You Tube links

For those of you who could not come to the mediation rally there are some You Tube clips that might give you a flavor of the event. Also VTA leadership Jan O' Reilly, Randy Wiens, and Ron Ferreirae have made several question and answer clips explaining the process of Mediation and the VUSD Budget Advisory Committee. Also parent Maria Lena Wilson is on a clip as well. Below are the links and a brief description of what I saw in the You Tube videos.

You Tube, “vista teachers” search brought these results:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFxP2gnicg8

fifteen seconds of guitar playing “I’m on my way”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaAXHk-D5ks

little blond three year old carrying a well lettered sign, “taking from teachers is taking from students” with the sound of beating drums

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlGwe3rFceI


Chants of Bales Out (sounds like Huelga), sign Teachers are the Real Success Makers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=235OEGfbGkM


drums corp leading the negotiating team and Jan O’ Reilly through crowd of cheering clapping teachers 12 seconds Mediation Rally

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBUPwSKhCDU

Jan O’Reilly standing at locked glass doors (district office?) chants of let us in lots of signs and teachers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DKePK0wgWU

Chants of “Teachers Count” in front of District Office, smiling woman walking up to the door in cleared path between large groups of teachers on each side of the door

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtd3fyHdg38

guitar playing teacher probably at mediation rally at district office singing protest song music sounded like an Arlo Guthrie song, lyrics hard to hear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWVKleR22LY

Election 2008, student for Jaka, Chunka, Lilly
Get rid of Dr. Stephen Guffanti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXhU-cm3BuE

Election 2008, get rid of Guffanti, refused to come to forum, “Im done with you” he said
Guffanti voted against the new high school when and where we need it.
Best statement of why Guffanti and Gibson should not be on our school board.

You Tube search using key word: “vusd”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8lH5_pikms

Jan O’ Reilly you tube Q & A district declared impasse what will happen in impasse mediator tries to find agreement, mediator can be influenced by support,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPTcXbBOTI4

Jan O’Reilly Mediation Day rally thanks for the support over 1000 people showed up for the rally, thanks for your support, bargaining team resolve to come up with a fair agreement, consider reasonable alternatives to budget crises, March 10th at VTA office next Mediation Meeting, Come to school board meeting at Foothill Oak Elementary School, Thursday night 7pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBcjTbas4SY

Randy Wiens VUSD Budget Advisory Committee about the VUSD Budget Advisory Committee, used to be called the Budget Committee, used to be called into session only during crises, when cuts need to be made. In contract languague says there need to be an ongoing committee. The committee is made up of three members of VTA, three members CSEA, PTA reps, (VLAC?) members, school board member reps, community business leaders, and district admin members. All members are appointed by their various groups. There are eighteen or so members. The CTA has experts to help. The VUSD goes through a periodic audit tell that the district is in good or bad financial shape but makes no judgement on how the money is being spent (or where it is being hidden). This video clip is an excellent explanation of the BAC and the fine job that our VTA members do on that committee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVozM74Ry38

Randy Weins #2 on the VUSD Budget Advisory Committee, significance of the VTA minority report, fond 9 million in additional reserves pointed out to board and admin, 3 million of that will be used over next three years, make sure budget cuts as far from the classroom as possible

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlDy5dMzm1Q


Maria Lena Wilson parent of magnet middle school and Alamosa children, concerned parent in district, concerned about eliminating site based decision making, involuntary transfer of teachers, School Site Council, PTA member, increasing of class size of grades 1 2 3 to 25 studentsat middle school student contact 190 to 216 over six periods, 165 to 185 over five periods, raise numbers over an indefinite time, not limit standards being mandated are so higher, expectations on children so much higher, need smaller class sizes, larger high paced classes not conducsive to learning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TjZujzGkQ8


Ron Ferreirae member of BAC is speaking. The district says that 6.5 million of 8.2 million in cuts should come from teachers because teachers have not sacrificed as much in prior year cuts. Classified and admin will be cut 1.7 million. That is more than the cost to the budget of teachers salary and benefits. The district says they understand that in this round of cuts they are asking teachers to take more than their fair or proportional share . VTA has agreed 25 to 1 in first through third grades, and 210 up from 190 student contacts at middle school, individual class cap at 36 for any one class at middle school, and 185 up from 165 student contacts per day at the high school, single class maximum 38. The VTA has agreed to five furlough days and early retirement incentive. 97 teachers have taken early retirement. The teachers did exactly what the district admin asked. This was supposed to save district general fund 400K but now the district says there was an accounting error and no money was saved by the early retirement insentive. The district is asking 1.7 million from classified employees and adminstators. The district is also canceling another buy back day in addition to the one cancelled this year. So next year there will be at least six unpaid days. The district can do cancel a buy back day without negotiating. The District Budget Advisory Committee is suggesting that the district tightening up master schedule planning at the high schools and middle schools. By a unanimous vote the BAC also called for district not to have legal representation at every bargaining session saving thousnads more. Also the BAC called for the immediate closing a school site saving $500K as well as changing staffing formula at new high school matching other high schools saving another 78K. The BAC called for the elimination of a human resources position and eliminating position of deputy superintendent 2011-2012 year saving 177K+60K= 233K for position and secretary. In addition because the state now allows professional development money to be used flexibly there are additional savings. The district has made no movement toward the BAC positions or on the district's view that the teacher’s should bear more than their fair share of the cuts for next year.

The VTA Crises Team is urging all VTA members to watch the You Tube clips especially the Maria Lena Wilson one. Here are there words:

"Please go to: to watch "youtube Q&A #4, with VUSD parent Maria Wilson" as Maria discusses her concerns about VUSD District Management positions with regards to the impasse.

If you have not signed up for email alerts from VTA do so now. Sign up at: http://www.vistata.org/

These You Tube clips can also be seen at the VTA website: http://www.vistata.org/ or join the Facebook group.