PCTA ACTION May 12, 2010
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VOLUME XXXVI Number 10 May 12, 2010
PCTA Onboard with RTTT MOU Phase 2
Members of the PCTA Faculty Rep Council have voted in support of PCTA President Kim Black signing Florida’s Race to the Top Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Phase 2 of the federal grant. As a member of the Governor’s Working Group who came to agreement on the state’s revised RTTT application, President Black was able to provide reps detailed information on the amendments to the previous MOU. These amendments addressed the union’s initial opposition to the first RTTT MOU.
At its meeting on May 11th, the School Board approved moving forward, sending the signed MOU to the Florida Department of Education. States will be notified in September if they are to be recipients of the RTTT2 grant. If Florida wins grant funding, we will have 90 days to bargain the details following the September announcement. The PCTA bargaining unit will then vote to ratify any agreement that may be reached.
PCTA members survived the assault on public education from SB 6. In battling SB 6, we collaborated with Pinellas parents, teachers, support professionals, School Board members and the Superintendent who were all on the same side as we worked to defeat SB 6. Teachers recognize the need to provide additional resources to our struggling schools. This grant has the potential to bring $14 million to Pinellas County Schools over the four-year time frame.
The state’s application in RTTT2 is not “SB 6 Lite” and is not a watered down version of the state’s first RTTT application. It is an approach to securing the federal grant that all stakeholders are willing to try. This agreement is voluntary for districts and unions, targets the lowest 5 percent of schools and guarantees bargaining collaboration for all grant issues not covered under current law. The MOU is a state framework for local decisions concerning teacher evaluation and salary schedules. Degrees and experience are still allowed in designing salary schedules. The evaluation system may include lesson study, common planning, mentoring, peer assistance and review, and professional development.
PCTA Faculty Reps are to be commended for their willingness to take this leap of faith in the name of securing additional funding for our most struggling schools. We know and appreciate the value of having a seat at the table when plans are crafted that impact our profession.
Bargaining Survey Online
While the PCTA/PCS Agreement does not expire until the conclusion of the 2010-11 school year, there is need for your input related to the negotiated items in the Race to the Top Phase 2 Memorandum of Understanding. PCTA also needs your input for our preparations on negotiating the successor Agreement which will begin during the 2011-12 school year.
The survey will take just a few minutes to complete. By going to the link below, you can provide your much needed input. The survey will be open through May 23rd. Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts on issues of importance to you!
Survey URL: http://.leadernet.aft.org/surveymaker/take/survey.cfm?id=5f7e2abf-5056-b94b-113f-cac3febcfa5c
Agreement reached on Transfer Guidelines
PCTA has reached agreement with the District on proposed changes to transfer guidelines for elementary schools that are identified as Correct 2 and Prevent 2 in the Differentiated Accountability model, high schools in the lowest performing 5% of high schools in the state and the feeder middle schools for those high schools. The schools are High Schools: Gibbs, Dixie Hollins, Boca Ciega, Lakewood; Middle Schools: John Hopkins, Azalea, Bay Point, Pinellas Park and Elementary Schools: Campbell Park, Gulfport, Lealman, Melrose, Sandy Lane, New Heights, and Walsingham. This agreement is to align a transfer process with the state required Differentiated Accountability plan and state rules.
As proposed, these schools:
• may begin posting vacancies both internally and externally once openings are identified.
• must post vacancies for a minimum of 4 days.
• may accept voluntary transfers, temporary contracts or new hires.
• must maintain accurate records of the documented selection process.
• are not required to accept involuntary transfers.
• may begin posting vacancies now and continue to hire throughout the summer.
• are exempt from the district transfer timeline.
As part of the agreement, we are in the process of working with the District to facilitate a two-day Involuntary Placement Fair on June 17 and June 22.
Agreement also reached on Portal Training
The other stipulation is related to the PCS Portal and training related to the Portal. The agreement includes the following:
Six hours of training will be required for all instructional personnel. Training will be offered online and, in some instances, in workshop (facilitated lab environment) type settings. Since these training opportunities will not be tradable, the following provisions will be utilized in all Portal training whether online or in a classroom setting:
• Three hours of training shall be made available during staff development opportunities during the contract day but not during student contact time unless approved by the applicable principal/supervisor. Contractual planning time provisions should be observed unless waived by the employee.
• The remaining three hours of training, if completed outside the contract day, will entitle the employee to one of the following options or a combination of the options equivalent to the three hours:
o Employee may request, subject to principal/supervisor approval, up to three hours compensatory time in recognition of completion of the three hours of training or
o The employee shall be paid $13.00 per hour for the three hours of training.
Teachers will have up to ten (10) working days to enter graded assignments to the Digital Gradebook.
Legislative Action on Retirement Issues
Thanks to the efforts of FEA, PCTA-PESPA and most importantly YOU, proposed legislation efforts to eliminate the retiree health insurance subsidy and to establish a contribution rate for FRS employees failed. HB 5607 did pass which establishes 2010-11 employer contribution rates, but also adversely impacted the DROP provision related to the interest earned on the DROP account. The interest rate was reduced from 6.5% to 3% for future DROP participants after July 1, 2010. FEA and PCTA are requesting that Governor Crist veto HB 5607. Contact the Governor’s office at (850) 488-7146.
If you are thinking about entering DROP prior to July 1st, you need to look at your long-term financial plan. Your current age and health care costs after employment are important issues for consideration. If we can be of assistance, please contact PCTA.