negotiations - We have two openings on the negotiations team. We especially need a
representative for special services, but anyone interested should contact us.
Executive Council - We have openings for a special services representative, a special ed
teacher, and a SOCC teacher.
Your voice is important and you should have representation in Negotiations and Executive
Council. Contact me at pftoffice775@gmail.com if you have any questions or if you are
interested in joining the team.
General Membership Meeting
We will have a PFT general membership meeting on Monday, September 20 at 4:00. WE will
meet on Zoom for safety reasons. I have added the meeting id below and I will send you the
link via Mailchimp as well. Meeting ID: 588 702 8675
Back to School Forward Together
It was my honor to showcase Petaluma City Schools when AFT President Randi Weingarten,
CFT President Jeff Freitas, CFT Sr. Vice President Lacy Barnes, and CFT Secretary-Treasurer
Luukia Smith came to Petaluma. We started the day at San Antonio High School where the
staff used their lunchtime to have an open dialogue with our visitors. We then went to
McDowell where we were enchanted by Kelly Wood's tk class. We also learned about the work
our adult educators do on a daily basis, Next, we visited Casa Grande where we had delicious
tacos that were prepared by Pam Gutierrez's students as student leaders talked about the
culinary arts program. We discovered the work being done to preserve coho salmon when we
visited the fish hatchery. Dan Hubaker's students did an excellent job serving as our tour
guides. We were running late, so a special thank you to Petaluma HIgh for waiting for us.
When we did arrive at Petaluma High School, we found staff and students waiting for us. We
had a chance to visit the Wildlife Museum. Phil Tacatta and some of his students were great
tour guides. We then went to hear about the Petaluma HIgh Agricultural Program. Kim Arntz
and Jacob Dunn gave us an informational tour. We ended a busy and exciting day with a social
at Brewster's. Our members are doing exceptional work and Randi was impressed! She
continues to talk about the programs she observed and tweeted that Petaluma should be a
model that the rest of the country to look at! My only regret is that we did not have the time to
visit each site.
February 2021 President's Message
I look forward to the day when we can look back on the COVID-19 pandemic as an unpleasant memory. Sadly, we are not there yet. COVID-19 is mutating and the scientific data is changing daily. It is very important that we clearly communicate with each other and the District as we make our way through these challenging times. The exhaustion we are all feeling as a result of distance learning makes it all the more difficult and more needed at the same time. It is vital that we stand together in solidarity as we work with the District to meet the needs of all students and staff while remaining safe.
There are many questions and concerns as we plan for in-person instruction. The Federation will be negotiating the effects of these changes as we move forward. Negotiation team members are attending trainings and working overtime to represent you are the bargaining table. Remember to read the joint updates that you receive in your PCS email.
The School Board passed Resolution 2021-14 on January 26. You can find it on the PCS website, or HERE if you would like to read it for yourself. This resolution laid the criteria for students and staff to return to in-person learning. The resolution states that in-person learning will not occur until all staff has had the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccination series. This is an important protection that our school board added into the reopening plan and we are truly grateful to them.
As you have most likely heard, the vaccination plan in our state and county is in turmoil. Hopefully, government officials will be able to regroup and run efficient vaccination clinics. I have been impressed with the organization at SCOE. I have been attending meetings with Dr. Harrington (county superintendent) and Jeff Harding (vaccination coordinator). They have been steadfast in their advocating for immunizing all educators before we return to in-person learning, The plan they have developed is well organized and if allowed to implement will have all Sonoma County educators (who choose to be vaccinated) vaccinated by the end of April.
General Membership Meeting
We will have a general membership meeting next Tuesday, February 9 from 4:00-5:00. In addition, PFT leadership will be scheduling smaller site meetings to hear directly from each site. You will be hearing from your site reps after that meeting is scheduled. Please take the time to attend one or both of those meetings. We all must work together and stay strong. Zoom link for General Membership Meeting
CFT Virtual Convention - Rise Up, Recover, Rebuild
The California Federation of Teachers will hold a virtual convention this year on March 26-27. We can have up to 9 voting delegates at the convention. We will not be providing subs for members to attend. Rather, we are asking members to attend the portions of the convention that their schedule allows. I will send out a nomination form for you to nominate any member that you believe would like to attend the convention in the coming days. Please only nominate someone that would like to attend and feel free to nominate yourself if you would like to attend. If more than 9 members are interested in attending we will hold an election to determine who will be our delegates.
It’s Scholarship Time!
