Wyoming Education Association’s Electronic Newsletter                                                                       

June 8, 2006

The WEA produces this electronic newsletter in an effort to share timely information with our members. Please forward this newsletter to members you believe would like to receive it. If you are not an original recipient of this e-mail, please consider subscribing by clicking here.  Please send feedback regarding this e-newsletter to Kathy Scheurman, WEA Communications Director, at: kscheurman@nea.org.            archive

WEA Website:

http://wyoea.org/

NEA Website:  http://www.nea.org

Wyoming Education Portal:

http://www.k12.wy.us

Wyoming Legislature:

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/

School Finance Information:

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2006/

interim/schoolfinance/schoolfinance.htm

Inside this issue:

·         “The Bargaining Corner”

·         Registration Ends This Week

·         Candidates Are Filing!  Are You Registered to Make Your Choice?

·         Outdoor Classroom Grant Program for the Natural Sciences

·         NEA Member Benefits Offers Discounts on Books and More

·         USDE Teacher Workshops Offered This Summer

·         Resources for Special Education Teachers and Parents

·         Tools for Improving Community Relations with Public Schools

“The Bargaining Corner”

As school district negotiations take place in the coming months, we will keep you apprised of the outcomes here.  Please send your final results after ratification and board approval to kscheurman@nea.org so we can cover your news!

Most recent decisions (in alphabetical order by district):

Ø      Who?  Albany CSD #1, approved on 5/10/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $33,000, an increase of $5,000.

2)      Steps:  $835.

3)      Lanes:  $1,000.

4)      Number of Contract Days:  185.

5)      Insurance—Continue with same costs to employees for +1 and family.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Paraprofessionals:  $13,340

2)      Bus drivers:  $12.72/hr.

3)      Secretaries:  Increases ranged from 8.6% to 13.2%.

4)      Other categories too numerous to list.

Other information?  Reduced sick leave allocation by one day and increased personal leave allocation by one on a trial basis for 06-07

 

Ø      Who?  Big Horn CSD #2, approved on 5/08/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at:  $35,000, an increase of $9,000.

2)      Steps:  $500.

3)      Lanes: $1,025.

4)      Number of Contract Days:  185.

5)      Insurance—District covers 87% of health insurance premiums.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of an average of 30% across different categories

Other Information?  Employee wellness package offered.  District pays a single membership for a year to fitness club in town.

 

Ø      Who?  Big Horn CSD #3, approved on 5/09/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at:  $33,700, an increase of $7,500.

2)      Steps:  $950.

3)      Lanes:  $1,325.

4)      Number of Contract Days:  185.

5)      Insurance—District covers 80% of the monthly health insurance premium.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of 1.50/hr.

 

Ø      Who? Campbell CSD #1, approved on 5/23/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $40,000, an increase of $9,697.

2)      Steps:  $1,100.

3)      Lanes: $1,200.

4)      Number of Contract Days:  185

5)      Insurance— Employee contribution remains same as 05-06, District picks up increase

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of 26.4%

   

Ø      Who?  Crook CSD #1, approved on 5/18/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $34,900, an increase of $4,000.

2)      Steps:  Increase of $75.

3)      Lanes: Increases of $200, 200, 400 (to the last 3 lanes).

4)      Number of Contract Days:  190.

5)      Insurance—The board picked up 85% of the 14% increase to health insurance.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of 10%.

Other information?   

1)      Added 3 steps to the classified salary schedule.

2)      Gave administrators a 10% increase.

3)      Added a column for nurses (4YR RN W/BA+15).

 

Ø      Who?  Fremont CSD #21, approved on 5/16/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $37,800, an increase of $6,000.

2)      Steps:  $800; if bottomed out on scale, get $500.

3)      Lanes:  From BA to BA+15—$700; From BA+15 to BA+30—$1,000; From BA+30 to MA—$2,000; from MA to MA+15 and MA+15 to MA+30—$1,000.

4)      Number of Contract Days:  186.

5)      Insurance—Board picked up entire increase in health, which puts the district at about 80/20.  The district last year was paying 77.5%.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of $1.50 on base on all classified schedules plus step if qualify; all steps are $.40 down; if topped on schedule, get additional $500.

 

Ø      Who?  Hot Springs CSD #1, approved on 5/19/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $36,500, an increase of $6,100.

2)      Steps:  $700.

3)      Lanes: $1,000.

4)      Number of Contract Days: 187.

5)      Insurance—No change.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of $2.00/hr.

 

Ø      Who?  Johnson CSD #1, approved on 5/1/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $35,025, an increase of $5,600.

2)      Steps:  $800.

3)      Lanes: $920.

4)      Number of Contract Days:  185.

5)      Insurance—No action taken.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of 15%.

 

Ø     Who?  Laramie CSD #1, approved on 5/15/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $40,485, an increase of $7,335.

2)      Steps:  $500.

3)      Lanes:  $2,000.

4)      Number of Contract Days:  185.

5)      Insurance— District continues to pay for 92% of premium.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of 14.29%.

 

Ø      Who?  Lincoln CSD #2, additional information became available 5/22/06.

Salary outcomes were reported in the 4/27 wEa NEWS, but new information is available now regarding health insurance:  District will cover the increase in premiums and will continue to pay 100% for both single and family health insurance.

 

Ø      Who?  Sublette CSD #1.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $41,000, an increase of $6,000.

