November 4, 2009
Dear Colleagues,
Insurance Update:
Insurance packets have been delivered to every school site and should be in teacher mail boxes. The packet contains all necessary information for selecting medical insurance, directions for enrolling online and the Section 125 Pre-tax Plan. Enrollment must be completed by Thursday, November 19th. American Fidelity has already begun visiting school sites to meet with teachers who are interested in participating in the Section 125 Pre-tax Plan. Please see your office manager for your site's scheduled visit. Remember, insurance premiums will be deducted from your December pay warrant.
Bargaining Update:
Since the last President's Message VTA and VUSD have meet twice to negotiate. The process seems to be working better without the assistance of the District lawyer. Although we are not much closer to an agreement we are making progress. We have tentatively agreed to some smaller items but no agreement yet on salary and class size.
Good news reported from the Budget Advisory Committee.....$13.5 million required cuts instead of $15.1 million! This is still grim news for our district but it helps mitigate the problem.....a little bit.
A retirement incentive is being explored. Currently, three companies are analyzing district provided information to determine the feasibility. The District anticipates receiving information from these companies within the next two weeks. At that time we will work together to bring forth an offer to employees.
Our next bargaining session is Tuesday, December 1st.
Working to Contract:
I hear complaints on a daily basis that teachers feel they are being taken advantage of by being asked to take on additional responsibilities. According to Article 18 in our contract teachers must work 7.5 hours per day which includes preparation activities, before and or after school duties, etc. It is the professional obligation of each bargaining unit member to participate in activities that serve to encourage, support and direct student learning. Such activities include Back-to-School Night, Open House, various meetings such as staff meetings, IEP/SSTs and parent conferences. Teachers may be required to attend and supervise events/activities per school year. Individual events/activities shall not exceed three (3) hours above and beyond the individual's contracted workday. Event supervision may be assigned from extracurricular events, athletic events and/or non-teaching duties and activities.
These activities and duties require a substantial amount of time. Given the current changes going on in the educational field within VUSD such as the implementation of SIOP, EnVision Math, Learning Cycle/Walk, posting of daily goals and objectives, etc., feeling guilty about giving more of your time is not acceptable. Anything over and above these obligations are not required by our members. Don't allow yourself to be pressured, and exercise your option to say no.
Tutoring:
Funds for before and after school tutorials are from a categorical fund that allows the District flexibility in using these funds for other uses. Our District is using the funds to help reduce the budget deficit. Each site administrator was informed that the District would no longer provide the funding to the site and that the site leadership team should reevaluate their own site budget and determine whether they have the funds to continue the tutorials. What does this mean to you? Possibly no more tutorials for your site which means a loss of additional income for you. I am aware that some teachers are choosing to continue with the tutorials without pay. This is a personal choice but keep in mind what one does affects all.
Stay tuned!
Jan O' Reilly
VTA President
www.vistata.org
Insurance Update:
Insurance packets have been delivered to every school site and should be in teacher mail boxes. The packet contains all necessary information for selecting medical insurance, directions for enrolling online and the Section 125 Pre-tax Plan. Enrollment must be completed by Thursday, November 19th. American Fidelity has already begun visiting school sites to meet with teachers who are interested in participating in the Section 125 Pre-tax Plan. Please see your office manager for your site's scheduled visit. Remember, insurance premiums will be deducted from your December pay warrant.
Bargaining Update:
Since the last President's Message VTA and VUSD have meet twice to negotiate. The process seems to be working better without the assistance of the District lawyer. Although we are not much closer to an agreement we are making progress. We have tentatively agreed to some smaller items but no agreement yet on salary and class size.
Good news reported from the Budget Advisory Committee.....$13.5 million required cuts instead of $15.1 million! This is still grim news for our district but it helps mitigate the problem.....a little bit.
A retirement incentive is being explored. Currently, three companies are analyzing district provided information to determine the feasibility. The District anticipates receiving information from these companies within the next two weeks. At that time we will work together to bring forth an offer to employees.
Our next bargaining session is Tuesday, December 1st.
Working to Contract:
I hear complaints on a daily basis that teachers feel they are being taken advantage of by being asked to take on additional responsibilities. According to Article 18 in our contract teachers must work 7.5 hours per day which includes preparation activities, before and or after school duties, etc. It is the professional obligation of each bargaining unit member to participate in activities that serve to encourage, support and direct student learning. Such activities include Back-to-School Night, Open House, various meetings such as staff meetings, IEP/SSTs and parent conferences. Teachers may be required to attend and supervise events/activities per school year. Individual events/activities shall not exceed three (3) hours above and beyond the individual's contracted workday. Event supervision may be assigned from extracurricular events, athletic events and/or non-teaching duties and activities.
These activities and duties require a substantial amount of time. Given the current changes going on in the educational field within VUSD such as the implementation of SIOP, EnVision Math, Learning Cycle/Walk, posting of daily goals and objectives, etc., feeling guilty about giving more of your time is not acceptable. Anything over and above these obligations are not required by our members. Don't allow yourself to be pressured, and exercise your option to say no.
Tutoring:
Funds for before and after school tutorials are from a categorical fund that allows the District flexibility in using these funds for other uses. Our District is using the funds to help reduce the budget deficit. Each site administrator was informed that the District would no longer provide the funding to the site and that the site leadership team should reevaluate their own site budget and determine whether they have the funds to continue the tutorials. What does this mean to you? Possibly no more tutorials for your site which means a loss of additional income for you. I am aware that some teachers are choosing to continue with the tutorials without pay. This is a personal choice but keep in mind what one does affects all.
Stay tuned!
Jan O' Reilly
VTA President
www.vistata.org
