Reduction in Force (RIF) Process New
In the March 9 PSUSD Board of Education agenda you will find that the district has published the number of Reduction in Force (RIF) positions they are looking to reduce. The positions are listed by the the particular kinds of service (PKS) the district has chosen to reduce. PSTA wants to provide a review for you so that you can better understand the process. Sometimes knowing what to expect reduces the anxiety of the situation.
Teachers must be notified by March 15. The district has indicated to me they will probably serve teachers on the 11th or 12th. But please understand they still have until Monday, March 15 to present a teacher with a notification of a reduction in force action.
Being notified is stressful but it is just that - a notification. There are several factors that can affect EXACTLY who will receive a final lay-off notice on May 15. As an example, the district has placed an April 15 deadline for teachers who wish to retire to receive the $20,000 incentive. The number of retirees will definitely influence the number of final lay-off notices. Another factor will be the number of teachers who are leaving the district. While the deadline for that incentive ($1500) was March 1, there are still members who will be leaving without taking advantage of the incentive.
May 15 is the deadline for teachers to be told they will receive an enforcement of their notification. In several conversations with the district, it has been indicated they hope to recall as many notified teachers as possible before that date.
Several of you have already asked for the seniority list to check your number. The district has not provided PSTA with the list yet. It may sound simple to produce, but PSUSD is very careful in making sure there are no mistakes. It is not as simple as placing teachers in order by hire date. Since each of us has unique qualities such as number of credentials, authorizations and units, each placement on the list must be crossed checked with others with the same hire date.
When creating the list of teachers who will receive a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice it means finding those teachers who are lowest in seniority that cannot bump someone else. For example the list shows ARRA teachers as a targeted particular kind of service. That does not mean those teachers will receive a RIF notice. Receiving a RIF notice is based on your first date of paid service. Some of the ARRA teachers will bump teachers with less seniority out of their classrooms.
To determine who should receive the RIF notice the district will move up the seniority list. This will in some cases trigger the tie-breaking criteria because they were hired on the same date. If two teachers hired on the same date receive a RIF notice the tie-breaking criteria is used. The PSUSD staff move down the tie-breaking criteria until the tie is broken and one teacher is left.
The tie breaking and bumping criteria are listed in the board agenda for your review. This is a complicated procedure to explain, but I hope this offers a bit more insight into what will be happening in the next 2 months.
PSTA is committed to supporting our teachers and helping everyone through all of this. As always, if you have questions please call the office (760-416-9293) or send us an email at psta@verizon.net.
Teachers must be notified by March 15. The district has indicated to me they will probably serve teachers on the 11th or 12th. But please understand they still have until Monday, March 15 to present a teacher with a notification of a reduction in force action.
Being notified is stressful but it is just that - a notification. There are several factors that can affect EXACTLY who will receive a final lay-off notice on May 15. As an example, the district has placed an April 15 deadline for teachers who wish to retire to receive the $20,000 incentive. The number of retirees will definitely influence the number of final lay-off notices. Another factor will be the number of teachers who are leaving the district. While the deadline for that incentive ($1500) was March 1, there are still members who will be leaving without taking advantage of the incentive.
May 15 is the deadline for teachers to be told they will receive an enforcement of their notification. In several conversations with the district, it has been indicated they hope to recall as many notified teachers as possible before that date.
Several of you have already asked for the seniority list to check your number. The district has not provided PSTA with the list yet. It may sound simple to produce, but PSUSD is very careful in making sure there are no mistakes. It is not as simple as placing teachers in order by hire date. Since each of us has unique qualities such as number of credentials, authorizations and units, each placement on the list must be crossed checked with others with the same hire date.
When creating the list of teachers who will receive a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice it means finding those teachers who are lowest in seniority that cannot bump someone else. For example the list shows ARRA teachers as a targeted particular kind of service. That does not mean those teachers will receive a RIF notice. Receiving a RIF notice is based on your first date of paid service. Some of the ARRA teachers will bump teachers with less seniority out of their classrooms.
