As you have hopefully settled into this
virtual teaching world, I hope this message will find you and your
families safe and well. What a year this has been! In my 33 years in
education, I never could have imagined the virtual teaching world you
have found yourselves adapting to. I’ve thought for veteran teachers
and brand-new teachers, it must feel like an alternate universe. As
you’ve no doubt heard by now, the School Board has decided not to begin
the Hybrid model until after Winter Break. I know there have been mixed
reactions to this decision and AEA does not have a position on it. What
we remain focused on is making sure you have a safe working environment
and teaching schedules that are in your and your student’s best
interest. These things are within our control and we will remain laser
focused on doing the very best we can for all of you.
Additionally, as you’ve heard,
negotiations are not going well. Your Bargaining Team and I remain
completely dumbfounded that when everything we have been saying for over
a year about the budget is IN FACT TRUE, the School Board did not act
immediately to approve our raise. Instead they have chosen to believe
inaccurate and nonsensical information from their “CBO” who created most
of the inaccurate projections! Settling this raise is solely in the
School Board’s hands now. Rest assured, we WILL get our well-deserved
raise and retro pay. I don’t think the School Board understands the
damage that is being done in the meantime. The damage to the trust and
belief in our School Board, administration and District may never be
repaired.
As I told you in a previous email, I am
a teacher and a counselor. As your President, I always keep you foremost
in my mind. As an Association, we remain focused on being truthful and
doing the right thing to the best of our abilities. We continue to do
so! Please know that you are in my thoughts every day as we navigate
this uncertain and, sometimes, wacky world. Just know that I will do
the heavy lifting on my end, so you can remain focused on the difficult
job of educating our students.
Be Safe And Well!
