Big NEWS for this week: NEA/RA DELEGATE ELECTION COMING SOON!
02/27/26 KHSTA UPDATE
Happy Friday! We hope you have had a great week!
Updates come out every Friday EXCEPT for the last Friday of the quarter (the KHSTA Newsletter will arrive on these dates). Please check your junk mail folder if you are not receiving them. Past updates will be archived on the KHSTA website (khsta.org).
NEA/RA DELEGATE ELECTION
Bios for the candidates for the NEA/RA are posted on the KHSTA website (khsta.org).
PROP 55 EXTENSION
FAILURE TO EXTEND PROP 55 WILL RESULT IN A $75 MILLION CUT TO THE KERN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT. This is about a 13-15% cut to the overall budget in KHSD. Your site rep has petitions to get the Prop 55 extension on the ballot. Prop 55 is not a new tax; it is an extension of a tax that is already being paid by households making more than $700,000. If this occurs, all of us will feel the cuts. We need to get petitions signed to get this on the ballot. If you want to sign or get more information, see your rep.
SB 88
If you need additional information regarding SB 88, you can find it here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/tn/im/pupiltransportation.asp.
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
We are excited to announce the launch of our new social media campaign! Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X and BlueSky to stay up to date on everything going on in the association! Links to our accounts are:
Instagram (@KHSTAofKern): https://www.instagram.com/khstaofkern/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Kern-High-School-Teachers-Association/61587499292069/
X (@KHSTAofKern): https://x.com/KHSTAofKern
BlueSky (@khstaofkern.bsky.social): https://bsky.app/profile/khstaofkern.bsky.social
PAC SOCIAL MEDIA
KHSTA’s Political Action Committee (Kern High Teachers for Sound Schools), is launching their social media accounts as well. Follow them here:
Instagram (@khsoundschools): https://www.instagram.com/khsoundschools/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Kern-High-Teachers-for-Sound-Schools/61584170893025/
X (@KHSoundSchools): https://x.com/KHSoundSchools
BlueSky (@khsoundschools.bsky.social): https://bsky.app/profile/khsoundschools.bsky.social
10 MINUTE MEETINGS
Your site reps will be doing monthly 10 minute meetings to help keep you informed. Reps should be having a 10 minute meeting to answer questions regarding the tentative contract. February’s topic is on the Prop 55 extension. We have moved Transfers to March. The handouts/presentations from the 10 Minute Meetings are archived on the khsta.com website.
VIRTUAL TEN MINUTE MEETING
If you missed your site’s 10 minute meeting this month or if your site didn’t hold one, KHSTA exec board will be doing a Zoom meeting on the second Thursday of the month, at 8:00am and again at 4:00pm -- next month March 12th. Next month’s topic is Transfers.
For the 8:00am meeting, use this link: https://kernhigh-org.zoom.us/j/84450837392.
For the 4:00pm meeting, use this link: https://kernhigh-org.zoom.us/j/83934228707
CTA VIRTUAL PASS
CTA is again offering their virtual pass. This is professional development that CTA pays for that can be used to move over on the salary schedule for up to six units per column move. It’s a great way to move on the salary schedule. For more information on the courses, go to https://www.cta.org/conferences/virtual-pass/2025-2.
Happy Friday!! Enjoy your weekend!
KHSTA Executive Board
President: Cathy Adams (FrHS)
Vice President: Mindy Montanio (HHS)
Secretary: Stephanie Valenzuela (AHS)
Treasurer: Norma Procell (HHS)
State Council Reps
Elise Sotello (KL)
Kim Lee (AHS)
Tamara Clark (VWHS)
Joanne Barrick (HHS)
Candi Romero (TDS)
Past President: Vickie Shoenhair (Shafter)
Membership Chair: Dave Ziegler (LHS)
Bargaining, Grievance Chair: Mindy Montanio (HHS)
PAC Chair: Allysa Jones (FHS)
Equity Team: Lori Toia, LGBTQ+ Rep
Site Representatives
Arvin: Stephanie Valenzuela,
Ty Newton
BAS: Linda Colvin
BHS: Hillary Sanders,
Randy Bennett
CHS: Kayole Bradford, Kim Henry
CVHS: Alix Garcia
DOHS: Olive Garrison,
Hannah Richert
District (includes all district programs):
Danny Arretche (KL),
Isaac Rocha (JCC)
EBHS: April Bynum,
Rosemary Silverman
Foothill: Elizabeth Deckard,
Allysa Jones
Frontier: Lara Winn
GVHS: Victoria Hinojosa
HHS: Meaghan Barber Smith
IHS: Robb Polski, Tanya Whitehouse
KVHS: Casey Robinson
LHS: David Ziegler,
Marycoco Ramirez
MMHS: Brooke Malley Ault,
Matt Day
NHS: Erika Zeimet, Tonya Davis
Nueva:
RHS: Kim Smith, Nathan Claunch
ROP/CTEC: Chad Wright,
Scott Trimble
Shafter: Jessica Smith,
Brian Feaster
South: Rebekah Ingle,
Dante Borradori
Stockdale: Gaby Scully
TDS: Candi Romero
VWHS: Karen Roberts*
Vista: Julie Burke
West: Eliza Pearsy, Steve Willis
Liaisons
COUNSELOR: Joanne Barrick (HHS)
NURSE: Jamie Henry (IHS)
PSYCHOLOGIST: Angelina Gonzales (ABLE)
TEACHER-LIBRARIAN: Amanda Rude (SHS)