Tacoma Specialists
news & updates
September 2020 Vol. 12 View previous issues 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Speak Up for SPECIALISTS NOW!
New in this issue:
  • Issues with Systems
  • More Questions
  • Join a TEA Committee
All Systems are NOT Go!

Be sure to check your MyTime details. Several instances of incorrect FTE and building assignments have been reported. This will impact your pay.


TAC/TEAMS/Schoology class uploads are still problematic. Classes are still not labeled with classroom teacher names which means we need to look at student names, match them with a teacher, and cheat sheet for ourselves. In the past, we could simply look at the students on the first day and match the class with the roster. This is less reliable when teaching remotely. Office managers can give you a set of class lists which contain teacher names, though this is taking time.

We ARE able to mark Schoology classes with teacher names, but we still have to go through the process of identifying which students go with which teacher before this can happen.
Those of us teaching in more than one building have been given all of the classes in both schools, regardless of whether or not we serve all the classes. This results in having to sort through classes that we do not serve, opening classes, comparing with cheat sheets, then noting the teacher name. Added to this are multiple sections for multi-age classes. There are also empty classes showing up, muddying the waters even further.
  • Unnecessary TAC classes must be removed by admin. Check with your office manager.
  • Teams can be hidden and/or possibly deleted. (Be sure they are not necessary.)
  • Schoology classes can be renamed,
  • Here are directions:Course names in Schoology can be a challenge.docx
  • Schoology courses can only be removed from your account by emailing SchoologySupport@tacoma.k12.wa.us
  • Please be aware that there is the possibility that your courses will change when the district addresses the inequitable workload caused by our current assignments.

Some specialists teachers have 30-100 TEAMS and 30-70 Schoology courses. PE teachers have 2 courses for each student.  NONE of these classes are labeled by classroom teacher, and the ones in Teams and TAC do not have the school listed. One teacher has over 100 classes to click though to find their students' contact information.
It is taking many teachers more than 3 hours to simply name classes. This tedious and time-consuming task is one which is necessary, but is yet another example of inequitable workload.

Teams/Schoology It is our current understanding that students will continue to use the teams platform to meet for remote lessons. Schoology will be used to deliver, track, and grade lessons and assignments. There is still a lot of confusion around this as different buildings are using different approaches. This is creating more work for those of us split between buildings who are having to duplicate training and work in different platforms/contexts.
Inequitable Workload
Because there was no clear directive from the district, and due to the lack of a Music or PE program coordinator to oversee programs district-wide, specialists are teaching anywhere from 6 to 20 live classes depending on the school, deployments, and how classes were scheduled in each building.
Some teachers are preparing lessons for 6 classes a week, while others are having to prepare 30.

We need to have one educator in charge of one program wherever possible, and where not possible, there should be the possibility of co-teaching or at least the possibility of collaboration.This will greatly improve the quality of instruction, and will ease scheduling difficulties across the district.

With the myriad of impending schedule and infrastructure changes, this is the ideal time to make this change which will improve the safety, quality, and equity of instruction for students, teachers, and families.

Overloaded classes must be leveled by
September 29.

Staff redeployments must happen by
October 15th.

Specialist redeployment is an easy fix in comparison to all of the work that needs to happen.

Encourage your administrators and union to make this change now so that we have viable programs in place when we can finally return to seeing and interacting with our students in real time and space.

Contact Christa Erolin and Forrest Griek, and your principals TODAY!
A tentative agreement has been reached. We are still wondering:

If students are in physical classrooms during the hybrid model and specialists are still remote, what are the parameters for singing and physical activity in lessons?

If I am teaching remotely, like through my garage as I am now, yet students are at school when they return, where will they be? In their classrooms behind their desks?  In a gym with an adult present? 

Who will be in charge of the students during remote/hybrid PE? I will be teaching virtually yet the classroom teacher will be in the room. The classroom teacher will be the one there for injuries etc. I cannot reach through the screen to help. 

Currently I have half classes, will the other half of the class be in the classroom during PE? What a distraction to the kids not in PE trying to focus or listen to the classroom teacher? 

Is it possible for teachers to teach in school/in person, when students return?

If it's not safe for me to teach my class, why is it safe for the classroom teacher?

Also, how can we continue to push for one teacher- one school? I am divided between two schools yet would like to be able to make one school my home. 

If deployments are going to be re-evaluated when we are face to face, why not do it now?

