Dear Canyon Vista Elementary School Families:
As you have heard, we were informed this morning that there will be a teachers’ strike beginning tomorrow, Thursday April 22, 2010. School will remain in session during this time. All students at Canyon Vista will be on our “Early Out Thursday” schedule.
We will have qualified substitutes working closely with our students to deliver the lessons we have planned.
We are making every effort to ensure the safety of all of our students. Students should report to their regular lineup area upon arrival to school. At the end of the day we will follow our regular dismissal procedures.
Below is the listserv sent earlier in the week. I hope this answers any questions.
It is my hope that the information in this email will help answer many of your questions and concerns, and will begin to help alleviate some of the stress and worry that all of us are experiencing.
Will parents be notified in the event of a strike? Yes. The district would expect to receive a minimum of 48 hours notice from the union in the event of a strike. The district would then contact parents via our phone messaging system and by ListServ. I will also send out additional information that is specific to CVES. We plan on keeping schedules, including morning flag ceremony, lunch and recess breaks, as close to normal as possible. Our goal is to keep as much continuity for the students as possible at CVES.
Will schools be open in the event of a strike? Yes. In the event of a strike, each school has secured substitutes and developed lesson plans to cover classes. Should the district feel that it does not have the resources to keep schools open during a strike; the Superintendent can make the decision to close schools or shorten the school day.
Who will be teaching students in the event of a strike? In the event of a strike, CUSD substitutes who have received fingerprint clearance through the Department of Justice and have met the same safety clearance as all CUSD employees will be covering classes. Substitute teachers are required to have a 4-year college degree as well as verification of passing the CBEST (California Basic Education Skills Test). Many of our substitutes hold California teaching credentials as well.
What will my child be doing in class? Students will be doing enrichment activities related to the standards in math, reading, language arts, science, social studies, physical education, and character education. Although instruction will not, and could not, be the same as when our talented teachers are teaching, emergency substitute plans have been developed, materials have been gathered, and they are ready to be put into place.
Of most concern for parents is how many students will be assigned to a classroom and a teacher during a strike. We don’t have an answer to this question because we simply do not know how many parents will send their children to school during a strike. Therefore, we will not know how many students per class until the first morning of a strike when the students are at school gathered at our morning flag ceremony.
Will armed security guards be on campus? No. School Resource Officers (who are regular employees at our secondary schools), may be armed as they
are on any given school day; however, additional security guards who may be present to assist with traffic duty and supervision around the perimeter of the schools will not be armed.
Safety
Every day, my #1 priority is your children, their safety and their learning. I want to reassure you that I will continue to take all appropriate measures to ensure the safety of your children. Inside the walls of Canyon Vista Elementary School, it will not be a chaotic environment. Much planning and preparation has occurred in order to prevent chaos and to ensure learning.
You most likely will see CVES teachers and other individuals picketing along the sidewalk on Oak View Drive during a strike. Picketers can not block nor use the driveway area into our parking lot. Picketers can not come onto our school campus nor come into our parking lot. Picketers must remain on the sidewalk. There will be security guards to ensure parents who are bringing their children to school during a strike will have access to and from our parking lot. The security guards will also monitor our school perimeter and ensure a closed campus.
Personal Decision
The political situation which we are trying to understand and grapple with is one that is fraught with many different opinions, thoughts, and beliefs. There will be teachers who strike, and there will be teachers who do not. There will be parents who send their children to school during a strike, and there will be parents who keep them home. Teachers and parents will decide which of these scenarios they will do based on their individual circumstances and beliefs.
No matter where you stand on this political situation, we must continue to be respectful of one another, and we must be respectful of each other’s personal decision to come to school or not during a strike. Up to this point, we have all worked together in a cohesive, positive, and professional manner. I am hopeful that we will all continue to work in this manner during and after a strike.
Will student absences be counted during a strike? Yes. Schools will maintain regular accounting of absences in the event of a strike. As always, we want all children in school if they are healthy. Please continue to use the Sick Line (949) 234-5939 to report student absences.
Will the school district lose money if the students do not attend school during a strike? Possibly. While the bulk of school funding comes from the State’s ADA accounting which ended March 19th, the school district receives categorical funding from the state and federal government which may be calculated on overall ADA throughout the year.
Will food services be available during a strike? Yes.
Will after school activities be cancelled during? All after school activities, community education classes, and athletics would be cancelled on the 1st day of strike. At the end of the 1st day, high school activities and athletics will be evaluated for possible reinstatement on subsequent days on a case-by base basis. Reinstatement will be offered based on availability of certificated teachers and certified coaches.
Will the YMCA and after school child care be cancelled during a strike? No.
As of today, the district has updated their webpage with information regarding a possible strike. I encourage you to visit the website as it will answer topics not addressed in this email. In the event of a strike, regular updates will be posted on the district’s website at www.capousd.org .
It is my hope that this information has answered many of the questions you may have. My highest priority during this difficult time is the safety and welfare of your children. As always, thank you for your support of our school!
Sincerely,
Donald Mahoney,
Principal
