Teachers and school employees have not received a permanent pay raise for the past two years and continue to remain below the Southern Regional Average. In fact, they have received only stipends, and we are being told that even the stipends will NOT be paid next year. Meanwhile, the State Superintendent is getting a $26,000 raise due to the progress made in Louisiana schools.

According to NOLA.com, “During a meeting Friday, the Joint Legislative Budget committee voted unanimously to renew State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley’s contract and increase his yearly salary to $311,000 — a $26,000 pay raise.”

Citing state’s academic gains, lawmakers approve raise for Louisiana’s education chief

Who do we need to remind that Superintendent Brumley’s progress was actually made by YOU in the schoolhouses?

Why does he deserve more money, especially permanent monies, and you do not?

Why are you expected to continue to do more work for less money?

We truly do believe in paying people for their hard work, but why should he be the only one benefiting from YOUR HARD WORK?

Registration is now open for AFT members to enroll in the online module, Differentiating Instruction, running Oct. 17 to Nov. 18. You must register by Oct. 3 to save your spot.

Despite the fact that students learn at different rates and have different interests and levels of motivation, many instructors overlook these differences and treat students as if they are all alike. This online module will examine three differentiation models: Tomlinson’s tiered lessons, Conklin’s choice boards and Sternberg’s triarchic model.

The differentiation course, as with all of AFT’s training modules, is designed to foster:

• Reflection on research;
• Consideration of the research for application to classroom practice; and
• Dialogue with other professionals as a way to expand professional knowledge.

This three-part Differentiating Instruction module takes about four hours to complete and is eligible for four hours of credit. If you are an AFT member and aren’t familiar with AFT eLearning, your first step is to create a free account.

In addition to the eLearning course, there will also be four virtual meetings held via Zoom. In order to participate in the course, you MUST attend the first meeting (separate registration link below). The additional meetings are eligible for extra

Dear RRU Members,

Every year, the legislature passes new laws that impact educators. But this year we experienced an unprecedented number of laws – good and bad – that impact your daily activities at your schools. Because of the sheer volume of new laws, and the uncertainty surrounding how school boards are going to implement these laws, we, along with LFT, have come up with guidance for you.

Important: School districts have already begun the process of drafting and adopting policies to implement these laws. Since each school district has its own policies, the adaptation of these laws will vary. CONACT RED RIVER UNITED with any questions you may have.

Click the links below for more information as well as guidance.

ACT 115-Donation of Sick Leave to Other Employees

ACT 216- Child Abuse Reporting Law

ACT 311- Compensation for Work Beyond Prescribed Duties

ACT 311- Guidance for Members

ACT 313- Cell Phone Ban

ACT 315-School Employee Physical Contact Pay

ACT 400-Student Discipline: Behavior Prevents Orderly Instruction

ACT 400- “Cooling Off” Referral Form

ACT 676-Ten Commandments Law

ACT 680-Pronouns Law “The Given Names Act”

ACT 681-Prohibits Discussion of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity

Dear Red River United Member,

For over ten years, professional dues deductions through the district’s payroll have been the target of some Louisiana Legislators. This year has certainly been no exception with over ten bills currently winding their way through the legislative process.  Consequently, the probability of harmful legislation passing is much stronger.  Legislation such as requiring you re-submit your membership form to Red River United, which could negatively impact your ability to be represented and ensure your liability insurance remains intact.

That is why the RRU Ex. Board met and decided that we will move away from payroll deduct and use our other processes.  It was a hard decision but a necessary one to protect all of us.

Our rationale:

1. We spend time and money every year beating back these attacks. 
2. We already have a system in place used by many members of the RRU.
3.  This process will not only remove us from the harmful attacks, it allows us to continue bringing the same services and protections we have had since 1997.
4. And most importantly, this is OUR decision, not a decision made by those who want to harm us.  We send a clear message that we are a movement of great people wanting to

Call Your Legislator NOW and tell them to KILL THESE BILLS
HB572, HB523, HB571, HB268, SB129, SB331, SB 292, HB712, SB264, SB263
Louisiana House: 225-342-6945
Louisiana Senate: 225-342-2040

Click Here for Names, Emails, and Direct Phone Numbers at the bottom of this page

Several legislative proposals currently threaten to eliminate professional dues deductions directly from your school district’s payroll. While similar deductions will continue for many other sectors, these changes could uniquely prevent you from conveniently managing your dues through payroll services.

Why is this happening in a Right-to-Work State, where joining or staying in an organization should strictly be a personal choice, free from coercion? It seems the legislative body aims to curtail this choice by proposing to strip away your ability to have dues automatically deducted from your paycheck. Their message is clear: they believe they should make decisions for you, not the other way around.

