THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
February, 2016
Ms. Jacqui Greadington
EOEA President
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
EVALUATIONS:
As we enter the evaluation season familiarize yourself to ensure that timelines are followed. We advise all members to NOT
waive your right to the post evaluative conference. This is your opportunity to gain valuable information on areas that may
need improvement. It is also your chance to inform the evaluator of missing information that you believe should be included
in your evaluation.
This next round of observations will focus on Domains I and IV. Be sure to refresh yourself on these so that you have strong
evidence in these Domains. Be sure to look at your feedback. You should write a rebuttal to items that you disagree with,
and ask for support when needed.
Please contact the EOEA office if you have any issues or concerns with any part of your observation/evaluation.
NEGOTIATIONS:
Thanks to you for continuing to stand strong with the EOEA Negotiation Team through this long and tedious process. East
Orange teachers are still giving 100% while the Board disrespects us.
We are qualified, dedicated professionals. We continue to give extra academic help to students outside of the regular school
day on our own time. We continue to purchase supplies for classroom activities with money from our own pockets. We
continue to attend professional development training to keep us ahead of the crowd, on our own time. We continue to support
students in their extracurricular activities on our own time.
In return, we get disrespect from a Board of Education that seems unwilling to negotiate a fair contract. We get a contract
proposal from the Board which will result in teachers earning less each year.
We will not settle for a contract that continues the practice of the Board funding district operations upon the backs of our
members.
We appreciate and need your support. Please attend building rep meetings to receive detailed information. Again, we thank
you for your support.
Volume 13, Issue 6
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
February, 2016
EOEA HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE (HSSC) By Keith Hinton II, Chairperson
The HSSC met on January 14, 2016, 2015. After the meeting we did a walkthrough of Truth Middle School. The follow up visit will be
February 11, 2016. Some issues and new business that have been brought to the attention of the HSSC are as follows:
1. STEM – several issues have been reported to Mr. Lambkin and he immediately called and has stated that they will be fixed.
2. Mr. Lambkin suggested that schools call the maintenance department for serious issues so they can be resolved faster. ***
3. Garbage can liners should be replaced daily! There are plenty of liners in stock so they can be replaced on a daily basis.
4. Costley- issues have been reported and they are being worked on.
5. Custodians are checking roofs every month to look for clogged drains, gutters, etc.
6. The maintenance department is trying to shrink the carbon footprint left by the district. One thing being done is that lights in the district
are slowly being changed over to LED lights. This will take away from the load put on the existing electrical circuit in that building. Any
ballast problems will be corrected by replacing the lights with an LED system. The district is also putting in new gas boilers in many
buildings.
7. Painting is permitted during the day. The district uses 0% VOC (volatile organic compound) paint. The principal should notify staff
before the day of the painting and make any adjustments to room assignments as needed.
*** Members please direct building concerns to your Rep and they will channel it to me. Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.
NEGOTIATIONS By Clarence Osborne, Chairperson
Not much has happened on the Negotiations front since our second mediation session on Friday, December 18 th. While some progress was
achieved at that session, the Negotiations Team does not feel secure that we are where we need to be.
The Team met on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 in preparation for the third mediation session. Joining the Team for support were NJEA
Assistant Director, Carmen Gonzalez-Gannon, and NJEA Uniserv Reps. Maddie Colas and Tom Bohnyak. This planning meeting was used
to brainstorm responses to the Board’s proposals as well as prioritizing the Association’s proposals.
Our next mediation session is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17th. EOEA members’ continued support will be vital to securing a fair
and equitable contract at long last. Please plan to attend the next Board meeting on Tuesday, February 9 th.
P.R.I.D.E. By Ericka Currie, Chairperson
February Due Dates26 Art Contest - see your building Rep for information
28 PRIDE student selection due to EOEA office
28 EOEA teacher selection due to EOEA Office
The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Human and Civil Rights
Celebration was held on January 16, 2016. EOEA President, Jacqui
Greadington, is the Chair of the NJEA Human and Civil Rights
Committee.
Reminder-Money is still available for PRIDE activities in your
school for February events.
NEA's Read Across America Day is March 2, 2016!
Spirit Day for Reading
Mark Read Across America Day with Seuss spirit. Have a
school-wide Crazy Hat Day, Wear-Red-and-White Day,
Foxiest Socks Day, Pajama Day, Wear-Your-Clothes-InsideOut Day, Wear-Your-Grinchiest-Green-Day or Come-AsYour-Favorite-Seuss-Character Day. Be sure to tie books
into your festive-wear theme with read alouds of related
titles.
