2011-12 General Election

Declaration of Candidacy for NHTA Officers & Executive Board

This form must be received (not postmarked) by May 9, 2011 at the NHTA Office. If you are elected, the information on

this form is needed for Governance records and will be kept confidential.

Please Print with a pen:

Name Last _____________________________ First _________________________________M.I. ____

Home Address _________________________ School Address ____________________________________

City and Zip _________________________ City and Zip ______________________________________

Home Phone _________________________ School Phone _____________________________________

Non-School E-mail Address ________________________________________________________________

I am a member of____ California Teachers Association/National Education Association

Educational Level: ___ Elementary ___ Middle ___ High School

Grades(s) currently teaching: _____________________________________________________________

Subjects(s) currently teaching: ____________________________________________________________

Positions Available: (job description on back). All terms are 1 year except State Council which is a 3 year term.

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Elementary Director (5)

Middle School Director (2)

High School Director (2)

Racial & Ethnic Minority Director

State Council Representative

I am interested in running for:_______________________________________________

Campaign Statement:(must be 25 words or less)___________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

The President(2 year term) shall:

1. Preside at all meetings of the Association, the Representative Council and Executive Board;

2. Prepare the agenda for the meetings of the Association, the Representative Council and the Executive Board;

3. Be the official spokesperson for the Association;

4. Be familiar with the governance documents of the Association, CTA, and NEA;

5. Appoint all chairpersons and members of committees, and of the bargaining team, with the approval of the Executive Board;

6. Call meetings of the Association, Representative Council and the Executive Board;

7. Propose the procedures for grievance processing for ratification by the Executive Board and the Representative Council;

8. Suggest policies, plans and activities for the Association and be held responsible for the progress and work of the Association;

9. Attend meetings of the Service Center Council of which the Association is a part; and

10. Attend other CTA/NEA meetings as directed by the Representative Council

The Vice-President shall:

1. Serve as assistant to the President in all duties of the President;

2. Assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President;

3. Responsible for the formation and distribution of the Association’s calendar of activities; and

4. Serve as coordinator of committee activities at the direction of the President.

The Secretary shall:

1. Keep a careful and accurate record of the proceedings of each meeting, regular or special, of the Association,

Representative Council, and the Executive Board;

2. Responsible for the distribution of minutes, notice of meetings, and agendas for all meetings to members of the

Representative Council and Executive Board; and to the membership when appropriate;

3. Keep an accurate roster of the membership of the Association and of all committees;

4. Carry on the correspondence pertaining to the affairs of the Association as directed by the President

The Treasurer shall:

1. Receive all funds belonging to the Association and be responsible for their safekeeping and accounting;

2. Pay out such funds upon orders of the President;

3. Provide a written financial report for each regular meeting of the Executive Board and Representative Council;

4. Responsible for an annual audit of the books of the Association and distributing a summary of this audit to the

membership; and

5. Responsible for submitting membership and financial reports to CTA, NEA, and other agencies as required by law.

The above are in accordance with the policy adopted by the Executive Board.

Elementary Director:

Middle School Director:

High School Director:

Racial & Ethnic Minority Director:

The duties and the responsibilities of the Executive Board are:

1. Coordinate the activities of the Association;

2. Act for the Representative Council when school is not in session;

3. Direct the bargaining activities of the Association, subject to policies established by the Representative Council;

4. Approve appointment and removal of bargaining team members;

5. Recommend a budget for the Association to the Representative Council;

6. Approve all appointments to committees, including chairpersons;

7. Adopt the Standing Rules for the Association;

8. Adopt grievance procedures;

9. Direct the grievance activities of the Association; and

10. Exercise all the business and organizational powers and duties for the Association as prescribed by law and these

bylaws, subject to any restrictions that may be imposed by the Representative Council.

State Council Representative:

Each representative shall:

1. Regularly attend all meetings of the State Council of Education.

2. Participate actively in the work of committees to which s/he is assigned.

3. Become informed on professional and educational matters in the chapter represented and be prepared to make

appropriate presentation of recommendations originating in the chapter.

4. Report regularly to his/her chapter regarding the deliberations and actions of the State Council of Education.

5. Attend and participate in the meetings and activities of the Service Center Council of which his/her chapter is a part.

