Sept 2017 School Board Meeting Comments

Good evening Chairman Sage, SB members, Dr Perry, and SB administrators, 

I appreciate the time to speak with you especially at an evening meeting that I can attend without missing time with my students. I apologize that no one was at the last meeting to speak on behalf of the WCEA. Being the second day of school we were not comfortable missing that class time with our students to be here. 

I would like to report that the year has gotten off to a great start. We have successfully completed our back to school meetings and professional developments. There was lots of positive feedback from instructional staff about the variety and quality of PD offerings. Staff also appreciated the abbreviated opening session which allowed for more time in the classroom to prepare for the beginning of school. I would like to send our compliments  to Dr. James and the Instructional administrators would planned and led these sessions. I would also like to thank the ITRTs who put on another successful Technology luau. There was great discussion I these sessions and many ideas shared which I'm sure have already made there way into classrooms around the county. 

Instructional staff is hard at work building on the successes of last year while adjusting to new schedules and new students. It's a fun time of year learning names, developing routines, and encouraging positive habits. We have welcomed quite a good crew of new teachers as well. Their energy and fresh ideas bring good vibes to the table. 

We enjoyed our Solar Eclipse day and am glad to report that no eyesight was lost despite the many concerns. The joy on students faces that day as they watched the eclipse was magically. Watching a kids face light up when something they've never seen before happens is a feeling I wish I could bottle and save. Moments like those we experienced that day is the reason most of us got into teaching. I hope you were able to see the joy on a child's face that day. 

Our curriculum is in full swing as we have already sent home the first midterm reports. We've already begun to identify those students who need support and are building ways in our schedules to provide that help. We are beginning to build toward our first formal assessments with benchmarks happening in just a few weeks. 

Finally I would like to thank you for seeking ways to recognize and reward staff for all that they are doing. We appreciate the duty free lunch times and the staff meals and free admission to sporting events. I've spoke with Dr Perry about other idea for recognition. That our meeting next week the WCEA will be working on a survey to send out to staff to get feedback on ore things that could be done. If you have anything to include please let me know. 

Thank you again for including us on the agenda and giving us time to slpeak

June SB Meeting Comments

Many of our WCEA members had contacted us about the proposed School Board budget, salary scales, and health insurance. We did our best to summarize your concerns and include them in our remarks to the School Board. Here's what we said...

Good morning Chairman Sage, school board members, Dr. Perry. Thank you for this time to speak before you. Since last we spoke a lot has happened. We are happy to report our students and teachers have had lots off success with SOL testing, various sports teams, field trips and field days, awards and graduation ceremonies and the list of events goes on and on. It was great to see you all at our various events. I'm sure the principals slide show will highlight many of these for you. The WCEA would like to Thank school board members, school board office administrators, building principals, and staff for your support to make these successes possible for our students. 

We also received contracts and health insurance information at the end of the school year. We know this has been a difficult budget year given the lack of support from the state. We would like to thank you for maintaining last year's 2% raise given the take-backsies that the state played with that money. As you recall When we presented the Employee survey results  the focus of the employees was maintaining or hopefully increasing take home pay when all is said and done for next year. My goal is not to push a personal agenda or an agenda of the WCEA. My goal is to present some data from the employee perspective as it relates to the goal of maintaining or improving take home pay. 

In looking at the information provided on health insurance we are pleased that the budget holds the single employee health plan harmless. The $888 yearly increase in employer contribution goes a long way toward helping those employees maintain or increase their take home pay. Thank you for that. With the $888 employer increase the other plans holders will see a yearly increase of $756 for the dual plan and $1512 for the family plan. 

The proposed paraprofessional scale calls for a $2000 increase at all steps which would go along way toward improving their take home pay and just as importantly making that salary scale more competitive for our paraprofessionals when compared to other school systems in our region in our region. 

The proposed teacher salary scale provides for a $300 increase at step 0 and $400 increase at all other steps. With that increase it appears that those on the employee only health plan will achieve the goal of improving take home pay. Those employees on the dual plan and family plans will pay out more in health care premiums than the $400 salary increase will cover making it difficult to maintain their take home pay. 

As mentioned the proposed teacher salary scale provides a $300 increase for step 0 and $400 at all other steps. While we understand that the scale is a year contract and not a guarantee from year to year, there are some interesting facts to consider when comparing the 2106-17 scale to the proposed 2107-2018 scale. In last years scale steps 0-9 increased $300 from step to step so the proposed $400 increase would actually improve the scale in those areas. In last years scale steps 10-17 saw a $400 increase so those would remain the same in the proposed scale. Steps 18-19 had a $500 increase in last years scale so those steps will decrease by $100. Steps 20-21 will decrease by $300 from $700 in last years scale. Steps 22-24 will decrease by $900 from the $1300 increase in last years scale. Step 25 will decrease $1100 from last years $1500 increase. 

If you remember from the salary survey presentation our scale was very competitive at the beginning and at the end, but was not as competitive in the middle. This proposed scale would increase the strength in the first ten years, decrease the strength at the end, while the middle would still not be as competitive. 

