Dear friends,
As you may be aware, Albany teachers ratified a modification to our previous agreement with the district. We remain concerned about the impacts on our
students of the schedules that the Board has imposed. However, we did not want to respond to the intense pressure from the Board in a way that delayed in-person re-opening altogether. We want to be with our students!
Because the circumstances are so very difficult, we are pleased to secure additional one-time funds for our members, similar to what is being done in other districts around the state. For many of us, this funding is a lifeline, a small recompense for vast hours of unpaid overtime. Others among us are planning to pool our funds to create a resource for students, families and staff who are in crisis because of unequal impacts of COVID.
Fundamentally, California public schools are suffering from a half-century of disinvestment, which, especially in times of crisis like this, forces impossible trade-offs and reveals longstanding inequities. Teachers will do what we have always done – our very best for every child. It will continue to be painfully less than what we could do with enough resources and better process. We will insist that the impacts of the Board’s decisions are monitored in a transparent way, and with a focus on equity. Going forward, we hope that the Board will move away from top-down dictates and towards real collaboration with educators and all parts of the community.
You can help us show them the way!
• Share your observations with us as the new schedules are implemented!
• Post a window sign to support us! Click here to request delivery.
We are working on more ways to collaborate and connect.
Until then, yours truly,
Chris Knight and Stephen Naiff
Albany Teachers Association Co-Presidents
albanyteachersassociation@gmail.com
ata-ausd.org