2012-2013 NSEA Exec Board and Building Rep Info

The 2012-2013 NSEA Executive Board is made up of...

• Tim Brittell, NSEA President tbrittell@washingtonea.org
• Dave Schneider, Vice President dschneider@nsd.org
• Lynn Emerson, Secretary/Treasurer, Crystal Springs Elem lemerson@nsd.org
• Gail Bauman, At-Large, Northshore JH gbauman@nsd.org
• Jaime Clarke, Primary Elementary, Kenmore Elem jclarke@nsd.org
• Patrick Holmes, At-Large, Bothell HS pholmes@nsd.org
• Donna Matthies, Specialists, Northshore JH dmatthies@nsd.org
• David Schneider, Intermediate Elementary, Kenmore Elem dschneider@nsd.org
• Sheri Setzer, Special Ed, Canyon Park JH ssetzer@nsd.org
• Julie Shirley, Senior High, Woodinville HS jshirley@nsd.org
• Jon VandeMoortel, Junior High, Northshore JH jvandemoortel@nsd.org

Staff:

• Kraig Peck, WEA Staffperson kpeck@washingtonea.org
• Lydia King, Admin Assistant lking@washingtonea.org

2012-2013 Exec Board Meeting Dates
All meetings are held in the NSEA/CUC Office from 4:00 to 6:00 pm (unless otherwise noted)

• Tuesday, August 7th and Friday, August 10th: Exec Board Retreat (8:00 am to 2:30 pm)
• Monday, September 10th
• Monday, October 1st
• Monday, October 29th
• Monday, December 3rd
• Monday, January 7th
• Monday, February 4th
• Monday, March 4th
• Monday, April 1st
• Monday, May 6th
• Monday, June 3rd

2012-2013 Building Rep Information
Buildings are allowed 1 representative for every 15 members.  The building rep list will be posted soon.  If you are planning to be a rep, contact Lydia King ASAP.

2012-2013 Building Rep Meeting Dates and Locations
Meetings are from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm (unless otherwise noted)

• Monday, August 27th: Building Rep Kickoff (8:00 am to noon for new reps; noon to 4:30 pm for ALL reps; Courtyard Hall--Country Village, Bothell.  RSVP by August 10th to Lydia King)
• Monday, September 17th: Bothell High Library
• Monday, October 8th: Bothell High Library
• Monday, November 5th: Canyon Park JH Library
• Monday, December 10th: Woodinville HS Library
• Monday, January 14th: Skyview JH Library
• Monday, February 11th: Skyview JH Library
• Monday, March 11th: Bothell High Library
• Monday, April 8th: Bothell High Library
• Monday, May 13th: Bothell High Library
• Monday, June 10th: Bothell High Library

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

• Thursday, June 6th and/or Thursday, June 13th; time TBD; Inglemoor High School Gym

NSEA Building Rep Information

More information for NSEA Building Reps is located under the Building Rep tab at the top of this page.

Are School Leadership Teams Important?

DO SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS MATTER? 

YES. A lot. The idea behind SDLTs is that we are professionals whose commitment and expertise can create the best possible schools.

The SDLTs—Shared Decision Making Leadership Teams—are the result of negotiations to ensure that educators are involved in the key decisions of our schools. They are one way that we ensure that our role is as PROFESSIONALS—experts who exercise our professional judgment, not just implementers of the decisions made by others. Our elected SDLT members are school DECISION-MAKERS, not simply advisors to the principal. They are actual DECISION-MAKERS, not just advisors.

SDLTs decide how decisions will be made—or make the decisions directly—in “work that will support the mission of improving student achievement,” a very broad category of decisions. SDLT members also decide on development of the School Improvement Plan (the school’s plan); how to use building funds; what we do on SIP and SITE Days; the school’s Technology Plan; use of the Building Inservice Funds (which is a substantial amount of money) to support professional development, and more.

In our Agreement, the specific contract language is in Article 17, on pages 23-26. In addition, the role of Department Heads is in Article 25, on pp 67-69. It’s helpful to read the actual language. (Click here for our current CBA.) The role of SDLTs (with stipends) was first established in our 2006-2008 Agreement, so we’ve had them for about 6 years.

HERE IS HOW THESE DECISIONS ARE TO BE MADE, AS DESCRIBED IN OUR AGREEMENT: 

• SDLTs draft a written decision-making process for the school, to be submitted to the full staff for approval by October 1 of each year. This document is to include:
  a) How decisions of varying kinds will be made (by consensus, voting, consulting, command/principal decision, etc.—by the full staff, or by Depts, or by the SDLT, or other
  b) How SDLT members are accountable to the staff (e.g. Dept. meetings,...)
  c) Calendar of regular and open meetings; and d) How agendas will be made and how staff will be kept informed. 
• Most important decisions are covered under this staff-approved process. These decisions include:
  a) Those that affect student achievement, school climate, and effectiveness;
  b) Use of Building Discretionary Funds; Building Inservice Funds; Department Head days; and Substitute days for release time;
  c) Scheduling and use of Site Days;
  d) Professional development decisions;
  e) School operating principles;
  f) Input in staffing decisions and departmental issues (Note that this one is input only—not final authority like the others); and
  g) Input in faculty meeting agendas (again, this one is input only.). This decision-making process covers all school decisions, except those governed by law, School Board policies, District-wide course alignments across grade levels and schools; or other parts of our Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

 HOW IS THE SDLT ELECTED? 

