November Quick Links

Looking for recent NSEA information? The links below will help you navigate our site!

• Tim Brittell's November message to members can be found here.
• Is your school utilizing its inservice funds? Click here for info!
• NSD's cuts were more drastic than they had to be. Click here to learn more.
• Looking for the November classifieds? They're right here.
• Tips of the Week are all located here.
• The 2009 elections may be over but our real work is just beginning--and we need you to get involved. Click here to learn how.

Interested in attending a retirement seminar? If so, please note that both sessions are currently full. If you want to be added to the waiting list, please click here, complete your paperwork and send it to Lydia King.

President's Message: November 2009

Dear NSEA Members,

It is hard to believe we are quickly approaching elementary conference times and Thanksgiving! The first two months of school are already behind us and the Holiday Break is just around the corner. This has been a hectic fall and we are all feeling the growing pressures of budget cuts and increasing class sizes and workloads. I want to applaud all of you for the professionalism with which you are approaching your work!

Eyman’s I-1033 Defeated!
This was certainly an off-year election to remember! At the state level, the defeat of I-1033 means we can breathe a sigh of relief. If this measure had passed, public education would have been dealt a crippling blow. It would have taken us decades to climb back to the inadequate funding level we are at today. This would have seriously crippled any efforts to improve public education funding. The voters again showed their support for public education by defeating this initiative.

Changes for the School Board
The Northshore School Board elections were unprecedented. Northshore will see a 60% turnover on our school board. Both Julia Lacey and Todd Banks won by large margins over incumbents Sue Buske and Cathy Swanson. Sandy Hayes ran unopposed for the seat Gene Hawkridge is vacating. Julia Lacey and Todd Banks are willing to ask questions and go deeper into the complicated school budget process. They have promised to seek alternatives rather than simply cut programs in the budget. Their work is certainly cut out for them as we enter the spring.

State Funding and I-728
The state is now forecasting a likely $1.8 billion dollar deficit when legislators come together in January. I-728 funding, currently at $131.00 per student, was scheduled to drop to $99.00 per student in the 2010-2011 school year. Some in the legislature are talking about cutting this money completely. (Northshore will already be reducing I-728 class size reduction allocations to schools next year, regardless of what the Legislature does. Although the Legislature cut funding by 71%, the District had not spent all of the prior I-728 funding, and thus cut the allocation to schools by only 50%.)

I-728 passed by 72% of the voters in the year 2000.

The impact will be devastating unless the legislature provides districts with the opportunity to raise their levy lids. This is a short term band-aid cure for a long term funding problem that has to be addressed. The answer is obvious; we as a state need to raise more revenue and dedicate it for public education. You received an email from me (at your home email) on November 6th encouraging you to contact our legislators concerning the impact of cuts this year. Please send your stories to our legislators this month prior to their caucus meetings in December.

On the Horizon: Levy/Bond Vote
The Northshore Levy/Bond vote will be approaching us quickly after Winter Break. With the passage of the Simple Majority initiative last year, passing our levies should be easier. The bond must still receive 60% of the vote to pass. In this economy nothing is a sure thing, so please encourage parents and neighbors to vote yes on all three measures. Watch for information about NSEA phone bank efforts to pass the bond and levy.

I hope that all of you have a restful Thanksgiving Break with your family!

Tim Brittell
NSEA President

Is Your School Utilizing Its Inservice Funds?

Building Inservice Funds are professional development funds negotiated by NSEA and the administration in our Collective Bargaining Agreement. The funds, and the carryover funds from previous years, are solely for this purpose. A contract waiver is needed to use them for another purpose. (See Articles 50.3 and 50.3.1 on page 103.)

How much money does your school have? Please click here to see funds that were available at your school at the start of this school year. The link shows the carryover available, and this year’s allocation. (The allocation is based on certificated FTE, and is described in Article 50.3.)

The Agreement does not have a narrow definition of Building Inservice. NSEA and HR agree that it means professional development. Thus, any activity or materials that support the professional development of certificated staff would be consistent with the Agreement. Supplemental teacher curricular books would be fine, but not student materials. Substitute time to enable teachers to learn from each other would be fine, as would substitute time to attend a workshop, but not substitutes for any purpose other than professional development.