This is particularly concerning in districts without contracts, where your organization stands as your sole advocate and representative. Statistics confirm that employees who join organizations are more likely to remain

ON THE SIDE OF ANGELS – To be on the side of the angels means to make a conscious choice to do what is right, what is fair, what is compassionate, what is good.

When it comes to public education and ensuring we are able to provide that opportunity to every boy and girl, would you agree how you vote might just say whose side you are on?

Some politicians never make us wonder whose side they are on. They just always understand the importance of public education to our society. Their importance cannot be overstated. They are the glue, the bedrock, they do not waiver as they hold and preserve this institution. They are truly on the side of the angels.

Take the Bossier School Board and the majority of our Caddo School Board, they both passed resolutions opposing Education Savings Accounts. These accounts will take public funding to create scholarships for private schools.

Bossier’s was unanimous and Caddo’s was a split vote.  We all must especially thank one Caddo board member, Barry Rachal, who was clearly on the side of the angels. While it was clear he felt he could face repercussions for his vote by his affiliated party, he sided with

Once upon a time in the state of Louisiana, a dark cloud hovered over the Capitol in Baton Rouge causing teachers and school employees to face a terrible series of events beginning with the loss of tenure, pay, and professional rights. This caused many good people to leave and soon there were classrooms filled with students without certified teachers. On the other hand,  many of the people who stayed were forced to  work hours on end in second and third jobs just to support their families. With their pay lowered and rights stripped, all hope was lost.  

Several years later, there was hope on the horizon- pay raises for all!  While the amounts given were not enough to compete with other states in the region, teachers and school employees felt seen and respected.  It seemed that the ominous cloud was lifting and soon there would be sunshine.  

Just as teachers and school employees began to feel optimistic and more money was being promised with the surplus of funds in the state, the dark cloud returned and along with it, its elected legislators. Soon after, those Louisiana representatives used their swords to slice a proposed pay raise right out the budget.  Instead, they

On Thursday, May 4, 2023, Louisiana representatives passed HB1 WITHOUT YOUR STATE PAY RAISE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

It is very disappointing that 8 of the 72 YEAS were local representatives who know how badly our teachers and school employees in Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, & Red River Parishes need the state pay increase!

5 of the 33 NAYS were local representatives of Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, & Red River Parishes who did not wish to pass HB1 without budgeting for a state pay raise for teachers and school employees.

In summary:

YEAS = No pay raise in budget

NAYS= No budget without pay raise included

Thank you to the NAYS for voting on behalf of public education! See the attached Special Orders HB1 by Zerengue to see how our local representatives voted.  

Here are the FACTS:

• There is a surplus.

• The governor recommended a pay raise for both teachers and support personnel.

• Almost ALL the Legislators voted against your pay raise.

• Legislators instead voted to pay down the retirement and send that money to the local district for them to use that money for pay increases.

• Many of them have consistently attacked our professional rights, our pension/retirement plans, our tenure, and our pay- and they want us to TRUST THEM

Congratulations to Gunnar, son of our member Rachel, for being selected as this year’s scholarship winner for his essay on unions. We are so proud of him!

The Role of Unions in the American Economy Today

            There is no doubt about it, unions tend to get a bad rap. Mostly depending on which side of politics one tends to land, the conversations about unions can create a heated debate, with some saying that they are necessary and others claiming that they just desire to keep on their hands on the pursestrings of the government. It is no different in my family. Coming from a home in which my mom is a part of a union and other members of our extended family are not, it has sparked many discussions at Thanksgiving dinner. No matter what side of the debate you fall on, there is no denying the economical benefits of unions in today’s society, nor can one argue the impact that unions have had on the American worker, including my mom.

            Before one can understand the tremendous impact that unions have on the economy, we need to understand why unions even exist in the first place. Before the creation

Red River United will be hosting a series of Meet-and-Greets in DeSoto Parish this month. We are beyond thrilled DeSoto is now under our umbrella, and we cannot wait to get to know and work with new members!

Join us at one of three meet-and-greets this March:

Wednesday, March 8th 4:30 – 5:30 P.M.Mansfield Library109 Crosby St. in Mansfield

Thursday, March 23rd4:30 – 5:30 P.M. Stonewall Library808 Hwy. 171 in Stonewall

Tuesday, March 28th4:30 – 5:30 P.M.Logansport Library203 Hwy. 5 in Logansport

CLICK HERE TO RSVP! https://forms.gle/RCaMupPcT1VECbY78

What is Red River United?

