QUESTIONS FROM REP SCHOOL '09

QUESTIONS FROM REP SCHOOL: 

Why can’t the summer 12 month salary option not be adjusted, when our first check will be only for 5 days?  I would like to see us have an adjustment so that we will never have a paycheck less than 10 days of pay. It would certainly no hurt to have an extra weeks pay to start the school year.  PLEASE fix this! It is crazy to start the year and all that entails – worrying about paying our bills?

the State Division of Retirement requires that all salary dollars for a teacher be paid during the current school year and fiscal year, which ends June 30^th. Teachers on the 12 month option are paid on the same payroll calendar as all 10 month employees, but have a small part of their pay withheld each paycheck during the year. The District then pays out this withheld amount of money during the summer. The District records it as a “lump sum” payment made in June in order to comply with State requirements. In actuality, they pay this “lump sum” out to teachers in five equal amounts every two weeks during the summer, therefore these five summer paychecks are not the same as the bi-weekly checks paid throughout the regular school year.The 10 month payroll calendar is determined by the school calendar as adopted by the School Board each year. Because the start date for school differs from year to year, the payroll calendar also changes from year to year. This year, 2009-2010, in order to make the payroll calendar work, the first paycheck for 10 month employees was a5d day check (one half the normal bi-weekly check) because the school year started on a week later that last year. Because the 12 month option teachers are paid on the 10 month payroll calendar, their first check was also only a 5 day check.It is anticipated that next year the same thing will happen based on the anticipated school calendar, resulting in a 5 day check at the beginning of the year for 10 month employees. However, the 12 month option teachers will not receive their last simmer check until August 27^th, 2010, which is also the day the 5 day check will be paid to start the 2010-2011 school year. Therefore, the 12month option teachers will receive what is a basically one and a half check on that first payday next year.  

Will we get lead money this year?  How Much?

 

At the end of last school year, some PCTA members had contracts that were not renewed (laid off). Upon filing for unemployment, the pcsb refused their claim through the use of a management service in Syracuse, NY. Why is the PCSB paying someone else to manage their own employees/contracts?

 

I saw there were 307 new hires! Why didn’t I see 307 new postings?

Teachers lead is funded for 2009-2010 at approximately $ 180.00PCTA will have to find out why unemployment compensation is managed out of state but it could be the insurance carrier. 10 month employees are impacted by the unemployment unlike other members of the public.Wendy double checked with Harriet, she said that we did involuntary transfers, voluntary transfers and then new hires along with reappointed teachers who worked under a temporary contract last year. That is consistent with what we did before. She said she believes there were 307 new hires. The positions filled by re-appointments were either posted during the voluntary transfer process, or after that deadline. That would have happened after the involuntary transfer deadline. Harriet said that they processed 307 new teachers, either brand new or teachers who were not kept in the position they filled under a temp contract. Those positions would have been posted.  

Open House on 9/3 for some schools (FR Council that day)?

It is a violation of the PCTA contract. We need to put those principals on notice about this issue and contractual rights in general.  

All of the training during pre-school this year is driving us crazy. CPI, Cult. Competence, RTI, etc – all required- new reading programs etc. We need these on non-school days to train not during pre-school. We need pre-school time to get ready for the kids.

The contract provides two one half days free of meeting and planning during preschool for setting up your room and planning for your students. If that was not provided in your preschool scheduled days, please contact the office for assistance. 

Not really a question but- please announce to reps to communicate to their faculities and staffs to be vocal about opposing public library hour cuts and closings. These budget cuts are detrimental to education.

 

Why do we have to turn in;  1. Weekly lesson plans, 2. Why do we have to provide every child a progress report on alternate three weeks?

See PCSB Policy Language : 5.04 Lesson plans shall be readily available for review by the administration and for the use of each potential substitute teacher who may be called upon to conduct the regular teacher’s class. 

