I had to hire an attorney to help me quit CTA. Good news: after receiving my lawyer’s letter reminding them they are breaking constitutional law by keeping me prisoner (Janus v. AFSCME) they’ve now set me free and my resignation is valid as of February 10, 2021. HOWEVER! CTA says I still owe them my dues ($124/month) until July, and I will need to write another letter to request a revocation of my dues deduction. So, according to them, I am no longer a member, but will still be forced to fund their political campaign with my money. Forwarded the letter to…

Thank you so much for all the hard work you have done to put this website and information together.  I am so thankful to work in a non-union school district and the healthier working environment it creates between everyone, where we can put the needs of our students first.   Having worked at Edison High School in Fresno Unified as part of a union for the first 6 years of my teaching career before switching to Clovis High School for the last 14 years, I have seen first-hand how good we have it in Clovis Unified.  I saw the ugly politics…

I think it would be very eye opening for people to see a real-life cost comparison of a medical procedure/surgery/child birth in Clovis Unified vs. Central/Fresno. I used to teach in Central and I had a shared cost of 30% each time I had a child! I was paying on those bills for a very long time. If someone needs a surgery or has an accident, the costs that teachers would be responsible for may be astronomical. I know that it’s easy for people to ignore those things until it actually applies to them, but I think if they saw…

I have worked under a union in another district and I found it to be a regrettable experience. There are many negatives… high dues, worse benefits and loss of freedoms just to begin with.  My question would be what are some of the negatives that are often not thought about or discussed but once you work under union conditions you fall prey to every day.  I personally think MANY teachers will be shocked and disappointed once they are continually told no to things they used to do freely and want to do but now cannot because of ‘union rules’.  Clovis teachers…

I’ve been in both types of school districts. When I lived in Nevada, I was actually the lead negotiator for the teachers union. One thing I can tell you is that the effectiveness of the union representation totally depends upon the focus of its leadership. Just being unionized doesn’t mean things will change. In most cases, more restrictions will occur in the compromise process. The union will push local representatives for certain concessions. By the way, the union will not be going to the table for teachers. They will advise those district employees elected by their fellow employees. How do…

As a 30 plus year employee of Clovis Unified, I am frustrated by the people that are promoting the falsepromises that a union will provide a better system of support than we currently have. I have always feltthat I had the ability to have open and honest communication with all administrators that I have workedwith and believe me I always speak my mind. The thought of having this district controlled by a union isvery concerning. The people that are promoting this are not thinking about what is best for kids- theyare only thinking of themselves and what is best for…

With all due respect for XXX whom I actually do respect, I too wholeheartedly believe in sound discourse supported by ample research. Allow me offer a counterargument to her attempt to “dispel misinformation.” For many years, Clovis teachers (not admin.) have voted overwhelmingly against a union. To assume these many votes have been cast in ignorance or disinformation is a discredit to the vast majority of our colleagues.These many votes and voices against a union are made and spoken without fear of retribution. When I speak to those who fear this, my feeling is that such fear is coming from…

I am so proud to work for Clovis Unified School District.  I have been in education for 10 years and I have experienced the tremendous support of amazing administrators.  I have experienced an open-door policy with all my principals.  As a result of that mutual trust and unconditional support, I have worked with teams who have done incredible things for kids and this community.  When I have an idea, I burst into my principal’s office and share.  Together, we come up with ways to implement new things continuously thinking outside the box supporting ALL learners.  I feel heard in this…

I am so grateful for all of you for working hard on our behalf. I love being a CUSD teacher. I feel well cared for and listened to. I love the support I feel from the administration. My program specialist listens to me. She is eager to provide me with helpful professional development opportunities.  I LOVE the Micare clinic. The health benefits are wonderful. When I began my teaching career I worked in districts that were unionized. Looking back I realize that there was always a feeling of separation between the administration and the teachers. We didn’t feel like a…

My name is Trevor Stinecipher and I am a community member in the process of being hired by the Clovis Unified School District Child Development Department. I am writing this email to commend your work for advocating for Faculty Senate and CUBS. As a long time Clovis family, we have had three generations working and studying within Clovis Unified and we hope to have the pattern continue. If Clovis Unified becomes a unionized district then the district will change for the worse for the students. Unions typically start with good intentions, but they never end up that way. Furthermore, Unions tend…

The division, suspicion, and fear I worked under (for 12 years) in a unionized district was very  stressful. Coming to Clovis was completely refreshing! In Clovis, I am allowed to speak up to my  admin about problems. I can share my ideas freely and off the top of my head. Teachers and  administrators in Clovis have the freedom to come up with solutions and put new ideas into  practice quickly. Sometimes we try and fail, but we are always allowed to try until we find  success. This is possible here because there is no bureaucracy to hinder movement towards  what…

Thank you for all that you do as Faculty Senate Board members, I know this year has been especially challenging for you all.  Just wanted to let you know that I strongly support Faculty Senate and strongly oppose unionization.  We have a good thing here in Clovis, I just wish everyone could step back for a moment and realize what we have.  I have been in CUSD since I was 5 years old, started as a Dry Creek Blue Devil back in the day and have spent 27 years teaching in the district, so adding up the years, I have…

I was in a district for 20 years, that had a union.  It was miserable.  In my experience unions can have a negative effect on a district.  In a union, it is still a negotiation between the teachers and the school board.  Many times, the school board is looking at the fiscal impact negotiations will have on the district’s budget 3-5 years in the future.  The union doesn’t see it that way.  In my experience, the union pushes to put the teachers on top, instead of working together for the betterment of the district as a whole. I was a…

Working in a school district that was run by the California Teachers Union was a very stressful experience. I was constantly made to feel that I could not go to my administration for help in the classroom. I was never independently heard by my administration because we were required to go through the union. This created a clear divide between our staff and administration. I felt that we did not have the common understanding that we were there to do what is right for students. I felt that professional growth was not made important and my ability to be innovative…

I retired from CUSD in 2007 after a 34 year career in the district. I was a teacher in 1977, 78 and 81 when there were elections to make CUSD a union district. The voting was close, but I am convinced that Clovis would not be the special place it is today if the union had won their case.  I encourage all employees to carefully consider this critical matter and not rush to turn the district over to just another union district that causes it’s employees to argue over adult special interests, instead of what is best for your students.…