Green Dot Public Schools California Announces Agreement with Teachers, Counselors, and Classified Staff for 2020-21 Operations.

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Alanna Klein
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GREEN DOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, AND CLASSIFIED STAFF FOR 2020-21 OPERATIONS

Negotiations are completed in time for classes to begin with
distance learning on August 12th.

 

July 31, 2020 (Los Angeles, CA) -- Green Dot Public Schools California (GDPSCA) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2020-21 school year with Asociación de Maestros Unidos (AMU), the union representing GDPSCA teachers and counselors, as well as with Ánimo Classified Employees Association (ACEA), the union representing GDPSCA’s classified staff. These are among the first publicly announced collective bargaining agreements between public schools and their teachers and staff in California since the pandemic hit. The agreements reflect the kind of partnership educators and school leaders need in order to effectively serve students. 

Under the agreement with AMU, all students will take six courses each semester, plus office hours and morning homeroom; classes will be taught by live instructors and streamed (synchronous instruction) according to a common “bell schedule”; and attendance will be taken daily. All students have already been equipped with chromebooks and internet hot spots, and all school sites will continue to distribute meals. 

“It is important to us that our teachers, parents, and students all feel served as we work towards achieving our shared goal of delivering high-quality instruction online until we can return to the classrooms,” says GDPSCA CEO Dr. Cristina de Jesus. “We are grateful for the strong partnership we have with our educators.” 

“All of our teachers and counselors are part of the Green Dot Family and are glad to have a plan for the fall and get back to doing what they love,” says AMU President Jeremy Zuniga. “We are proud to have a collaborative relationship with our members’ employer; as we are all working towards the same goal of educating students.”

Teachers will make at least two individualized contacts with each student or guardian at least twice per month to discuss student performance, barriers to learning, and other pertinent issues. Performance will be evaluated via assignments, assessments, and tests and students will earn traditional A-F grades. Students with disabilities will receive support and modifications as identified in their IEP. 

Additionally, under GDPSCA’s agreement with ACEA, classified staff will be instrumental in supporting connections between families and schools by distributing meals and conducting student wellness checks, among other key responsibilities.

“Our team is excited to know that we’re going back to work, on a schedule, and with a plan,” says ACEA President LaTonia Lopez. “Our schools’, students’ and teachers’ wellbeing is our priority and responsibility. We are ready to continue serving our communities.”

GDPSCA will assess the instruction model on a rolling basis and in coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the California Department of Public Health, and other state and federal directives before returning to any form of in-person instruction. GDPSCA will continue to work with community stakeholders such as students, parents, and teachers to identify and service community needs appropriately. 

These agreements apply to all 19 schools, 10,000+ students, and all teachers, counselors and school staff in the GDPSCA network. Additional information about the upcoming school year can be found at ca.greendot.org/reopeningplans. 

 

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Green Dot Public Schools California is a network of 19 Title I middle and high public schools purposefully located in communities that have been historically underserved. Our mission is to help transform public education so all students graduate prepared for college, leadership, and life. 

The Asociación de Maestros Unidos represents the 600 educators and counselors of Green Dot Public Schools California. We affirm the union's responsibility to collaborate with other stakeholders in public education and to consistently seek higher levels of student achievement in our fight for social justice to realize our ultimate goal that all of our students leave high school college-ready.

The Animo Classified Employees Association is the voice for all classified school employees of Green Dot Public Schools California.