Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for August 26, 2003 Back-To-School Specials . . .

First of all, let me say "Welcome Back!" I hope that your summer was enjoyable and that you enter the new school year with renewed energy!

IEA Credit Union

SPECIAL NOTICE: Those who took out strike loans last year...the loans will be repaid with the August 29th payroll deduction. HOWEVER, the District Central Office will continue to make payroll deductions for the same amount from your check and send it to the IEA Credit Union UNLESS you contact Mildred Triantis and fill out a form cancelling or changing the amount. If you do nothing, that amount will remain in your IEA Credit Union account for your use since IEA will stop making loan payment withdrawals after August. The decision is yours, but if you want to stop/change the payroll deduction, ACT NOW! (Changes in payroll deduction can only be made during the first month of each semester.)

Any employee who wishes to join the IEA Credit Union should obtain the proper forms, complete them, and send them to the District payroll department - AGAIN - during the first month of a semester. Forms are available from Ron Newell.

Horizontal Movement on the Salary Schedule

If you have earned additional college credit since last school year that would allow you to move horizontally on the salary schedule (B.S.+16, M.S., or M.S.+16), you must verify this to the District payroll department by "official transcript, with seal affixed." There is no deadline for this action, but you will not receive your increase until it is done.

Vertical Movement on the Salary Schedule

Speaking of movement on the salary schedule...

Your raise for the 2003-04 School Year is your step...that's it! Any additional salary for this year was to have been financed by a savings in health insurance premiums. As you well know, the District did NOT change health insurance carriers and the premium went UP in April...NOT DOWN!

So...to see your salary for the 2003-04 School Year, use the 2002-03 School Year salary schedule printed in your (blue) contract...and simply go down another row for experience. If you "maxed out" last year...simply add $709 to the BS or BS+16 column...or $832 to the MS or MS+16 column. If you were being paid "above and beyond" the salary schedule last year (i.e. "Long 1 or Long 2"), then...again...add either $709 or $832 (depending upon educational degree) to last year's salary.

Totally confused? Let's get down to the "nitty gritty"...Look at your last paycheck "stub". Below the "Pay Summary" section, there is a section labeled "Gross Pay Detail". There you will find an "Account Description" labeled "(YOUR BUILDING) TEACHER" followed with your "Gross Pay". (I will refrain from making any snide, sarcastic remarks about "Gross".) Disregarding any increase in pay due to additional college credit...add $29.54 for BS or BS+16...OR...add $34.66 for MS or MS+16. (Now...in unison...THAT'S gross!)

The "good news" (as discussed under "IEA Credit Union" above) is that the strike loan that you were paying back now goes into YOUR pocket! The "better news"...giving you something to look forward to...is that next year we are guaranteed "a step plus 3%"...a number that looks VERY good in light of the current Illinois financial crisis...and especially with CSD #1 having been taken over by the Financial Oversight Panel!

Petty Cash

All of you buy "consumable materials" for your classroom. REMINDER: Section 2.23 of the Contract provides for reimbursement--up to $100. Since a new school year has begun, you again have that opportunity. If you purchased things this summer--and still have the receipt--you can be reimbursed. You may make new purchases during this year. Remember: The District asks that you submit receipts for reimbursement ONE TIME ONLY each year. So wait until you have $100 worth--or until you know that you will buy no more. A completed purchase order (made payable to you!) must accompany your receipts. If you have questions, ask your office personnel.

Sick/Personal Days

Section 3.7 of the Contractual Agreement states that each member of the bargaining unit is to be provided with a statement on the first day of each school year that indicates the total number of sick leave days available to (be taken by) the teacher for that particular school year. Be sure to check your records and verify that the numbers are correct. REMINDER : Each teacher gets 12 sick days each year plus two personal days. You may also "buy" an additional personal day at the substitute teacher pay rate. ( IF a substitute teacher is NOT used - e.g. an institute day - then the extra day is without charge.)

Also: "Personal days" are just that--PERSONAL. You do NOT have to give a reason for a personal day . Just fill out the form and turn it in to your principal or his/her designee with as much notice as possible. (On occasion, the paperwork has even been done AFTER THE FACT when it was an emergency that arose unexpectedly.) ALSO: THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS AS TO WHEN YOU CAN TAKE PERSONAL LEAVE!!!

Finally, on this topic, you may give another employee of the District (certified or noncertified) one or more of your sick days if they run out and you feel so inclined. Simply notify the central office in writing.

Class Size

Reminder : Section 3.10 states that "When the enrollment of any self-contained elementary classroom or any academic secondary classroom exceeds thirty (30) students, the teacher shall notify his/her immediate supervisor in writing." BE SURE TO DO THIS! Also notify your building representative! By "enrollment", it means that the 31st student has actually walked through your door for which you are accountable! All 31 students do NOT have to be present on any given day. Special Education teachers should do the same thing if their enrollment exceeds the limits mandated by state and/or federal law.

Dispensing of Medicine

In a word: "DON'T!" Do NOT store medicine in your room and do NOT administer medication--including aspirin--under any circumstances. Medication is to be administered ONLY by a school nurse or an administrator.

Internal Substitution

Taking someone else's class during your preparation period is VOLUNTARY . If you choose to do so, you are to be compensated at the rate of $20 per period--or any fraction thereof. If you supervise another teacher's students in addition to your own, then you are to be compensated at the aforementioned internal substitution rate--$20 for each additional teacher's students.

A Final Word . . .

I have tried to cover a variety of items pertaining to the beginning of school. Many of these were of a contractual nature. Obviously, I cannot cover the entire contract in a newsletter. BUT --Each of you received a copy of our new contract last year. This contract governs many important facets of your daily work-life until August 14, 2005! PLEASE -- READ your Contract and familiarize yourself with it. Many complaints that I have received from bargaining unit members in the past should NOT have been happening. The actions were in direct violation of the contract! BUT--THE MEMBER DID NOT KNOW !!! The Association can only enforce the contract for ALL employees if EACH employee knows the contract and insists upon its enforcement. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO "FIGHT" THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE VIOLATION--SOMETIMES THEY DID NOT KNOW EITHER . If you are comfortable with bringing the matter to the attention of your immediate supervisor, ask him/her about it. If you are not, PLEASE notify your building representative. A lot of long hours and hard work went into negotiating our current contract. Do not give away these hard-fought gains.

Postscript...

The CAT will continue to be environmentally friendly...a "tree hugger" if you will! After this "reminder" edition, CAT Tracks will be published electronically at...

geocities.com/cattracks.geo

Bookmark us...add us to your favorites! If you hear a "buzz", satisfy that "CAT curiosity thing" by going to our website and finding out the details. If you don't find the story posted, contact us...stir our curiosity...put us on the scent. Enquiring minds want to know!

HAVE A GREAT YEAR!

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