Red River United (RRU) is the largest organization in the state representing teachers and school personnel. We have over 3,000 members in Bossier, Caddo, and Red River andnow membership is open to DeSoto educators too.Unlike other organizations, RRU is made up of ONLY teachers and school support staff – principals and other administrators are not invited to join. That means you can be sure that RRU never has a conflict of interest when we’re representing you.Our organization is run by teachers and school personnel elected by the membership. Our officers and Executive Board are made up of active and retired educators from within the school district,

Red River United will host a membership meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 beginning at 5:00 PM via ZOOM.  Since we are meeting via ZOOM, we request for you to RSVP using this link in order to receive the ZOOM login credentials.

  
We will have updates relating to pay raises, your rights, and other public education topics. If you want to request a topic be added for discussion, please click here.

Or click here to RSVP.
Or click here to request a topic be added to the agenda.

The Caddo Parish School Board has started off the year on the wrong foot. At the first School Board meeting of the new year, First Vice President Don Little made a motion that intends to limit your voice and your ability to select the professional organization of your choice. Red River United, like any other teachers’ union or professional organization collects dues through payroll deduction. Many employees also elect to make charitable contributions through payroll deduction or to pay for their insurance or retirement plans through payroll deduction as well. It’s a convenient, long-standing practice that’s available to employees at no cost, in all school districts across the state. 
Mr. Little would like the Caddo Parish School Board to ask the Attorney General for permission to charge professional organizations, like Red River United, a fee for payroll deduction. He suggested that it costs the district $60,000-$70,000 to administer payroll deduction – a process as simple as making a note on a spreadsheet. Every district in the state manages to do this easily, at little-to-no cost. In fact, the cost, if any exists at all, has never been determined by any district. The only thing that has been determined is that the district

For a public education union, electing the right school board candidates for our members is extremely important. In Caddo, the stakes are even higher to elect the right people because we have voted as a body to petition the board for a union contract. We focus on policies and practices rather than political parties. Our question is and will always remain: What have you done or what are you willing to do for the teachers, school employees, and students of Caddo Parish?

Here was our process for endorsing candidates:
•First, the Committee on Political Education (COPE), made up of Red River United members and led by Bernard Friday, were charged to put together a questionnaire centered around the candidates position on a Collective Bargaining Contract as well as several other key issues impacting public school employees (pay, benefits, working conditions, job protections, etc.)
• Next, we sent the questionnaire to every single candidate for the Caddo Parish School Board in challenged races. This included districts 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 11, & 12

.In order to be considered eligible for endorsement by Red River United, the candidate MUST RETURN the questionnaire. The following candidates returned the questionnaire:
1. John Albritton

2. Dottie Bell

3. Darrin Dixon

4. Jon Glover

5. Barbara

RRU Full Membership Meeting

Date: May 11, 2022

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: RRU Office- 1726 Line Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101

Our first membership meeting of the year will be Wednesday, September 22nd at 5:30 via ZOOM.  We will send out sign on information through email and text.

It’s YOUR union!

Yesterday, the Red River United took a stand to protect members who were excluded from the Caddo school district’s “Heroes Stipend.” While we support the district’s effort to reward employees who risked their lives during a global pandemic in order to serve their students’ needs, the district’s criteria regarding who could qualify for this stipend was overly restrictive. Too many deserving people were excluded from receiving the stipend. Even more upsetting, those that were excluded appear to be disproportionately women, older employees, and those with a physical condition or handicap.

After weeks of trying to negotiate with the district, warning them about the potential impact of this decision, and imploring them to expand the stipend to more people, it was clear that our concerns had fallen on deaf ears. The Caddo School Board and Superintendent were steadfast in their decision to exclude hard working, deserving heroes from their “Heroes stipend.”

Left with no other choice, yesterday Red River United filed a lawsuit asking the court to force the school district to expand the stipend to more employees. We believe that the court will see that the manner in which the district planned to allocate the stipend is discriminatory towards women and

From a Twenty-Seven-Year Long Servant of Caddo School Children:

Dear Caddo Parish School Board Member,

I do not need a lot of money or to be hailed as a hero- those types of things are not why I started teaching over forty years ago.  However, being appreciated by my Caddo family is important to me.  I never thought I would live during a pandemic and have to make hardchoices to not only protect myself, but to also do the right thing to help my students.  This Fall, knowing how vulnerable someone like I was if they contracted COVID and face with my documented underlying medical condition, I became very anxious about going back to school.  How was I going to stay reasonably safe and still honor the commitment I had made to my students?

After conferring with my family and two of my doctors, I decided to use sick leave days while a substitute was hired to in my room in my absence.  During the time I was not on campus, I attendedprofessional development, prepared daily lessons, studied how to use the new Canvas system, zoomed daily to teach my lessons, and worked on campus on Fridays when students were not present.  I was not an “absent” teacher! 

