Today is back to school day for tens of thousands of students and thousands of teachers in the Long Beach Unified School District. Kids are excited to see who their teachers will be, for upper grades what classes they will have, and all the energy that swirls through our households. Teachers are excited to begin another year of instruction and helping our future leaders learn to read, write, add and subtract—and to divide. The latter subject is one that their TALB leadership has been very instructive on this summer.
When we left for summer break there was internal division with the TALB leadership, the board of directors fired Executive Director Scott McVarish, but then the Council Reps rehired him. The incoming TALB President, Michael Day, accused the outgoing president of acting in bad faith and against the by-laws of the union. A cat fight ensued and it appears temporarily that Day has his loyal supports in line—but perhaps tenuously as only the most loyal appear to have shown at a August 8th special meeting called with a letter to Council Representatives. While the letter signed by Day and TALB First Vice-President Bob Joplin stated, “We believe, however, that openness and transparency are essential elements of a healthy and democratic union.” When the meeting started with invited media in attendance once the discussion started reporters were kicked out of the meeting. So much for openness and transparency—I guess Day’s definition is like some people’s definition of free speech, it is only free to speak if you speak to agree with them. So while a very important meeting was held to dispel rumors and try to bring unity to the union, the union leadership denied the thousands of members not in attendance the opportunity to learn what transpired through local reporting.
On the “healthy and democratic union” part of the message this appears to be another huge stumbling block for TALB as teachers are not taking part in their democratic process. In August elections were held for the Council Representatives for 14 school sites, electing 48 representatives. As seen by the reversal of the board decision in June to fire McVarish, the Council Representatives hold tremendous power in the union. Despite the importance of this body, it appears most teachers really do not care. Of the fourteen site elections two sites had zero ballots returned—yes no teachers voted to elect there representatives with the union. Of the 709 eligible voters electing 48 council representatives, only 78 bothered to vote. Imagine holding an election and only 11% of the electorate shows up—not exactly a mandate to lead is it? These turnout numbers, while somewhat less, mirror the general election numbers that put Day in the President’s seat when only 28% of the members voted.
Does this apathy signify that the overwhelming majority of the teachers honestly do not care about their representation and leadership? Does it signify they are wholly satisfied with the direction the union is going? Or does it signify they are sick and tired of the politics, direction, harassment on campus when they speak out against the union and/or do not adhere to the “us/them” mentality TALB has with the District? Who knows, as they are not speaking up with their votes or voices. Given the turmoil at the end of the school year at TALB headquarters it appears the leadership could careless why those they supposedly represent are not engaged—as long as they get their supporters elected and the ability to continue to politicize the union and engage in trying to take over the school board.
Why is this important to me? Well I am a Dad, have two kids attending elementary school in the district and with a long road of education ahead of them and us I would like to know that all elements of the District are working together—the way they did before McVarish road to town with his lackeys like Board Member and drunk driver Michael Ellis, or what ever name he is currently using.
TALB has their sites and a significant amount of money set on the school board elections this coming year. Already holding two seats on the school board they only need one more to take over the district and begin to lead everyone down the path of Los Angeles Unified, Redondo and other districts with poor performance and student outcomes—but great teaching contracts.
At the last school board meeting the vote was 3-2 to extend the contract of Superintendent Chris Steinhauser—want to guess which two TALB members, I mean board members voted against the extension? If TALB can manage to find and move into the district candidates to defeat either Felton Williams or Jon Meyer they will have the majority of the board. Their first move will be to fire Chris Steinhauser and hire a TALB member or sympathizer for the position and then they can begin negotiating with themselves.
If the apathy amongst the teachers in Long Beach Unified continues on its current path this is a very likely result and our community’s future will suffer the decline of one of, if not the, best urban districts in the nation. More teacher dues and funds will be spent on electing individuals—hopefully no more like Ellis who besides pleading guilty to drunk driving was perhaps fired from his last job for drinking in front of students he was chaperoning on a model UN trip—showing he is neither a competent chaperone or model, and who can be seen on YouTube video drinking with a bunch of teachers, alcohol surrounds this guy like Otis on the Andy Griffith Show.
Welcome back to school kids. Teachers please welcome yourself back to your union and speak up…unless you like to be associated with what has been going on, who your money is electing and the direction your are being led. Teach division in math class, do not allow your leadership to practice it on your campus and in our community.