september 2014 vol. 53 — no. 1 we did it!dft231.mi.aft.org/files/sept2014.pdf · 2019. 12....

VOL. 53 — NO. 1

SEPTEMBER 2014

WE DID IT! DFT DEFEATSTEN PERCENT CUT

The Detroit Teacher is the officialpublication of the Detroit Federationof Teachers, American Federation ofTeachers Local 231, AFL-CIO.Member of the Union Teacher PressAssociation, Inter national LaborPress Association & Michigan LaborPress. Published monthly Septemberthru June.

Editor — Margaret [email protected]

313-875-6776

Page 2 Detroit Teacher September 2014

Welcome back to reality every-one. I hope your summer wasrestful and enjoyable. Whilewe bask in the glow of a successful re-buke of the proposed 10 percent pay cut,there is still much work to do.

As Emergency Manager Jack Martinsaid in his press conference announcingthe rescission of the cuts, enrollment ofstudents is Priority 1! The cure for lay-offs and budget cuts is student popula-tion.

For the first time in history, last yearDPS did not educate the majority ofschool-aged children in Detroit. Only 48percent of Detroit's children were en-rolled in DPS. We know many studentsstart off in charters or EAA but comeback to DPS. Yet they are not part of ourcount or funding.

We must serve as ambassadors for ourown cause by encouraging parents tosend their children to DPS. We must en-courage parents to entrust their children'seducation to us, even as we engage in thebattle for salaries, benefits, better work-ing conditions, and administrative sup-port.

Here is what we must do:

GET OUT THE VOTEGov. Snyder must go. The Republican

led legislature must go. The attorneygeneral must go. Our apathy cost us inthe 2010 mid-term elections. If every ed-ucator, middle class worker, member of

organized labor, and senior citizen looksat how their lives were affected underSnyder's reign, HE WILL LOSE. Butonly IF WE VOTE!

People say they don't know MarkSchauer. BUT THEY DO KNOWRICK SNYDER! If you think Snyderwas bad when he had re-election tothink about, imagine him with nothingto lose.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTAND MEMBER MOBILIZATION

We just witnessed what we can ac-complish when we deliver a clearly de-fined message and a simple "ask" of ourmembers and community.

We must use the same energy we ex-erted to ward off the cuts to get the dis-trict to realize they must incentivizequality teachers to come here and stayhere by offering competitive salaries, af-fordable benefits, adequate materials andsupplies, competitive class sizes, admin-istrative support and professional re-spect.

We cannot do this alone, but simplyasking the community to support us isnot enough. We must engage our com-munity; lead them to see what we see,feel what we feel, and see how it impactstheir children.

SET ASIDE THE FEAR; YOUDON'T GET WHAT YOU DESERVE,YOU GET WHAT YOU DEMAND!

Too many members are afraid tospeak up, show up, and stand up forwhat they need. They believe they paythe union to do that, which in part istrue. You actually pay for the union toLEAD and for you to follow that leadwith your actions and support. We can-not make something right unless peopleidentify what's wrong. Membership isnot a spectator sport, it is an activist en-deavor.

Realities within DPS, however, im-

KeithJohnson

President’s Report

pede our ability to deliver the outcomeswe desire. Mr. Martin alluded to onehimself when speaking of class size.Martin said the number of students actu-ally in the classroom on a daily basis av-erage 16 per class. What he didn'tacknowledge was (a) it may not alwaysbe the same 16, (b) the teacher is still re-sponsible for the record keeping and aca-demic progress of all students on herroster, and (c) with class sizes rangingfrom 25-38, on any given day ONE-THIRD OF THE STUDENTS ARE AB-SENT!

That means teachers have difficultymaintaining continuity because they arealways playing catch up.

There is reason for hope. Despite allthe adversity, I was proud so many ofyou showed up for your open houses onAug. 23. I was very pleased with the re-sponse to the Telephone-Town Hall onAug. 21. Nearly 2,000 AFT Detroitmembers were in on the call.

There is still much work to do. Thequestion is are we all ready to do thework?

Have a safe, productive, and activeschool year. You are greatly appreciated.

