Chico Unified Teachers Association

Chico Unified Teachers Association Newsletter

Membership IssueFebruary 2011
In This Issue
CUTA Parent Thank You
Proactive Negotiations
Organizers say Thanks
Benefits
Social Information
Emergency Dental Fund
CUTA Scholarships
Furlough days / paychecks
Organizing News
"The portrayal of unions in "Waiting for Superman" is one of the most controversial parts of the film. Reformers often find themselves battling with unions over ideas like performance pay and teacher evaluation. Many see unions as hidebound, selfish and steadfastly wedded to the status quo. For rank-and-file teachers, however, attitudes about unions also trace back to the fear of a bad boss."
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Greetings!


Chico Unified Teachers Association would like to extend a warm happy new year to all CUTA members. It is our sincere hope that we improve communications with you by sending out a periodic newsletter. As you come up with questions or other ideas of the type of information that our membership would value, please email them to [email protected] (Take a second look at that e-mail, it is new)
CUTA Thanks Parents for Hosting Parent Meetings During Last Year's Negotiations Crisis
A big thanks goes out to the many parents who volunteered their time and their homes to help us organize small informational meetings about last year's negotiations crisis. It is our intent to be sure parents have accurate information. We know that giving parents information from our perspective supported a settlement and averted a damaging teacher strike. We hope to never been in that position again with CUSD.
CUTA Requests to Negotiate Certain Items to Prevent Problems in the Future.
At the December 15th Board meeting, CUTA Bargaining Chair Kurt Rix (Marsh Jr. High Teacher) presented to the CUSD board several items CUTA would like to see discussed at the negotiating table with CUSD. The goal is to avoid any further strife in the future.  CUTA hopes to work with CUSD to be proactive in identifying future issues, so discussions can begin and solutions can be found.  See the items outlined below:

*  Implementaion of all day kindergarten classes

*  Request to bargain continuing impact of changes to the red plan for 2011-2012

 

Finally, we have asked CUSD to entertain our invitation to mutually reopen selected parts of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the purpose of:

  • Deleting language applicable to programs that no longer exist
  • Discussing CUTA's continued participation MAA reporting and Article 6.1.1.B.2.d.2)
  • Resolving disputes and potential arbitration resulting from the District's mandated use of the Aeries gradebook program (6.1.1.B.2.d.2).
  • Creating a process to more effectively deal with corroborated staff friction prior to resorting to involuntary transfer (11.6.2.A.6).
CUTA Organizing Says,
"THANK YOU" to CUTA Members
A huge thank you goes out to all of the CUTA members who took time out in September and October to attend rallies, informational meetings, and to vote when needed.  We have no doubt that teachers standing up and loudly vocalizing their support for CUTA bargaining is what caused a contract settlement without a damaging teacher strike. We hope to never been in that position again with CUSD.

The biggest thanks should be reserved for your site crisis captains.  Emails, notes, flyers in the boxes are all powerful communication tools, AND the reality is when an employee group is in a near strike crisis - face to face communication is crucial.  Your crisis captain took the time to attend weekly meetings, gather and disseminate information, and most importantly be that face to face contact to field questions, steady nerves, and encourage you to participate.

Take the time to thank your crisis captains once again, and if we ever travel down this crisis road again - remember that the face to face conversations are what ultimately make the difference.
Benefits Talk From Sue Christensen
Starting January 1, 2011, over the counter medicines now require a doctor's prescription in order to be reimbursed through your Flex 125 plan. Pacific Benefits has an excellent website (pacificbenefits.com) with a link to a complete list of products that will require a prescription. Also, it has a link to the FSA Store, which shows eligible products available now.  This list will change at the end of the year. All of this information is contained in the benefits packet that was given to you earlier this year. If you plan on getting reimbursed for over the counter medicines, make plans to have your doctor write a prescription so you can be reimbursed thorough your plan now that the first of the year has passed. Also, you do not need to write your social security number on your reimbursement form.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) was added to our benefits this year.  Everyone should have received a pamphlet in their box at the start of school.  It is available to all district employees and their household members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   (Children do not have to be IRS dependent or covered by insurance, as long as they live in the home.)  There is no charge for the following EAP services:
1)      One to four counseling sessions per different concern per year per person.  (It is confidential and covers family conflict, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, stress, drugs or alcohol problems, work pressures and financial/legal issues.)

2)       Assisted work/life services (Phone consultations for elder care and child care with no limit on calls).  Provides customized searches for care.

3)       30 minute legal (in person or telephone) and financial (telephone) consultations at no charge. 

-Only one call per issue.

-Up to 25% off the cost of follow-up consultations with attorneys.

-30 minute mediation consultation at no charge. 

4)    Living Well Library with links and resources, self-assessment surveys, legal and financial resources, work/life articles and resources.

