Month: November 2013

Local Teacher Union contracts

Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

Vocabulary

Educator – Classroom Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Cafeteria Workers, School Bus Driver, Custodian, Administrator, Media Specialist, guidance counselors.

Education Support Professionals (ESP) – Paraprofessional, Cafeteria Worker, School Bus Driver, Media Specialist, Custodian, and guidance counselors.

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So, I woke up this morning and looked on Facebook to see a post from one of my former teachers about a recent promise by our Governor of a raise of $2,500 for all teachers. However, what he did take into account is that teachers are not the only EDUCATORS in schools that have not had a raise in 6 years. After seeing this startling post on Facebook, I decided to contact the local union President to get more information. This is what he responded with:

The $2500 was never $2500. I know… Whaaaat?  When the governor proposed it he was apparently unaware that there are non-classroom teachers, Media specialist, guidance, etc. When he found out and included more people + administrators + charter school teachers (people that can’t join the union) the total of $480 million was NOT increased. If you increase the number of people and not the amount of money the per person goes down – to around $2000. The district then pulled a fast one and said that this money could fund a 1 1/2% previously agreed upon raise. They confused the magistrate enough to get him to agree. The ACTUAL truth is that the 1 1/2% raise cost about $5 million and they had to have it in the budget. The $12 million from the governor would have priced out at $1900 or so. But they offered $1300. The 4809 teachers x $1300 plus the FICA, etc (often called the fringe) = $7.5. That’s not $12 million now is it?

Honestly, I am appalled at this. But at the same time I am not. I am appalled that the school board members are being rude to hard working teachers that have gone 5-6 years without a raise. What I am not appalled at is how the Governor and legislators did not think about the “non-classroom teachers” when budgeting for a $2,500 raise. My question is, Where is the rest of the $12 million going? Why is it not going to the educators?

So, I leave you with this. Don’t stand back and let others speak for you. Speak up for yourself. Never let your voice go unheard. Get involved with your local education association and become an advocate for teachers. For community leaders and parents, get involved in your children’s school. Schools need help every day. Even if it is just being a teaching assistant for a day, or attending a school board meeting. Get involved.

government

House passes proposed GOP Obamacare changes

Link | Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

House passes proposed GOP Obamacare changes

It took me a few reads before I understood what it was saying. The language of the article is a bit confusing. Usually news providers write on a 7th grade level. A little odd. Anyways, 

So, the U.S. House of Representatives Republicans proposed a bill that would change the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Since the ACA rolled out starting back in October, less than 27,000 American’s have signed up for the new health care. Most aren’t doing it because they have their own benefits and don’t think that they need to do it. What they don’t realize is that insurance agencies must meet the requirements set by the federal government now. So, their insurance policies will not be applicable anymore. So a lot of people are actually losing their health insurance right now. This new bill is the House republicans idea to fixing the issue. 

The bill will allow current health insurance policies to be held through 2014 and would allow others to enroll in those current policies and NOT force them to enroll in Obamacare which they will eventually have to anyways. About 40 Democrats went to the Republican side of the bill and it passed the house which is Republican controlled. From talks in the Senate which is Democratic controlled it will be denied. Even if it is passed the President said he would veto it because it would give people a way out of enrolling into Obamacare. 

Each side keep blaming each other for not compromising. But honestly, I have never seen a President being so willing to sit down and compromise. Yes, he has his own ideas and will stick to his morals to do what is right for the country in his and his administrations views. However, the Speaker of the House will not even do anything that is not in his own personal views, won’t hear others points of views and won’t call a bill to vote when there is a majority in favor of it. 

Honestly, if they did not perfect the website to be able to handle the activity that it would have then they should have postponed the launch till 2014. That would have given them more time to perfect the technology as you cannot rely on technology 100%.

My Weekend coming up

Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

So, this week/weekend is so busy. First thing was an assignment that was due on Monday where I had to interview someone about space history. I had to record the interview, I had to come up with my own questions, I had to transcribe my interview. Then I had to put that all on a disk and mail it to my professors office. Well, I worked till 5:00pm then had to rush to the post office and mail out my assignment. I barely got it out. Not to mention that my Monday at work was the worst yet. Had so much to do with such little time. One thing after another kept coming up.

Tuesday, I spent doing internship stuff. I graded a lot of papers and attended a live lesson and did monthly calls with my supervising teacher.

Now it’s Wednesday, I have an assignment due tonight that I haven’t even started. I have two quizzes due this Sunday. I have to do my midpoint evaluation this week for internship which means I have to complete calls myself to students to do assignments. I am also leaving Thursday morning at 4:00am to go to the NEA-SP Connections Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. So, I have to figure out how I am going to accommodate all of that.

Well, time to get back to work. Hopefully everything works out.

Job interview

Posted on by Mr. DeLaere

So, I applied to the Boys & Girls club yesterday for their middle school before school site coordinator and I have a preliminary job interview by phone tomorrow. This would only be like 8 hours a week actually working but it’s extra money. I’m hoping to find a good seasonal job for December as I don’t work in the office December 11-January 9.