Speech to the Board on November 18th, 2025
Good evening, Board Members, Superintendent Jaramillo, and Executive Cabinet. Thank you for your time this evening.
I’ll keep my remarks brief. First, I want to express our appreciation for everyone who helped with the AUSD/ATA Food Distribution earlier this month. The turnout and generosity once again showed what our community is capable of when we come together.
Collaboration Time & Grievance
As you know, ATA filed an Association Grievance regarding collaboration time. The District’s response was a simple denial with no explanation. That lack of clarity is disappointing, especially given that educators' concerns across multiple sites have been consistent and ongoing.
There is a disconnect between what the contract envisions for collaboration and what many teachers are experiencing. In the absence of a clear rationale for the denial, ATA will be filing a Level II Grievance. We do this to get to a place where collaboration is genuinely collaborative.
School Climate & Member Rights
We also continue to hear from members who feel uneasy about raising concerns or even reaching out to ATA. At a few sites, simply contacting the union has been met with frustration or disapproval from administrators.
I want to clearly reiterate what the law already provides: members have the right to seek union support without fear of retaliation or intimidation. We always encourage direct communication at the site level, but educators must feel safe asking for help when they need it. A healthy school climate depends on that sense of safety.
Investigatory Meetings & Fair Process
We are also hearing concerns about investigatory or fact-finding meetings. Educators report entering these meetings already feeling judged rather than engaged in a fair, balanced conversation.
We can avoid this. Approaching these situations with listening, transparency, and neutrality goes a long way toward building trust. We all share the same goal—to resolve concerns in a way that supports students and maintains dignity and respect for staff.
Code of Conduct Concept
ATA shared a draft Code of Conduct for parent meetings. This is an effort to start a conversation about how to ensure difficult meetings remain respectful, safe, and student-focused. We look forward to working collaboratively with the District on shared expectations.
As we head into the Thanksgiving break, I want to thank the Board and District leadership for your continued partnership. ATA raises these issues because we believe addressing them will strengthen our schools.
We wish everyone a restful and meaningful holiday. Thank you.
Ralph Hernandez
alhambrateacherspresident@gmail.com
