RHTA Minutes

January 28, 2015

• CEA
  • Visit cea.org often to keep yourself up to date on current events.
  • We will be endorsing Sheila Cohen’s re-election.
  • New Teacher Conference sponsored by CEA. See your building rep if you would like information and/or didn’t receive a notice in your mailbox.
  • Gail McKinnley Anderson is retiring. She will still do the HSA (insurance) presentation in the spring.
  • Kim Davis is our new uni-serv rep, replacing Gail.
• BOE Budget Meeting
  • Zito is requesting a 4.59% increase over last year’s budget.
  • Technology is a concern. West Hill and Stevens have smart boards already in place in grades 1-5 and they are being placed in Kindergarten as well.  When the students get to GMS there is significantly less technology available.  This year math and science rooms received ENO boards.  They would like to incorporate more technology.
  • Assistant principal for West Hill and a district wide behavior analyst is also being requested.
  • They are expecting elementary enrollment to increase.
  • 6% is slated for salary increases.
  • Tuition reimbursement account is already in a deficit this year. BOE does value the increase in education by employees.
  • Writers Workshop ~ Dr. Zito acknowledged that teachers came in during the summer (on their own time) to learn Writers Workshop and noted that it speaks volumes about our staff and their high level of dedication.
  • Morse was appreciative on behalf of the BOE and also noted that the Writers Workshop “coaches” should be “carrying most of the ball now”.
• Reading Suvey
  • Taken by grade K-3 teachers, given in school at no cost to the teacher, January to May and/or August to September time frame.
  • The district will handle scheduling time for each teacher to take the survey, this information will be forthcoming as soon as the state generates a list of teachers required to take the survey.
  • Results cannot be used in evaluation.
  • Results will be used to guide Professional Development.

• 457 and 403B Accounts
  • Both are pre-tax accounts. You can contribute to both accounts now.
  • The maximum you can contribute to the 457 depends on your age. The maximum you can contribute to a 403B is set by the IRS, currently approximately $20,000-22,000 per year.
  • The difference – you can withdraw from the 457 account before the age of 59 ½ without penalty.

• Membership – members can log onto cea.org to update their own information. If your information is inaccurate on your CEA card, please update it.
• Certification
  • It is your responsibility to know when your certification expires and to complete the necessary paperwork to keep it current.
• RHTA Website
  • rhta.org please continue to check the website for up to date information regarding RHTA

NEXT MEETING:

Wednesday February 25, 2015

GMS Media Center

3:45PM

PLEASE JOIN US!