September 9, 2009
WELCOME BACK!
This school year is going to be a difficult for all of us. When you have questions or concerns, 
your elected Site President will be able to assist you or direct you in the right direction.   
Here is a list of the current ESTA Site Representatives. The Site Presidents and Vice Presidents 
are elected yearly. Assembly Representatives have a two year term.   
Andrew Hill - Wendy Stegeman (P) 
Jolie Swann (VP), Keegan McLoskey (10)
Lisa McCusker (09), Michael Winsatt (09)  
District Office -  Kristine Hulse(P), 
 Barbara Schallau(VP), Malaika Young(10)  
Evergreen Valley - Lisa Baker(P), Open(VP), Cris Kuch(10), Julie Pratico(09), Open(10) 
 
Foothill- Jennifer Ludwig(P), Open(VP), Vivian Gamez(10) 
 
Independence- Bill Kirk(P) & John Delange (Co-P), Tony Montesano(VP), 
Francisco Alves( 10), Greg Sprague(10), Robert Crichton(09), David Cornn(09) 
 
James Lick – Mike Gatenby(P), David Porter(VP), Stephanie Blanco(10) 
 
Mt Pleasant – Robert Rumph (P), Chris Evans (VP), Eric Maestas (09), Maureen Burt(10) 
 
Oak Grove – Kim Schaupp(P), Elaine Ceballos(VP), Hyon Kim(09), Patty Giorgianni(09), 
Ted Mcleod(10) 
 
Piedmont Hills – Shelley Moneymaker(P), Michele Wheldon(VP), Monique Childs(10), 
Steve Martin(10) 
 
Silver Creek – Jerry Dyer(P), Edward Youngblood(VP), Shelley Innes-Valdivia(10), 
Gil Agoylo(09), Open(10) 
 
Santa Teresa – Neil Wilson(P), Rosalind Taylor(VP), Jon Alota(09), Theresa Flores(10), 
Jerrie Calderon(09) 
 
WC Overfelt – Eleanor Aguirre(P), Open(VP), Dixie Sinkovits(10), Open(09) 
 
Yerba Buena – Blanca Espinosa(P), Nancy Galindo(VP), Open(10), Geremy Goebel(09) 
 
ESTA ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES NEEDED
On October 7 at 4:00 PM at Mt. Hamilton CTA, the ESTA Assembly will be meeting for the 
second time this school year.  Currently, the following sites have an opening for an additional 
representative: Evergreen Valley, Foothill, Piedmont Hills, Silver Creek, WC Overfelt, and 
Yerba Buena.  If you would like to attend and fill in one of the open spots, please let your 
Building President know.  Each site is allowed an assembly representative for every 40 
teachers, and only those elected members are allowed to vote on issues during the meeting. 
Alternates can vote if they submit their name at the beginning of the meeting.    
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
One of the ways to be more involved with ESTA is to join a committee.  The list below is 
our current committee chairs:
  
Grievance- Mike Gatenby & Paul Landshof
Organizing – Ralph Giannini
Elections – Rosalind Taylor
Political Action – Wendy Stegeman
Benefits – Bernadette Salgarino
Relief Fund – Shelley Moneymaker 
Scholarship – Neil Wilson 
Sick Leave Bank – Rob Suhr  
I hope to see some new faces at all of these committee meetings.  Email any of the chairs 
if you have questions about the duties of these committees.  Last year, we saw more ESTA 
members getting involved and it would be great to continue the tread this year during these 
difficult times.  
LAID OFF TEACHERS
All summer long laid off teachers were brought back.  At this point, about 23 people are still 
on the 39 month rehire list.  Some of them were able to find a job in another district, but many 
of them are still looking for a job.   ESTA will continue to monitor the Master Schedules and 
make recommendation to open sections as the need arises. New jobs will only be posted in 
the event that none of the teachers on the 39 month rehire list have the credential required. 
 At this time, the majority of the teachers on the 39 month rehire list are English teachers with 
a few Math teachers and Spanish teachers.   
SICK LEAVE BANK
The ESTA Sick Leave Bank(SLB) was formed to help members in the event that a 
catastrophic illness or injury that would prevent a member from working.  Each member 
donates a one day for two years in a row and then no more additional days are taken unless 
the member wants to donate more days.   For the past two years, the SLB has been busy 
approving application of members with serious conditions, but have been able to come back 
after recovering at home.  
Applications for joining the SLB are now on the ESTA website or you can ask your site President.  
The applications to join are due September 30, 2009 to the district office.  
Rob Suhr is the Committee Chair, so if you have additional questions, he can be contacted 
through district email.  Only members of the Sick Leave Bank can apply to withdraw days once 
their own sick leave has all been applied. 
Also, if you are interested in being part of the Sick Leave Bank Committee, please let me know. 
The committee meets once a month to go over the current applications that have been submitted.    
THE STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY
The Standard Insurance Company offers disability and life insurance policies to CTA members 
at a very low monthly rate which is based on your salary.  The disability insurance cost for a first 
year teacher on 12 months pay is $23.02 a month.  For a teacher who makes over $67,250 the 
disability insurance cost $34.19 a month for 12 months. The cost comes directly out from your 
check, so there is not need to do anything else once you have filled out the application.  
For the life insurance, the cost is based on your age and amount of coverage you would like.  
There is spouse/domestic partner coverage and dependent coverage.  It is up to you to find 
the plan that fits your needs.  
During the month of November, the Standard will be offering open enrollment to all ESTA 
members.  This means that you will not have to answer the health questions when you sign 
up for the disability insurance.  Health questions often lead to a person’s application being 
denied if the person has a prior health condition, but during open enrollment no one is denied. 
 During the open enrollment time a person who is pregnant will also be accepted.  This is 
everyone chance to enroll in the insurance that will cover you up to 2 years in the event 
you have a serious health condition that prevents you from working.   
Many people often think they will never need this insurance, but who can predict some of 
the illnesses that are now happening to our members?  If you don’t have this policy, I highly 
recommend you sign up especially seeing first hand how it has helped our members.  
I must also admit that many who didn’t have it, wished they did.   
Open enrollment only comes around every five years, so don’t miss your opportunity to 
sign up!  The application forms will be given out in October, but will not be accepted until the 
end of November once our group has turned them in.  If you want to sign up now, you will 
have to fill out the health questions, but if you are currently healthy, you should be accepted 
without a problem.  For an application, ask your site President.  
NEWLY TENURED PARTY 
At the October board meeting, all Probationary two teachers from last year who are still 
working in the district will officially become tenured. Per Ed Code, it actually happened on the 
first day of their third year after completing two probationary years.  So, that means in late 
October or early November it will be time to celebrate for the 4th Annual Newly Tenured Party 
at Mt. Hamilton CTA.  This party is a way for the newly tenured to get to know more office and
 learn more about ESTA while enjoying a good meal with fellow members.  Also, some of the 
ESTA Executive attend and join in on the celebration.  After the October board meeting, I will 
email all teachers who became tenured and invite them to the party.  Every year at least five 
people question the fact that they are tenured and I do enjoy giving them the good news again 
and assure them they are now tenured.   It is always nice to give some good news.