#FremontCARES #Equalhourlypay #SupportDyslexia #SupportAutism #SupportMentalHealth #SupportADHD #SupportAllNeeds 

During this critical time in history it is ESSENTIAL that we fight for the rights of all of our children, INCLUDING those with special needs! Those of you especially with children or relatives with special needs know how important it is for the student to be supported and receive early intervention as soon as possible!

Additional school psychologists and program specialists are currently greatly needed in Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) to ensure students with special needs are not overlooked and left behind.  These HIGHLY trained specialists also DESERVE to be paid at the same HOURLY rate as teachers (Pro-Rata) and are currently getting LESS than teachers. Because of this, they are often leaving to go to other districts or joining a contracting agency to be paid the SAME RATE as Teachers or MORE and there are several vacancies this year because of this! See press release below for more information.

STEPS TO SUPPORTING SPECIAL EDUCATION:

• Sign the Petition Now to Support School Psychologists and Program Specialists Receiving Equal Hourly Pay Rate to Teachers
• Share with Friends on social media and encourage them to sign!
• Email board members, and  to come to the FUSD Board Meeting on 3/13/2019 or any Board meeting (2nd and 4th Wednesdays of Each month) to support us in the audience or by speaking (come by 6pm and fill out an orange card)! FUSD Education Center - Board Room - District Office 4210 Technology Drive

School Board Members:

• President Michele Berke: mberke@fremont.k12.ca.us
• Vice President Desrie Campbell: dcampbell@fremont.k12.ca.us
• Clerk: Larry Sweeney: larry4sb@aol.com
• Member: Ann Crosbie: acrosbie@fremont.k12.ca.us
• Member: Diane Jones: djones@fremont.k12.ca.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/19/2019

HARD TO FIND HIGHLY TRAINED SCHOOL SPECIALISTS  REQUESTING THE SAME RATE OF PAY AS TEACHERS

FREMONT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (FUSD) SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, PROGRAM SPECIALISTS AND OTHER SPECIALISTS ARE SEEKING THE SAME HOURLY PAY AS TEACHERS

FREMONT, CA

Fremont Unified School District school psychologists have been attending board meetings requesting the same hourly pay as teachers.  FUSD salary contracts indicate teachers are making more money hourly than specialists. School Psychologists and Program Specialists work 1,440 hours in a year while teachers work 1,122 hours. The previous contract for school psychologists indicates the following [24.18  Psychologists shall be placed on a separate salary schedule (A4) which shall reflect the teachers' schedule increased on a pro rata basis reflecting their workday and work year.] Even with this language, pro rata (in proportion to) the hourly rate has not been adhered to.  Furthermore, Program Specialists (credentialed specialists whose professional responsibilities include: supporting individual needs of students, families and staff, conflict resolution and minimizing litigation),  have been requesting that it be added since October 2015.

“The hourly earning of a veteran school psychologist is less than the hourly rate of veteran teachers.  That is unfair. At the beginning of this year, we had four vacant positions. The district ends up getting contractors to do the assessment for which they have to pay almost two times than they would pay if they hired a school psychologist for the district,” said Neelam Dharod, School Psychologist at the FUSD Board meeting on January 30, 2019.  Program Specialists share the same concern as related to the hourly rate of pay.

While, current specialists are wanting equity in their salary to teachers, they are also very concerned about being able to fill necessary vacant positions.

“ I have to tell you though, that for the past four years, our district has had an ongoing shortage of School Psychologists and it is students that are being shortchanged... The primary reason School Psychologists are leaving Fremont or not coming back in the first place (in addition to the high costs of living and our traffic issues) is the compensation package,” said Laurie Berberian, School Psychologist at the FUSD Board meeting on January 16, 2019.

School Psychologists are also requesting that the board follows the 1 psychologist to 500-700 student ratio that the National Association of School Psychologists recommends. Currently school psychologists at FUSD are on average a 1-1500 ratio the highest being 1-2400.  On average, Program Specialists are at a higher ratio and are also in need of additional positions to be filled and opened.

School Psychologists and Program Specialists will be attending the board meeting on March 13, 2019 to review their concerns.

-Advocate for Special Educators