AMAZING
SHORT VIDEO----SEE YOUR NESPA CO-WORKERS TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR DECENT PAY AND
HOURS FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK WE DO:
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
May 28th Accountable Day
The final “Accountable
Day” this school year is Tuesday, May 28, the day after Memorial Day (a paid holiday for you).
Accountable Days are the 5 non-student work days for which you are
accountable. You work them unless you and the Principal agree to work
other days/times for an equivalent amount. The contract language on
Accountable Days states on page 59, “Variations may be allowed in this schedule
based on individual employee or building needs, as long as an equivalent amount
of time is worked.” (This school year, for Mon-Thurs employees, only ONE
of the Accountable Days needs to be worked.)
Remember...
· Professional Development for NESPA Members: NESPA’s
Professional Development Fund is available to reimburse you for
registration/course fees or substitutes. And, of course,
if the classes are on non-work time, you can use your Professional Hours to be
paid as well. Details are on NESPA’s website: www.nespablog.blogspot.com
· Are the NESPA staff at your school represented on your school’s
Leadership Team (SDLT)? They are at many schools.
This is important, because the Leadership Team is a DECISION-MAKING team, not
simply advisory. It’s easy to run an election. NESPA members
serving on the SDLT use the Professional Hours pool to be paid for any additional
time. Elections for the next year are generally in May—but can be any
time. Details are on p. 63 of your contract. www.nespablog.blogspot.com Contact Kraig Peck if you have questions.
· Professional Hours: Information on your
55 professional hours (40 for nurses) and on the use of the Professional Hours
Pool is, as always, on pages 6 and 7 of our Agreement. If you can’t find
your copy, you can always look it up on the NESPA website. You can
also do a word search of the contract to easily look up anything by
pressing “Control F.” Or ask your Building
Communicator. www.nespablog.blogspot.com
Special Ed Boot Camps
Special Education Bootcamp: Amazing Professional Development this
summer! Below are details. The NESPA
PD Committee will reimburse you the full registration fee. College
credits also available.
Registration is now open for the 2013 WEA Special Education Boot Camps. Three sessions, presented by the Washington Education Association Special Education Cadre, will be held this summer across the state.
For a registration fee of $250, participants will receive five
days of intense work on special education issues as well as 30 clock hour
credits. The camp will provide hands-on training emphasizing the
responsibilities of all educators working with students with disabilities.
Certificated and classified personnel, general and special educators, parents, administrators
and community agency personnel are all encouraged to attend.
Get a glimpse of the course offerings.
Get a glimpse of the course offerings.
Boot Camp dates and locations:
June 24-28
in Federal Way
Washington Education Association
32032 Weyerhaeuser Way S.
Federal Way, WA 98001
Registration deadline is June 14 or until full.
Register online for this training.
Washington Education Association
32032 Weyerhaeuser Way S.
Federal Way, WA 98001
Registration deadline is June 14 or until full.
Register online for this training.
July 8-12
in Marysville
Tulalip Resort Casino
10200 Quil Ceda Boulevard
Tulalip, WA 98271
Registration closes June 21 or until full.
Register Online
Tulalip Resort Casino
10200 Quil Ceda Boulevard
Tulalip, WA 98271
Registration closes June 21 or until full.
Register Online
for this training.
If you prefer, you may also register by mailing in a registration form and check.
Registration Link.
Participants are responsible for their own lodging. We have negotiated discounted rates at the host hotels in Marysville and Hood Canal. You must make your own reservation by the published deadline dates to receive the discounted rate. More information is available on the individual boot camp pages.
We also have a limited
number of parent scholarships available. For more information or if you have
questions, please contact Shirley
Jeffrey at 253-765-7073 (or toll-free 800-622-3393, Ext. 7073) orMark Anderson at 253-765-7066 (or toll-free 800-622-3393, Ext. 7066.
Participants are responsible for their own lodging. We have negotiated discounted rates at the host hotels in Marysville and Hood Canal. You must make your own reservation by the published deadline dates to receive the discounted rate. More information is available on the individual boot camp pages.
Monday, April 8, 2013
2012-2013 Scholarship Winners
Thursday, January 17, 2013
What's Your Story?
This past election, NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA members fought for the future, to strengthen the two foundations of the middle class, unions and public education. Through our work, we elected candidates who understand the importance of organized labor and who are pro-public education. We fought and we won the battle.
Now we need to use this victory to build the future. With the 2013 legislative session starting this month and bargaining for all three unions beginning this spring, we find ourselves in a unique position: we have the opportunity to help craft the future of education in Washington state and here in the Northshore School District. State Legislators, the Northshore School Board and administration, and Northshore parents need to hear our collective voice. Our professional work as educators (teachers, librarians, para-educators, nurses, office managers, etc.) directly impacts the quality of education in Northshore.
