*PGCEA Offices will be closed March 16-April 24th. Should you need help staff is available by phone 301-736-2700 and email at [email protected]
April 5, 2020
Greetings!
After three weeks of being home, I have been very reflective of the life I lead, my freedom, my career, my family, and my friends. The COVID 19 virus has us quarantined, my career facing great challenges, and family and friends with the virus. There is great fear from uncertainty and what we don’t know causes great anxiety. Members of our association and their family members are testing positive. I found out this morning that my aunt and her family in Tenessee have tested positive and are ill. Our children and families we serve also share these anxieties. This is a historical time and the precedent has now been set that if there is a shutdown in the future that Distance Learning will be expected.
You should have received the District Learning plan in your email last Monday morning March 30 around 8:15 AM. Please read the document as it pertains to you and your professional responsibilities for Distance Learning and its implementation. This past week we went back online as a system with meetings and professional development. There is much to learn and do.
After the release of the plan Monday the PGCEA Board of Directors held an emergency meeting and voted unanimously to hold a teletown hall to address member concerns. In preparation for the Teletown Hall all members that we have cell numbers for were sent a text message, email was sent out and every member we had a cell phone number for received an auto-dial call to get on the Town hall. Over 3,500 members participated. PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson and her top staff members were on the call including: Dr. Gwendolyn Mason Director Student Services, Dr. Judith White Director Curriculum and Instruction, and Dr. Helen Coley Chief of School Support and School Leadership. We submitted several questions in advance that we have been receiving from members. The written responses to questions submitted to the CEO and her staff and their responses are available on our Corona Virus/Page on our website www.pgcea.org.
Highlights are as follows:
• Pay will continue uninterrupted. You will be paid during the closure according to negotiated agreement and after the closure, we return to negotiated payrolls. You should see no change in salary or benefits. Each case of issues with leave will be handled on a case by case basis.
• Distance Learning begins April 14. Chromebook distribution began last Wednesday. The system is assisting families with internet service
• All staff should have their laptops at home. If you do not have internet at your primary residence we are negotiations with Verizon to see what further services are available. They do offer a lower priced option for educators during the shutdown. Here is the link. https://www.verizon.com/support/consumer/account/manage-account/lifeline-discount. We are working on Comcast
• All unit one members are expected to be available from 9 AM- 1 PM.
• A joint PGCEA and PGCPS team met on Friday March 27. We will reconvene April 17 to discuss the impact and issues members are experiencing.
• Technology support is available from the Help Desk for passwords and issues with your laptop. Email http://help.pgcps.org/ or call (301)386-1549. Email is best to avoid long phone waits.
• The Employee Services Center is a centralized single point of contact and resource for employees, retirees, former employees, and stakeholders who have inquiries regarding their employment needs or need assistance with accessing employment related information. https://www.pgcps.org/esc/
• Professional Development If you were unable to sign up for a Professional Development Class or were kicked out of one, please alert your supervisor. Professional Development will be ongoing over the coming weeks. You should be able to sign up for classes through MYPPS.
• Evaluations Evaluations are on hold until the state makes a decision. It is advised that if you have your necessary observations completed that you should complete your 4E to complete your responsibility. This is to keep you form being on cycle again next year.
Modified 2019-20 School Calendar
•
March 30th :
End of 3rd quarter marking period.
•
March 30th – April 3rd
: Students turn in completed assignments. Students unable to submit assignment form 3/16-3/27 will not be counted against them and grade will be entered as exempt.
•
April 6-8:
Teachers will input grades in to SchoolMax for 3rd Quarter. April 6-8 will be considered work days without children. They are grading and planning days. No student instruction during these days. The days will count in toward the 180 days in the state and our contractual 192 days.
•
April 9th, 10th and April 13th
: Non-duty days for Teachers
•
April 14th
: Fourth quarter and online learning will begin
•
April 17th
Distance Learning Team meets with PGCPS
•
June 2nd:
Primary Election – Schools are closed should there be a primary election. If paper is ballots is elected, then there will be a school day for students.
•
June 9th:
Last day for students
•
June 11th:
last day for 10 month employees
*May receive a waiver for March 16-27th (no charging of SLB days)
The past two weeks-Work from students for the last two weeks should not be put in SchoolMax. If students are given credit as extra credit that's fine, otherwise if it is not complete-exempt.
We will do our best to answer every question and offer additional guidance in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, PGCPS will continue meal service and share enrichment packets and other resources using our website, social media channels, e-blasts, text messages and PGCPS-TV (Verizon 38/Xfinity 96).The school system will be providing updated programming on Verizon 38 Xfinity 98
The system will use Social Media to push out info and alerts
Corona Virus web-page resources are available on PGCPS through the staff portal https://www.pgcps.org/coronavirus/employees/
Video Visits
All employees and their eligible dependents enrolled in PGCPS health plans are eligible for video visits, allowing you to consult with a board-certified physician from your smartphone, tablet or computer from the comfort of your home. CareFirst member information. Kaiser member information. Customer Service at CareFirst: 1-800-296-0724 or www.carefirst.com
If you need support during this time there is help and you are not alone.
You can call Employee Assistance Plan
By phone: 1-800-346-0110 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Or go Online:
• Go to: Inova Employee Assistance Program
• Enter the username PGCPS
• Enter the password PRINCE
Please remind your circle of influence that while this is an emergency, PGCEA is teleworking Monday-Friday 9AM-5 PM. 301-736-2700 or [email protected]. We have set up a Corona Virus page on www.pgcea.org
Stay safe, practice social distancing of 6 feet, and if you feel you need to get tested, call your primary care provider.
In solidarity,
Theresa Mitchell Dudley
President
