Wednesday, December 9, 2009
NESPA News
Welcome to another edition of NESPA News! Check below for articles from Marge Mitchell, NESPA Co-President and Kraig Peck, Uniserve Rep.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Northshore's Bond/Levy Measure
Northshore’s Bond/Levy Measures Go To Voters In Mid-January!
START ASKING YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS
TO CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S SCHOOLS & KIDS!
Northshore School District will have three propositions on the ballot for the February 9, 2010, election to continue support for student learning:
- Capital Projects Bond
- Renewal Education Operations Support Levy
- Renewal School Technology Levy
NESPA, NSEA, AND NEOPA are 100% behind all of them. Together, these measures support student learning. Your support and help is needed to ensure their passage by the voters in January.
The Capital Projects Bond would continue the District's long-term facilities plan to maintain and renovate aging schools and provide key infrastructure support for classroom learning. The Renewal Education Operations Support Levy would renew an expiring levy that provides 20% of the district's budget for daily operations and educational programs. TheRenewal School Technology Levy would renew an expiring levy to continue to provide technology and training to enhance classroom learning.
Details here (2 pages): Facts on the Levy and Bond brochure This is an all-mail election. Ballots will be mailed out to voters by January 22 and must be returned by February 9 (Election Day).
Passage of these measures is essential to the economic health of our district and to us as professionals. The Operations Support Levy pays for many of our jobs. The Technology Levy pays for school computers. Adequate heat and air quality, and a pleasant work/learning environment, depend on the Capital Projects Bond.
The levy/bond campaign and NESPA, NEOPA, AND NSEA will be asking every school to send volunteers—staff, parents, booster clubs—to make phone calls to voters beginning January 4. Please sign up when asked by an Association Leader. Calls will be made from the NESPA/NSEA/WEA Office in Bothell.
Because of our successful collective efforts to modify the State Constitution by a vote in 2007, only 50% plus one (instead of 60% plus one) is needed to pass the Operations and Tech Levies. But 60% plus one is needed on the Capital Bond. Despite the bad economy, we will win this if we communicate the need to the voters.
Below is a link to an excellent fact sheet produced by NSD. Because it is a fact sheet—informational, not partisan—you are free to forward this link from home or school computer and email. However, do NOT forward this email from a school computer or email.
Just forward this link: Facts on the Levy and Bond brochure
HOLIDAY GIVING:
There's no red tape. A quick call or filling out our online form is all that's needed to help your students meet their basic needs!
You can also help the Children's Fund help children! Giving is easy: donations to the Children's Fund are tax deductible. Our donation page will offer you a choice of donation "tickets" that vary with the size of your contribution, and you will receive an e-mail after you purchase the donation "ticket" to confirm the amount of your gift.
Spread the word! Consider donating to the Fund as your gift to a friend or family member, instead of one more object they don’t need!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Bond/Levy Information
Northshore’s Bond/Levy Measures Go To Voters In Mid-January!
START ASKING YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS
TO CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S SCHOOLS & KIDS!
Northshore School District will have three propositions on the ballot for the February 9, 2010, election to continue support for student learning:
Capital Projects Bond
Renewal Education Operations Support Levy
Renewal School Technology Levy
NESPA, NSEA, AND NEOPA are 100% behind all of them. Together, these measures support student learning. Your support and help is needed to ensure their passage by the voters in January.
The Capital Projects Bond would continue the District's long-term facilities plan to maintain and renovate aging schools and provide key infrastructure support for classroom learning. The Renewal Education Operations Support Levy would renew an expiring levy that provides 20% of the district's budget for daily operations and educational programs. The Renewal School Technology Levy would renew an expiring levy to continue to provide technology and training to enhance classroom learning.
Details here: This is an all-mail election. Ballots will be mailed out to voters by January 22 and must be returned by February 9 (Election Day).
Passage of these measures is essential to the economic health of our district and to us as professionals. The Operations Support Levy pays for many of our jobs. The Technology Levy pays for school computers. Adequate heat and air quality, and a pleasant work/learning environment, depend on the Capital Projects Bond.
The levy/bond campaign and NESPA, NEOPA, AND NSEA will be asking every school to send volunteers—staff, parents, booster clubs—to make phone calls to voters beginning January 4. Please sign up when asked by an Association Leader. Calls will be made from the NESPA/NSEA/WEA Office in Bothell.
Because of our successful collective efforts to modify the State Constitution by a vote in 2007, only 50% plus one (instead of 60% plus one) is needed to pass the Operations and Tech Levies. But 60% plus one is needed on the Capital Bond. Despite the bad economy, we will win this if we communicate the need to the voters.
START ASKING YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS
TO CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S SCHOOLS & KIDS!
Northshore School District will have three propositions on the ballot for the February 9, 2010, election to continue support for student learning:
Capital Projects Bond
Renewal Education Operations Support Levy
Renewal School Technology Levy
NESPA, NSEA, AND NEOPA are 100% behind all of them. Together, these measures support student learning. Your support and help is needed to ensure their passage by the voters in January.
The Capital Projects Bond would continue the District's long-term facilities plan to maintain and renovate aging schools and provide key infrastructure support for classroom learning. The Renewal Education Operations Support Levy would renew an expiring levy that provides 20% of the district's budget for daily operations and educational programs. The Renewal School Technology Levy would renew an expiring levy to continue to provide technology and training to enhance classroom learning.
Details here: This is an all-mail election. Ballots will be mailed out to voters by January 22 and must be returned by February 9 (Election Day).
Passage of these measures is essential to the economic health of our district and to us as professionals. The Operations Support Levy pays for many of our jobs. The Technology Levy pays for school computers. Adequate heat and air quality, and a pleasant work/learning environment, depend on the Capital Projects Bond.
The levy/bond campaign and NESPA, NEOPA, AND NSEA will be asking every school to send volunteers—staff, parents, booster clubs—to make phone calls to voters beginning January 4. Please sign up when asked by an Association Leader. Calls will be made from the NESPA/NSEA/WEA Office in Bothell.
Because of our successful collective efforts to modify the State Constitution by a vote in 2007, only 50% plus one (instead of 60% plus one) is needed to pass the Operations and Tech Levies. But 60% plus one is needed on the Capital Bond. Despite the bad economy, we will win this if we communicate the need to the voters.
Short Legislative Sessions Begins in January
MORE K-12 CUTS? ENOUGH ALREADY!
TELL THEM TO FIND REVENUE INSTEAD!
In January, the State Legislature will begin meeting, largely to decide what adjustments to make to the State budget in 2010, the second year of the two-year budget. A $2.7 billion budget shortfall is anticipated, due to low spending and sales. Washington State derives most of our revenue from taxes on sales. We are one of a handful of states without an income tax, leaving our schools 45th in the nation in per pupil expenditures. And that was before the $1.5 billion in State K-12 cuts that took effect this year.
Believe it or not, Legislators are considering cutting our schools even further. While most school funding is constitutionally protected as “basic education funding”, Northshore, like other Districts, stands to lose millions of State dollars that are not Constitutionally protected. Last year, Northshore lost about $9 million in such State funding . Fortunately, we received over $5 million in Federal Stimulus funding to offset some of the cuts. (Northshore’s total budget is about $181 million, including the local property tax levy which will local voters will decide in January and February also.)
Further cuts are not acceptable. They would damage our students, our schools, our State’s future, the local and state economies, and our family’s livelihoods. Each of us needs to do our share to prevent the Legislature and the Governor from taking the easy way out, and simply cutting K-12 funding further.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Leaders from NESPA, NSEA, and NEOPA (as well as from Edmonds and Shoreline locals) have been meeting with our Legislators*. We’ve explained to them that education is an investment in the future, and eating our seed corn during this economic drought will only produce future droughts. We’ve urged them to raise the revenue needed to protect our schools from further cuts. We’ve suggested that they find it, in part, by eliminating some of the billions of dollars in Washington’s tax exemptions for private interests, exemptions that in many cases were passed years ago, and have not been reviewed since.
Here is a website that can help, and where you’ll find our WEA Legislative Agenda (goals for this Session) and more:
http://www.ourvoicewashingtonea.org
Please contact your Legislators now or during the Winter Break to let them know that further K-12 cuts are unacceptable. Ask them to find the revenue our schools need.
If you live in Northshore, Edmonds, or Shoreline, here are your legislators: http://northshoreea.blogspot.com/2009/01/contact-your-legislators.html If you need a reminder for who your 3 Legislators are, go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
Please contact them from a home computer and home email. Not from a school computer, or school email.
* We met with Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, Rep. Ruth Kagi, Sen. Paul Shinn, Sen. Eric Oemig, Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, and Rep. Marko Liias. Rep. Al O’Brien, Rep. Mark Ericks, and Sen. Darlene Fairley would not meet, which speaks volumes of their concern for educators and schools.
TELL THEM TO FIND REVENUE INSTEAD!
In January, the State Legislature will begin meeting, largely to decide what adjustments to make to the State budget in 2010, the second year of the two-year budget. A $2.7 billion budget shortfall is anticipated, due to low spending and sales. Washington State derives most of our revenue from taxes on sales. We are one of a handful of states without an income tax, leaving our schools 45th in the nation in per pupil expenditures. And that was before the $1.5 billion in State K-12 cuts that took effect this year.
Believe it or not, Legislators are considering cutting our schools even further. While most school funding is constitutionally protected as “basic education funding”, Northshore, like other Districts, stands to lose millions of State dollars that are not Constitutionally protected. Last year, Northshore lost about $9 million in such State funding . Fortunately, we received over $5 million in Federal Stimulus funding to offset some of the cuts. (Northshore’s total budget is about $181 million, including the local property tax levy which will local voters will decide in January and February also.)
Further cuts are not acceptable. They would damage our students, our schools, our State’s future, the local and state economies, and our family’s livelihoods. Each of us needs to do our share to prevent the Legislature and the Governor from taking the easy way out, and simply cutting K-12 funding further.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Leaders from NESPA, NSEA, and NEOPA (as well as from Edmonds and Shoreline locals) have been meeting with our Legislators*. We’ve explained to them that education is an investment in the future, and eating our seed corn during this economic drought will only produce future droughts. We’ve urged them to raise the revenue needed to protect our schools from further cuts. We’ve suggested that they find it, in part, by eliminating some of the billions of dollars in Washington’s tax exemptions for private interests, exemptions that in many cases were passed years ago, and have not been reviewed since.
Here is a website that can help, and where you’ll find our WEA Legislative Agenda (goals for this Session) and more:
http://www.ourvoicewashingtonea.org
Please contact your Legislators now or during the Winter Break to let them know that further K-12 cuts are unacceptable. Ask them to find the revenue our schools need.
If you live in Northshore, Edmonds, or Shoreline, here are your legislators: http://northshoreea.blogspot.com/2009/01/contact-your-legislators.html If you need a reminder for who your 3 Legislators are, go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
Please contact them from a home computer and home email. Not from a school computer, or school email.
* We met with Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, Rep. Ruth Kagi, Sen. Paul Shinn, Sen. Eric Oemig, Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, and Rep. Marko Liias. Rep. Al O’Brien, Rep. Mark Ericks, and Sen. Darlene Fairley would not meet, which speaks volumes of their concern for educators and schools.
Bargaining
IMPROVING OUR WORK AND SCHOOLS:
NESPA MEMBERS PROVIDE INPUT TO NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE!
As the first step toward providing input on the upcoming negotiations, about 200 NESPA members have shared their “Hopes, Dreams, Concerns, and Solutions” with NESPA’s Bargaining Team.
This input will be reviewed by NESPA’s Team on December 10, and will be used to draft bargaining proposals, and to write a detailed survey that will go out to all NESPA members in January.
There will be opportunities for more input. Your Bargaining Team wants to focus our efforts on securing the improvements that are important to NESPA members. And we’ll need your participation in efforts to secure these improvements; we can’t do it without you! (See below.)
Responses were varied, but a preliminary review of the responses points to several themes. These include:
· The need to earn a living wage.
