NEWSETTE
Information is Power
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Inside this Newsette:
- Concurrent Instruction
- Inclement Weather Announcement
- Contract Negotiations
- Legislative Priorities
- Bargaining Platform
- Need PRAXIS Prep Support?
- Mental Health Assistance
- Upcoming Events
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Concurrent Instruction Important Pay Dates From PGCPS
First Semester Lump Sum Payment - Friday, December 10, 2021
Second Semester Lump Sum Payment - Friday, June 10, 2022
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Important Announcement: Inclement Weather Days
Inclement weather days will remain as they have previously. They will not be used as virtual learning days. We will keep you updated should there be any suggested changes to this policy.
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TIME FOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
Negotiations of our next union contract have begun with the school system. We are taking a bold new approach in our open negotiations called "bargaining for the common good".
Bargaining for the Common Good (BCG) is an innovative approach to bargaining where public-sector unions use contract fights to organize local stakeholders around a set of demands that benefit not just the bargaining unit, but also our students and the broader community.
Our theme for our bargaining platform is "From Pandemic to Promise: Re-Imagining Our Schools". This first session will focus on Reducing Unsustainable Workload on Educators.
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CORONAVIRUS ADVOCACY AND GUIDANCE
Our collective team, local, state, and national, is doing a herculean job of rapidly responding to member needs, at times unresponsive district and state leadership, and competing wants and needs across all systems. During this current coronavirus surge and moving forward, at the state level we are continuing to advocate with elected officials and policy leaders for tools and supports needed to hopefully keep schools open to in-person learning in healthy and safe conditions. We continue to advocate for:
· More coronavirus tests and testing sites, at schools where possible, to be made available for students and educators on a weekly basis
· Increased vaccine accessibility and incentives for eligible individuals
· All health and safety mitigation practices as outlined in the health and safety checklists in place in all schools and worksites on an ongoing basis
· COVID leave for vaccinated employees
· Clarity on quarantine guidance
· More personnel to mitigate staffing shortages, assist with testing and contact tracing, and serve as substitutes
· Workload relief
· Additional pay for employees (including hazard, retention, and vaccine incentives)
Just before break Sean Johnson and Cheryl Bost sent out guidance that is relevant for locals trying to negotiate and advocate for supports for educators regarding school closures, leave, virtual learning, and more. Locals finding success with MOUs or other means to support educators, please email Cheryl, Sean, and field managers so we can share best practices with others. Additionally, as we are pleased to have a working relationship with Superintendent Choudhury and the General Assembly is starting the 2022 session, if you think of items to put forth to help our efforts, please share those too.
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2022 MSEA LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Download and share MSEA’s legislative priorities for the 2022 General Assembly Session. This document is a tool to support MSEA’s advocacy to build on the successful passage of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Kirwan Commission), addressing continuing issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic, such as non-academic supports for students and escalating workloads and staffing shortages for educators. This session will also be an opportunity for us to continue our advocacy for social justice and workers’ rights. The General Assembly session runs from January 12 – April 11, 2022.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE
SCHOOL MASK MANDATE
At their December meeting, the State Board put forth new emergency regulations regarding face covering requirements that included “off ramps” for districts to at some point remove the requirement if specific criteria are met. On January 5, 2022, the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) met and approved the new emergency regulations. The new regulations are effective immediately. Here is a detailed report of the meeting and the new regulations provided by Queen Nwafor, Education Policy Specialist in our MSEA Center for Education Policy and Practice. MSDE is also putting forth this same wording using their standard regulation promulgation process which would keep the face covering regulation, with new off ramps, in place until June 2023. The standard process takes longer and we’ll keep you updated.
Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation Plans
The State Board also revised their policy on Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation and local districts have until February 25, 2022 to update their model policies to align with MSDE policy. Preliminary MCAP and KRA results from the fall administration were shared. It is not surprising that proficiency levels dropped using a new assessment tool and testing during a pandemic. These scores will be shared on the website and students will receive individual data. It is important to put this baseline data in context and continue to move forward the best we can in very tenuous circumstances.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
Are you interested in testifying before the county council or the board of education on issues that matter most to you? We want you to join us and ensure that our school system and county leadership understand how the decisions that they make impact us in the school building every day. We will have a series of trainings and workshops to prepare those interested to testify before the council and the Board of Education.
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Get Valuable Educator Perks Just for Union Members
Whether you’ve joined your education association at the local, state or national level, you belong to the NEA and have access to educator perks through NEA Member Benefits. Watch this video to see how it works.
Why NEA Member Benefits Is Dedicated to Serving Educators
NEA members are at the core of everything we do – from negotiating on your behalf to offer valuable benefits with trusted partners, to supporting your personal needs in each stage of your life and career. Find out more about why you inspire us and how we can help you.
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For immediate mental health assistance:
PGCPS Employee Assistance Program:
By phone: 1-800-346-0110 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Username: PGCPS
Password: PRINCE
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Do you know your UniServ Director?
Our UniServ directors (UD's) are here to assist you with any of your school-based issues or contract compliance needs. To find out what UD is assigned to your school click the button to see their school assignments.
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CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE:
Responding to Workplace Bullying
Unfortunately, too many PGCEA members face incidents of workplace bullying. This behavior takes many forms, but can lead to tremendous job dissatisfaction, unnecessary stress, and even physical or mental illness. This informative training session will focus on ways Unit I members can respond to bullying behavior at their work site. The goal of the training is to provide the knowledge and tools members need to document and address bullying behavior from administrators or other colleagues.
When: January 19, 2022 5:00 PM on Zoom
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A CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
A Celebration of Black Lives Matter at Schools Week
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The Restorative Practices and Racial and Social Justice committee is hosting an arts showcase to celebrate black lives matter in school week. The showcase will be held on February 4th from 6:30-8:00 at the PGCEA building. The theme this year is “A Year of Purpose” and our goal is for our K-12 students to showcase their skills and talents and celebrate black and brown lives in our community. The creative works may include spoken word, poetry, original art, dance, pottery or original composition. The original work can be aligned to one of the four national demands, which include 1. End zero tolerance 2. Mandate Black History and Ethnic Studies 3. Hire more black teachers 4. Fund counselors, not cops. In order to preserve the essence, prizes will not be awarded to participants. We want our students to showcase an original work of art.
We hope you will encourage students to submit original pieces of artistic expression for display on Friday, February 4th. Special guests will include artist-activists from across the country.
Deadline to complete the application is December 15th, 2021 then students will submit and upload original work into the google classroom between January 7-13th. January 13th is the final day to submit original work.
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Nominations Elections and Credentials Committee (NECC) upcoming election calendar for members to review in case you want to run for office. |
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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY EDUCATORS' ASSOCIATION| WWW.PGCEA.ORG
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