To Our Community,
Dr. Shanoff was directed by the Commissioner of Education to send the message yesterday. However, it misrepresents the facts and appears intended to inject political messaging into the workday.
The Commissioner’s memo and recent public statements reflect a broader effort to distract educators from the real issues facing public education and to undermine your right to advocate for your profession.
This isn’t the first time our district’s hand has been forced by the Commissioner. Earlier this year, an email was sent blaming unions for holding up funding- claiming “historic” raises last year, when the reality is that teacher pay increases from the State amounted to roughly $20 per pay period before taxes and health care deductions, and education staff professionals received no raises from the state level at all.
Today, K-12 educators are being told that a rule challenge brought by union members in higher education represents a loss. That claim is simply inaccurate.
We remain focused on what matters: advocating for educators, students, and the public schools our communities depend on. If you support that work, we encourage you to consider joining OCEA.