-"Do it yourself" legal forms document preparation

Phone 1-800-999-7222 

Go To: anthemEAP.com 

Log In Program Name Butte Schools 

 

The BSSP provides a free mammogram screening for members and dependents based on the following guidelines:

-  Women 35-40- one baseline mammogram
-  Woman 40-49- one mammogram every 1 or 2 years depending on the baseline     and/or the patient's medical history.
-  Women 50 and over- one mammogram yearly
Use of the mammogram screening coupon saves more of your annual $250 prevention benefit for other prevention services and helps keeps JPA medical premiums low.
BSSP's mammogram coupon is for a screening mammogram only.  If the radiologist or your doctor recommend a follow-up mammogram or sonogram, your Anthem Blue Cross card will be billed.
The two locations that are available for the mammogram screening coupons are:

North State Imaging, 1702 The Esplanade, Chico (530-898-0500)

Oroville Hospital, 2767 Olive Highway, Oroville  

(530- 533-8500)

You will need to get an authorization for those providers to bill BSSP and not Blue Cross for the mammogram.

Go To:  http://bcoe.org/bssp/mammogram.htm 

Call 532-5838  

or e-mail

[email protected] 

to request a mammogram coupon.

CUTA in the Community
Kevin Moretti
CUTA Social Events are as follows:

Thursday May 12 3:30-5:30 ish  END OF YEAR PARTY at the Elk's Lodge


Saturday/Sunday June 11-12    RELAY FOR LIFE at PVHS.

 

CUTA Dental Fund Assists Those In Need
The CUTA Dental Fund has helped three families this month who weren't able to cover emergency dental needs. This program is funded by association dues, and is administered by nurses at individual school sites.
CUTA Scholarship Fund
CUTA grants a total of seven $500 scholarships to graduating CUSD students. 3 go to Chico High students, 3 to Pleasant Valley High, and 1 to Fairview. If you know a quality senior who is interested in applying for the scholarship they can contact school counselors or the CUTA office for an updated form.

CUTA collects all applications, which are usually due in April, and then a committee forms to grant the scholarships. Some of the criteria involve financial need as well as the student's engagement in his/her educational career.


In addition, CUTA grants scholarships to graduating dependents of current CUTA members.  If you have a graduate this year, please contact CUTA for an application!
Payroll Adjustments for the Two Contractual Furlough Days
The agreement between CUTA and District in October 2010, resulted in CUTA members having two (2) furlough days in the 2010/11 and 2 furlough days in the 2011/12 school years.  This equates to an annual pay reduction of 1.09%.  Given that the agreement was not finalized until the fall there were no deductions on paychecks up to this point.    CUTA staff will experience a slight salary reduction starting with the January 2011 paycheck. This salary reduction reflects the negotiated furlough days. This change will be effective from January through the May 2011 paychecks for this year.  The change in pay during this time will be 2.18% so that the annual reduction of 1.09% can be achieved.  (If you take home $3000, your monthly reduction will be about $65)

 

If there are any questions regarding this, please contact Cindi Gess at 891-3000 extension 113.

Organizing Update
As we move into Spring Semester with the bargaining crisis behind us (hopefully for good, but at least for 18 months) I want to move towards educating the CUTA membership and keeping us connected.  As simple as it sounds, we can never lose sight of the truth - YOU are CUTA.  So am I, and the teacher in the room next to us.  The reality is we will only be as strong as WE make ourselves as a unit.  If there is any doubt about this, look how the CUSD administration treated our bargaining team in October of 2009 when we were not educated and not united, and then contrast with October of 2010 when we were educated and showing up as needed.

So what do we need to learn now?  I would say our members should know what are the roles of elected members, and who is currently filling those roles.

President - John Jenswold

The CUTA Chapter President is a teacher who is elected by our membership to lead us.  The President is granted a full release (meaning they are not in the classroom at all) while still receiving his teacher salary.  The salary is covered by our Union Dues - giving the President 100% free time to work on the numerous contractual issues that are constantly arising.

Vice- President - Kevin Moretti

The Vice President fills in for the president as needed, is in charge of the social calendar, keeps track of class sizes following contract language.

Secretary - Sarah Jenkins

The Secretary keeps careful and accurate record of each association meeting (Executive Board, Rep Council, or General Meetings)

Treasurer - Nancy Teramoto

The treasurer presents a written financial report for each meeting, handles annual audits, submits reports to CTA, and maintains an accurate membership roster.

Secondary Executive Board (Six Members from Junior High or High School sites)
    One year term -    Lance Brogden  (PVHS)
                                 Mike Christensen  (PVHS)
                                 Cindy Hopkins  ( PVHS)
    Two year terms -  Sue Christensen (PVHS)
                                 Bill Flory  (PVHS)

                                 Liz Mosher  (Chico Jr.)

Elementary Executive Board (Six members from Elementary Sites)

    One year term -    Nancy Barry (Neal Dow)
               
                                 Karen Baxter (Citrus)

                                 Bart Panek ( Little Chico Creek)
    Two year terms -  Kerry Quevedo (Citrus)
                                 Mark Rodriguez  (Marigold)

                                 Michael Specchierla  (Neal Dow)

Feel free to email your CUTA Organizing Chair  

with questions or concerns.

 

Lance Brogden

CUTA Organizing Chair 

[email protected] 

 

Joe Asnault

CUTA Grievance Chair  

[email protected]

  

Michael Specchierla

CUTA Publicity Chair

[email protected] 

       

Sincerely,

 


John Jenswold, President
Chico Unified Teachers Association