· The need for many part time employees to get more hours, and to get access to medical benefits.
· More professional development opportunities.
· Concerns with computer access.
· The need for more professional hours, in order to do the best job for the students.
· Adequate nursing hours.
Our Bargaining Team consists of Judy Ellis (SAS) as the Bargaining Team Chairperson; Donna Smith (NSJH), Sharon Maynard (Bear Creek), Peggy Sturm (Maywood Hills), and Bharti Khandekar (Bothell HS). WEA Staffperson Kraig Peck will serve as Chief Spokesperson of the Team. We will negotiate with HR Director Jeff Sherwood and the administrative team he and the Superintendent selects, who will act on behalf of the School Board.
NESPA Building Communicators will meet in February (tentatively Feb 11) to help shape the bargaining goals, get more information, and take it back to each school to seek more input. NESPA members will meet during lunch on NESPA Day (Monday, March 22 at Woodmoor) to review the bargaining goals, and find out how we can all pitch in to secure the improvements we need.
Bargaining will begin later in the Spring, but we are getting organized now. We were successful in our last negotiations (Spring/Sumer of 2008) due to the leadership and support of our Bargaining Support Team. NESPA Co-Presidents Deb Murphy (dmurphy@nsd.org) and Marge Mitchell (mmitchell@nsd.org) are beginning to put together a new NESPA Bargaining Support Team. This is a great way to get involved in a meaningful way—helping to improve our work and schools---for a limited duration. If you want to know more, please contact Deb or Marge.
NESPA MEMBERS PROVIDE INPUT TO NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE!
As the first step toward providing input on the upcoming negotiations, about 200 NESPA members have shared their “Hopes, Dreams, Concerns, and Solutions” with NESPA’s Bargaining Team.
This input will be reviewed by NESPA’s Team on December 10, and will be used to draft bargaining proposals, and to write a detailed survey that will go out to all NESPA members in January.
There will be opportunities for more input. Your Bargaining Team wants to focus our efforts on securing the improvements that are important to NESPA members. And we’ll need your participation in efforts to secure these improvements; we can’t do it without you! (See below.)
Responses were varied, but a preliminary review of the responses points to several themes. These include:
· The need to earn a living wage.
· The need for many part time employees to get more hours, and to get access to medical benefits.
· More professional development opportunities.
· Concerns with computer access.
· The need for more professional hours, in order to do the best job for the students.
· Adequate nursing hours.
Our Bargaining Team consists of Judy Ellis (SAS) as the Bargaining Team Chairperson; Donna Smith (NSJH), Sharon Maynard (Bear Creek), Peggy Sturm (Maywood Hills), and Bharti Khandekar (Bothell HS). WEA Staffperson Kraig Peck will serve as Chief Spokesperson of the Team. We will negotiate with HR Director Jeff Sherwood and the administrative team he and the Superintendent selects, who will act on behalf of the School Board.
NESPA Building Communicators will meet in February (tentatively Feb 11) to help shape the bargaining goals, get more information, and take it back to each school to seek more input. NESPA members will meet during lunch on NESPA Day (Monday, March 22 at Woodmoor) to review the bargaining goals, and find out how we can all pitch in to secure the improvements we need.
Bargaining will begin later in the Spring, but we are getting organized now. We were successful in our last negotiations (Spring/Sumer of 2008) due to the leadership and support of our Bargaining Support Team. NESPA Co-Presidents Deb Murphy (dmurphy@nsd.org) and Marge Mitchell (mmitchell@nsd.org) are beginning to put together a new NESPA Bargaining Support Team. This is a great way to get involved in a meaningful way—helping to improve our work and schools---for a limited duration. If you want to know more, please contact Deb or Marge.
NESPA Teaching Certification Scholarship
Are you working toward a teaching certificate?
If so, you may be eligible for a
NESPA TEACHING CERTIFICATION SCHOLARSHIP
DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15, 2010
The NESPA Teaching Certification Scholarship is a collaboration between the
Northshore School District (NSD) and the Association. Its purpose is to recognize and
encourage NESPA members who are pursuing certification in the field of education at
the undergraduate or graduate level.
The scholarship fund for each school year is $10,000.00. Scholarship awards will be a
minimum of $2,000.00 per school year. Members may apply and receive one
scholarship per year for a maximum of three years.
ELIGIBILITY and CRITERIA:
Applicant must provide the following:
• Letter of application stating why you would like to be considered for this
scholarship.
• Verification of NESPA membership for the past three consecutive school years
(contact CUC office manager at 425-486-7101).
• Verification of declared major in education.
• Verification of junior credit equivalent or higher.
• Verification of current college/university enrollment.
• Outline of comprehensive education plan leading to certification.
• Completed scholarship application linked here: NESPA TEACHING CERTIFICATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM
SELECTION PROCESS:
The Scholarship Committee, based on all above eligibility and criteria being met, will determine acceptance or rejection of each application. Applications received after the deadline date will not be considered. THIS YEAR’S APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 2:00 PM, JANUARY 15, 2010.
If more than five qualified applications are submitted, the following criteria will be used as deciding factors:
#1) NESPA Seniority Date, #2) Date application is received.
Scholarship recipients will be REIMBURSED for previously paid tuition expenses via a NSD Travel and Expense Reimbursement Claim Form. This scholarship will be by REIMBURSEMENT ONLY. Recipients will be compensated in one payment after documentation of previously paid tuition expenses has been submitted.
Judy Ellis, NESPA Board Member is Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee. If you have questions, you may address them to her at jellis@nsd.org.
If so, you may be eligible for a
NESPA TEACHING CERTIFICATION SCHOLARSHIP
DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15, 2010
The NESPA Teaching Certification Scholarship is a collaboration between the
Northshore School District (NSD) and the Association. Its purpose is to recognize and
encourage NESPA members who are pursuing certification in the field of education at
the undergraduate or graduate level.
The scholarship fund for each school year is $10,000.00. Scholarship awards will be a
minimum of $2,000.00 per school year. Members may apply and receive one
scholarship per year for a maximum of three years.
ELIGIBILITY and CRITERIA:
Applicant must provide the following:
• Letter of application stating why you would like to be considered for this
scholarship.
• Verification of NESPA membership for the past three consecutive school years
(contact CUC office manager at 425-486-7101).
• Verification of declared major in education.
• Verification of junior credit equivalent or higher.
• Verification of current college/university enrollment.
• Outline of comprehensive education plan leading to certification.
• Completed scholarship application linked here: NESPA TEACHING CERTIFICATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM
SELECTION PROCESS:
The Scholarship Committee, based on all above eligibility and criteria being met, will determine acceptance or rejection of each application. Applications received after the deadline date will not be considered. THIS YEAR’S APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 2:00 PM, JANUARY 15, 2010.
If more than five qualified applications are submitted, the following criteria will be used as deciding factors:
#1) NESPA Seniority Date, #2) Date application is received.
Scholarship recipients will be REIMBURSED for previously paid tuition expenses via a NSD Travel and Expense Reimbursement Claim Form. This scholarship will be by REIMBURSEMENT ONLY. Recipients will be compensated in one payment after documentation of previously paid tuition expenses has been submitted.
Judy Ellis, NESPA Board Member is Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee. If you have questions, you may address them to her at jellis@nsd.org.
From Marge Mitchell, Co-President of NESPA
Local ESP Presidents gathered together on October 24, in Federal Way, to network and gather new information on WEA resources. State leaders shared information on what WEA can help locals with. With a “speed dating” format, we learned about the resources WEA can provide to local units. A leadership style survey was completed. We learned our area of strength and areas to work on, when acting in a leadership role.
WEA sponsored an Issues Conference, in Renton, on November 11th. There were several Northshore support staff in attendance. Classes included Conflict Resolution, Autism, helping students with ADD/ADHD, Computer Classes, Relaxation Techniques,etc.. A total of 16 classes were offered, each person choosing 4 classes. Networking with over 150 people brought together many new ideas and resources.
The Northshore School Board swore in 3 new members at the November 24th meeting.
Julia Lacey, Todd Banks and Sandy Hayes join Dawn McCravey and Janet Quinn. Our many thanks to outgoing members Sue Buske, Cathy Swanson and Gene Hawkridge. School Board positions are totally volunteer. Board members put in many, many hours each month.
NESPA sent out a survey to all members, concerning issues that should be addressed during bargaining (in the spring). Thank you to all who returned the surveys. The bargaining team will begin meeting to look at the issues that are of concern to our members.
January will be a busy month promoting the bond and levies that will be voted on in February. This will include the Capital Projects Bond, a Renewal Education Operations Support Levy and a Renewal School Technology Levy. These measures are needed to keep the Northshore school district moving ahead. Please consider volunteering time to doorbell or work on a phone bank. Voters need to understand the serious need for passage of both the bond and the levies.
In the midst of the upcoming holidays and family gatherings, life does get incredibly busy and hectic. Take time to enjoy family, read a good book or take a walk on a cold crisp winter day.
WEA sponsored an Issues Conference, in Renton, on November 11th. There were several Northshore support staff in attendance. Classes included Conflict Resolution, Autism, helping students with ADD/ADHD, Computer Classes, Relaxation Techniques,etc.. A total of 16 classes were offered, each person choosing 4 classes. Networking with over 150 people brought together many new ideas and resources.
The Northshore School Board swore in 3 new members at the November 24th meeting.
Julia Lacey, Todd Banks and Sandy Hayes join Dawn McCravey and Janet Quinn. Our many thanks to outgoing members Sue Buske, Cathy Swanson and Gene Hawkridge. School Board positions are totally volunteer. Board members put in many, many hours each month.
NESPA sent out a survey to all members, concerning issues that should be addressed during bargaining (in the spring). Thank you to all who returned the surveys. The bargaining team will begin meeting to look at the issues that are of concern to our members.
January will be a busy month promoting the bond and levies that will be voted on in February. This will include the Capital Projects Bond, a Renewal Education Operations Support Levy and a Renewal School Technology Levy. These measures are needed to keep the Northshore school district moving ahead. Please consider volunteering time to doorbell or work on a phone bank. Voters need to understand the serious need for passage of both the bond and the levies.
In the midst of the upcoming holidays and family gatherings, life does get incredibly busy and hectic. Take time to enjoy family, read a good book or take a walk on a cold crisp winter day.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Your NESPA Professional Development Fund
Q. How can I get reimbursed for classes, conferences, etc.?
A. You can use this fund of eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000.00) available to NESPA members for individual staff development training that may include tuition, registration fees and substitutes. Prior approval for use of the funds must be obtained through the fund application form included in this newsletter. (2008-2010 NESPA Contract- Article 25.10 on page 20)
Consideration for approval is based on the funds available, the relationship of the class to the employee’s immediate job performance, the needs of the District, the professional growth it will add to an employee’s abilities, skills, job-related interests and the employee’s access to other professional development money.
Initially, one request for funds per member, not to exceed $200.00, will be considered. Requests are reviewed upon receipt and you are notified promptly by phone or email.
Q. How do I start?
A. You start by filling out the Professional Development Fund Application Form, which is linked on the right side of this website under Important NESPA Information. The easy-to-follow directions are right on the form but if you need further assistance,your Building Communicator can help there too.
Q. What if we want to use it to pay for a class in our school?
A. If your school would like host a training for its members, the application and approval process would be the same-with a few minor differences. Yes, you can use these funds to hire someone to come to your school to train your NESPA staff. This training can be done on work time (a non-student day, for example), or after school. (Want to get paid for attending a training on non-work time? NESPA members can also use their Professional Hours.)
Q. Is there still money available?
A. Yes, there is. By using all the money in the fund we send a message to the District on the importance of professional development among our members.
Q. Where does one find classes?
A. Check your staff room bulletin board first. Organizations like the Institute for Educational Dev. (IED); Bureau of Education & Research (BER) and Staff Dev. Resources (SDR) send mailers to schools on a regular basis. Puget Sound ESD and the area community colleges offer great professional/personal development classes as well. You could also try to Google your area of interest using words like educational seminar, workshop, or training.
