Newsletter

A Publication of the Central Valley Education Association

C.V. Educator

January 2007

ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS

In February the Central Valley Education Association will be holding elections for next year’s officers and for delegates to the National Education Association Representative Assembly in July. All six Association offices will be filled. The new term will begin the first week of July (after the NEA-RA) and last for one year. Any member of the Association is eligible to run for office. The CVEA President is now a full time position and the salary is equal to the person’s position on the salary schedule. Each of the other positions will be paid a stipend of $500 for the year.

The President’s primary responsibilities are to chair the Executive Board and Representative Council meetings, attend SEAT and UniServ meetings monthly, handle all grievances and lead the bargaining team. The other officers will be required to attend the above meetings, be on the bargaining team and other duties as required by the By Laws.

The National Education Association Representative Assembly will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the first week of July. CVEA will send the President and three elected delegates. The Association will cover all expenses for this rewarding experience. Please consider representing the CVEA for any of these positions.

If you are interested in running for an Association Office or NEA-RA delegate please send a letter of nomination to the Association office by mail, fax or e-mail by Friday, January 26. The letter should include the position(s) you are running for and some brief biographical information including years in the district, current assignment and any previous pertinent Association experience. All candidates will be listed in the February newsletter and the elections will be held the last week of February.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

There will be a general membership meeting prior to the Representative Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 13 to meet the candidates for Executive Board and to take nominations from the floor. The meeting will be held at Players and Spectators in the Dugout Room at 4:00PM at 12828 E. Sprague. All members are invited. Members are also welcome to stay for the Rep Council meeting which will follow.

AND THE SURVEY SAYS:

In November members were asked to complete a general survey regarding several issues including the school calendar. 536 surveys were returned although not every person answered every question. Here are the results.Regarding Spring Break for 2008 members clearly favored going with the earlier week and keeping in synch with District 81. 81% voted to have spring break from March 31-April 4, 2008. We will relay this information to the District for their consideration in planning the 07-08 school calendar. Should the District choose to go with the earlier week I will recommend to the CVEA Executive Board that we sign a letter of agreement to alter the contract to that effect for this occasion only. [The 2007 Spring Break has already been set for April 2-6].

On the other two calendar issues members voted 55.3% to 44.7% to have the inservice day and orientation day prior to Labor Day but after September 1 when Labor Day falls on September 6 or later. Members are clearly not in favor of extending the school year with a mid winter break in February. That idea was defeated by a 2 to 1 margin 66.6% to 33.3%. This information will be considered by the CVEA bargaining team during contract negotiations next year.

Regarding the $250 supplies stipend the membership was pretty evenly divided 52% to 48% to just take a stipend for the $250 rather than collect receipts. Recent participants in the Beginning Teacher Assistance Program (BTAP) clearly have some concerns about the effectiveness of the program. Again, this information will be considered by the CVEA bargaining team next year when developing bargaining priorities.

Next year (07-08) is the final year of the current collective bargaining agreement. The entire contract will be open for negotiations. The CVEA will survey all members again next fall on all issues related to the contract. Thank you for your participation in this survey.

WEA/RA DELEGATE ELECTIONS

The Washington Education Association Representative Assembly will be held at the Tacoma Convention Center on March 29-31. The following CVEA members have applied to fill 10 of the12 positions that we are allowed. (The CVEA President automatically gets the 12th seat.) Your building reps will be conducting elections this month to select our delegation.

As you can see we are still one member short of having a full delegation. If you are interested in filling this position please call the CVEA office before January 26.

Thanks to all of the above for being willing to represent your fellow members at the convention.

2007 Read Across America

Since 1997 NEA’s Read Across America program, observed on March 2, Dr. Suess’s birthday, has celebrated the joy of reading and motivated children and teens to keep reading all year long. Log on to www.nea.org/readacross for access to a 2007 resource kit, and an online Read Across America Day tool kit and additional information. You will find sample proclamations, media tips, resources for celebrity guest readers, and event ideas from NEA members around the country. You will also find the Read Across America “Cat-a-log” for hats, ties, bookmarks, and other merchandise to make your event a colorful one.

You can also sign up for the Read Across America e-newsletter for the latest news from NEA and RAA partners.

Building Visititation Schedule

I plan to be in the following buildings during lunch to meet members and answer questions. kr

CALENDAR

CVEA EXECUTIVE BOARD

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