Letters
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- Written by: Joyce Anderson and Judy Fletcher
This problem is not unique to us, but because our county population is low, and the percent of people with BAs is low, the pool of possible candidates is very shallow. Whereas the Lake County Office of Education, or LCOE, once had a sub list of over 130 people, it now has only 90.
At a recent meeting of the California Retired Teachers Association, Lake County Division #35, this issue was discussed in some detail.
Our feeling is that it is essential that the rate of pay for substitutes be increased. The current rate across the county varies, but averages $150 per day, with the recent exception Kelseyville, which now pays $170. The range is $125 to $160, with increases for long term assignments. Nearby Potter Valley pays retired teachers $243 for a full day.
Years ago, the rate of pay of substitutes was double the minimum wage. But the minimum wage has been increasing over the years while the rate of pay for subs has stayed flat.
How to pay for something is always a question for districts. Our belief is that if something is a priority, it will get funded. The new federal government dollars which have been given for COVID related relief, could be a source of funding. Districts could stipulate that the increase in substitute pay is on an emergency basis which warrants the use of federal COVID funds and will end when the federal monies run out in three years.
This much is fact: the current practices of splitting up a class to farm out kids to other teachers, having other school site personnel (who have jobs of their own) take the class for a day, having the class supervised by an aide, or having teachers give up their prep are all not educationally sound practices. Instead of solving the problem, they are just spreading around the misery.
In these scenarios, students are not learning, they are just being “housed” for the day. They deserve to have a qualified substitute teaching them when their teacher is absent.
One big issue for retired teachers returning to sub is that there is such a change in the reliance on technology in the classroom. This is true for anyone who wants to sub. Brock Falkenberg, superintendent of schools, has said the LCOE could put on workshops to train subs to use classroom technology.
So with a nice big raise and a hands-on training, perhaps we can make a positive impact on the number of highly qualified substitutes available for our students. They certainly deserve our best efforts on their behalf. Let’s not let them down.
Joyce Anderson is president and Judy Fletcher is president-elect of California Retired Teachers Association, Lake County Division No. 35.
- Details
- Written by: Barbara Christwitz
In particular, the United States would do well to avoid a catastrophic war by not supporting NATO in the Ukraine.
President Putin has warned NATO against expanding eastward. Indeed he is enraged by the prospect of NATO bases next to his borders and says Ukraine joining the US-led transatlantic alliance would mark the crossing of the red line.
The US could defuse the situation very simply by declaring that NATO will not move into Ukraine. Russia is not going to accept NATO weapons and missiles in Ukraine inches from its border.
The US should not sell weapons to either side of countries in conflict; instead we ought to promote peace, justice, diplomacy and kindness in every way possible.
Make your voice of reason heard.
Barbara Christwitz lives in Clearlake, California.
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- Written by: Carolynn Jarrett
If we want to change the way the outside world looks at us, perhaps we need to take a better look at ourselves. Any Positive Change has been working for years to do exactly what the name says: make a positive change in the lives of users and therefore impact our community in a positive way. The program has followed guidelines from the US government and the California Department of Public Health. Yet our own Lake County Public Health Department and city and county governments have been, shall we say, less than enthusiastically helpful. Why is Any Positive Change not allowed to set up a needle exchange in the city of Clearlake for example?
Contrary to popular myth, drug use is not a south county issue. There are users and addicts in every part of the county and it will take a countywide effort to make any impact. But until we quit denying the problem, skirting the issue or making it a power play we will get nowhere.
I have known Annina van Voorene for well over 20 years. We used to make home visits together when she was a social worker for Healthy Start and I was the reading program director at Pomo. I will tell you this about her: she is a warrior. She will fight for what she knows is right. And if you really think about it, I hope you will come to agree with her.
Carolynn Jarrett lives in Clearlake, California.
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- Written by: Rep. Mike Thompson
In California, it provides $25.3 billion for highways, $9.45 billion for transit projects, and $4.2 billion for bridges.
This funding will be used in our district to complete many bridge and road repair projects. Not only will this investment improve our infrastructure, but it will also create two million jobs a year over the next 10 years nationwide.
Additionally, the bill appropriates tens of millions of dollars to California for wildfire mitigation.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will also invest $100 million to expand broadband access in our state and district. This will help the rural parts of our district that had trouble accessing the internet for virtual learning and telehealth services during the pandemic. Broadband expansion is extremely important to small businesses as well.
I am proud to have voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and I was honored to join President Biden when he signed this historic bill into law.
Rep. Mike Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes the southern portion of Lake County.
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