So my take away is the same as Matt, we don't know...
However this is what got my attention:
She listened and did not interrupt. Two people were taking notes and there was a recording. [Was that to keep us in line? ;-) ]
I think she understands what better practices of deployment should be. BUT will she be given the FTE to work with?
She is not in charge of the purse strings. And THAT is what ultimately will decide our fate. She also would not name who is, and alluded to the fact that it is a group process.
She thought we were on some kind of email schedule based on the number of emails she receives. That made me laugh inside. She also mentioned to me that "others" have spoken to her about emails they have received.
This tells me our letters are making some kind of impression. AND that we must double down our efforts to contact her superiors and the school board over the next month.
Positions that have been left unfilled over the last 5 years must be filled. That is the only way out of this mess.
Her comment about being from California, the land of no specialists, also made me think. She has no life experience with what we do, and the impact on kids, school culture, grad rate etc. Just like our plodding progress trying to educate anyone who will listen- she must learn what we do. When we are face to face perhaps a schedule of directly inviting her to live classes and events.
The next morning I wrote her a thank you email and spoke to the 100 + year tradition of top quality music education in this city. That no fewer than 3 of us elementary music folks were raised here and that quality education guided our life path. I mentioned my now late 99 year old friend who spoke of clarinet at Stewart and girls softball at Lincoln. Other classes were gone from her memory.
Unfortunately we are dealing with decision makers who focus on numbers rather than the greater good. Shining some light on that through regular contact may help.
It is now time for us to rally tax payers, voters, community and families. How do we get folks to take the budget survey and mark us as a priority? The window of influence is closing but it is not too late.
Finally she and Steven Deadrick mentioned following the CBA. They referred to enrollment and we clarified numbers of classes. We must pressure TEA to include MOU language around caseloads and maximum numbers of students specialists can see in a week.
Remember no other class of teacher is asked to educate and assess and grade the vast numbers we do. Unions are charged with safeguarding working conditions- time for TEA to step up. Will they ever get a clear staff formula together with equitable FTE guidelines? Shannon is requesting agenda items, perhaps several of us could drop the TEA board a quick email with these questions.
While the union may not have our backs or our trust- remember that horrid meeting last fall?- this is the structure that the district responds to so it is our best bet. Specialists have done a good job working within the system by becoming reps and signing up for committees. We are now a presence in TEA. Time to be the squeaky wheel.
There, enough from me.
Roxane Hreha,
Music Lead Team Member