Q. Whom do I contact with questions?
A. Judy Ellis, the NESPA Board member who leads NESPA’s Professional Development Committee, is the expert. She works at SAS and can be reached via email at jellis@nsd.org.
A. You can use this fund of eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000.00) available to NESPA members for individual staff development training that may include tuition, registration fees and substitutes. Prior approval for use of the funds must be obtained through the fund application form included in this newsletter. (2008-2010 NESPA Contract- Article 25.10 on page 20)
Consideration for approval is based on the funds available, the relationship of the class to the employee’s immediate job performance, the needs of the District, the professional growth it will add to an employee’s abilities, skills, job-related interests and the employee’s access to other professional development money.
Initially, one request for funds per member, not to exceed $200.00, will be considered. Requests are reviewed upon receipt and you are notified promptly by phone or email.
Q. How do I start?
A. You start by filling out the Professional Development Fund Application Form, which is linked on the right side of this website under Important NESPA Information. The easy-to-follow directions are right on the form but if you need further assistance,your Building Communicator can help there too.
Q. What if we want to use it to pay for a class in our school?
A. If your school would like host a training for its members, the application and approval process would be the same-with a few minor differences. Yes, you can use these funds to hire someone to come to your school to train your NESPA staff. This training can be done on work time (a non-student day, for example), or after school. (Want to get paid for attending a training on non-work time? NESPA members can also use their Professional Hours.)
Q. Is there still money available?
A. Yes, there is. By using all the money in the fund we send a message to the District on the importance of professional development among our members.
Q. Where does one find classes?
A. Check your staff room bulletin board first. Organizations like the Institute for Educational Dev. (IED); Bureau of Education & Research (BER) and Staff Dev. Resources (SDR) send mailers to schools on a regular basis. Puget Sound ESD and the area community colleges offer great professional/personal development classes as well. You could also try to Google your area of interest using words like educational seminar, workshop, or training.
Q. Whom do I contact with questions?
A. Judy Ellis, the NESPA Board member who leads NESPA’s Professional Development Committee, is the expert. She works at SAS and can be reached via email at jellis@nsd.org.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Professional Standards Program (PSP)
HOW DO 160 NESPA MEMBERS EARN $582 - $1,070 MORE EACH YEAR……
WITHOUT WORKING ADDITONAL HOURS?
NESPA members who get certificates issued by the Nat’l Assn of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP) for education, leadership, community service, etc. receive from $582 to $1,070 per year. Also, Levels II and III employees (nurses, head start, and similar jobs) get $983 for a BA or BS degree, and an additional $983 for an ESA Certificate, and an additional $983 for a Masters Degree. Employees who work UNDER 3.5 hours daily are eligible for HALF the PSP stipend. NESPA’s Professional Standards Program (PSP) stipends are part of our negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement, on pages 21 and 22.
Want to find out more? Or to continue to work on getting your certificates? Come to the:
Special NESPA informational meeting on PSP Stipends
Wednesday, November 18, from 4 to 6 PM
WEA/NESPA office at 18704 Bothell Way NE, in Bothell
across the street from the SAS/Anderson Building, just north of Bothell’s Main Street.
Park and enter in the back.
Questions? Keep in mind that the process of getting the certificates is a bit complex, and can’t be described over the phone. That’s why we have these meetings. General questions can be addressed to Heather Flatman (hflatman@nsd.org) or Karin Shipman (kshipman@nsd.org).
THANK YOU to Heather and Karin for leading NESPA’s PSP Committee, and helping NESPA members get these stipends!
Kraig
WITHOUT WORKING ADDITONAL HOURS?
NESPA members who get certificates issued by the Nat’l Assn of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP) for education, leadership, community service, etc. receive from $582 to $1,070 per year. Also, Levels II and III employees (nurses, head start, and similar jobs) get $983 for a BA or BS degree, and an additional $983 for an ESA Certificate, and an additional $983 for a Masters Degree. Employees who work UNDER 3.5 hours daily are eligible for HALF the PSP stipend. NESPA’s Professional Standards Program (PSP) stipends are part of our negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement, on pages 21 and 22.
Want to find out more? Or to continue to work on getting your certificates? Come to the:
Special NESPA informational meeting on PSP Stipends
Wednesday, November 18, from 4 to 6 PM
WEA/NESPA office at 18704 Bothell Way NE, in Bothell
across the street from the SAS/Anderson Building, just north of Bothell’s Main Street.
Park and enter in the back.
Questions? Keep in mind that the process of getting the certificates is a bit complex, and can’t be described over the phone. That’s why we have these meetings. General questions can be addressed to Heather Flatman (hflatman@nsd.org) or Karin Shipman (kshipman@nsd.org).
THANK YOU to Heather and Karin for leading NESPA’s PSP Committee, and helping NESPA members get these stipends!
Kraig
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Budget Cuts
NSD Budget Cuts Were Deeper Than Necessary
If your family budget was inadequate to meet your basic needs, and was then further reduced due to a layoff or cuts in work hours, what would you do? A) Cut your spending, but use some of your savings to limit the extent of painful cuts? Or, B) Cut your spending AND make even more painful cuts by putting more of your paycheck into savings?
If you were the Northshore School Board last Fall (October 2008), you decided to do B. In the midst of ongoing and anticipated State cuts to schools, the Board decided to change its policy, and to increase the amount Northshore sets aside in the Unreserved Reserves—the funds left at the end of each school year in the Ending Fund Balance that are not designated for anything. (They are in addition to $1 million set aside for risk and inventory replacement.)
In other words, the Board decided to put more money in the bank instead of in classrooms and compensation. They passed a new Policy which required a minimum of 3% to be set aside (2.75% this year, and 3% starting next year), an increase from the 2% that had been Board policy. NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA opposed this, and spoke out at Board meetings. Northshore had never experienced a financial problem that necessitated putting more of our limited funds in the bank. The change in policy was and is detrimental to students, staff, and our schools.
NEW BOARD POLICY AND INACCURATE INFO LED TO DEEPER CUTS THAN NECESSARY THIS YEAR.
The School Board then proceeded to cut programs and laid off classified staff (i.e., Junior High Deans) far deeper than they needed to. This was due not only to this new Policy, but also because the administration had not provided the Board with accurate information about the funds that would be left at the end of the school year. Read on…..
Last Spring, the District went through a painful process of identifying about $5 million in cuts. NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA agreed that cuts were necessary, but argued that $5 million in cuts was excessive.
We spoke at the School Board meetings and handed out flyers at the public budget meetings urging the Board to, “Limit layoffs and program cuts by using more reserves.” We stated, “Northshore’s budgeted Ending Funding Balance (EFB) for this year—$9.1 million—is the highest since 1997-1998 as a proportion of our budget. The actual Ending Fund Balance will likely be higher. The actual EFB has been higher than the budgeted EFB in each of the last 8 years. Based on a comparison of monthly EFB in each of the past 5 years, the WEA Research Department projected in early March that the EFB will be about $1.2 million higher than budgeted: $10.3 million.”
So, the School Board made cuts based on an administration projection of having $9.1 million left at the end of 08-09. And the WEA Research Department projected $10.3 million. So, with the 2008-2009 financial books now closed and made public, what was the actual Ending Fund Balance? It was $10.7 million. That’s $1.6 million more than the District had projected. In other words, the School Board cut programs and laid off classified staff far deeper than they needed to, because the administration had not provided them with accurate information. And because they ignored the information we provided to them.
WHY DOES THE SCHOOL BOARD MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT ACCURATE INFO?
Unfortunately, last Spring was not an anomaly. Northshore’s budget cuts the previous year (including Nurses and Library Techs) were far deeper than necessary. Why is it, year after year, that the WEA Research Department is able to more accurately forecast the District’s Ending Fund Balance than the NSD administration? Although it is far easier, and less risky, for the administration to bank a large reserve, Northshore is not a bank.
We believe that the School Board’s first obligation is to fund our schools, and to provide decent compensation for staff. We believe that when cuts are necessary, or when staff are told that they must work another year for inadequate pay—in other words, when people are damaged—the School Board needs to deliberate with complete and accurate information. Our community pays taxes to provide the best possible schools—not to bank the funds.
Inadequate State funding makes it more important than ever to get this right. Three of Northshore’s five School Board members will be new, starting in two weeks. NSEA has begun conversations with the Superintendent and the School Board to improve the process of projecting the Ending Fund Balance so that the Board can make informed decisions each Spring about budget cuts and bargaining parameters.
If your family budget was inadequate to meet your basic needs, and was then further reduced due to a layoff or cuts in work hours, what would you do? A) Cut your spending, but use some of your savings to limit the extent of painful cuts? Or, B) Cut your spending AND make even more painful cuts by putting more of your paycheck into savings?
If you were the Northshore School Board last Fall (October 2008), you decided to do B. In the midst of ongoing and anticipated State cuts to schools, the Board decided to change its policy, and to increase the amount Northshore sets aside in the Unreserved Reserves—the funds left at the end of each school year in the Ending Fund Balance that are not designated for anything. (They are in addition to $1 million set aside for risk and inventory replacement.)
In other words, the Board decided to put more money in the bank instead of in classrooms and compensation. They passed a new Policy which required a minimum of 3% to be set aside (2.75% this year, and 3% starting next year), an increase from the 2% that had been Board policy. NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA opposed this, and spoke out at Board meetings. Northshore had never experienced a financial problem that necessitated putting more of our limited funds in the bank. The change in policy was and is detrimental to students, staff, and our schools.
NEW BOARD POLICY AND INACCURATE INFO LED TO DEEPER CUTS THAN NECESSARY THIS YEAR.
The School Board then proceeded to cut programs and laid off classified staff (i.e., Junior High Deans) far deeper than they needed to. This was due not only to this new Policy, but also because the administration had not provided the Board with accurate information about the funds that would be left at the end of the school year. Read on…..
Last Spring, the District went through a painful process of identifying about $5 million in cuts. NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA agreed that cuts were necessary, but argued that $5 million in cuts was excessive.
We spoke at the School Board meetings and handed out flyers at the public budget meetings urging the Board to, “Limit layoffs and program cuts by using more reserves.” We stated, “Northshore’s budgeted Ending Funding Balance (EFB) for this year—$9.1 million—is the highest since 1997-1998 as a proportion of our budget. The actual Ending Fund Balance will likely be higher. The actual EFB has been higher than the budgeted EFB in each of the last 8 years. Based on a comparison of monthly EFB in each of the past 5 years, the WEA Research Department projected in early March that the EFB will be about $1.2 million higher than budgeted: $10.3 million.”
So, the School Board made cuts based on an administration projection of having $9.1 million left at the end of 08-09. And the WEA Research Department projected $10.3 million. So, with the 2008-2009 financial books now closed and made public, what was the actual Ending Fund Balance? It was $10.7 million. That’s $1.6 million more than the District had projected. In other words, the School Board cut programs and laid off classified staff far deeper than they needed to, because the administration had not provided them with accurate information. And because they ignored the information we provided to them.
WHY DOES THE SCHOOL BOARD MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT ACCURATE INFO?
Unfortunately, last Spring was not an anomaly. Northshore’s budget cuts the previous year (including Nurses and Library Techs) were far deeper than necessary. Why is it, year after year, that the WEA Research Department is able to more accurately forecast the District’s Ending Fund Balance than the NSD administration? Although it is far easier, and less risky, for the administration to bank a large reserve, Northshore is not a bank.
We believe that the School Board’s first obligation is to fund our schools, and to provide decent compensation for staff. We believe that when cuts are necessary, or when staff are told that they must work another year for inadequate pay—in other words, when people are damaged—the School Board needs to deliberate with complete and accurate information. Our community pays taxes to provide the best possible schools—not to bank the funds.