What is the school score and how was it used for specialists’ assignments?

Why are there such different schedules and teaching plans for specialists at different schools?

What about the inequity between specialists regarding student load?

If you need to take a day off, who is responsible for posting the asynchronous assignments?  Does the principal take care of that?  What do the kids do for those first 2 days before a sub can take an assignment?

What happened to K-3 funding? How is it being used?

Are Tacoma Online students enrolled in specialists classes?

Do you have questions?

Check Your Schedule

Most of us received a new schedule this week. CBA language is still in force during remote and hybrid instructional models. Be sure that your schedule falls within the parameters of the contract. If you choose to participate in an alternative schedule or take larger-than-prescribed classes there is a waiver process that you and your building must use. This ensures that all parties are aware and in accord, and protects those who choose not to waive their contract rights. Here are some specific items to consider.
Specialists Represent!
Thanks to Julie Spargo, Maggie Ross, Matt Wood, Mike Caldwell, Paula Greuling, Rachel Johnson, Rhianna Bedient, Roxane Hreha, Steve Johnson, Heather Hutchinson, Penny Cramer, and Michael Banet
for representing their building staff and specialists across the district. Please let us know if you are also a TEA specialist representative.

YOU can also help by joining a TEA committee.
  1. Click the link.  
  2. Take a look at the options.  
  3. See if there is something that interests you and sign up. 
Contact Christa Erolin and Forrest Griek, and your principals TODAY! to help them understand the advantages of consistent instruction. Deadlines are approaching, so get this important information to the decision-makers in time to make a difference.
If you receive a reply, please share it with tacomaspecialists@gmail.com to keep everyone informed of developments.
Advice From Human Resources
When there is a perceived issue from the point of view of the specialist, then the following protocol exists to ensure a timely response and remedy:
 
  1. Discuss with principal. If there is no resolution, then;
  2. The specialist and the principal work with level director. If there is no resolution, then;
  3. The concern is escalated to Human Resources and discussed with union leadership or during a labor management meeting.
You're invited to share your concerns
"Please communicate your concerns directly to myself or Christa Erolin. It is important that labor issues are addressed through the proper channels that the Union and District have established. This insures that concerns are addressed in a timely manner and the communication from both the Union and the District are in alignment."
 
Please feel free to call or email me directly if you have any questions.
 
Know Your Contract
Flawed Staffing Formula
The district has not done their homework on how many classes will fit into a school day.
Staffing levels are inequitable within buildings and across the district.
TPS uses a "school score" to determine need across the district. The score is determined using socio-economic factors, test scores, and various other indicators. Moving resources to where they are most needed makes sense. Is that what happened here?
*This document is dated 6/22/2020, but we are told it was used in making deployment decisions in May.
Instruction
Specialists and students are being set up to fail. Many teachers will be starting the school year doing distance lessons with students they have never met and who they might see once a week.
Where is Everybody?

Click below to see how your school and schools across the district will be impacted. Current as of 7/23
SAFETY FIRST!
Protocol for Reporting Unsafe Practices

1.   In the moment, make note of any unsafe practices (student behavior, room arrangements, etc.)

2.   At the end of every day, email your principal a list of what unsafe things occurred in your classroom; cc your TEA Building Rep(s)

3.   At the end of every week, your Building Rep(s) will send a compilation of all unsafe practices to Thu Ament, the district COVID Safety Supervisor.


Click below for contact information.
If you would like more information on how you can help advocate for our students and Music, PE and Library educators, please click to add yourself to our advocacy group.
A council representing PE, Music, and Library have been meeting to gather information, rally support and determine next steps for solving district-wide Safety, Quality and Equity issues for specialist programs, students, and staff.

Click below to join our mailing list and be kept in the loop as the situation evolves.
Your information will not be shared without your permission.
Please include your:
Name, Building (any you have connections with), and Role (Staff Position, Parent, Citizen, Student)
Tacoma Specialists Advocacy Council
Maggie Ross - Music: Fernhill, Franklin
Matt Wood - PE: Stafford
Megan Oberfield - Music: Browns Point, Lister
Michael Caldwell -PE: DeLong, Crescent Heights
Paula Greuling - Music: Birney, Roosevelt
Penny Cramer - Music: Sherman, Jefferson
Rod Huskey - Music: Boze
Roxane Hreha - Music: Whitman, Franklin
Steve Johnson - PE: Lowell, Fawcett