This is the last call for bus riders to the Rally for Public School Funding on February 28. At this time we do not have enough riders to justify sending a bus to the capitol. The final decision must be made by 9:00 tomorrow morning. If you want to ride the bus, I need to know today. Otherwise, interested people can carpool down. The rally begins at 5:00.

Because of our early break and conflicts with state timelines, we have just become aware that the state piece of spring elections has to take place next week. Usually we run our SCEA spring elections at the same time. If you are interested in running for the NEA-RA (July 1-6 in Los Angeles), the AFT QuEST conference (July 7-10 in Washington D.C.), or an at-large position on the SCEA Executive Board, please let me know by the end of the day Thursday, February 24 at the latest. The election will take place Wednesday, March 2 in buildings.

The contracts are finally printed. Today we will send out contracts to each SCEA Building Representative and each individual who has requested a copy. If you want a copy sent to you just call our office. The contract is also available on our website.

Keep those surveys coming in. This is the primary way we get information to help form our negotiations agenda.

Have a great day!

Mary Broderick

SCEA President

The SCEA website at www.sceatoday.com has recently been updated. The new contract is now available online and lots of new information is now available there. We aren't done yet, but check it out when you have time. I hope you find the site useful and usable.

I continue to get questions about the status of March 4. We DO NOT have a staff development day on March 4. It is a day off.

The SCEA is teaming up with the District to send at least one bus down to the state capitol on Monday February 28 for a rally for public education. The rally is sponsored by many education organizations including Education Minnesota, the Minnesota School Boards Association, Schools for Equity in Education, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, the Minnesota Parent Teacher Association and many others. For more information check our website. If you would like to attend, please contact our office.

The annual celebration of reading, Read Across America, takes place on March 2. This year's theme is "Read Across America - Where It's Hat!" For bookmarks and certificates contact our office. Education Minnesota would like to send a guest reader to 1 or 2 primary classrooms. If your class or team is interested, please let me know by the end of the week. And for lots of other Read Across America supplies and ideas check out www.nea.org/readacross.

Nominations are now open for 2 at-large positions on the SCEA Executive Board, the Continuing Education Committee, up to 4 delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly in Los Angeles July 1-6, and the AFT Quest Conference in Washington D.C. July 7-10. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else, please e- mail me or drop me a note. Elections will take place in March.

We will be sending a group of teachers down to St. Paul to meet with our local senators and representatives regarding education issues on Tuesday, March 15. If you would like to attend, please contact our office. We can send about 8 people.

The calendar committee had a very successful meeting last week and has unanimously forwarded a 2005-2006 calendar to the School Board for their approval. I believe the Board will take action at their February 24th meeting. The draft forwarded has school starting for students on Thursday, September 1, 2005 and ending on June 1, 2006. There will be 2 late starts and 2 early dismissals which will be held in building (no travel). The Board may still ask for changes in the draft, and nothing is final until the Board takes action. Also, the calendar committee will meet again on February 22 to develop a calendar for 2006-2007!

The 87 teachers of Education Minnesota Crosby-Ironton are on strike and it looks like it may be a long battle. Last night, the SCEA- RA approved a $1,000.00 donation to the Crosby-Ironton teachers' strike fund from our Crisis Fund. Also, if you would like to lend your support by taking discretionary leave to join the Crosby teachers on the picket line they would love to have you. Call our office for more information.

The negotiations survey is out in the buildings. Please take the time to complete this brief survey and return it. We hope to get negotiations up and running very soon. Theoretically, the earlier we start, the earlier we can finish.

Mary Broderick

SCEA President

The Master Agreement is finally signed and on it's way to the printer. The entire contract will be available online through the SCEA website, hopefully within a matter of days. However, in order to hold down expenses, we are going to try printing a smaller than usual number of paper copies for members. Anyone who wants a copy of the entire 2003-2005 Master Agreement can just let the SCEA office know and we will get one out to you. I'll let you know when they are available.

Meanwhile, we will continue to send out the "Know Your Contract" informational pieces highlighting important issues and changes found in the contract.

