Tag: Imperial County of Education

  • ICOE Board Meeting: Imagine Charter Schools

    ICOE Board Meeting: Imagine Charter Schools

    Dear Member,

    Imagine Charter Schools are attempting to establish a countywide charter, which means they will be able to open a charter school anywhere in the county. Imagine Charter Schools are a disservice to the community. They will negatively impact student learning and cut services to the community. Imagine Charter Schools have promised dual-immersion programs, but many of the school districts in the Imperial Valley already provide that service. Imagine Charter Schools are not here to offer new services; they are here to profit off of our community.

    The Imperial County Office of Education board is scheduled to make the decision at their next board meeting on Monday, May 1st at 5 pm. Many local school boards have passed resolutions to oppose the charter – including Westmorland, Heber, El Centro, Central, Imperial, and Holtville. Imagine Charter Schools have been very clear they intend to open a school in Brawley and Calexico, along with their El Centro site.

    We urge you to attend the ICOE’s board meeting on May 1st and wear your CSEA blue. ICOE administration recommends a yes vote, but CSEA recommends a strong NO vote. The ICOE needs to see and understand that the community does not support the charter. CTA will also be present at this board action. Let’s stand together with our community partners and stand up against Imagine Charter Schools.

    Your Labor Relations Representatives will be present outside the ICOE Board room by 3 pm. Come stand with your Imperial Valley CSEA brothers and sisters against Imagine Charter Schools. Keep them out of Imperial Valley. Please share this information with all members.

    BOARD ACTION: KEEP IMAGINE CHARTER SCHOOLS OUT OF IMPERIAL VALLEY

    When:

    Imperial County Office of Education

    1398 Sperber Rd

    El Centro, CA 92243

    Where:

    4 pm (Board meeting begins at 5 pm)

    Please reach out to your Labor Relations Representative if you have any questions. We are including some helpful informational links below:

    “CSEA recommends a strong no vote,” Imagine Charter Schools will most definitely impact our jobs, school budgets, community, and most importantly, THE STUDENTS in Imperial Valley!

  • Why Charter Schools Are Bad for School Employees & Unions?

    Why Charter Schools Are Bad for School Employees & Unions?

    Charter schools have become a controversial topic in education policy and labor relations. Supporters of charter schools argue that they provide more educational options for families and promote innovation and competition in education. However, opponents of charter schools, including many labor unions, argue that they undermine public education, reduce teacher job security and benefits, and contribute to the privatization of education. In this article, we will explore why charter schools are bad for school labor unions.

    What are charter schools?


    Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate independently of traditional public school systems. They are granted charters by a state or local authority, which allows them to operate under different rules and regulations than traditional public schools. Charter schools are often run by private companies, non-profit organizations, or individuals, and have more autonomy in hiring, curriculum development, and budgeting than traditional public schools.

    Charter schools were first established in the US in the early 1990s as a way to provide more educational options for families and promote innovation and competition in education. Since then, the number of charter schools has grown rapidly, and they now serve over 3 million students in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

    Why are there employee labor unions in schools?


    Labor unions are organizations that represent workers in collective bargaining with their employers. In schools, labor unions typically represent teachers, support staff, and other school employees. Labor unions negotiate contracts that establish salaries, benefits, and working conditions for their members, and provide legal representation and advocacy for their members in disputes with management.

    Labor unions have a long history in the US, dating back to the 19th century. In schools, labor unions became more prevalent in the mid-20th century, and today, the majority of public school teachers and other school staff are members of a union.

    How do charter schools affect traditional public school employees?


    Charter schools can have a negative impact on traditional public schools by diverting public funding away from them and creating a two-tiered system of education. In addition, charter schools often have lower unionization rates, which can reduce the job security and benefits of teachers in traditional public schools.

    Charter schools are generally less unionized than traditional public schools. According to a 2020 report by the National Education Association, only 11% of charter schools are unionized, compared to 68% of traditional public schools. This means that charter school teachers and staff are less likely to be members of a union, and therefore have less collective bargaining power.

    Impact of charter schools on Salaries and Benefits

    Charter schools often offer lower salaries and benefits than traditional public schools. According to a 2019 report by the Economic Policy Institute, charter school teachers earn, on average, 11% less in salaries than traditional public school teachers. In addition, charter school teachers are less likely to have health insurance and retirement benefits.

    Efforts to undermine labor unions in charter schools


    Charter school operators have been known to engage in union-busting tactics to prevent their employees from unionizing. These tactics include intimidating employees, making anti-union statements, and even firing employees who support unionization. In some cases, charter schools have closed down or been taken over by other operators to prevent unionization efforts.

    There have been several high-profile cases of charter schools and labor unions clashing over labor issues. For example, in 2019, teachers at the Chicago International Charter School went on strike for 11 days over issues such as pay, class sizes, and support staff. The strike was the first-ever strike at a charter school in the US.

    Lack of Accountability and Transparency in charter schools

    Labor unions also argue that charter schools lack accountability and transparency, which makes it difficult for teachers and other school staff to advocate for their rights and for parents to make informed decisions about their children’s education. They argue that charter schools are often run by private companies or non-profit organizations that are not subject to the same level of oversight as traditional public schools.

    Charter schools have been criticized for cherry-picking students, which means selecting students based on academic ability, behavior, or other factors that make them more likely to succeed academically. This can lead to segregation and inequity in education, as well as a lower level of academic rigor and challenge for students who are not selected.

    Charter schools and privatization of education

    Labor unions argue that charter schools contribute to the privatization of education, which undermines public education and reduces the collective bargaining power of teachers and other school staff. They argue that charter schools divert public funding away from traditional public schools, which serve the vast majority of students, and create a two-tiered system of education.

    Labor unions also argue that charter schools often have lower standards and qualifications for teachers than traditional public schools. They argue that this can lead to a lower quality of education for students and reduced job security and benefits for teachers.

    In Conclusion


    Charter schools have become a contentious issue in education policy and labor relations. While supporters of charter schools argue that they provide more educational options for families and promote innovation and competition in education, opponents argue that they undermine public education, reduce teacher job security and benefits, and contribute to the privatization of education. From a labor union perspective, charter schools are bad because they reduce unionization rates, offer lower salaries and benefits, engage in union-busting tactics, and contribute to the privatization of education.