state of the schools participatory action research report

SEIU 21LA State of the Schools Participatory Action Research Report 1

STATEOF

THE SCHOOLS

PARTICIPATORYACTIONRESEARCHREPORT


Executive Summary Our unique, intergenerational participatory action research project united constituencies most affected by quality school services to take action for improved conditions and necessary policy changes to imple-ment their desired recommendations. This team of action researchers ranging in age from 9 to 74 worked together and identified common core issues, created surveys, gathered data, analyzed findings, and are providing policy recommendations.

The primary research question we wanted to answer was “How can we improve the working and learn-ing conditions in New Orleans schools for workers and students?” We want to create and contribute to promote positive changes in the New Orleans public schools. We chose to focus on this issue because despite many substantial facilities improvements in many schools post-Katrina, there has been a decline in the day-to-day working conditions for school service workers (cafeteria, custodial and transportation).

The results of our research has led us to conclude that charter school boards, Recovery School District and Orleans Parish School District should universally adopt a set of school service standards to ensure quality services for all schools. Further, we found through ongoing conversations in our research team, the students and school service workers are aligned in many regards in their assessment of how to improve our conditions.

In fact, our recommendations include a toolkit for school leaders and executives to ensure a just and sus-tainable contract for service workers, as well as a local resource list for schools who would like to involve students in quality control monitoring of school services. We hope that our research and recommendations will help to inform the improvement of New Orleans school services to enrich and enliven our cities educa-tional environments.

Facilitator Statement Many of the array of changes happening in New Orleans schools are nationally known - however there is one issue that has attracted little notice: the impact of decentralization of the New Orleans schools on school service workers job security and standards of living, alongside the erosion in students sense of sta-bility at their schools with a constant influx of new faces instead of trusted individuals they recognize who take care of them. Further, we all know what determines success in school is not limited to what happens in the classroom. Time and time again, studies have demonstrated an indelible connection between the achievement gap and poverty; yet there is pervasive and persistent downward pressure on the wages of working families.

The parents who send their children to public school are the same workers who provide the nutrition to power students’ minds and maintain the facilities in which they learn, but they cannot take part in their own children’s education because they are so often toiling on the edge of poverty, frequently working second and third jobs to make ends meet. We saw a need to investigate the impact this decentralization is having in the schools by the two groups of people most impacted by the changes and destabilization of school ser-vice provisions: the workers themselves and the students they serve. For over 15 years, I’ve been working as an educator, facilitator, cultural organizer and change maker in the fight for equity and social justice in our schools and society. It was a deep honor and privilege to facilitate this inspiring process.

With deep gratitude to the team...thanks for all your great work!

Jayeesha Dutta State of the Schools Action Research Facilitator

Chief of Staff, SEIU Local 21LA


About Our TeamWe are the “Dream Team Visioning Success,” an intergenerational participatory action research team of school service workers and students ranging in age from 9 to 74. We hope that people will get behind us to see that workers’ conditions in schools could be better and will improve the lives of our community.

Our team’s work is a project of the Louisiana statewide local of the Service Employees Interna-tional Union, an organization of 2.1 million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide and dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society.

SEIU is committed to building a fair economy, providing workers a voice on the job, fighting for equality and ensuring that all working people can live with dignity.

SEIU members keep our buildings and communities safe and clean and our families healthy, we care for our children and our elderly, and keep our cities and states running. We stand up for jus-tice and for civil rights for all--for immigrants, for women, for LGBT workers, for people of color, for all workers--because we know that's the only way we can move our country forward.

We believe in and will fight for a just society: Where all workers are valued and all people are respected. Where all families and communities thrive. Where we leave a better and more equal world for generations to come.

Hi, my name is Dalton Bennett. I am almost 14 years old. The son of Tiea Silby and Dalton Bennett. I have several siblings. I love basketball. I go to John Dibert Community School. I’m in 7th grade.