Who makes these decisions? Article 17, which describes the authority of the Leadership Team, states that the SDLT identifies how decisions will be made, “….In areas such as …use of specific monies in this CBA, i.e. building discretionary……(and) Building Inservice/Professional Development.” (Article 17.2) Thus, the written decision-making process that is voted on by the full staff by October 1st of each year (Article 17.3.1) should describe how decisions are made regarding these funds. In some schools, the SDLT makes decisions on the Building Inservice funds. In others, a Building Inservice committee created and approved by the SDLT does.

If a process for using Building Inservice funds is not included in the written decision-making process that has been voted upon this year , perhaps the SDLT can put an “addendum” to the existing written decision making process covering the Building Inservice funds to a vote of the staff. Please feel free to contact NSEA if you have questions about this.

NSD Budget Cuts Were Deeper Than Necessary

If your family budget was inadequate to meet your basic needs, and was then further reduced due to a layoff or cuts in work hours, what would you do? A) Cut your spending, but use some of your savings to limit the extent of painful cuts? Or, B) Cut your spending AND make even more painful cuts by putting more of your paycheck into savings?

If you were the Northshore School Board last Fall (October 2008), you decided to do B. In the midst of ongoing and anticipated State cuts to schools, the Board decided to change its policy, and to increase the amount Northshore sets aside in the Unreserved Reserves—the funds left at the end of each school year in the Ending Fund Balance that are not designated for anything. (They are in addition to $1 million set aside for risk and inventory replacement.)

In other words, the Board decided to put more money in the bank instead of in classrooms and compensation. They passed a new Policy which required a minimum of 3% to be set aside (2.75% this year, and 3% starting next year), an increase from the 2% that had been Board policy. NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA opposed this, and spoke out at Board meetings. Northshore had never experienced a financial problem that necessitated putting more of our limited funds in the bank. The change in policy was and is detrimental to students, staff, and our schools.

NEW BOARD POLICY AND INACCURATE INFO LED TO DEEPER CUTS THAN NECESSARY THIS YEAR.

The School Board then proceeded to cut programs and laid off classified staff (i.e., Junior High Deans) far deeper than they needed to. This was due not only to this new Policy, but also because the administration had not provided the Board with accurate information about the funds that would be left at the end of the school year. Read on…

Last Spring, the District went through a painful process of identifying about $5 million in cuts. NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA agreed that cuts were necessary, but argued that $5 million in cuts was excessive.

We spoke at the School Board meetings and handed out flyers at the public budget meetings urging the Board to, “Limit layoffs and program cuts by using more reserves.” We stated, “Northshore’s budgeted Ending Funding Balance (EFB) for this year—$9.1 million—is the highest since 1997-1998 as a proportion of our budget. The actual Ending Fund Balance will likely be higher. The actual EFB has been higher than the budgeted EFB in each of the last 8 years. Based on a comparison of monthly EFB in each of the past 5 years, the WEA Research Department projected in early March that the EFB will be about $1.2 million higher than budgeted: $10.3 million.”

So, the School Board made cuts based on an administration projection of having $9.1 million left at the end of 08-09. And the WEA Research Department projected $10.3 million. So, with the 2008-2009 financial books now closed and made public, what was the actual Ending Fund Balance? It was $10.7 million. That’s $1.6 million more than the District had projected. In other words, the School Board cut programs and laid off classified staff far deeper than they needed to, because the administration had not provided them with accurate information. And because they ignored the information we provided to them.

WHY DOES THE SCHOOL BOARD MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT ACCURATE INFO?

Unfortunately, last Spring was not an anomaly. Northshore’s budget cuts the previous year (including Nurses and Library Techs) were far deeper than necessary. Why is it, year after year, that the WEA Research Department is able to more accurately forecast the District’s Ending Fund Balance than the NSD administration? Although it is far easier, and less risky, for the administration to bank a large reserve, Northshore is not a bank.