This has been a very difficult year

From a Concerned Teacher Facing Loss and Recovery:

Dear Caddo Parish School Board Member,

I am one of your employees who has continually demonstrated my commitment to the boys and girls of Caddo. I am writing to express my concern regarding the one-time supplement of $1,000 you have on your agenda for March 23rd. While this amount is far less than other districts, we are further jointly insulted that you are voting to leave employees out who missed too many days for various reasons.

In October, I watched my mother, who was a faithful substitute teacher in Caddo Parish Public Schools for over 20 years, battle and succumb to cancer during a pandemic. After saying goodbye to my mother, I was diagnosed with COVID.  After overcoming COVID, my doctor informed me I needed to have a major surgery.

I have worked for Caddo for 13 years, and to know I am being excluded because I chose to mourn the death of my mother and have lifesaving surgery makes me feel like I am not valued as an employee or a person. Why should I be penalized for circumstances that were not under my control?  How can you tell me I am important and

From a Caddo Teacher and Expecting Father:

Dear Caddo Parish School Board Member,

I am writing to you in regards to the $1000.00 Hero Supplement for the 2020-2021 school year. I would first like to say that I very much appreciate the recognition for our hard work through these unprecedented times. However, I feel that the supplement amount is far too small, especially when compared to nearby districts. Furthermore, I feel that it is unjust to exclude teachers and staff who have worked tirelessly for the boys and girls of this district because they missed days of work due to extenuating circumstances.

My wife is expected to give birth via a cesarean to our second child in mid-April of this year. I will find myself in a Sophie’s Choice next month between choosing to stay home to care for my wife and children or return to work to ensure I receive the supplement that will aid in covering hospital bills. It is a crying shame that I have to decide between these two things at all. 

I feel as though Caddo teachers are being punished for missing days for justifiable reasons. It is undoubtedly disparaging and discouraging to all of us, and I believe many amazing

From a Concerned Caddo Parish Teacher and Grieving Mom:

Dear Caddo Parish School Board Member,

I am one of your employees who has continually demonstrated my commitment to the boys and girls of Caddo. I am writing to express my concern regarding the one-time supplement of $1,000 you have on your agenda for March 23rd. While this amount is far less than other districts, we are further jointly insulted that you are voting to leave employees out who missed too many days for various reasons.

In early September, I watched my only son take his last breath while fighting a horrible genetic terminal illness during a pandemic. I have worked for Caddo for 14 years and to know I am being excluded because I chose to mourn the death of my child makes me feel worthless, and honestly I am considering leaving Caddo for the lack of humanity they have for their employees.

How can you say you care for students when you don’t have enough humanity to care for employees? Have you really thought this through? What is the point in this vote anyway? To save money now?

What happens down the road when your loyal teachers leave because you failed

FROM A CONCERNED CADDO PARISH TEACHER AND NEW MOM:

I appreciate that Caddo employees are receiving much deserved recognition and being thanked for their hard work during this school year. It has without a doubt been a challenging year, and educators have worked so hard to conquer the challenges for their students.

If I had not chosen to return to school during the pandemic or if I had taken a leave of some sort just to get out of teaching during this difficult time, I would not mind being excluded from the Hazard Pay/Heroes Supplement. However, I chose to return to work in August while I was five months pregnant. I had many concerns about returning because I had taken quarantine very seriously and not been around others at all up until the school year began. But I made the decision to return to work, be very careful, and remain dedicated to the education of my students.

I prepared all of the lessons and materials for my students and my sub before my maternity leave. I made sure everything was ready and accessible on canvas so that my sub, who had no Canvas training, would not have a difficult time utilizing that

Use this link to report any safety concerns or issues you may have.

Proposed teacher and support staff pay raises are headed to the Legislature.

This morning, BESE members unanimously approved the proposal — $1,000 for teachers and $500 for support employees – in roll-call vote designed to show unwavering support for the raises.

Gov. John Bel Edwards calls the proposal “a good faith down payment” on a plan to bring Louisiana’s teacher pay in line with the Southern regional average for teacher salaries. Regional and national average teacher salaries are more than $1,000 higher than Louisiana’s average pay.

Edwards has said the raises are his number one priority going into the 2019 legislative session.Tuesday, he urged members of BESE’s Administration and Finance Committee to approve the raises and the per-pupil funding increased needed to cover the cost.

Today, BESE also approved a request to increase MFP by 1.375 percent this year to fund those raises and provide more money for classroom materials and supplies. Louisiana hasn’t put any additional money into the per-pupil funding formula since 2009, says Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter.

