July 12, 2020
NEWSETTE
Information is Power
Inside this Newsette:

  • Presidents Letter
  • Open Enrollment for Benefits
  • NEA Member Benefits
  • Join a Committee for Next Year

Dear Colleagues,

This week I am sharing a great deal of information in the links embedded in my President’s letter. Please take a moment and visit the links.

Re-Opening the Schools We Want to See:
This week has been tumultuous as the dialogue over how our schools should reopen heated up twhen the President threatened to withhold funding for public education if schools did not return. Our NEA President Lilly Eskelsen-Garcia did not shrink to the banter and was on the major networks and wrote an opinion piece printed in the USA Today . Click on highlighted text links to see media. The message is clear-Everyone wants to return to school but we must listen to the experts and do it safely.  Any return must be safe for children and staff. Threats of withholding education funds on a national level is not acceptable. For information on how you can take action on national education issues sign up for NEA’s Education Votes to receive updates on national education issues.
A direct and compelling headline
PGCPS Re-Openning
Last week I shared that Dr. Goldson has put together a committee to consider reopening plans for PGCPS. There are 10 PGCEA members serving. As you have seen some surrounding jurisdictions have released their plans. While we all want to know what is going to happen, let’s me be clear your safety, your families’ safety, and the safety of our students, and the community are being discussed with the administration. In our Labor Partners meeting on July 9 with the four Labor Unions; PGCEA , AFSCME Local 2250, SEIU 400 and ASASP, it was clear to all of the unions that Dr. Goldson has been agonizing over this reopening and that is a good thing.  She is taking her time to weigh the three options presented in the survey. She has not made a decision, but PGCEA has presented Dr. Goldson with the concerns of our members, especially the overwhelming sentiment to reopen with Distance Learning. Please register to participate in the CEO’s Family and Community Town Hall meeting scheduled for this Wednesday, July 15, 2020  5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.  PGCPS will contact you directly on the night of the Town Hall.
NEA RA 2020
The 2020 NEA Representative Assembly was held virtually this year July 2-3 and we said goodbye to our President Lily Eskelsen-Garcia and were greeted by national voter rights activist Stacey Abrams and Former Vice President and likely Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden. Our delegates attended and participated in the convention from their homes. The NEA RA was condensed and there were no By-Law Amendments or New Business. The delegates are voting via mail on whether to support the NEA Budget as proposed, our candidates for President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and two Executive   Committee Candidates. The other important vote on the ballot for delegates is the endorsement of Joe Biden in the Presidential Election as presented to the delegates by the NEA Political Action Committee. As soon as the vote results are presented we will share. Clearly elections matter and the current administration needs to be replaced.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT OPENS JULY 12, 2020
“The 3rd Submission Tuition Reimbursement” for PGCEA only
Pursuant to the PGCEA Negotiated Agreement, PGCEA employees that have completed qualified coursework are eligible to apply for tuition reimbursement. Applications and payments will be processed online in the order in which they are received until all funds are depleted.
Required Documentation for Tuition Reimbursement
In preparation for electronic submission, secure the following required documentation in PDF format. Pay careful attention to make sure the following required documents are included.
  • Copy of transcript(s) - MUST HAVE NAME (not handwritten) AND GRADE; and
  • Proof of payment for each college credit/course - MUST HAVE NAME AND METHOD OF PAYMENT; and
  • Proof of the exact date the course ended.
Only courses that were taken between
March 1, 2020 - June 30, 2020, are eligible for reimbursement.
You may submit your request through the  online tuition reimbursement platform   beginning at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17, 2020, at 11:59 p.m . The electronic submission reimbursement forms can also be found on the  staff portal  under the “Applications” tab by clicking on “Tuition Reimbursement Requests (PGCEA, ASASP, Local 2250)”.

A Quick Guide to the online submission process can be found by clicking   here .

PGCEA Member Private Group
If you would like to be a part of our PGCEA Private Facebook Group please join us! We are going to return to the Trading Post this fall in a digital format. Many of our members have small businesses to share and items to sell. It will be our internal Craig’s list so to speak. You need your Member ID number from your NEA Today magazine or MSEA ActionLine Label.
MSEA Summer Leadership Conference
Summer Leadership Conference 2020
MSEA Virtual Summer Leadership Conference is this week and we have a record number of participants! Those who are participating please remember to log in and fully participate.

PGCEA OFFICES
We are still closed and working virtually. We want to keep everyone safe. Our phones are being answered virtually and we are here to support you as needed at 301-736-2700 from 9 AM-5 PM Monday thru Friday. If there is and issue concerning Summer School Distance Learning please email contacts@pgcea.org

In solidarity,

Theresa Dudley

Open Enrollment for Your Benefits

PGCEA Member,

One big question we continue to receive is “What is Open Enrollment”?  Open Enrollment is your opportunity as a PGCEA member to select your member only benefits provided through our new partner, American Fidelity to protect you and your family. Time is running out for this Open Enrollment period. Please see below the list of these exclusive member only benefits.

Click here: marylandbranchoffice@americanfidelity.com ; and send them an email with your name to request a time to learn more about these benefits and be entered into multiple GIFT CARD RAFFLES (no purchase necessary).


  • Short/Long Term Disability Insurance (Guarantee Issue) – Protects your paycheck if you are out of work due to illness/Injury and includes pregnancy benefit
  • Life Insurance (Easy Qualifications and NO Medical Tests) – coverage for you and your family
  • Accident Insurance (Guarantee Issue) – Pays you if you go to the doctor for any accident big or small and provides coverage for you and your family
  • Cancer Insurance (Easy Qualifications) – Pays you if you are ever diagnosed or receive treatment due to Cancer to help with bills your health insurance might not cover, and provides coverage for you and your family
  • Critical Illness (Guarantee Issue)– Pays you if you are ever diagnosed with a heart attack or stroke, and provides coverage for you and your family

Click here for more information: www.americanfidelity.com/pgcea
**Some coverages pay Wellness benefits and are portable upon retirement


PGCEA Distance Learning FAQs

The following answers to frequently asked questions from PGCEA members are based on the current Negotiated Agreement, the PGCPS Teacher/School Staff Distance Learning Guide and responses to PGCEA from the CEO and other school system leaders. Due to the existing Covid-19 health emergency and a continually evolving situation this document may be updated as needed.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
All PGCEA Events are Canceled
Until Further Notice

*some committee chairs may have meetings via zoom conference call.
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Get involved! Join a committee.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION | WWW.PGCEA.ORG