Matthew Gabocy speaks in support of the Menifee Teachers Association during the Menifee Union School District Board meeting Tuesday.
Menifee Union School District teachers sported “Teaching Takes Time” t-shirts Tuesday as they called for additional support amid ongoing negotiations between the district and the Menifee Teachers Association (MTA).
MTA President Lee Eddy and other educators urged district leaders to take action on several issues, including additional preparation time, class sizes and visual and performing arts opportunities for students.
“Our educators feel like they’re being asked to teach more students, more differentiation, more intervention, more enrichment, more trainings, more meetings, more new metrics, more new programs, more new initiatives,” Eddy said. “It is unsustainable.”
Eddy said MTA has asked for more teacher-directed preparation time and changes related to class sizes but has received “no” and no counterproposal on those issues during negotiations.
The concerns echo those raised during an April board meeting, when educators spoke about preparation time and work being completed outside of contracted hours as MTA and the district prepared to begin negotiations.
The district and MTA are operating under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through June 2028. The agreement allows certain portions of the contract to be reopened for negotiations each year.
Oak Meadows Elementary School teacher Marcea Croxton said she first addressed the board about preparation time three years ago.
“In the three years since, the only meaningful addition has been the inconsistent promise of approximately 50 minutes of preparation time once a month while our students receive art or music,” Croxton said. “Meanwhile, the expectations and the workload placed on teachers has continued to grow.”
Croxton pointed to academic growth at Oak Meadows, which was highlighted during a presentation earlier in the meeting, and said staff members often work beyond their duty day and contracted hours to help students succeed.
She also called for the district to use Proposition 28 funding to add visual and performing arts staff and expand arts and music opportunities for students.
“Three years ago, I stood before you asking for more time, and tonight we’re asking again,” Croxton said. “But this time, we’re also asking for you to take action.”
Croxton provided board members with copies of the teachers’ requests and signatures from staff members who were unable to attend the meeting.
Matthew Gabocy of Southshore Elementary School also spoke in support of the union’s bargaining team.
“We care about these kids as much as you do,” Gabocy said. “Please just give us the resources and opportunity to do our job as well as we can.”
The board did not discuss the teachers’ requests during the meeting.