We already know there’s opposition to these raises! Tell us how you can help us get them passed: https://goo.gl/forms/zCArTYiZle5oGHVh2

Who: Red River United members

What: membership meeting

Where: Red River United- 1726 Line Ave.

When: Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 5:00 PM

Why: elections, bonds, and pay raises

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Prayer/Pledge
3. Secretary/Treasurer Report
4. 2019 – 2022 RRU Election- Nomination/Election Committee Approval
5. State Pay Raise Update
6. Caddo and Bossier Bond Initiatives Update
7. Staff Reports
8. President’s Report
9. Q and A.
10. Adjournment

Red River United has been visiting Bossier Parish Schools to present facts relating to the upcoming millage proposal.

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CADDO

The Red River United resolves to continue to advocate through the district and the court system to ensure NO EDUCATOR is penalized by the VALUE-ADDED MODEL.

The Red River United resolves to continue to advocate through the district and the courts to ensure all educators receive their STIPENDS/INCENTIVE PAY as outlined in the agreement between Caddo and the Louisiana Department of Education.

BOSSIER

The Red River United resolves to work for the SOMETHING BIG coming to Bossier employees this spring. We will be at the

We have been informed that TAP payouts for transformation schools will be paid on

December 19, 2018.  There is no set date for any of the other incentives monies except

 that they hope to issue them BEFORE December 19, 2018.

If you do not receive TAP or incentive monies you believe are owed, please click on the link below in order for Red River United to best serve you.

Click here to report your issue!

Full Membership Meeting

Monday, October 29, 2018

5:00-6:00 PM

Red River United Office

1726 Line Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101

318.424.4579

Early Voting: Tuesday, October 23, 2018 – Tuesday, October 30, 2018

8:30 a.m. -6:00 p.m.

Election Day – Tuesday, November 6, 2018

6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

(Closed Sunday, October 28, 2018)

BOSSIER

BOSSIER PARISH COURTHOUSE- 204 BURT BLVD – SECOND FLOOR-BENTON, LA 71006- 318-965-2301

* BOSSIER PARISH LIBRARY HISTORY CENTER- 2206 BECKETT ST- BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111- 318-965-2301

(*limited hours)

CADDO

CADDO REGISTRAR OF VOTERS OFFICE – 524 MARSHALL STREET, SUITE 109- SHREVEPORT, LA 71101

DE SOTO

DeSoto Registrar of Voters- 105 FRANKLIN ST -MANSFIELD, LA 71052 – 318-872-1149

WEBSTER

WEBSTER PARISH COURTHOUSE-410 MAIN STREET -MINDEN, LA 71055- 318-377-9272

* SPRINGHILL CIVIC CENTER- 101 MACHEN DR-SPRINGHILL, LA 71075- 318-377-9272

(*limited hours)

LOCAL RACES

Caddo Parish will host its 1st annual Transfer and Surplus Job Fair for employees of the parish.  The event will take place at the Professional Development Auditorium on Thursday, June 7, 2018 from 4:00-5:00 PM.  Please bring copies of your resume and meet with Caddo Administrators with vacancies for the 2018-2019 school year.

Register Here by June 4th

RRU’s General Membership Meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 5:00 PM due to the threat of inclement weather on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

Red River United will host a general membership meeting Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 5:00 PM at the Red River United office.  We welcome all members of Red River United to hear about the latest happenings in our districts!

CADDO RECOGNIZES NEWLY TENURED TEACHERS

RRU and the CAE, in conjunction with the CPSB, sponsored a reception for the newly tenured teachers.   38 teachers (majority RRU members) in Caddo met the target for tenure by being deemed Highly Effective for the past five years. As far as we know, Caddo is the only district to recognize this accomplishment.    It was our pleasure to present each teacher with a Tenured Caddo pin.  We look forward to making this an annual event.

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER – A TEACHER’S OPEN LETTER

The biggest mistake of my professional career was dropping my membership in a Louisiana Federation of Teachers affiliate and joining A+PEL. I was led to believe by A+ PEL representatives that they were more familiar with local schools than the union. That was false.

I made that decision thinking I would never be accused of wrongdoing. I believe I am a great employee who follows all the rules and meets all expectations. Nevertheless, an incident occurred that threatened me with the loss of my career. Shockingly, A+PEL discouraged me from pursuing the issue.

I am so grateful that the executive board of the local Federation  voted to grant my appeal to rejoin and

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

We are offering two mini-sessions of technology training.  You can attend one or both- it’s entirely up to you!  Simply email jthomas@redriverunited.org to reserve your seat. Both sessions will be offered at our office.

