C.V. Educator

September 2004

Newsletter Archive

THE COLA OR THE UNCOLA?

You Can Make a Difference

Next week all of you will receive your first paycheck for the 2004-2005 school year. Hopefully it will show a big increase over last month’s but the reality is that with an 11.9% increase in medical premiums and no COLA for most of our members that will not be the case.
Those members with more than 16 years experience who have not moved up a step in credits are likely to see a drop in actual pay for the second straight year and nearly everyone will experience a loss in earning power with the inevitable increases in the cost of living.
The reason of course for this outrageous situation is that the state legislature has suspended and the governor has approved the suspension of the voter approved COLA that would have allowed all of our members to keep up with the rising cost of living.
Now is the opportunity to do something about it. On November 2 we will elect a new governor and a new house of representatives and half of the state senate. These people will decide if the COLA will remain suspended or will be reinstated. We can all sit and watch or we can get involved. A few races in the house and senate and of course for governor could tip the balance. Find out how your representatives have voted and what they have said they will do if elected. There will be many opportunities to support the candidate of your choice in your district. Watch for WEA publications posted on your CVEA bulletin board that will identify candidates that have been endorsed for their pro public education positions.Charter Schools on

November Ballot

As the 2003-2004 school year ended the WEA campaign to get the charter school referendum on the ballot ended. The WEA turned in over 150,000 signatures to insure that the voters will get a third chance to vote on charter schools in the state in November. Voters rejected charter schools in 1996 and 2000. You may have noticed that the pro charter schools ads have already begun hitting the airways.
Members should also be aware that the money supporting these ads is coming in part from some deep pocket out of state sources. Funded by a $300,000 contribution from WalMart heir John Walton and another $300,000 from the Donald Fisher family, owner of the Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, the pro R-55 campaign is underway.
The OSPI estimates this bill if approved has the potential to drain $35 million a year from an already stretched thin public school budget that could not afford to fund the voter approved COLA and class size reduction initiatives.

GREETINGS!

Welcome back, I hope the new year is off to a good start for everyone. I enjoyed seeing and talking with members at the general meeting and Orientation Day activities and hope to meet many more as the year progresses.
I am sure this will prove to be another interesting year of change.
Greenacres Middle School is back in their new building and the South Pines staff is now at U-Center. Remember that the Central Valley Education Association is here to serve you. Please contact the office if you have a question or concern.

NOTICE:

INSURANCE/BENEFITS FAIR
UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL COMMONS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 3:00PM-6:00PM

MEET YOUR BUILDING REP

The Representative Council of the Central Valley Education Association
is made up of the CVEA Executive Board and building reps from all buildings in the district. Each building is allowed a representative for every ten certificated employees. This organization meets once a month, usually the third Tuesday. The Rep Council is the heart of the organization. They approve the annual budget, select members of the bargaining team and must ratify any changes in the organization’s Standing Rules. More importantly they provide the most direct link between the members in the trenches and the Executive Board. Please get to know your Rep(s) and thank them for all they do. As you can see from the chart below there are positions open in several buildings and we currently do not have a Rep from Barker Center. Please consider serving. If you are interested please talk to your Building Rep or call the CVEA office.

Adams- Jan McFarland
Inge McGillvrae

Bowdish- ?

Broadway- Kathy Kalich
Leisa Lybbert

Chester- Lynn Corbett
LeahAnn
Howard

CVHS- Stan Chalich
Karen Floyd
Sue Mihalic
Kathy
Wolhrehammer

Evergreen- Eileen Garcia
Judy Wooten

Greenacres- Pat Kerley
Hazel Newkirk
Chrissy Scott

Greenacres M.S. ?

Summit- ?

UHS- Dale Bouge
Maureen
Sorenson

Horizon- Jeanne McFall
Margie Tibbits
Helen Bartalamay

Liberty Lake-Colleen Mick

McDonald- Jeannie Hubbard

North Pines- Becky Krauter

Opportunity-Marilyn Deemer
Rosemary
McInerney

Ponderosa- ?

Progress- Barb Richardson

South Pines- Martha Reese

Special Services- Marci Haynes

Sunrise- Diane Schneider
Jan Tyson

University- Eunice Hubble Donna Perno

SVLA- Shelly Mackie

CVEA EXECUTIVE BOARD

President - Kent Richardson
Office - 926-0201
Cell - 939-8982
email - cvea@aol.com
fax - 891-9183

Vice President - Steve Lalonde
University High School
228-5240

Secretary/Treas.-Shirley Brick
Greenacres Elementary 228-4200

Elementary RepJuneCunningham
Liberty Lake Elementary
228-4300

Middle School Rep - Loren Imus
North Pines MS
228-5020

High School Rep - Dick O’Brien
Central Valley High School
228-5100

Building Visitation Schedule
I plan to be in the following buildings during lunch to meet mem-
bers and answer questions. kr
September 27 Central Valley HS
October 4 Adams
October 11 South Pines
October 18 Broadway

Benefit Money Increases for 2004-2004

For the 2004-05 school year the state allocation for full time employees for medical benefits will be $582.47 per month. This will be $75.66 per month increase for our members for 2003-2004.

CALENDAR

Tuesday, September 28
Insurance/Benefit Fair
University High School Commons
3:00-6:00PM

Tuesday, October 5
CVEA Executive Board
3:30 PM

Tuesday, October 12
SEAT Meeting
3:45PM, ESC

Wednesday, October 13
Eastern Washington UniServ
Council Meeting, 5:30 PM

Tuesday, October 19
CVEA Rep Council Meeting
Players and Spectators, 4:00PM

CVEA

Street address: 12202 E. Main,
Mailing: PO. Box 14065 Spokane, WA 99214
Phone: 926-0201
Fax: 891-9183
Cell: 990-3206
email: CVEA@aol.com

A Publication of the Central Valley Education Association