What do we say to the ESE teachers who say “we have to stay to do iep’s because we are legally responsible and if we’re out of compliance then our evaluations will be marked down – our school will lose money?

Teachers given assignments that require work beyond their contract day are entitled to compensatory time. If the assignment required work beyond that time, a conversation needs to be held with the ESE department or administrator requesting assistance with completing the required paperwork with the contract day. We need to revive the ESE task force to look at ways to be in compliance with out making teachers work night and day. 

A San Jose PCTA member asks – Can the district put us back on annual contracts if we are not in compliance with ESOL?

See ESOL answer below. 

Why has the lottery not stepped up to give $$ to districts for teacher salaries?

Fraction of lottery funds go towards education and teacher salaries Our Administration has assigned Wednesdays as our 7 hour work day instead of Fridays as stated in our contract. Is he allowed to do this? We thought Wednesdays were for planning, conferences, etc, not to be able to leave ½ hour early?  He cannot change your contract.    

Why not offer 5 personal days and 5 sick days as a perk, especially with no raises?? It would benefit the school board at the end due to people using up their days and the school board not having to pay them out in sick days when they retire.

 

Why are principals still 12 month personnel? When they’re 12 month personnel they also receive a paid vacation. Summer programs should be consolidated to zones with principal’s rotations every 2 to 3 years if needed.

We will explore the feasibility of adding a personal day within the 10 sick leave days. Principals are on different contracts and are not all 12 month. 

What it the status of Tuesday, Thanksgiving week? Paid Holiday?

The Tuesday during Thanksgiving week is a paid holiday for 10 month personnel. It is professional development (staff trade day) for 235 instructional personnel. 

When was personnel informed of change of provisional teachers? Teachers informed on 8/13, he was to be paid $ 100./day. We made the change this summer. That was outside the contract.

The provisional teacher issue where the district only paid $100 per day for the first 60 days was resolved on or about July 22. 

10 day count- new staff to units- funding?  Someone told they have to endure added load through mid October. That has not been discussed. The 10 day count is still being used for funding and staffing.

For K-12, the October FTE count is used for funding through the state formula. The district may make personnel decisions based on the 10 day count. Large class loads and class size issues should be addressed at any reasonable period of time after school begins. 

We would love to work to the contract but the state has given us a huge increase in requirements and IEPs, and they can monitor them. We had a task force to reduce ESE paperwork. What can you do to help us? Example: 1.Lesson Plans- had to include what goal each student is working on during that session. 2. Task analysis has to be done for that lesson for each child to rationalize the lesson. 3. The goal and lesson has to be referenced to the access points – on the lesson plan.

4. All of this information needs to be put in narrative form on the IEP and the PLDPs.

Teachers given assignments that require work beyond their contract day are entitled to compensatory time. If the assignment required work beyond that time, a conversation needs to be held with the ESE department or administrator requesting assistance with completing the required paperwork with the contract day. We need to revive the ESE task force to look at ways to be in compliance with out making teachers work night and day.  

Why do administrators get 3% on retirement as do high risk jobs like firefighters?

A very limited number of top level administrators are allowed in the Senior Management Service Class. The district requests such placement and these employees earn 2% per year instead of the regular class of 1.6%. They are not in the Special Risk Class that earns 3% per year. 

Are ESE self contained teachers counted in the school number of units for class size? Since they have fewer students it makes the gen. ed. Classes large?  True or False? 

At this time class size is monitored at a school by school level, so if ESE classed are smaller, the general ed classes may be slightly over the TRP for class size. 

Are Teacher Assistants ever going to be raised to same pay level as ESE Associates? We do basically the same job.

Several years ago, a study was done to evaluate the various support jobs in the district. In response to the findings and because of the rigorous standards of quality and physical requirements to do the job, adjustments were made to the various pay grades. 

ESE had a mandate to take training on pro-ed  (8.21.09). No training for ESE Associate was available and in some cases we were told we could not attend.

