President’s December 2022 Message – Phil Angel
As a member of San Luis Coastal Teachers Association (SLCTA), you have the support of 446 members behind you. The 10 member Executive Board and Site Council Representatives from your site (Site Reps) meet monthly to address issues, problem solve, plan events, and put on informational workshops for you. In the spring of 2022, your Association negotiated a new 3 year contract that strongly supports you and all of our certificated staff. This 2022 contract includes a salary schedule increase of 4% this year, with an added 3% next year and 3% the following year. Additionally, teachers with less than 10 years of service saw a $1000 increase in their salary. Finally, we fought to maintain our health benefits where the district contributes $5000, plus half of the overall premium.
As your president I think a lot about the state of education as we emerge from the global pandemic that shut down schools for over a year. The job has become more challenging as we transition to a post pandemic world, and our association is here to support and empower each and every member. Empowerment begins with you, if you have questions, concerns, or just great ideas, share them at your site with your colleagues and your site’s SLCTA representative. If you feel that you are needing help getting heard, then work with your Site Representative to help, they are great resources and they know the site and the contract. Site representatives are professionals who hold check ins, answer contract questions, and generally communicate between each site and the Association’s Executive Board.
Another thing that I ponder is the affordability of our area. As I meet with leaders both in the district and around the state, I am finding that districts are working creatively to help members with workforce housing. This issue needs to be front and center anytime we meet with district leaders. Workforce housing needs to be part of any plan to recruit and retain excellent educators.
In addition to representing the diverse needs of our members SLCTA is the professional organization that is here to support your growth as an educator. SLCTA is a local unit that is represented at the state level through the California Teachers Association (CTA). CTA offers excellent opportunities for professional growth for new and veteran members alike. In addition to professional development CTA works at the state level to advocate for issues that affect education policy as a whole. Check out CTA.ORG
SLCTA and CTA are also active in saving members money. CTA offers a variety of workshops to help plan for retirement, and members get access to financial savings through CTA’s website, as well as discounted car insurance, and discounted disability insurance. SLCTA offers a $200 grant to the dependents of members who graduate high school and enroll in college. Check out our website at SLCTA.ORG
The National Education Association (NEA) is another great resource for saving money. Check out NEA.ORG for more information.
Have a well deserved winter break.
Site Representatives – Shall be elected by and from the Active membership for each faculty group
Each faculty site, or site unit shall have at least one representative for each fifteen Active members on staff, or major fraction thereof
Executive Board – Shall be composed of the elected officers, with duties to coordinate activities of the Association
Recommend a budget for the Association to Rep. Council
Direct bargaining activities subject to policies established by Rep. Council
Direct grievance activities and adopted procedures
Exercise all business and organizational powers for the Association as prescribed in bylaws
Negotiations Team – Shall be appointed by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Board
Duties are to represent and to bargain for the bargaining unit members
Report activities to the Executive board as the board requires