AEA Contract Summary

August 29, 2011Contract 2011 - 2014

Contract Negotiations

• Contract negotiations were a regular process throughout the 2010-2011 school year and summer (after finding out that our facilitator was no longer willing to work with APS.)

• Both parties chose to continue negotiations into the summer, in large part, because of the changes in health insurance bargaining laws. As a result, we were able to maintain a contract proposal with raises and better insurance options than provided by the state.

AEA – Why we are here

• Remember, a union exists to protect and provide fair treatment to ALL regarding wages, benefits, and working conditions.

• The union contract is negotiated to provide this treatment to ALL teachers COLLECTIVELY in the union, which may mean it does not enhance every issue which seems most important to EACH member INDIVIDUALLY.

• We must think of the collective impact when working together in the Ashland Educator’s Association.

Where we started

0 - 0 - 0

Health Care

Rate Saver Plans:

•Why the changes

•What it means for you

History of MA Health Insurance Laws

MA General Laws have changed regarding Health Insurance

•This year Governor Patrick declared that towns needed to control their health care costs.

•The Massachusetts legislature passed a new law allowing for the REMOVAL of HEALTH INSURANCE from collective bargaining. (MGL Chapter 32B has a new section that removed the requirement to follow 130E)

•Ashland did bargain the issue of health insurance despite this new ruling

If the contract is not ratified . . .

• We could be facing that 0 – 0 – 0

• We could be placed into the GIC (General Insurance Commission)

• The GIC does not include ANY Blue Cross plans

Ashland’s Proposal

• All town employees will switch to the Rate Saver plans offered by our existing providers

What does this mean for ME?

• You may choose to remain with the same provider, or change to an alternate provider in September, 2011, but it will be under the new “Rate Saver” programs which have been described to you.

• September, 2011 will be a period of open enrollment; plans to go into effect on October 1, 2011.

• Your insurance deductions will not change until the first pay check in October, 2011, when the plan becomes effective.

How do I know which plan to choose?

• Details of ALL existing and rate saver plans are available on the Ashland Public Schools homepage under:

Staff Links Proposed Healthcare

changes

Individual Differences

• Each employee would need to decide about their healthcare choices based on individual needs and use

• Everyone is different

• The AEA can NOT endorse any particular provider or plan. This choice is your personal choice. Review the plans and make your choice.

More Information to follow

There will be another meeting with someone from the Consortium. Please

watch for e-mails and attend all building meetings for more details.

Forms for submitting out of pocket expenses will be forthcoming

Long Term Disability Insurance

• Long Term Disability Insurance is an insurance coverage which pays you a portion of your salary when you are found to have a “disabling” condition which is expected to last a continuous period of 12 months or to result in death.

• The town of Ashland is making this insurance available to employees who wish to purchase it:• Through UNUM Insurance Company• LTD benefit starts after 90 days of disability

Signing Up for LTD

• Information on LTD benefits will be distributed in October, 2011

• For more information, please contact Barbara Durand in the Business office.• Enrollment dates are in November,

2011• Deductions will begin in December,

2011• Coverage begins 1/1/12

Stipends

• The School Committee has funded certain stipend positions for co-curricular activities in lieu of charging parent fees.

• Watch for the postings at your school if you are interested in stipend positions.

Ipass

• During the 2010-2011 school year, several teachers utilized the Ipass Electronic Grade book system as part of a trial run.

• During the 2011-2012 school year APS will create an Ipass Committee to create benchmarks for implementation of the Ipass Electronic Grade book system for all teachers, grades 6 - 12.

• This committee will consist of: • The Director of Curriculum• The Director of Technology• One teacher from each building• Additional participants may be welcome

Ipass and Iparent• When the benchmarks set by the committee have been

met, but NOT earlier than August, 2012, the Ipass grading system will be used by all teachers.

• Teachers in Grades K-5 will complete reports of student progress and print the reports in their own building at any time before the Spring and Fall conference dates, as applicable. Upon full implementation of Ipass, the number of parent conferences will be reduced to one per school year at the Mindess School.

• Teachers in Grades 6 – 12 responsible for grading students in any fashion will maintain an electronic grade book in Ipass, with entries updated no later than every other week.

• Eventually, parents will have limited access to their child’s grades through Ipass’ Iparent program.

Personal Leave

• Teachers continue to receive 5 days for personal leave

• Requests for leave shall be submitted through the online request process. The building principal may, however, grant a request for immediate personal leave at his/her discretion.

• Personal days will in no event be used for personal recreation or outside occupation.

• Up to 2 single days of personal leave may be submitted as “pressing family matters.”

• Requests 3 – 5, or two consecutive days requested, must include a reason for such request.

Personal Leave

• At the end of the school year:• If an employee has used zero (0) days of

personal leave then five (5) personal days will be rolled to sick time on June 30th of each year

• If an employee has used one (1) personal day, then three (3) will be rolled over on June 30th

• If an employee has used two (2) personal days, then (2) will be rolled over on June 30th

• If an employee has used three (3) personal days then one (1) will be rolled over on June 30th

• The roll-over days will be added to sick days rolled over, even if the 200 day maximum has been saved in sick days

Sick Days: carry-over

• Teachers are allowed thirteen (13) sick days, received at the start of each school year.