6. Perform other duties as may be assigned to representative by action of the State Council of Education.

2011 General Election Timeline

April 28, 2011 - General Election Announced

May 9, 2011 - Candidacy forms should be received at the NHTA office by 5:00p.m.

May 9, 2011 - Acknowledgment will be mailed to all candidates which will include a

copy of the timeline and election guidelines.

May 10, 2011 – May 24, 2011 - Campaigning.

May 12, 2011 - Ballots will be prepared and mailed.

May 24, 2011 - Ballots must be received at the NHTA office by 5:00p.m.

May 25, 2011 - Ballots will be counted beginning at 3:00 at the NHTA office.

May 25, 2011 - Announcement of results will be made. If a runoff is necessary

Candidates will be notified of the runoff timeline.

June 3, 2011 - Deadline for filing a challenge.

backpack School Supply Drive

and

Car Show

New Haven Education Supporters Rally in Favor of Tax Extension

With more than 65 layoffs issued, dozens of NHUSD teachers gathered at Alvarado Middle School Tuesday morning to urge lawmakers to approve the governor's tax extension proposal.

Members of the New Haven Unified School District were up early this morning to sound an alarm for voters this morning.

District staff, representatives from the California Teachers Association and education supporters gathered for a press conference at Alvarado Middle School at 6:30 a.m. to speak about the detrimental effects the state budget will have on the education system if both a local tax measure and the governor’s proposed tax extensions fail.

If neither is approved, the district expects to face a deficit of more than $10.2 million. To prepare for budget cuts, the school district issued layoff notices to more than 65 district personnel, most of whom are teachers, said district spokesperson Rick La Plante.

The deadline for districts statewide to issue pink slips is today. It doesn't mean all the positions will be cut, but districts are required to notify teachers who potentially could lose their jobs.

“We’ve already been cut to the bone,” said Eric Heins, a CTA board member who represents Contra Costa County and most of Alameda County.

According to Heins, more than 2,800 layoff notices have been issued this year in the greater Bay Area. That number may increase by the end of the day, he said.

“The unnerving part is that it’s been multiple years they’ve been receiving layoff notices,” Heins said. “This year, we don’t have federal stimulus money (to stop layoffs).”

This is the second year in a row that Quyen Tran has received a pink slip. A kindergarten teacher at Guy Emanuele Jr. Elementary School, this year Tran fears she won’t be rehired, which will have a tremendous impact on her life more than ever before. Tran is six months pregnant.

“This year, there’s no money to fall back on,” Tran said.

Layoffs are issued based on seniority, said Tran, who has worked in the district since 2006. Her chances of being rehired are slim as teachers hired in 2001 are receiving pink slips, she said.

“There are more people in the pool,” Tran said.

On March 1, the district approved a number of cuts as a result of budget constraints. In addition to the more than 65 district employees receiving pink slips, the New Haven Adult School, which employs nine teachers and 31 temporary credentialed teachers, would be shut down.

The district layoffs also include three library media specialists at James Logan High School, Alvarado Middle School and Cesar Chavez Middle School. The district would close all of the libraries.

According to Carla Colburn, a librarian at James Logan High School, that means about 7,000 students will return next school year without access to all of the books sitting on the shelves.

“Many of our students don’t have the resources at home,” Colburn said “The decisions [the state Legislature is] making…are going to affect an entire generation of our young citizens.”

This morning's event, held in one of the libraries scheduled for closure, was part of a statewide day of action by the CTA, which represents the teachers union, to urge lawmakers to support Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal.

In January, Brown proposed putting a measure on a June special election ballot asking voters to approve a set of three tax extensions slated to expire on June 30. Brown has said that the extensions will help offset the $12 billion in cuts that affect mostly schools and welfare programs.

However, the Legislature has yet to approve the special election measure. The original deadline for the vote was March 10.

“Trust the people of the state and let them vote on the temporary taxes,” said Don Dawson, a CTA board member and a teacher in San Jose’s East Side Union High School District.

NHUSD's fate also hinges on the approval of Measure B, a local $180 parcel tax that hopes to generate $3 million a year for the next four years. The funds would preserve instructional time, maintain after-school activities and minimize class size increases.

After today's press conference, teachers and Measure B supporters planned to pass out informational leaflets to parents at all schools, according to Charmaine Kawaguchi, president of the New Haven Teachers Association.

“We’ll continue to fight this fight,” Kawaguchi told the teachers at the end of the meeting.

