 |
H.T.A. Newsletter
H.T.A.is here for you because you deserve
the best.
Approved for publication by James Pace, HTA President, 8/22/04
Volume 4 - Issue 6 - August 2004
HTA/CTA/NEA
|
Executive Board
Jim Pace
President
Gordon Williamson
Vice-President
Jose Madera
Treasurer
Claudia Ethun
Secretary
Tom Kerman
Secondary Director
Scott Johnson
Director At Large
Jeanne Triska
Elementary Director
Rep Council
Layne Chan
Pat Cook
Shelley Delay
Barry Feinstein
Cheryl Feinstein
Jim Garrett
Susan Gilman
Darin Grebel
Ralph Heller
Debbie Herndon
Kristina Holmes
Robert Kirk
Vicki Kirk
Patty Liggett
Gina Lindsay
Gerald Marrs
Jackie Marsh
Harvey Miller
Mark Mulhern
Kathryn Mustain
Chris Pierce
Yolette Rios
Christine Robinson
Steve Thompson
Membership Chair
Barbara Bailey
Grievance Co-Chairs
Jim Garrett
Dick Westerhoff
SCSEBA Labor Rep
Heather Glenn
Newsletter Editor
Fran McCullough
|
Congratulation! We Now Have a Contract
President's Message
By Jim Pace, H.T.A President
|
One of the reasons we now have a ratified contract is because of HTA's participation in the last school board race. HTA helped elect two pro education candidates, Helen Rogers and Bruce Minton. We are sure their efforts, along with other board members, are what finally convinced administration to increase our insurance cap and offer a much more favorable settlement.
HTA Needs to thank the following:
First, we thank our membership. Thank you for your continued support and contributions to the school board political action fund (the result would not have been the same without your efforts).
Secondly, we thank the 300 hundred + members who volunteered their time during the last school board election. They performed such duties as putting up signs, and making phone calls just to name a few. You gave of yourself and the rest of us benefit for what you did. For our team efforts we settled the contract and won The Joyce Fadem Chapter-in-Politics Award. Only one award was given for medium sized chapters in all of California! (See California Educator, June 2004, Volume 8, page 31)
Lastly, I would personally like to recognize the efforts of the negotiation team and the executive board who so diligently and selflessly gave of their valuable time to help HTA. Thank you E. Board Members: Claudia Ethun, Tom Kerman, Vernon Johns, Scott Johnson, Jose Madera, Jeanne Triska and Gordon Williamson. Thank you Neg. Team Members: Scott Johnson, Peg Kennedy and Betsy Patridge. Lastly, a special thank you goes to Scott Johnson, Political Action Chair and winner of Ted Bass State Award, Lee Samuels, CTA Who Award Winner, for organizing the phone bank and Jose Madera for executing all the financial PAC paper work!
Thank you, together we make a difference!
Jp
|
|
UPDATE:
You can read the new contract on line at www.hesperiateachers.com
|
|
|
|
BY The #'s
By Jose Madera
HTA Treasurer/Director HDIEET
|
The new contract will increase our salary schedule for the next three years by COLA (cost of living adjustment) less HUSD's statutory costs. These costs are as follows:
STRS - State Teachers' Retirement System (8.25%), Medicare (1.45%), Workers' Compensation (3.3949%), and Unemployment (0.65%).
8.25+1.45+3.3949+0.65 = 13.7449%.
Our salary will increase by 2.28% for 04-05.
FYI: The projected average pay raise of U.S. workers for 2004 is 3.3% according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting. They project wages to increase by 3.5% in 2005.
|
|
|
SECRETARY'S REPORT
By Claudia Ethun
HTA Secretary
|
Future Rep. Council meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month unless otherwise stated.
We now have the contract on line for your convenience.
|
You may access our website at www.hesperiateachers.com
From the home page select the "Contract" tab at the top of the page and click on the appropriate contract.
|
|
|
DID YOU KNOW?
By Jeanne Triska
Elementary Director
|
Blue Shield
If you are having any problems with Blue Shield contact Gabrielle Gonzalez or Dellita Kobold at High Desert Inland Empire Trust. They are there to resolve any difficulties.
Recently, I tried to get a prescription filled but authorization from the doctor was required. I called the pharmacy and doctor several times during the week. Finally, I decided to e-mail Delllita. She forwarded my message to Gabriella. Within two hours, the pharmacy called to let me know that my prescription had been filled.
Another Hesperia teacher had trouble getting Blue Shield to pay for medical equipment. Since she used a provider that wasn't preferred, it took many days to resolve this issue.
Remember that some procedures will require pre-authorization. If you are uncertain, contact Blue Shield. My husband had a prescription for a MRI and the doctor's office assumed it would be automatically covered because we had a PPO. We did need authorization. If in doubt, contact Blue Shield.
I have found that the quickest way to get in touch is through e-mail.
High Desert Trust
909-924-4494 ext. 224
Gabriella Gonzalez
Gabrielle@cebins.com
Dellita Kolbold
dellita@cebins.com
|
Our Current Prescription Plan
We 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 write "DAW" (Dispense as written) if your prescription is for a name brand drug. Otherwise, you will automatically receive a generic equivalent. Non-formulary drugs are drugs which are not listed on the generic or formulary list. Prescriptions for non formulary drugs may need pre-authorization to get approved. To check if your drug is on the formulary list, go to: mylifepath.com. If you have any trouble, call immediately at 909-924-4494 ext. 224
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. 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 insurance tab and then on the Blue Shield icon.
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
|
|
|
|
