 |
H.E.A. Newsletter
H.E.A.is here for you because you deserve
the best.
Volume 2 - Issue 5 - August 2002
|
Executive Board
Jim Pace
President
Gordon Williamson
Vice-President
Jose Madera
Treasurer
Betsy Patridge
Secretary
Vernon Johns
Secondary Director
Scott Johnson
Elementary Director
Jeanne Triska
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
Membership Chair
Barbara Bailey
Grievance Co-Chairs
Jim Garrett
Dick Westerhoff
Newsletter Editor
Fran McCullough
|
|
President's Message
By Jim Pace, H.E.A President
|
HEA CALLS FOR IMPASSE
As we begin the new school year, the Hesperia Education Association's leadership moves our organization into yet another phase of operation. As we repeatedly published in last year's newsletters, your executive board, representative council and negotiators committed ourselves to working for results. Starting last August, in a meeting your Vice President, Gordon Williamson, and I called with Bill Freeman and Hank Richardson from the District Office, we have been stressing the need for positive results if HEA were to continue using IBB in contract negotiations. Again, our motivation for conducting negotiations was to achieve results in the form of a new, fair and functional contract for all unit members.
From the early fall until the end of the year, our negotiating team met and bargained with the District's on an average of once per month. During these sessions, all HEA negotiators stressed our focus on results, rather than some concept of "relationship" the District's negotiators seemed to believe was being preserved by maintaining an IBB negotiating style. We repeatedly stressed our intention to maintain a positive relationship with the District Office, but we didn't see that the IBB process was producing any favorable contract resolutions. As a matter of fact, the IBB negotiating process has shown us diminishing results since its initial successes with class splitting and period subbing in the late '90s. For a long time now, the only issues reaching resolution have been some District-driven memos of understanding [MOU's]. It is against our best interests to allow these to take the place of a workable contract! Because IBB proved to be nonproductive in achieving HEA's contract negotiation goals, the Association Rep. Council voted to abandon the IBB negotiating process and file for impasse. In addition, we announced to the District our intention to pursue a traditional negotiating process because it has, in the past, proven itself to be more productive in reaching contract resolution for us than IBB. And we reassured the District 's negotiators and leadership that this switch in style in no way indicates a change on our part to an adversarial attitude toward the District or its representatives.
In part, our dissatisfaction with sluggish negotiations has grown out of the District's constant declaration that it has no money to spend on its teachers. At the negotiation table, the Assistant Superintendent for Finance told us that the District would end the '01-'02 school year in the hole by roughly $3.2 million. He declared that the District was deficit spending and had no money to support health benefit increases for the '02-'03 school year. (As a result, we are subsidizing health and welfare increases out of our own pockets.) About 40 days latter it turns out the District's own financial documents are showing the District was, nowhere close to these kind of losses. When the Audited numbers become available in September we will let you know the accurate figures.
This situation is simply an example of an ongoing pattern of misinformation and deception from the Business office. It does not measure up to the level of integrity one must maintain to participate in an IBB environment.
As we deal with the results of changing dynamics between HEA and the District, it is important for us all to remember that HEA's leadership holds itself to a high standard of trustworthiness. Though things will now be different between HEA and the folks on Third Avenue, we will continue to operate in an honest and aboveboard manner. We believe that using the IBB process has not brought us anywhere near resolution with the District over contract issues. In our opinion, contract resolution will only be reached through objective study by a third party appointed as a result of impasse. I am calling on you to support this decision and stand behind it as we work for a better environment for the teachers in HUSD. Remember, together we can make a difference!
P.S. Stay tuned and we will let know how you can help!
|
|
UPDATE: (Important Information received after the Newsletter went to the printer)
SCSEBA has informed us that Desert Valley HOSPITAL IS NO LONGER A PREFERRED PROVIDER for Blue Cross. The urgent care is part of the hospital and therefore NOT a preferred provider either.
Desert Valley Medical group is still part of the Blue Cross preferred network. Those doctors may refer to other hospitals in the areas. Check with your doctor.
If you wish to look up the list of preferred providers use www.hesperiateachers.com and go to "Insurance" at the top of the page and then click on the Blue Cross icon for that information.
|
|
Secretary's Report
By Betsy Patridge,
|
As I write these paragraphs, I have just finished the fourth day of training at the annual CTA Presidents' Conference in Asilomar. Participating in this conference has provided a perfect opportunity for many of us on the HEA Executive Board to reconnect with other chapter leaders from throughout the state and refocus our attention on Association work after the diversion summer provided. Jim Pace, Gordon Williamson, Vern Johns, Jeannee Triska and I have all been attending workshops covering topics ranging from new education-oriented legislation to the adjustments in California's assessment environment. We appreciate the education this conference provides.
Next week, like the rest of you, we will begin the 2002-2003 school year by attending workshops and orientations at our HUSD worksites. As we get things underway, there area few changes to the HEA calendar I want to share with you. Most importantly, we have changed the Executive Board and Representative Council meeting schedule for the year.
|
We did this to accommodate changes in local CTA presidents' meetings.