Inadequate State funding makes it more important than ever to get this right. Three of Northshore’s five School Board members will be new, starting in two weeks. NSEA has begun conversations with the Superintendent and the School Board to improve the process of projecting the Ending Fund Balance so that the Board can make informed decisions each Spring about budget cuts and bargaining parameters.
Monday, November 2, 2009
NESPA News
Welcome to another edition of the NESPA News! Below you will find articles by Kraig Peck, Uni-Serve Rep; Deb Murphy, Co-President; and Rosemarie Dunlop, nurse rep.
Do you have access to a computer that enables you to do your job?
Page 57 of our Agreement states, in part: “The District and the Association agree to the following:
A. In order for employees to carry out their duties most effectively, they must have confidential and convenient access to technology that will allow them to:
1) Have access to the Internet.
2) Use the District’s e-mail program.
3) Open necessary attachments that may accompany e-mail.
4) Have access to the District’s staff directory and District newsletters.
5) Utilize productivity tools such as Office Suite as appropriate to their job.
B. For instructional purposes, employees should also have ready access to technology that provides them appropriate instructional resources.
C. Employees shall be invited to have representation on or provide input to building site teams or any other group which plans the technology needs for staff and students.”
Note that each elementary school has been allocated one additional up-to-date computer for those NESPA members who may not otherwise have appropriate access. (For example, School Assistants or roving employees). Secondary schools have each two such computers.
And note that the contract language above does not mean that everyone gets their own personal up-to-date computer. But it does commit the District to convenient access to a computer that enables you to do your work effectively, as per above.
If you don’t have the computer access you need to effectively do your work----including opening attachments or any of the above—what do you do?
Talk to your Principal--or write an email to your Principal and copy in the tech committee, or tech liaison at your school—describing precisely the problem, and citing this contract language. Be sure your note explains precisely the problem and what you need. (In some schools, the Leadership Team may play the role of Tech Committee, or an individual Technology Resource Teacher might.)
· You can ask your NESPA Building Communicator for help, or your NESPA co-worker who works as a School Technology Specialist might be able to help. Ask to meet with the Principal to discuss your written concern. The Principal is the District official responsible for the implementation of the Agreement at the school level, though they may need to include others in the meeting as well, like the tech committee, etc. If you need help at any time, contact NESPA.
· If this affects several people at your school, work together on this.
· If that doesn’t get you what is needed, please contact Kraig Peck at kpeck@washingtonea.org or 425.486.7101 ext 103, or NESPA Co-Presidents Deb Murphy or Marge Mitchell. They will work with you to take this to the next step, which is described on page 57 as follows:
“Upon request, the parties shall jointly conduct a needs assessment of employees regarding software, hardware, and training needs. The assessment shall be carried out through building-level interviews upon request of the staff at specific sites. Based on the assessment, the parties will develop individual building solutions and work with building administrators and site teams in order to accomplish the recommended solutions.”
Kraig Peck
A. In order for employees to carry out their duties most effectively, they must have confidential and convenient access to technology that will allow them to:
1) Have access to the Internet.
2) Use the District’s e-mail program.
3) Open necessary attachments that may accompany e-mail.
4) Have access to the District’s staff directory and District newsletters.
5) Utilize productivity tools such as Office Suite as appropriate to their job.
B. For instructional purposes, employees should also have ready access to technology that provides them appropriate instructional resources.
C. Employees shall be invited to have representation on or provide input to building site teams or any other group which plans the technology needs for staff and students.”
Note that each elementary school has been allocated one additional up-to-date computer for those NESPA members who may not otherwise have appropriate access. (For example, School Assistants or roving employees). Secondary schools have each two such computers.
And note that the contract language above does not mean that everyone gets their own personal up-to-date computer. But it does commit the District to convenient access to a computer that enables you to do your work effectively, as per above.
If you don’t have the computer access you need to effectively do your work----including opening attachments or any of the above—what do you do?
Talk to your Principal--or write an email to your Principal and copy in the tech committee, or tech liaison at your school—describing precisely the problem, and citing this contract language. Be sure your note explains precisely the problem and what you need. (In some schools, the Leadership Team may play the role of Tech Committee, or an individual Technology Resource Teacher might.)
· You can ask your NESPA Building Communicator for help, or your NESPA co-worker who works as a School Technology Specialist might be able to help. Ask to meet with the Principal to discuss your written concern. The Principal is the District official responsible for the implementation of the Agreement at the school level, though they may need to include others in the meeting as well, like the tech committee, etc. If you need help at any time, contact NESPA.
· If this affects several people at your school, work together on this.
· If that doesn’t get you what is needed, please contact Kraig Peck at kpeck@washingtonea.org or 425.486.7101 ext 103, or NESPA Co-Presidents Deb Murphy or Marge Mitchell. They will work with you to take this to the next step, which is described on page 57 as follows:
“Upon request, the parties shall jointly conduct a needs assessment of employees regarding software, hardware, and training needs. The assessment shall be carried out through building-level interviews upon request of the staff at specific sites. Based on the assessment, the parties will develop individual building solutions and work with building administrators and site teams in order to accomplish the recommended solutions.”
Kraig Peck
Is Tuesday, November 10, a work day? And for the rest of the year?
Next week, Tuesday, November 10 is one of the five “Accountable Days” in our Agreement. The other remaining ones for this school year are January 29, March 22, and May 28. (The first day was Oct. 9.) These are work days for most NESPA members. (Employees who work Monday thru Thursday need only work on 2 of these five days. Employees who work Tuesday thru Friday need only work one of these days.) March 22 is the annual NESPA Day, a day of professional development for all NESPA members, so be sure to put that on your calendar. (Wednesday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day---one of 11 paid holidays that NESPA members get. Teachers get no paid holidays.)
Under our Agreement, “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 means that if you and your Principal agree, you can work other days and hours instead of working on these days. Consult with the teachers you work with, examine your own work, check with the Principal, and decide what works best. Then, if you want to work alternative times, get Principal approval of this in advance.
Some staff “trade” this time so they can have department meetings on a regular basis. Or time to confer with the teacher they work with. It’s work time. You may wish to make a written record of any agreement to change days, in order to avoid a later dispute—though there is no requirement that this be done.
On our timesheets, we record our hours on the Accountable Days even if we trade them. These are the instructions per the “NESPA Additional Hours Matrix.”
There are always a couple of teacher work days that are NOT NESPA work days. This school year, the remaining ones are January 4; April 2; and June 21. You can, of course, with the approval of your Principal, change the “Accountable Days” so that you work on these days instead. Note, though, that the January 4 District-wide training for teachers is not open to NESPA members; we have checked with the Deputy Superintendents, and there is no room left at the 2 locations for the training.
Kraig Peck
Under our Agreement, “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 means that if you and your Principal agree, you can work other days and hours instead of working on these days. Consult with the teachers you work with, examine your own work, check with the Principal, and decide what works best. Then, if you want to work alternative times, get Principal approval of this in advance.
Some staff “trade” this time so they can have department meetings on a regular basis. Or time to confer with the teacher they work with. It’s work time. You may wish to make a written record of any agreement to change days, in order to avoid a later dispute—though there is no requirement that this be done.
On our timesheets, we record our hours on the Accountable Days even if we trade them. These are the instructions per the “NESPA Additional Hours Matrix.”
There are always a couple of teacher work days that are NOT NESPA work days. This school year, the remaining ones are January 4; April 2; and June 21. You can, of course, with the approval of your Principal, change the “Accountable Days” so that you work on these days instead. Note, though, that the January 4 District-wide training for teachers is not open to NESPA members; we have checked with the Deputy Superintendents, and there is no room left at the 2 locations for the training.
Kraig Peck
Are you required to have first aid training?
NESPA leaders and Human Resources have reviewed the current job descriptions, and have checked with the Special Ed Dept. The official word from the administration is that the only NESPA employees required to have first aid/CPR certification in this bargaining unit are:
Para – Head Start
Para – Preschool Program
Head Start Teacher
Preschool Instructor
Occupational and Physical Therapist Assistant
Swimming/Water Safety Specialist
Family Service Worker
Registered Nurse
There are two first aid training classes open to any NESPA employee:
· January 28th 4-7pm
· March 31st 4-7pm
If ANY training is REQUIRED, as it is for employees in the classifications above, you are paid by the District for your time. Compensation is not from your professional hours. Article 25.50 of our Agreement states, “Compensation at the employee’s regular rate of pay or release time will be provided for required District or State programs which can include first aid training and student testing.”
Kraig Peck
Para – Head Start
Para – Preschool Program
Head Start Teacher
Preschool Instructor
Occupational and Physical Therapist Assistant
Swimming/Water Safety Specialist
Family Service Worker
Registered Nurse
There are two first aid training classes open to any NESPA employee:
· January 28th 4-7pm
· March 31st 4-7pm
If ANY training is REQUIRED, as it is for employees in the classifications above, you are paid by the District for your time. Compensation is not from your professional hours. Article 25.50 of our Agreement states, “Compensation at the employee’s regular rate of pay or release time will be provided for required District or State programs which can include first aid training and student testing.”
Kraig Peck
Happy Autumn!
October has been a busy month for NESPA members. There was a wonderful dinner given on October 15th to show appreciation for the work our Building Communicator’s do and to inform them of the up-coming contract negotiation process. Many good suggestions were given about concerns and needs to begin shaping our priorities for the new contract that we will work for in the Spring of 2010. Please be part of that effort by completing and send back your suggestions for our Bargaining Committee to compile.
Your Co-Presidents, Marge Mitchell and I attended a day long WEA Annual ESP Local President Meeting on October 24th. It was filled with interesting information and good networking with other president dealing with similar issues in districts across Washington.
We met in small groups with people from WEA Communication Dept., Learning and Education Policy Center-which support issues regarding Human Rights and Accountability and Education Reform issues, Public Policy support, Research, Legal issues and Advocacy and Organizing Support. I encourage you to check out the WEA web site to get more information about the services the WEA can offer us. One service that was new to me was the legal advice that can be given to members for non-union issues. WEA has a list of local lawyers that will give 2 half-hour meetings to members to help with issues such as traffic tickets, or your own legal documents like wills.
Enjoy the crisp days and keep rested as flu season hits…
Deb Murphy
Your Co-Presidents, Marge Mitchell and I attended a day long WEA Annual ESP Local President Meeting on October 24th. It was filled with interesting information and good networking with other president dealing with similar issues in districts across Washington.
We met in small groups with people from WEA Communication Dept., Learning and Education Policy Center-which support issues regarding Human Rights and Accountability and Education Reform issues, Public Policy support, Research, Legal issues and Advocacy and Organizing Support. I encourage you to check out the WEA web site to get more information about the services the WEA can offer us. One service that was new to me was the legal advice that can be given to members for non-union issues. WEA has a list of local lawyers that will give 2 half-hour meetings to members to help with issues such as traffic tickets, or your own legal documents like wills.
Enjoy the crisp days and keep rested as flu season hits…
Deb Murphy
Sunday, November 1, 2009
H1N1 Flu - Take a breath of fresh air
(Rosemarie Dunlop is on the NESPA board as the nurse rep. She will be publishing a health article on the blog every month.)
This is the topic of the season. You have heard about hand washing, coughing in your sleeve and your shirt, washing hands frequently, getting your flu shots, turning your head and holding your breath if a student coughs in your face, staying home if you are sick even if it makes you feel guilty, and drinking plenty of fluids to keep yourself well flushed. Anyone mention the benefits of fresh air?? It is highly underrated.
We may spend up to 8 hours indoors during a typical working day. Inside air tends to be dusty and laden with germs from coughing people. This gets into our respiratory system. We spend all night in our homes. We breath in cooking fumes. All this stresses our immune system.
Have you thought of taking time out to enjoy the "great outdoors"? There are many benefits of fresh air. It can improve one's health and sense of well being. Fresh air cleans our lungs. Expect to cough a bit at first as the lungs get rid of impurities, but as you continue to breathe deeper and deeper, it will bring more oxygen to your cells. This will increase energy and bring clarity to the brain.
