Applecore September 2004

Welcome New Staff
The LMEA welcomes all new employees to the Lower Merion School District. We wish you a productive and fulfilling year. If you have questions, please contact your building representative or call the LMEA office at 610-664-5450.

New Staff Information Workshop
Do you carry disability insurance? Do you know how many personal days you're entitled to use? Are you familiar with our health insurance plans? Do you know what to do if you're summoned to the principal's/supervisor's office? Learn the answers to these questions. Attend the LMEA New Staff Workshop on October 18 at 4:00PM at Yang Ming. The contract, working conditions, employee responsibilities and other useful information will be shared and discussed. Mark your calendar now. A detailed announcement will follow. All members are welcome.

LMEA at Work
From July 2 to July 7, Dom Pendino, Pete Peterson, Mike Stettner, Alden Washington, Debbie Williams,, and Linda Morelli attended the NEA-RA in Washington DC as LMEA delegates to make policy. Outcomes and events of the RA were described in the NEA Today. If you did not receive your copy, please contact the LMEA.

From July 25 to July 30, Chris Santa Maria, Mike Stettner, Bill Young, Pete Dawson, Elaine Brophy, Pete Peterson, and Clarence Rowland attended PSEA Leadership Workshops at Gettsyburg University to learn about communications, government relations, grievances, contemporary professional issues, leadership, bargaining, and emerging educational issues.

PACE-Payroll Deduction
Contributions to PSEA’s Political Action Committee for Education may be made through payroll deduction. The LMEA strongly encourages you to make the suggested contribution to support public education legislation. 100% participation will send a strong message to Harrisburg. Chris Santa Maria, LMEA VP and PACE chair, will provide details at the General Membership meeting.

ISDO/GSDO
ISDO/GSDO are acronyms for Individual Staff Development Option and Group Staff Development Option. The purpose of the staff development options are to provide the staff the opportunity to independently pursue interests and needs that you deem necessary and important which may or may not be in conjunction with the district’s staff development plans. Please be sure to register using www.mylearningplan.com. A First Time User Guide is available in school offices. Two ISDO/GSDO days are mandated by the contract.

Conferences
Article 41, Section G of the contract allots funds for professional meetings. The funds provide the staff the opportunity to attend conferences of their choice. This money should not be used to supplement district-initiated requests (Section E). If you are asked to attend a conference on behalf of the district, you should expect the district to reimburse you for all expenses. You should incur no cost. Applications for conferences are available in school offices.

Extended School Year (ESY)
The LMEA and the LMSD met to clarify the 2004 spring email that directed special education teachers to submit materials for students enrolled in the ESY program. The District rejected the following language to reach an understanding: Special education teachers shall provide District issued unused worksheets, District issued workbooks that are incomplete, and text books with the ending page notated. This is equivalent to regular education teachers collecting books. Updated materials will be given to the student’s special education teacher in the fall. The following materials may not be submitted: lesson plans and instructional strategies. ESY teachers have IEPs to assist with instructional strategies and accommodations. It is the responsibility (job) of all professionals to develop their own lesson plans”. Instead, the District wants to talk about the situation at SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) meetings. The District contends it never ordered teachers to submit lesson plans. If it did/should, it is the LMEA’s contention that requiring teachers to write lesson plans for summer school is a violation of the Contract. We’ll keep you informed.

Gift Policy
The LMEA urges you to continue to follow our recommendation (see attached letter to superintendent) regarding gifts. To date, there has not been a response.

Upcoming LMEA Events

September 13- Executive Council, PR&R
October 6- Officers’ Meeting
October 11- Executive Council, PR&R
October 13- General Membership Meeting (House Elections)
October 15-17 – MER Seaview Leadership Workshop (formerly Avalon)
October 18-New Staff Workshop at Yang Ming
November 10- Officers’ Meeting
November 15- Executive Council, Friend of Education
November 18 - MER House at the Buck Hotel
December 8 – Officers’ Meeting
December 10-11-PSEA House in Philadelphia
December 13-Executive Council, PR&R

Executive Council meetings are held the second Monday of the month in the LMEA office at 4:00PM except November 15.

Officers Meetings are held the Wednesday before Executive Council meetings. Locations and times will be announced.

If you have any issues or concerns that you need addressed, please contact your building representative.