HEA - Hesperia Education Association

H.E.A. Newsletter

H.E.A.is here for you because you deserve the best.
Volume 2 - Issue 6 - September 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
Kathy Brauche
Joan Case
Pat Cook
Norma Egzer
Claudia Ethun
Jim Garrett
Susan Gaus
Valeria Gilmore
Darrin Grebel
Ralph Heller
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 Waterworth
Dick Westerhoff
Kathryn Wetsch

Membership Chair
Barbara Bailey

Grievance Co-Chairs
Jim Garrett
Dick Westerhoff

SCSEBA Labor Rep
Blair Thompson

Newsletter Editor
Fran McCullough

CONTRACT EXPIRED JUNE 1999

President's Message
By Jim Pace, H.E.A President

In 1996, Hesperia teachers' salary scale was in the top third of San Bernardino County. After 6 years of Interest Based Bargaining, Hesperia teachers are in the bottom third; and, for the first time, teachers are paying out of pocket for benefits.

In an effort to deal with rising health costs, H.E.A. and the District negotiated an agreement that would have given lower benefits at a lower cost. This agreement was overwhelmingly rejected by a vote of the membership. This vote informed both the union and the District that teachers value the current level of benefits. During these negotiations, in spite of having an ending balance of 6.7 million dollars, the district found itself unable to renegotiate the insurance cap.

In August of 2001, H.E.A. leadership informed the district that if we did not have a contract by the end of the 2001/2002 year, we would no longer use the Interest Based Bargaining process. Despite our efforts to make the process work, we have nothing but a handful of M.O.U.'s and a contract that expired in June of 1999.

The next Representative Council Meeting is September 26. Members are always welcome to join us in discussing the issues that effect us all.

Find out how you can become involved. Together we can make a difference!
J.P.

UPDATE: (Important Information received after the Newsletter went to the printer)

General Membership meeting on October 29, 2002 at 4:00 P.M. in the Sultana Auditorium.
CTA President, Wayne Johnson will be our guest speaker!

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

NEA SUPPORTS REPEAL OF GPO AND WEP!!!

CTA - NEA Link
By Scott Johnson

At a June 18 meeting CTA liaison members testified in Sacramento about the need to test students on what they are being taught and to tie testing to state standards. They also called for accommodations for testing English Language Learners and students with special needs.

CTA also expressed opposition to a proposed revamping of the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

State board adopts exit exam regulations despite student protests.
75 students demonstrating against the State Board of Education was not enough to dissuade the board from adopting regulations governing the California High School Exit Exam

Social Security Offset
Delegates at this summers's NEA meeting, called the RA, were able to pick up information that included a message to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).One of their slogans is
"Good Educators Never Retire...They Can't Afford To."
At the RA a vote was taken to study the possibility of a national media campaign in conjunction with police and firefighter organizations.

Check out the NEA"s web site for more information at www.nea.org or you can link to their web site from www.hesperiateachers.com and selecting "links".

Contract Highlights
By Vern Johns

Negotiations between the HEA negotiating team and the District management have not produced a settlement. Because of this, HEA has declared an Impasse has been reached. Under this process, HEA requests that the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) appoint a mediator to help the two sides settle.

Mediation is the first phase of the Impasse process. The mediator meets with both sides to clarify the issues. He/she tries to help the two parties settle their differences. However, neither party is bound to settle.

If a settlement is still not reached after the mediation process, the mediator can request fact-finding.

Fact-finding is not automatic - the mediator must approve it. In fact-finding, each party chooses their representative on a fact-finding panel. Both parties submit a list of issues to the panel. The panel prepares and presents a report to both parties. The threat of public exposure will hopefully break the Impasse. If no agreement is reached, the report is made public.

Through all of the Impasse process, it is important that members keep fully informed and involved in the process. The power of the HEA members working together get a positive settlement is essential to the Impasse process.

Read the monthly newsletter and check our web site frequently for any last minute updates.

Dependent Coverage for Insurance
By Jeanne Triska

If you have any dependents ages 19-25, you will have to fill out a form and re-certify every year. You will get a form from the insurance company about two months before your child turns 19 and will get one every year after. You will need to check off the box, "This child is unmarried and qualified as a dependent for federal income tax purposes." If your child is a full-time student, you may also want to check the box "…Dependent is currently enrolled in 12 units." Make sure to fill out this form or your dependent will be dropped. Once this happens, you will have to verify through either copies of your last year's taxes or school transcripts.

Christina R. Kahklen, from Aon Consultants, stated in an e-mail "Regarding the dependent requirement, the dependent can continue on the plan until the first of the month following their 25th birthday as long as they are depended upon the parent for support (IRS / filed on their tax returns) or a full-time student taking 12 or more units. The subscriber must re-certify every year that the child is still a dependent."

After your child turns 25 or is no longer your IRS dependent, you may purchase COBRA insurance for up to 36 months through the District. It can be difficult to get insurance if you are not already insured, so it is important to continue the existing coverage until you are covered by a new plan. COBRA costs several hundred a month, but can be automatically taken out of your check each month. Your dependent will have the same benefits that you have.

Fran McCullough told me that her son is under a COBRA policy. She said, "You can look around. I did that for my son and found that nothing out there beats what we have so we pay the high premium each month."

Evidence of Coverage books are in the district office. Once H.E.A. and the District Office Business Department have a chance to review them, they will be distributed.

If you have any more questions feel free to e-mail me at jtriska@hotmail.com.

By the #'s Jose Madera
This summer HEA started the Hesperia Education Association Political Action Committee (HEAPAC). All the necessary paperwork and accounts are now in place. Last school year most of you elected to have one dollar per month of your HEA dues diverted to the HEAPAC account. Remember your dues have not been increased.	This year, as we did last year, HEA will deposit ten dollars into the HEAPAC account unless you send instructions in writing to HEA on or before October 24, 2002, requesting an amount less than ten dollars be deposited. Note: These funds can only be used for HUSD board elections.