Exercises done outside in the fresh air benefit us aerobically. It improves our breathing technique. Fresh oxygen to the muscles reduces lactic acid build-up (which could lead to cramping) in our muscles.
It is an interesting aside to remember that in 1877, a program called The Fresh Air Fund was started in New York City for disadvantaged children to reap the benefit of fresh air in the countryside of upstate New York. My husband's family hosted some of these children during the summer at their farm in Duanesburg, New York. I guess this is nothing new to some of us.
This is the topic of the season. You have heard about hand washing, coughing in your sleeve and your shirt, washing hands frequently, getting your flu shots, turning your head and holding your breath if a student coughs in your face, staying home if you are sick even if it makes you feel guilty, and drinking plenty of fluids to keep yourself well flushed. Anyone mention the benefits of fresh air?? It is highly underrated.
We may spend up to 8 hours indoors during a typical working day. Inside air tends to be dusty and laden with germs from coughing people. This gets into our respiratory system. We spend all night in our homes. We breath in cooking fumes. All this stresses our immune system.
Have you thought of taking time out to enjoy the "great outdoors"? There are many benefits of fresh air. It can improve one's health and sense of well being. Fresh air cleans our lungs. Expect to cough a bit at first as the lungs get rid of impurities, but as you continue to breathe deeper and deeper, it will bring more oxygen to your cells. This will increase energy and bring clarity to the brain.
Exercises done outside in the fresh air benefit us aerobically. It improves our breathing technique. Fresh oxygen to the muscles reduces lactic acid build-up (which could lead to cramping) in our muscles.
It is an interesting aside to remember that in 1877, a program called The Fresh Air Fund was started in New York City for disadvantaged children to reap the benefit of fresh air in the countryside of upstate New York. My husband's family hosted some of these children during the summer at their farm in Duanesburg, New York. I guess this is nothing new to some of us.
NESPA Teaching Certification Scholarship
Check this out! If you are pursuing a degree in education, you may find some financial assistance through the NESPA $10,000 scholarship fund. This fund is designated exclusively for NESPA members seeking their teacher's certification. Last year NESPA was proud to award three scholarships.
Click here for the scholarship application and a list of eligibility requirements and criteria. The deadline is 2:00 p.m. January 15, 2010.
Good luck to all who apply!
Click here for the scholarship application and a list of eligibility requirements and criteria. The deadline is 2:00 p.m. January 15, 2010.
Good luck to all who apply!
Friday, October 16, 2009
We need your input!
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES, DREAMS, CONCERNS, AND SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR WORK?
With the active participation of most NESPA members 1-1/2 years ago, we achieved a contract with many gains. Now, this Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on August 31, 2010, the end of this school year. We’ll begin bargaining a new contract this Spring. Your Bargaining Team wants your input. This input will be carefully reviewed by the Team, and the best ideas will be “test-driven” in a written survey to all NESPA members in early 2010. The survey results will be used to create NESPA’s bargaining goals.
Click here to give your input. Then, print your completed form and return it to your NESPA Building Communicator by November 9.
Your NESPA Building Communicator has the forms for you, in paper form also.
With the active participation of most NESPA members 1-1/2 years ago, we achieved a contract with many gains. Now, this Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on August 31, 2010, the end of this school year. We’ll begin bargaining a new contract this Spring. Your Bargaining Team wants your input. This input will be carefully reviewed by the Team, and the best ideas will be “test-driven” in a written survey to all NESPA members in early 2010. The survey results will be used to create NESPA’s bargaining goals.
Click here to give your input. Then, print your completed form and return it to your NESPA Building Communicator by November 9.
Your NESPA Building Communicator has the forms for you, in paper form also.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
2010-2011 Calendar
Do you want to give input into the 2010-2011 school year calendar? If so, complete this survey by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21. Click here to go directly to the survey.
NESPA Matrix
The 2009-2010 NESPA Additional Hours Matrix has been published and is ready for you to review. This chart will give you information on professional hours, the pool of hours, and non-student days.
Friday, October 2, 2009
NESPA News
Welcome to NESPA News! Starting today NESPA News will no longer be printed and distributed throughout the district. Instead, it will be printed right here on the NESPA blog on the first day of every month. You'll find articles by Deb Murphy and Marge Mitchell, our Co-Presidents, as well as the latest NESPA information from Kraig Peck, our Uni-Serve Rep. Read on for the first installment....
Thursday, October 1, 2009
How do 160 NESPA members earn $582-$1,070 more each year, without working additional hours?
NESPA’s Professional Standards Program (PSP) stipends are part of our negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement, on pages 21 and 22.
Employees who get certificates issues by the Natl Assn of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP) for education, leadership, community service, etc. receive from $582 to $1,070 per year. Levels II and III employees (nurses, head start, and similar jobs) get $983 for a BA or BS degree, and an additional $983 for an ESA Certificate, and an additional $983 for a Masters Degree.
Employees who work UNDER 3.5 hours daily are eligible for HALF the PSP stipend.
Want to find out more? Or to continue to get your certificates? Come to the special NESPA informational meeting on PSP Stipends: Wednesday, October 21, from 4 to 6 PM at the WEA/NESPA office at 18704 Bothell Way NE, in Bothell across the street from the SAS/Anderson Building, just north of Bothell’s Main Street. Janice Schumann and Emily (both from NAEOP) will be there to answer questions.
Questions? Keep in mind that the process of getting the certificates is a bit complex, and can’t be described over the phone. That’s why we have these meetings. General questions can be addressed to Heather Flatman (hflatman@nsd.org) or Karin Shipman (kshipman@nsd.org).
THANK YOU to Heather and Karin for leading NESPA’s PSP Committee, and helping NESPA members get these stipends!
Employees who get certificates issues by the Natl Assn of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP) for education, leadership, community service, etc. receive from $582 to $1,070 per year. Levels II and III employees (nurses, head start, and similar jobs) get $983 for a BA or BS degree, and an additional $983 for an ESA Certificate, and an additional $983 for a Masters Degree.
Employees who work UNDER 3.5 hours daily are eligible for HALF the PSP stipend.
Want to find out more? Or to continue to get your certificates? Come to the special NESPA informational meeting on PSP Stipends: Wednesday, October 21, from 4 to 6 PM at the WEA/NESPA office at 18704 Bothell Way NE, in Bothell across the street from the SAS/Anderson Building, just north of Bothell’s Main Street. Janice Schumann and Emily (both from NAEOP) will be there to answer questions.
Questions? Keep in mind that the process of getting the certificates is a bit complex, and can’t be described over the phone. That’s why we have these meetings. General questions can be addressed to Heather Flatman (hflatman@nsd.org) or Karin Shipman (kshipman@nsd.org).
THANK YOU to Heather and Karin for leading NESPA’s PSP Committee, and helping NESPA members get these stipends!
Working with violent students? Some good news...
· If you work in a CLC that has students with behavior disorders (even if you are not specifically assigned to such a student), or if you are in a position that requires interaction with students with behavioral disorders, the District MUST provide you with “Right Response” or similar training. In fact, if you are newly assigned to such a position, you are required to get this training. This training is at your regular rate of pay---not from professional hours.
If you’ve already had the training, the recertification classes will be offered January through April. And there will be a recertification class on the March 22 NESPA Day.
For information on these classes, contact Lynn Brewer at lbrewer@nsd.org or at ext. 7738. If you believe your need this training, and are denied, please contact NESPA staffperson Kraig Peck at kpeck@washingtonea.org.
· As a result of an agreement between NSEA (teachers) and administration, teachers will be writing a District Safety Procedure Handbook addressing common problems.
· Later this year, each school will be preparing a crisis response plan that outlines procedures to be followed when a student engages in dangerous behavior.
· Severe and Profound students cannot be sent to the nurse’s office without another adult staying there with them.
· A new eSIS (computerized student records) system is to be piloted that will include DOCUMENTATIONOF ALL INCIDENTS, so that the next staff who work with a student will have complete information, and can avoid injury .
If you’ve already had the training, the recertification classes will be offered January through April. And there will be a recertification class on the March 22 NESPA Day.
For information on these classes, contact Lynn Brewer at lbrewer@nsd.org or at ext. 7738. If you believe your need this training, and are denied, please contact NESPA staffperson Kraig Peck at kpeck@washingtonea.org.
· As a result of an agreement between NSEA (teachers) and administration, teachers will be writing a District Safety Procedure Handbook addressing common problems.
· Later this year, each school will be preparing a crisis response plan that outlines procedures to be followed when a student engages in dangerous behavior.
· Severe and Profound students cannot be sent to the nurse’s office without another adult staying there with them.
· A new eSIS (computerized student records) system is to be piloted that will include DOCUMENTATIONOF ALL INCIDENTS, so that the next staff who work with a student will have complete information, and can avoid injury .
How can we use our 40-55 Professional Hours?
Our professional hours are for, “…Activities such as MDT meetings, IEP meetings, grade level meetings, staff meetings, field trips/community access trips, open house functions, duties at other after school events, building site-development meetings, preparation of assigned state/federal reports, adaptation of instructional materials for specific student needs, collaborative preparation with certificated employees, building based activities or projects for implementation of action Plans, and professional development activities.” These are “optional” hours. (From Article 11.20 on page 7 of the Agreement) Professional hours are to be turned in on a monthly basis, on your time sheet, with a brief description of the activity.
2008-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement
Do I need PRE-approval from my Principal or supervisor? No. Keep in mind, though, that the Principal will need to sign off on your time sheet to approve payment, thus approving the use when you do your time sheet. If your activities are not clearly one of those listed above---or if they have legitimate questions about whether you performed these activities---they may not want to sign off on your time sheet. Then we’d have a problem that we’d need to solve. To avoid such a dispute, NESPA suggests that you get pre-approval for any activities that you are unsure are covered, or are unusual. If you intend to use a big block of these hours for something, and know in advance, it’s probably best to discuss this with your Principal.
Can I be directed to use the hours for staff meetings or specific events? No, you cannot be directed to use these hours in any particular way. They are optional hours. You cannot be told how to use them. The uses for which you can choose to use them are described above. You cannot be scheduled for staff meetings, for example, and told you must come and use professional hours. However, we encourage you to collaborate with others at your school on the best ways to use hours that you are not using for your own work-related professional development. They are a resource to benefit our schools and students.
Can I use the “pool” of professional hours? In addition to our own professional hours, there is a pool of 1,650 hours (last year was 650 hours) for all 500 NESPA members to access when we have used up our own allotment. The can be used for the same purposes. Please keep in mind that these pool hours are not a way to increase our limited earnings, but are to be used considerately when our own professional hours run out. Many nurses, for example, use up their own allotment at IEP and MDT meetings before and after school, and may need access to these hours. NESPA leaders and Human Resources review the use of these hours every month, to ensure that no one is “hogging” them---that the NESPA membership as a whole is benefitting from them. See Article 11.30 on page 8.
To use the pool hours (only after your own hours have run out), put “pool hours” on your time sheet with a brief description of the activity. These must be turned in on a monthly basis. (NESPA members who are elected to their school’s Leadership Team may use pool hours for Leadership Team meetings held on non-work time---not their own allocation.)
2008-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement
Do I need PRE-approval from my Principal or supervisor? No. Keep in mind, though, that the Principal will need to sign off on your time sheet to approve payment, thus approving the use when you do your time sheet. If your activities are not clearly one of those listed above---or if they have legitimate questions about whether you performed these activities---they may not want to sign off on your time sheet. Then we’d have a problem that we’d need to solve. To avoid such a dispute, NESPA suggests that you get pre-approval for any activities that you are unsure are covered, or are unusual. If you intend to use a big block of these hours for something, and know in advance, it’s probably best to discuss this with your Principal.
Can I be directed to use the hours for staff meetings or specific events? No, you cannot be directed to use these hours in any particular way. They are optional hours. You cannot be told how to use them. The uses for which you can choose to use them are described above. You cannot be scheduled for staff meetings, for example, and told you must come and use professional hours. However, we encourage you to collaborate with others at your school on the best ways to use hours that you are not using for your own work-related professional development. They are a resource to benefit our schools and students.
