September 16, 2009 * Vol. 13 * No. 2
In a little over a month, MCEA’s negotiating team will go to the bargaining table to try and settle on solutions to the 800 pound instructional gorilla which gets in the way of effective teaching and learning: the issue of time and workload.
Teachers want children to succeed. They would like time to prepare for individualized instruction, offer constructive comments on quizzes and homework, create dynamic lessons, enter grades, work with colleagues, contact parents with critical feedback (in a timely manner), and most importantly, time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t in the day’s lesson.
Unfortunately, that time is not there. It get’s interrupted by paperwork, reports, meetings, and, you name it.
Money is in short supply. Teachers get that. It doesn’t mean, however, that solutions to the issue of time and workload can’t be addressed in a no-cost or low –cost way.
That’s why MCEA needs your help. Do you have some concrete, specific solutions that should be included in our contract? Do you have a practice in your school that should be implemented countywide – and bargained for all?
Send your ideas to bargainingfeedback@mcea.nea.org and help the bargaining team that will be selected to represent you and negotiate on your behalf to achieve a new and improved contract. This is the final year of the current three year contract and almost all aspects of the contract are opened for discussion.
Don’t miss out because time is running out. If you think those “closest to the work are in the best position to make instructional decisions, need more time and to plan and teach and should be trusted to meet high standards for students,” then you need to join the thousands of your colleagues who’ve already signed the pledge. If you haven’t already signed, ask your MCEA Rep. when your building meeting will be held or simply ask to sign the pledge form.
MCEA President Doug Prouty will deliver the signed forms to the Board of Education. This stage of the campaign will conclude on Oct. 7 MCEA wants to speak with one voice: your voice. So don’t be left out.
Effective school discipline policy should be preconceived, not ill-conceived. And that’s exactly the perspective behind Article 9 of the contract negotiated, and agreed upon, by MCEA and the Board of Education.
From the initial discipline policy which requires “involvement of all school community stakeholders” (9C1) to the requirement that “each school shall annually develop and adopt a local school discipline policy” to, finally, “all members of the faculty and administration must be consulted about the development of the policy prior to its implementation” (italics added), it’s clear the policy must be developed collaboratively and reviewed yearly.
MCEA recommends early action so the complete staff can follow the same policy and pursue the same goal.
Personal leave is provided for every unit member to “conduct personal business of a nature that cannot be scheduled on any non-duty day.” The contract goes on to say in Article 30, Sec. Q that “No specific reason for such personal leave shall be required or solicited” (unless immediately before or after a holiday, vacation, or professional development day, in which case, a reason may be solicited). Yes, personal leave is for you and your needs.
While personal leave is almost always approved, the principal can deny it in one circumstance: if s/he believes “that adequate provisions for continuing the school program are insufficient.” Historically, the only circumstance where this has come into play has been when large numbers of the staff have requested personal leave on the same day. (i.e. before and after a holiday). Once approved, personal leave days cannot be cancelled.
Personal leave should be requested – in writing – at least one day in advance of the expected absence. More advanced notice is preferable – especially to increase the likelihood of sub coverage. If need for personal leave occurs with less than a day’s notice, the appropriate school official (or voice mail) should be notified prior to the start of the duty day to be taken off as well as the sub line.
No, it’s not about a national health care plan – and it will be a heck of a lot more civil than those town hall meetings. Your MCEA leaders want to hear what’s on your mind when it comes to MCEA, schools and MCPS. What’s working? What’s not working? Come share your insights with your MCEA leaders. Come out to Rockville High School’s staff lounge on Wednesday, Sept. 23 for the secondary town hall meeting from 3:30 – 4:30 pm and the elementary meeting from 4:30 – 5:30.
The recession is indeed being felt everywhere. Even at MCEA. With the slowdown in teacher hiring, dues revenue has decreased and the recent move to the newly purchased MCEA headquarters has truly stretched finances. So, if you notice a few cutbacks at MCEA, just like you’re probably experiencing at home and in your school, don’t be alarmed. As everyone else, MCEA is working to control expenses and avoid a dues increase.
There are two additional ‘definites’ besides death and taxes: sick leave membership and MCEA membership. You shouldn’t run from either.
To avoid having to wait one full year before utilizing the sick leave bank, new employees must sign up with 90 days of their employment to be eligible for sick leave benefits after only four months. The bank is a great program and well worth it. It’s essentially free sick leave insurance. Need a form? Contact MCEA today.
Keeping track of completed assignments can take a great deal of time so here’s a quick and easy way to do it. When it's time for students to turn in an assignment, make sure that you collect something from everyone. If they don't have their assignment, they must write 'I did not turn in my assignment' and sign their name on a sheet of notebook paper. These statements are turned in to help your record keeping and serve as documentation so no one can blame you for misplacing an assignment. Hopefully, missing assignments will be completed at a later date (maybe after reteaching, if that’s the reason for unfinished assignments) and take the place of the ‘blanks.’ While the hope is to have a completed assignment from every student, at least for bookkeeping’s sake, receiving ‘something’ from every student helps.
Daily Tweet
Do you want to keep students in touch through twitter? You could log on Twitter and created an account to communicate with your students. If you want, you can send reminders about the assignments for the day. It's quick and easy, and the 140 characters are generally enough for high school courses. You can promote it in class and see how many jump on. Many books have a companion website and you can post links in your tweet. Websites with many online resources for students and parents can also be linked along with online tutorials.