• The unused portion of sick days, including rolled-over personal days may accumulate to:• 205 days by the end of 2011-12• 210 days by the end of 2012-13• 215 days by the end of 2013-14

Sick days: Buy-back upon retirement

• For purposes of sick leave buy-back upon retirement, teachers will be allowed to buy back up to a maximum of 200 days if they have 20 years of service to Ashland Public Schools (at the rate of $50 per day)

• Teachers who retire with 15 years of service to Ashland Public Schools may buy back 150 sick days at the rate of $50 per day.

Longevity

• Longevity refers to the length of time a teacher has worked in the Ashland Public Schools. The compensation has been changed based on years of service as follows:

• Effective 8/29/11, teachers who have been regularly employed for 13 years shall receive annually a $750 lump-sum longevity payment.

• Effective 8/29/11, teachers who have been regularly employed for 18 years shall receive annually a $1000 lump-sum longevity payment.

• Effective 8/29/11, teachers who have been regularly employed for 23 years shall receive annually a $1250 lump-sum longevity payment.

Teacher Evaluation

• During the 2011-12 school year, the teacher evaluation plan is expected to remain as is; however Ashland was chosen as one of the “early adopters” of the new DESE evaluations.

• During the 2011-12 school year, a sub-committee will be formed to consider the implementation of the state’s new Educator Evaluation Plan for August, 2012.

Teacher Evaluation Committee

• The committee will consist of (4) administrators and (4) AEA members

• The committee will review the State Model Plan, and agree to adopt that or a similar locally drafted plan

• Any such plan will include: definitions, timelines, collection of evidence.

• If the committee has not come to agreement by July 1, 2012, the town must implement the State Model Plan, in accordance with DESE regulations.

Teacher Workload & Hours

• Curriculum Meetings:• Each professional employee shall be

available for ONE, one-hour curriculum meeting per month, starting 5 minutes after the end of the instructional day; not to exceed 9 meetings per year.

• Each professional employee shall also participate on a curriculum, or PLC committee for 9 hours per school year.

Maternity Leave• The Town of Ashland agrees that this contract is subject to the

Massachusetts and Federal Family Leave Acts.

• The MMLA provides anyone who has worked past an initial probationary period to 8 weeks of unpaid maternity leave, during which time the employee is entitled to all regular benefits of the employer.

• The FMLA provides anyone who has worked 25-hrs. per week for a year, to a period of 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave, during which time the employee is entitled to all regular benefits of the employer.

• Under the FMLA, the 12 weeks may be taken in one continuous period, or may be broken up over the course of 12 month period surrounding the birth of your baby.

• These laws apply to BOTH men and women upon birth of their baby.

Courses

• All teachers will be required to earn a minimum of three (3) credit hours, approved in writing by the approval committee from an accredited college or university every three years in order to advance to the next salary step.

PLEASE REMEMBER!

• When you you are having a course approved, fill out the approval and reimbursement sheet and submit it to your principal.

• Document your personal payment for the course

• Submit your grade, payment and course documentation immediately if you want credit and/or reimbursement.

Courses

Also:

To get credit for the course to move to the next step, documentation (including grade) must be submitted no later than September 30th.

To receive reimbursement, you must submit evidence by:

• December 31st for fall courses (Sept. – Nov.);• June 30th for winter/spring courses (Dec. –

May);• September 30th for summer courses (June –

Aug.).

Part-timers

• We bargained in good faith over the part time schedules and duties.

• The Administration has agreed to carefully assign duties so that they are immediately preceding or following scheduled classes.

• The Administration has included us in review of the current PT schedules and duties to demonstrate a good faith effort toward this end, recognizing the importance of maintaining these employees and making it possible for other opportunities to supplement your work in Ashland.

Raises

• Effective August 29, 2011 (school year 2011-2012), the salary schedule as shown in Article XVI FY09 Teacher's Salary Chart is amended as follows: A 1% salary increase is applied to all steps and lanes.

• Effective the first teacher work day of the 2012-2013 school year a 1% salary increase is applied to all steps and lanes. In addition, all teachers in the MA thru MA+60 column who are at the maximum step will receive an additional salary increase of .5%*

Raises

• Effective the first teacher work day of the 2013-2014 school year a 1.5% salary increase is applied to all steps and lanes. In addition, all teachers in the MA thru MA+60 column who are at the maximum step will receive an additional salary increase of .5%*

•  *It is agreed that there is one teacher currently on step 11BA+30 who will receive the additional .5% Top Step increase in years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014.

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

What to expect in your paycheck

• Since the contract has not yet been ratified:• Your paycheck will not reflect the proposed

salary increase until the contract has been ratified (expected increase in 2nd check);

• A reimbursement of missed salary increase will be made in September, 2011;

• Your insurance deductions will be made at the existing rates in September, 2011;

• Your insurance deductions will change in October, 2011, if the contract is ratified and the rate saver plan goes into effect.

Where to vote today

• Your voting will occur in the room of your Professional Standards representative:• AHS: Chris - Rm. B231• AMS: Ellen - Rm. 102• Warren: Ann or Sue - Small Rm. 1• Mindess: Carrie – Rm. 18