Pro-ed training days during preschool are designed for teachers. Some classes may be able to accommodate ESE associates willing to attend the training, but they may be closed due to the number of instructional personnel to be in the training.Yearly one Professional Ed day is designated as Support Professional’s catalogue of Choice, when training that is offered is designed for support staff and includes many of the required training sessions for Certificate of Distinction. PCTA and PESPA opens all sessions to members of the PCTA and PESPA units and often provide training for support professionals. Watch on the web page for our training announcements. 

 

How many non-faculty were laid off with the school closings?

There are a number of employees on the recall list. 

How many administrators took lower paying positions to return to school this year? Some have taken a 3 level reduction.

It is time to evaluate the PCS technology plan and policies against the teaching contract. The auto log-off in 10 min. disrupts instruction and the help desk work around endangers security.

Not clear! 

Some of the members at CBE are deaf. How do I arrange for a sign language interpreter who is not affiliated with the school system and is required to maintain confidentiality?

 

Will the Wednesday early release day be surveyed by the membership, PCTA and School Board? The elementary scheduling was horrendous before, now it is impossible.

PCTA will be surveying our members on the early release Wednesday later in the year. 

I was told by staff at Morton Plant that the Morton Plant network only works with the Humana POS. Will this issue be resolved before enrollment? Morton Plant is a provider for all plans. What is the role of the new math and science coaches for high school? We do not need another level of authority over teachers telling them how to teach, what plans to do and making complaints to the principal about them? This was one of the strings attached to federal stimulus funds. According to the District, the new coaches have had two weeks of intensive training on what their job is and how to do it effectively. They have been trained that they are not evaluators nor are they to tell teachers how to teach. They are to answer questions from teachers, make suggestions, refer teachers to new ideas seen in other classrooms – in other works their role is strictly that of a “helper”.An important change this year is that all the coaches are responsible to the C&I Department.In the past, they reported to the Regional Superintendents and this caused problems in some cases. That has been changed, and it is a significant change. 

What type of communication are reps allowed to put in members mailboxes without permission from the principal?

The Action, Educator, meeting notices etc. can be placed in the boxes. 

Since we are now working 6 out of 7 – PCTA school reps have less time to do an effective job. PCTA reps need one period daily to work on contractual issues and member issues. We as an association need to value representatives as does PCSB. Please bargain for this! 

 

What is PCTA’s position on lesson plans? 1) Do not need to hand in but must be readily available on desk and up to date.  This is Board Policy.

2) Detail not in depth but a short explanation of the lesson.

Administrators can provide a template for lesson plans.See PCSB Policy Language 5.04 Lesson plans shall be readily available for review by the administration and for the use of each potential substitute teacher who may be called upon to conduct the regular teacher’s class. 

Is there anything in the contract regarding equity with regards to technology access? Example: If one media specialist has admin priv. should the other media specialist be denied those same privileges? Is this a gripe or grievance?

 

What is PCTA’s stand on government takeover of health insurance (1/6^th of US economy)

No official position. 

 

What are the conditions of coverage for dependents over 21- 30. Must be in college and provide documentation. 

What is the association stand on lesson plans?

Administrators can provide a template for lesson plans.See PCSB Policy Language 5.04 Lesson plans shall be readily available for review by the administration and for the use of each potential substitute teacher who may be called upon to conduct the regular teacher’s class. 

Can you still have your eyes examined once a year?

What is the insurance cost if one chooses to retire? When you retire.. must you keep the same plan you had at retirement?

The vision plan provides one examination each year. The cost for retiree health insurance varies by plan but for the Select HMO it is $6,620 for one person, $ 10,800 for two and $ 16,000.00 for a family.  Will we receive booklets/packets of information on healthcare? the beneflex books will be available. Do you keep the money you have in the Aetna Health Fund or do you start over with Humana at zero? You have to start over. Flexible spending accounts are based on calendar year not fiscal year. 

