180 ATTENDED SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY!

 

·         NESPA MEMBERS SPOKE FROM THEIR HEARTS TO BOARD:  PLEASE RESPECT & VALUE ALL EDUCATORS!

 

·         CONGRATS AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ATTENDED!

 

 

Dear NESPA Colleague,

 

THANK YOU to all who attended last Tuesday's School Board meeting!     It really was AMAZING!    YOU made it AMAZING!     

 

If you were there, please tell your colleagues about this amazing event!   If you weren’t there, here’s some of what you missed:   

 

·         180 of us—including some teachers---filled the room.  

 

·         We stood up in support of NESPA Co-Presdident Deb Murphy’s statement, and raised our bright green signs: “Please RESPECT and VALUE ALL Educators.”

 

 

·         Deb to Board: “ You have the responsibility to re-evaluate Northshore’s employment model for educational support staff.   It is not acceptable to us anymore, and should not be acceptable to you.”  Deb told them about WEA’s efforts statewide to win living wages for Educational Support Professionals.   She read the story of a Special Ed Para who, after years of working in Northshore at Kokanee, is looking for another job because she can no longer afford the low hours and pay.

 

·         Deb provided each Board member, the Supt. and his cabinet, and the administration’s Bargaining Team with the stories you provided.  And  the petitions with 675 signatues!

 

·         NESPA members spoke eloquently and from their hearts: Dawn Schmidt (WHS, SpEd Para), Janice Seino (Lockwood, ELL), Mavis Roe (TJH,SpEd Para) Jeanne Rachner (Crystal Sp Nurse), Kim Leatherman (Cottage Lk SpEd Para), Karen Tarr (Inglemoor SpEd Para), Kathy Halleran (Sunrise SpEd Para), Joanne McDaniel (Maywood LAP/Title Para), and Jan Fitzgerald (Inglemoor, SpEd Para).

 

·         The speakers told their stories.   What their work consists of (“I teach.”); the skills involved (“It took years to learn to do this well.”); why they do it (“I love this work. I was made for it.”) ; and, for some,  the sacrifices it has entailed in supporting their families (“I’m a nurse, and I woke up at 3:30 am for 15 years to deliver newpapers 365 days per year, as my second job.”)

 

We hope that the School Board is beginning to understand what this is about.  And what they can do to help.    We’ll be emailing you some info to your HOME email later this week.   Be sure to check it.  If you don’t get home emails from NESPA, email me, and  we’ll add you to the list.

 

The next negotiating session is Tuesday, May 18—next Tuesday.    There have been no agreements thus far on any of the important issues.

 

CONGRATS and THANK YOU for being there last Tuesday.  For being there for yourself, for your colleagues, for your students, and for your schools.   

 

The next NESPA gathering for EVERY NESPA member  is the MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND VOTE on Wednesday, June 16 @ 4 PM, at BHS Cafeteria/Commons.   Please don’t miss it.  We’ll get a complete update, and either vote on a tentative agreement reached by our Bargaining Team, or vote on what action to take.  Please put this on your calendar!

 

TOGETHER, we are respected and valued!!  Thank you again!!

 

 

Kraig

 

NESPA  NEGOTIATIONS  STARTED FRIDAY!

TOGETHER, We Are RESPECTED

and VALUED Essential School Professionals!

 

Northshore’s 460 Educational Support Professionals—NESPA-- started contract negotiations for a new contract on Friday, April 16.  

Why should you care?   What is this all about?  

Northshore’s employment model for  educational  support relies on low pay; a “20 hour per week ceiling” for almost half of us; no benefits for almost half of us; and a lack of job security for the many of us whose jobs or hours are called “School Year Only”---casual labor.    It’s outdated.   And it’s wrong.

This employment model may have made sense in the 60’s and 70’s when this work might have been a way for moms to pick up a few extra bucks-- when dad was the wage earner, and women had few opportunities.    Today, the majority of us are either the primary providers or provide essential---not only supplemental—income for our families.   One in five of us work a second job.  Half of us have a BA degree or higher, and 90% of us have some college. 

