August, 2009
Volume 17, Issue 12
McAllen AFT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1500 Dove Avenue, McAllen, TX, 78504, 682-1143
EYES ON THE BOARD
RAISES FOR PROFESSIONALS -- TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, COUNSELORS, NURSES, SPEECH PATHOLOGIST -- $1,000
August 24, 2009
The McAllen ISD Board of Education approved a $1,000 pay raise for teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, and speech pathologists at the meeting last night. No other employees will receive raises. There is no health insurance increase (there is a health fund balance of nearly $3 million).
Don’t forget to save money; use the PCI Clinic at 500 S. Bicentennial Blvd. The telephone number is 971-0077. There is a $5 copay. Walk-ins from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Audrey Lee Jones, a woman doctor, will be on staff as well as Dr. Darryl L. Stinson beginning September 1, 2009. The web address for the clinic is www.rgvpci.com. Your dependents can use the clinic if they are on your health plan. USE IT OR LOSE IT.
We asked that the clinic be open until 7 p.m. Monday-Friday—will know soon if this will be approved.
Catherine Leal was approved as the new Assistant Principal at McAuliffe Elementary, and Concepcion Lopez from Mission CISD is the new Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations.
Large numbers of bills were paid. The 2009 School Tax Rate was approved and there will be a $19 yearly increase on taxes on a typical home.
The district budget for 2009-2010 was approved. We still have not received the staffing ratios—that item was marked DRAFT when we asked for the item using Open Records. Expect more cuts.
The board changed the Open Forum to the last meeting of the month. We feel that this is limiting public input so that the bigger crowd at the first meeting of the month cannot speak to the board.
We have asked for changes at the PCI clinic—longer hours (til 7 p.m.), both a man and woman doctor, and in addition gastric bypass surgery for those who need this for medical reasons. NO CHANGES YET. If you need gastric bypass surgery for medical reasons, call Director of Benefits, Andy Silva at 618-7380 so that he has an estimate of those needing the surgery.
We know you share the satisfaction that AFT (American Federation of Teachers—14 million strong in membership) and the Texas AFT have given us grants for this school year.
The training part began this summer with classes on PDAS (everything administration forgot to tell you), Bullying, and Safe Schools. Each class gave members 3 hrs. of TE time—total of 9 hrs.—we are approved by the Texas Education Agency to give TE
Training.
August 10, 2009
At the McAllen AFT Board meeting on Monday, August 10, 2009 Cynthia Medrano-Richards presented the Financial and Investment Reports for May and June, 2009.
The fund balance is $11 million (should be a minimum $14 million in case of a hurricane emergency or other problems such as money to pay salaries). None of the 5 properties up for sale have been sold. In today’s “Monitor” the Notice of Public Meeting to discuss budget for 2009-2010 says that the Maintenance and Operations Fund Balance is $7,700,000 and the Interest & Sinking Fund Balance(s) is about$1,200,000. Taxes are going up.
Staffing Formulas were approved, but we have not yet seen them. On Tuesday, we began having calls from members regarding people being transferred or placed in the job pool and so far not being picked up at a school.
Salaries have not been approved.
We were told salaries will be on the August 24, 2009 McAllen ISD budget meeting.
August 6, 2009
The McAllen ISD Board of Education met August 6, 2009 at 1 p.m. After much discussion, the board discussed giving a $1,000 raise to teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, and speech pathologists. No other raises will be given—only what the legislature funded—no raises to paras, principals, etc. The board also discussed NO HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE. The formal vote is to be August 10, 2009. We will keep you posted.
The Board voted 5-0 to have Dr. Mike Barrera made Custodian of Records. CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Cynthia Medrano-Richards gave a brief discussion of the budget. A balanced budget has been achieved—where the cuts are we do not know.
The documents for discussion were marked DRAFT, thus the district does not have to grant us an open records request (which we have done for each of the budget meetings).
