NESPA Teaching Certification Scholarship Reminder

During the summer of 2006, our Bargaining Team obtained a $10,000 fund from the District to be used exclusively for NESPA members seeking their teacher’s certification. Each year since then, the Scholarship Committee has reviewed applications and selected three to five recipients per year to receive money from this fund.

The 2010-2011 application for this scholarship is on our blog. The eligibility and criteria are listed in the application. If you are interested in applying, please apply as early as possible. The date your application is received may be one of the determining factors in your approval. This year’s Teaching Certification Scholarship application deadline is 2:00 PM Friday, January 21, 2011.

Good luck to all who apply!

STUDY THIS: RESPECT!

NESPA MEMBERS TELL THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT:

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STUDY THIS: RESPECT!

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On Tuesday, Oct 5 at 7:15 AM, over twenty NESPA members walked in Room 201 in the Administrative Center. We carried signs reading, “STUDY THIS: RESPECT”. In smaller print, the sign said, “Change the outdated gender-biased compensation system. We are NOT second class employees!”

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It was October’s “Breakfast study Session” held by the School Board and Superintendent Francois most months. Whenever a majority of the School Board gathers (3 of the 5 members), State law requires that the meeting be publicized and open to the public. It must be a public meeting in order to ensure that District decisions are transparent to the public.

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We stood holding our signs for thirty minutes, as the Board met with Supt. Francois; Executive Director of Human Resources Laurie Ferwerda; Asst. Supt for Elementary Education Kathleen Poole; and Asst. Supt for Secondary Education Carolyn O’Keeffe. Four Board members were at the meeting: Julia Lacey, Janet Quinn, Dawn McCravey, and Sandy Hayes. Todd Banks was absent.

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Room 201 is not a big room. We could not be ignored. We left at 7:45 AM, to go to our schools for work.

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Barb Arvidson, a Special Ed Paraeducator at Fernwood said, “They didn't expect to see us in "their space". Although the Board members tried to avoid eye contact with us, there were too many of us to ignore! I hope that they got the message that we are not going to back down. It’s time for them to acknowledge our true worth and give us the respect we deserve."

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Thursday October 7 Negotiations

· THURSDAY THIS WEEK (Oct 7), NESPA and the ADMIN/SCHOOL BOARD TEAM MEET TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS.

ON THURSDAY, PLEASE WEAR BLUE, AND WEAR YOUR “TOGETHER, we are RESPECTED and VALUED” button.

Dear NESPA Member,

Please wear blue, and your button on Thursday, as NESPA’s Negotiations Team meets with the Admin/School Board team THIS THURSDAY.

Your Building Communicator has new buttons, in case you have lost your old one. They are pretty similar; wear either one. Please either:

· Put your button an your lanyard, to wear it every day.

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· Wear your button on designated “Button Days”, like this coming Thursday.

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FRIDAY (Oct 8) is a non-student day that is an “Accountable Day.” That means that it is a work day, unless you and your principal have agreed that you will work this time on other days. “Variations may be allowed in this schedule based on individual employee or building needs, as long as an equivalent amount of time is worked.” In other words, if it is a better use of your time to work on other days instead---and if your principal is in agreement—you may choose to work these hours on other days.

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STAY INFORMED! Check out the NESPA website: nespablog.blogspot.com. It’s updated regularly!

Rejuvenate!

Rejuvenate

Happy Fall

Welcome back everyone; it is time to start looking at surroundings with a new vision. There are changes in the air, you can really feel it and it is very exciting. We are both so glad for this opportunity to guide you through this year while focusing on some new changes that we ALL want to see happen. So for starters we would like to introduce you to our theme for the 2010-2011 year, which is S.E.L.F. As we do visits at the schools this year to get to know you and YOUR surroundings better we want to give you some tools to help you along your way.

We KNOW you have so much value and worth out there. You bring such richness to our district and we appreciate all you do and we want you to know that. This year we want to continue to give you tools to grow in each area that you touch with our students. We also want you to look beyond where you are at and stretch your “SELF” toward future goals.

The acronym S.E.L.F. pulls all that together.

S. stands for” support”

We want you to know you have support out there in the field, in your buildings and at the Uniserve Office. We want you to know where to find it and get at it quickly.

E. stands for “empowerment”

We want to give you tools that you need to accomplish your jobs and tasks for your day. We want you to feel confident with YOUR voices as YOU speak up for Your needs, hopes and desires

L. stands for Lifting up

We want you to know we care and we can find people to come along side you to work out the needs and difficulties out there. We want you to have hope and JOY in the opportunities that are given to you at your sites.

And F. that stands for Future

It is YOUR future we care about and together as we launch into this New Year we will find opportunities for you to grow and stretch to achieve a good future in your jobs.

Lastly but ever so importantly is that we want you to take care of YOUR “SELF”. We want you healthy and safe as you continue in your challenges through this year.

Together we CAN make a DIFFERENCE

Working for you

Your co-presidents Pat & Peggy

Contract 101

Yes we still have a contract that we are working under. Not a NEW one yet….this one is the 2008-2010 Agreement. If you DO NOT have one PLEASE let your Building Communicators know and we will get one out to you.

Stay tune for more tips from your contract.

Acronyms

WEA=Washington Educational Association

NEA=Northshore Educational Association-Teachers Union

NEOPA=Northshore Educational Office Professionals Association

Office Managers and Secretaries Union

NESPA=Northshore Educational Support Professionals Association

THIS IS YOUR Union

Have You Seen This?

Something interesting and timely...


http://northshoreea.blogspot.com/p/political-action.html

Woodinville HS Deliberates

Kenmore Elementary Has a Few Laughs