ALL IS STILL NOT WELL IN THE WORLD OF DPS

Retirements Announced

The following DFT members have announced their retire-ments: Timothy Cook and Elizabeth Tadsen.

If you have retired in the last six months and would like itannounced, please call the editor at 313-875-6776.

By Edna Reaves, Executive Vice President

When the coalition of unions was called to a meetingto hear the Detroit Public Schools’ revised DeficitElimination Plan (DEP), we knew somethingwasn’t right when we walked into the room. After listening toan hour long presentation, the hammer dropped. The only waythe district could balance its budget was to cut an additional10 percent from wages. I was outraged!

This is the same story we heard from Robert Bobb whenwe agreed to the TIP, the same message from Roy Roberts’imposed 10 percent salary reduction, and the same rhetoricfrom Jack Martin when he restructured our health care plan.When will it end?

After using a few choice words, I asked the chief financialofficer to stop taking the easy way out, go back and come upwith a plan that didn’t include another cut to employees. Herefused and led me to believe that the state would not approvea plan unless it contained deeper wage cuts. That’s why wehad to take this fight to the governor’s office.

As deplorable as this DEP was, it actually awakened asleeping giant. Our members and our community woke up. Welet our voices be heard by saying enough is enough!

I did what I’ve been committed to doing for the last threeyears, listening to you, our members. I listened to your sug-gestions as I sat in some of your living rooms, listened tovoice messages, and read your emails. I met with the other lo-cals and our community partners, and devised a plan to fightback. Although some members were skeptical and wanted totake more drastic and potentially illegal measures, I thank youfor trusting the process and engaging in the actions that led tothis victory.

• Almost 2,000 AFT Detroit members participated in the tele-phone-town hall

September 2014 The Detroit Teacher Page 3

Stop Taking the Easy Way Out

• AFT Michigan locals called thegovernor as did Metro DetroitAFL-CIO affiliates and MEAmembers. We called thousands ofDetroiters, informed them of theissues, and urged them to contactthe governor.

• Mayor Mike Duggan, HouseDemocratic Leader Tim Griemel,Senate Democratic LeaderGretchen Whitmer, and manycommunity leaders responded toour calls by urging the governorto put a halt to these cuts.

• State Superintendent Mike Flanagan tweeted his oppositionto the 10 percent pay cut, saying budget crises can’t besolved by continuing to cut wages.

• At the Michigan Democratic Party Convention, the agendawas put on hold so delegates could take out their cell phonesand call, tweet, or email the governor, after David Heckerand I spoke from the floor.

• Our coalition of union members made countless calls andemails to the governor’s office.

While I may have led this organizing campaign, no singleindividual made this possible. We mobilized as a local, as acoalition of unions, and as a community, proving there isstrength in numbers. We showed that when we unite for a com-mon cause and work together, we can make things happen.

Even after the 10 percent wage cut was rescinded, we con-tinued our charge:

• A large contingent of union members and community part-ners walked door-to-door encouraging parents to bring theirchildren to our classrooms

• Community organizations and other unions joined morethan 300 DFT members in our unity rally

• The DFT had one of its largest turnouts in recent years forthe Labor Day Parade

We must keep this momentum going all the way to thepolls on November 4. We need to stay committed to workingwith our community to stop this assault on public education inDetroit. I urge each of you to dedicate some time to our GetOut To Vote campaign. Watch the DFT website for more de-tails.

Edna Reaves

Detroit Teacher September 2014

Carver StartsYoung EaglesAviation Club

Deanna Wilson, a student of Carver STEM Academy, andDr. Brian Smith prepare to take off at Detroit's City Airport.Smith, director of the Tuskegee Airmen and sponsor ofCarver's Young Eagles Aviation Club, is in his second yearworking with Carver students to inform them about aviationand aerospace careers. Smith also is assisting Carver in part-nering with instructor Cliff Miller at Davis Aerospace Tech-nical High School at Golightly so the students can further theiraspirations of graduating with a pilot's license. The sky is thelimit for the Eagles!