2)      Steps:  $1,000 (same as last year).

3)      Lanes: $1,340 (same as last year).

4)      Number of Contract Days:  185.

5)      Insurance—District will continue paying 100% of health insurance (includes dental), LTD, AD&D.  Dist. increased the life insurance from $10,000 to $50,000 per employee, paid by the district.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of 11.08%.

 

Ø      Who?  Sweetwater CSD #1, approved on 5/8/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at:  $37,000, an increase of $7,000.

2)      Steps:  $790.

3)      Lanes:  $1250.

4)      Number of contract days: 185.

5)      Insurance—Employee pays 10% for self and child: spouse coverage is an additional $150/month.  Wellness benefit increased from $150 to $350.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises for most all were $1.72/hour increase and experience step.

 

Ø      Who?  Weston CSD #7, approved on 5/10/06.

Certified Outcomes? 

1)      Base set at: $34,000, an increase of $4,000.

2)      Steps:  $700, except increases beginning at year 20 for MA+15 & MA+30 = $1,000.

3)      Lanes:  Each $700, except increase from BA+45 to MA = $2,000 .

4)      Number of Contract Days:  185

5)      Insurance—Same as last year: district covers 75%.

Classified Outcomes?

1)      Raises of 1.00 per hr.

 

Registration Ends This Week

Don’t you wish you were there?!  You can be!  Plan to join us in Jackson in mid-June for professional development in an enjoyable atmosphere.

This is your last chance to register for WEA’s Emerging Leaders and/or Summer Institute.  Go to http://wyoea.org for more information and to complete your online registration(s).  See you in Jackson!

Candidates Are Filing!  Are You Registered to Make Your Choice?

Wyoming’s Primary Election will be held: August 22.

Wyoming’s General Election will be held: November 7.

Register to vote now so you’ll be ready—it’s both your right and your responsibility!  For information on how to register and who is eligible, go to the Secretary of State’s Website at: http://soswy.state.wy.us/election/vote.htm

Outdoor Classroom Grant Program for the Natural Sciences

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! Magazine have teamed up to create an outdoor classroom grant program whose focus is to engage students in hands-on natural science experiences and allow enrichment opportunities across the core curriculum. Maximum Award: $2,000. Eligibility: K-12 public schools in the United States.  http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/outdoor/index.html

NEA Member Benefits Offers Discounts on Books and More

Members and their families can now find The NEA Bookstore on the NEA Member Benefits Website, where you will receive a 5% savings (off the lowest price) on all purchases made at the NEA Bookstore on the Barnes and Noble.com Website.  Barnes and Noble.com offers over 1.4 million items, including books, DVDs, music, textbooks, toys, games, audio books, and Spanish language material.

Plans are made to offer double-discounts for limited periods throughout the year, so check back often. In addition, shipping is free for orders over $25.  Please remember:

  • Discounts are only available online, not in the retail store.
  • Members must start shopping from the NEA Member Benefits Website in order to get the discount.
  • The discount will appear on the online invoice, with the mention of “Your association saved you…”
  • Corporate Barnes and Noble offers two discount cards:

1.      The Member card costs $25/year and offers a 10% discount.  It can be used online, but the extra 5% NEA discount will not apply.

2.      The Educator card is free and offers a 20% discount (off list) on certain classroom books.  Members must sign up in a retail store and renew annually in person.  The card can only be used in a retail store.

USDE Teacher Workshops Offered This Summer

From June through August, the Education Department will convene 14 Teacher-to-Teacher regional workshops for teachers to learn from fellow educators who have had success in raising student achievement.  Registration is free, and meals/refreshments will be provided during scheduled activities, but participants are responsible for their transportation and lodging.  For more information, please go to https://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/About.asp.  Note: Teachers may be eligible for professional development credits through their school districts or states.  To check state requirements, see http://www.paec.org/teacher2teacher/map.html.

Resources for Special Education Teachers and Parents

1)     New Guide Explains Law Impacting Students with Special Needs

Teachers of struggling learners have a new resource to draw upon.  The National Center for Learning Disabilities has just launched an innovative, online guide to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is designed to explain the federal laws that underpin special education in every state.  Although created primarily for parents, the guide is also a valuable source of information—in accessible language—for classroom teachers who may not have a background in special education.  Teachers can use the guide as a referral for parents or use it themselves to better understand the rights and requirements of their students who have special needs.  http://www.ncld.org/content/view/978

2)     Special Education Toolkit Online

Striving to help all students achieve to high standards, the U.S. Dept. of Education recently released a new state toolkit on fully implementing the accountability provisions of No Child Left Behind for students with disabilities.  The "Toolkit on Teaching and Assessing Students with Disabilities," a joint effort of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, includes a series of technical assistance products that offer practical, research-based approaches to the challenges schools are facing in instruction, assessment, accommodations, and behavioral interventions.  For more information, please go to http://www.osepideasthatwork.org/toolkit/.

Tools for Improving Community Relations with Public Schools

The Iowa Association of School Boards’ website offers a handful of tools, checklists, and tip sheets aimed at improving community relations, building community understanding of school roles and improvement efforts, increasing school board members’ knowledge of school improvement and student achievement strategies, and numerous resources to help make school board meetings a powerful community relations tool.  The information can be useful for school employees, as well.  http://www.ia-sb.org/communityrelations/commrelations.asp