The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) proudly celebrated its 43rd anniversary this year. AALA was formed in 1981 when AESA (elementary association), LAASSA (secondary association), CDS (supervisory association) and ACCE (adult association) joined forces to form a single association to represent all middle managers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
During the first ten years, AALA members were represented in dealings with the Board of Education by the Superintendent, and membership in AALA was voluntary. After ten years in 1991, AALA requested and was granted supervisory status in order to become the exclusive bargaining unit representing all certificated middle managers except confidential and personal service contract senior staff. Supervisory status was accomplished by means of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that codifed the administrative regulations in the 4000 series of the Board Rules as the AALA/LAUSD “Contract.”
Starting in 1992, agency fee status was ratified making AALA membership or agency fee dues mandatory for all middle managers eligible for AALA membership. This was recently changed when the U.S. Supreme Court, in 2018, overturned the 1977 decision that allowed unions to collect agency fees, ruling agency fee as unconstitutional.
In 2004, AALA agreed to a formal union contract with the District. This contract replaced the MOU that had been in effect since 1991. Subsequent MOUs have become part of the formal contract.
In 1993, AALA joined forces with UTLA and the classified bargaining units to form the Health Benefits Committee (HBC). The HBC oversees health and welfare benefits for all District employees and makes annual benefit recommendations to the Board of Education. This collaborative bargaining process culminated in formal coordinated bargaining for health benefits in 2006, a milestone in union/District negotiations.
In 2010, AALA initiated a campaign to represent classified administrators within AALA. These administrators were previously District-represented employees without contractual protections or negotiating rights. With a cadre of classified leader/organizers and AALA’s leadership, representation came to fruition. In the summer of 2011, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) and the District officially recognized the formation of classified administrators as part of AALA. The unit has begun work on an organizational structure and a bargaining team.
AALA is proud of its history as it has met the ever-changing requirements of its members for enhanced due process rights, fair and equitable working conditions and deserved benefits. What the next 25 years brings will be determined in large part by the needs of the members and their willingness to demand their rights. AALA owes a debt of gratitude to the many former members who fought for the rights now protected in our AALA/LAUSD contract.
Associated Administrators of Los Angeles is a Bargaining Unit within the Los Angeles Unified School District responsible for the representation of its members who are the Administrators and Supervisors of the District. The structure for leadership is as follows:
AALA President
The President is elected by members of the bargaining unit for a term of three years. Candidates for the office must be employees of the District and active members of AALA. The President is responsible for the overall leadership of the Association including communication, organization, outreach and follow-through. S/he chairs the Executive Board and oversees the Representative Assembly. S/he is responsible for staffing and management of the AALA office. S/he serves as Chief Negotiator for AALA and selects members of the negotiating team.
Executive Board:
The Executive Board of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles is responsible for oversight and policy level direction for the management of the Association. The Executive Board is a body of elected members of the Association who jointly oversee the activities of the Association. They oversee the operation of the Representative Assembly and present adopted motions to that body for its approval. They counsel and advise the Association president on fiscal matters and evaluate Association employees. The Executive Board weighs potential decisions against the vision, governing values, and the good of the Association members.
Representative Assembly
The Representative Assembly serves as the policy-making body of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles. Members of the Assembly are members that come from all departments within the Association. The Assembly is responsible for the welfare of the membership and makes decisions and takes appropriate actions with that in mind. The Representative Assembly takes action upon those motions submitted by the President and the Executive Board. Actions taken are binding to all members of the Association.
Members
The members of the Associated Administrators are grouped into six separate departments, each represented by a Vice President and two Directors.
Elementary Department
The Elementary Department includes those school-based Principals, Assistant Principals and Assistant Principals-Elementary Instructional Services who are assigned to district elementary schools and primary centers, as well as any other administrators assigned to specific elementary/primary sites.
Secondary Department
The Secondary Department includes those school-based Principals, Assistant Principals, Assistant Principals-Secondary Counseling Services, and School Improvement Facilitators who are assigned to district middle and senior high schools, as well as those Extended Learning Administrators and Required Learning Administrators assigned to specific sites. The Secondary Department also includes all school-based administrators assigned to options and continuation schools.
Adult Department
The Adult Department includes those school-based Principals, Assistant Principals-Operations, Assistant Principals-Adult Counseling Services, and Coordinators who serve in the community adult schools and the ROP/ROC centers of the District.
School Support Administrator Department
The School Support Administrator Department consists primarily of nonschool-based administrators who serve in the central offices, local district offices and other external support services locations. The department includes a wide variety of Specialists, Coordinators and Directors of departments, as well as the Directors of School Support Services and Administrators of Instruction in the local districts. This department also includes the Principals and Site Administrators assigned to Early Childhood Education Division locations.
Classified Department
Unit J, Classified Department, represents classified management personnel assigned as Directors, Deputy Directors, Administrators, Managers, Specialists, and other administrative positions in Facilities, Food Services, Information Technology and Transportation. For class codes of Unit J bargaining unit members, see: 2018 – 2021 UNIT J CONTRACT, Article I, Recognition.
AALA Standing Committees
Political Action Committee (PAC)
The AALA PAC is a separate entity within the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles. Representative Assembly members serve a dual role as PAC members in order to distribute funds voluntarily collected from members for political action activities. AALA active members can allot $25.00 of their annual dues for PAC distribution and all members can make voluntary contributions. A steering committee composed of active members selected by the President from each AALA Department, as well as the Executive Board Vice Presidents, direct the work of the AALA-PAC.
AALA Budget Committee
The AALA Budget Committee is composed of active members selected by the President to represent each AALA Department, as well as the Executive Board Vice Presidents or their designees. The Committee reviews the AALA budget for each fiscal year and recommends budget adjustments to the Representative Assembly based on Association needs, Representative Assembly recommendations and anticipated income. The Budget Committee is reconstituted annually.
AALA Election Committee
The AALA Election Committee is composed of two members from each AALA Department selected by the Department Vice Presidents. The Committee is charged with reviewing nominations for AALA Executive Board elections and serving as the first appeal for any discrepancies in AALA Constitution and Bylaw voting procedures. Members must be active members who are not candidates for any AALA elected office or who do not currently hold an elected office. The Election Committee is reconstituted annually.