Starting this month, HEA Executive Board meetings will take place on the second Thursday of each month. Representative Council meetings will move to the fourth Thursday of the month. Remember the Rep Councils are open, and all members are welcome to attend them. Our first Rep Council will take place on August 22 at 4:15 in the HEA office. Dates of subsequent Rep Councils are September 26, October 24, November 24 (at the High Desert Leadership Conference in Las Vegas), January 23, (The Council doesn't meet in December.), February 27, March 27, April 24, and May 22. (The May meeting date may change depending on end of the year activities.)
Following Rep Council, Site Reps will conduct their own monthly HEA Site Meeting where information and paperwork is disseminated to the members at each site.
|
|
|
CTA - NEA Link
By Scott Johnson
|
MEMBER DISCOUNTS!!!
CTA members can receive special discount tickets for the Disneyland Resort from August 18th through December 18th. TSA is offering CTA members Disneyland Resort admission tickets for only $30 (all ages).
CTA members can also purchase discounted tickets to California Adventure Park for only $25 (all ages).
Call TSA for your discount tickets at:
(800) 537-8491
|
OTHER BENEFITS
Death and Dismemberment Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Health Information and Wellness Program
Auto Insurance
Home Insurance
You can visit the CTA web site by going to www.hesperiateachers.com and then going to "Links".
|
|
|
Contract Highlights
By Vern Johns
|
We have not had a new contract printed for several years. Because of this, most of the details relate to teacher moves in or out of the classroom. However, some details about what is currently required can be found in an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) dated 2/16/01. It details what is required of teachers specifically for the year 2001-2002, but is intended to apply to each year thereafter.
In the week before school starts, there are Inservice (buy-back) days and Pre-service days for teachers to attend. Inservice (buy-back) days are paid days that are generally optional. Teachers who want to be paid for the day attend the Inservice. Some schools are offering their staff the chance to attend one Inservice day during this week.
This year, the Proposed Inservice (buy-back)days are August 6 for Elementary teachers and August 7 for Secondary teachers. Not all schools are offering Buy Back days at the start of the year.
| Pre-service days are ones that teachers are required to attend.These days include staff development, collaboration, and classroom preparation. Secondary teachers are to attend two Pre-service days. During that time they should receive a minimum of 6½ hours of classroom preparation time. Elementary teachers attend three Pre-service days, and should have a minimum of 9 hours for classroom preparation during these three days.
The Pre-service days will be on August 7, 8 and 9 for Elementary teachers. August 8 and 9 are the Pre-Service days for Secondary teachers.
The All-District Meeting, which is part of the Pre-service days, will be the morning of August 9. It will be at the High Desert Church, 14545 Hook Blvd., in Victorville.
|
|
INSURANCE
By Fran McCullough
|
Our health insurance benefits for 2002-2003 are exactly the same as we had in the 2001-2002 school year. We had 55 teachers opting out of the plan, which made our contribution $71.27 for 10 months.
The insurance premium deduction was scheduled to start with the September check, however due to a glitch in the new county payroll system, the members who have the PPO OPTION had the $71.27 deducted from their August check. The district office will be issuing checks for the $71.27 to the teachers who had this amount taken out of their August check. They expect to have these checks at the sites by Wednesday.
If you pre-taxed your insurance premium, this will result in a lower cost to you reflected in a tax savings. Pre-taxing of insurance premiums can only be done during open enrollment which is now over for this year.
Did you know you can get your prescriptions in the mail FOR FREE? If you would like to start this service, you need to ask your doctor for a paper prescription for a 60 DAY SUPPLY with 3 renewals.
|
In addition, you may need a one month supply for your local pharmacy (if you are out of renewals) because it can take up to 14 days to get your first order in the mail.
Next, you need to call Advance PCS at (800)324-6331 to request a mailing envelope for your prescriptions.
Once you are in the system you can then renew your prescription on line or by phone. For more information go to www.hesperiateachers.com and select "Insurance", then select the icon for Advance PCS or call their customer service number. Of course, you can continue to fill your prescriptions at your pharmacy with a co-pay.
AON has promised that we will have our Evidence of Coverage Books by the start of the new school year. These books will detail our specific plan coverage. For questions about this information, the list below may be of help.
Contacts for Insurance Help
Tina Kahklen (AON) - SCSEBA Team (800) 678-6110.
Blue Cross (800) 627-7244
Advance PCS (800) 324-6331
Our web site www.hesperiateachers.com
HUSD Business Services 244-4411 Ext 308, 217, 205
|
|
By the #'s
Jose Madera
|
What's the COLA (cost of living adjustment) for the 2002-2003 school year? We won't know until the state budget is settled. The "talk" has been around the 2% figure.
Whatever figure is decided upon in the state budget, our agreement with the district states that "For school year 2002-2003, effective July 1, 2002, increase the salary schedule by the percentage increase to the Funded Base Revenue Limit
|
(hereafter "FBRL"), multifplied by .89% (statutory benefit adjustment.) The increase to the salary schedule shall be this adjusted percentage."
For example, if HUSD receives a 2 percent increase to the FBRL, the salary schedule will be increased by
2 x .89 = 1.78 percent. In other words, you are paying for the increase in your Medicare and STRS benefits out of your salary increase.
|
|
|
|
