Happy foggy 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).
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:
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:
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.
DUES LETTER
Tax time approaches once again, and we've attached the letter for your dues withholdings. Remember that this is a general note about the amount of your dues being withheld and how it applies to your particular situation is a conversation for you to have with your tax preparer. If you have questions, please reach out to Treasurer Norma Procell or Membership Chair David Ziegler
FOG DELAY INFORMATION
The fog is still hanging around. We have gotten a number of questions regarding future delays and cancellations.
Here’s what we know: for the schools that had to cancel, the district will apply for a waiver for that day. If the waiver is accepted, the site will not have to make it up. If the waiver is denied, the site will have to make it up. In that case, the likeliest scenario is that the school would make up that day on June 1 instead of holding the in-service day. That will not be finalized until the district hears from the state on the waiver.
Currently, only two fog delays are built into the school calendar. Since another fog delay was called (and there is still the possibility of more), the missed instructional minutes must be made up before the end of the school year. There are several possible ways this could be addressed, including eliminating the two-hour early release days scheduled prior to holiday weeks or weekends, modifying Monday early release schedules, or adding instructional minutes to remaining school days. At this time, no specific plan is in place for additional fog delays. KHSTA leadership will work collaboratively with the district to determine how the required instructional time will be recovered.
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.
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 February 12th. This month’s topic is the Prop 55 extension.
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