We believe that the School Board’s first obligation is to fund our schools, and to provide decent compensation for staff. We believe that when cuts are necessary, or when staff are told that they must work another year for inadequate pay—in other words, when people are damaged—the School Board needs to deliberate with complete and accurate information. Our community pays taxes to provide the best possible schools—not to bank the funds.

Inadequate State funding makes it more important than ever to get this right. Three of Northshore’s five School Board members will be new, starting in two weeks. NSEA has begun conversations with the Superintendent and the School Board to improve the process of projecting the Ending Fund Balance so that the Board can make informed decisions each Spring about budget cuts and bargaining parameters.

November Classifieds

To place an ad, please contact Lydia King at 425-486-7101 ext. 111 or email lking@washingtonea.org.

PET/HOUSE SITTING
Serving the community of Woodinville - Pet Sitting, House Sitting, Dog Walking. Northshore School District employee, with strong local references, will provide your pet with customized, reliable, loving care when you cannot be home. I have extensive experience caring for dogs, cats, and pocket pets.

Home maintenance tasks offered as well - mail, newspaper, garbage cans, plant care and garden watering. Emergent home problems arranged at your direction. Contact - Dawn Rosner - 425.486.6176

ROOMMATE WANTED
Roommate to Share 2bd, 1 ¾ bath apartment in Kenmore on Juanita Dr. Great quiet complex, with pool and hot tub. W/D & D in unit. 1100 sq ft. Shared space already furnished. Would have private bath. Move Dec. 1st or sooner 12 month lease. $500 month, w/s/g incl. Please contact Liz Warren at (206)697-1622 or lizzylouwarren@lwsd.org

CONDO FOR SALE
FSBO: N. Kirkland near Woodmoor/Northshore JH Move in Ready! Priv. 2 bed/2 ba end unit w/gar; New cabinets, appl. & hdwds. Lake WA School District Conv. to buses & shops. $279,500.Call 425.823.0988 or x4332 Jane Weiss (CS)

INTERESTED IN LEARNING SPANISH?
I am a certified teacher in Northshore who has tutored all ages in the Spanish language. Your trip to Latin America/Spain will be a lot more fun! Please call or email Michelle Ward at 425-867-3930 or michelle.wa@comcast.net.

Tip of the Week: January 4, 2010 IDEA Day

NSEA Tip of the Week
November 9-13, 2009
January 4, 2010 IDEA Stimulus Day

• This is a reminder that Monday, January 4, 2010 is a work day. This non-student work day is the first day back from work after Winter Break (Dec 19-Jan 3), but it is different than in past years. It is the IDEA Stimulus Day—using Federal Stimulus funds—a professional develop day that NSEA and NSD negotiated this summer to replace the loss of the Learning Improvement Day cut by the State. Below is a shortened version of info that we sent to you this previously, and was posted here. It is a 7.5 hour paid day for all certificated staff, including part time staff. It is not pro-rated; it is a full 7.5 hours of work and pay.

• The day is being planned by the Assistant Superintendents Kathleen Poole and Carolyn O’Keeffe. It will focus on ways of teaching students who need extra attention. Because federal IDEA funds—Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the legislation that funds Special Education—are paying for the day, the professional development needs to meet the IDEA requirements. We know that Kathleen and Carolyn are putting together a productive and helpful for all certificated staff!
  
  
• Can I use leave on Monday, January 4? As with other non-student work days, you cannot use personal leave, IEP days, Dept Head days, or other release days. (Article 18.6) However, you may use sick leave as always for non-student days, provided that the uses are appropriate under Article 40 of our Agreement. Use of leave days for this day are the same as for other non-student days.

Summary of LID Day Change Approved by NSEA Rep Council

The Two Learning Improvement Days are maintained. The State had eliminated funding for one of the 2 State-funded LID days. We sought to maintain the day; a day’s compensation represents from $224 for starting teachers to $371 at the top. We achieved this goal, using federal IDEA Stimulus funds. There is no loss in days or compensation. The day is kept through the current contract period.

