January 2006

Severance Pay

 Under the terms of the contract, severance payments shall be made as an employer contribution to a tax sheltered account that qualifies under Section 403(b) of the IRS Code designated by the district.

The district has designated Citistreet as the financial institution. If Citistreet is not your financial institution, choose the money market option. When you receive confirmation that your funds have been contributed by LMSD to Citistreet, contact the financial institution of your choice to transfer the funds. It is also recommended that you talk with your financial representative well in advance of your retirement.

The purpose of using an Enhanced TSA is to eliminate paying social security and deferring federal tax thus enhancing your retirement savings.

Imputed Income/Life Insurance

 During the 05-10 contract, you may receive 2x your salary in life insurance. If 2x your salary is greater than $50,000, the IRS considers the premium paid by the District on the amount greater than $50,000 as imputed income.

It is important to understand that you pay taxes on the premium not the cost of the premium. For instance, if the premium costs the District $50.00, your cost is around $9.00. If you do not want the additional insurance and do not want to pay taxes for the additional premium, be sure to opt out during the open enrollment period.

Please remember that our contract guarantees that you receive $50,000 life insurance

 www.lmeaonline.org

 Minutes, Apple Cores, archives, classified ads (new sub-section), and other information can be found at the LMEA’s web-site www.lmeaonline.org. Please take a few minutes and visit our site.

Minutes

 Executive Council and General Membership meeting minutes are distributed to members and posted on www.lmeaonline.org shortly after each Executive Council meeting. Of particular interest are building/unit concerns. Concerns not addressed or actions not taken are investigated. The results of the investigation are reported in the President’s report in the following month’s minutes. If you have a concern regarding discipline, working conditions or the contract, please contact your building rep.

Instruction and Curriculum Council (ICC) and Staff Development Council (SDC) meeting minutes also contain building/unit concerns and are addressed the same as above. They are posted monthly in your building. If you have concerns regarding instruction, curriculum, or staff development, please contact your ICC or SDC rep.

Please take a few minutes each month to read these minutes.

NEA-RA State Representative Elections

 Soon you will be receiving ballots to elect state delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly. Please vote for your region officers Jerry Oleksiak, Linda Weaver, Jim Sando, Donna Milner and Randy Hulings.

Upcoming LMEA Events

January 17 CAPS

January 20-22 NEA Leadership Conference in Philadelphia

February 8 Officers Meeting

February 13 Executive Council, PR&R

March 3 Officers Meeting

March 13 Executive Council, PR&R

March 15 General Membership Meeting

March 23-26 ESP Leadership Conference in Philadelphia

April 4 CAPS

April 5 Officers Meeting

April 17 Executive Council, PR&R

April 20 MER House of Delegates

May 3 Officers Meeting

May 8 Executive Council, PR&R

May 10 General Membership Meeting

May 16 LMEA Elections

May 19-21 PSEA House of Delegates in Pittsburgh

May 31 LMEA Spring Banquet

June 7 Officers meeting

June 12 Executive Council, PR&R

June 30-5 NEA Representative Assembly in Orlando

July 23-28 PSEA Leadership Conference in Gettsyburg

Executive Council meetings are held the second Monday of the month in the LMEA office at 4:00PM except April when it will be held on April 17, 2006.

Officers Meetings are held the Wednesday before Executive Council meetings at the LMEA office.

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