Today, this model is a relic of the past.  It’s no longer acceptable to us.  And it should not be acceptable to you.   We want to work with the administration and School Board to change this employment model to one that fits the times.    

“Our pay is not enough to live on.  It’s not enough to enable our families to make ends meet.   Ninety % of us earn $13.96 up to $17.44 per hour in our 15^th year.   Northshore’s lowest paid custodians start at $1 higher.  Our bus drivers make over $4 more to start.   And school office substitutes start at over $2.50 more.  In Seattle, paraeducators make over $24 per hour by their 9^th year.   Nurses in other districts are paid as teachers, but we get $24 to $29.50 per hour.  It’s not right.”   Marge Mitchell, NESPA’s Co-President, and Northshore’s Truancy Specialist

 

“The ‘20 hour ceiling’ is unfair and needs to end.  We love our jobs and our students.  We’re proud of our work.  I need to work many more hours, and have medical benefits, but like hundreds of us, I’m limited to 20 hours per week forever.   My family is buying our own medical insurance, which is like making another house payment.   We want to be valued, and we deserve it!” Joanne McDaniel, Learning Assistance Program Paraeducator at Maywood Hills, and on the NESPA Bargaining Team

 

“Many of us have little job security.   Our Special Education hours fluctuate.  Those who are One-on-One Paraeducators are expected to be happy about getting terminated when they’re successful at getting the student to be independent.  Many School Assistants have no idea how many hours they’ll have next year---though they know that it’s going to be too few to generate enough income.”   Sharon Maynard, Special Ed Paraeducator at Bear Creek, and on the NESPA Bargaining Team

 

 “We are ALL essential school professionals.   These contract negotiations are an opportunity for everyone in Northshore---NESPA members, teachers, other school employees, the School Board, and the administration—to come together to create a transition to an employment model  that Northshore can be proud of.”    Deb Murphy, NESPA Co-President and Woodin Nurse

                           TOGETHER,

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

·     Please wear a button every day to show your support.  EVERY DAY.

·     Post a sign at the entrance to your work area.

·     Sign our petition.

·     Join us at the School Board Meeting on Tues, May 11, 4-5 PM.

NORTHSHORE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ASSN: NESPA      nespablo

Motion Passed by NSEA

Motion passed by Northshore Education Assn—NSEA-- Rep Council on Monday, April 12 on NESPA’s negotiations:

NSEA members rely on our colleagues in NESPA to provide essential school services.   We are part of a team working together to create the best possible schools for our students.
NESPA begins negotiations with the administration in mid-April.  

NSEA supports the efforts of NESPA to improve their work and compensation.  We encourage our members to stay informed about NESPA’s negotiations with the administration and to provide support for our colleagues.   TOGETHER, we are RESPECTED and VALUED essential school professionals.    

The Cascade Update

The April/May issue of The Cascade Update is hot off the presses. Read about the NEWS Lawsuit - did the state meet the deadline to appeal? Click here to find out.
Also inside - Mock RA details, scholarships available, tax deduction information, classified ads, WEA special education boot camp information, and an article about the Minority Leadership Spring Conference on April 24th.

Together We are Valued and Respected Essential Support Personnel

Below are NESPA's Bargaining Goals, ratified unanimously at yesterday's NESPA Meeting. These goals were generated by NESPA members via the Bargaining Surveys, that a majority of NESPA members returned! And via the "Hopes and Dreams" feedback in the Fall.

NESPA's Bargainng Team reviewed this feedback, and presented draft goals to NESPA's Board. NESPA's Board made some modifications, and presented them at the NESPA Leadership Meeting 2 weeks ago, attended by our Building Communicators, Asst Building Commnicators, Bargaining Suppport Team , Board, and Bargaining Team. They unanimously recommended them to the full membership, which ratified them on NESPA Day.

It will take all of us working TOGETHER to make progress on these goals in the negotiations that will begin in mid-April.

NESPA'S Bargaining Goals

TOGETHER, We Are Respected and Valued Essential School Professionals!