To determine who should receive the RIF notice the district will move up the seniority list. This will in some cases trigger the tie-breaking criteria because they were hired on the same date. If two teachers hired on the same date receive a RIF notice the tie-breaking criteria is used. The PSUSD staff move down the tie-breaking criteria until the tie is broken and one teacher is left.
The tie breaking and bumping criteria are listed in the board agenda for your review. This is a complicated procedure to explain, but I hope this offers a bit more insight into what will be happening in the next 2 months.
PSTA is committed to supporting our teachers and helping everyone through all of this. As always, if you have questions please call the office (760-416-9293) or send us an email at psta@verizon.net.
PSTA Exective Board Elections New
Nominations for Executive Board positions will be accepted until Tuesday, March 16, 2010.
Open Positions include:
Vice-President
Middle School Director
YRE Elementary Director
Recording Secretary
Membership Director
Minority-at-large
PSTA State Council Alternate
NEA/RA local representative (8 positions)
Nomination forms were in the latest edition of PSTA Connections or at www.PalmSpringsTeachers.org
Open Positions include:
Vice-President
Middle School Director
YRE Elementary Director
Recording Secretary
Membership Director
Minority-at-large
PSTA State Council Alternate
NEA/RA local representative (8 positions)
Nomination forms were in the latest edition of PSTA Connections or at www.PalmSpringsTeachers.org
PSTA NEWS from the Pres. New
Spring has become a painful season in education.
We are entering the season reserved in Education Code for Reduction in Force measures. Our superintendent sent out a letter detailing the cuts cabinet has proposed for the 2010-2011 school year. The Board of Education will be voting on those cuts at the March 9 board meeting. That vote will trigger the events outlined in the article below.
In her letter, Dr. McCune outlined how the district is cutting labor costs in each of these three areas:
"approximately $1.3 million in certificated, $1.23 million in classified and $931,000 in management/confidential."
She also states" the remainder of the proposed $6.3 million reduction comes from the elimination of our annual deferred maintenance contribution, elimination of Adult Education and reduction in home-to-school transportation."
Not included in the letter is the additional money coming from a rebate received from REEP in the amount of $3,022,230.
Now more than ever it is important to be supportive of peers, stay healthy and finds ways to alleviate the stress that we will all be going through.
If PSTA can help in any way, please let us know.
Current Hot Topics - "Disability Insurance"
Benefit Waiting Period:
lesser of 7 consecutive regular days of required attendance or extra duty days, or 30 calendar
Benefit Period:
(With 5 or more years in STRS) - the period for which you are eligible to receive fully paid sick leave and the following 2 benefit years
(less than 5 years with STRS) - the period for which you are eligible to receive fully paid sick leave and the following 2 benefit years plus the following:
59 or younger - to age 65
60-64 years - 5 years
65-69 - to age 70 or 1 year
70 - 1 year
Benefits:
during sick leave: $25 per day
1st and 2nd benefit years: up to 75% of regular daily contract salary, reduced by deductible income payable for each regular required attendance day. Minimum benefit $30 per day of required attendance
After 2nd benefit year: (less than 5 years with STRS) 50% of regular monthly contract salary reduced by deductible income. Min benefit $500 per month.
Additional Features:
$35 per calendar day while in a hospital as a result of your disability - no waiting period
Up to 75% of extra duty pay lost to disability, reduced by deductible income
Covers disabilities occurring on or off the job
No premium required during disability
Dependent education benefit - monthly benefit to help pay post-secondary costs for children, souse.domestic partner
$10,00 accidental death and dismemberment coverage
Child care expense up to $1000 year
New Website to Support Teachers
PSTA is painfully aware of the work each of you is doing in your grade levels and departments. The Data Analysis Worksheet (DAW) is providing a structure to the work you are required to do for DAIT.
