Our new contract has not been printed yet. You may view it online.
The union took 15 teachers to small claim’s court for nonpayment of the union dues. Only 5 teachers may be taken each month. There were 3 different rounds. We won each time. The members either paid in full or were put on a payment plan. Two were withdrawn, due to inaccurate addresses. The union will now utilize a law firm to collect. The firm will keep 1/3 of the settlement, but we will not be limited to only 5 per month.
There will be a review of the WLEA Governance Documents (by-laws). These documents should be updated every 5 days. We are two years behind. A committee is being set up to review and update the documents. The items needing updating are to use online voting and aligning the term of the president with the MEA and NEA Rep terms. We are currently out of compliance because the president serves as the MEA and NEA reps.
Staff Meeting Plan for 2016-17 – every building should have 8 in total. First meeting is 90 minutes and the next 6 are 1-hour PD. One session will not be counted as PD (May/June wrap up).
PD/PLC/Kalpa Plan for 2016-17 – Thirty total hours.
- 6 staff meetings
- 4 half days (12 hours of PD)
- 12 hours of PLC = 12 block meetings
- high school has early release and middle school have late arrival
- PLC Block meetings will need to be documented for each meeting. The document should include: members present, agenda and brief notes. It should not be more than one page. It does not have to be turned in to anyone. The reason for this documentation is if a state audit is conducted. A revised PLC form should be available soon.
Parent-teacher conferences are on election day. They will be 10 hours long. 9 of those hours will be committed to conferences (one-hour total for lunch/breaks). The times will be determined next week. The length of the elementary conference depends on how many students are in your class- schedule accordingly. The parents will be signing up for conferences on skyward.
Teacher evaluation – Committee met yesterday. A video will be coming. There are changes to the law. You must submit a lesson plan, but after you have been evaluated. It will be a page or less. You must take your lesson plan to the post observation. The principal should have comments. A new system (OASYS) will be an online service that will be used. The first observation will be unannounced. The second observation will allow you a one-week window in advance. Student growth is worth 25%. Students will also be taking a survey. This should not effect on your evaluation, but just a talking point. You will be asked to set a goal for next year. First observation period is October 1 – January. Second observation is Feb. until May 15th.
DRA/DWA/I-Ready
- DWA is no longer being used. Discussions appear to be ongoing about the subs needed for the DRA testing. Initially only k, 1 and 2 teachers were going to receive subs for DRA testing. It became apparent that 3rd grade needed subs too. All students who are not at an independent 40 need to be tested. Tentatively: K, 1, and 2 will get 3 subs. The DRA is to be given 3 times during the year. Third grade will get 2 subs and four and fifth grade will be based on need. Margaret had no clue…that is why we ended up with 3 days for DRA instead of our usual 2.
- Student growth – everybody will be doing a math unit. The state is still discussing the other areas to be evaluated.
- I-Ready – It is not a requirement at this time for fourth and fifth grades.
- School Board Election – There are 3 positions up for the election. Nancy, Chris, and Denise will be running again. Running also will be Keith parents: Johnny Orum, Kim Pavuk, and Denise Dunn. Next week the WLEA will be screening and interviewing all the candidates so that endorsements can be made.
Local WLEA dues – see emailed chart – Plan on a slight increase of one dollar per month or so in the future. We now pay approximately $31,000 and retirement costs for Daryl’s salary. This was not budgeted when the original budget was created. View the chart for specifics of how your money is divided between the union’s organizations. We have always been below the expected budget, but last year we were very close.
MEA-Retired – Look at your billing statement to see if you are already paying for MEA-R. At this time, it is being spread over 20 years ($450.00). Some paid this in a lump sum. You have the option of joining when you retire for $450.
Student Loan/Debt Forgiveness Workshop – Tuesday, October 18 at the ESC from 4:30 – 6:00. Forty people have signed up. More room is available.
WLEA Member Engagement- Bowling Banquet, Saturday, November 5, 2016, 1 – 4 p.m., at Wonderland Lanes in Commerce. This event is being funded entirely by a BFCL grant through the MEA. Bowling, shoes, pizza, breadsticks, salad and prizes. There will be a cash bar. There is room for you to participate. Current or potential members may contact Daryl.
Our 3% suit is still in the courts. Synder is thinking about appealing it once more. Bill Schuette has announced that his office would not participate in any appeal. The union has already won 3 times. The union also collected and delivered $33,000 signatures. It can still be more than one year in the court system.
MESSA Wellness Conference – Oct. 14th. Register with MESSA if interested. You go paperless in enrolling in the electronic benefit statements at messa.org
There is an online app for doctor visits – AMWELL. This site will allow you to visit a doctor using face-time. The cost is $49. You are responsible to pay your co-pay of $20. This service is used for colds, rashes, ear infections, etc. If the doctor is not able to assist you, they will not charge you. It can be used for anyone on your plan (including children).
Michael Stack is endorsed by the WLEA for state representative. He is pro-education. He is running against Klint Kesto, in the 39th
There is 1 grievance. It is a staffing issue. Margaret has 20 school days to respond.
There are 15 teaching positions to be filled. There was discussion why the district has waited so long to fill these positions. Some of these positions were a result of the teacher retirements from June.
The paras have a new contract. They are now only working the student days, 5 furlough days and a pay cut.
New Teacher Club will continue this year. New co-leaders. First meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Kathryn O’Brien will continue to send cards to anyone in the district that is having a difficult time, ill, etc. Please email her the name and address of the person who is need of a card.
The WLEA made a donation in the amount of $500 to the Parenting Education Fair.