The tentative agreement on this is an Addendum to our 2008-2011 Agreement, posted here. Basically, one day’s pay is taken off of our 182 day base pay (which is the pay that is funded by the State). It is then added to our compensation as a separate “IDEA Stimulus Day” or “ISD Day” for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. LINKED HERE IS THE 2009-2010 Salary Schedule which shows total compensation for 09-10 with a breakdown of base pay, the TRI Responsibility Factor, the 3 supplemental days, and the new ISD Day at each cell on the Salary Schedule. The 1% pay increase for 09-10 is included. By the way, IDEA stands for “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act”, the bill that funds Special Education.

The federal Stimulus legislation passed by Congress earlier this year increased the IDEA funds substantially---but for the next two years only. To use these IDEA dollars, the day must benefit students with disabilities. The day will focus on ways to improve teaching and learning of such students in both special education and regular education classrooms, and to collect and use data for this purpose. We believe that such a day will benefit all Northshore teachers by adding tools to reach many students that need extra attention---whether they are “disabled” or not.

We wanted to be certain that the day’s professional development did not add to our already burdensome workloads. These concerns are addressed in a Memo as follows, “These trainings will not mandate new programs outside the CMAC process nor will the District be creating new evaluative, performance expectations. Employees will continue to be evaluated on the evaluation criteria stipulated in the contract.” (CMAC is the Curriculum and Materials Adoption Committee---the Committee which must approve any new curriculums, assessments, and/or instructional programs--including intervention programs.)

One of our 10 non-student days---Jan 4, 2010 and the corresponding January day in 2011—will be converted to the ISD Day. Thus, one day of non-student time already designated (as grading days, Professional days, SIP, SITE or Intra-District Day) needed to be exchanged for this.

We agreed to exchange half of a professional day and the one half day designated as the Intra-District Day. Thus, we will have 3 Grading Days, 3 Professional Days, 2 Site Days, one Site Improvement Day, and one ISD Day---still 10 non-student days, as before. (The 10 non-student days are in addition to our 175 student days. NSD currently has a waiver of 5 days from the 180 day school year. Thus, we work 175 student days and 10 non-student days = 185 days. Our base pay cover 181 days. We receive supplemental pay for 3 additional days---as before. And we will receive pay of one ISD Day. Thus, pay for 181+3+1=pay for 185 days. )

For part time staff, note that although the LID day that was eliminated had been pro-rata for part time employees, the new ISD Day will be paid as a full 7.5 hour day. Part time staff will be able to participate for the full day AND be paid for it.

We also agreed that if the State eliminates the one remaining LID Day during this Agreement (which expires Aug. 31, 2011), the administration will not be obligated to meet with us further about LID days. We keep this one day, but if the State cuts the remaining LID day, we would simply lose it.

Elections Are Over: Now the REAL Work Begins!

The message below was sent to NSEA members at their home email address. If you'd like to receive NSEA updates at your home account, please email Lydia King at lking@washingtonea.org.

NSEA Members:

With the election over and the defeat of Tim Eyman’s I-1033, we can all breathe a small sigh of relief. The Northshore Education Association joined the WEA and dozens of other local EAs, school boards, and community groups in opposition to Initiative 1033. In fact, there were more than 270 groups in the No on I-1033 coalition – one of the largest alliances involved in a statewide ballot measure in Washington history! However, now that we know that the cuts made to education last session won’t be permanent and that state spending can grow according to ability and/or need, the real work must begin.

The budget news coming out of Olympia is very grim. Recent revenue predictions have the State facing an approximate $1.8 billion deficit that must be made up in this legislative session. This means that public education and social services will again be targets for potential cuts.

We have known since the state budget was adopted last spring that our district revenue will fall for next year—this year the district gets $131.16 per student in I-728 money, and for 2010-11 it will drop to $99.32 per student. It is possible that to make up the deficit, the State could cut all I-728 money. The one remaining state-funded Learning Improvement Day (LID) may also be in danger of elimination, since it is not considered “basic education.”

We can NOT allow this to happen. Polls indicate that public education was the No. 1 reason voters said they were voting NO on I-1033, and that Washington voters oppose cutting public education further. They’ve seen the impact that current cuts already have had on our students’ education and important public services. However, up until election day, our senators and representatives were completely unwilling to talk about any new revenue because they were afraid it would generate support for Eyman’s I-1033. Now that the election is over and we know that I-1033 did not pass, we must let our elected leaders know that public education cannot survive any more cuts. Our legislators need to have the political courage to look at raising revenue so that they do not have to make cuts to education. Our message is simple: NO MORE CUTS!