Hi my name is Jumal Oatis, I’m an Aramark food service worker who has been working in food service for 7 ½ years. I’m working with SEIU to help the students and workers get the right pay and supplies needed so our lives can function right.

My name is Charles Smith. I work at one of the schools in New Orleans. I believe in doing the best I can on my job and everything I do. I have four boys and one girl that I love. I want to have a better work place for them in the City of New Orleans.


My name is Glenn Henry and I am a child nutrition worker for Sodexo at this time. I was born and live in the New Orleans area. I am also a graduate from the New Orleans public schools and love them dearly. I have been a child nutrition worker for 30 years. I am also a SEIU union worker and I believe in fighting for the rights of our communities.

I am Tyreion Dixon. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. My mother is Tiea Silby and my father is Tyree Tanner. I am 16 years old and I attend Cohen College Prep High School. I love singing and making sure my family is fine. For my age, I like working and making money. I am very helpful to others and willing to give my best.

I’m Delores Jeanpierre. I am a retiree from cement finishers Lo-cal 567. I worked in construction for many years. I started in a mechani-cal field and decided to change my career. I went back to construction college for four years. Since then I have retired but I enjoy participating in the union movement.

Hi, my name is Aidan O'Brien Sierra. I am in fourth grade. I participated in this project because my parents en-couraged me. I also participated because since kindergarten, one of my favorite adults in my school has been a cafeteria lady.

My name is Helene O’Brien. I am a mother of a 4th grader who attends a New Orleans charter school. I am the president of SEIU Local 21LA, representing school employees who work as school cus-todians, cafeteria employees and bus drivers. The radical changes that have occurred in NOLA schools have created unnoticed hardships for school service workers. I hope this study begins a process that will bring justice.

My name is Tracy Williams, I’m a food service worker at Arthur Ashe who has been working for So-dexo for 6 years. I’m working to help students and workers get right pay and supplies needed so everyone can function right. I’ve been with SEIU from the beginning and will be there until the end to see everyone through because I believe we will fight and win.


Dalton Joseph is my name. I admire fighting for the working fami-lies and communities. The important thing about me is that I sympathize with each working families’ issues and concerns. I want to see positive changes for each working individu-al. I want city leaders to protect our working citizens against abusive privatized companies.

My name is Claire Rogers. I am 62 years old. I have two chil-dren, Tawana and Ronell. At the present time, I’m working with SEIU. I love to sing and dance. I’m a very religious human being. I participated in this project to help improve the situation at the schools and to help the staff and children.

My name is Carl Winchester Jr. I want people to know that I’m very talented. I am in the 6th grade and my family and God is important to me. I participated in this project because it is fun to be working with my mom and I’d rather be with her than at home with my brother.

Hi, I’m Yolanda Jackson. I’m working with SEIU 21LA to better all schools with good tasting food, cleaner schools and employees who have better pay and health insurance for all.

Hi, my name is Deryl Nichols. I work at Woodson Schools in food service and with SEIU.

My name is Alaney Rogers. I’m 15 years old and I go to Sci Tech. I like fashion design and music.


Methodology In the fall of 2012, SEIU Local 21LA brought together a group of committed current and former members of the New Orleans school service workers unit to discuss the current conditions of their workplace. It became clear that something needed to happen to uncover the real conditions and take action to improve the circumstances. We decided to undertake a participatory action research project, described in detail below, in partnership with students in the public schools, to improve the working conditions in the service of improving the educational environment for our community.

During the course of November 2012, we met several times to identify common issues, create our research question, develop our research tool, determine our sample and decide our data collec-tion process. The most consistent commonalities among workers during our issue identification phase were reduced hours and wages, which came along with the elimination or reduction of paid days off (including sick time), during and after the decentralization of schools post-Katrina. Both workers and students identified decreased quality and quantity of food provided as well as lack of supplies and functional equipment to be issues of concern.

