MARCH 21, 2019

Lift the Levy Lid!

Seattle voters approved more funds for our schools than the law currently allows. Legislators should follow their lead and lift the levy lid so we access those funds and keep our schools moving forward! We expect proposed budgets from the House and Senate, soon. Key funding priorities in addition to the levy are for special education funding, funding for counselors, nurses and family engagement, and a capital gains tax to make our tax system more progressive.

One bright spot so far has been Senate Bill 5023, which would require OSPI to identify and make available ethnic studies materials and resources for middle and high school. It passed the Senate and now goes to the House of Representatives for a vote.

Please attend the town hall in your legislative district, wear red and use your voice to fight for our public schools!

Saturday, Mar. 23rd, 10am-12pm - 37th LD, Santos/Pettigrew/Saldana
Ethiopian Community Center
8323 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118

Sunday, Mar. 24th, 2-4pm  - 36th LD, Tarleton/Frame/Carlyle
Lantern Brewing
938 N 95th St, Seattle, WA 98103

____________________________________________________________________

SEA Executive Director John Donaghy Moving to NEA

Dear SEA Members,

It is with sadness that I have to announce SEA Executive Director John Donaghy will be moving to a new position within NEA. We are excited about John's new path and wish him the best of luck in his new journey.  I first met John when he was an organizer with WEA; we partnered on our first action for SEA with the "Race to the Bottom" rally in front of Franklin High School, protesting a district proposal to increase class size.  From the One-Day Walkout in 2015 with 5000 people marching in the streets of downtown Seattle, we rolled into contract bargaining the very next day, which led to an historic bargain which brought equity issues to the forefront of Seattle Public Schools. This contract set a standard for bargaining across the country. With John's guidance and dedication to the members, students, and public education, we have won countless battles over budgets, placed racial equity as a priority, and lifted up educators' voices in SPS policy and program development.

John will transition over the next month as SEA governance works with WEA to undertake the difficult task of hiring a new SEA executive director. He will be at the April Board of Directors meeting and the April RA; please join us in wishing him good luck in his new job!
In solidarity,

Phyllis Campano
SEA President

____________________________________________________________________________

Job Announcement for SEA Uniserv Representative

Please join us in congratulating SEA Uniserv Representative Rina Paul! Rina has been hired by our WEA colleagues at the Puget Sound Uniserv Council (which includes Federal Way EA, Auburn EA and other south King County WEA locals). Rina worked with SEA for the last two years, and was instrumental in re-starting the job reclassification process as well as strengthening our advocacy and organizing across SEA!

This position is now open for applications on the WEA website.

____________________________________________________________________________


Change to New Business Items submission protocol and format!
For many years the New Business Item (NBI) submission and creation process was convoluted and difficult for all members to access. There was no clear deadline, forms or information were not clear or easily accessible for ALL SEA members, and there was no space for cost analysis. This new form is meant to clarify and organize NBIs in such a way that people know exactly what is being proposed and why.
The goal of this new format is to make sure there is clear communication with representatives and members; we also wanted consistent forms that are equitably accessible for all representatives and members.

The new form has some different prompts and information.

Title
 (Name of New Business Item for SEA):
Source  (Person/Group who submits NBI):
Date  Submitted:
Cost  Implications (This is filled in by SEA board):
SEA  Interests: Increase respect for the profession and public education, improve the quality of and access to public education for all students, forge partnerships with families, businesses, other unions, and community groups, other (can be filled in)
Recommendation : What action is being proposed?

The new form is now available online by clicking here.
_____________________________________________________________________

Let's REALLY Read Across America: SEA & SPS call for more racially just and inclusive celebration of reading

Many of our schools have long histories of celebrating reading as part of NEA's Read Across America. While the event had been steeped in Dr. Seuss from the beginning, NEA shifted away from the focus on Dr. Seuss several years ago in recognition that a reading celebration focused on one author could not reflect America's diversity, let alone an author whose characters and stories reflect and perpetuate racism.

