Originally posted 06/07/07
Last night was a proud night for several hundred people—they graduated from the California Academy of Math and Science (CAMS). Several years of work and achievement culminating in a rite of passage, they walked onto the stage as kids and individually walked off as adults.
Next week, a similar ceremony will occur for many adults who have shown tremendous discipline, achievement and courage to recognize the importance of a high school diploma and will graduate from the Long Beach School for Adults.
Also next week, more teenagers will graduate and receive their diplomas acknowledging their achievement and matriculation from Renaissance High School. All the graduates have something somewhat appalling to me in common—handing out their diplomas and addressing them during their graduation ceremonies will be Long Beach Unified School District Board Member Michael Ellis. Ellis is facing arraignment next week on drunk driving charges (Press-Telegram articles here and here detailing arrest and other driving violations).
It’s nice to know that on an annual basis, a significant amount of resources are used to educate and inform high school students about about drinking and driving. Due to Prom and Graduations, it is the deadliest time of the year for students who drink and drive.
Most of the accidents will be alcohol and drug related, and here are hundreds of students getting their diplomas and being addressed by a man who embodies what not to do. They can thank the union, TALB, that represents the teachers who helped them achieve their diplomas for having to share their stage with Ellis.
These students will have spent four years working with their teachers, being mentored by them, counseled by them, taught and befriended by them. The graduates know their teachers care about them.
Are these relationships not diminished in some way by the teachers’ own money funding a man up on DUI charges handing out diplomas to the students? Is there a mixed message being sent to the students? In school, students are being told not to drink and drive, while out of school, teachers are having their dues and donations used to elect and support a man police arrested passed out at the wheel of his car at an intersection in the middle of the night. I can see how they are proud of their students, but are they not embarrassed by the elected official they funded?
In 2004 the Teachers’ Association of Long Beach (TALB) hired Scott McVarish as their Executive Director to replace Marilyn Bittle. During Bittle’s tenure relations between the teachers and school district administration were excellent and student achievement soared. Some in the union however thought the relationship was too cozy and the result was the hiring of McVarish, who came with a history of acrimony and contention between teachers and their administrators, and promises of power and control of the District if his plan was followed.
Thus began a series of events that has damaged the relationship between the district and the union and created dissension and contention on the school board. As I posted on Tuesday, also occurring appears to be a severe decline in financial health for the union as according to financials posted on the TALB site it appears the union is approximately $80,000 below budget.
Under McVarish, TALB has filed a frivolous lawsuit against the District for some tables and chairs, created a deep chasm between many teachers and their principals on more than a few campuses, and tons of money has been spent on three elections to unseat incumbents on the school board (won two, lost one). One of those candidates being board member Michael Ellis, whose history and relationship with McVarish has been the fodder for much gossip and rumor since Ellis filed the first of three voter registration forms prior to the school board elections in 2006 trying establish residency so he could run as TALB’s candidate and McVarish’s protege.
Under McVarish’s tenure, TALB’s dues have become among the highest in the state and special assessments adding to the payroll deductions have been imposed on the membership to pay for TALB’s Political Action Committee—and to elect Ellis.
In yesterday’s Press-Telegram, a front page article states that the Board of Directors of TALB has fired McVarish. It appears McVarish’s tactics and abilities have caught up to him and the board is tired of defending him and his friend and minion Ellis. After too many missteps and lack of taking responsibility for his actions, maybe too many of the teachers are actually embarrassed by the association with Ellis. Whatever the reasons, be they operational as the budget bleeds red, political miscalculations or internal disputes, the P-T article states that McVarish is no longer the Executive Director of TALB. Good—if it is true.
Per his comments in the article McVarish is not going quietly, citing provisions in his contract, that to me seem to be the same provisions in the collective bargaining agreements that make it difficult or impossible for the district to fire incompetent teachers, he feels the board is powerless to terminate his contract and oust him. For the moment, I will put aside the irony of the teachers having to fight to terminate an employee who it appears has a contract similar to theirs that protects them from being fired.
With his public declaration of his intent to fight his dismissal, McVarish is getting ready to spend more of the teachers’ membership dues and funds as they battle to rid themselves of his presence in the organization. No doubt City Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, who is TALB’s legal representative, will be very busy on this matter, particularly if McVarish sues for wrongful termination. In the meantime as most teachers head off for summer vacation more of their dues and funds will be squandered due to another bad decision by their leadership.
Since I have begun posting on the TALB/Ellis issue I have had significant positive response from many, many teachers—good to know so many of you read the Long Beach Post!—many of whom are fed up with TALB leadership and the direction their organization has taken since McVarish was hired. Given the poor turnout in recent leadership elections the overwhelming majority of teachers in the district have been ambivalent to the direction and future of their union. With the firing of McVarish, the embarrassment of Ellis who is “their” guy on the school board, with the tremendous amount of their money and resources spent to “represent the teachers” and the current financial state of the organization apparently being somewhat dire, it is my hope that the rank and file begin to take notice and take action.
Tell your Area Representatives what you feel in regards to TALB. Have the courage and determination to speak your mind without concern to slights, retaliation or other negative responses or rejoinders from the “die-hard” unionists on your campuses. Take control of your union and let us once again have unity and common directions and values between the teachers, the administration and the parents and students. The future of my kids and yours depends on us. Stand up to and speak out. Don’t let another Ellis or McVarish happen to this community.