DFT Walks for

Labor Day

A near record number of DFT members walked in the LaborDay Parade this year to support a living wage for workingmen and women and protest the income gap in the UnitedStates. Good news is on the horizon. We are uniting to putpressure on corporations and government leaders to rem-edy this inequality. More states are raising the minimumwage and more Americans are aware of the stagnation inwages.


DFT Retiree Attends AFT Convention

Charlene Smith, DFT retiree dele-gate to the AFT Convention, joinedthe AFT volunteers, Los Angeles Fed-eration of Labor, and community al-lies, at the All Peoples CommunityCenter to give back to our conventionhost city. The volunteers helped giveaway free children's books, free bagsof groceries, games, popcorn andsnacks. Food and music was enjoyedby all.

Charlene Smith, a DFT retiree, helpsat the First Book giveaway this win-ter at the Parade Company.

Blackwell Students Learnthe Art of Debate

News of girls getting kidnappedin Africa by an extremist groupthat didn’t want them to go toschool and learn Western values pro-pelled eighth-graders at Blackwell In-stitute to have opinions.

Teacher Lionel Scott thought hewould use current events to get studentsto write down some pro and con argu-ments. The next step would be gettingthese pre-teens on a podium in front oftheir peers.

Scott, a math and social studiesteacher, held a well rehearsed debateJune 9 for the qualifying teams in frontof a seventh-grade audience.

Plenty of the girls and boys hadspeaking jitters but they went to thepodium to say the Nigerian girls shouldbe in school.

Scott also had the students debatewhether juveniles should be tried asadults after committing serious crimes.

“Most young people are not living anadult life,” argued Thomas Draughn, 13.“They’re still living a child’s life.”

Kayla Dobbins, 14, formed her argu-ment about the Nigerian girls, asking theseventh-grade audience to imagine theirparents.

“How would you feel if you sent your girls toschool andthey got kid-napped?” shesaid.

FellowBlackwell teacherWillieDechavezpraised Scottfor taking onthe exercise.“He chal-lenges thestudents tothink,”Dechavezsaid. “Hefully engagesthem and re-ally caresabout the stu-dents.”

Blackwell teacher Lionel Scott instructs eighth-graders in theart of debate.


DFT Absorbs Increase in Per Caps

By Mark O’Keefe, Controller

When you pay DFT dues of $40.78 per pay period, you areactually paying dues to DFT, and per capita dues to AFT na-tional, AFT Michigan, AFL-CIO Michigan, and metro DetroitAFL-CIO.

Per capita dues for AFT national andAFT Michigan were increased by a total of$1 per month for the new school year. TheDFT is lowering its dues to offset this in-crease, so our members will continue topay the same $40.78 they have paid since2012.

We absorbed a smaller per caps increaselast year, making this the second consecu-tive year we have lowered the portion ofyour dues that is retained by DFT.

The sale of our building has made it easier for us to absorbthese increases. We still have liabilities that need to be paidbefore we can go one step further and reduce the total duesyou are paying.

In January of 2009, the DFT had over $6 million in liabil-ities. Since that time, we have consistently limited spendingto less than our income, while working to sell the building.Now that the building is sold and we are housed in a suite thatis affordable and the right size, we have been able to pay offover $4 million of our debts.

The bank has been paid in full. We are current on our salaryreimbursements to DPS. However, we still owe about $2 mil-lion to AFT national and AFT Michigan for per cap paymentswe collected from you, but did not remit. Of that total, $1.4million is from 2006 through 2008. The remaining $600,000is from last school year when we held back on per cap pay-ments in order to pay off the bank when we sold our building.That amount will be paid in full by the end of February.

Mark O’Keefe

DETROIT FEDERATION OF TEACHERSNOTICE REGARDING UNION SECURITY

AGREEMENTS AND AGENCY FEE OBJECTIONSAs a general matter, employees covered by a collective bargaining agree-

ment containing a union security clause are required, as a condition of em-ployment, to pay an agency fee equal to normal union dues. While thewording of these claims is not perfectly uniform, none require more thanthe payment of this agency fee to retain employment.

