What: RALLY- Counselors/SCGA say NO to Bully Tactics by Ed Brand
Where: Monday, April 21, 2014, 4:30 pm, Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustee’s Mtg, 5th Ave, Chula Vista
Ironically, the very counselors that keep our schools safe from bullying are themselves being bullied by their Superintendent, Ed Brand, in one of the nation’s largest high school districts, the infamous Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD).
The SCGA Negotiating team was invited back to the table on Thurs, April 17, personally by Ed Brand in hopes to settle a year-long contract dispute. Counselors have been fighting to increase students’ access to counselors. At their 10th bargaining meeting, the district said they hadn’t made students’ access to counselors a priority. The district budgeted for principals, secretaries, bus drivers and most recently teachers. The offer made to counselors was the EXACT same offer they had made in Jan which lead to the IMPASSE declaration by the Counselors’/SCGA team. SCGA has been trying to settle a new contract since April of 2013.
Sweetwater district has 42,000 students and yet only 122 counselors.
Counselors provide emotional counseling, college planning and access to financial aid, emergency crisis interventions, and more.
SUHSD increased Counselor caseload from 315 students to 400 students per 1 Counselor over the past few years.
SUHSD increased Counselor caseload from 315 students to 400 students per 1 Counselor over the past few years.
Counselors with families pay more than 200% more in 2014 for the lowest cost district health care plan than they paid in 2013 for the same plan. Salaries have been frozen for 6 years and increasing health benefits this year are costing families almost $1,000/ month.
Counselors & teachers have had similar pay schedules, but the district offered counselors close to 25% less than they offered teachers in the first pay raise in 6 years.
Counseling services are clearly NOT a priority in the predominantly low-income student district according to the Sweetwater District’s priorities.
Counselors are now preparing for the next steps to insure students have the guidance & support they deserve while preserving their own families’ well-being.
Please come out and support your school counselors!
What: RALLY- Counselors/SCGA say NO to Bully Tactics by Ed Brand
Where: Monday, April 21, 2014, 4:30 pm, Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustee’s Mtg, 5th Ave, Chula Vista