H.E.A. Newsletter
H.E.A.is here for you because you deserve
the best.
Volume 2 - Issue 2 - March 2002
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Executive Board
Jim Pace
President
Gordon Williamson
Vice-President
Jose Madera
Treasurer
Betsy Patridge
Secretary
Vernon Johns
Secondary Director
Scott Johnson
Elementary Director
Fran McCullough
Director At Large
Rep Council
Catherine Aure
Karen Barkley
Dean Blackburn
Kathy Brauche
Joan Case
Pat Cook
Norma Egzer
Claudia Ethun
Jim Garrett
Susan Gaus
Valeria Gilmore
Darrin Grebel
Glenn Houston
Barbara Jacobs
Selena Kakuda
Margaret Kennedy
Jon Lee
Jackie Marsh
Terry McGrath
John Mchenry
Kathryn Mustain
Gwynneth Morin
Sara Pifer
Diana Pruiett
Linda Rector
Yolette Rios
Cheryl Roberts
Cheryl Rutledge
Deborah K. Thomas
Jeanne Triska
Mike Watesworth
Dick Westerhoff
Kathryn Wetsch
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DISTRICT AGREES TO IBB INSURANCE CAP!!!
INSURANCE UPDATE
On March 14, SCSEBA, our insurance carrier will increase our medical premiums for the 2002-2003 school year by 19.7%. This increase will maintain the existing level of benefits. In addition, Delta Dental is increasing by 5.9% and Medical Eye Services(MES) by 6.9%.
At the last negotiation session, that took place on Wednesday, March 13, the district agreed to IBB the insurance cap which is currently $7200.
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These IBB sessions are scheduled to take place on March 29 and April 4 with Jan Dole as the facilitator. HEA is very hopeful that through the IBB process we will be able to reach a positive resolution to cover these increases.
However, if the IBB process fails, insurance participants will be required to pay approximately $65.00 per month / $780.00 per year. |
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President's Message
By Jim Pace, H.E.A President |
HEA is currently holding a drawing for all members who fill out the political action form. It is very simple, get a form from your HEA rep, fill out the form and give it back to your rep. You will then be entered to win $1000. The contest will end when HEA has collected 400 signed forms. We have already collected about 200 forms! Don't worry, if you have already turned in a form, all previously received forms will automatically be entered!
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The Executive Board is urging the membership to voluntarily designate $1.00 out of each month's $10.00 HEA's dues. The amount that comes out of your check does not change!
If we all divert $1.00 per month, we could raise more than $6,000.00 per year to help pro-education candidates be elected to the HUSD School Board.
Thanks for your support.
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Secretary's Report
By Betsy Patridge,
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Our last Site Rep Meeting took place on February 21. At his meeting the Rep Council agreed to donate $500.00 to each of the high schools to help defray the cost of AP Exams for students with proven financial need.
At this meeting reps were given forms for members who wished to contribute to the Jeni Roberts sick leave bank
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Enough donations were made to cover one entire school year!
As of now the district has closed the account for any additional donations.
Thanks to everyone who participated and we wish Jeni the best.
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CTA - NEA Link
By Scott Johnson
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| NEA is currently holding an election for representatives. We urge you to vote for our own Betsy Patridge who is running.
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This will give us representation at the national level if she wins her seat. Make sure you vote. Good luck Betsy! www.nea.org/issues/ |
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Contract Highlights
By Vern Johns
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Article 12 of the contract describes leaves from the job. Article 12, section 7 gives a description of the details of leave granted for reasons of personal necessity. Each year teachers are able to take eight days of leave for these reasons. They are described on pages 36 and 37 of the contract. Two days of the personal necessity leave may be used by the teacher for a non-stated reason.
Generally, personal necessity leave may be limited to specific reasons. The first of these relates to the death or critical illness of a member of the immediate family. This would require the presence of the teacher. The next case for absence is an accident that involves the teacher's immediate family. The third case for personal necessity leave would be when the teacher is subpoenaed to appear in court. The last case involves "personal business that cannot be conducted at any other time."
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"Two (2) of the eight(8) personal business days may be used without stated reasons." This is on page 36, lines 41 and 42. There is only one limitation stated as to when they can be used. They cannot be taken on "inservice days or duty days (teacher work days) when students are not required to attend school."
"Advance approval shall not be required on the 2 non-stated days." This is found on page 37 lines 9-12. The contract specifies that the two non-stated days can be taken without advance approval. Other situations where the teacher does not need to get advance approval occur when the teacher is reasonably prevented from seeking the approval of the site administrator and medical emergencies involving immediate family members.
Please view the contract online at www.hesperiateachers.com
The MOU's that have been added to our contract are now visible also.
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Communication
By Fran McCullough
www.hesperiateachers.com
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Keeping members informed has been a priority of this Board. It is for this reason that our website, www.hesperiateachers.com, was created. With our current membership of 630 members, 100 new members were added this year, communication could have become a problem. But inspite of our growing size we can communicate effectively with our members through our Site Reps, The HEA Newsletter and our web site.
The Site Reps do a terrific job bringing back information to the teachers at the sites through the Rep's Monthly Site Meetings. The HEA Newsletter is sent to the sites each month and it is published on line. |
In addition to these traditional methods, members can now go on line to look up articles from previous newsletter. Also available at www.hesperiateachers.com is a complete copy of the contract with the MOU's. There is an insurance page with links to all our providers. There are many other links of interest, such as STRS, CTA and many other.
Since we started our website in September of 2001 over 6000 pages have been viewed. The most commonly visited page was our Home Page. The Salary Schedule was second, with the Newsletter being third. Other websites have linked to us. This is your website. Check it out. |
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By the #'s
Jose Madera
District Income? Cola? (Part II) Read on
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FORMULA
General Purpose (Revenue Limit x ADA)
+ Special Purpose(Categorical Aid)
+ Miscellaneous Local & Other
+ Lottery
__________________________________
= Total District Income
COLA
Cost-of-living adjustment, usually granted to revenue limits and to categorical programs. For revenue limits, the law specifies an annual COLA tied to the current inflation rate. The amount actually paid depends upon legislative appropriation, which was 3.17% in 2000-01.
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A deficit occurred in the early 1990s when the amount allocated by the Legislature and governor for revenue limits was less than the statutory total. The accumulated deficit was eliminated in 2000-01 when an extra $1.84 billion was appropriated for revenue limits.
Categorical programs received a COLA of 3.17% in 2000-01. The annual growth in enrollment (ADA) is being funded for revenue limits and most categorical programs.
The latest figures that we have indicate that the upcoming COLA will be approximately 1.6%, due to the budget deficit.
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