Taking Care of Our Kids

Why You Should Vote Yes on Measure B

MeasureB
Parents, New Haven Teachers, and Civic Leaders urge a YES VOTE on Measure B to protect our neighborhood schools and classrooms from devastating cuts.

Due to the continuing State budget crisis, our schools are facing a new round of cuts – deeper cuts than ever before. New Haven schools could lose an additional $10 million in funding – the equivalent of 137 teachers.

These reductions come on top of deep cuts already made, including school closures and elimination of over 50 teachers, library aides, counselors and student support staff over the past 3 years. While every effort has been made to keep cuts away from classrooms, the next round of cuts will devastate our local schools.

Measure B won’t prevent all cuts in our local schools, but it will help significantly.

Measure B authorizes a temporary school parcel tax of $15 per month to:

- Minimize layoffs of qualified and experienced teachers
- Maintain manageable k-3 class sizes to give young children more time with their teachers
- Minimize reductions to the school year
- Maintain programs that prepare students for college and good jobs
- Protect after-school music, arts and athletics programs that support student learning and help keep children safe from gangs, crime and violence

ALL funds raised by Measure B will stay local, protecting our children’s future.

By law, Measure B funds cannot be taken away by the State or spent on administrator salaries. An independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee will monitor expenditures to ensure funds are spent as promised. Measure B will last 4 years ONLY. It can’t be extended without a vote of the people.

Exemptions will be available to ensure Measure B won’t burden senior citizens or disabled residents on fixed incomes.

Also note that no argument against Measure B was submitted to the Registrar of Voters.

Mail-in Ballot -- No Polling Places
The Measure B election will be conducted via a mail-in ballot, ONLY (no polling places). Ballots will be mailed to every registered voter in New Haven Unified School District the week of April 4. To count, completed ballots MUST be received by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters (ROV) office no later than May 3, 2011. Completed ballots must be mailed by Thursday, April 28 in order to guarantee receipt at the ROV by May 3rd. Postmarks do NOT count!

Measure B REQUIREMENTS:
- ALL funds go to New Haven public schools -- this is funding the State CAN'T take away.
- Exemptions are available for property owners age 65 years or older, OR who are disabled.
- An Independent Citizens Oversight Committee will ensure these funds are spent properly.
- NO money can be used for administrators' salaries (or facilities).

How You Can Help

The campaign committee is looking for volunteers for:

- "Phone banking" -- calling registered voters, starting Thursday, February 24
- "Precinct walking" -- visiting voters door-to-door, starting Saturday, March 12
- Donations to the campaign for literature development, mailing costs, and campaign development costs

Phone Banking Information

Location:
California Teachers Association Office
32980 Alvarado-Niles Road (at corner of Dowe/office faces Dowe)
Union City

Phone banking will be held Monday through Thursday each week during the campaign.

Two sessions of phone banking will take place:
- Teachers and administrators -- 4-6PM
- Parents and community members -- 5:45-8PM
(Note: Volunteers can switch to the other shift if it works better for their schedules.)

Phone banking will also occur on Saturdays, 10AM to 1PM:
- March 12
- March 19
- March 26

Snacks and beverages will be provided. Small prizes will be awarded also!

Phones will be provided, but bring cell phones, if possible.

Note: Click here for a PDF copy of the March phone bank/precinct walk schedule. Note this schedule doesn't reflect the new Saturday phone banking. The above Saturday phone banking is the most current.

Precinct Walking Information

Check-In Location:
California Teachers Association Office
32980 Alvarado-Niles Road (at corner of Dowe/office faces Dowe)
Union City

No currently scheduled March precinct walks. Stay tuned.

In most cases a vehicle will be required to travel to another site within the city to conduct precinct walk. Some carpooling will be available.

Note: Click here for a PDF copy of the March phone bank/precinct walk schedule.

Weekly Planning Meetings

(Note change of location for meetings, starting for Monday, March 7.)

Volunteers can attend our weekly meetings to get more involved in the campaign. Meetings take place, every Monday, 5:30-6:30PM at:

California Teachers Association Office
32980 Alvarado-Niles Road (at corner of Dowe/office faces Dowe)
Union City

To contact someone for additional information:

Call 510 471-4714 or

Send an email to info@takingcareofourkids.org

Donations can be mailed to:

33703 13th Street
Union City, CA 94587

Our children will benefit greatly from your donation of time or money. Thank you!

