Your Health Insurance Benefits Are At Risk

Follow this link to find out more about proposed health insurance benefit cuts:

CLICK HERE

To find out more about the facts about how the cuts would impact our health care benefits and have us paying more with fewer benefits CLICK HERE for an MEA News Brief.

-Crystal Goodrich

SEA President

MEA Report: Retirment Hearing Packed

Please follow this link to read the MEA report regarding the Maine State Retirement hearing in Augusta on Friday 3/4/2011.

MEA Newsletter

Retirement Raid March 4th, 2011

Hello SEA Members,
Many of us want to express our opinions about the proposed retirement cuts, but we cannot be at the hearing in Augusta on Friday, March 4.
Here is what you can do!
Send an e-mail to:
Carol.Tompkins@legislature.maine.gov and she will forward your comments to the 13 committee members.

Or mail your comments to: AFA Committee c/o 5 Statehouse Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0005

Thank you for making your voice heard. SEA is organizing a committee to handle the communications related to the retirement issue. If you would like to help this committee please e-mail seamaine@gmail.com and I will get you connected to the other people involved.

Thank you!
Crystal Goodrich, SEA President

Proposed School Budget Fiscal Year 2012

Please follow the following link for more information about the fiscal year 2012 budget. There is also a link on this page to a Power Point presentation the Superintendent, Jo Anne Sizemore, presented on 2/17 discussing more details of the proposed budget.
http://www.scarborough.k12.me.us/district/budget/index.htm

Of major concern to SEA members is the Reduction In Force (RIF) that will occur if cuts are accepted. We will work to inform you of details about RIF as they develop. I have been informed by the Superintendent that the RIF list has not been established at this point so even though some "positions" have been slated to be cut there are no connections yet to specific individuals who hold positions. For example if a WI homeroom teacher position is slated to be decreased it has not been determined which grade will be decreased or on which wing, etc. These details will not be clear until much later in the spring.

One of the final Power Point slides has a list of dates coming up that will determine if the budget is accepted for a city wide referendum in the spring. These will provide you with a time line you may want to be aware of.
-Crystal Goodrich
SEA President

Governor Proposes Rollbacks in Retirement

For a complete newsletter report from MEA regarding the proposed rollbacks in retirement benefits please

CLICK HERE.

The following is from MEA Communications 2/14/2011

"While it would be easy to engage in debate over Governor LePage's proposed budget, MEA is taking a more measured approach at the moment. Here's where we are and why …

1.) The details of the governor's draft budget are under review.We need to know the full extent of what is actually being proposed before we offer a detailed reaction.

2.) We also know that any governor's budget is just that; it's the governor's proposed budget. The Legislature's Appropriations Committee will have a great deal of influence in shaping the final budget that is voted on by the full legislature and sent to the governor for his signature. While the governor's budget does contain his priorities and views on important public policy issues, the final budget will ultimately contain a series of compromises that will be worked out after hearing from many different constituencies…including MEA members from across the state!

3.) Here is what we can say at this point in the process:

a. MEA believes that the Governor's proposed changes to the Maine Public Employee Retirement System are unfair and unacceptable. Teachers and state employees who retire under the Maine Public Employee Retirement System receive only a very modest retirement income and are not eligible for Social Security benefits.

b. MEA is ready to be part of the solution to address MePERS's unfunded actuarial liability (UAL). But before we jump to solutions, we want to hear from the experts at the MePERS who have been closely studying this important issue for the past several months and have prepared a report that will be presented to the legislature's Appropriations Committee later this month.

c. Once we have solid information concerning the various alternatives that are available to address the UAL, then MEA will engage in a dialogue regarding solutions that are fair for taxpayers and educators.

In the meantime, members and local affiliates should contact local legislators and begin a discussion about the issues we face.

From MEA Communications.

Follow the link at the beginning of this blog to find out how to contact your local legislators.

Crystal Goodrich, SEA President

MEA's Professional Issues Conference, April 9

Plan to join us at the University of Maine in Augusta on April 9 for MEA's Professional Issues Conference! An exciting lineup of sessions guarantees there will be topics of interest for everyone.Join your friends and colleagues for this in-depth exploration of the expanding horizons available to you. Experience personal and professional growth while earning CEUs. Participation is free for MEA members and meals will be provided. On-line registration will be available to you soon. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 9, 2011 and urge your colleagues to do the same.

Leading the Way to Great Public Schools for Every Maine Student

Revised School Board Policies

Did you know that all staff are responsible for reading and following all School Board policies?
Some policies have recently been updated and are ready for review online. Some staff members are concerned with a few of the most recently revised policies.

To find all of the School Board Policies please go to the following link:

http://www.scarborough.k12.me.us/board/policies/index.html

 

Or you can find them by following the steps below:

1.)  Start from Scarborough School Website

2.)  On the left click on board policies

3.)  Look them up by the Alphabetic code.

 

The policies some staff are concerned with include GCSA, GCSA-R, and GBEB revised in January 2011. If you have concerns about any of the School Board policies please contact your building representative or email your concern to seamaine@gmail.com. SEA is going to compile the list of concerns and present it to administration for review.

 

Please let us know your concerns ASAP.

 

Thank you,

Crystal Goodrich

SEA President

Representative Assembly Meeting 2/9/11

Just a reminder that our first meeting as a Represenative (Assembly RA) will be on Wednesday, February 9th, 3:45-4:45 in the Wentworth Intermediate Band Room.

For future planning... the March meeting will be on the 8th, 3:45-4:45 in the Wentworth Intermediate Library.

We hope to see all Building Represenatives and Staff Department Representatives there! If you have any questions, updates or information you need to share with us for the meeting please email seamaine@gmail.com.

Thank you!
Crystal Goodrich
SEA President