Red River United

1726 Line Ave.

Shreveport, LA 71101

318-424-4579

Tuesday, September 19, 4:00-5:00 PM

Google Classroom Basics – Have you ever wanted a place online where your students could collaborate and submit? Also, a place where you had control to comment and grade their work all in one place? Well, Google Classroom is what you have been looking for! Come learn how to get started with Google Classroom and all of the wonderful things you can do with it!

Tuesday, September 26, 4:00-5:00 PM

Google Drive & Apps – Google Drive is an extensive resource that has many uses. Come to this session to learn how to use Drive for storage, for collaboration, for sharing, and so much more! You didn’t know Drive could do this much!

On Thursday, August 3rd from 2:00-5:00 PM, Red River United will host a TAP Training for all Caddo teachers at our office on Line Avenue.

Dr. Bridgette Brown, Caddo Parish’s District Executive Master Teacher, will cover the ins and outs of the TAP rubric and what teachers should expect for observations for the 2017-2018 school year.

Please RSVP by calling our office at 318-424-4579 or by emailing Jordan Thomas at jthomas@redriverunited.org.

Who: All Caddo teachers

What: TAP Training

Where: 1726 Line Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101

When: Thursday, August 3rd from 2:00-5:00 PM

Why: All teachers will be evaluated using the TAP Instructional Rubric beginning THIS school year, and we hope to ensure everyone is informed and ready!

July 25- Culturally Responsive Teaching 

9:00 AM- 1:45 PM

July 28- Worksite Team Leader Training

10:00 AM-12:00 PM OR 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

August 1- Worksite Team Leader Training

10:00 AM-12:00 PM OR 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

August 3- TAP Training

9:00 AM- 12:00 PM

August 26- Know Your Rights: Student Learning Targets

9:00 AM- 11:00 AM

September 9- Know Your Rights: Observations

9:00 AM- 11:00 AM

All professional learning opportunities will take place at our local office.

1726 Line Avenue

Shreveport, LA 71101

318-424-4579

Dear Teachers,

I want to send a heartfelt thank you for the hard work you do every day. Rain or shine, you all show up in more ways than one. You’re tasked with the most rewarding and challenging jobs: educating the next generation of teachers, doctors, professional athletes, scientists, CEOs, movie stars, and perhaps even a future senator or president! For many students you are more than just their teacher; you’re their confidant, the person they turn to and trust when they need help or when they are scared.

When I became President of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT), I made it my mission to challenge myself to engage with teachers across the state. Already I have visited 8 locals/parishes, and sat down with local leaders and teachers at their monthly meetings, their back to school events, and committee meetings. I’ve heard first hand some of the issues you are facing in your schools and parishes and I am committed to making things better. Already I have been able to bring back some of what I heard to the LFT executive council and to legislators at the Capitol. I want to help come up with solutions that work for you.

The school

Red River United and Caddo Parish Schools walked in today with Midway Elementary Professional Development School to celebrate the school’s growth and the promise of public education. Thank you to the Mr. Rainey, the faculty and staff, and the scholars of Midway for allowing us to celebrate YOUR success and dedication to public education! #allinforpubliced#midwayisthepathwaytoexcellence #reclaimo

To All Affiliated and Unaffiliated Local Unions Officers and Delegates:

***REMINDER***

There are only (3) days left to vote early for the April 29, 2017 Millage Renewals and Rededication Special Election

Please note these are renewals of existing millages, not increases in

millage rates.  We can accomplish our goals if we continue to maintain a united front when voting.

Please vote Yes on Saturday, April 29, 2017 if you are not able to vote early.

Please encourage your membership to participate in the early voting process.

Early Voting for the April 29th Election

Thursday, April 20th, Friday, April 21st, and  Saturday April 22nd – 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Early Voting is at the Registrar of Voters Office, 525 Marshall Street, Suite 103, in downtown Shreveport across from the courthouse.

Tell your family and friends that we need their support and urge them to vote early. 

Reminder:  Take your photo identification with you to the polls. 

5% pay raise across the board for all Caddo employees.  No insurance price increases. no reduction in force, and both active and retired employee organizations are in agreement.

However, while it appears the board will vote in our favor,  this is not a done deal.  The CPSB will vote on Tuesday, May 16th.  Be on the lookout for an invite to our prayer vigil on Wednesday, May 10th.

Red River United Pay Raise Update- President Jackie Lansdale on Channel 6

Caddo Parish teachers and staff met before Tuesday’s board meeting to rally for a raise.  We are Caddo’s gold!