Under the Detroit Federation of Teacher’s By-Laws and policy onagency fee objections, employees who are not members of the union, butwho pay agency fees, pursuant to a Union security clause, may request areduction in that fee based on their objection to certain kinds of Union ex-penditures.

The policy provides an objection period each year followed by a reduc-tion in the objector’s fee for the twelve months beginning with the start ofthe school year. Briefly stated, the Detroit Federation of Teachers’ objectionprocedure works as follows:

• The agency fee payable by objectors will be based on the Detroit Fed-eration of Teachers’ expenditures for those activities or projects normallyor reasonably undertaken by the Union to represent the employees in thebargaining unit with respect to their terms and conditions of employment.Among these “chargeable” expenditures are those going for negotiationswith the employer and employing departments, enforcing collective bar-gaining agreements, informal meetings with representatives of the employeror employing departments, discussion of work-related issues with employ-ees, handling employees’ work-related problems through the grievance pro-cedure, administrative agencies or informal meetings and Unionadministration. In the past, approximately 85 percent of the Detroit Feder-ation of Teachers’ expenditures have gone for such activities. Reflected inthis percentage is the chargeable portion of the affiliation fees (per capita)paid to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Among the expenditures treated as “non-chargeable,” which objectorswill not be required to support, are those going for community service, leg-islative activity unrelated to wages, hours or working conditions of repre-sented employees, certain public relations activities, support of politicalcandidates, cost of affiliation with organizations (and unions) other than theAFT and members-only benefits. In the past, approximately 15 percent ofDFT’s expenditures have gone for such “non-chargeable” activities. Thepercentage of the AFT’s expenditures on “non-chargeable” activities hasbeen generally between 20-25 percent.

• Objectors will be given a full explanation of the basis for the reducedfee charged to them. The explanation will include a more detailed list ofthe categories of expenditures deemed to be “chargeable” and those deemedto be “non-chargeable,” and the independent certified public accountant’sreport showing the Union’s expenditures on which the fee is based. Auditedfinancial information relating to the chargeable, non-chargeable expensesof the AFT will be provided at the same time. Objectors will have the optionof challenging the union’s calculation of the reduced fee before an arbitrator,pursuant to the AAA Rules on Impartial Determination of Union Fees. De-tails on the method of making such a challenge and the rights accorded tothose who do so are found in the DFT’s By-laws and policy on agency feeobjections, a copy of which will be provided to objectors along with theexplanation of the fee calculation.

• Objections must be received by DFT each school year. In addition,agency fee payers who are new to the bargaining unit may object withinthirty days of receiving this notice, either in the new employee packet or inthe Detroit Teacher (where necessary, retroactive to the commencement oftheir union security obligation and for the durationof the current agency feeyear) and employees who resign union membership may object withinthirty days of becoming an agency fee payer. Employees filing late objec-tions for either of these two reasons should so indicate in their letter of ob-jection.

• The letter of objection should include the employee’s name, address,and school at which employed. Objections must be sent to: Agency FeeObjection, c/o Detroit Federation of Teachers, 7700 Second Ave., Suite 427,Detroit, MI 48202.


3 Percent Case StillPending

The union has two lawsuits in thecourt system challenging laws thatraised your contribution to the pensionsystem. The first law was Public Act 75of 2010 that deducted 3 percent of everypaycheck for retirement health benefits,without guaranteeing that you wouldever receive those benefits. We won thatcase and also won the appeal. The con-tributions required under this law beganin July 2010 and were discontinued inDecember 2011. The money withheld isheld in escrow pending a final rulingfrom the Michigan State Supreme Court.

The second suit seeks to overturnPublic Act 75 of 2012, which replacedthe mandatory 3 percent contributionwith an optional 3 percent payment.Members who opted out also opted outof receiving health care during retire-ment. The law also required higher pay-roll deductions for employee’s pensions.We lost this case at the appeals level.

The Michigan Supreme Court re-cently announced that it will hear our ap-peal on the second case, which relates toPublic Act 300 of 2012. The MichiganSupreme Court will hear arguments thisfall.

