Tzom Kal

To borrow the traditional wish, G'mar Hatimah Tovah to all the Jewish members, relations, and friends of the WEA family on this Yom Kippur.

Clarification on Evaluation System Ratification

Contrary to discussion at the most recent school committee meeting, no ratification vote for the Unit A evaluation system has been scheduled by the WEA. Friday is a ratification vote for the Unit B successor contract, which includes the Unit B evaluation system. At present, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has not reviewed the proposed evaluation system. This necessary part of the process has not been executed, so ratification has not been scheduled. This may arise as a topic of discussion on the October 1 Executive Board Meeting scheduled for Wareham High School.

Chicago and East

A reminder that I will be at East Wareham School at 3:30 on Thursday, Sept. 20. Stop by to say hello and share concerns and ideas. One question I've received a few times is about the Chicago Teachers Union strike. As of this moment, there is a tentative deal in the works. This episode shows how seriously educators in Chicago -- just as in Wareham and around the country -- take education. Causes for the strike were not just issues of recognition of educators' professionalism and fulfillment of previous promises from the school district, but provision of adequate textbooks and air conditioning to fight against Chicago's lethal summertime heat so students can learn. With a deal in the works, I'm glad to go from a post about how to support Chicago teachers to a post thanking them for laying it on the line, and becoming a target of anti-worker media and politics, in the effort to pursue a fair, accessible, and high-quality education for Chicago's kids.

Clarification on Rubicon and wages

In the wake of some discussion at the outset of the year, I want to clarify questions I received on the use of Rubicon Atlas. Use of Rubicon Atlas is not required at any level. Instead, it is seen as a tool that people are "encouraged but not required" to use in their instruction and preparation. In other news, a reminder that the membership of Unit A ratified a contract that included a step freeze for the school year 2012-13. The contract does include a raise in base pay; as health insurance expenses have gone up, please check your base pay and not simply the post-taxes and expenses amount.

Thursday, September 6 and events

A reminder that Thursday, September 6th is a state primary so voting will be happening in all schools that double as polling places. There are some contested races on the primary ballot (MTA recommendations are on our website). In other news, please drop some ideas for a beginning-of-the-year social event that you'd be interested in. How would a cruise on the Cape Cod Canal strike you? Or a mini golf tournament? Let us know in the comments on this post...

Ten, no eleven things I hope everyone knows entering the school year

1. Our custodial staff have done a heroic job dealing with the dozens, maybe hundreds of moves between classrooms and buildings.
2. Our members are doing a heroic job in the same exact department.
3. There will be a Unit A vote on new evaluation language as soon as it is finalized, which should be before Columbus Day.
4. Our association has been busy with evaluations, negotiations, grievances, and all manner of things. It has not been a quiet summer.
5. We have a membership meeting on August 30th at 3:30 at the WMS Auditorium.
6. The election this November is going to have a direct impact on your job. Do you know how? Do you want to learn how?
7. The United States dominated the London Olympics, from men's basketball through women's judo.
8. We really need people to step up and strengthen our association by filling some openings of the WEA.
9. Yes, Unit A is on a step freeze this year in accompaniment with the 1.5% raise as ratified by the membership this summer.
10. The MTA Summer Institute in Williamstown should only be attended by people who like eating, socializing, meeting new people, dancing, and becoming a better educator and association member. But mainly the first four items on that list.
11. We have a membership meeting on August 30th at 3:30 at the WMS Auditorium. (Yes, I said that twice.)