The Petaluma Federation of Teachers will sponsor multiple scholarships that will provide a one-time payment of $500 to children of PFT “members in good standing” who are graduating from high school to attend a community college, a four year college, or other institution with a course of learning resulting in a diploma or certificate of completion. The scholarships are for those graduating from high school in the 2020-21 school year. The Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF) will administer the scholarships. The graduating senior must submit the application along with a short (250-300 words) essay describing how having a Petaluma City Schools educator as a parent influenced them as well as their educational goals.
This is intended to be an annual scholarship however, since the number of applicants will vary from year to year the scholarship will be reviewed each fiscal year in the total context of the PFT budget.
The application is available online at PFT Website or HERE.
Please email the PFT President at pftoffice775@gmail.com about your intent to apply. PEF will notify students of the scholarship award and all details encompassing it.
All completed applications along with the essay must be submitted to PFT President, Sandra Larsn, no later than Friday, March 12, 2021. Submissions may be done via email, postal mails or brought directly to the PFT office. Late submissions will not be accepted.
In Unity,
Sandra
I look forward to the day when we can look back on the COVID-19 pandemic as an unpleasant memory. Sadly, we are not there yet. COVID-19 is mutating and the scientific data is changing daily. It is very important that we clearly communicate with each other and the District as we make our way through these challenging times. The exhaustion we are all feeling as a result of distance learning makes it all the more difficult and more needed at the same time. It is vital that we stand together in solidarity as we work with the District to meet the needs of all students and staff while remaining safe.
There are many questions and concerns as we plan for in-person instruction. The Federation will be negotiating the effects of these changes as we move forward. Negotiation team members are attending trainings and working overtime to represent you are the bargaining table. Remember to read the joint updates that you receive in your PCS email.
The School Board passed Resolution 2021-14 on January 26. You can find it on the PCS website, or HERE if you would like to read it for yourself. This resolution laid the criteria for students and staff to return to in-person learning. The resolution states that in-person learning will not occur until all staff has had the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccination series. This is an important protection that our school board added into the reopening plan and we are truly grateful to them.
As you have most likely heard, the vaccination plan in our state and county is in turmoil. Hopefully, government officials will be able to regroup and run efficient vaccination clinics. I have been impressed with the organization at SCOE. I have been attending meetings with Dr. Harrington (county superintendent) and Jeff Harding (vaccination coordinator). They have been steadfast in their advocating for immunizing all educators before we return to in-person learning, The plan they have developed is well organized and if allowed to implement will have all Sonoma County educators (who choose to be vaccinated) vaccinated by the end of April.
General Membership Meeting
We will have a general membership meeting next Tuesday, February 9 from 4:00-5:00. In addition, PFT leadership will be scheduling smaller site meetings to hear directly from each site. You will be hearing from your site reps after that meeting is scheduled. Please take the time to attend one or both of those meetings. We all must work together and stay strong. Zoom link for General Membership Meeting
CFT Virtual Convention - Rise Up, Recover, Rebuild
The California Federation of Teachers will hold a virtual convention this year on March 26-27. We can have up to 9 voting delegates at the convention. We will not be providing subs for members to attend. Rather, we are asking members to attend the portions of the convention that their schedule allows. I will send out a nomination form for you to nominate any member that you believe would like to attend the convention in the coming days. Please only nominate someone that would like to attend and feel free to nominate yourself if you would like to attend. If more than 9 members are interested in attending we will hold an election to determine who will be our delegates.
It’s Scholarship Time!
The Petaluma Federation of Teachers will sponsor multiple scholarships that will provide a one-time payment of $500 to children of PFT “members in good standing” who are graduating from high school to attend a community college, a four year college, or other institution with a course of learning resulting in a diploma or certificate of completion. The scholarships are for those graduating from high school in the 2020-21 school year. The Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF) will administer the scholarships. The graduating senior must submit the application along with a short (250-300 words) essay describing how having a Petaluma City Schools educator as a parent influenced them as well as their educational goals.
This is intended to be an annual scholarship however, since the number of applicants will vary from year to year the scholarship will be reviewed each fiscal year in the total context of the PFT budget.
The application is available online at PFT Website or HERE.
Please email the PFT President at pftoffice775@gmail.com about your intent to apply. PEF will notify students of the scholarship award and all details encompassing it.
All completed applications along with the essay must be submitted to PFT President, Sandra Larsn, no later than Friday, March 12, 2021. Submissions may be done via email, postal mails or brought directly to the PFT office. Late submissions will not be accepted.
