President's Corner
May 2022
President Editorial
By President Maripaz Berlin
As this school year comes to a close, I want to acknowledge the exhaustive ten months we have all experienced in Oak Grove and public education as a whole. The pandemic rages on, and our students are still readjusting and relearning what being in a physical school environment is supposed to be like. As are we, for that matter, pivoting here and there to teach and work in the time of COVID.
There have been positives in this transition year. We were able to reconnect with our colleagues and students and be in familiar spaces, discussing our students and our work. We have even been processing what the last two and a half years have been like and how we have all been forever changed by this pandemic. We have been able to sit in the same room with staff to eat together. Volunteers have started to return to help on our campuses, both inside and outside of our classrooms. Some Happy Hour traditions from school sites have been reinstated as another option for socialization. We are no longer hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
The 2021-2022 school year has been modified, at best. As OGEA, however, we were able to successfully negotiate our Reopener, getting a 5.5% on schedule increase, retroactive to the beginning of this year, in addition to increasing benefit coverage. Another highlight was increasing our stipend for Combination Class teachers and adding another planning release day.
We are currently in negotiations for our Successor 2022-2025 Contract. OGEA has sunshined eight articles and OGSD, two articles. Our Bargaining Team is working hard to gain more ground in our Special Education language and improve our Transfer Language. Of course, we will also be negotiating our Compensation Article, which includes stipends, per hour pay, and salary.
OGEA Organizing Committee has been meeting all year long and working to make sure we are moving together with our actions: Solidarity Days, button wearing, and hosting our Special Education Town Hall. Please welcome their newest member, RoseAnn Griffin to the Team!
Our Equity and Human Rights Committee has been working on an LGBTQ+ resolution with Board President, Carla Hernandez, and Board Trustee, Jorge Pacheco, Jr. It will be presented at the May 19th Board Meeting (an in-person meeting).
Our Elections Committee has been busy this year with elections for NEA-RA, State Council Alternate, and Officer Elections. We are excited to have Val Wood and Skye Johnson representing OGEA at the 2022 NEA RA in Chicago this Summer. Congratulations to Brianna Chenevey for being elected as the State Council Alternate Delegate! Also, a big congratulations to the elected Executive Officers: Bob Prola, Vice President; Alejandra Martinez, Secretary; Rebecca Munson, Treasurer; and myself, as President.
Stay well and stay engaged, OGEA.
In Unity!