Will the FSA supply us with a charge card? Will the EOB automatically go to the FSA for verification?

Most employees with an FSA use the debid card – and so it is automatically adjudicated at the time of service. If the employee’s co-pay amounts match thr scheduled benefit in Humans’s system. If there are charges that cannot be substantiated automatically they will ask for receipts or EOB’s. Employees that do not have Humana will need to send in their EOB for documentation. Most dental and vision charges will also need substantiated by EOB’s.  

How much does AON’S friendship cost and is that part of the group rate premium?

$813,000 which is paid directly by the insurance carriers as commissions earned on voluntary benefits. No commissions are paid on health benefits. 

If you have insurance outside the district do you need to enroll? Select a PCP? And get the $ 500.00 FSA?

Employees opting out of health coverage can receive up to $75 per pay period ($1500. Per year) to use for the following;·  For employee and family members – dental, vision, accidental death and dismemberment insurance.·  For employee only – income protection, short term and lond term disability and hosptial confinement.·  Up to $ 25 of the $75 board contribution can be placed into a health care FSA for the employee each pay.·  If all or part of the $75 is not used the funds will be forfeited.  Kindergarten has dismissal duty everyday since our new principal came. Before his arrival it was shared amongst the whole staff. He is not willing to go back to this. He says all the teachers are in their room dismissing by TV, the difference is the kinder team is out in the rain and shine for almost 20 minutes each day. They can’t clean up as they watch the kids in their room like the other grade levels. Prior to school ending we met with him as a team with many different solutions (ideas we have used and other schools have used). He still will not budge on the issue! During pre-school meetings nothing has changed in this area. Can we do anything? The entire staff should share the duties equally per the contract.  

Why reduce school hours on Wednesday?

Any special reason for it to be on Wednesday?

The shortened day on Wednesday was negotiated to address the concerns in most schools regarding the meetings scheduled that prevented teachers from having time to plan for instruction. Other locals with early release days have seen a great improvement in morale. Wednesday was selected as the middle of the week rather than the beginning or end of the week to prevent students and staff from using that time as an extension of the weekend. 

Will you please provide the PP’s used today for us to use at our schools? PowerPoint’s are available on the website. 

 

Can I get hard copies of the contract for my school’s PCTA members

Each rep has a copy and additional copies can be downloaded from our website. 

Please make available that short concise list of all that PCTA has done for ready answers to potential members, i.e. Trade days and no furloughs.

This is available today and will appear in the next Action. 

When the members voted on the early release day there was no mention of 8 days being used for professional development. Members feel they voted without full knowledge and are upset over this. How do we respond to their anger and concerns?

 

What are the savings (actual amount) you can/are saving from belonging to PCTA?  We need a written list.

     

Are class associates permitted to be alone with students? If so how long?

ESOL- Lots of questions about ESOL this year. The district has moved away from ESOL center schools and assigned students to their zoned schools. This means teachers who never had an ESOL student will be teaching ESOL students. The concern about annual contract happened last spring when annual contract teachers expecting to be placed on professional services contracts were notified that since they did not comply with the agreement they signed when they were hired (to be in compliances with ESOL and NCLB) they would be offered a 4^th year annual contract. Once they met the requirements of compliance they would be eligible for a professional services contract for the 2010-2011 school years.Teachers on professional services or continuing contracts were not given such notice. The district yearly looses funds due to out of compliance that can be used for salary increases, so they are serious about ending the loss of funding due to out of compliance status of instructional employees. Members with question on how to get into compliance should contact our office. We can offer the class to help our member’s pas the ESOL certification exam to minimize the required hours of training. Duty Question:The contract states that the administrator will determine the need, utilizing input of the faculty and staff and that such duties shall be evenly distributed among the total faculty and staff. Meeting with the administrator to share the contract language is the first step. If they are not willing to be in compliance with the contract you are within your rights to file a grievance.