Upcoming KEA Elections
This January KEA will conduct an electronic election using BallotPoint to elect our WEA Representative Assembly and NEA Representative Assembly delegates. On this same ballot, we will also vote on the 2022-2023 school calendar options.
Delegates will be the voice for Kent at the state level during the virtual WEA Rep Assembly April 7-9, and at the national level during the NEA Rep Assembly July 2-6, location to be determined.
If you, or any of your amazing KEA colleagues, are interested in being a delegate, nominations are open now through January 7th at 5 pm. Nominations can be sent to KEAelections@washingtonea.org. Only KEA members can be nominated. Any questions about the election or ballots can also be sent to KEAelections@washingtoea.org.
Your electronic ballots will be emailed to your home email address.
Inclusive Ed Classroom Teachers
KEA is currently reaching out to all Inclusive Ed classroom teachers to gather information regarding the para educator availability to your program. We are aware that there are over 40 para-educator positions that have not been filled. As a result, IE staff members have been stretched to the limits. There is possible compensation that KEA members are entitled to when programs are short-staffed. It is our intention to make sure that every KEA member receives the compensation that they are entitled to according to our CBA.
Please take a few minutes to fill out the Special Education Classroom Teacher Relief form, which can be found at this link. If you are in overload, and have not been compensated, please follow the link to complete the form.
KSD Values vs Educator Need
Last spring KEA began asking KSD of their plans to handle the lack of guest teachers for the 2021-22 school year. The district’s only reply was that they were working on a plan and would share it soon. When no plan was shared this fall, KEA began to try to share some ideas with KSD to work collaboratively and help with this issue. One idea KEA suggested was to incentivize the nonuse of EDL days helping to create less of a need, especially later in the year when educators are looking at a “use them or lose them” situation. The district’s reply was that this is a bargained right of our members and that they should have access to sick leave and be able to use their EDL days; in short no incentive would be offered. KEA then suggested that KSD follow the idea that some of our surrounding districts were doing to support classroom. In these surrounding districts they have their central office administrators going out, once a week, and filling open guest teacher positions. We felt that this would not only fill a need but also help district administrators to realize the challenges each of you are facing daily. KSD’s response was “we are developing a plan that includes this idea and many others to help address the guest teacher shortage. It is currently sitting in executive cabinet and there is no timeline when it will be responded to.” *Sigh… KEA continues to ask the status of this “plan” and continues to receive shoulder shrugs. The only plan that has come to KEA was the ask to sign a “joint communication” written by KSD in November. It stated that you should not take sick leave or EDL days because it causes hardship for others. As you probably can guess this “joint communication” was NOT signed off by KEA, as KSD stated just last that “it is a bargained right of our members to be able to use their sick leave and EDL days.”
Going forward KEA is aware how difficult it is being an educator and that you must take care of yourself and your loved ones. There is no incentive from KSD to save those days and struggle through your work life. The lack of not being proactive on this issue by KSD is only going to get worse as we head into the spring. We have made suggestions and continue to highlight this issue but is seems to have fallen on deaf ears as so many other issues have that KEA has brought up.
We have one more week till winter vacation. Please rest up and take time for yourself and family. When you return to work in January, and if you find yourself in need of using your sick leave or EDL days remember to do what is best for you. This is an issue KSD must fully acknowledge before they can fix it and when they are ready to work WITH KEA, we will be here to do so in a way that won’t negatively impact our members and is solution based.
Sick Leave Donations
Member(s) in Need:
Michelle Seeley
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, in the newsletter.