Media Advisory for Caddo Parish Pay raise

April 7, 2017

Red River United will be hosting a general membership meeting on Thursday, March 23rd at 4:30 at our office on Line Ave.

With the 2017 special session coming to an end by midnight this Wednesday, February 22, the Louisiana legislature is racing to determine how much of the Budget Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day) will be used and to determine what cuts we will face in order to balance the budget.

Governor Edwards hoped to allocate 1/3 or 119,000,000 of the Budget Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day).  At this point, the senate has agreed to allow at least $99,000,000 to be used to balance our budget. On the house side, as it stands now, HB3 will cut education with reductions in state activities by $7,000,000 and subgrantee assistance by $1,750,000.

We have  our champions and our foes in Baton Rouge. Representative Pat Smith offered an amendment that would have eliminated K-12 education from the budget cuts, however, it was voted down with nay votes coming from local legislators LARRY BAGLEY, DODIE HORTON, THOMAS CARMODY, and ALAN SEABAUGH. With these votes, it’s easy for one to question WHOSE SIDE THEY ARE ON.

The same amendment was offered and passed on the Senate floor with only one nay vote coming from local Senator JOHN MILKOVICH . Senator MILKOVICH  offered an amendment of his

Thank you to the teachers and school employees of Bossier, Caddo, and Red River Parishes for contributing to our ode to public education!

“An Ode to Public Education” 

By Red River United

Oh, public education!

You are the greatest hope for our future.

You are an equalizer and a promise.

Thank you for giving our boys and girls an opportunity for greatness.

Oh, public education, we love you!

Click here to see our ode to public education!

TRSL & Social Security

This workshop is open to all members and covers the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) associated with Social Security benefits. A TRSL representative will also address retirement eligibility and how a TRSL benefit is calculated.

Approximate time length: 2 hours (Also available as a 30-minute Member Webinar) located here –https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8612028556296065539

Register for these dates/locations here – https://www.trsl.org/main/events?cid=7870

TRSL & Social Security – Lafayette Parish

April 25 at 4:30 p.m.

Clifton Chenier Center Auditorium (Bldg. C)

220 West Willow Street, Lafayette

REGISTER TODAY

TRSL & Social Security – Lafourche Parish

May 17 at 4:30 p.m.

Central Lafourche HS Library

4820 Highway 1, Raceland

Yes, we do!  Red River United stands up for our schools, students, teachers and staff, and community.

Below are two resolutions created and presented by Red River United, and ultimately adopted by the American Federation of Teachers for the purpose of new legislation.

Resolution 1:

The Healthy Student- Student Recess Time

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, recess is a crucial and necessary component of child development; benefiting children emotionally, socially, physically, and academically.

Resolved: Recess is to be a designated component of the curriculum and be no less than 30 minutes per day.

Resolution 2:

The Healthy Student- Mandatory Minimum of 25 Minutes Seated Lunch Time

Over 50% of students nationwide are either on free or reduced lunch, but there is no mandate designating the amount of time a student is to receive to eat.  Studies show students consume more fruits and vegetables if they are given at least 25 minutes of seated lunch time.

Resolved:  There should be legislative action ensuring all students receive a minimum of 25 minutes of seated lunch time per day.

A smart budget choice:

Tell lawmakers to use the state’s Rainy Day Fund!

Our state is facing a mid-year budget crisis. Revenues are $304 million short of what is needed for a balanced budget. By law, this must be corrected before the 2016-17 fiscal year ends on June 30.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is calling a special session for February 13-22, giving legislators and the public an opportunity to weigh in on the important choices that must be made.

The governor’s plan, released on February 6, does not call for new taxes, but would allow increases to some fees to be determined by the legislature.

He proposes spending $119 million from the state’s $359 million “rainy day fund” to help balance the budget. That is a savings account funded with mineral revenues. It exists to help stabilize the budget during tough financial times – like this one.

The remaining cuts would still be painful, the governor said, but not as bad. His plan would preserve public education, family services and the department of corrections.

Click here to

Red River United is hosting a Valentine’s Day Crafts and Games Saturday at our office on Line Ave.  

The event will take place on Saturday, February 11th from 10:00-11:30 AM.  It is intended for children grades 1st-5th, and it is open to members and non-members.  Use the link below to reserve your child’s spot today.  

You won’t want to miss out on this LOVELY event!

Click here to reserve your child’s spot

As a pay raise continues to be our top priority, we presented at last night’s board meeting what Caddo’s future could look like with a boost in pay for all employees. Red River United, along with CAE and APEL, present to you The Caddo Christmas Carol…

Click here to watch The Caddo Christmas Carol

Are you stressed out with all of the demands of the classroom?  If you answered yes, then you won’t want to miss this!  Join us Thursday, November 18th from 4:30-6:00 at Red River United for a stress management session.