In Unity,
Sandra
December 2020
We have almost made it to Winter Break! When I reflect back to last March, I am amazed at how far we have come. First, we were tasked with developing a new way to deliver instruction. Suddenly we were all " new teachers" as we transitioned to distance learning, We found numerous ways to reach our students and mentor their families all while dealing with a pandemic. I am proud to be working with all of you.
I don't know about you, but last March I would have never believed that we would be in distance learning this long. Having never experienced a worldwide pandemic, I did not fully grasp the severity of it when we first met with the District to talk about COVID in March 2019. The Shared Decision Making process outlined in Article 20 of our contract was proven to be a successful model as we worked on all COVID 19 issues. We truly appreciate the positive working relationships we formed with District Administration. Working together, we are providing a quality education for our students while maintaining safety for all.
You only have to check the daily case counts to see that COVID 19 cases are on the rise. We must continue to follow all safety protocols. Now is not the time to relax safety procedures. At least there is an end in sight now that there is at least one approved vaccine. There are talks at the state level regarding when educators will be able to receive the vaccine. I will update you regarding vaccinations as I learn more information.
A special ed working group has been formed to look for ways to bring small cohorts of SDC snd SOCC students and teachers to campus. You should have received an email regarding this committee via your PCS email last Monday. There is a Google form linked in the email that you need to complete in order to join the committee. I realize everyone is exhausted, but please consider joining this committee if you are a SOCC or SDC teacher. Of course, general ed teachers and specialists may join as well. I want to assure everyone that the Federation considers safety as its highest priority.
Article 6, Section M of our contract (see below) establishes a Special Education Committee that is to be co-chaired by District and Federation representatives. We have a special education teacher who has agreed to serve as a co-chair but we still need a general education teacher to serve as well. If you have questions or are interested in serving as a co-chair for this important committee contact me.
Article 6 Section M
The Special Education Committee will convene no later than October 31st to determine the focus and need and will establish a meeting calendar for the year. The committee will review and discuss the current special education laws, caseloads, best practices pertaining to the implementation of special education laws, and the methods currently in place on how unit members fulfill their requirements of the special education laws, including but not limited to their involvement in the IEP process. The committee will be co-chaired by a District and Federation representative, and the committee will include a site administrator, a general education teacher and a special education representative from elementary, junior high, and high school.
We have restarted contract negotiations with the district. You may remember last year ( before covid) all members were given the opportunity to complete a sunshine survey. The results of that survey were used to create a sunshine letter that was sent to the District. In other words, we had begun negotiations. When Covid began, we turned all of our energies to maintaining safety for all and delivering a quality education for our students. Earlier this month, we restarted negotiations and held a negotiation session with the District. We focused on Article 5 (wages) of our contract. Beginning in January, the Federation and District will send a joint email with a negotiation update after each session. You will find them in your PCS email. Our next Negotiations Session is scheduled for January 19.
I hope you have a restful and safe break. We all need to take some time away from our work. I wish you a happy and healthy new year. I am sure 2021 will be a much better year.
In Unity,
Sandra
We have almost made it to Winter Break! When I reflect back to last March, I am amazed at how far we have come. First, we were tasked with developing a new way to deliver instruction. Suddenly we were all " new teachers" as we transitioned to distance learning, We found numerous ways to reach our students and mentor their families all while dealing with a pandemic. I am proud to be working with all of you.
I don't know about you, but last March I would have never believed that we would be in distance learning this long. Having never experienced a worldwide pandemic, I did not fully grasp the severity of it when we first met with the District to talk about COVID in March 2019. The Shared Decision Making process outlined in Article 20 of our contract was proven to be a successful model as we worked on all COVID 19 issues. We truly appreciate the positive working relationships we formed with District Administration. Working together, we are providing a quality education for our students while maintaining safety for all.
You only have to check the daily case counts to see that COVID 19 cases are on the rise. We must continue to follow all safety protocols. Now is not the time to relax safety procedures. At least there is an end in sight now that there is at least one approved vaccine. There are talks at the state level regarding when educators will be able to receive the vaccine. I will update you regarding vaccinations as I learn more information.
A special ed working group has been formed to look for ways to bring small cohorts of SDC snd SOCC students and teachers to campus. You should have received an email regarding this committee via your PCS email last Monday. There is a Google form linked in the email that you need to complete in order to join the committee. I realize everyone is exhausted, but please consider joining this committee if you are a SOCC or SDC teacher. Of course, general ed teachers and specialists may join as well. I want to assure everyone that the Federation considers safety as its highest priority.