We are Northshore’s Special Education, LAP/Title I, and ELL Paraeducators; School Assistants; Nurses; Technology Specialists; Head Start staff; Interpreters; Campus Supervisors; and more. The 460 of us—NESPA members--- provide a variety of student support, enabling our teachers to maintain a laser-like focus on academic K-12 instruction. We focus on removing the academic, physical, and social impediments to learning, and provide instruction in reading, writing, math, computers, and more.

The majority of us are either the primary providers or provide essential---not only supplemental—income for our families. Half of us have a BA degree or higher, and 90% of us have some college. One in five of us work a 2nd job.

WE ARE PROUD OF OUR WORK, AND ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR:

WE NEED A FAIR PAY INCREASE: Most of us start at $13.96. After we hit $16.54 (in our fifth year) it takes us ten years to get 90c more: $17.44 max in our fifteenth year. Nurses start at $24, and make $29 after 7 years--- far less than school nurses in other districts, who are paid teacher salaries. Northshore’s other employees are paid better. Custodians start at over $1 higher than Paraeducators. Bus drivers start at over $4 higher. Office substitutes with no experience start at over $2.50 higher. Their salaries are well-deserved, and illustrate the inequity of our pay.

A living wage (what it would take for a parent and teen to live on a very low budget in the Northshore area) is about $24.50 per hour, full time. We received no 4.2% COLA this year and no increase is scheduled for next year. We need a fair pay increase.

In addition, Northshore needs a system to determine the pay for each job title in relation to others. And a way to compensate staff for the additional work and stress caused by student overloads—as certificated staff receive.

THE 20 HOUR PER WEEK “CEILING” IS UNFAIR & NEEDS TO END : About half of us work 4 hours or less—up to 20 hours weekly—and for many of us, it’s not by choice. Nor does it have anything to do with the needs of our schools. The central administration has put a 20 hour per week ceiling on about half of us, in order to avoid paying us benefits. Many of us have worked for Northshore for years, but we can’t get more hours---even as other low hour employees are hired at the same school. Our incomes are limited by that, and we get no benefits. This artificial “20 Hour Ceiling” for half of NESPA needs to end. Other Districts don’t do this.

ONLY HALF OF US GET MEDICAL BENEFITS. THIS MUST CHANGE: Northshore’s “20 Hour Ceiling” means that half of us don’t get benefits---even if we’ve worked here for years, and need them. Some of us have NO insurance at all. For many of us, that means we work mainly to buy insurance, either in the individual market or thru our spouses’ employment. Northshore’s custodians, bus drivers, bus mechanics, and grounds crew are ALL guaranteed sufficient hours to receive full benefits, as they rightfully deserve. The few teachers and administrators who work part time do so by choice, with rare exceptions. Few office staff are required to work part time. Don’t the 460 support professionals who work directly with our students deserve the same?

OUR JOB SECURITY IS INADEQUATE: 52 Special Education Paraeducators who serve students as “One-on-Ones” have little job security if their student leaves or no longer requires this support---even if they have worked for years. They have no rights to a recall after termination. 28 School Assistants face possible cuts in hours each year---even if the needs of the school for a crossing guard, lunch/recess supervision, etc remain the same. Each year, many Special Ed Paras face hours that go up and down from 4 to 6.5 hours per day, depending on enrollment---and can lose benefits as well as hours. In a layoff, NESPA members have rights to recall from a layoff for only 1 year, while teachers have recall rights for 3 years.

WE NEED THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO DO OUR WORK WELL: This includes adequate time to serve our students, professional development to improve our skills, and no further cuts to nursing hours. In addition, we need appropriate computers. Many of us are working inefficiently on castoff computers that receive no Tech Dept. support.

Warren G. Magnuson Grant

Greetings,

 

I’ve attached the Warren G. Magnuson grant paperwork for our active ESP members.  Please share with your local ESP members.  There will be a mailing going out to the Local ESP Presidents, but I know you have much more contact with our individual ESP people than just the local presidents.

 

These Magnuson grants are available to three (3) active WEA ESP members and each grant is for $1,000.

 

Thank you, Janna

 

Janna Connor

Washington Education Association