September 26, 2021
NEWSETTE
Information is Power
Inside this Newsette:


  • Vision Plan Benefit Enhancements
  • Bargaining Survey
  • National Board Certified Teachers
  • Victory at Glendale ES
  • Need PRAXIS Prep Support?
  • Parent Involvment
  • Sick Leave Bank Open Enrollment
  • Mental Health Assistance
  • Big Year, Get Involved
  • Know your UniServ
  • Upcoming Events
  • Join a Committee
We Need Your Input
We are preparing to enter into negotiations with PGCPS about our next contract and we need your input. Take a moment to take the bargaining survey.

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION (NBCT): MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION (MOC): DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 29

The MSEA Center for Education Policy and Practice invites members to attend a webinar that provides an informational overview of the National Board Certification MOC components. The MOC process allows NBCTs to extend their certificates for five years. Registration will close on September 29, 2021 at 12:00pm. Click here for details and to register.

Topic: National Board Certification-MOC
Date: Thursday, September 30, 2021
Time: 6:30pm to 7:45pm
REGISTRATION:
MSEA Members: Free!
Registration required. Registration opened September 14, 2021
Registration Deadline: September 29, 2021 @ 12:00pm.
Contact: Danielle Jones
Win Win at Glenn Dale Elementary!

The members of the FAC knew how problematic it was that there was no functional sink in the staff bathroom for staff to wash their hands, especially during a pandemic. In fact, there was no sink at all! The sink fell off the wall and had not been replaced.

The FAC continued to bring the issue to their administration, who agreed, but still, nothing. Not to be deterred, the FAC was relentless and continued to press for a resolution. The FAC teamed with their principal to escalate the matter and last week, facilities workers arrived at the school to install a sparkling new, fully functional bathroom sink!

The FAC and their fellow staff members are very relieved and will continue to advocate for members at Glenn Dale. Their work is a great example of what happens when:

  • Staff are organized through their FAC
  • Staff are committed to resolving issues
  • Staff stick together
  • Staff can work with their administration to resolve issues of staff-wide concern

Congratulations to the Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) at Glenn Dale Elementary School. The FAC is continuing work to address matters in their building.

We want to hear about your school’s success in resolving issues of school-wide concern, too! When staff work together to improve the working conditions in their buildings, it is worth celebrating! Tell us your story at: contacts@pgcea.org.
Sign Up For PRAXIS Support
Reminder: The Fall MSEA praxis schedule is up on the MSEA website here
Do You Know Any Parent Leaders at Your School? 
We have some great initiatives and sessions lined up for parents this year, but to be successful we need your support! 
 
Help PGCEA increase our parent engagement efforts this year by identifying people who are involved in Parent Teacher Associations and Organizations at your schools or individual parent leaders who are not affiliated with a formal organization. We greatly appreciate your support!
➡️Complete this brief form
Sick Leave Bank Open Enrollment
Reminder! Sick Leave Bank Open Enrollment is underway and will end on September 30th.
 
What is the Sick Leave Bank?
The PGCEA Sick Leave Bank ([Contract 4.19: J-8]) is a leave system designed for Unit 1 employee’s use for qualifying incapacitating personal illnesses during regularly scheduled duty days.
 
See sick leave bank guidelines here
Click here to access the enrollment form. Please submit your completed form to sickleavebank@pgcea.org
 
IMPORTANT: If you are currently enrolled in the Sick Leave Bank, then you do not need to submit another form.
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
Big Year and Lots of Ways to Get Involved!

As most of you know, this is a big year for PGCEA because we have the opportunity to renegotiate our contract with the county, while members of the school board and county council are up for re-election! Let’s demonstrate our power by winning big improvements in our contract on safety, workplace benefits, and pay scale while simultaneously putting people in public office who will work accountably with us on education policy and resource allocation. #TeachingConditionsAreLearningConditions

It’s time for us all to officially GET. IN. FORMATION. Throughout this fall, PGCEA members all have the opportunity to join one of our Contract Action Team (CAT) committees or our Political Action Go Team. To read more and sign up now for one of the CAT committees or the Go Team, click here. Once we have a critical mass of members signed up, we will follow up with upcoming committee meetings and action dates for this fall.

We will be offering a series of virtual information sessions about how open negotiations work, aka Bargaining for the Common Good (B4CG), where members will have the opportunity to dialogue directly and ask questions with experienced PGCEA organizers and contract negotiators. These information sessions are open and available both to PGCEA members who definitely know they want to join a CAT committee and to those who are curious and questioning the right role for them. Click on one of the following dates and time links to register for that virtual information and discussion session:





If you have questions about any of the trainings or committee sign up form, please email PGCEA Uniserv Director Nikki Cole at ncole@pgcea.org. Sign up today and tell a colleague to do the same. We are powerful when we come together.
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.
CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING!
 
The Contract Enforcement Committee meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 5:30 pm. Our first meeting will be Wednesday, October 6th.
 
The committee provides training to PGCEA members related to their negotiated agreement, contract enforcement, and how to address workplace bullying by the administration.
 
We also develop and propose contract and/or policy language to close loopholes in contract language and strengthen PGCEA’s ability to successfully grieve member concerns.
 
If you are interested in joining the committee send your contact information to gbrennan@mseanea.org.
2021 MSEA RA BUSINESS SUBMISSION FORM
Delegates seeking to submit new business items, new resolutions, amendments to resolutions, amendments to the nominations and elections guidelines, and amendments to the rules may click here to use the online business submission form. Submissions will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Friday, October 8, 2021. Business may not be submitted on-site in Ocean City this year. Only delegates may submit new business for the RA.
MSEA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
In accordance with the MSEA Bylaws, attached are: MSEA Proposed Bylaw Amendments #1 and #2 for the 2021 MSEA Convention. Please be aware that the proposed bylaw amendments were properly received and reviewed by the MSEA Bylaws and Rules Committee.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the MSEA Bylaws and Rules Committee Staff Liaison Damon Felton at 443-433-3670.
Other Upcoming Dates:

September 27th, 2021: New Teacher Orientation
October 4th, 2021: New Teacher Orientation
October 4th, 2021: Restorative Practice and Social Justice Committee Meeting
October 6th, 2021: GR Committee Meeting
October 11th, 2021: Indigenous Peoples Day
Nominations Elections and Credentials Committee (NECC) upcoming election calendar for members to review in case you want to run for office.