April 9, 2019 

Newsletter for Gompers Preparatory Academy 

Educator  
Hello GPA members:  
 

We are excited to have begun bargaining! We believe an empowered teacher 

community and a strong union contract will help reduce turnover, create more 
stability, and make our school even better.  
 
There are many ways to be involved in the next steps of the process. If you have 
questions, or want to help, please let us know! 
 

In this newsletter, you can find information on the following topics:  

● Bargaining Update  
● Committee Updates 
● Stay in Touch 
● Mark Your Calendars! 
________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Bargaining Update 
 

*A Message from the GPA 

Bargaining Team* 
 
On April 8th the GPA Bargaining Team 
and GPA Leadership Bargaining Team 
met in the Wingspan room of the GPA 
library for their first bargaining session. 
The overall tone and tenor of the 
meeting went well. Both parties seemed 
to be in mutual agreement that the work 
we are doing in negotiating this first 
contract is putting students first. 
 
The GPA Leadership Bargaining Team did not submit proposals at this 
bargaining session but we anticipate proposals from them at the next session.   
 
We submitted the following proposals to GPA which they will review: 
 
● Article 1: Recognition 
● Article 2: Negotiation Procedure 
● Article 3: Association Rights 
● Article 16: Assignability 
 
   

1 
 April 9, 2019 
 

Newsletter for Gompers Preparatory Academy 

Educator  
At the next meeting we will propose the following articles: 
● Article 5: Grievance Procedure 
● Article 6: Discipline and Dismissal 
● Article 7: Employment Status 
● Article 11: Health and Welfare Benefits 
● Article 12: Leaves 
 
If time permits, we MAY propose: 
● Article 14: Class Size 
● Article 15: Safety 
● Article 17: Shared Decision-Making 
 
We look forward to our next bargaining session which is scheduled for 
April 25th!   
 
Don’t forget to check out the website after each bargaining session to see 
bargaining proposals that were presented by your elected bargaining team and 
GPA leadership. 
 
Elected GPA Bargaining Team: 
 
● LOTE/ENS: Christina Avila  ● Math: Trisha Harding 
● Special Education (SPED): Erik  ● History/Social Science: Kelly 
Brault  Martinez 
● Electives/ Visual & Performing  ● Sciences: Alexandra Mobley 
Arts (VAPA): Mary Davis  ● Non-Classroom Educator: May 
● At-Large and Organizing  Manookian 
Committee Liaison: Azucena  ● English: Spencer Mills 
Garcia 
● Teacher on Special 
Assignment (TOS): Ryan Hall 
 
Leadership Bargaining Team: 
 
● Cheryl McCree Cooley  ● Lisa Maples 
● Michelle Evans  ● Jenny Parsons 
● Judith Franceschi  ● Anne Robinson 
● Dolores Garcia  ● Cecile Steppe 
● Jane Leverson  ● Sergio Suarez 
● Ivette Limon  ● Wendy Tucker, Attorney 
 
   

2 
 April 9, 2019 
 

Newsletter for Gompers Preparatory Academy 

Educator  
 
 
Committee Updates: 
 
We are excited to welcome ​Vallery Campos​ and ​Cielo Garat​ to the Organizing 
Committee! They have both been an incredible addition to our team. 
  
We are so thankful and appreciative to everyone who wore white on Monday to 
show their support of our Bargaining Teams going to the table to begin 
negotiations. The color white symbolizes peace and unity, reflecting our hope for 
how this process unfolds. 
 

________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 

 
 
Stay in Touch! 
 
 

Stay connected by visiting our website ​https://gpata.weebly.com/​ ​for more 

updates.  
 
Have Questions or want to be involved in building our union? 
You can reach us at​ ​gpa.teachersassn@gmail.com  
 
Thank you for joining us in these exciting efforts to improve our schools in the 
service of students and teachers!  
 

________________________________________________________________________________________ 
   

 
 
Mark Your Calendars!  

 
 

● April 8th​…​………………………..​ ​1st Bargaining Session 

● April 25th​……………………….. ​GPA Bargaining 
● April TBD……………………….. Membership Meeting 
● May TBD………………………... Membership Meeting 
● May TBD……………………….. GPA Board Meeting 
● June TBD……………………… GPA Board Meeting 
 

3 


San Diego Education Association
Proposal To The
Gompers Preparatory Academy

ARTICLE 1: RECOGNITION

SDEA Proposal Passed April 8, 2019


GPA recognizes SDEA as the sole and exclusive representative for all certificated
educational personnel including, but not limited to: certificated teachers; psychologists;
counselors, librarians, nurses and teachers holding other equivalent documents pursuant to
Education Code Section 47605(l), and excluding all other employees including all
management, supervisory and confidential employees within the meaning of EERA section
3540.1.



