New School Year 8/26

This is the first entry to our PREA website for the 08/09 school year. Welcome back.

I hope your summer was a good one.

Thanks for the many kind responses I received for my remarks on Monday morning. I always try to represent our Association well and I hope you approve.

Some news and reminders for the coming weeks:

Every building should have a minimum of three building reps. It would not be a bad idea if you are in a large elementary school like Roosevelt or Field, or a middle school, to have four. All of the building reps do not have to attend every Governing Board meeting, although more than one rep attending is a good idea.
Our hard-working Secretary, Erin Breen, has already sent out a notice of our first Governing Board meeting which is set for September 8th. All meetings will be in Erin’s room at Roosevelt this year, so you never have to worry about forgetting where it is.
VP Mike Taglia; Secretary Erin Breen; Treasurer Terry Viscuso and I will be meeting with the Administration Executive Team on Thursday morning. If you have concerns that can’t wait for the Governing Board, e-mail them to one of us.
Check the pay notice you received this week against your step and lane in the contract (available at http://www.preaonline.com) to make sure it is accurate. Remember we dropped down to 48 hours over a Masters this year. So those moving from 36 to 48 should receive a nice bump.
The Board voted Monday night to switch our insurance over to Blue Cross-Blue Shield. Your building’s member of the Employee Insurance Committee should have more info on this change and how it will impact you. Also, Lincoln needs a new member of the Committee.

Random info that has come up this summer:

Please remember that whenever you are in a meeting with an administrator and you believe it might have disciplinary implications, you can ask for PREA representation. Do not be afraid to ask for it.

In order to move up a step, you must work half a year, or approximately 93 days.

In order to receive tenure, the state requires four continuous uninterrupted years of service in a district. One year is 120 days for the purpose of receiving tenure.

The Board has established policies regarding the showing of movies in the classroom. Please be aware of these policies. They can be found on the District website.

Looking ahead over the next two weeks, it appears that the mild temperatures will continue. There is no expectation of 90 degree days. That will be unusual. Enjoy the start of the year.

-Fred