As WCEA president I have had several discussions in recent days members especially those with 15+ years of experience. To summarize those discussions I would say this. While our employees know that the scale will change from year to year, it is important to consider that when an employee sees health costs rising as those on the dual and family plans will and their salary scale doesn't increase at a similar rate, their bottom line is taking home less money. It's not a sense of entitlement that employees have that makes them think their take home pay should increase, but a sense of value to the students they work with everyday. The work our employees do is valuable to the community and they want to see that value reflected when they look at their pay check. 

Lastly I would like to thank Dr Perry for including employees in the exploration of the self insurance concept. I was able to attend yesterday's meeting in Abingdon on self insurance and was intrigued by the ideas discussed. I was especially interested in the concept of helping employees take ownership of their health care. I think that will be an important factor that the WCEA would look forward to collaborating on whether we decide to remain fully insured, go with a state plan or move toward self insurance. 

Thank you again for this time to speak with you. If the WCEA can help in anyway as you consider the proposed salary scale and health insurance plans please let me know.

Presented to the WCPS School Board on June 8, 2017 by Ryan Walker, WCEA Co-President

Barnes & Noble

FOR OUR VEA MEMBERS!

Did you know that Barnes and Noble offers a FREE Educator Card that saves teachers on all purchases you make for the classroom?! 

After I learned this I made a connection with the Barnes and Noble in Johnson City and they want to

honor Educators in our District on October 8-16!

See the attached flyer for details about the event onSaturday October 8  that includes a Vendor Fair and demonstrations beginning at 2:00

Also:

Enjoy light refreshments 

Selection of Free Publisher Materials

Enter to Win Door Prizes

 

 

RSVP to Vickie at crm2129@bn.com

 

Enjoy EXTRA savings during the ENTIRE Week and 25% discount on ALMOST everything! 

 

 

 

Doris  

 

Doris Boitnott, Director

Cumberland Mountain UniServ

VEA Mini-Grant

Attention Members: Need money for your classroom? The VEA's mini-grant deadline is approaching. Here's a link for more information and the simple form to apply. Let us know if you need any help applying...VEA Mini Grant

VEA Delegate Assembly

We have eight delegates here in Richmond for the VEA Convention. Check back here for updates on the goings-on...

Who's Here...

-Kim Aker, Spiller

-Jen Ryan, Jackson

-Vic Gravley, Max Meadows

-Rebecca McGhee, RRMS/HS

-Kay White, Max Meadows

-Annie Zorn, Spiller

-Erika Hooper, Max Meadows

-Ryan Walker, Sheffey

Where are we...

-The Delegate Assembly is being held at the Richmond Convention Center.

-Our delegation is staying at the Crowne Plaza in downtown. 

Thursday Highlights...

-We heard a tremendous a speech from our NEA President, Lily Ekelsen. Ask us about her blood drive!

-We learned that Richmond has a lot of one-way streets :)

-The candidates for VEA offices gave speeches for the elections we're having here. 

-We enjoyed a dance and social time after our session. 

Friday Morning Highlights...

-We voted for statewide VEA Offices. 

-We began discussion and action votes on New Business Items. 

Our own Annie Zorn speaking on one of the New Business Items. 

-We heard our VEA President, Meg Gruber's last speech as President.

-The election for VEA President went to a run off since none of the three candidates received a majority of the the original votes. The two candidates in the run-off are Livingston and Patton. 

- The VEA VP election was decided with James Fedderman (Accomack) the winner. 

-We recognized 5 state Republicans and 4 Democrats as Legislative Champions for their work in the General Assembly this year. 

-SWVA's very own Ben Chafin (R) was recognized as the Legislator of the Year for his work on the salary amendment to the state budget, his decisive vote to kill the Charter School Bill, and his bill to create a pathway for a statewide insurance option. 

Friday Afternoon Session...

-We dealt with several more New Business Items. 

-We heard several reports from VEA offices and committees 

-The run-off for the VEA President went final with Jim Livingston (Prince William) winning!

Did you know that...

-One out of every 100 people who live in the US belongs to the NEA. We are 3 million members strong. -Lily Ekelsen

-The budget passed by the GA this year passed with $73 million more for public education than the Governor originally proposed. -Meg Gruber

-If you're in your first year of teaching and you belonged to SVEA in college, you can earn a rebate on your dues. 

-The VEA is the only teacher advocacy group to serve on several key state committees on public education issues. 

Recap: WCEA @ Kids' Day at the Wytheville Farmers' Market

We had a great time with all the kids, families, and community members that joined us at the Wytheville Farmers' Market. 

W.G. Steele Leadership Conference

The WCEA sent five members to Damascus, VA for the W.G. Steele Leadership Conference on July 19. We had a lovely setting at the brand new Damascus Public Library. We discussed different ways of organizing - New Teacher Orientation, 10-Minute Meetings, One-on-One Conversations, and Bulletin Boards. Jen Ryan highlighted several of the Community Engagement activities that the WCEA has organized and participated in over the past year.