Rocky Hill Teachers' Association (RHTA)

Memo To: RHTA Membership

From: Lori Cebelius & Michelle Bartha, Co-Presidents

RE: Closure 2020 Update

March 17, 2020; 8:45pm

Thank you all for your obvious dedication and professional spirit as we enter into this new facet of educating our students. It is so clear that each of you cares deeply about providing the best education possible to the youngsters who are under our academic care.  Please know that in our conversations with Dr. Zito, he recognizes and appreciates that you are crossing into new territories to accomplish what needs to be done. Remember that mandated changes come from the SDE at odd times causing the districts to update as soon as they possibly can. Its new territory so, expect that there will be peaks and valleys. With that said, please keep in mind that we are all – from state dignitaries to district administrators, the teachers, parents, and our students – working hard to deliver the kind of instruction that Rocky Hill has always received. It is just going to look a lot different.

Many of you continue to reach out with questions, so we will do our best to answer them as they come to us.  Please remember to check in on our website for updates.  Our executive team will reach out to you via texts to alert you that something new has been posted. We ask that you spread the word to other teachers. Hopefully once we get going, more kinks will work themselves out.  But until then, please continue to reach out to your building reps or any one of us on the executive team. We are in this together and we can make it work together.

Here’s what we know at this time…

Q: Will we still have an April vacation? – We expect April vacation to remain as scheduled.

Q: Will we be paid for the entire school year? – Yes. You will continue to receive your paycheck as scheduled.  The days that we are engaged in setting up for distance learning are days that will come from student days. So, basically it is like having additional PD days, but will not surpass our contractual 186 days.

Q: I have young children of my own. How do I provide home schooling and district mandated distance learning at the same time? – We admit it is going mean some adjustments for our families especially at the beginning of this journey. Give it time, we will all develop routines to get all of this done.  Remember, the most anyone can ask is that you do your personal best.

Q: What will my day look like? – You will log on, provide assignments, provide feedback, answer emails. If you choose to call a parent, remember to use *67 to block the number you are calling from. We do not expect that you will be on live camera.

Q: What about a planning time? Lunch break? – Your Chromebook will be on, but that does not mean that you are sitting in front of it every minute.  You will take breaks, probably move about your house, but always check in on your ‘classroom’. They expect you to do your best. They do not expect you to be sitting at your dining room table from 8-3. But it is a stringent time line to adhere to – your building hours – because you should not be out shopping at Target.

Q: Do I have to answer questions immediately? – You should try to be timely in your answers. That does not mean immediate.

Q: Do I have to provide feedback as soon as I receive a completed assignment? – Typically, we all need time to score assignments. We expect exactly the same will occur while distance learning is in place.

Q: What if I am sick? – Enter your sick day in Aesop as you would typically do.  You might want to alert your building principal as well. We are in the process of finding out how the district will handle the online learning if this happens.  Stay tuned.

Q: What if I have a medical appointment? – Enter it in Aesop.

Q: What if I need to run out to the store? – Do that outside of your school day hours, just as you would do if you were in the classroom.

NOTE: For RHHS and GMS folks – they are pushing out an app to your Chromebook so you can use your document camera to record any lesson/ explanation you need to facilitate your distance learning.  If you need to pick up your document camera, email your building principal & Ron so you can go in and pick up. Elementary folks – it will be made accessible to all, so use if you would like to.

Remember we are all somewhere on this learning curve.  Give yourself a chance to adjust, recognize that it’s not going to be perfect, just do the best you can. Reach out to your colleagues to collaborate, share, and support each other. Our flexibility, patience, and understanding will ensure our successful delivery of the quality education our students are accustomed to.

Remember to check the RHTA website periodically for updates. 

Memo To: RHTA Membership

From: Lori Cebelius and Michelle Bartha, Co-presidents

Revised: March 17, 2020; 1:07

We know that many of you continue to have questions as news circulates from district to district, the local news channels, etc.

Here are some guidelines to help you navigate through all of this confusion….

Once again, please remember, we are in new territory.  We are learning as we go. Take one day or hour at a time.  We will power through these difficult times.

Most of all stay safe and healthy.

To:  RHTA Membership

From:  Lori Cebelius & Michelle Bartha

Re:  Update on Extended Closure

It has come to our attention, that many of you still have several questions, as do we. We understand that with the situation changing minute by minute questions may continue to emerge.  Here is what we can address so far.

1. Can we use sick days for Monday March 16th & Tuesday March 17th?

If you are sick, use a sick day.  If you have a family member who is sick that you are caring for, use a family sick day. Monday and Tuesday are considered contractual workdays.

2. Can we work from home Monday March 16th & Tuesday March 17th?

Dr. Zito is going to be flexible in that people should use their own judgement, in whether they are going to work from home or come to school.

However these are considered contractual work days and there will be two requirements:

1.) Every certified teacher must have a chrome book at home with them.  If you do not have your chromebook at home, or it is not working, please email Jahala.  (There will be no penalty for admitting yours is not working or that you do not have one.  It is imperative that you have one, it is not a choice you MUST have one).

2.) Everyone needs to become proficient with google hangouts.  This will be the vehicle the district, administrators, department heads and grade level coordinators use to contact you.

3. How does working the two extra days on Monday March 16th & March 17th affect our 186 days.

You are not working two extra days.  You will work 186 days.  At this point in time, we have done 6 PD days, two more Monday and Tuesday, therefore students will only go 178 days, not 180 days. We will not go over 186 working days.

4. What if this is long term and being out of work is longer, would we still get paid?

At the meeting held on Friday March 13th, Dr. Zito stated that teachers would receive their full salaries and the payday schedule would remain unchanged.

5. How does this affect our personal vacations already scheduled for June?

At the meeting held on Friday March 13th, Dr. Zito was very clear that teachers should be prepared to be in school until June 30th, thereby fulfilling their contractual obligation.

It is always risky for a teacher to plan to go on a vacation in June, because of snow and other weather related events.  If your plans cannot be changed, you will need to write to Dr. Zito to request that time off, but expect that he may deny, approve or approve the time without pay, depending on the circumstances.

If you have vacation plans scheduled for June, we strongly urge you to contact the airline, hotel, etc to make the necessary changes while they (the airlines etc) are being flexible given the current situation.

6. What is it going to look like?

If and when we transition to distance learning, those days will be counted as contractual work/school days.  Teachers will be expected to give assignments, provide feedback on assignments, and answer emails.  Therefore, expect to be available during normal school hours.  Darlene, Mary and Paige are working this evening to possibly put together work packets, especially for the younger grades, that parents may have to pick up.  Keep in mind, as we traverse this road, issues will still come up that will need to be worked through, nothing is perfect.

We realize this is unchartered territory from the government down to the local schools.  There may be questions that we nor they have answers to, and possibly some questions that will not be answered until this situation evolves and unfolds. We would like to note that it has been clear in our conversations with Dr. Zito and the BOE that they are doing their best in these difficult times to be as fair and as flexible as can be.

May you and your families remain safe.