We are investigating creating a website which will enable you to create the DAW with drop down menus, easily transfer data from OARS and provide you with the research of the most effective instructional strategies for each of the standards you are addressing.
If you have any thoughts on what would make this website more useful for the work you do, please let PSTA know your suggestions.
lesser of 7 consecutive regular days of required attendance or extra duty days, or 30 calendar
Benefit Period:
(With 5 or more years in STRS) - the period for which you are eligible to receive fully paid sick leave and the following 2 benefit years
(less than 5 years with STRS) - the period for which you are eligible to receive fully paid sick leave and the following 2 benefit years plus the following:
59 or younger - to age 65
60-64 years - 5 years
65-69 - to age 70 or 1 year
70 - 1 year
Benefits:
during sick leave: $25 per day
1st and 2nd benefit years: up to 75% of regular daily contract salary, reduced by deductible income payable for each regular required attendance day. Minimum benefit $30 per day of required attendance
After 2nd benefit year: (less than 5 years with STRS) 50% of regular monthly contract salary reduced by deductible income. Min benefit $500 per month.
Additional Features:
$35 per calendar day while in a hospital as a result of your disability - no waiting period
Up to 75% of extra duty pay lost to disability, reduced by deductible income
Covers disabilities occurring on or off the job
No premium required during disability
Dependent education benefit - monthly benefit to help pay post-secondary costs for children, souse.domestic partner
$10,00 accidental death and dismemberment coverage
Child care expense up to $1000 year
New Website to Support Teachers
PSTA is painfully aware of the work each of you is doing in your grade levels and departments. The Data Analysis Worksheet (DAW) is providing a structure to the work you are required to do for DAIT.
We are investigating creating a website which will enable you to create the DAW with drop down menus, easily transfer data from OARS and provide you with the research of the most effective instructional strategies for each of the standards you are addressing.
If you have any thoughts on what would make this website more useful for the work you do, please let PSTA know your suggestions.
H1N1 Flu Virus Shots for Anthem Blue Cross Members
REEP for Benefits is always looking for ways to help our covered members strive for wellness. In an effort to ensure that individuals and their families can take the appropriate actions to help protect themselves against the H1N1 virus, REEP has made arrangements with Anthem Blue Cross to cover the administration of the H1N1 vaccine at NO COST to all REEP Anthem Blue Cross members (no co-pay, coinsurance, or deductible) during this flu season.
The H1N1 vaccine is now available at most provider locations. You may be required to meet certain criteria to be eligible to receive the vaccine and the providers will follow the rules for distribution priority. However, we encourage you to contact your provider to schedule your vaccination soon and not assume you will not be eligible.
We understand how important your group medical benefits are, and we're looking forward to continuing to provide you with valuable benefits. If you have any questions regarding this benefit, please call the Anthem Blue Cross Member Services phone number provided on your ID card, or our insurance consultant, Keenan & Associates, at 1.800.654.8347 or 951-788-0330.
The H1N1 vaccine is now available at most provider locations. You may be required to meet certain criteria to be eligible to receive the vaccine and the providers will follow the rules for distribution priority. However, we encourage you to contact your provider to schedule your vaccination soon and not assume you will not be eligible.
We understand how important your group medical benefits are, and we're looking forward to continuing to provide you with valuable benefits. If you have any questions regarding this benefit, please call the Anthem Blue Cross Member Services phone number provided on your ID card, or our insurance consultant, Keenan & Associates, at 1.800.654.8347 or 951-788-0330.
Email your legislator
http://capwiz.com/nea/ca/home/
Please visit www.cta.org and get e-mail addresses of their legislators. It is our responsibility to get the word out on how these cuts are affecting us and our students.
Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez
http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/
ContactPopup.aspx?district=AD80
Tel: (760) 342-8047
Fax: (760) 347-8704
Senator John Benoit
friendsofjohn@jbenoit.com
760-360-7832
Email PSUSD Board Members