We decided to focus our research on how to improve the working and learning conditions by un-covering the current situation as well as identifying the needs of students and workers to improve the state of their schools. We created a survey where every member of the team anonymously contributed questions. We collectively decided which ones would get us the best information and put together a student and worker survey (please see Appendix A and B.) Dalton Joseph, a Local 21LA organizer, mapped out all the schools and assigned students and workers to collect surveys from all New Orleans schools. We were able to collect 207 student and 184 school service worker surveys over the course of five weeks, a time period which included winter holiday break. Loyola University’s Workplace Justice Project partnered with us in the data entry process to ensure impartial results. In January and early February 2013, we reconvened to analyze the resulting data and come up with our findings and recommendations. Finally, we have been concluding the project in partnership with the Highlander Research and Education Center based in Knoxville, TN to release our report and recommendations with a creative action featuring cultural organizing practices.

Throughout the duration of the project we have sought to create a participatory, inclusive and democratic research and organizing team in order to come up with solutions-oriented, innovative ideas to spur positive changes in our schools.


Data Analysis: Finding 1New Orleans students want enough good, hot food cooked on site according to school menus they are consulted about.

99% of students surveyed think they should have a say so about the lunch menu.

93% of students surveyed would prefer their school to provide a hot meal cooked at school.

73% of students surveyed said there was currently not enough good food provided for ev-ery child to feel full and learn at school.

72% of students surveyed would like to see better food and 49% would like more food/bigger portions at their school.

Nearly ½ of students surveyed said their school food was poor (29%) or very close to poor (19%).


Data Analysis: Finding 2Many New Orleans school service workers are low paid, receive little to no health benefits or adequate paid days off (such as sick time.)

64% of school service workers surveyed do not receive health insurance benefits.

18% of school service workers surveyed are provided with no paid days off, 31% are only provided between 1 and 3 days off.

35% of school service workers surveyed are paid less than $10.00 an hour.


Data Analysis: Finding 3New Orleans students and school service workers do not believe they have adequate and sufficient equipment and supplies to ensure cleanliness at their schools.

56% of students surveyed do not think their school is clean, and 64% think their school needs more supplies like toilet paper in the bath-rooms.

65% of school service workers surveyed think they need better equipment and machines at their school to conduct their job.

We also received the following responses from multiple school service worker survey responses to optional open-ended question: “How would you improve the working and learning conditions at your school?”

“We need better equipment to work with.”; “We need more supplies to help with everything in the school so it can be clean.”; “..better equipment...”


Data Analysis: Finding 4Most New Orleans students have a reasonable commute to and from school every day.

82% of students surveyed spend less than an hour traveling to and from school.

87% of students surveyed believe that the bus gets them home at reason-able hour [agree (77%) + strongly agree (10%)].

70% of students surveyed walk less than three blocks to and from their home to the bus stop.


Data Analysis: Finding 5New Orleans school service workers want a worker association advocating for better pay, benefits and treatments of school service worker

93% of school service workers surveyed believe in organizing workers together for strength [agree (43%) + strongly agree (50%)]

80% of school service workers surveyed would join a School Service Workers Association advocating for better pay, benefits and treatment.


Data Analysis: Recommendations1. Trained cooks should be working at each school cooking meals on site. [Finding 1]

2. New Orleans School Service Workers need better pay and hours to afford health insurance. [Finding 2]

3. All school boards should establish minimum standards regarding wages, hours, benefits and paid days off. [Finding 2]

4. Schools should have student councils or advisory groups that consult with service providers regarding menus, supplies, equipment and other needs. [Finding 1, Finding 3]

5. Schools should monitor travel times and conditions for all students annually. [Finding 4]

6. All school boards should enter into agreements with the school service worker association to ensure enforcement of minimum standards [Finding 2, Finding 5]

7. Create a toolkit for all New Orleans schools to utilize in creating and estab-lishing fair working conditions for school services workers. [Finding 2, Finding 5]


LimitationsWhile we undertook a rigorous action research project to the best of our ability, there were some limitations in our research. Namely, despite having a plan to reach all schools we were unable to survey many schools due to a variety of factors, mainly not being able to get access into schools due to administration’s objection. As such, we suspect our data would be different if we had been able to survey all schools and recommend further work is done to ensure an annual audit of all school services by an independent third party.