We will learn about the benefits of using Young Living Essential Oils for managing stress and overall health as well as participate in a yoga and mindfulness session created just for educators.

Click here to reserve your spot today!

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers urges its members to consider these candidates and issues to be decided on November 8.

Candidates and issues supported by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers

SENATE:

LFT recommends former teacher, legislator and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell Campbell, who taught in Plain Dealing Louisiana, authored legislation to create the Louisiana Educational Excellence Fund using proceeds from a law suit settlement, an endowment that today contains more than $1 billion to finance public K-12 education across Louisiana. Campbell modeled that fund off of one he started in Bossier Parish which now has more than $45 million. He will be public education’s best friend in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. House of Representatives:

In District 2, which covers the City of New Orleans and stretches up the Mississippi River to include part of North Baton Rouge, LFT recommends the incumbent, Representative Cedric Richmond, a Democrat. Congressman Richmond has been a steady and reliable friend of public education through 11 years in the Louisiana Legislature and since his first election to Congress in 2010. As a member of the Homeland Security committee, he is an important voice for coastal Louisiana through oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Authority.

In District 3, which

Red River United, Keithville Elementary/Middle, South Highlands Elementary Magnet, and Fair Park College Prep participated in The Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools’ Walk-In for Public Education. We had a blast showing our support for public education in Caddo Parish where the promise of public education is given to every student! Check out our video  to see what a walk-in is all about!

General Membership Meeting

Tuesday, October 25^th

4:30-5:30

Red River United Office

1726 Line Ave.

Shreveport, LA 71101

Phone: 318-424-4579

Email: redriverunited@redriverunited.org

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Saturday, October 8th

Teachers– 9:00-11:00 am

Join us as we discuss how to implement and manage progress monitoring and response to intervention (RTI) in your classroom.  Esther Otu, Walnut Hill Teacher and Reading Specialist, will present strategies and techniques you can implement in your classroom immediately.  This session is open to members and nonmembers at our office 1726 Line Ave., Shreveport, 71101. Contact Jordan Thomas at 318-423-9423 orjthomas@redriverunited.org  for any questions or usehttp://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c4caaaf2ba0ff2-progress to reserve your spot today!

Bus Drivers and Aides– 12:00-1:00pm

Managing a safe and orderly bus is essential for drivers and aides.  Leola Scott, a longtime Caddo driver, will present strategies to effectively manage a bus.  This session is open to members and nonmembers at our office 1726 Line Ave., Shreveport, 71101.  Contact Phyllis Mason at 318-424-4579 or pmason@redriverunited.org to reserve your spot today!

If stagnant salaries and more and more job requirements are not enough, the Caddo Board is poised to add insult to injury  by increasing employee insurance cost by 5%! This item will be voted on by the board on September 20th at 4:30 pm.

PS – Be on the lookout for a RRU box with postcards for all employees to sign in support of a pay raise for school personnel. It’s time stand up and get involved.

Click here to tell our school board members that increasing insurance costs is adding insult to injury!

IEPs can be a powerful tool, but with great power comes great responsibility. If for any reason you can’t fulfill the specifications outlined in an IEP and/or are prevented from doing so by outside circumstances (ex: too many IEPs in one class, paraprofessional ratio is off, class size, etc.) there are certain steps you must take. You are obligated to ask the principal (LAE) to reconvene IEPs for the purpose of a more appropriate placement. IEPs are legal documents and they are federally mandated. Make sure that you are not placing your professional future in jeopardy.

Sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, Tribeca Film Institute and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and based on Kerry Kennedy’s book, “Speak Truth To Power”, the middle and high school competition encourages students to become engaged in human rights through video production. Click here for more information.

By Randi Weingarten

       Teaching is our heart. Our students are our soul. And the union is our spine.

I heard that sentiment over and over again this past week during the American Federation of Teachers’ biennial TEACH conference, one of the largest professional development conferences for educators in the nation. That’s right, a conference on teaching and learning, sponsored by the union.

The conference included sessions on a wide range of topics, as well as a daylong summit with an organization called EdSurge, where educators had the opportunity to give feedback on classroom technology products, and a town hall meeting with the AFT’s three officers, where members could ask or share anything.

Two-thousand educators descended on Washington, D.C., to learn from experts and one another, and once there, the theme was resounding: The voices of educators matter. Especially in an era of toxic debates and top-down dictates, the voices of educators matter.

Where educators are raising and combining their voices, the seeds of positive change have emerged. Collective voice, exercised through the union, is power — the power to drive real change