When leadership from the Cascade UniServ Council met with State Representative Ruth Kagi in mid-October, she said that she would not vote for an all-cuts budget this year. She is the only representative that we have heard this from. Please take ten minutes before Thanksgiving break to email the nine legislators on the list below— we have to do this NOW before they start conversations during their December Committee Days. The legislative session officially begins in January. I have listed their names separately, but have also included an email list that you can copy and paste into the “To” line of an email. (If you are willing to write your own legislators, too, but don’t know who they are or their contact info, click here to find out.)

Here are some talking points, but please try to craft the message into your own words.

• I am an educator (you can be specific, like “I teach 5th grade”) in the Northshore School District, part of the Cascade UniServ Council, and I am writing on behalf of the students in your legislative districts.
  
• The Northshore School District had to make drastic cuts and reductions to people and resources because of the budget passed by the legislature last year. (Give some specific examples that affect you and your students - transportation, par educators, reading specialists, special education paraeducators, increased class sizes, etc.)
  
• We cannot suffer any more cuts—class sizes are already too high, we don’t have the resources we need, struggling learners aren’t getting enough additional help, etc.
• Please have the political courage to find new revenue sources to avoid further cuts to public education.
  

Remember to send this email from your home email address, on non-school time.

1st Legislative District
Rep. Mark Ericks: ericks.mark@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Al O'Brien: obrien.al@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe: mcauliffe.rosemary@leg.wa.gov

21st Legislative District
Rep. Marko Liias: liias.marko@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Mary Helen Roberts: roberts.maryhelen@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Paull Shin: shin.paull@leg.wa.gov

32nd Legislative District
Rep. Ruth Kagi: kagi.ruth@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Maralyn Chase: chase.maralyn@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Darlene Fairley: fairley.darlene@leg.wa.gov

Thank you for taking time to advocate for your students and yourself. Your voice and influence can make a difference for public education in Northshore and across Washington state. Let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for all you do!

Tim Brittell
President
Northshore Education Association
WEA-Cascade UniServ Council

Election Update

Although not all the ballots have been counted, here’s the latest, from the Seattle Times:

NORTHSHORE SCHOOL BOARD:

It appears that challengers Julia Lacey and Todd Banks have won. And Sandy Hayes (who ran unopposed to fill Gene Hawkridge’s departure) is in. Thus, it is likely that three of the five NSD School Board members will be new, creating a new dynamic and opportunities for our schools and our community.

Julia Lacey (recommended by NSEA, NESPA, and NEOPA): 58%
Sue Buske (incumbent): 42%

Todd Banks: 55%
Cathy Swanson (incumbent): 45%

EYMAN’S INITIATIVE 1033 is defeated.

Yes: 45%.
No: 55%

“Tonight voters rejected I-1033 because it would have slashed funding for students and schools by millions, if not billions. Washington voters know we should be investing in public education, not cutting it,” said Mary Lindquist, Washington Education Association president. The WEA played a major role in the campaign to defeat I-1033.

Referendum 71 is too close to call.

Currently:
Yes: 51%
No: 49%

King County Executive: Dow Constantine wins.

Constantine: 57%
Hutchison: 43%

THANK YOU to those who voted and to those who participated in Julia Lacey’s campaign!

Elementary Tip of the Week: Effective Communication

ELEMENTARY NSEA TIP OF THE WEEK
November 2-6, 2009
Get Ready for Conferences: Effective Communication With Parents

NOTE: THIS TIP WAS SENT TO ELEMENTARY MEMBERS ONLY.
With Elementary conferences just around the corner, NSEA would like your input! If you have a tip or suggestion for making parent-teacher conferences more effective, please share it by clicking here. Responses are anonymous. We will be sharing your tips with all Elementary NSEA members in next week’s Tip of the Week. Please be sure to add your thoughts by Monday, November 9th.

Below are some tips we’ve come up with for effective communication and conferencing.

