Vergara Case: Emery Unified School District, Right Wing Victorious Against Teachers Unions

Emery Plays a Part in the Infamous 

Vergara Case

News Analysis
A Los Angeles judge ruled against California teachers and in support of a Silicon Valley billionaire today in the much watched Vergara Case, a lawsuit with major Emery Unified School District connections.  It's a case that has pitted school privatizers and anti-union right wing forces against teachers and public school supporters.  Emery Unified sent two strong anti-teacher's union supporters, former school superintendents Tony Smith and Debbra Lindo to argue in support of billionaire plaintiff David Welch (57).  The case will have repercussions far beyond California as the plaintiff vows to take the case nation-wide, a prospect that has drawn cheers from all manner of conservative pundits and right wing think tanks across the land.

Both Emery superintendents supplied the plaintiff with 'letters of declaration', using their Emery credentials to bolster their case that teachers are to blame for the poor state of education in Emeryville and in California.

Silicon Valley Tycoon David Welch
The Republican billionaire used
Emery School Superintendent's
help to argue that teachers unions
should be deep sixed. 

The plaintiff used Emery's superintendent's letters of declaration to argue that only the destruction of the teachers union and tying teacher pay with student test scores can save education, something that needs to be done "for the students".  The idea is that well qualified teachers will flock to school districts that offer no job security and pay poorly although neither Emery superintendent nor anyone representing the plaintiff has shown how this will work.  The Vergara plaintiff argued good teachers aren't interested in due process and instead clamor for their job and pay to be dependent upon the capricious whims of superintendents and other things beyond their control like student poverty and associated dysfunctional home life.

Emery Unified: Anti-Teacher Incubator 
Emery, being such a small school district, has played an over sized role in today's victory against teachers.  The district here has long taken an adversarial position against its teachers, most notably when the School Board resolved to support Superintendent Lindo over the teachers in the infamous Teachers Resolution fight.  Tony Smith and his program of shutting down schools, cutting teacher pay and turning over public schools to private charter corporations while he served as Oakland's superintendent is still revered by the School Board here at Emery.
Emery's role in the anti-teacher/ pro-privatization movement has come to be that of an incubator.  The district here collects those with disdain for teachers and elevates them to superintendent.  After attaining superintendent status, Emery sends them out into the world where they can help right wing causes and inflict damage to teachers statewide.
It's a recipe that has rankled teachers here at Emery.  Emery Teachers Association president Dawn Turner told the Tattler today, "We have the dubious distinction of having provided not one but two former superintendents as expert witnesses on the Vergara case.  They are using students to forward a right wing agenda".  Ms Turner echoed her colleagues vow, "We will fight this" she said.

In a tragicomic irony, the ruling in Los Angeles today comes right on the heels of last week's "Teacher Appreciation Week" here at Emery.

Emery Teachers Scuttle Superintendant Liaison Meetings Indefinitely

Emery Teachers Break Off Talks 

With Superintendent & District 

The Emery School District's frosty relationship with its teachers just got a little colder.
School teacher representative Dawn Turner told the School Board last month the teachers had collectively decided to end talks meant to resolve emerging problems with the Superintendent of the Schools and the District.  It marks the latest step a frustrated Emery Teachers Association has taken after more than a year of discontent with the Emery Unified School District and Superintendent Debbra Lindo.  
Emery Teachers Association President Turner told an indifferent School Board they will "suspend the Liaison Committee until further notice."
Ms Turner added, "If we continue it this year it will give you the false impression that all is well and we don't care to give you that impression.  We want you to understand we are experiencing problems."

The Liaison Committee was intended to serve as a forum to hash out problems between teachers and the District before the issues spiraled out of control but after the School Board ignored the teacher's request for intervention with a recalcitrant Superintendent Lindo last year, the teachers have been feeling disrespected and ignored according to a teacher.  The teacher who spoke to the Tattler but wished to remain anonymous fearing possible District reprisals, condemned the School Board's inaction after last year's Teachers Resolution as a tipping point in District/teacher relations.

Representative Turner summed it up, "We feel in the past, in previous years and past administrations, it [the Liaison Committee] was always very productive" recalling the better days before the School Board hired Superintendent Lindo.  "We don't want to provide lip service to these issues.  We want them addressed, resolved like they've been in the past" she added.

You Tube video courtesy of the Emeryville Property Owners Association