September 9 , 2004

I. Fall Transfers: We are meeting Monday with Human Resources to review class sizes across the district. As of today, the district is down approximately 1500 students from projections made last spring. Although fall transfers have been eliminated from the contract, there may be some classrooms with unreasonably low enrollment. This may necessitate agreeing to a limited number of moves. Any moves that are made will be based on seniority in APS.

II. Super Med Plus/SummaCare Negotiations: There hasn’t been and apparently will not be a meeting of the minds in the dispute between these two PPO providers. As of the first of the year, Summa Systems will be considered out of network for Super Med Plus members. Coverage for treatment by individual physicians will not be affected as long as the physicians participate in both networks. The Health Benefits Advisory Cte. will be meeting shortly to discuss how this impacts APS employees and what to do about it. AEA’s position will be to conduct a mid-year open enrollment period for those who wish to switch PPO providers.

III. Transcripts for Pay Raises: In past years, local universities have had trouble providing by the end of September transcripts to teachers reflecting coursework taken during the last summer session. According to the Registrar’s office at Akron, all transcripts issued now will be completely up to date and will include degrees conferred over the summer. Kent State may also be up to date at this point. Earlier they were issuing a “certificate of completion” which is acceptable to HR in lieu of an up-to-date transcript.

IV. Supplemental Contract Grievance: We are meeting next week with the arbitrator and the administration at the arbitrator’s request to discuss a resolution to this grievance.

V. Education Summit: State Senator Kim Zurz is hosting an Education Summit at Kent State University on September 23. A panel, including State Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman and Tom Mooney, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, will field questions from the audience. The Summit will take place in the Ballroom of the KSU Student Center from 6 – 8 p.m. All are invited to attend.

VI. “House Party” for Williams, Kerry: AEA will host a House Party on September 22 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by a number of organizations. BR’s are invited to attend; please see enclosed flyer for more information.

VII. Endorsements: The AEA Board of Trustees has endorsed the following candidates for office in November’s General Election: Kim Zurz 28^th Ohio Senate District, Carol Dezso, Judge, Summit County Domestic Relations Court and Brian Williams, 41^st Ohio House District.

VIII. Tenure Notifications: Our advice remains the same to those who are eligible for a continuing contract: email Corine Ricks in Human Resources advising her of your eligibility and keep a hard copy of the email. We understand that members are being told to wait until after January 1. We believe Human Resources is confusing notification of eligibility for continuing contract with applications for licensure transition. We are working to resolve the situation.

IX. “Superstar” Tix: Tickets are now available online for Jesus Christ Superstar, the first in this year’s Broadway in Akron series at E.J. Thomas. Members interested in purchasing quality discounted tickets should visit the site dedicated to AEA member orders at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/groupsales/. At the prompt, type in the password “AEATICKETS” to process your order. The deadline for ordering Superstar tickets is October 19^th.

X. Sick Day Bank: The Bank will be assessing each member of the Bank one day toward the end of this month.

XI. Website: Visit our website often. Information is posted on a number of topics, including last spring’s principal evaluation and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Our address is www.akronteach.org.

XII. New Office Underway: Construction has begun on the new AEA office building just north of our current location on Main Street. Estimated completion is Jan/Feb 2005.