• The SDLT (unless there is a waiver for the year) consists of elected Department Heads: 6 in elementary; 9 in Junior High and 12 in High School. They are elected by secret ballot. (Article 25.3) 
• Department Heads are nominated (or self-nominated) by the certificated employees (not the Principals) at the school. NSEA Building Reps and the Principal cooperate to organize a secret ballot election. Terms are for one year, without term limits. This is an actual leadership role—not a lightweight role. As a result, the stipend, $2,615, is significant (and includes all Department Head duties described on p. 69). NSEA encourages staff to elect Department Heads based on their leadership abilities, not by custom, seniority, or relationship. 
• Our Agreement states that elections are to be held by June 1. 
• We suggest that staff vote only in the department relevant for the majority of their classes. If staff are in more than one school, they should vote in the school that they are in for the majority of their time. 

If you have questions, please contact Tim Brittell (tbrittell@washingtonea.org; 425-486-7101 ext 110) or Kraig Peck (kpeck@washingtonea.org; 425-486-7101 ext 103).

Tip of the Week: 18 IQ Hours

NSEA TIP OF THE WEEK 

WHAT ARE THESE 18 INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY HOURS ABOUT? 

In our new Contract, we agreed to record 18 hours of IQ work as part of a compromise that maintained the 1.9% of our pay that the State cut funding for. The Administration/School Board agreed to fund it with local levy funds, and add it to our Responsibility Factor stipend. Additionally, we agreed to work one SIP Day on April 13—similarly added. The total 25.5 hours equals 1.9% of our base pay.

It is more work for the same pay—not something we’d normally agree to, but a deal NSEA members voted 95% to ratify in these hard times. Those who don’t wish to work or record these hours don’t have to. If not included in your Cert Time Report you turn into Payroll by June 30, the pay will simply be deducted from your August check. (The 18 hours and the April 13 SIP Day are pro-rated for part time staff. All other kinds of hours/days recorded on the annual Cert Time Report are not pro-rated.)

The 18 IQ hours represent, for most NSEA members, simply recording work we already do--but has not been customarily paid. It must be outside the regular work day or year. And it cannot be our regular daily work (i.e., lesson planning). And the activities must move district goals, performance measures, initiatives (including joint NSEA/District ones), or curriculum adoptions forward. Customarily paid activities must continue to be paid—not offering IQ hours instead of actual extra pay. (For example, training to implement new curricula, or any required additional training/work must continue to be paid. If any such paid work is instead offered as IQ hours, please contact us immediately, and we will correct this error.)

That leaves lots of unpaid work we already do as eligible for recording as IQ hours. The form on pages 187 and 188 of our Contract includes samples. There is also an updated list of activities, workshops, books, articles, etc that may be included as IQ hours in the Teacher Toolbox on the NSD Teacher Leadership website. The form requires that you list the activities you plan, and discuss it in advance with your Principal/Supervisor.

Some of the most common kinds of unpaid extra hours many of us are already doing that will qualify as IQ hours are: “Committee and/or department/grade level work beyond the designated meeting times such as….department/grade level meetings; Curricular work organized by school leadership teams; Professional learning community meetings outside the work day; Job-alike collaborative work for the visual and performing arts, CTE, ELL, SLPs, OT/PTs and librarians; Grade level/content area teams meeting in conjunction with librarians, counselors, and/or Special Education teachers; Education classes, trainings and/or workshops; and Professional book studies aligned with district instructional goals.” There are many more listed.

There is a rumor that the work must be done with others, on District property. This is not accurate. It must meet the underlined criteria above.

The best overall explanation of ALL of the extra days/hours is the 2 page Certificated Time Report, which is on pages 189 and 190. To see the IQ hours worksheet, click here. Reminder: Our full contract is available online (click here). If you have questions, please contact your NSEA Building Rep, or the NSEA office.

Together, we are creating great schools!

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

Think merit pay will improve our schools and make for better teachers? Think again!

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward.

Check out an animated illustration of Dan Pink's speech:

Matt Damon Stands Up for Teachers!

Over the summer, Matt Damon spoke at the Save Our Schools rally in Washington, DC.  Here are his thoughts on Ed Reform.



Check out the piece below, from Lawrence O'Donnell (MSNBC).  He adds more insight to Damon's comments.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And if you're looking for something more entertaining, watch Anderson Cooper and see why messing with Matt Damon is a bad idea.

Know More Abouth the Koch Brothers

Here is a link you can access to find products purchased by ordinary consumers that you can refuse to purchase to deprive the Koch Bros., billionaire supporters of the nationwide anti-union, anti-public schools campaigns, of funding.

http://inspirationgreen.com/koch-brothers-products.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d99f63f7b4fe097%2C0

These corporations are closely held and are not publicly traded. This means all profits go to the Koch family trust. If you study related links closer, you’ll also find that Koch Bros.’ father was a principal founder of the John Birch society; they are also promoters of the Cato Institute (ultra-conservative “think tank” in D.C.) and the National Right to Work Foundation, among other anti-worker associations.