Volume 13, Issue 6
Jacqui is pictured above with keynote speaker, Larry Hamm founder
of the People's Organization for Progress (POP), Newark,
NJ. Chaka Khan was the entertainer for the evening. It was an
uplifting evening honoring the legacy of Dr. King.
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
February, 2016
GRIEVANCE REPORT
By Priscilla Burke, Chairperson
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
By Brian Rock, Chairperson
1. A grievance will be filed on behalf of a teacher who was
recommended for appointment to an extracurricular activity and
was removed in response to an unfounded complaint. (Legal)
There will be a meeting between EOEA and the Board
Attorney.
Presidential Primary
2. Grievances were filed on behalf of two members who have lost
their increment. Hearings were held at Level II. There was no
written response from the Administrator. We are requesting a
Level III. (MBG) A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 16.
3. A hearing was held on behalf of a member who has complained
that her administrator was continuously implying that certain
students, who were inclusion or may need to be in inclusion, be
looked at and addressed. These students had IEP’s which clearly
stated that they were supposed to be in a regular setting, yet she
was continuously questioned about what could be done if the
students were experiencing difficulties (with disregard of the
IEP status). The Special Education Regulations are very clear
and unambiguous. The Association grieved that the
administrator was in violation and not following the student’s
IEP. The member began to experience difficulties after refusing
to address anything other than what was allowable under federal
law. She subsequently was transferred. A Grievance was filed
that memoranda of a derogatory nature be removed from the
teacher’s file. The Administrator who had been absent is now
back in the district full time. (Bowser) It was moved to Level
IV.
4. An administrator held an extra staff meeting for classroom
teachers only. We are expecting extra compensation and intend
to grieve so that this contractual violation does not occur again.
(Louverture). It was resolved and staff was compensated for the
extra time.
5. A member who was out of work for the second half of the year,
was not paid his full salary for his coaching job. He is seeking
the second half of his stipend. A grievance has been filed on his
behalf. (Legal) There will be a meeting between EOEA and the
Board Attorney about this issue.
6. There are some concerns regarding the evaluation process/forms
and indicators. The matter is being investigated and a grievance
will follow if necessary.
SOLIDARITY!!!!!!!!!
Friedrichs v. CTA
NJEA, NEA and other public employee labor unions are
keeping a close eye on the U.S. Supreme Court case, Friedrichs
v. CTA. The Friedrichs suit, which was filed on behalf of a
handful of California teachers, is supported and financed by
several national anti-union groups. The real objective for these
groups is to silence the voices of working men and women by
weakening the unions that represent working- and middle-class
Americans. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision
toward the end of its term, likely at the end of June.
Volume 13, Issue 6
On Monday, February 1 the Presidential primaries kicked off with the
Iowa caucuses. The races on both sides look to be close, and a lot of
drama will unfold over the next month. The NEA Democratic
Caucus, in partnership with NJ Young Democrats, is hosting Super
Tuesday Watch Parties throughout the state on March 1. This could
be the night the nomination breaks open for one candidate or another.
They are hosting an event in Essex County. Go to the “NEA
Democratic Caucus in NJ” page on Facebook for updates on the event
details.
Pensions
On Monday, January 11, NJEA hosted a huge lobby day and secured
passage of ACR-3 and SCR-184. These resolutions propose an
amendment to the NJ Constitution requiring the state to make
quarterly payments into the pension fund.
The next day, the Governor used his State of the State speech to
launch an attack on this proposed amendment that is based on
misinformation. He and other Republicans claim that if the
amendment passes, it will result in huge budget cuts or tax increases.
Business groups like the NJBIA will likely join in. It’s a scare tactic.
The reality is that the amendment would require neither cuts nor tax
increases. The first payment would be equal to what the Governor
himself has already budgeted and indicated is affordable. From there,
each year’s payment increases in line with the expected growth in
revenues from the state. If revenues drag in any given year, then a
temporary income tax surcharge on millionaires can bridge the gap
for that year. Moreover, the quarterly nature of the payments will save
additional money in the long term through investment returns.
We need to inform everyone - our members, family, friends, and
neighbors - and inoculate them against the pattern of misinformation
coming out against this amendment. The future of our pensions rests
on passage of this amendment in November.
Chapter 78
Chapter 78 is the part the law, passed in 2011, requiring us to
contribute increasing amounts to our healthcare through premium
sharing. Parts of the law have now expired, and these contributions
are subject to negotiation.
The current system ties our contribution to the premium itself. This is
problematic because healthcare premiums are increasing at
astronomical rates - at or near 10% per year. If the status quo remains,
then our contributions will increase each year and chip away at our
salary. The reality will be stagnant or declining wages for most
members, especially at the top of the guide.