We also recognize that our questions limited the conclusions we could draw since we wanted to have a short survey to facilitate gathering surveys in a quick and efficient manner. In the future, a more in-depth process with triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods could yield more detailed and informative results.

Finally, a limitation of our process was that winter break fell squarely in the middle of our data collection so we were unable to collect as many surveys as we could have with a full 5 weeks of collecting surveys in schools. Again, a future process should include a timeline allowing for the entire data collection phase to occur when school is in session in order to ensure maximum par-ticipation.

ConclusionIn conclusion, we feel our findings and recommendations make a clear call to action for us to create a common set of standards of school service quality by improving working conditions for workers and including students in the decision making for service provision.

As a result, in Appendix C and D, we have included a resolution for charter and traditional school boards to adopt for improving the quality of their school service contracts as well as a resource list for students to get involved in improving the quality of services at their schools.

Working together, we believe we can improve the working and learning environments for our workers and students to make New Orleans a better place to live, learn, work and grow.

We appreciate your support in reading this report and hope you will join us in creating a more just and sustainable future for us all.


AcknowledgmentsThank you so much! Deep gratitude to all of the following folks and beyond...

Andrew Dafoe, Erika Zucker, Nicholas Armstrong, Mariarenee Contreras at Loyola Univer-sity’s Workplace Justice Project for your ongoing partnership and manually entering over 400 surveys for this project.

New Orleans People Organized for Power [NOLA POP] Alliance members supporting the work of the State of the Schools Participatory Action research project and creative direct action “Second Line for Justice” including VAYLA, Safe Streets, Neighborhood Partner-ships Network and NOLA Black Professionals.

Highlander Research and Education Center for working with us through the Zilphia Horton Cultural Organizing Project as a community partner and the great support of our resident cultural organizer, Marquez Rhyne and documentary team, Carre Adams and Alex Walker.

Gopal Dayeneni of the Center for Story Based Strategy and Ruckus Society for facilitating a pro bono creative direct action training to the members of NOLA POP.

Jay Altman of First Line Charter Network for continued advice and thought partnership throughout this project.

Patrick Dobard, Delano Ford and Dana Peterson of the Recovery School District, Ira Thom-as at Orleans Parish School Board, Jonathan Bertch of KiPP, Cristopher Hynes of Crescent City Charter Schools, Samette Broan of Capitol One New Beginnings, Adrian Morgan of Algiers Charter School Association, Caroline Roemer of Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, Kevin Gutierrez of ReNEW Charter Schools for their valuable feedback.

Steve Ury and Elena Medina from the SEIU International legal department for drafting the recommended resolution for improving school service vendor contracting procedures.

Most of all, to our members, staff and the families of SEIU Local 21LA for the tireless work you do in the service of our communities every day.


Appendix A: School Service Worker SurveySCHOOL NAME:

Do you receive health insurance benefits? YES NO

Have you gotten an opportunity to be promoted on the job or ever received a raise? YES NO

Do you think your employer should follow a seniority list? YES NO

Do you think you need better quipment and machines at your school to conduct your job? YES NO

Are you treated with dignity and respect at work? [ALL THE TIME] [MOST OF THE TIME] [RARELY] [NEVER]

What is your hourly wage? [$7.25-8.50] [$8.51-$9.99] [$10.00-$10.99] [$11.00-$12.00] [Above $12.01]

How many paid time off (such as sick and vacation) days does your employer provide? [No Paid Days Off] [1-3 days] [4-7 days] [8-10 days] [More than 10 Paid Days Off]

I believe in organizing workers together for strength.[Strongly Disagree] [Disagree] [Agree] [Strongly Agree]

If there were a School Service Workers Association advocating for better pay, benefits and treatment for school service workers, would you be a member of that Association? * YES NO

How would you improve the working and learning conditions at your school?

DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE PROBLEMS OR SUGGESTIONS ON THE SOLUTIONS AROUND FOOD, FACILITATIES OR TRANSPORTATION AT YOUR SCHOOL?

NAME:

EMPLOYER:

SCHOOL SITE(S):

PHONE NUMBER:


Appendix B: Student SurveySCHOOL NAME:

Do you think that students should have a say so about the lunch menu? YES NO

There is enough good food provided for every child to feel full and learn at my school. TRUE FALSE

I would prefer my school to provide a hot meal cooked at my school. TRUE FALSE

Rank the food in your school’s cafeteria from 1-5. (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 (excellent)

What do you think should be done around the school as far as food service? Better Food More Food/Bigger Portions More hot meals instead of coldMeals cooked at school

Do you think your school has enough space for all students to learn, eat and play? YES NO

Do you think your school is clean? YES NO

Does your school need more supplies such as toilet paper in the bathrooms? YES NO

How much time do you spend traveling to and from school on the bus every day? 0 - 30 minutes 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours Over 3 hours

How many blocks do you walk to and from your home to the bus stop every day? 0-1 block 1-3 blocks 3-5 blocks 5-7 blocks 7-10 blocks Over 10 blocks

I think the bus gets me home at a reasonable hour.Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE PROBLEMS OR SUGGESTIONS ON THE SOLUTIONS AROUND FOOD, FACILITATIES OR TRANSPORTATION AT YOUR SCHOOL?

NAME:

AGE:

GRADE:

SCHOOL:

PHONE NUMBER:


Appendix C: Draft Statement Of Principles

For Board ResolutionWHEREAS, the Louisiana State Legislature has authorized parish and city school boards to establish public schools to provide adequate school facilities for the children of the parish (La. R.S. § 17:151(A));

WHEREAS, our mission as a school board that governs public schools within this school district is to provide an excellent education to all students and to support students’ intellectual, social, and moral de-velopment;

WHEREAS, safe, thriving, and invested communities are vital to our mission of ensuring the academic and social success of our students;

WHEREAS, the efficient, effective management of the public schools within this school district requires the provision of [janitorial/food/other] services by an outside contractor;

WHEREAS, school boards are authorized to execute contracts for such services on behalf of the public schools within their school districts;

WHEREAS, we recognize that our students, and the communities we serve, benefit from the provision of services by socially responsible contractors;

WHEREAS, socially responsible contractors are committed to the fair and equal treatment of all of their employees;

WHEREAS, we are not only accountable to the needs of our students and communities, but we are also better situated to fulfill our mission when we partner with socially responsible contractors and invest in the economic stability of the communities we serve;

THEREFORE, the [ ] School Board resolves to do business with only those contractors who make and commit to the following stipulations in contracts for services provided to the public schools within this school district:

(1) The contractor and each of its subcontractors shall pay all employees a living wage of not less than $[ ] per hour;

(2) The contractor and each of its subcontractors shall post the scale of wages in a prominent and easily accessible place at the worksite where work is performed in connection with the contract;

(3) The contractor and each of its subcontractors shall ensure that the majority of each applicable unit is comprised of full-time employees;

(4) The contractor and each of its subcontractors shall provide all full-time employees with no fewer than [ ] paid vacation and/or sick days per year;


(5) Every contractor shall submit to the [ ] School Board, simultaneously with each request for payment of contract funds pursuant to the terms of the contract, or at least once per month, whichever is the shorter period, a certified copy of each [weekly/bi-weekly] payroll, including the payroll of each subcontractor, on work covered by the contract, containing the name, job classification (including whether the individual is a full-time or part-time employee), number of hours worked each day (regular and overtime), total hours worked each week (regular and overtime), rate of pay including overtime rate, fringe benefit payments, all payroll deductions other than those required by federal, state, or local statutes, and the total amount earned during such period by each employee on such covered work;

