HEA - Hesperia Education Association

H.E.A. Newsletter
H.E.A.is here for you because you deserve the best.
Approved for publication by James Pace, HEA President, 9/15/03

Volume 3 - Issue 5 - August/September 2003
HEA/CTA/NEA

Executive Board
Jim Pace
President

Gordon Williamson
Vice-President

Jose Madera
Treasurer

Claudia Ethun
Secretary

Vernon Johns
Secondary Director

Scott Johnson
Elementary Director

Jeanne Triska
Director At Large

Rep Council
Karen Barkley
Steve Brenner
Sandy Brower
Doug Coombs
Pat Cook
Claudia Ethun
Jim Garrett
Darin Grebel
D.J. Gregory
Dorrie Hall
Ralph Heller
Margaret Kennedy
Patty Liggett
Ozzie Maenpaa
Ron Magoun
Jackie Marsh
Terry McGrath
John McHenry
Kathryn Mustain
Linda Picht
Chris Pierce
Sarah Pifer
Diana Pruiett
Marcia Rhodes
Yolette Rios
Cheryl Roberts
Christine Robinson
Cheryl Rutledge
Lee Samuels
Rebekah Swanson
Mike Waterworth

Membership Chair
Barbara Bailey

Grievance Co-Chairs
Jim Garrett
Dick Westerhoff

SCSEBA Labor Rep
Blair Thompson

Newsletter Editor
Fran McCullough

WE NEED YOUR HELP

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

We need a school board that is supportive of the students and teachers in this district. As many of you know, the current board chose to balance the budget primarily on the backs of the students and the teachers. They chose to cut 46 teaching positions, yet not one administration job was lost. The classroom should be the very last place to cut, not the first! These actions, 46 fewer teachers, along with tremendous growth this year has resulted in record class sizes. Many teachers have reported to me of having over 40 students in a class. This board also cut other vital programs: Reading Recovery, 20 to 1 for kindergarten, and reduced the offerings of Freshman English and Math 20 to 1.

In addition, the District continues to play games with our health care plan. They are taking the exact same amount as they did last year even though this year’s premium is cheaper. (Check your pay stub.) All total, by the end of the year, The District will have cheated our membership by about $200,000. We have contacted an attorney.

We desperately need a School Board that is willing to stand up for the students and teachers in this district. Helen Rogers and Bruce Minton are the two candidates that will put the students and the teachers first. As teachers we need to volunteer and help Helen and Bruce with their campaigns . We all need to give at least an hour of our time to make this a better district for the students and teachers. See your site rep today to volunteer.

UPDATE: REMEMBER to call Lisa Stanson at 877-924-4494 if you have questions or concerns regarding medical and or prescription insurance issues.
When checking the Newsletter for updates on line, remember to refresh the page each time.

HEA ENDORSES TWO CANDIDATES
Claudia Ethun
Secretary

The HEA Political Action Committee, after many hours of interviewing and hard work, has made its decision to endorse two qualified school board candidates for the upcoming November School Board Election. On August 8, 2003, the candidates spoke to many Hesperia teachers at a luncheon sponsored by the HEA after the district-wide inservice.

The two candidates are: Helen Rogers, a retired teacher from Hesperia Unified School District and Bruce Minton, a local lawyer.

Helen has taught for 38 years and is extremely interested in focusing her attention on the needs of the students.

If elected, she plans to visit the school sites on a regular basis to hear teachers' concerns.

Bruce is a product of Hesperia schools and believes that because this community invested in him, he would like to give back to his community by serving on the school board. Both candidates emphasized the need for quality schools with the main focus on the kids.

If you have not already signed up to help these student-guided candidates to get elected, please contact your HEA building representative. These two people are a breath of fresh air and could use our help to get their word out to the community.

BY The #'s
Jose Madera
HEA Treasurer/Director HDIEET

This year I'll be serving you in two capacities: HEA Treasurer, and Director on The High Desert Inland Employee/Employer Trust (HDIEET).

· POLITICAL ACTION DUES

Like last year, one dollar per month of your HEA dues will be automatically diverted to our Hesperia Education Association Political Action Committee (HEAPAC) account. Remember your dues have not been increased. Your dues are still ten dollars per month for ten months. This year, as we did last year, HEA will deposit ten dollars into the HEAPAC account unless you send instructions to HEA, in writing, requesting an amount less than ten dollars be deposited.

These instructions to HEA must be received on or before October 23, 2003. These funds can only be used for HUSD board elections.

· INSURANCE

As of July 1, 2003, our medical insurance switched over to Blue Shield. As mentioned above, I will represent HUSD certificated employees on the HDIEET. If you have general concerns that affect most of our teachers, please send them to me at Sultana H.S. If you have personal issues, please contact Lisa Stanson, account executive with CEB Business Insurance Services. She works for the HDIEET and will be your advocate if you have problems with medical providers. She can be reached at toll free 877-924-4494.

DID YOU KNOW?
By Jeanne Triska

Deductible Information

If you met all or part of your deductible from Blue Cross, you need to fax your last EOB (Explanation of Benefits) to High Desert & Inland Employer-Employee Trust (Lisa Stanson) at: 909-798-9811. If you don't Fax this information, your account won't be applied to your Blue Shield deductible. Once your EOB is received, it could take up to 45 days to get credit to your Blue Shield account. Unlike transferring to Blue Cross last year, your deductibles will NOT be forwarded automatically from Blue Cross to Blue Shield unless you fax your information. Our deductible went up with Blue Shield, from $150 to $200.

New Prescription Plan

Our last plan gave us all prescriptions at the same price. We now have generic, formulary, and non-formulary prices. The prices are ($10, $15,$30 PPO)and($5, $10, $25 HMO). Remember that all generic drugs are similar in ingredients but are made by many different companies. Don't forget to have your doctor put "DAW" (Dispense as written) on your prescription. To check if your drug is on the formulary list, go to: mylifepath.com. If you have any trouble, call Lisa Stanson immediately at 909-924-4494 ext. 224 Non-formulary drugs that are not on the Blue Shield list may need pre-authorization to get approved.

Mail Order Prescriptions

Express Scripts has the best price for maintenance medication. You can receive a 90-day supply of medication for two co-payments. For more information, visit: http://www.express-scripts.com/ If you are using the Express Scripts Mail Order Prescription Program and the drug you need is non-formulary, your doctor may have to authorize the prescription by calling Express Mail directly. Non-formulary prescriptions are drugs that are not on the generic or formulary list. Express Mail may not notify you about the prescription delay for weeks. For questions call or e-mail Blue Shield at (800) 200-2342 or visit www.hesperiateachers.com and click on the insurance icon.

You received a copy of the Blue Shield Drug Formulary in your insurance packet. It is a small booklet that lists the status of drugs, according to Blue Shield.

STRS Counselor

You may make an appointment with John Crump to counsel you about retirement. You don't have to be ready to retire to meet with him. Call (760) 242-6300 and make an appointment.