See below for some samples stories to inspire you!
SAMPLE STORIES
Below are some samples stories about the professional needs facing NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA members to help you as you write your own story on the front of this page. We only need a paragraph or two. These stories may be used with for lobbying efforts, at the bargaining table, and on Association websites and newsletters. We may ask some of you to be videotaped reading your story.
NSEA:
The greatest challenge for me as a teacher—and for my students—is class size. When the number of students in my class makes it impossible for me to sleep at night, something has to be done. Though it is not good for me, I often lay in bed at night, concerned for my students. If my class size was 15, or even 20, rather than the 38 I currently have in my 3rd period class, I would do so much more with my students. They would get more individualized instruction and I would be better able to give them the social and emotional support they so desperately need. Not only has the size of the class increase, but so has the demography. There are three ELL students (new to the U.S.), two with 504 plans, and five learning center students in my class of 38. I love my students, but there simply isn’t enough of me to meet all of their needs. It breaks my heart.
NESPA:
I’m a Special Education Paraeducator. I love my school, my students, and my job, but I have to work a second job to make ends meet. I’m exhausted much of the time, and not always at my best for my students. I wish that were not true.
I have been here for 10 years, and make $17.36 per hour. The most I can get is 6 ½ hours per day, so that’s less than $22,000 per year. My take-home pay, after I pay for medical benefits for my kids, is about $1,500 per month. That covers my rent and a few other things.
The work that I and other Paraeducators do is essential for our students, and for the teachers we assist. I have a Bachelors degree, and have become very good at this work. We deserve to be paid decently.
NEOPA:
With the student population increasing on a daily basis within our building I find it challenging to not have the office support and experience needed to meet time frames expected. My concern with the boundary changes is that the need will become even greater to have additional experienced office personnel. Based on the NEOPA contract the student count does not warrant additional office personnel. This ultimately creates a workload that potentially could become very difficult for one person to manage on an on-going basis.
Now we need to use this victory to build the future. With the 2013 legislative session starting this month and bargaining for all three unions beginning this spring, we find ourselves in a unique position: we have the opportunity to help craft the future of education in Washington state and here in the Northshore School District. State Legislators, the Northshore School Board and administration, and Northshore parents need to hear our collective voice. Our professional work as educators (teachers, librarians, para-educators, nurses, office managers, etc.) directly impacts the quality of education in Northshore.
With this in mind, please write a paragraph or two about the professional challenges facing you, your school, and/or your students. Click here to share your story.
See below for some samples stories to inspire you!
SAMPLE STORIES
Below are some samples stories about the professional needs facing NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA members to help you as you write your own story on the front of this page. We only need a paragraph or two. These stories may be used with for lobbying efforts, at the bargaining table, and on Association websites and newsletters. We may ask some of you to be videotaped reading your story.
NSEA:
The greatest challenge for me as a teacher—and for my students—is class size. When the number of students in my class makes it impossible for me to sleep at night, something has to be done. Though it is not good for me, I often lay in bed at night, concerned for my students. If my class size was 15, or even 20, rather than the 38 I currently have in my 3rd period class, I would do so much more with my students. They would get more individualized instruction and I would be better able to give them the social and emotional support they so desperately need. Not only has the size of the class increase, but so has the demography. There are three ELL students (new to the U.S.), two with 504 plans, and five learning center students in my class of 38. I love my students, but there simply isn’t enough of me to meet all of their needs. It breaks my heart.
NESPA:
I’m a Special Education Paraeducator. I love my school, my students, and my job, but I have to work a second job to make ends meet. I’m exhausted much of the time, and not always at my best for my students. I wish that were not true.
I have been here for 10 years, and make $17.36 per hour. The most I can get is 6 ½ hours per day, so that’s less than $22,000 per year. My take-home pay, after I pay for medical benefits for my kids, is about $1,500 per month. That covers my rent and a few other things.
The work that I and other Paraeducators do is essential for our students, and for the teachers we assist. I have a Bachelors degree, and have become very good at this work. We deserve to be paid decently.
NEOPA:
With the student population increasing on a daily basis within our building I find it challenging to not have the office support and experience needed to meet time frames expected. My concern with the boundary changes is that the need will become even greater to have additional experienced office personnel. Based on the NEOPA contract the student count does not warrant additional office personnel. This ultimately creates a workload that potentially could become very difficult for one person to manage on an on-going basis.
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