This is why it is impossible to overstate how critical this issue is to
negotiating teams across the state. With budgets restrained by
property tax caps and limited state funding, it will be difficult for
salary settlements to keep pace with increasing healthcare
contributions.
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
February, 2016
INSTRUCTION & TRAINING By Stephen Laird, Chairperson
Greetings colleagues! As I am sure you are all aware, the summative evaluations have been extended to May 30 th for non-tenured staff.
This extension allows for everyone to prepare our students for the last round of testing, whether or not you are using Renaissance. We want to
make sure everyone meets their SGO goals, so take advantage of the extra time.
Keep an eye out for an SGO workshop that will focus on the final data input and how you should properly prepare it. We are hoping to
have that workshop in April or early May. Please continue to take advantage of any upcoming workshops or video seminars from the NJEA
website that prove to your administration that you are being proactive in continuing to follow the Danielson model. Show them you have tried
new things within your classroom that you have learned from your workshops. Address a possible negative issue before it happens!
Teachers with TA’s, please make sure that you are utilizing this valuable, and usually, required by law, resource within your classroom.
The difference between a positive and negative evaluation could depend on it. The classroom is YOURS; take control.
You must be conscious of, Domain 4-Teacher responsibility/professionalism-these are the “off stage” responsibilities that include parental
contact, attendance, student outreach, and going that extra mile for the good of the school. This is a domain that could make or break your
summative evaluation. Talk with your colleagues and find out what they are doing.
Finally, as we approach the half way point, make sure you are focusing on student engagement, we can see it slipping already. After this
weekend, there is a long stretch between breaks, so keep your students focused on success. Testing will be upon us before we know it, so make
sure the upcoming teaching days are your best teaching days of the year, last impressions are often the most valuable! Good Luck!
FAST By Carla Hinds, Chairperson
The FAST Committee is currently working on our12th Annual
Keepers of the Dream Banquet. It will be held on Wednesday,
February 24, 2016 at Libretti’s Restaurant in Orange. We will
acknowledge community service organizations that support our
schools and community. If you are interested in attending, please
call the EOEA office. Space is limited. I assure you it will be time
well spent.
We are excited that both our book clubs are active and growing. If
you are interested, it’s not too late. Please contact the office for
information.
On January 27th, we attended a workshop at NJEA entitled “Parent
Outreach 101.” It was facilitated by Attorney Junius Williams and
Kaleena Berryman. The team sponsors a parent program at Rutgers
in Newark. The organization they represent Abbott Leadership
Institute (ALI) has created a working model to encourage parent
participation and involvement. It is a fantastic program and if your
school, PTO, PTA, etc. is interested please contact the EOEA office.
We certainly know that parent involvement increases student
academic outcome.
Student to Prison Pipeline (2nd Session) is being planned. Look for
more information to come.
SOCIAL By Jennifer Longo, Chairperson
The social committee will soon be sending a survey to request
information about activities the members would enjoy. Please
stay posted!
Please join us at the Star Tavern in Orange for the February
Happy Hour Thursday Feb. 11 directly after school. A
Valentine’s Day basket will be given away.
Visit our website: www.eoeamembers.com
Volume 13, Issue 6
MEMBERSHIP By Holly M. Allen, Chairperson
Tax time is here, and your association dues are deductible! Members
that have paid dues from January 2015 - December 2015, you may
deduct $1272.00. If you joined in September, 2015 you may deduct
$516.00. Additionally, if you are an eligible educator, you can deduct
up to $250 ($500 if married filing jointly and both spouses are
educators, but not more than $250 each) of any unreimbursed expenses
(otherwise deductible as a trade or business expense). Qualified
expenses are amounts you paid or incurred for books, supplies,
computer equipment (including related software and services), other
equipment, and supplementary materials that you use in the classroom.
***Take Advantage of Member Benefits***
As a member of the Association, you are eligible to take advantage of
grants available to NJEA members. Please visit www.njea.org for
grant opportunities to bring creative ideas to the classroom such as the:
Fredrick L. Hipp Foundation Grant and Sustainable Schools Grant
Opportunities.
The NJEA E-Learning Academy at www.njea.org offers PD from the
comfort of your home.
Please contact the EOEA office to register for upcoming workshops to
earn additional professional development hours.
The EOEA INFORMER is the official publication of the
East Orange Education Association
576 Central Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018
Phone # 973-672-7331
Fax # 973-672-1194
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.eoeamembers.com
Ms. Jacqueline Greadington, President
Mr. Brian Rock, Vice President
Ms. Patricia Landon, Treasurer
Ms. Dawn Nichol, Secretary
Ms. Joyce McCree, Editor
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