Can I use the “pool” of professional hours? In addition to our own professional hours, there is a pool of 1,650 hours (last year was 650 hours) for all 500 NESPA members to access when we have used up our own allotment. The can be used for the same purposes. Please keep in mind that these pool hours are not a way to increase our limited earnings, but are to be used considerately when our own professional hours run out. Many nurses, for example, use up their own allotment at IEP and MDT meetings before and after school, and may need access to these hours. NESPA leaders and Human Resources review the use of these hours every month, to ensure that no one is “hogging” them---that the NESPA membership as a whole is benefitting from them. See Article 11.30 on page 8.
To use the pool hours (only after your own hours have run out), put “pool hours” on your time sheet with a brief description of the activity. These must be turned in on a monthly basis. (NESPA members who are elected to their school’s Leadership Team may use pool hours for Leadership Team meetings held on non-work time---not their own allocation.)
Is Friday, October 9, a work day?
Friday, October 9 is a non-student work day. It is one of the 5 non-student work days we call “Accountable Days”. They are days for which we are accountable for working, but we may instead---with agreement by our Principal—work on other days/times instead.
This year, the 5 “Accountable Days” are October 9, November 10, January 29, March 22 (NESPA Day), and May 28. Be sure to put Monday, March 22 on your calendar for NESPA Day’s professional development classes, organized by NESPA.
The contract (Memorandum of Understanding on Length of Work Year and Scheduling of Non-Student Days on page 55) states, “Variations may be allowed in this schedule based on individual employee or building needs, as long as an equivalent amount of time is worked.” NESPA members cannot be required to work on any other days, but you can agree to do so if you wish.
This year, the 5 “Accountable Days” are October 9, November 10, January 29, March 22 (NESPA Day), and May 28. Be sure to put Monday, March 22 on your calendar for NESPA Day’s professional development classes, organized by NESPA.
The contract (Memorandum of Understanding on Length of Work Year and Scheduling of Non-Student Days on page 55) states, “Variations may be allowed in this schedule based on individual employee or building needs, as long as an equivalent amount of time is worked.” NESPA members cannot be required to work on any other days, but you can agree to do so if you wish.
Challenges, Collaboration and Cooperation
As the 2009 - 2010 school year begins, Northshore School District has been hit with budget cuts and layoffs. No one likes this situation. So....just how are we going to cope with all of this?
First, we have to realize that each employee is one person. Cloning is not a possibility, yet. We must continue to work to the best of our ability. We need to keep in mind "working to the contract". This is always a difficult balance.
Cooperation is a big part of this equation. This includes working with other employees, administrators, students, parents and community members. Your first reaction may be "this will never work". With a little patience and a "give it a try" approach, things can improve and success can happen.
Be sure to access resources though the NESPA union. If a situation is a problem for you, it's likely someone else is having the same struggles. A union member can help support you in a meeting with a colleague or administrator. There is mediation available through the union. Kraig Peck, the union rep, is available for information and support.
The NESPA union is here to work for its members. Support is not limited to contract negotiations.
Get involved with NESPA. The more ideas and energy we gather, the more support and strength we create.
Marge Mitchell
NESPA Co-President
First, we have to realize that each employee is one person. Cloning is not a possibility, yet. We must continue to work to the best of our ability. We need to keep in mind "working to the contract". This is always a difficult balance.
Cooperation is a big part of this equation. This includes working with other employees, administrators, students, parents and community members. Your first reaction may be "this will never work". With a little patience and a "give it a try" approach, things can improve and success can happen.
Be sure to access resources though the NESPA union. If a situation is a problem for you, it's likely someone else is having the same struggles. A union member can help support you in a meeting with a colleague or administrator. There is mediation available through the union. Kraig Peck, the union rep, is available for information and support.
The NESPA union is here to work for its members. Support is not limited to contract negotiations.
Get involved with NESPA. The more ideas and energy we gather, the more support and strength we create.
Marge Mitchell
NESPA Co-President
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Swine Flu Prevention
The swine flu vaccine is not yet ready for mass distribution. It is likely to be out in mid-October. The recommendation is that if you are in one of the risk groups, you should get the vaccine when it becomes available. It requires two doses. You should also get the vaccine for the seasonal flu. According to the CDC, “Groups at higher risk for influenza related complications are similar to those at higher risk for seasonal influenza complications and include: children younger than 5 years old; adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (for example, asthma, diabetes, lung disease, people with weakened immune systems, etc.) and people younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy. For children younger than 5 years of age, note that the risk for severe complications from seasonal influenza is highest among children younger than 2 years old.”
Swine flu precautions:
• Wash your hands with either soap and water or alcohol gel. Regular washing with soap and water is always best, but use the gel if you don’t have access to soap and water. (We have asked the District about providing alcohol gel in all classrooms. They are in the process of getting an epidemiological opinion on whether this is expected to make a difference worth the substantial cost.)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Stop the practice of shaking hands as a greeting.
• Stay home when you are sick. You’ve heard of absenteeism. “Presenteeism” is the new term used to describe when workers come to work ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or do it in the crook of your arm, then wash your hands. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Get your immune system into good shape to help fight any illness. A person's overall health impacts their body's immune system and can affect their ability to fight off, or recover from, an infectious disease.
• In case of an emergency, including a flu pandemic, keep a supply of food, water and medical supplies on hand.
· Teach your students not to share drinks, food, and utensils. To sneeze and cough in the crook of their arm. And to avoid touching their faces.
· OSHA is recommending employers encourage school staffs to practice social distancing by maintaining a separation of at least six feet from other staff, students and the public. This will obviously be difficult in a classroom situation, but see what you can do.
For more information on how to maintain a healthy classroom visit the CDC’s site.
Sick Kids in your classroom? Not sure?
· Send them to your School Nurse. If they have flu symptoms, they will be sent home. They should be kept home for 24 hours after the symptoms end, without fever-reducing meds.
· Schools are trying to set up separate waiting areas, for sick kids to wait for parental pick up. Masks for them are also available.
Are YOU sick?
· Tell your School Nurse your symptoms, so she can track what is happening at your school, re flu, virus, etc this winter.
Visit our website: nespablog.blogspot.com
Northshore Educational Support Professionals Association 425-486-7101 ext 103
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Improved Personal Leave!
We are delighted to report on an improvement to our Personal Leave. Please read this complete email, for how to ACCESS this improved personal leave.
In addition, the blanket restriction on using personal leave adjacent to a break or holiday weekend have been removed. Now, up to 15 NESPA members—the first 15 requests--may use personal leave on a day adjacent to a holiday or vacation break. (A similar limitation, though higher, is in the NSEA Agreement. We all want to ensure that there is adequate staffing in our schools, and sufficient substitutes to cover absences. The Human Resources Dept. is working on ways to implement the 15 person limit; you do NOT need to contact HR or the sub office about whether you qualify under this limit. If you are not one of the first 15 on such a day, you’ll be informed of that.)
Friday, August 14, 2009
BALLOTS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY TUESDAY.
This Tuesday, August 18 is the last day to vote in the Primary. There are at least 2 key races whose outcome will impact Northshore educators and our community.
For NORTHSHORE SCHOOL BOARD, all 3 educator groups—NSEA (teachers), NESPA, and NEOPA (office staff)---recommend JULIA LACEY. She will bring a much-needed fresh perspective to our School Board. Info here http://northshoreea.blogspot.com/2009/06/nsd-school-board-primary-lacey.html and here http://www.julialacey4nsd.com/ . Please tell your family and friends, as they’d probably want to know who Northshore educators support.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Benefits
Open enrollment started yesterday, August 10, and continues through September 10. Benefit changes will be effective on October 1. If you are interested in enrolling in the Section 125 plan, a representative from American Fidelity will be available in the Administration Center from 9-3 during open enrollment dates.
We are encouraged to attend the Benefit Q&A on September 1 from 2:30-5:30 at the Administration Center, Ricketts Board Room. There will be someone there to answer all your questions and assist with filling out forms.
We are encouraged to attend the Benefit Q&A on September 1 from 2:30-5:30 at the Administration Center, Ricketts Board Room. There will be someone there to answer all your questions and assist with filling out forms.
Monday, August 10, 2009
2009-2010 NESPA board
Your 2009-2010 NESPA board is already hard at work planning for a great new school year. They are:
Co-Presidents: Deb Murphy (nurse, Woodin)
Marge Mitchell (CSS, Bothell)
Vice President: Bharati Khandekar (special ed para, Bothell)
Treasurer: Suzanne Ducotey (special ed para, Woodmoor)
Secretary: Karen Kohler (STS, Hollywood Hill)
Nurse Rep: Rosemarie Dunlop (Frank Love)
Special Ed Rep: Judy Ellis (SAS)
Special Ed Rep: Donna Smith, (NJH)
Special Ed Rep: Lucy Antonio (Kokanee)
Special Ed Rep: Liz Gordon (Woodmoor)
School Tech Rep: Karen Kohler (STS, Hollywood Hill)
Title/LAP Rep: Joanne Allen (LAP, CPJH)
Ell Rep Elem: Janice Seino (ELL tutor, Lockwood)
ELL Rep Secon: Suzanne Fujinari (ELL tutor, NJH)
Jeani Schwenk (Interpreter, WM)
Co-Presidents: Deb Murphy (nurse, Woodin)
Marge Mitchell (CSS, Bothell)
Vice President: Bharati Khandekar (special ed para, Bothell)
Treasurer: Suzanne Ducotey (special ed para, Woodmoor)
Secretary: Karen Kohler (STS, Hollywood Hill)
Nurse Rep: Rosemarie Dunlop (Frank Love)
Special Ed Rep: Judy Ellis (SAS)
Special Ed Rep: Donna Smith, (NJH)
Special Ed Rep: Lucy Antonio (Kokanee)
Special Ed Rep: Liz Gordon (Woodmoor)
School Tech Rep: Karen Kohler (STS, Hollywood Hill)
Title/LAP Rep: Joanne Allen (LAP, CPJH)
Ell Rep Elem: Janice Seino (ELL tutor, Lockwood)
ELL Rep Secon: Suzanne Fujinari (ELL tutor, NJH)
Jeani Schwenk (Interpreter, WM)
Elect your School Board!
THE SCHOOL BOARD PRIMARY ELECTION IS HAPPENING NOW THROUGH AUGUST 18! ELECT YOUR SCHOOL BOARD!
We've all received a ballot in the mail for Northshore's School Board elections. The School Board governs the District, makes budget decisions, and is the group that decides what the District will agree to when we negotiate to improve the quality of Northshore's education and to improve our work lives.
We have until Tuesday, August 18 to return our ballot.
NESPA, along with NSEA and NEOPA, is recommending support for JULIA LACEY, who is running against 3 others. NESPA leaders, along with NSEA and NEOPA leaders, interviewed candidates, reviewed questionnaires, and reviewed the incumbent's record. They worked hard to determine who would best serve Northshore and decided that JULIA LACEY is the best candidate for Position #1. She is the only candidate we are recommending in the Primary.
Below is a statement from Julia and a link to her website: http://www.julialacey4nsd.com/. Please ask your family and friends to vote for Julia Lacey!
NSEA, NESPA, NEOPA School Board Candidate Questionnaires
Click on the name of the candidate below to see how they responded to our questionnaire:
District 1
Sue Buske
Arthur Hu
Julia Lacey - recommended by NSEA, NESPA, NEOPA)
Jeff Warrick
District 2
Todd Banks
Cathy Swanson
Click here to see all candidate responses to the NSEA/NESPA/NEOPA questionnaire. Note: Sandy Hayes is running unopposed for District No. 4. NSEA/NESPA/NEOPA leaders did not ask Ms. Hayes to complete a questionnaire, nor was she interviewed. NSEA/NESPA/NEOPA will meet with Ms. Hayes this fall.
