Faced with the closure of two schools, a declining student enrollment, $2.5 million in budget cuts and 50 layoff notices, members of the Monterey Bay Teachers Association might be packing their bags in despair. Might be, but aren't.
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Among the members of the Monterey Bay Teachers Association conducting informational picketing are Natalie Gray, MBTA President Francine Stewart (center) and April McMillan.
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Instead, MBTA has started an action team, re-examined its communications strategies, and published a survey that shows widespread dissatisfaction with the district administration.
"It's been tough," admits Francine Stewart, president of the 750-member chapter. "Two years ago we had big cuts, and it seems that every other year, we're faced with layoffs. Our district has declining enrollment and we're losing our students to charter schools."
On top of that, the district still owes the teachers $13 million it borrowed from the teachers' health and welfare fund a few years ago.
In February, more than 200 teachers rallied at Window on the Bay Park in Monterey in support of keeping schools open.
The Rep Council is also organizing members to protect health benefits. "We're determined to get our people out to school board meetings," says Stewart.
An overwhelming number of members surveyed by the chapter in March indicated that change is needed in the district, with many suggesting that the superintendent should leave.
Among the suggestions were to get the district to treat teachers like professionals, reduce class sizes, get rid of administrators who do not provide visible support, elevate the status and morale of teachers, raise teacher salary to a level comparable with other districts, and pay heed to teachers' expertise in the classroom.
Dale Martin