San Diego Education Association

Proposal To The
Gompers Preparatory Academy

ARTICLE 2: NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE

SDEA Proposal Passed April 8, 2019


2.1 Initial Proposals
No later than the scheduled GPA Board meeting in January of the calendar year in
which this Agreement expires, SDEA and GPA shall submit their initial proposals for
a successor agreement.

2.2 Good Faith Negotiation
The parties shall meet and negotiate in good faith on negotiable items on reopeners
or a successor agreement beginning no later than February 15 of the calendar year
in which this Agreement expires. Any agreement reached between the parties shall
be reduced to writing and signed by them.

2.3 Distribution of Ratified Agreement
Within forty-five (45) days of ratification of the Agreement by both parties herein,
the GPA Board shall have sufficient copies, prepared and delivered to the Union for
distribution to each unit member in the school.

2.4 New Bargaining Unit Members
SDEA shall be responsible for providing a copy of the negotiated Agreement to all
new bargaining unit members.

2.5 Individual Contracts
Any individual contract executed between the GPA Board and a unit member shall
be subject to and consistent with terms and conditions of this Agreement. And, to
the extent permitted by law, this Agreement shall supersede rules, regulations or
practices of the Board which are contrary to or inconsistent with its terms.

San Diego Education Association

Proposal To The
Gompers Preparatory Academy

ARTICLE 3: ASSOCIATION RIGHTS

SDEA Proposal Passed April 8, 2019


3.1 Communication
Consistent with legal requirements, such as school sign-in procedures, the Union
shall have the right to use unit member mailboxes, email, and phones for
communications related to Union activities. Such communication shall not interfere
with the instructional programs of GPA or the unit member’s assigned duties.

3.2 Bulletin Board
The Union shall have the right to post notices of activities and matters of Union
concern on the SDEA bulletin board located in the copy room or another mutually
agreed-to location.

3.3 Use of School Equipment and Facilities
Consistent with legal requirements and subject to priority use by the School, the
Union shall have the right to use school equipment and facilities during non-work
time solely for Union purposes. The Union shall replace or be responsible for the
cost of any supplies or materials used in connection with such equipment and
facilities. The Union shall follow the same process as for all public requests to use
school facilities in the event that the Union requests availability in a public space
outside of the school’s regular business hours.

3.4 Association Leave
In additional to leaves granted by the Educational Employment Relations Act
(EERA), up to five (5) Union representative(s) shall each receive up to a total of four
(4) days leave, during each school year, to attend meetings and/or conferences
sponsored by the Union away from school premises. The Union shall pay for the
cost of a substitute. The leave shall not interfere with the instructional program and
when possible shall not be taken during scheduled professional development.

San Diego Education Association

Proposal To The
Gompers Preparatory Academy

ARTICLE 16: ASSIGNABILITY

SDEA Proposal Passed April 8, 2019



16.1 Agreement Assignability
This Agreement is assignable. GPA agrees that no merger, affiliation, change of
affiliation, change of employer, or transfer of employees shall occur without a
guarantee and written agreement from any new, subsequent, or successor employer
that all provisions of the SDEA/GPA Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
as a precondition of any such change, merger, or transfer, and that any new,
subsequent, or successor employer shall be bound in every respect to the provisions
of the SDEA/GPA Agreement.

16.2 Reasonable Involvement
Other terms and conditions of the assignment of this Agreement shall be developed
with reasonable involvement of SDEA. Reasonable involvement shall be defined as
providing for a meaningful exchange of proposals and counterproposals in writing.
GPA shall only take final action regarding other terms and conditions of the
assignment of this Agreement after such involvement.

16.3 Dispute Resolution
Should a dispute arise regarding this Article, the parties agree that no later than
ninety (90) days following the filing of a grievance, the parties shall submit the
dispute to expedited arbitration under the expedited rules of the American
Arbitration Association. Pending final resolution of such an expedited arbitration,
status quo regarding the terms and conditions of employment under the SDEA/GPA
Agreement shall be maintained.