Message from School Board Candidate, Julia Lacey -
Northshore Teachers, Staff, and Nurses:
My name is Julia Lacey. I am emailing to tell you that I am running for a director position on the Northshore School Board and to ask for your support. I came to my decision to run because of my experience as a teacher and deep commitment to this community. I know I have a lot to contribute and would be a strong school board member.
I am very appreciative of the endorsements that I have already received from the employee professional associations: NSEA, NEOPA and NESPA and hope to continue fostering a strong, open relationship with them once elected.
How to support my campaign:
Vote for me, twice! Once you receive your primary ballot, those of you that live in the district, please vote for me. Historically, few people vote in primaries so every vote is very important. Assuming I win the primary, I'll need you to do it again for the November General Election.
Spread the word. Tell everyone you know about the Northshore School Board election, the August primary, and ask them to vote for me. Forward this email to anyone you know that lives in Northshore and who values education.
Get Involved. There will be opportunities to help with phone-calling, door-belling, and putting up signs. Any support is always appreciated.
Please go to my website to read more about why I am running, my experience, and what I would bring to the board at www.julialacey4nsd.com.
Thank you for your support,
Julia Lacey
Candidate for Northshore School Board, District #1
We've all received a ballot in the mail for Northshore's School Board elections. The School Board governs the District, makes budget decisions, and is the group that decides what the District will agree to when we negotiate to improve the quality of Northshore's education and to improve our work lives.
We have until Tuesday, August 18 to return our ballot.
NESPA, along with NSEA and NEOPA, is recommending support for JULIA LACEY, who is running against 3 others. NESPA leaders, along with NSEA and NEOPA leaders, interviewed candidates, reviewed questionnaires, and reviewed the incumbent's record. They worked hard to determine who would best serve Northshore and decided that JULIA LACEY is the best candidate for Position #1. She is the only candidate we are recommending in the Primary.
Below is a statement from Julia and a link to her website: http://www.julialacey4nsd.com/. Please ask your family and friends to vote for Julia Lacey!
NSEA, NESPA, NEOPA School Board Candidate Questionnaires
Click on the name of the candidate below to see how they responded to our questionnaire:
District 1
Sue Buske
Arthur Hu
Julia Lacey - recommended by NSEA, NESPA, NEOPA)
Jeff Warrick
District 2
Todd Banks
Cathy Swanson
Click here to see all candidate responses to the NSEA/NESPA/NEOPA questionnaire. Note: Sandy Hayes is running unopposed for District No. 4. NSEA/NESPA/NEOPA leaders did not ask Ms. Hayes to complete a questionnaire, nor was she interviewed. NSEA/NESPA/NEOPA will meet with Ms. Hayes this fall.
Message from School Board Candidate, Julia Lacey -
Northshore Teachers, Staff, and Nurses:
My name is Julia Lacey. I am emailing to tell you that I am running for a director position on the Northshore School Board and to ask for your support. I came to my decision to run because of my experience as a teacher and deep commitment to this community. I know I have a lot to contribute and would be a strong school board member.
I am very appreciative of the endorsements that I have already received from the employee professional associations: NSEA, NEOPA and NESPA and hope to continue fostering a strong, open relationship with them once elected.
How to support my campaign:
Vote for me, twice! Once you receive your primary ballot, those of you that live in the district, please vote for me. Historically, few people vote in primaries so every vote is very important. Assuming I win the primary, I'll need you to do it again for the November General Election.
Spread the word. Tell everyone you know about the Northshore School Board election, the August primary, and ask them to vote for me. Forward this email to anyone you know that lives in Northshore and who values education.
Get Involved. There will be opportunities to help with phone-calling, door-belling, and putting up signs. Any support is always appreciated.
Please go to my website to read more about why I am running, my experience, and what I would bring to the board at www.julialacey4nsd.com.
Thank you for your support,
Julia Lacey
Candidate for Northshore School Board, District #1
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
RA was last month in Spokane - here are Liz Gordon's thoughts -
"My first RA. Big, lots of people and things to see. The people were very friendly and helpful. I arrived Thursday evening, exhausted from a cold and wanted to sleep. I had been told to register right away. I dragged myself across the hotel entryway, to the convention center. What a difference! People greeting me, offers of help, smiles and nods. I managed to get my delegate badge and stumbled off to bed. My fellow ESP delegates, Deb Murphy (also my roomie), Donna Smith and Bharati Khandekar were so incredible and friendly. The Assembly was a real eye opener. Very correct about parliamentary procedure but all items were discussed openly and then voted on. I was excited about some of the issues and really listened to the speakers. I had polled most of Woodmoor's paras on the issues. I wanted to really represent their opinions. It was valuable and I certainly learned a lot. It would be great to go back next year."
"My first RA. Big, lots of people and things to see. The people were very friendly and helpful. I arrived Thursday evening, exhausted from a cold and wanted to sleep. I had been told to register right away. I dragged myself across the hotel entryway, to the convention center. What a difference! People greeting me, offers of help, smiles and nods. I managed to get my delegate badge and stumbled off to bed. My fellow ESP delegates, Deb Murphy (also my roomie), Donna Smith and Bharati Khandekar were so incredible and friendly. The Assembly was a real eye opener. Very correct about parliamentary procedure but all items were discussed openly and then voted on. I was excited about some of the issues and really listened to the speakers. I had polled most of Woodmoor's paras on the issues. I wanted to really represent their opinions. It was valuable and I certainly learned a lot. It would be great to go back next year."
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Good News!
As you may recall, in our negotiations with the administration last year and during the summer, we sought to enable NESPA members to elect a representative to their schools' Leadership Teams. At the time, the administration would not agree to this addition to our Collective Bargaining Agreement. They argued that the Leadership Teams are a creation of the NSEA-District Collective Bargaining Agreement, and they agreed to meet with NESPA, NSEA, and NEOPA together to discuss what to do.
As a result of these discussions, NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA and the District administration have agreed to a process by which the certificated staff (NSEA members) at each school can choose to vote to modify their contract to permit the NESPA and NEOPA members to elect one joint representative to the school's Leadership Team.
Essentially, certificated staff (NSEA members) would need to vote by a 90% margin (or 80% if accommodations are made to those who don't agree) to waive Article 17.4 of their contract. Article 17.4 defines who is on each Leadership Team. Currently, classified staff are not included on the Leadership Team unless the certificated staff have submitted a waiver. (Woodinville High School and Woodmoor Elementary are schools that have long had a representative of the NESPA staff on their Leadership Teams.)
If NSEA members wish to vote on this waiver, a vote is conducted by the NSEA Building Reps and the Principal. (There is no requirement that this be considered and voted on, however, NSEA members would need to initiate this. Generally, waiver requests are initiated by the NSEA Building Reps or the school's Leadership Team, though any NSEA member can initiate a waiver.) Only NSEA members vote on the issue of waiving a portion of the NSEA contract. The NSEA staff is also free to modify this waiver request, that is, to customize it. However, if it is changed, it would need approval by NSEA and the administration.
If the NSEA staff vote for this waiver by the margins specified above, "...the NESPA Building Communicator and the NEOPA Building Representative shall jointly conduct a fair election process, including open nominations and secret balloting by NESPA and NEOPA bargaining unit members." Those are the only conditions. Together with the NEOPA Building Rep., you'd decide how to conduct this fair election for the school's Leadership Team, to begin next year. (You are free to consult with us on ideas for how to do this, if you wish. There is not "one right way". By "open nominations", we mean any process that enables any NESPA or NEOPA member to be nominated or self-appointed---not a process of self-selection or appointment by the Principal to the Leadership Team.)
The role of the Leadership Team (technically called the Site Decision Making Leadership Team) is important. They make many important decisions for the school. They are a decision-making team, not an input or advisory team. If your certificated staff agree to this waiver of Article 17.4 of their contract, and you are going to conduct an election for a NESPA/NEOPA representative, be sure that the NESPA members get a copy of the full Article 17, so they understand what the Leadership Team does.
If you think it's a good idea for NESPA and NEOPA members to have representation on your school's Leadership Team, talk with the NSEA Building Reps at your school, or your school's Leadership Team---or other NSEA members---to encourage them to proceed with this. (If you don't know who the NSEA Building Reps are, just ask a teacher.)
Keep in mind that there is nothing you have to do unless the NSEA staff vote for this waiver. However, you are free to communicate your wishes to others, and to encourage your colleagues who are NSEA members to proceed with this.
At this time, we are unsure if there is a June 8 deadline for all of this. We should be able to clarify this later this week, and Kraig will email us.
As you may recall, in our negotiations with the administration last year and during the summer, we sought to enable NESPA members to elect a representative to their schools' Leadership Teams. At the time, the administration would not agree to this addition to our Collective Bargaining Agreement. They argued that the Leadership Teams are a creation of the NSEA-District Collective Bargaining Agreement, and they agreed to meet with NESPA, NSEA, and NEOPA together to discuss what to do.
As a result of these discussions, NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA and the District administration have agreed to a process by which the certificated staff (NSEA members) at each school can choose to vote to modify their contract to permit the NESPA and NEOPA members to elect one joint representative to the school's Leadership Team.
Essentially, certificated staff (NSEA members) would need to vote by a 90% margin (or 80% if accommodations are made to those who don't agree) to waive Article 17.4 of their contract. Article 17.4 defines who is on each Leadership Team. Currently, classified staff are not included on the Leadership Team unless the certificated staff have submitted a waiver. (Woodinville High School and Woodmoor Elementary are schools that have long had a representative of the NESPA staff on their Leadership Teams.)
If NSEA members wish to vote on this waiver, a vote is conducted by the NSEA Building Reps and the Principal. (There is no requirement that this be considered and voted on, however, NSEA members would need to initiate this. Generally, waiver requests are initiated by the NSEA Building Reps or the school's Leadership Team, though any NSEA member can initiate a waiver.) Only NSEA members vote on the issue of waiving a portion of the NSEA contract. The NSEA staff is also free to modify this waiver request, that is, to customize it. However, if it is changed, it would need approval by NSEA and the administration.
If the NSEA staff vote for this waiver by the margins specified above, "...the NESPA Building Communicator and the NEOPA Building Representative shall jointly conduct a fair election process, including open nominations and secret balloting by NESPA and NEOPA bargaining unit members." Those are the only conditions. Together with the NEOPA Building Rep., you'd decide how to conduct this fair election for the school's Leadership Team, to begin next year. (You are free to consult with us on ideas for how to do this, if you wish. There is not "one right way". By "open nominations", we mean any process that enables any NESPA or NEOPA member to be nominated or self-appointed---not a process of self-selection or appointment by the Principal to the Leadership Team.)
The role of the Leadership Team (technically called the Site Decision Making Leadership Team) is important. They make many important decisions for the school. They are a decision-making team, not an input or advisory team. If your certificated staff agree to this waiver of Article 17.4 of their contract, and you are going to conduct an election for a NESPA/NEOPA representative, be sure that the NESPA members get a copy of the full Article 17, so they understand what the Leadership Team does.
If you think it's a good idea for NESPA and NEOPA members to have representation on your school's Leadership Team, talk with the NSEA Building Reps at your school, or your school's Leadership Team---or other NSEA members---to encourage them to proceed with this. (If you don't know who the NSEA Building Reps are, just ask a teacher.)
Keep in mind that there is nothing you have to do unless the NSEA staff vote for this waiver. However, you are free to communicate your wishes to others, and to encourage your colleagues who are NSEA members to proceed with this.
At this time, we are unsure if there is a June 8 deadline for all of this. We should be able to clarify this later this week, and Kraig will email us.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Are school budget cuts and layoffs coming?
By Kraig Peck, WEA Uniserve staff person for NESPA and NSEA
Here's what we know. And here's what you can do to make the best of a bad situation.
STATE INCOME IS WAAAAAY DOWN.
