PESPA Pride September 25, 2008

VOLUME XXVIII, Number 4              September 25, 2008

DR. JANSSEN SELECTED AS SUPERINTENDENT

Following a decision by Alberto Carvalho to remain in Dade County, the Pinellas School Board voted unanimously to offer the job to Dr. Julie Janssen last Tuesday. The decision was greeted with joy by leaders of the Pinellas Educational Support Personnel Association. "Dr. Janssen has the experience and stability to lead the district in these difficult times. She has the support of the community, loves our kids and cares deeply about the workers. We believe her record of service is a strong predictor of how great a superintendent she'll be," said Pamela D'Almeida, PESPA President.

The selection process was not pretty with Mr. Carvalho garnering a bare four votes (of seven). That same day, September 10, the Miami/Dade School Board offered Carvalho the Superintendency, which he accepted Friday. Board Chair, Nancy Bostock, called another meeting for Tuesday, the 16^th. This meeting saw a variety of community input, all favorable to Dr. Janssen. At the end of the meeting, there was a three to four vote for the Deputy Superintendent from Orange County. Then a unanimous vote for Dr. Janssen was recorded.

Said PCTA President Kim Black, "In the final analysis, things worked out. But there were a lot of hurt feelings along the way. Charges of bullying were leveled at us and the Foundation. It was as if stating your position was somehow an indictment of some Board members. This was never the case. We did, however, feel that the Board must give serious consideration to such an overwhelming show of community support."

After the vote, Janet Clark told the St. Petersburg Times that the PCTA-PESPA PAC could "keep their filthy lucre." On Wednesday, the PCTA-PESPA PAC Committee did just that, withdrawing their support of Clark. "I don't know the source of her anger," said President Black. "But if she feels the support of over 6,000 of the District's employees is ‘filthy,' then we can certainly use the money elsewhere." The PAC Committee then voted to endorse Rene Flowers who is running against Nancy Bostock for the County Commission.

WHAT DOES JANSSEN'S SELECTION MEAN FOR BARGAINING, OTHER ISSUES

The selection of Dr. Janssen means that PESPA will not have to ‘start over' with a new Superintendent on the quest for across-the-board raises as well as a solution to the middle school scheduling problem. "We have discussed these issues in depth with Dr. Janssen and, while we haven't resolved them, we are getting closer," said PESPA Executive Director Jade Moore. "I believe she has as much interest as we do in getting these issues resolved so that we can focus on other problems like graduation rates, starting times and the perennial financial woes of the State of Florida."

ADMINISTRATION TO RECOMMEND MAKE UP DAY IN FEBRUARY

Based on responses received from buildings and Supervisors, the District will recommend to the Board that the hurricane make up day be moved to February 16, which had previously been designated as a "site-based" Professional Development Day. If approved, it would be an early release day for students. It meets the Association's position of not having teachers make up the day.

WHAT DOES THE WALL STREET CRISIS MEAN FOR OUR RETIREMENT?

The roller coaster ride on Wall Street last week caused a flood of calls to the PCTA-PESPA Office inquiring as to the safety of the pension, 403B, DROP and other equity based accounts. According to the Office of Alex Sink, Comptroller of the State of Florida, investments in Lehman Brothers and AIG account for less than one percent of the state's treasury. The larger question of what a roiling market means for any investments is still not answered. Let's look at each one in turn.

Pension funds are managed by the state Board of Administration (the Cabinet). This is the largest fund with assets in excess of 100 billion dollars. Despite the previous Governor's attempts to privatize pensions, over 90% of participants are in the fund. While not ‘safe,' it is so diversified as to approach security. It is backed by the "faith and credit" of the state, which is a nice way of saying that contributions go up to stabilize the fund. Watch to see if the contribution rate (currently 10%) increases next year.

DROP, likewise, is self-funded. When a person enters DROP, his/her pension is ‘saved' for him/her while the person continues to work. DROP participants get 6.5% interest and an annual 3% cost of living adjustment on their ‘investment.' This would seem risky except the district is also paying a contribution for each DROP participant. So, in effect, any ‘benefit' paid is funded by the District.

403B, 401A and other tax deferred annuities are at risk depending on the kind of investment chosen by the employee. While 403Bs have traditionally been insurance programs (read fairly safe), recent changes in the law have allowed investors to move more of their money into mutual (read more risky) funds. The bailout of AIG indicates the degree to which the government takes these investment vehicles seriously.

The bottom line is that the wild ride of Wall Street started years ago with the deregulation of the financial markets. Initially, this produced a lot of flexibility but when that flexibility allowed investment in ‘risky' investments (sub-prime mortgages for example), it was inevitable that a correction would occur. This is that correction. It should also influence greatly who people choose for our next President.

DELEGATION SET FOR FEA CONVENTION

The selection of Delegates to the Florida Education Association Delegate Assembly, held October 17 to 18 at the Tampa Convention Center, is complete. Since the total number of PESPA delegates did not exceed 20, an election will not be held. Delegates are: Deborah Baird, Walsingham Elementary; Vernita Brown, Sanders Exceptional Student Center; Carole Curcuruto-Palmer, Pinellas Central Elementary; Pamela D'Almeida, PESPA President; William Davis, Largo High; Randy Dodds, Largo High; Marjorie Emr, Walsingham Elementary; Gayle Frey, Southside Fundamental Middle; Mary Garbart, Sanders Exceptional Student Center; Ernest Givins, Bay Point Middle; Winifred Gregory, Walsingham Elementary; Rose Hall, Stephen Exceptional Education Center; Nelly Henjes, High Point Elementary; Judith Kavourgias, Madeira Beach Elementary; Frank LaVigna, Shore Acres Elementary; Gladys Morgan, Largo Senior; Kim Palfy, Health Services/Disston; Laura Safford, Mt. Vernon Elementary; and Gloria Smith, Administration/Professional Development.   

Delegates will conduct the business of FEA, set the dues and, this year, have a special celebration of the historic walkout of 1968 with each delegate getting a copy of a book, written by Don Cameron, former Executive Director of both FTP and NEA. The Board of Directors has recommended no dues increase.