Meanwhile, the case concerning Pub-lic Act 75 of 2010 is being held inabeyance. This means the MichiganSupreme Court will not address the caseuntil the case concerning the 2012 lawis resolved.

We will keep you updated on anyother developments.

DFT Wins Five National AwardsAt the AFT Convention in Los An-geles in July, the DFT was hon-ored with five awards from theCommunications Awards Contest for TheDetroit Teacher and the DFT calendar.

The DFT won second place for BestOriginal Illustration or Photo (picturedbelow) for its photo story “Right to Workis Wrong for Michigan,” capturing DFTmembers and other workers’ protestagainst the legislature for pushingthrough a Right to Work law. The DFTwon second place in the Best News Storycategory for “DFT Votes to Keep Collec-tive Bargaining Rights.”

We won third place for Best FeatureStory for “A Class on Class,” about so-cial worker Kathy Hemingway andteachers at Turning Point Academy’s

work with young women to learn man-ners and dining etiquette.

The DFT won a third place award forBest Profile for “Learning How to Be aMan,” about DFT President Keith John-son’s talk with middle school boys aboutgrowing into manhood by acceptingchallenges and rejecting violence. TheDFT also won third place Best Non-Peri-odical for the 2013-14 DFT Calendar.

“Congratulations on your awards,”said Leslie Getzinger, AFT Communica-tions Specialist. “The work you do everyday is invaluable to our members and ourcommunity. We’re fighting forward withreal solutions to the challenges we face.And we’re driving home the fact thateveryone deserves a great public educa-tion—from early childhood through col-

lege—as well as affordable healthcareand high-quality public services. It’s anuphill battle, but with your diligence andcontinued dedication, we can change theconversation and collectively reclaim thepromise of America.”


Nominations Open for DFT Election2014 Calendar for Biennial Election of DFT Officers,

Executive Board Members and Trustees

• Sept. 11: MEMBERSHIP MEETING. Nominating procedures and schedule of appropriate dates announced. Placed on DFT website, The Detroit Teacher, and sent to schools.

• Sept. 11: OPEN NOMINATIONS. May be mailed to Election Committee P.O. Box. Must be in P.O. Boxby 4 p.m. Oct. 9, 2014 or hand delivered to the Election Committee at the Oct. 9, 2014 Mem-bership Meeting.

• Oct. 9: MEMBERSHIP MEETING. List of nominees posted and additional nominations will be accepted from the floor. NOMINATIONS CLOSED as last order of business.

• Oct. 13: Notice sent to those nominated with request for acceptance and statement for Special Election Edition of the DETROIT TEACHER.

• Oct. 20: Second notice to nominees who have not responded.

• Oct. 27: DEADLINE FOR ACCEPTANCES AND STATEMENTS. Must be in PO Box by 4 p.m. orhand delivered to the DFT office by 5 p.m.

• Oct. 28: List of eligible candidates sent to each candidate and to schools for posting. Notice sent tocandidates who did not send a statement for the DETROIT TEACHER that no informationwill be printed.

• Nov. 6: DEADLINE FOR FILING GRIEVANCES on nominations and acceptances. Grievance(s)heard by Election Committee and Executive Board.

• Nov. 13: Grievance appeal(s) to membership.

• Nov. 17: VOTING BEGINS. Ballots mailed to members’ homes.

• Dec. 5: VOTING ENDS. Ballots in P.O. Box by end of business day.

• Dec. 6: Ballots counted.

Korean Immersion ExperiencesAwait You and Your StudentsBy Bill Bowles, Western International Academy

The Korea Academy for Educators (KAFE) is a funded one-week immersion into all things Korean. It is open to K-12 teachers

and administrators and takes place inKorean Town in Los Angles each July.History lectures, visits to museumsand a Buddhist temple, demonstrationsof traditional Korean music and Taek-wondo and, of course, delicious Ko-rean food are all just part of a richimmersion into Korea. Teachers get

lots of ready-to-use resources to share with students and col-leagues.

KAFE was founded by Helie Lee, author of two best-sellingbooks on the Korean American immigration stories of her familymembers. Her books are compelling page-turners filled with per-sonal drama that bring to life Korea’s tumultuous modern history.

