“Do you respect the Special Education students we serve? If you had a child who needed support, how much would you pay them? If you don’t respect us, then at least respect the people we serve, and their needs.”
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Becky Fukuda
“Do you respect the Special Education students we serve? If you had a child who needed support, how much would you pay them? If you don’t respect us, then at least respect the people we serve, and their needs.”
Candyce Nybo
“Like many Paraeduators, I am a college graduate, with 13 years in Northshore. I am a valuable employee and not easy to replace. Please respect and value us; pay us what we are worth.”
IT'S TIME TO RESPECT AND VALUE ALL NORTHSHORE STAFF!
THANK YOU to the hundreds of NESPA members and NSEA members who participated in the School Board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9! We packed the room and provided the School Board with hundreds of reasons to change Nortshore’s outdated and gender-biased compensation model.
We stood with our signs as NESPA Co-President Peggy Sturm told the Board, “You do not treat other employees this way. We are merely seeking to catch up with other employee groups---to be respected and valued as much as other Northshore employees. Until you give your negotiating team the ability to address this crucial fact, these negotiations will not be resolved.”
NESPA members Suzanne Fujinari (ELL, NSJH); Liz Gordon (SpEd, KJH); Becky Fukuda (SpEd, Arrowhead); Joyce Thode (SpEd, SJH); Candace Nybo (SpEd, Maywood); Macy Ratliff (ELL, SJH); and teachers Julie Shirley (WHS); Becky Berger (NSJH); Dave Schneider (Kenmore El); and Diane Hardee (Sheltonview) urged the Board to improve our pay, job security, and hours. Becky Fukuda told the Board, “Everyday, I teach. How would you treat someone who worked with your child everyday?” Others explained the high level of skill needed to do our work, and the physical challenges of working with many Special Ed students, including Joyce Thode who informed them that she has been sent to the emergency room 3 times. THANK YOU to these courageous speakers!
WHAT’s NEXT? Tell the parents of your students about Northshore’s outdated compensation model: inequitable pay, inadequate job security, and the 20- hour ceiling. Ask them to email the School Board (schoolboard@nsd.org) to tell them, “It’s time to respect and value ALL Northshore educators.” They can get plenty of info at our website: nespablog.blogspot.com.
There are currently no negotiation sessions scheduled, but we have not concluded negotiations. NESPA is ready to meet and negotiate with the administration/school board negotiating team at any time. We invite the district to bring forward a proposal that includes a compensation model that reflects the respect and value that is deserved by our members.
A fair settlement is long overdue. NESPA has demonstrated its willingness to make movement toward an agreement, and the administration/school board should likewise do so. We look forward to resuming negotiations and hope the administration and school board will show a commitment to making the process more productive.
As NESPA Co-President Pat Waldrop told the Board Tuesday nite, “The District
has the funds. The questions is, do you have the courage and leadership to transition Northshore to a compensation system that respects and values ALL educators? That is the question. We are still waiting for the answer.” If negotiations do not result in an agreement this winter, negotiations will continue this Spring as NSEA (teachers) begin bargaining as well. NESPA will coordinate closely with NSEA.
Northshore Has Sufficient Funds
NORTHSHORE HAS SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO TRANSITION TO A COMPENSATION MODEL THAT RESPECTS AND VALUES ALL NORTHSHORE STAFF.
Times are hard, and more State cuts are expected. That means that all of us---including the School Board—need to be realistic about what’s possible. The District has limited funds, which is not the same as “no money”. Northshore does have the funds to reach an agreement with its 460 Educational Support Professionals. Northshore educators are aware of the need to balance current and future needs and spending.
The cost of bringing all Educational Support Professionals up to the level of NSD’s lowest paid custodians is about $265,000. The cost of benefits for one person is about $10,000. Thus, the cost of combining hours, and enabling 20 more staff to get benefits next year would be $200,000.
Federal Education Jobs Fund: This month (November), Northshore will receive $4 million from the Federal Education Jobs Fund, from legislation passed in August. Washington educators relentlessly emailed Congress to win these funds—which have basically fallen in the lap of the District. According to the Dept. of Education, they are for “compensation and benefits and other expenses such as support services” (U.S. Dept of Education guidance, page 6). And they must be spent by the end of the 2011-12 school year. Yet, the School Board is considering banking the entire amount, to offset potential State cuts. But there are other funds available to offset such cuts. A small portion of this $4 million would enable us to transition to a fair compensation model.
