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Laura Wood and SWTA President Frank Cherry rally teachers before CTA Vice President David A. Sanchez addresses the school board |
David A. Sanchez with CTA Board member Dianne K. Jones |
Facing some bad press generated by the superintendent of the South Bay Union School District, the Southwest Teachers Association called in CTA to defend its reputation.
The chapter, which is in contract negotiations with the district, organized a rally before the April 20 school board meeting to help build solidarity and brought in CTA Vice President David A. Sanchez to set the board straight.
According to a March 26 article in the San Diego Union Tribune, the superintendent claimed he had received training in how to "spread misinformation and vilify opponents" when he was a CTA member.
Sanchez told the board CTA never instructs members to be "anything but honest, assertive and united" in the collective bargaining process.
While he couldn't speak to the superintendent's recollections of 20-plus years ago, he could speak to the truth about "what CTA believes, what we have fought for, and what is happening in this school district."
He reminded the board that, without CTA members' selflessness in the campaign to defeat the governor's efforts to undermine schools last fall, they could be dismantling the education system they oversee.
He joined SWTA President Frank Cherry in pointing out certain facts about the district's finances. "The truth is, this district can afford to offer its teachers a fair contract settlement without putting itself in any type of financial risk."
Before the meeting, Sanchez addressed the teachers at the rally, saying that CTA trains its members "to stand up to bullies, to organize, to unite and to speak the truth! And speaking the truth is easy because it is on our side."