CEA responds to the Districts "Questions from the Community IV"

March 13, 2008

Q: I have been to the Cupertino Union School district Website and read what they have to say about negotiations.  Is everything they say is "true"?

A:  Great question.  We here at CEA would like to think the School District would not lie to its parents and community members.  We feel that CUSD has not always told the whole truth and that is why we post our own statement of facts. 

Q:  Can teachers refuse to talk with or return phone calls from parents after school day? 

A:  Of course.  Parents, community members and the District must realize that the Teachers of CUSD have a life outside of work.  They have families and responsibilities that must be dealt with first.  Teachers give up their precious little free time from their own families and private life to give to our parents, our students and our District.  We will return your calls and emails when there is time and when it is appropriate to do so.

Q:  Can teachers refuse to grade homework after the school day?

A:  The School Board has mandated that teachers must assign and grade homework.  Therefore, teachers should assign only the amount of work that they are able to correct during their duty day.  This may include reading logs, self corrected assignments and review or study sheets.  CEA feels this meets the CUSD Board policy and follows the negotiated contract which allows for academic freedom.

Q:  Can teachers skip before or after school activities?

A:  No, teachers are still required to attend staff meetings, supervise students during their duty day and complete tasks for which they receive a stipend or extra pay.  If the duty is adjunct duty then it must be performed within the 40 hour work week as explained in the CEA/CUSD contract.  It is recommended that all teachers keep track of their adjunct duty hours and once 25 hours is reached to make sure they get compensated for the time.

Q:  Do Teachers have to do report cards?

A:  Yes, assessing student progress is part of our job as teachers.  The CUSD board has intervened, trying to stop teachers from "working to rule" by mandating that report cards have comments.  CEA suggests using a "custom comment", for example "continue to support your child at home by reading together each night".  You may also want to make a comment or use "working at grade level" or "maintaining current progress".  Teachers may choose to select a comment from the "comment library" provided as well.  CEA feels that reducing the amount of comments and using more general statements will meet the Board's demands and still simplify the report card process. 

CUSD cannot mandate that teachers must take work home, nor can they require teachers to work beyond their duty day.  The Teachers in Cupertino are professional and considerate.  The District has implied that CEA and in extension the Teachers in CUSD are unprofessional and are not concerned about the safety and well being of our students.  When our student's needs are not met it is not the District that stands up and yells for more but it is the Teachers that stand up for our students rights.  Our teachers will not shirk their responsibilities even in the face of continuing disrespect from the District office and the CUSD school board, growing paperwork, less time with our families, growing health costs and no COLA or salary increase.