Teachers can apply online next spring atwww.koreaacademy.org.

Teachers also can treat students to an exploration of Korea byparticipating in the Single Shard Program, offered by the NAMCenter for Korean studies at the University of Michigan. Suitableto English or social studies classes, students read the award-win-

ning novel “A Single Shard,” by Linda Sue Park.NAM awards a class set of the novels. Set in 12th century

Korea, the story revolves around a young man’s quest to appren-tice to a master potter. The book is filled with dramatic tensionwhile weaving a vivid tapestry of Korean life in a bygone era.

NAM also sends teachers a Korean culture kit, which includesbooks, videos, textiles and ceramics, all of which help engage stu-dents in Korea then and now. As a culminating activity, studentsvisit the Korean ceramics galleries at the University of MichiganMuseum of Art for a hands-on interactive experience. Studentsthen create clay tiles based on a Korean design.

This program is funded. Apply at www.ii.umich.edu/ncks.Western International Academy English teacher Tara Baker and

I collaborated on this project last year with her ninth-grade pre-APEnglish class.

“Learning about a new culture was an eye-opening experiencefor us all,” Baker said, “and added camaraderie to the classroom.”

Participants in KAFEre-enacting a tradi-

tional Korean wedding.Western teacher BillBowles is far right as

father of the bride.


All Meetings start at 4:30 p.m. Dates and times are subjectto change.

September11 General Membership Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

(IBEW Hall, 1358 Abbott, East of Trumbull)

16 Retirees Chapter Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

(Triumph Church, 2760 E. Grand Blvd.)

October2 DFT Executive Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

(7700 Second Ave., Detroit, MI 48202)

9 General Membership Meeting, 4:30 p.m.


21 Retirees Chapter Meeting, 11:30 a.m.


November6 DFT Executive Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

(7700 Second Ave., Detroit, MI 48202)

11 Veterans Day, Half Day School

13 General Membership Meeting, 4:30 p.m.


18 Retiree Chapter Meeting, 11:30 a.m.


27-28 Thanksgiving, Schools Closed

We’re on

Facebook!

Check us out at

www.facebook.com/DFT231

Teacher of the Year: She Thinks We’re Smart

Bennett Elementary School Principal Josette Buendiahad to keep it a secret that teacher Elizabeth Kolesarwas selected as Teacher of the Year by the DetroitGoodfellows.

After it was announced Buendia did a little dance of excite-ment. Kolesar, a 15-year DPS teacher, won the honor, as wellas a $200 gift card to buy classroom supplies.

“I love working here at Bennett and at DPS,” said the fifth-grade math and science teacher. “I couldn’t ask for a betterprincipal and staff. They’re absolutely amazing.”

Isabella Mouat is the 11-year-old who wrote the winningessay. The consensus is exactly what Isabella wrote – Kolesaris kind.

“My teacher is special because she cares about how we dothings,” Isabella wrote. “Even though other teachers do too, itseems like she cares more. She helps us with everything. Shemakes us count. She thinks of us as smart kids. “

Isabella also said Kolesar is a fair teacher.

“She does not care about how we look or what our skincolor is,” she said in her essay. “She makes us matter.”

Therese Yglesias, president of the Detroit Goodfellows, saidKolesar’s personality came through in the essay.

“One of the things that struck me was the child’s genuinelove of the teacher being so accepting,” Yglesias said. “She hadhigh expectations of their behavior.”

“A lot of teachers think yelling is keeping kids in control.That’s not how you do it.”

The Detroit Goodfellows sponsors the Goodfellow Teacherof the Year contest to show its appreciation to DPS administra-tors, teachers, and support staff who, each year, work diligentlyto identify students in need of its holiday gift packages.

Bennett Elementary School Principal Josette Buendia, stu-dent Isabella Mouat, Goodfellow Teacher of the Year Eliz-abeth Kolesar, and Therese Yglesias, president of theDetroit Goodfellows.

september 2014 vol. 53 — no. 1 we did it!dft231.mi.aft.org/files/sept2014.pdf · 2019. 12....

Documents