SEA and SPS have joined together to call on educators to celebrate reading, and to participate in Read Across America, but to do so from a racially diverse and equitable perspective. This letter includes links from NEA to more robust reading lists as well as links to learn more about the racist history of Dr. Seuss books.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Paraeducators: Check out this webinar on the State's new Certificate Program

The presentation includes an overview of the new paraeducator employment requirements, the upcoming Paraeducator Certificate Program, and the Legislative ask to fund this professional development. This video is a great resource to learn and prepare for the successful implementation of the program. Here's a link.
_____________________________________________________________________________

FAQ on Displacement


While we are hopeful that our efforts to restore levy capacity and pass a capital gains tax will help offset budget cuts, there are always some displacements due to enrollment changes and other program shifts. Please see the FAQ put together by SPS Human Resources on what displacement is, how it differs from a RIF (or layoff), and how you can find a new position in SPS (or return to yoru previous one).  
Here's an FAQ on Displacement you can view.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Using a Racial Equity Tool in developing your school budget, CSIP and PD Plan
Every important decision we make holds the opportunity to advance racial equity or, likewise, runs the risk of deepening racial inequity. Committing to using a Racial Equity Analysis Tool is one way to ensure that we are aligning our work with advancing racial equity. Our new contract call for the use of a racial equity tool in our school budget, CSIP and PD plan adoptions. See this  power point (in PDF format)
 that was shared with building principals on how to use a racial equity tool.
_____________________________________________________________________________
WEA's 11th Annual Teaching Equity Conference: Saturday, April 6, 2019
J oin educators form around the state at WEA's 11 th  annual 

Teaching Equity Conference! Dr. Anthony Muhammad will be this year's keynote speaker. The conference will take place Saturday, April 6
th  from 8 AM to 4 PM. This one fills up fast, so be sure to register online ASAP using the link on this flyer. 
_____________________________________________________________________________
END Gun Violence! Join the Townhall on the 1st Anniversary of March For Our Lives

Join a discussion with legislators and community members on the future of gun reform in Washington on the anniversary of the March for Our Lives. The townhall will take place at Garfield High School from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Sunday March 24
th . RSVP here

_____________________________________________________________________________

The new SPS Full-Year calendar has been posted to reflect the snow days caused by "Snowmageddon".  Here's the link.
_____________________________________________________________________________

The 2018-2019 Contracts are posted on the SEA Website! 
Click here to view.
_____________________________________________________________________________


Don't miss out 
on breaking SEA text alerts: text SEATTLEEA  to 41411 to stay informed!
_____________________________________________________________________________

SICK LEAVE REQUESTS

Thank you all for your generous donations to those who share their need for leave. 

Cheryl Dillon, PARA at Nathan Hale is in need of Sick Leave donations, as her daughter is suffering with some serious health issues and her leave has run out. She thanks you for any help you can give.

Urgent need for Patti Crow, PARA at Madison Middle School, who's just undergone another brain tumor surgery, and her sick leave and FMLA ran out last week. Any and all help is Very much appreciated!

Theresa Njoku, Genesee Hill Librarian, is suffering from a herniated disc and tear in her knee. The doctors have insisted she stay off her legs while she continues treatment, but this has caused her to use up her sick leave. She thanks you all in advance if you can help out with her situation.

Lori Forrest, 2nd Grade teacher & single parent at Green Lake Elementary, has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and with the recent passing of one parent and helping to care for the other, her sick leave was depleted before her diagnosis. She's scheduled for a 2nd surgery soon and would very much appreciate any sick leave you can donate to help as she goes through treatment and recovery.


Members can access the shared leave form to donate hours by clicking HERE. Forms can be submitted to HRLeaves@seattleschools.org or FAXED to 206-252-0021 or mailed to Seattle Public Schools, MS 33-380, PO Box 34165, Seattle, WA 98124-1165.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Seattle Education Association
5501 4th Ave S, Ste 101
Seattle, WA 98108

See what's happening on our social sites