NLA Discussion: A Thorny Issue

[Margaret Lewis]

        About 3 years ago, we adult ed teachers organized ourselves and
became part of our teacher's union.  We are now included in the contract
that covers all teachers in the Elk Grove Unified School District.   There
is a special appendix that deals with our specific issues.   While we do
make less than k-12 teachers, full time adult ed teachers (over 21 hours, I
believe) have the same medical and dental benefits that other teachers do.
When COLA raises and lottery bonuses are doled out, we receive the same
percentages as k-12ers.

        Here's the address of the contract.  (Sorry, this is not an
automatic connection to the Net -- I don't know how to do that)

            http://www.sacweb.com/egea/index.html

        We do still have issues with part-time employees.  Also, our adult
ed salary schedule tops out after 5 years, while k-12 increases through 20
years of employment, hardly an encouragement for long-terms in the field.
But, we are much better off than we were a few years ago.  The "rules of the
game" are clearly spelled out for administrators and teachers alike.
        
        After many years in this work, I have come to believe that part of
the reason for our empolyment situations is related to the status of our
students:  dropouts, immigrants, and inmates, for the most part.  No parents
advocate for them.  PTAs don't flood the principals' offices if funding is
cut in the same way they do for high school football.  Alumni groups don't
call politicians for adult ed programs, and few senators are GED grads.

        I hope this discussion is vigorous and fruitful  Thanks for starting
it, David.


        
Peggy Lewis
mlewis at egusd.k12.ca.us
(916) 440-5317   fax (916) 440-6188