Article 6, Section M of our contract (see below) establishes a Special Education Committee that is to be co-chaired by District and Federation representatives. We have a special education teacher who has agreed to serve as a co-chair but we still need a general education teacher to serve as well. If you have questions or are interested in serving as a co-chair for this important committee contact me.
Article 6 Section M
The Special Education Committee will convene no later than October 31st to determine the focus and need and will establish a meeting calendar for the year. The committee will review and discuss the current special education laws, caseloads, best practices pertaining to the implementation of special education laws, and the methods currently in place on how unit members fulfill their requirements of the special education laws, including but not limited to their involvement in the IEP process. The committee will be co-chaired by a District and Federation representative, and the committee will include a site administrator, a general education teacher and a special education representative from elementary, junior high, and high school.
We have restarted contract negotiations with the district. You may remember last year ( before covid) all members were given the opportunity to complete a sunshine survey. The results of that survey were used to create a sunshine letter that was sent to the District. In other words, we had begun negotiations. When Covid began, we turned all of our energies to maintaining safety for all and delivering a quality education for our students. Earlier this month, we restarted negotiations and held a negotiation session with the District. We focused on Article 5 (wages) of our contract. Beginning in January, the Federation and District will send a joint email with a negotiation update after each session. You will find them in your PCS email. Our next Negotiations Session is scheduled for January 19.
I hope you have a restful and safe break. We all need to take some time away from our work. I wish you a happy and healthy new year. I am sure 2021 will be a much better year.
In Unity,
Sandra
April 1, 2020
Important Distance Learning Update
I hope that you and your family are doing well. We are in unprecedented times right now. I am finding Distance Teaching both exhilarating and exhausting. I remind myself each day that I am fortunate because I am healthy and so are the people I love. I am working from the safety of my home, connecting with my students and I am still getting a paycheck. This time will pass and we will be back with our students at some point, even if it is not this year.
There is some confusion regarding a letter Tony Thurmond , the State Superintendent. sent to county and district officials. In the letter, Thurmond states that he does anticipate that we will be back in the classroom this year. He sent that letter to prepare those officials not to order school closures. We are officially teaching from home (Distance Learning) for the month of April. If and when that changes, we will get an official notice from the District.
The Federation continues to meet with the District to make things as smooth as possible. We are currently working on a MOU ( memorandum of understanding) that will address evaluations for this year. We are hopeful that we will reach an agreement soon.
The Federation and the District reached a mou regarding Distance Learning on March 13. The mou states that if a certificated staff member is unable to meet the terms of working from home, the certificated member will contact Human Resources and the certificated staff member's personal leave bank will be docked for the day.
In other words, if you are too ill to teach from home contact HR and they will assign a substitute teacher and deduct a day from your leave bank. I realize having a substitute would be challenging if not impossible, but that will be the District's responsibility. If you are ill, you need to focus on getting well.
Please know that PFT is here for you. Do not hesitate to email me at pftoffice775@gmail.com or call/text ( 707-696-5118) if you have a concern or question.
Stay Healthy,
Sandra
Important Distance Learning Update
I hope that you and your family are doing well. We are in unprecedented times right now. I am finding Distance Teaching both exhilarating and exhausting. I remind myself each day that I am fortunate because I am healthy and so are the people I love. I am working from the safety of my home, connecting with my students and I am still getting a paycheck. This time will pass and we will be back with our students at some point, even if it is not this year.
There is some confusion regarding a letter Tony Thurmond , the State Superintendent. sent to county and district officials. In the letter, Thurmond states that he does anticipate that we will be back in the classroom this year. He sent that letter to prepare those officials not to order school closures. We are officially teaching from home (Distance Learning) for the month of April. If and when that changes, we will get an official notice from the District.
The Federation continues to meet with the District to make things as smooth as possible. We are currently working on a MOU ( memorandum of understanding) that will address evaluations for this year. We are hopeful that we will reach an agreement soon.
The Federation and the District reached a mou regarding Distance Learning on March 13. The mou states that if a certificated staff member is unable to meet the terms of working from home, the certificated member will contact Human Resources and the certificated staff member's personal leave bank will be docked for the day.
In other words, if you are too ill to teach from home contact HR and they will assign a substitute teacher and deduct a day from your leave bank. I realize having a substitute would be challenging if not impossible, but that will be the District's responsibility. If you are ill, you need to focus on getting well.
Please know that PFT is here for you. Do not hesitate to email me at pftoffice775@gmail.com or call/text ( 707-696-5118) if you have a concern or question.
Stay Healthy,
Sandra