- Orange County Classroom Teachers Association

CTA Wins!

We are excited to share two significant settlement agreements regarding your planning time. Please see the memos for details below.

Elementary/Middle/High Classroom Teachers: Everyone in our bargaining unit is guaranteed daily uninterrupted planning time. Principals can’t take this time for PD, 504 meetings, IEP meetings, parent conferences, etc. Classroom teachers shared that their planning time was being taken for PLC meetings so CTA filed this class action grievance. The district has agreed and communicated to principals now that no PLCs can be required during your planning time. If this is still happening, let us know. One planning day at non-corrective schools and 1.5 days for those at Corrective Schools is being given to EVERY classroom teacher in Elementary, Middle, and High who was employed during the window listed in the memo. No deliverables can be required and you may work these days remotely.

K-2 Classroom Teachers: In addition to this, a separate class action grievance was filed because K-2 teachers were losing their planning time for ILI walkthrough/events. An additional day of planning is being given to these teachers.

Join us virtually on Thursday, January 16th at 5:00 pm for a Planning Day Settlement Agreement Q&A! Register HERE.

FAQs

Q: Can a Principal require deliverables or a list of work you complete?

A: No. This is a day of planning time for YOU to do what YOU need to do. This day is to give back planning time to teachers that was taken from them by the district.

Q: Who gets this (these) planning days?

A: ALL classroom teachers who have been employed within the window.

Q: Do you have to prove to anyone that you were affected?

A: No.

Q: How do we schedule the planning time?

A: Ask your principal and agree on a time (they must allow you to use it before Feb. 28), put in for a substitute and list it as a TDY.

Q: Can I work remotely for the planning day?

A: Yes. All teachers must be allowed to work this time remotely although you can do it at school if you prefer.

Q: When is the deadline to use this time?

A: Feb. 28

Q: What grade levels get this time?

A: One settlement agreement agreement is for all classroom teachers in Elementary, Middle and High School who were employed during the window. The other is for K-2 classroom teachers at all elementary schools.

Q: Does it need to be requested individually or does our team all take it on the same day?

A: Talk with your principal to see what works best at your school.

Q: Can Principals set required dates that we must take these dates on or do we just submit through SAP and then put in for a sub?

A: It must be in mutual agreement with principals but they can’t deny the time to you.

Q: If we were K-2 last school year, but moved up this school year, do we still receive it?

A: Yes.

Q: Does this include resource teachers?

A: It does not. We haven’t had non-classroom teachers share with us that their planning time was taken for PLCs. If that has happened, please reach out to orangecta@gmail.com so we can assist you.

Huge thank you to all our members who stepped up to defend our contract! This is a great time to share with our non-member friends the benefits of our Union and invite them to join. (Application HERE)

Members stood together to achieve this win. Imagine what is possible if more of our colleagues join us. I invite you to wear red next Thursday in solidarity and to celebrate the strength of our union, and share with at least one non-member why you’re a member!

Not a member? Join today!