December Rep Council
Come join us for our next Representative Council on December 14th.
Time: 5:00
Location: ACEA Office, 618 NW 13th Avenue, Gainesville
Come and enjoy food, fellowship and fun
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November President’s Message
October and November have been busy months for ACEA.
Our instructional collective bargaining team continues to meet and has the difficult task of writing language that meets the requirements of Senate Bill 736 and at the same time is procedurally fair to our teachers. This language will impact future generations of teachers so it is a big responsibility. Many thanks to those who serve on this committee: Karen Rerra, Jackie Michaels, Mary Beriau, Robert Hessels, Paula Anderson and Travis Walker. We still have the money offer of giving back the 3% retirement deduction minus the step increase for all employees up to a salary of $40,000 but cannot release the money until we agree on language.
Over the week-end of October 28th and 29th a group of ACEA members (3 ESP’s and 4 teachers) attended the annual F.E.A. delegate assembly in Orlando. The information that we received and listening to the speakers motivated us to continue to carry on the work of unionism that we so strongly believe in. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill both spoke at the convention. Senator Bill Nelson explained legislation that was passed in Florida during the last session that will make it more difficult for Florida voters to vote at the polls next November.
Our calendar committee will begin looking at the school calendar for 2012-2013. The district is proposing that we have our spring break at the same time as U.F. That moves our break up one month to March 4-8. Since FCAT testing begins the week of April 8th in 2013, the thinking is that students would return from break and have a month prior to testing to prepare. I would like to hear from members on your thoughts in this matter.
Kudos to the public relations committee for putting together the tailgate party at Endzone for the U.F. Homecoming parade. It couldn’t have been a more perfect location! The food was a bargain for a $5 ticket and the Endzone even put stadium type seats out on the curb in front of the patio for our members and their family to sit and watch the parade. It was disappointing, however, that only six people showed up to walk in the parade and we decided to cancel that morning. It was really cold and rained earlier so I guess us Floridians got up and said, “No Way!”
The appraisal committee met and reviewed the state VAM model in order to have a better understanding of its intent and impact on teacher evaluation. We also reviewed the Lesson Study portion of the evaluation. The district has developed cut-off scores for final evaluation and our committee will meet next to look at those. Regarding Lesson Study, this is the part of evaluation that teachers have some control over. Teachers have an opportunity to receive a maximum of 20 points out of the 100 that will be totaled in the final evaluation. Opting out means that you give up those 20 points and the Best Score that could be received is 80%. You should be given the opportunity to choose your own group to work with unless you prefer that your principal chooses for you. There will be more information coming to you soon.
Karen McCann
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Holiday Dance
The ACEA Holiday Dance is from 7:00-10:00 on December 8th. Come eat, dance and have some fun for the holidays. The Dance is at the Thelma Boltin Center, located at 516 NE Second Ave., Gainesville, FL.
Admission is $10
Hope to see you there!
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