Memo To: RHTA Membership

From: Lori Cebelius and Michelle Bartha, Co-Presidents

Re: CLOSURE 2020; March 27, 2020; 4:53pm

Remember to continue to check our website for updates. We are in constant contact with our superintendent and having conversations regarding workloads, etc.

Stay tuned.

We hope you are all doing well. We have a couple of newsworthy items to share.

• First and foremost, effective immediately, all components of the Teacher Evaluation and Support Plan are waived.  This extends to teachers as well as administrators. The SDE continues to recommend that opportunities for professional learning should continue to whatever extent possible.
• If you hold a Professional Educator Certificate and it is up for renewal, remember it is your responsibility to apply for renewal prior to expiration. In ordinary times, it takes up to 6 weeks to process. You may expect that it will take longer under the current circumstances.  It is easy to do online and is cost free.
• If you hold an Initial or Provisional Certificate, or 5-year Coaching Permit with an expiration date falling between the dates of 3/15/20 and 12/31/20, the Bureau of Standards and Certification will extend the expiration date for 1-year from the date of its original expiration.
• Effective immediately, the Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification will extend the expiration date of all Initial and Provisional Certificates (including Interim) and 5-Year Coaching Permits with expiration dates between 3/15/20 and 12/31/20 for 1-year from the date of original expiration. This extension does not apply to 90-Day Certificates or Long-Term Substitute Authorizations. If you hold one of those certifications, you will need to apply for renewal at the time of expiration.
• TEAM now has additional time built into the program in light of the current circumstances. Deadline dates for teachers currently participating in TEAM are: the 9/1 dates will be extended to 2/15 of the following year and the 2/15 deadline will be extended to 8/1. It is important for teachers and their mentors to continue to work together virtually.  Teachers may continue to work on their modules where it makes sense to do so. It is not required that modules be completed during this time.
• Remember to treat Google Classroom/Chats/Hangouts as you would a district email.  Be aware that these methods of communication can be subpoenaed as part of the Freedom of Information Act. Keep all of your messages professional.
• Our buildings are closed.  At this time each building has a member of the custodial staff there during the daytime.  No one is allowed in. Administrators have limited access. After an administrator leaves, the areas visited are sterilized again.
• Having an administrator added to your classroom platform serves two purposes.  They are able to see that instruction is being delivered and will be able to support you should an issue be raised through the model of Interim Learning. They are very busy, and if they sporadically check into your classroom,  remember it is no different than if they were to stop into your physical classroom to visit (which is well within their right to do).   
• Our superintendent and the Board of Education are aware and appreciative of your extraordinary efforts to get Interim Learning off the ground.  

A couple of questions we were able to get answers to….

• I am using my own WIFI at home with a district device. How do I know that my personal information cannot be ‘hacked’?

WHILE USING YOUR SCHOOL-ISSUED DEVICE FOR SCHOOL-RELATED BUSINESS AND TEACHING ONLY, YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT AND CANNOT BE EXPOSED OR COMPROMISED. 

• 2. Will I have to pay additional charges when using my home WIFI?

THIS DEPENDS UPON THE AGREEMENT YOU HAVE WITH YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP) AT HOME; HOWEVER, MOST ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS OFFER UNLIMITED INTERNET ACCESS. I RECOMMEND CONTACTING YOUR ISP TO CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE AN UNLIMITED SERVICE.

CEA.ORG has many resources related to COVID19 on its website including: 

• Guidance for learning at home
• Special Education and IEPs
• Student Privacy and Virtual Learning
• College Board: SAT and AP Exams
• Education apps
• Video tips
• Online citizenship
• CEA Coronavirus Information Center