Vote Yes on B!

- It's TEMPORARY, lasting 4 years only -- Measure B can't be extended without a new vote.

Helpful tips for those who could possibly be facing a layoff. Click the link below.

Layoff Survival Guide

Find more videos like this on Stand Up For Schools

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2011 NEA Representative Assembly

Chicago, IL

Election Committee Chair Makes Presentation to Rep Council - Feb. 2, 2011

Declaration of Candidates from due to NHTA by 5:00p.m. - Feb. 25, 2011

Ballots (Local & State) are mailed by - March 2, 2011

Ballots returned by U.S. Mail or dropped off at the NHTA office by 5:00p.m. - March 21, 2011

Ballots counted by members of the NHTA Election Committee at the NHTA office starting at 3:00p.m. - March 22, 2011

Elections results will be communicated to each candidate by telephone and announced to sites - March 22, 2011

DEADLINE for challenging the results of the Election by 5:00p.m. - March 31, 2011

_________________________________________________________________

Declaration of Candidacy for NEA RA Delegate

New Haven Teachers Association Declaration of Candidacy for NEA RA Delegate. This form must be received (not postmarked) in the NHTA Office by February 25, 2011. If you are elected, the information on this form is needed for Governance records and will be kept confidential.

Please Print with a pen:

Name Last _________________________ First _________________________ M.I. _____

Home Address ________________________ School Address ______________________

City and Zip _________________________ City and Zip _________________________

Home Phone _________________________ School Phone _______________________

Non-School E-mail Address __________________________________________________

I am a member of ____ CTA ____ NEA

Ethnicity: ___ African American __ Native American/Alaska Native ___ Caucasian

__ Hispanic __ Other

Gender: ___ Female ___ Male CTA/NEA Member ID#____________________________

Educational Level: ___ Elementary ___ Middle ___ High School

Grade(s) currently teaching: __________________________________________________

Subject(s) currently teaching: _________________________________________________

Political Party Affiliation (Optional) ___ Democrat ____ Republican ___ Other

I understand that the duties of NEA RA Delegate shall be to perform the following duties:

1. Each delegate will be expected to arrive in Chicago, Illinois (June 30 - July 5, 2011), in time to ensure registering as an official delegate to the Representative Assembly (RA) with both the California delegation and NEA.

2. Each delegate will be expected to attend all caucuses of the California delegation. Normally the caucus begins at 7 a.m. daily. Delegates must be registered with the California delegation to participate in the caucus. Delegates are expected to remain through the convention.

3. Each delegate shall attend all business meetings of the RA.

4. Each delegate is strongly encouraged to attend NEA Budget committee hearings, resolutions committee hearings, bylaw committee hearings, speeches by prominent nation figures, etc.

5. Each delegate should take into consideration CTA State Council and caucus policy when voting.

6. Each delegate is encouraged to participate fully in all activities of the California delegation.

7. Each delegate – state and local – will be expected to sit with his or her Service Center Council delegation on the RA floor or to inform the appropriate person where he or she will be seated. This is to ensure communication regarding RA business and/or personal emergency information of concern to the delegate, as well as to verify attendance.

I understand that, as a state delegate, my attendance is being directly funded, at least partially, by membership dues. I accept my responsibility to carry out the above specified duties.

Date______________________ Signature_____________________________________

Please use the following campaign statement/biographical sketch on the flyer that accompanies the ballot. I understand that only the first 25 words will be used, but a reference to ethnic minority identification will not be counted in the limitation of words. Please print name as you wish it to appear on the ballot.

Statement limited to 25 words.

New Haven Teachers Association

2011 NEA Representative Assembly

Local Election Timeline

Elections Committee Chair Makes Presentation to Representative Council February 2, 2011
DUE DATE: Declaration of Candidates form returned to NHTA by 5:00p.m. February 25, 2011
Ballots (Local & State) are mail by: March 2, 2011
DUE DATE: Ballots returned by U.S. Mail or dropped off at the NHTA
Office by 5:00 p.m. March 21, 2011
Ballots Counted by members of the NHTA Election Committee March 22, 2011
Location: CTA Office Starting Time: 3:00

Elections results will be communicated to each candidate by telephone
And announced to sites March 22, 2011
DEADLINE for challenging the results of the Election by 5:00 p.m. March 31, 2011