Bargaining Update 8/19/20 
 
 
Reopening Information 
A small KEA bargaining group has been meeting nearly every day to discuss reopening information on behalf of all KEA members. We appreciate the feedback that you have given us. We are using that information to guide our conversations. While we have many things to finalize, we do have agreement that there will be five additional days added to the work calendar. Three of the days will be for training focused on teaching practices during remote learning.  Teachers who work part-time will also be paid for those three full days. The other two days are for materials inventory and distribution.  Those will be decided upon at the building level in order to meet the individual needs of the building. The three training days will be paid in the September paycheck and the other two days will be paid no later than the October paycheck. 
 
 
Bargaining Update 
The KEA and KSD bargaining teams met again on Sunday, and then again on Tuesday.  We will continue to negotiate tomorrow and Friday.  We have some tentative agreements on some smaller issues, but continue to be far apart on compensation, class size/caseload, and safety concernsWe are getting down to the wire, but KSD knows that KEA is committed to getting a fair deal for our members.  KEA put KSD on notice that we will be holding a general membership meeting on Monday, August 24, at 5:00.  We will be voting on a tentative agreement, or voting to take other action.  Both sides would prefer to have a tentative agreement to vote on. 
 
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 
Regardless of the outcome of our marathon bargaining sessions, we will hold our General Membership meeting on Monday, August 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. This will be a very large meeting using the Zoom platformOnly KEA members will be allowed to attend. Any new employees can join the union at www.washingtonea.org/ejoin if they want to attend and participate in the 2020 KEA General Membership meeting. 
 
Everyone will need to preregister at this link: http://bit.ly/KEAGM824  
 
Once you register, you should get an email from Zoom that will have a direct link to access the meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2020. 
 
Trainings available from the NEA 
NEA is here to provide the resources you need to establish an effective online classroom. 
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unlikely that many schools will return to a normal schedule this fall, requiring schools to shift to distance learning until it is safe for schools to resume in-person classes. 
 
In response to this uncertainty, NEA is offering its members an opportunity to enroll in virtual Remote Blended Learning courses to learn about the basic components of remote learning. Participants will learn about the required cross-collaboration between instructional, content, and technology teams to successfully teach their students outside of traditional classroom and building structures. 
  
Educators may either enroll in one of the following courses, which start the week of Aug 31. 
Remote learning 101 
Learn about best practices for remote learning, as well as how to implement a successful remote learning program by utilizing  strategies that encourage community building, effective communication, and peer-to-peer collaboration. 
Equity challenges and opportunities 
Learn about the equity challenges caused by the necessity for remote learning, as well as the opportunities you have as educators to minimize their impact. 
Collaboration tools and strategies 
Learn the basics of available online platforms to collaborate and communicate online, including virtual meetings, messaging, screencast, structural platforms, appointment and content creation tools. 
Supporting all students in an asynchronous environment 
Explore asynchronous digital tools and learn how you can use them to write engaging lessons that meet the needs of all of your students-including the needs of English language learners, special needs students, and students who are above or below grade level in reading and writing. 
Trauma informed pedagogy for remote learning 
Learn about trauma and the impact it can have on your students in a school setting. You will also learn how to identify trauma specifically related to COVID-19 and be introduced to activities, apps, and tools to support students. 
 
Registration closes August 21st COB; Courses will start August 31st. You will receive detailed information on how to participate in courses the week of August 24th.