AEA Contracts—The Current AEA contract is now available on our website www.akronteach.org in the web page form and also as a PDF download. We also have 3 copies for each building –we suggest one for the building rep, one for the lounge and one to be available in the library.
Cohort Program: Akron U will hold informational meetings for another cohort program beginning Fall 2008. Through this program teachers can earn a Masters in education with other APS teachers. The meetings will be on Thursday, March 27 and again on Wednesday April 2 both from 3:30 to 5:00 here at the AEA office. There is also an alternate date on April 1 at 4:30 at the Summit County Educational Service Center in the Falls. The “pay for 2 get 3” scholarships will also be available. A flyer is out & also posted on our web site.
League of Women Voters is holding an “Election Forum & Town Hall Meeting” at Quaker Square Ballroom on Saturday March 29th from 9:30 to noon. The League is asking for interested teachers to volunteer to assist with discussion groups. Contact AEA or Jean Questel at 330-923-0358 if you are interested.
Background, FBI Checks: We met with our attorney Larry Vuillemin and also the board’s attorney over the issue of who must pay for the background checks. As mentioned last month, after reviewing the law in its entirety, we believe that the Board is liable for the fee for current employees. The Board still does not agree. We are currently checking with other teacher organizations as well to see how the new law is being applied elsewhere in Ohio. It may be that we end up having a third party decide this.
ULP: SERB has dismissed the ULP filed by the Association and the Akron Association of Classified Personnel (the union representing the district’s secretaries). We are requesting reconsideration based upon a number of issues, including the fact that the attorney representing the Board misrepresented fact in his correspondence with SERB.
Elections Committee report: The elections committee received petitions for Elementary District Representatives from the following members: Buchtel, Bessie Brown (Rankin); East Carol Caughron (Barber); Garfield, Leigh Conti (Barrett); Kenmore, Connie Kubilus (Smith); Firestone, Lisa Feist (Essex) and Diane Pancoe (Resnik).
Health Care Plan: As you recall, our current agreement requires modifications to the health care plan that would save the Board 1.5 million in the 2nd year of the contract (2008-09). That task was supposed to be completed by March 1. The health care committee made up of all bargaining units and representatives of the board has made those modifications for next school year. The modifications are in two areas: First, the prescription co-pay moves from the current $5 generic and $10 name brand with a cap of $800 to $5 generic and $15 for name brand with a cap of $900. Second, the current deductible of $100 single and $200 family moves to $150 singe and $300 family.