Regular Levy: The February Levy, for which educators made thousands of phone calls, raises $2.5 million more next year. And an additional $1.75 million on top of that the following year. And an additional increase of $1.5 million on top of that, the following year. This is not a huge sum, but neither is it “no money.”
Supplemental Levy: The August Supplemental Levy can be used to offset anticipated State cuts. It will raise $4.5 million in calendar year 2011, and about $2.5 million in each of the following 3 years. Note that the total amount of “Non-Basic Education” State funding for Northshore---the amount the State can be cut without violating the State Constitution—is $2.8 million currently.
Reserves: One of the first actions of this new School Board was to ratify the previous Board’s decision to increase the amount it banks for ongoing reserves from 2% to 3%. This 1% increase is about $1.8 million in ongoing reserves that are banked, instead of used to address needs. Yet the District has never had a need for a reserve this large. These ongoing funds can be used to meet many needs.
Ending Fund Balance: Because of the way Northshore chooses to budget, there are millions of dollars left over at the end of each year above the amount budgeted for the Ending Fund Balance. There is a cushion of several million here alone.
Our community deserves better from our School Board and Superintendent. Contact them with the message, “It’s time to respect and value Northshore’s Educational Support Professionals.” You can email the entire Board at schoolboard@nsd.org.
Contact the Northshore School District Board of Directors & Superintendent:
Julia Lacey
206-391-5771
sbdistrict1@nsd.org
Janet Quinn
425-408-7687
sbdistrict2@nsd.org
Dawn McCravey
425-402-9046
Sbdistrict3@nsd.org
Sandy Hayes
425-408-7690
sbdistrict4@nsd.org
Todd Banks
425-408-7691
sbdistrict5@nsd.org
Larry Francois, Superintendent
425-408-7701
lfrancois@nsd.org
Times are hard, and more State cuts are expected. That means that all of us---including the School Board—need to be realistic about what’s possible. The District has limited funds, which is not the same as “no money”. Northshore does have the funds to reach an agreement with its 460 Educational Support Professionals. Northshore educators are aware of the need to balance current and future needs and spending.
The cost of bringing all Educational Support Professionals up to the level of NSD’s lowest paid custodians is about $265,000. The cost of benefits for one person is about $10,000. Thus, the cost of combining hours, and enabling 20 more staff to get benefits next year would be $200,000.
Federal Education Jobs Fund: This month (November), Northshore will receive $4 million from the Federal Education Jobs Fund, from legislation passed in August. Washington educators relentlessly emailed Congress to win these funds—which have basically fallen in the lap of the District. According to the Dept. of Education, they are for “compensation and benefits and other expenses such as support services” (U.S. Dept of Education guidance, page 6). And they must be spent by the end of the 2011-12 school year. Yet, the School Board is considering banking the entire amount, to offset potential State cuts. But there are other funds available to offset such cuts. A small portion of this $4 million would enable us to transition to a fair compensation model.
Regular Levy: The February Levy, for which educators made thousands of phone calls, raises $2.5 million more next year. And an additional $1.75 million on top of that the following year. And an additional increase of $1.5 million on top of that, the following year. This is not a huge sum, but neither is it “no money.”
Supplemental Levy: The August Supplemental Levy can be used to offset anticipated State cuts. It will raise $4.5 million in calendar year 2011, and about $2.5 million in each of the following 3 years. Note that the total amount of “Non-Basic Education” State funding for Northshore---the amount the State can be cut without violating the State Constitution—is $2.8 million currently.
Reserves: One of the first actions of this new School Board was to ratify the previous Board’s decision to increase the amount it banks for ongoing reserves from 2% to 3%. This 1% increase is about $1.8 million in ongoing reserves that are banked, instead of used to address needs. Yet the District has never had a need for a reserve this large. These ongoing funds can be used to meet many needs.
Ending Fund Balance: Because of the way Northshore chooses to budget, there are millions of dollars left over at the end of each year above the amount budgeted for the Ending Fund Balance. There is a cushion of several million here alone.
