NEWSETTE
Information is Power
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Inside this Newsette:
- Call to Action
- Concurrent Instruction
- Contract Negotiations
- Legislative Priorities
- Bargaining Platform
- Need PRAXIS Prep Support?
- PGCEA Election Time
- Black Lives Matter At School Week 2022 Events
- Upcoming Events
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CALL TO ACTION:
Education Money Missing from Hogan’s Proposed FY23 Budget
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In a disappointing replay of disastrous education policy, Gov. Hogan left out nearly $140 million in education funding from the budget he proposed for fiscal year 2023. Among the damaging omissions was the education effort adjustment that the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future called for the state to fund to help Baltimore City and Prince George’s County cover new local Blueprint FY23 program costs. His move, which may not be legal, would result in a $99 million cut for Baltimore City and a $26.5 million cut for Prince George’s County. That and another $14 million missing from Hogan’s budget (SB 290/HB 300) squarely hit the historically underserved populations that the Blueprint particularly intended to lift up. Blueprint advocates fought hard to include the education effort funding in the final legislation, and House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) was quick to call out Hogan’s omission.
Hogan’s attempted cuts come from an often-used play in his playbook of trumpeting funding levels in his pre-budget release press announcements to mask real cuts that he has proposed to expected school funding levels. This move dates back to his very first budget as governor, where he proposed more than $100 million in cuts, and spans to two summers ago, when he proposed more than $300 million in cuts amid the pandemic. Now, Hogan is again trying to cut off Blueprint funds before it even gets started.
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LET'S WIN A BETTER CONTRACT: THE NEXT CONTRACT NEGOTIATION SESSIONS IS ON FEBRUARY 8th, 2022
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.
*Be sure to wear red on each of our contract negotiation sessions.
RECAP of January 20 Bargaining Session
We presented our proposals on reducing educator workload (See proposals above). The proposals were heard by the school system, they will respond at the next session and or present counter proposals. You don't want to miss out on the next session on February 8, 2022.
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Status Reports Needed:
PGCEA is in need of information to provide to PGCPS regarding masks, at-home test kits, and heating issues. Names and email addresses are collected for internal follow-up as needed, but will not be shared with PGCPS.
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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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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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HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN TIME TO THRIVE CONFERENCE
Registration is now open for HRC’s 9th annual Time to THRIVE conference! Due to the current health crisis, the 2022 conference will be held on a virtual platform again on February 8-10, 2022. There will be an outstanding list of virtual keynotes (including NEA President Becky Pringle) interactive virtual workshops, online networking opportunities, and the ability to engage with virtual exhibitors.
NEA is a national co-presenting sponsor for this important conference and registration for this year’s virtual conference is FREE to all NEA members. To register, click here. Then, select number of tickets for “Current member of the National Education Association.”
To review the conference schedule, click here. Please share this opportunity and resources with others.
Should you have any questions, please email Anthony Brisson, Senior Program/Policy Analyst in the Center for Racial and Social Justice at [email protected].
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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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Black Lives Matter At Schools Week PG
Black Lives Matter at School is a national coalition organizing for racial justice in education. We encourage all educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to join our annual week of action during the first week of February each year.
Review the Black Lives Matter in school toolkit:
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Book Club - January 31st, 2022
Join our book club with a focus on anti-racism and abolitionist teaching.
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Sticks and Stones training: February 1st, 2022 at
5 pm - 7 pm
At the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Define implicit bias and identify key characteristics.
- Define microaggressions and identify key characteristics.
- Define stereotypes and identify key characteristics.
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Identify specific steps and strategies to challenge implicit bias, microaggressions, stereotypes.
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February 2nd, 2022: Wear BLM t-shirts/HBCU swag or your cultural attire and post a selfie.
#blacklivesmatteratschoolPG
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Black Zen and Wellness - February 3rd, 2022
Post about how you are taking care of yourself and your community!
#blacklivesmatteratschoolPG
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Creative Arts Showcase: February 4th, 2022 at
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Celebrate with us! Witness the extraordinary talent in PGCPS!
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Black Superhero Spotlight: February 5th, 2022 at
Movie Begins at 10:00am-12:30pm
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
free of charge, RSVP required
*Wear your superhero swag.
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Early Career Educators Member Recruitment Session |
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Nominations Elections and Credentials Committee (NECC) |
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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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