Back to "Sleep" Mode?

Teachers' pay will be raised as HUSD school board has officially approved the settlement proposal. Things are relatively quiet down on the surface except the "no confidence" vote on Superintendent Dr. Vigil. I think we all hope to watch/spend more efforts toward bringing the communication back and fixed the broken pipes. After these days, I checked back a Web site and found parents of Hayward have been forming committees to give inputs to school board directly (or indirectly). I wonder what these committees authority may be thus I left some comments to ask. Maybe they'll get back to me so I can share with you.

Last Eposode of "The Truth"

"The Truth" of Channel 16.84 is a series of daily video clips about daily events of Hayward teacher strike. The strike has ended days ago, and the last video clip of "The Truth" was made available on YouTube by user swordfishtbone just this past 24 hours. Here's the last one, "Day 10", if you haven't seen it:

More "Take Your Kids to Work Day"?

Today, Friday, is the first day of Hayward schools running on normal day schedule after teachers strike. 89% teachers voted YES on the proposed new contract yesterday. Yesterday was also the "Take Your Kids to Work" day sponsored by Ms. Foundation for Women, but it was the last time the foundation sponsors this day after 15 years of sponsorship and expects employers to carry on the tradition on their own.

"Take Your Kids to Work" was originally "Take Your Daughter to Work" when it started to show girls how they might be valued at work. During the teachers strike these past weeks, luckily, I got to take my kids to work with me when needed. It was different experiences for my kids to see how I worked mostly in front of computer in the office. During the same period, they got to use computers as if in a computer lab at school. They enjoy surfing the web, browsing Naruto on Answers.com, using Gmail to email their auntie at far-away overseas, watch clips on YouTube, and use Skype to message their parents who are also logged in at work sitting right next to them. The weeks should be enough for them to be away from being "computer-phobia", getting back to school now give them real world experiences to socialize with real human face-to-face, thanks to the settlement between the teacher union and HUSD.

What are your experiences taking your kids to work?

89% Yes Votes from Teachers for 11% Raise over 2 Years

Hayward teachers voted on a proposed contract this afternoon after the first day schools with most teachers and students back in classes. Out of all 1,300 Hayward teachers, 77% casted the votes. Among the voters, 89% voted YES v.s. 11% voted NO. The 89% YES votes retifies the new contract which calls for 11% raises over two years and a one time 1% bonus later this year. To give you some figures, after all the raises kick in, pay for teachers will range from $53,000 to $88,000 a year.

This final 11% settlement was made possible by the strike and the overwhelming supports from the parents. The vote marks the beginning of healing for the community and district's All Means All mission.

Settlement to be Voted, Everyone Back to School

2PM this afternoon, teachers will be voting on the tentative settlement with the HUSD. Most kids are back to school today, teachers too.

My kids happily went back to school this morning a bit earlier than the usual Thursday schedule because today is on a special short day schedule, and they will come home earlier as well. "Where's my lunch for school?" said my little 2nd grader daughter before leaving home this morning. She sure will get one tomorrow.

Settlement Confirmed

Voice mail confirmation from school district arrived a couple minutes ago that schools will be operating tomorrow (Thursday 4/26) with teachers back but on a SHORT day schedule.

The settlement is a not only a relief for parents, but a great news to our beloved teachers.

Settled!??!!!

Kristofer Noceda, Staff writer of Inside Bay Area, who has been following Hayward teacher strike closely, wrote:

Union and district officials reached a tentative agreement Wednesday night to end a teachers strike that has stifled public schools here since April 5.

It is not clear to parents whether schools will open under normal conditions tomorrow as before the strike. Please check back soon for more updates.