Because of the decline in spending and real estate sales, State tax income is way down. That's what's behind the $8 billion (which may become as large as $9 billion) State budget shortfall. That's out of a total general fund (operations) budget of about $36 billion. It's a huge loss of revenue.
Washington, like most states, is being hit hard. But because of Washington's major reliance on the sales tax (and another tax similar to the sales tax - the Business and Occupations tax - which is a tax on the gross sales of businesses), Washington is hit harder.
We are one of six states without an income tax (Florida, Texas, Nevada, Tennessee, and South Dakota). Washington's sales tax revenue is very unstable, and declines precipitously in hard times - when the funds are most needed. (Also, our single reliance on a high sales tax means that average and low income people pay taxes of a much higher proportion of our income, compared to high income families).
Our State Constitution makes education the "paramount duty of the State". Yet we are 45th in the nation in per pupil expenditures! Though the State cannot cut what the Legislature inadequately defines as "basic education", they can cut plenty of education funding that is not defined as such - for example, Initiative 728 class size funding, our COLA's, our health care benefits, etc.
We need our Legislators to put a "revenue package" - a tax package - on the ballot for voter approval. Without additional revenues, we will be facing huge cuts.
* Please contact your legislators (again - if you already have) and the Governor. Tell them, "NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN EDUCATION - NOT CUT IT." It's easy. Go to www.ourvoicewashingtonea.org or call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Either one will tell you who your Legislators are.
* When you are asked in March to sign a form, contributing $2.25 per month to WEA-Political Action Committee, it's a good investment. It's how we collectively provide support to candidates - Democratic and Republican - who support decent school funding. All of us must become advocates - for each other and for our students.
OBAMA'S STIMULUS LEGISLATION WILL HELP.
The increase of major federal education programs for Washington will be $1.72 billion - over two years. Here's how it breaks down:
The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund will be $1 billion for two years. (Some of this can go to programs other than K-12 funding.) In addition, Title I will generate $133 million and IDEA (special education) will generate $219 million over two years. School improvement grants will grow by $44.5 million.
The question now is how these funds will be distributed. In order to receive these funds, states will have to meet certain standards as will school districts. The Supt. of Public Instruction is working on this now.
These funds will save the jobs of thousands of educators and services to students, but considering that K-12 education is 40% of the State budget, it is not enough to make up for the revenue losses described above.
NSD'S BUDGET PRIORITIES WILL BE DECIDED SOON.
The School Board is seeking public input into budget priorities in case cuts are necessary. We have been told that they will ask you to prioritize about 40 specific programs/budget line items. Your input might make a difference in the outcome.
* Tuesday, March 3, Woodinville High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
Tuesday, March 10, Bothell High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
Tuesday, March 17, Inglemoor High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
The Board is projecting a loss of another 183 students next year, in addition to a loss of almost 700 students since 2005-2006. No school district can indefinitely maintain its level of services without reducing costs in the face of substantial enrollment declines. Whether we like it or not, NSD needs to look at school closures, or cuts in educators and loss of services to students will result. The District has been making cuts in administration and facilities support for years.
We are carefully reviewing the budget and monitoring the situation to ensure that no unnecessary cuts are made. Last year, cuts were made to nurses, library assistants, and school office staff, even th0ugh there was no immediate budget need. (Our budget forecast was more accurate than the administration's!) Stay informed and get involved!
IF THERE ARE LAYOFFS, WHEN WILL WE KNOW?
After the Legislative Session ends (end of April is likely), the Board will review the situation. The Board will make its preliminary decisions on staffing levels for classified (including NESPA and NEOPA) and Certificated (NSEA) staff at the Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 PM in the Administration Center. Put it on your calendar.
Under our Collective Bargaining Agreement, before the end of the school year each of us will get a letter informing us of our status for next year. Displacement from one's school (due to enrollment declines, etc.) into another position are described in Article 20.60 of our Agreement. The layoff process is described in Article 29. Take a look at them. And contact your Legislators today (from home)!
By Kraig Peck, WEA Uniserve staff person for NESPA and NSEA
Here's what we know. And here's what you can do to make the best of a bad situation.
STATE INCOME IS WAAAAAY DOWN.
Because of the decline in spending and real estate sales, State tax income is way down. That's what's behind the $8 billion (which may become as large as $9 billion) State budget shortfall. That's out of a total general fund (operations) budget of about $36 billion. It's a huge loss of revenue.
Washington, like most states, is being hit hard. But because of Washington's major reliance on the sales tax (and another tax similar to the sales tax - the Business and Occupations tax - which is a tax on the gross sales of businesses), Washington is hit harder.
We are one of six states without an income tax (Florida, Texas, Nevada, Tennessee, and South Dakota). Washington's sales tax revenue is very unstable, and declines precipitously in hard times - when the funds are most needed. (Also, our single reliance on a high sales tax means that average and low income people pay taxes of a much higher proportion of our income, compared to high income families).
Our State Constitution makes education the "paramount duty of the State". Yet we are 45th in the nation in per pupil expenditures! Though the State cannot cut what the Legislature inadequately defines as "basic education", they can cut plenty of education funding that is not defined as such - for example, Initiative 728 class size funding, our COLA's, our health care benefits, etc.
We need our Legislators to put a "revenue package" - a tax package - on the ballot for voter approval. Without additional revenues, we will be facing huge cuts.
* Please contact your legislators (again - if you already have) and the Governor. Tell them, "NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN EDUCATION - NOT CUT IT." It's easy. Go to www.ourvoicewashingtonea.org or call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Either one will tell you who your Legislators are.
* When you are asked in March to sign a form, contributing $2.25 per month to WEA-Political Action Committee, it's a good investment. It's how we collectively provide support to candidates - Democratic and Republican - who support decent school funding. All of us must become advocates - for each other and for our students.
OBAMA'S STIMULUS LEGISLATION WILL HELP.
The increase of major federal education programs for Washington will be $1.72 billion - over two years. Here's how it breaks down:
The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund will be $1 billion for two years. (Some of this can go to programs other than K-12 funding.) In addition, Title I will generate $133 million and IDEA (special education) will generate $219 million over two years. School improvement grants will grow by $44.5 million.
The question now is how these funds will be distributed. In order to receive these funds, states will have to meet certain standards as will school districts. The Supt. of Public Instruction is working on this now.
These funds will save the jobs of thousands of educators and services to students, but considering that K-12 education is 40% of the State budget, it is not enough to make up for the revenue losses described above.
NSD'S BUDGET PRIORITIES WILL BE DECIDED SOON.
The School Board is seeking public input into budget priorities in case cuts are necessary. We have been told that they will ask you to prioritize about 40 specific programs/budget line items. Your input might make a difference in the outcome.
* Tuesday, March 3, Woodinville High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
Tuesday, March 10, Bothell High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
Tuesday, March 17, Inglemoor High School 7-9 PM Cafeteria
The Board is projecting a loss of another 183 students next year, in addition to a loss of almost 700 students since 2005-2006. No school district can indefinitely maintain its level of services without reducing costs in the face of substantial enrollment declines. Whether we like it or not, NSD needs to look at school closures, or cuts in educators and loss of services to students will result. The District has been making cuts in administration and facilities support for years.
We are carefully reviewing the budget and monitoring the situation to ensure that no unnecessary cuts are made. Last year, cuts were made to nurses, library assistants, and school office staff, even th0ugh there was no immediate budget need. (Our budget forecast was more accurate than the administration's!) Stay informed and get involved!
IF THERE ARE LAYOFFS, WHEN WILL WE KNOW?
After the Legislative Session ends (end of April is likely), the Board will review the situation. The Board will make its preliminary decisions on staffing levels for classified (including NESPA and NEOPA) and Certificated (NSEA) staff at the Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 PM in the Administration Center. Put it on your calendar.
Under our Collective Bargaining Agreement, before the end of the school year each of us will get a letter informing us of our status for next year. Displacement from one's school (due to enrollment declines, etc.) into another position are described in Article 20.60 of our Agreement. The layoff process is described in Article 29. Take a look at them. And contact your Legislators today (from home)!
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Call to Action
As you know, Washington ranks 45th in the nation in per-pupil spending and has the 46th largest class sizes in the country.
Our state continues to fall behind other states in providing the necessary funding to educate our students.
To address this issue, the WEA-Cascade UniServ Council has created a film entitled "A Call to Action". This film illustrates how underfunding impacts students, teachers, administrators and programs. Many classified and certified members have been showing the film to parent and community groups to raise awareness about the struggles we face because basic education is not adequately funded.
Please take a few moments (during non-work time) to watch "A Call to Action". It can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
http://www.vimeo.com/2671998
Our state continues to fall behind other states in providing the necessary funding to educate our students.
To address this issue, the WEA-Cascade UniServ Council has created a film entitled "A Call to Action". This film illustrates how underfunding impacts students, teachers, administrators and programs. Many classified and certified members have been showing the film to parent and community groups to raise awareness about the struggles we face because basic education is not adequately funded.
Please take a few moments (during non-work time) to watch "A Call to Action". It can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
http://www.vimeo.com/2671998
Friday, January 16, 2009
Technology Survey
*Do you have convenient access to the right computer to do your job?
*Take a 15 minute survey. Use the link below:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228PU89AG4R
*You can do this from work or from home.
*You have until Monday, February 9th, to do the survey.
Dear NESPA member:
Northshore is in the process of putting together another Technology Levy. We want to insure that the needs of NESPA members are included in this Levy, which is likely to be on the ballot in February next year.
Do you have access to a computer to effectively do your job?
What are your needs? We need this information from you!
NESPA has 2 representatives on the District committee that is putting together the recommendation for what this levy should include. We will do our best to get the levy to include your needs, but we must know what they are.
Please take a 15 minute Zoomerang survey that NESPA's Technology Committee has developed. Use the link above. Once you start the survey, you will need to finish it as it can't be saved, so be sure you have the time to do it.
Members of the NESPA Technology Committee are: Pauline Spyridis (Special Ed Para, Moorlands), Joanne Allen (LAP Tutor/Para, Canyon Park Junior High), Kathy Boyle, School Technology Specialist and TRT, Arrowhead), Susan WAtkins (SLP Para, Woodmoor), Jeani Schwenk (Interpreter, Kokanee), Nancy Celms (School Technology Specialist, Sunrise), and Anne Deutschman (School Technology Specialist, Woodmoor).
If you would like to join us in this important effort, please contact one of us.
Craig Danter, Co-Chair NESPA Technology Committee, Special Ed Para, Bothell High School
Karen Kohler, Co-Chair NESPA Technology Committee, Technology Specialist, Hollywood Hill
*Take a 15 minute survey. Use the link below:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228PU89AG4R
*You can do this from work or from home.
*You have until Monday, February 9th, to do the survey.
Dear NESPA member:
Northshore is in the process of putting together another Technology Levy. We want to insure that the needs of NESPA members are included in this Levy, which is likely to be on the ballot in February next year.
Do you have access to a computer to effectively do your job?
What are your needs? We need this information from you!
NESPA has 2 representatives on the District committee that is putting together the recommendation for what this levy should include. We will do our best to get the levy to include your needs, but we must know what they are.
Please take a 15 minute Zoomerang survey that NESPA's Technology Committee has developed. Use the link above. Once you start the survey, you will need to finish it as it can't be saved, so be sure you have the time to do it.
Members of the NESPA Technology Committee are: Pauline Spyridis (Special Ed Para, Moorlands), Joanne Allen (LAP Tutor/Para, Canyon Park Junior High), Kathy Boyle, School Technology Specialist and TRT, Arrowhead), Susan WAtkins (SLP Para, Woodmoor), Jeani Schwenk (Interpreter, Kokanee), Nancy Celms (School Technology Specialist, Sunrise), and Anne Deutschman (School Technology Specialist, Woodmoor).
If you would like to join us in this important effort, please contact one of us.
Craig Danter, Co-Chair NESPA Technology Committee, Special Ed Para, Bothell High School
Karen Kohler, Co-Chair NESPA Technology Committee, Technology Specialist, Hollywood Hill
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