News

Hello NTA members, We are happy to announce that on late Saturday afternoon, we were able to reach an agreement regarding a possible reopening to a transitional model. As we previously reported, this was a labor intensive effort by our bargaining team to ensure that we created the safest and most responsible plan for members and students. Below is a summary of the MOU (Click here to view full MOU):  Salary Increases– in recognition of the efforts members are making during these unprecedented times and the one time money the District received through the CARES act, we have successfully negotiated the following raises:For 2020-21 school year: One-time 2% salary payment to be paid out in January 2021 and May 2021 (this is an addition to what we previously negotiated 1% ongoing that also takes effect on January 2021). For 2021-22 school year: a 1% ongoing salary raise and a 2% one-time payment in October 2021. We go back to the table on 2022-2023. No Layoffs or reduction of particular kind of services during the 2021-22 school year When Schools will open in transitional model (hybrid):If we remain in the red tier through December, schools may reopen in the transitional model on January 4, 20201. The first five days shall be minimum days to practice health and safety protocols with students and get students reacquainted with attending schools in person. If the county reaches the orange tier by November 30, 2020, schools may reopen in the transitional model on December 14, 2020 (It’s worth noting that this is very unlikely). If at any point we go back into purple for two consecutive weeks, we will go into distance learning. This will also trigger a meeting between NTA and the District to discuss if we should stay in distance learning or go into transitional model. If we are placed in a yellow tier, this also triggers a meeting to discuss expanding the in person model.  Protections for At-risk members:40 remote assignments shall be made available for members in which you will be given a classified employee or sub to provide oversight and support to students in the classroom while teacher lead instruction virtually. First priority for the positions shall be for people that are high risk and suffer adverse effects of Covid-19 in you were to report in person (this will likely require a doctor’s note, please contact us if you have additional questions), in order of seniority.Second priority for members that provide care for a medically compromised person, in order of seniority. The remaining assignments shall be filled through an application process, in order of seniority.  COVID-19 Testing and Contract TracingStaff have access to free COVID-19 testing and Contact tracing shall be done in conjunction with the County health department.If a member is exposed or contracts COVID-19, they shall be placed on paid leave that is not deducted from personal sick leave. If you are exposed or required to quarantine and if you are able to, you can continue to teach virtually (but only if you are able to still perform daily duties). There will be ongoing testing throughout the year, 12.5% of staff per week will be encouraged (not mandated) to test per week. Anyone that does not pass health screening or shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19 shall be denied entry. Students shall be sent home or sent to an isolation room supervised by the principal or trained designee. District shall create a public dashboard that outlines and tracks which school sites and the number of people that have tested positive for COVID-19 (see example).  Virtual Academy: Virtual Academy shall be created next fall to continue to support students that want to remain in distance learning and staff that may want to remain in remote assignments. Supports for Teaching and Learning:Consumable materials and manipulative shall be made available. Teachers may be provided microphones if requested, students shall be provided headsets that include microphones.Teachers may request plexi glass barriers.Teachers shall be provided a 6 foot socially distance place in the classroom in a location that allows teacher to address the in class students and virtual learners.A parent and/or student that refuses to comply with safety protocols will be required to participate through distance learning rather that in-person. The use of cameras in the classroom limited to what is used for daily live interaction for distance learning (i.e. zoom, Google meet..etc).Teachers have the ability to mute microphones or turn off cameras for all students.Teachers shall have the access for additional training.Teachers must give consent for anyone to record them pursuant to education code.Students required to wear masks, unless medically exempted  Childcare accommodations:If there is space available in a teachers classroom, such a teacher may bring school-age children to work with them and/or if there is no space in the classroom such a teacher may request if there are other options on-site. Changing from distance learning to transitional:Parents cannot change a students designation (of staying in distance learning or transitional) for at least 6 weeks from the start of the transitional model.Thereafter, students designation can only be changed the first Monday of each month. Newly enrolled students shall be limited distance learning for at least one cohort rotation.  SDC:If a class is under 15 students, in consultation of the SDC teacher, may not be required to split into cohorts and may meet every day, as long as safety protocols are followed.  RSP: Provide push-in or pull-out support based on in-person enrollment in the classroom Case Managers:For purposes of getting current with IEP’s and assessments shall receive extra duty rate of pay of $60/hour (up to 40 hours) and/or additional assistance can be provided by an aide, sub, or contract employee.  Related Service Providers:Additional negotiations to take place regarding impacts and effects for non classroom members, counselors, SLP’s, Nurses, Specialists. NTA is currently requesting for related service providers to join us to negotiate these items. Please email Brenda Borge if you are interested. Preschool Programs (including SDC):Awaiting guidance, NTA and the District will be negotiating these items in the near future. Preschool teachers can join NTA  bargaining team to ensure these discussion are productive and meaningful.  Administrators:In consideration of the unprecedented times administrators shall not evaluate based on technological issues beyond a members control. Moreover, administrators are required to consider that this model is new therefore feedback is limited to providing constructive feedback to support with new modalities.

Additional information regarding schedules: Students can be in class on alternating days or stay online 100% of the time. Students can drop back into online only if they choose to but can only join in class after a 6 week period has passed (mid February) and will start the first Monday of the month This model was the only one we could could choose that was flexible to move students and teachers to distance learning again quickly, if necessary Sites will return to traditional start and end times, with teacher start 15 min before kids.Current district responses indicate that less than 60% of students intend to return.   Our model is also an improvement on other nearby models by providing additional prep time and teacher schedule flexibilty (see Elk grove’s MOU regarding schedules on page 80).  General Membership Meeting, Thurs. Nov 5Th at 4:30pm for more detailed presentation and Q&A Please attend the NTA General Membership meeting to review the completed MOU for reopening schools. Time: Nov 5, 2020 04:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting – Check your home emails for the link. We should be very proud of the great work from our bargaining team and the long hours and days it took to reach a fair settlement for our members, students, and community. In solidarity, NTA negotiations team: Brenda Borge Kristen Rocha Mara Harvey Georgia Schaaf Lydiana Alfaro Ranbir Bains Randy Hodge Rachel Green Maria Atherley Justin Vorhauer

Register for Training