Special Education Updates & News (4/25/25)
This communication may be forwarded with Exec Board permission to all Site Reps.
Dear Colleagues,
As we near the end of the year, your Union is still representing you and supporting you while navigating waters to continue to resolve the Unfair Labor Practice concerns that affect our subgroup of Special Education Teachers within ADTA. This unfair practice directly relates to a missing element for our workload as it concerns seniority, transparency and equity for IEP responsibilities. To be clear, conversations with our top district administration support equity for shared responsibilities; however, we don't have the issue resolved in writing. Yet.
Our CTA Region Three Representative, Brian Todd and our ADTA Grievance Chair, Anglique Jolly, will be meeting as planned with our district administration soon in an attempt to resolve the concern and find a fair and equitable solution for all of our SAI teachers.
This conversation has been a LONG one, no doubt; however, we are determined to find the best solution that supports our Sped Teachers and that will offer best outcomes for our District, Teachers and students. The concerns we are navigating have been resolved in other districts; this is not a new conversation for CTA to lead teachers through. We can anticipate success as we move forward. Our hope is for workplace equity, transparency in the process, support for union seniority and better support for our students--support that creates learning improvements and will affect lasting change as they grow and navigate life.
Due to increasing rates of students being designated with special needs, California is moving toward addressing the concerns of workload for special education teachers. The link below highlights new proposed legislation that, if passed, will directly affect our workplaces. Please consider any action you feel comfortable with to share your perspective with those involved in the legislative process on this proposal.
Here's the link:
https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB560/id/3186990
Our final ADTA Special Education Meeting will be held on May 7th at 4:00 at Adelanto Elementary School District in Room #602. ALL teachers are invited to attend. I hope you will join your SPED Committee for an end-of-year celebration, some good food and drink and encouragement to continue supporting our District and Sped Admin toward building a professional, collaborative, and fair workplace environment. With your support, we can make it happen for ALL of our colleagues who work with students with special needs.
Currently, the Union supports a request that has been put forward to our Sped Office Admin for the upcoming CTA Special Education Conference in September. We have requested that Sped Admin pay for two teachers from each school site to attend the conference. Please let me know if you are interested in attending.
I would like to invite your participation on the ADTA Special Education Committee. Each school should have a representative. Please contact me via email if you are interested in assisting. (Fair warning: you may be asked to pick up a pizza or bring a salad once in a while.) The objective of the Committee is clear: To support our Unity with all colleagues, to bring a clear voice when representing our special education teachers and to fairly and kindly request that as a subgroup of ADTA, we are treated with equity and support within our Union. Come if you will~!
Please remember: Make your choices known in writing. Monday, April 28 is your opportunity~!
For Transparency, for Integrity and for Equity, for your workplace and for your students,
With Kind Regards,
Marcella Poole
ADTA Sped Chair and
ADTA SPED Committee Members
Chandra Taylor
Maria Martinez
If you know of a special education colleague who did NOT receive this communication, please have them contact Lori Rhodes to update their personal email address.