Parent Communication
Parents can be your strongest allies when it comes to educating students. Here are some reminders and tips when it comes to communicating with parents:

• Be accurate and professional. Make sure you are clear and concise in your communications.
  
• Keep your own record of all correspondence, including emails. The best way is to keep a copy of all written communication. You can also set up a phone log to keep track of phone messages.
• Give parents advance notice. If you expect a response, be sure to send communication home far enough in advance for the material to be reviewed and responded to.
• Set up a system for keeping track of permission slips and materials that require a parent response.
• Maintain a log. Use it to track things like discipline problems, feedback to your advice to parents, parents' suggestions for helping their children, discipline problems and your responses, safety hazards and your responses, requests for funds for instructional materials, requests for curriculum adjustments, incidents of vandalism or violence, difficulties with administrators and your responses, observations and evaluations and your responses, symptoms of student drug or alcohol abuse and your responses, indications of child abuse or neglect and your responses
  
• Parent visits: According to Article 24.2 of our CBA, visitation from parents or other educational patrons shall be requested at least one school day prior to the day of the desired visitation. The employee and principal must be notified in advance of the date and purpose of the visitation.
  

Effective Conferencing Tips
Parent communication is a significant part of your job. It is difficult to teach a child whose parents are not working with you as part of the team, and conferences provide crucial opportunities to update and strategize. Parent conference week is an exhausting time, but the following tips can help you immeasurably:

• Don’t take parents by surprise. Throughout the year, you should be sending out regular updates about class activities as well as individual progress reports. If a student is floundering, give some warning before report cards and conference time.
  
• Be well-organized. Have all the grades, student portfolios, and other documentation available. Keep specific dates of and notes about incidents or concerns involving your students. It’s very hard to reconstruct later, and it greatly enhances your credibility when you have these things in writing. Use the student’s own input as well. Prior to the conference, have each child complete a self-evaluation form. It is interesting to see how kids think they are doing, where they feel they need help, and what they are most proud of.
  
• Remember that parents are not objective about their children. You have to be diplomatic and tactful. Offer no criticism without a constructive suggestion or proposed strategy. Make sure that you point out positives, not just problems.
  
• You don’t have to have all the answers. It’s okay to ask parents if they have any suggestions or insights. You need to enlist their support or you’re fighting a lonely and losing battle.
  
• Ongoing dialogue relieves the pressure of parent conference time. Invite parents to call with questions; make sure your door is open; be accessible and supportive at all times.

Secondary NSEA Tip of the Week: Be Tech Smart!

SECONDARY NSEA TIP OF THE WEEK
November 2-6, 20009
Be Tech Smart

…In Your Classroom:

Cell phones, iPods, and other portable tech devices are everywhere you go these days. But that doesn’t mean you have to allow them to disrupt your classroom.

In the Acceptable Use of Technology section of the Student Handbook, it states:

E. DISRUPTION OR INTERFERENCE WITH EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

1. Electronic Devices (including but not limited to cell phones, camera phones, personal digital assistants, pagers, entertainment devices, etc.): The misuse or inappropriate use of electronic devices such that, district programs, personal privacy or district HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) policy is violated, disrupted or interfered with will be considered a disruption to the educational process.
   

Some schools have also implemented strict rules about school-wide use of cell phones, iPods, etc. by students. If your school does not have such a policy, we at NSEA strongly encourage you to forbid the use of portable tech devises in your classroom. By doing so, you will protect yourself and your students from unwanted recording, photography, or other disruptive behavior.

…And Away From Work:

Many of us have Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter accounts. Others have personal blogs. While these social networking tools allow us to be more connected to friends and family, they also make our private lives more visible to parents, students, and employers. Google your name from time to time to see what comes up.

Be smart about what you post on your personal sites. If a photo or story you want to post could cause you or others embarrassment, could be incriminating, or is better off left private, don’t share it. If you feel you want to share information that may be more personal in nature, make your account off limits to the general public. Many sites allow you to make your account private, open only to those you personally invite.

Make sure you update your personal sites on your own time, using your own personal computer equipment. Remember that your NSD email account is the property of the Northshore School District and is not to be considered private or confidential.