October 19, 2009
Dear Colleagues,
Insurance Update
Look for your Open Enrollment packet the week of November 2nd. Each person will have the option to enroll online or attend an Open Enrollment meeting to have questions answered by a representative from Health Net or Kaiser. To enroll, employees may use any computer with internet access. For your availability, computer labs at the meeting sites will be open for employees to complete their on-line enrollment during these meetings.
Like Open Enrollment meetings of the past dental, vision, and life insurance vendors will be participating to provided the opportunity for Q & A’s. The Standard (CTA disability) and American Fidelity will also be in attendance.
The dates, locations and times are as follow:
*Monday, 11/9/09 3pm to 6pm @ Temple Heights Elementary School MPR
*Wednesday, 11/18/09 3pm to 6pm @ Crestview Elementary School MPR
All current Aetna members must respond during the Open Enrollment period to select a new plan for 2010 since the Aetna medical plan will no longer be offered. If a current Aetna member does not respond they will automatically be enrolled in the Health Net high deductible PPO plan (with their current dental selection). Current Kaiser members will remain on the same plan should they not respond during the Open Enrollment period. Please refer to your Open Enrollment packet for payroll deductions.
All enrollment changes made during this enrollment period will take effect 1/1/2010 but the monthly deduction will occur in your December pay warrant.
Bargaining Update
The District and VTA Bargaining Teams will be meeting on Thursday, October 29th. At last week's school board meeting I shared with the Board that our negotiations process is highly ineffective and must be changed. Currently, both sides share proposals, discuss them then part to write counterproposals then meet a couple of weeks later to go through the same process. VTA 's bargaining team has stated repeatedly that we would like to meet and work through the process until we come to agreement on all proposals. The management team often states that they must get direction from the Board. If the District's management team does not have the authority to make decisions then the Board needs to provide the team who can do so. VTA also believes the District lawyer, who leads the district team, is a hindrance to the process. After recent discussions with the Board we anticipate we will see a change in how negotiations are conducted.
The VTA members of the District Budget Advisory Committee have reported to the Bargaining Team that the District needs to cut an additional $15 million for the 2010/2011 school year. The Budget Committee has generated two lists; one for nonnegotiable items that include programs and positions and the other for negotiable items. Even if all the nonnegotiable items were cut the budget would still need additional items cut to balance the budget. Ultimately, the Board makes the final decision on the nonnegotiable items and are hoping through negotiations other cuts will be made to meet the $15 million. Given that teachers will soon be paying more out of their pockets for insurance and that we are the lowest paid teachers in North San Diego county, yet our test scores continue to rise, it hardly seems right that the cuts are on our backs.
VUSD and VTA are exploring the possibility of offering a one time retirement incentive. The study will exam the number of teachers eligible and the minimum number needed to take the incentive for it to be a cost savings measure for the District. VTA believes there are substantial savings to be made. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available.
Our next scheduled bargaining meeting is October 29, 2009. Expect a more detailed report after that meeting.
Grades 1-5 Physical Education
According to California Ed Code 51223 & 51210 it is mandated that all K-5 students receive 200 minutes of physical education every 10 school days. Each school may configure the time and activity to their needs as long as they meet the minimum requirements. Any questions or concerns please contact me.
Miscellaneous
Be sure and visit the 6th Annual VUSD Art Festival at the Vista Village Center/Krikorian Center this Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Hundreds of VUSD students will have the opportunity to share their art work, perform in their school's choir, band or dance troupe. This is an amazing demonstration of how the visual and performing arts are utilized in our schools. Bring a friend and be an eye witness to the artistic and musical talents of our students. You won't be disappointed!
Stay Tuned!
Jan O' Reilly
VTA President
www.vistata.org
Insurance Update
Look for your Open Enrollment packet the week of November 2nd. Each person will have the option to enroll online or attend an Open Enrollment meeting to have questions answered by a representative from Health Net or Kaiser. To enroll, employees may use any computer with internet access. For your availability, computer labs at the meeting sites will be open for employees to complete their on-line enrollment during these meetings.
Like Open Enrollment meetings of the past dental, vision, and life insurance vendors will be participating to provided the opportunity for Q & A’s. The Standard (CTA disability) and American Fidelity will also be in attendance.
The dates, locations and times are as follow:
*Monday, 11/9/09 3pm to 6pm @ Temple Heights Elementary School MPR
*Wednesday, 11/18/09 3pm to 6pm @ Crestview Elementary School MPR
All current Aetna members must respond during the Open Enrollment period to select a new plan for 2010 since the Aetna medical plan will no longer be offered. If a current Aetna member does not respond they will automatically be enrolled in the Health Net high deductible PPO plan (with their current dental selection). Current Kaiser members will remain on the same plan should they not respond during the Open Enrollment period. Please refer to your Open Enrollment packet for payroll deductions.
All enrollment changes made during this enrollment period will take effect 1/1/2010 but the monthly deduction will occur in your December pay warrant.
Bargaining Update
The District and VTA Bargaining Teams will be meeting on Thursday, October 29th. At last week's school board meeting I shared with the Board that our negotiations process is highly ineffective and must be changed. Currently, both sides share proposals, discuss them then part to write counterproposals then meet a couple of weeks later to go through the same process. VTA 's bargaining team has stated repeatedly that we would like to meet and work through the process until we come to agreement on all proposals. The management team often states that they must get direction from the Board. If the District's management team does not have the authority to make decisions then the Board needs to provide the team who can do so. VTA also believes the District lawyer, who leads the district team, is a hindrance to the process. After recent discussions with the Board we anticipate we will see a change in how negotiations are conducted.
The VTA members of the District Budget Advisory Committee have reported to the Bargaining Team that the District needs to cut an additional $15 million for the 2010/2011 school year. The Budget Committee has generated two lists; one for nonnegotiable items that include programs and positions and the other for negotiable items. Even if all the nonnegotiable items were cut the budget would still need additional items cut to balance the budget. Ultimately, the Board makes the final decision on the nonnegotiable items and are hoping through negotiations other cuts will be made to meet the $15 million. Given that teachers will soon be paying more out of their pockets for insurance and that we are the lowest paid teachers in North San Diego county, yet our test scores continue to rise, it hardly seems right that the cuts are on our backs.
VUSD and VTA are exploring the possibility of offering a one time retirement incentive. The study will exam the number of teachers eligible and the minimum number needed to take the incentive for it to be a cost savings measure for the District. VTA believes there are substantial savings to be made. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available.
Our next scheduled bargaining meeting is October 29, 2009. Expect a more detailed report after that meeting.
Grades 1-5 Physical Education
According to California Ed Code 51223 & 51210 it is mandated that all K-5 students receive 200 minutes of physical education every 10 school days. Each school may configure the time and activity to their needs as long as they meet the minimum requirements. Any questions or concerns please contact me.
Miscellaneous
Be sure and visit the 6th Annual VUSD Art Festival at the Vista Village Center/Krikorian Center this Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Hundreds of VUSD students will have the opportunity to share their art work, perform in their school's choir, band or dance troupe. This is an amazing demonstration of how the visual and performing arts are utilized in our schools. Bring a friend and be an eye witness to the artistic and musical talents of our students. You won't be disappointed!
Stay Tuned!
Jan O' Reilly
VTA President
www.vistata.org