The last items discussed were the staffing formulas for 2009-2010. Since we do not know what the paper work said, we don’t have a good handle on job cuts.
A big discussion occurred when the Superintendent said it looked as if there were too many counselors. Mr. Saldiviar stood up for the counselors.
MCALLEN AFT—AUGUST 24, 2009
PRESENTATION DURING PUBLIC HEARING 2009-2010 BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE
Good evening. The McAllen AFT represents employees from the teacher to the bus driver.
In regard to the public hearing to discuss the 2009-2010 Budget and Proposed Tax Rate, we have the following concerns:
1. Due to substantial cuts in the staff, we understand that custodians must also do crossing guard duty. We ask that they have training and the proper clothing to identify them to the public as crossing guards.
2. Due to substantial cuts in the staff, we understand that the ACT program--used to supervise students with discipline problems--has been cut. We are deeply concerned that the Safe Schools Act guidelines will not be followed. The 2009 Legislative Session mandated that administrators be trained to follow the guidelines of the Safe School Act. Where are students going to be relocated if they break the Safe School rules? Is administration going to be in violation of Safe School guidelines?
3. Due to health safety issues for the children, parents, and staff—namely Swine Flu--we know how important the custodial staff is in this issue. We presume that a carefully thought out plan to review sanitary conditions with students, parents, and staff has been presented on the school district channel. The media is constantly saying that another outbreak of swine flu will occur in September or early October. We have attended several funerals for Swine Flu victims. We ask that even when money is tight that nurses on every campus have the supplies they need to protect the school community from Swine Flu and each other. We notice that supply lists for elementary and middle school have required pump bottles of sanitary lotion for the class room. What happens when not all children bring the required bottles of lotion?
4. Due to cuts in the teaching staff, will fifth grade classrooms be loaded with 30 to 35 students? We ask that the board carefully watch the numbers so that children on the north, south, east and west sides of McAllen have equal treatment.
5. We ask that the Superintendent have campus meetings with the teaching staff to ensure that leaders of each campus are truly motivating staff positively and not negatively. We realize that the Superintendent gave his leaders reading material and motivational information to grow and improve their leadership skills—but is the administrative training working?
PRESENTATION TO MCALLEN ISD BOARD OF EDUCATION
AUGUST 10, 2009
Good evening. As our McAllen ISD school year is beginning, we have some important concerns to share with administration and the Board.
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Health safety issues for the children, parents, and staff—namely swine flu. We know how important the custodial staff is in this issue. We presume that a carefully thought out plan to review sanitary conditions with students, parents, and staff has been presented on the school district channel. The media is constantly saying that another outbreak of swine flu will occur in October or early November. We ask that even when money is tight that nurses on every campus have the supplies they need to protect the school community from swine flu and each other. With a budget of no growth projected, we need to carefully plan ahead.
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Before school safety issues—though we cannot imagine at this point in the year the days growing shorter and students waiting in the early morning darkness for the school building to open—that time is coming. With many parents struggling to get to work on time—some beginning at 7 a. m. or earlier--is there a better plan of supervision on the school grounds? If administration says don’t leave students at school until 7:30 a.m., that is not a realistic time when parents have to be at work.
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Bus safety—Our bus drivers are our first line of defense in an area of the United States that is threatened with various violent incidents. The bus driver is one of the team of respected McAllen ISD employees. The bus driver (whether man or woman) drives a daily route that requires quick reactions and sharp observation. A regular review of issues that might occur should be shared in bus driver meetings. When bus drivers share concerns, lives will be saved.
- Student behavior—Our counselors, parental involvement staff, and teachers and their support personnel have their hands full with student behavior issues. The key to better learning is a parent who is informed and understands how important it is to have their child in school. Review of McAllen ISD meeting minutes shows that administrative staff reported more absences in the lower grades. We continue to encourage home visits, hot dog lunches for stay-at-home parents to encourage their commitment to their child, and mentors from the community that care about children.
Ruth Skow, McAllen AFT