The "status for next year" forms are out in buildings. This form is the first step in getting the staffing process up and running and should be completed and returned as directed. If you did not receive a form, or if you have questions or concerns about filling out and returning the form, please call. Also, for more information regarding the staffing process, refer to the "Know Your Contract" mailing regarding transfers, reassignments, and the staffing process.

The information gathered through the SCEA late start survey has been compiled and shared with administration for their consideration as they think about next year. The survey results show that the late starts have been vastly different experiences throughout our membership. About 60% of the respondents indicated they would rather not continue the late start schedule next year. However, that means that 40% feel it is worth trying again.

The responses very clearly identified specific concerns about how the late starts have been implemented. It is our hope that whatever recommendation comes from the administration regarding late starts next year will take these concerns into consideration.

Speaking of calendar, the process for developing next year's calendar gets underway next week. It is likely there will be a few changes in this process from years past, but hopefully we will have a calendar soon.

Here is a first reminder about the upcoming March 1 deadlines which impact leave requests. By contract, requests for Multiple Lane Changes, Alternative Leave, Professional Leave, Sabbatical Leave, Shared Teaching Leave or Extended Childcare Leave must be made by March 1, 2005. Failure to meet this timeline may result in the denial of requests.

There is lots going on down at the legislature which will undoubtedly impact public education and our students. Tomorrow the SCEA will co-sponsor an opportunity to speak to several area legislators about these issues. The session will be held at the St. Cloud Technical College at 8:30 tomorrow morning. If you would like to participate, give our office a call. Additionally, please watch your mail for updates about bills and proposed legislation and take the time to share your opinion with our legislators. They need to know how their decisions impact each and every one of us every day.

As you know, once again we will be facing budget cuts this spring. Those of us "in the trenches" have a unique perspective and opinion on where these cuts can and cannot be made. Obviously, all cuts are going to be extremely painful, but if you have ideas - no matter how wild or far-flung - now is the time to throw them out there. I encourage each of you to take a few moments to share your thoughts with the Superintendent either through e-mail or in writing. Ideas that never get put forward will obviously not be considered.

Mary Broderick
SCEA President

The master contract still has not been printed. Hopefully we'll get it soon. Meanwhile, we will be sending out some basic contract information - particularly regarding contract language that has changed and items we get lots of questions about. These informational pieces will obviously not replace the contract booklet, but might help bridge the information gap while we wait (patiently).

The SCEA Executive Board and Representative Assembly have suggested that an update regarding active sick leave bank requests be sent out periodically to all members. As you may know, when someone has exhausted all their sick days and needs more, the SCEA requests donations to a bank of days for the use of that individual. We also handle a "generic" SCEA sick leave bank which is used to supplement these individual requests.

Currently we are collecting days for Deb Ellingson, Discovery, and Cheryl Owens, Oak Hill.

If you would like to donate to either of these individuals, OR to the generic sick leave bank, just e-mail or call the SCEA office.

Remember that you have to have at least 45 sick days in order to donate to the bank, and you can donate a maximum of three days per year.

The SCEA is sending out a survey regarding the late start staff development days that have been instituted this year. Please take a minute to complete and return your survey to the SCEA office. We'd like to get an idea of how our entire membership feels about the late start days.

The continuing education committee is being updated. The revised list of the folks you send continuing education forms to will be out soon.

Thanks to all who attended Superintendent Watkins' first school district status meeting last night at Apollo. If you couldn't make it yesterday, try to attend an upcoming meeting. They are scheduled for Tuesday, February 15 at South (Little Theater) at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 16th at Tech (room 41) at 4:00.

The Labor Management Committee will be discussing recent problems staff have experienced regarding some unforeseen changes to our pharmacy benefits. If you have experienced trouble, please let me know before January 24.

Please check the seniority list and make sure your information is correct. If you have questions about your status or the information on the list, please call me.

Stay warm!! Cold weather's coming!!

Mary Broderick
SCEA President
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