What's Up Wednesday?

The Results are In...

Congratulations to all the candidates for your dedication to supporting our members. The election ballots have been counted and the results are in for your 2019-2021 KEA Officers:
 
President:
Christie Padilla     87.4%
Michael Lewis       12.6%
 
Vice-President:
Tim Martin            100%
 
Secretary/Treasurer:
Zack Stockdale      64.5%
Becca Ritchie         35.5%
 
Congratulations also to the members who will be representing KENT at the NEA Representative Assembly in Houston, Texas this summer! Kent EA will be sending the 2019-2021 officers along with five members elected as NEA RA delegates:
 
Delegates: 
  • Christie Padilla, President
  • Tim Martin, Vice-President
  • Zack Stockdale, Secretary/Treasurer
  • Lisa Brackin
  • Layla Jones
  • Eric Andersen
  • Michael Lewis
  • Samina Shafi
  • Becca Ritchie is currently in her 2nd year of a two-year term State Delegate position, and will also be attending.
Alternates: 
  • Russelle Cole
  • Vaudery Brown
  • Cathy McKay
Thank you to everyone who participated in the election and volunteered to represent KEA in Houston!
 
What's Up with Next Year's Schedule...

For the past two years, KEA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) waiving the rights of our members to have 250 minutes of planning time per week during the school day. KEA leadership approached KSD on at least two occasions this winter to ask if they intended to submit another MOU request.
 
In 2017, the membership voted on the CBA that clearly stated that all members will have 250 minutes of planning time per week. For this to happen in our elementary schools, specialists must teach students for 50 minutes at a time. This poses several issues for our KEA specialist members. The teachers have expressed safety issues, equipment shortages, and space problems. These are very legitimate concerns that KEA feels the District has had two years to address.
 
After the announcement was made to move to 50 minute planning times, the District then approached KEA about signing another MOU. KEA considered the continued delay of 50 minute planning, however, one of the main factors affecting the decision was that the district would have cut the number of specialist teaching positions. KEA will not waive the rights of our members, and definitely will not sacrifice jobs. KEA leadership has said all along, not one KEA member will be laid-off. We have stuck to our word.
 
It is KEA's understanding that some of the principals have shared with their staff that it is the KEA's Exec Board's fault that we stay at 40 minute planning times. Please call Alan Sutliff or Christie Padilla at the KEA Office (253) 852-1350 if you have concerns. Our KEA Exec Board volunteers a lot of time working on your behalf and they deserve respect. 
 
Thank you for helping us support a positive transition where all KEA members have an equal amount of planning time within the student day each week. We are proud to be among the few places where elementary teachers will have the same required amount of planning as their secondary counterparts.
 
Grant Opportunities...

Several KEA teachers received grants from the Kent Schools Foundation in January this year. That was good news. Even better news is that there is additional money available and our partners in the Foundation have opened up a second round of grants this month. To download an application and find more details on the Foundation's Classroom Enrichment Grant program, go to the website at:
 
 
 
 
Sick Leave Donation Requests :
Below are fellow KEA members in need of sick leave donations. If you have more than 22 days of sick leave and would like to donate, please download and complete the sick leave donation form and send it via district mail to the HR designee listed next to the person you wish to donate to. 
 
Jennifer Jones: Send via district mail to Katie Russell
Maryhelen Willert: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Paola Cordero: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
LaKenya Moss: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Jane Allen: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Jason Hurley: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Megan Bublitz: Send via district mail to Katie Russell
Robin Bender: Send via district mail to Katie Russell
Nanette Navarro: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Theresa Turner: Send via district mail to Katie Russell

If you are in need of sick leave donations please contact HR. They will notify us that you qualify and we can put your request here. 
Upcoming Events
April 3
Rep Council Meeting
Ballots DUE!  
 
April 8-12
Spring Break! 
 
April 17
Exec Board Meeting
 
April  25-27
WEA Rep Assembly 
 
May 8
Rep Council Meeting 
 
Be sure to check the KEA calendar for upcoming events
 
 
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