Our community deserves better from our School Board and Superintendent. Contact them with the message, “It’s time to respect and value Northshore’s Educational Support Professionals.” You can email the entire Board at schoolboard@nsd.org.
Contact the Northshore School District Board of Directors & Superintendent:
Julia Lacey
206-391-5771
sbdistrict1@nsd.org
Janet Quinn
425-408-7687
sbdistrict2@nsd.org
Dawn McCravey
425-402-9046
Sbdistrict3@nsd.org
Sandy Hayes
425-408-7690
sbdistrict4@nsd.org
Todd Banks
425-408-7691
sbdistrict5@nsd.org
Larry Francois, Superintendent
425-408-7701
lfrancois@nsd.org
Saturday, October 23, 2010
NESPA Teaching Certification Scholarship Reminder
During the summer of 2006, our Bargaining Team obtained a $10,000 fund from the District to be used exclusively for NESPA members seeking their teacher’s certification. Each year since then, the Scholarship Committee has reviewed applications and selected three to five recipients per year to receive money from this fund.
The 2010-2011 application for this scholarship is on our blog. The eligibility and criteria are listed in the application. If you are interested in applying, please apply as early as possible. The date your application is received may be one of the determining factors in your approval. This year’s Teaching Certification Scholarship application deadline is 2:00 PM Friday, January 21, 2011.
Good luck to all who apply!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
STUDY THIS: RESPECT!
NESPA MEMBERS TELL THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT:
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STUDY THIS: RESPECT!
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On Tuesday, Oct 5 at 7:15 AM, over twenty NESPA members walked in Room 201 in the Administrative Center. We carried signs reading, “STUDY THIS: RESPECT”. In smaller print, the sign said, “Change the outdated gender-biased compensation system. We are NOT second class employees!”
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It was October’s “Breakfast study Session” held by the School Board and Superintendent Francois most months. Whenever a majority of the School Board gathers (3 of the 5 members), State law requires that the meeting be publicized and open to the public. It must be a public meeting in order to ensure that District decisions are transparent to the public.
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We stood holding our signs for thirty minutes, as the Board met with Supt. Francois; Executive Director of Human Resources Laurie Ferwerda; Asst. Supt for Elementary Education Kathleen Poole; and Asst. Supt for Secondary Education Carolyn O’Keeffe. Four Board members were at the meeting: Julia Lacey, Janet Quinn, Dawn McCravey, and Sandy Hayes. Todd Banks was absent.
-
Room 201 is not a big room. We could not be ignored. We left at 7:45 AM, to go to our schools for work.
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Barb Arvidson, a Special Ed Paraeducator at Fernwood said, “They didn't expect to see us in "their space". Although the Board members tried to avoid eye contact with us, there were too many of us to ignore! I hope that they got the message that we are not going to back down. It’s time for them to acknowledge our true worth and give us the respect we deserve."
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Saturday, October 2, 2010
Thursday October 7 Negotiations
· THURSDAY THIS WEEK (Oct 7), NESPA and the ADMIN/SCHOOL BOARD TEAM MEET TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS.
ON THURSDAY, PLEASE WEAR BLUE, AND WEAR YOUR “TOGETHER, we are RESPECTED and VALUED” button.
ON THURSDAY, PLEASE WEAR BLUE, AND WEAR YOUR “TOGETHER, we are RESPECTED and VALUED” button.
Dear NESPA Member,
Please wear blue, and your button on Thursday, as NESPA’s Negotiations Team meets with the Admin/School Board team THIS THURSDAY.
Your Building Communicator has new buttons, in case you have lost your old one. They are pretty similar; wear either one. Please either:
· Put your button an your lanyard, to wear it every day.
-OR
· Wear your button on designated “Button Days”, like this coming Thursday.
-
FRIDAY (Oct 8) is a non-student day that is an “Accountable Day.” That means that it is a work day, unless you and your principal have agreed that you will work this time on other days. “Variations may be allowed in this schedule based on individual employee or building needs, as long as an equivalent amount of time is worked.” In other words, if it is a better use of your time to work on other days instead---and if your principal is in agreement—you may choose to work these hours on other days.
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STAY INFORMED! Check out the NESPA website: nespablog.blogspot.com. It’s updated regularly!
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