(6) If the contractor or any of its subcontractors fails to pay the wages provided for in the contract, the [ ] School Board may, after thirty (30) days written notice to the principal contractor, withhold from the contractor so much of the accrued payments as may be considered necessary to pay employees of the contractor or any of its subcontractors for all unpaid wages and compensation.

The [ ] School Board may also, in its sole discretion, deem the contractor or any of its subcontractors, whichever fails to make the required payments, ineligible to bid on any of the [ ] School Board’s other projects, programs, or services for a period of two (2) years from the date the contract violation occurred, provided the failure to make the required payments constitutes a willful and intentional violation of the contract requirements. If the contractor or any of its subcontractors fails to submit the payrolls provided for in subsection (5) of this resolution, the [ ] School Board may, after thirty (30) days written notice to the principal contractor, take such action as may be necessary to cause the suspension of any further pay-ments until such payrolls are submitted;

(7) The contractor and all of its subcontractors shall comply with all federal, state, and municipal laws governing all labor and employment associated with work performed in connection with the contract. Every contractor shall include within the terms of its contracts with subcontractors that subcontractors are subject to the provisions of this resolution and shall be required to comply with all requirements set forth herein. Contractors, however, shall not be responsible for any of its subcontractors’ violations of the provisions of this resolution;

(8) Every contractor, and its subcontractors, affiliated with the contract shall notify the [ ] School Board within ninety (90) days of issuance of any determination by a federal or state agency, or of any judgment issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, finding that in the conduct of performing work contracted by the [ ] School Board, the contractor or any of its subcontractors violated labor or employment laws ap-plicable to the contract. Such notification shall include the specific charge(s) filed against the contractor or any of its subcontractors; the date(s) of occurrence of the allegation(s); the identity of each specific contract under which such findings and/or judgments were issued; an official copy of the administrative finding or court judgment; and shall also include the contractor’s or subcontractor’s written plan detailing actions taken and/or planned to be taken to correct all sustained violations; and

(9) If the contractor or any of its subcontractors fails to comply with subsection (8) of this resolution, the [ ] School Board shall retain the discretion to pursue remedies as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of the contract, including the pursuit of any appropriate civil remedies. Enforcement shall be suspended pending the final outcome of any legal and/or administrative appeal process filed by the con-tractor or subcontractor provided, however, that the contactor shall remain subject to all non-enforcement provisions of the contract.


Appendix D: Student Resources

New Orleans Youth Organizations Working to Elevate Student Voice in Policy

VAYLA4646 Michoud Boulevard, Suite 2; New Orleans, LA 70129-1800Telephone: 504 253 6000Fax: 504 754 7762E-mail: [email protected]

VAYLA envisions a world where young people have the academic foundation, leadership skills and op-portunities to affect change for a vibrant and thriving community.

Power of a Million Minds CollaborativeMiguel Nunez, Adult Ally/Coordinator1600 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd; New Orleans, LA 70113Office: 504-207-4592 | Fax: 504-522-5430 E-mail: [email protected]

Youth organizing coalition of five youth centered organizations, whose members include: Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL), Fyre Youth Squad (FYS), Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association (VAYLA), Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools (Rethink), and LatiNOLA Youth Leadership Council (LYLC).

United Students of New Orleans Organized [USNO]https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStudentsOfNewOrleans/info

Our purpose, as USNO, is to elevate the voices of public school students and push for equity, justice and resources in public education. We demand quality teachers, adequate study materials, and a safe envi-ronment free of discrimination and mental stress.


THE STATE OF THE SCHOOLSPARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH

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state of the schools participatory action research report

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