NESPA Scholarship Time Is Running Out!

You have only one month left to complete your NESPA Teaching Certification Scholarship Application if you are interested in applying for a scholarship. Click on the link in the right hand column of our website/blog at NESPA Teaching Certification Scholarship Application Form to download the form.

IS THERE A SCHOOL PARENT WHO APPRECIATES YOUR WORK?

The parents of our students greatly appreciate our work. But unless we speak with them, or provide them with information, they assume that we are fairly treated, well-respected, and compensated.

Here is a link to a flyer you can provide to a school parent (past or present). You can email it to them from home, or give it to them on your break.

Ask them to email the School Board schoolboard@nsd.org with something like this, “It’s time to respect and value Northshore’s educational support professionals.”

They can add anything else they’d like.

http://www.weacascade.org/images/stories/nespa/compensation-model-flyer.pdf

Suzanne Fujinari

“As an English Language Learner Paraeducator, I teach English, math, science, and social studies. Our work directly impacts the success of our students.”

Liz Gordon

“As a Special Education Paraeducator serving “severe and profound” students, we have been punched, head-butted, had desks thrown at us, and so badly bruised that we’ve had to wear arm guards up to our jaws. But our pain is also the path to progress for our students. Visit our classrooms. You will learn something.”

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 We packed the room and provided the School Board with hundreds of reasons to change Nortshore’s outdated and gender-biased compensation model.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.