Snoqualmie Valley Education Association

Tentative Agreement Ratified by 97.76%

9/16/2018

On Tuesday, August 28, the members of SVEA ratified our tentative agreement with 97.76% voting YES. Approval by the SVSD school board is still required and is expected at their September 13 meeting. The starting salary for a first year teacher with a bachelor’s degree will be $54,475. The salary schedule tops out at $107,006. Happy first day of school!

Please join the bargaining team for a celebratory happy hour at No Boat Brewing from 3-6PM on our first payday of the year, September 28. Attend your September building meeting for a chance to win a complimentary first beverage.

Note: It is expected that the raises associated with our new salary schedule will be reflected in our September 28 paychecks. If this is not possible due to time constraints or other issues, increases would be retroactive. SVEA will communicate this to you as soon as possible.

In addition to a new salary schedule, the agreement included several other provisions.

Our contract will be extended for an additional year (through August 2020) with the addition of IPD (inflation) for compensation in second year of contract.
The professional rate for pink-sheet hours will be $36.62 for 2018-19.
Non-school professional experience of ESA staff will now include experience in non-schools and other equivalent non-school positions. Self-employment does not qualify. Experience is 1:1, must have worked with children and young adults birth to age 21.
- Records must be submitted by November 1st for the 2018-19 in order to be used for salary schedule placement for that year.
- In the following years after the 2018-19 school year. Records must be submitted by October 1st.
During the 2018-19 school year, SVEA and the district will meet and address the needs related to Special Education and ESA Staff caseloads and workloads to be implemented in the 2019-20 school year.
SVEA may choose two (2) additional non-monetary issues to bargain for 2019-20 school year.
The district will invite and include SVEA in administrative level meetings to provide input during district budget planning.
Pay for Open House (Curriculum Night) will no longer be time sheeted. The three (3) hours will be included in the certificated salary schedule.
The district and SVEA will review the current professional development days to determine if what is offered is effective, meaningful, and comparable to other districts. Based on the review of these days, it is the intent of the District and Association, through the collective bargaining process to add “up to two (2)” non-student workdays during the 2019-2020 school year to enhance professional development opportunities and provide additional opportunities for teacher collaboration and innovation. Our common interests are as follows:
- More effective use of professional development time
- Increased teacher planning and collaboration time
- Greater staff involvement and participation
- To ensure that the amount of contracted time for professional development is comparable to the four (4) districts we use as comparables

Bargaining Update - Good News

8/22/2018

As of Wednesday evening, August 22, a conceptual agreement between the Snoqualmie Valley Education Association (SVEA) and the Snoqualmie Valley School District (SVSD) has been reached around new compensation parameters. The bargaining team will share some information at the general membership meeting on Thursday; however, specific details still need to be worked out. It is important that we have additional time to finalize the salary schedule and contract language before bringing forward a tentative agreement. The bargaining team thanks all members for their patience and support during this process. We look forward to seeing all of you at the general membership meeting tomorrow, 8/23 at 11AM. There will be an additional general membership meeting Tuesday, 8/28 at 4:30PM to vote on a tentative agreement.

No need to wear red tomorrow or rally at the school board meeting.

2018-19 Executive Board Election Results

3/26/2018

Dear Fellow SVEA members,

It is with great excitement that I share with you the 2018-2019 SVEA Executive Board. Congratulations Nate and Jen on your election!

Nate Ziemkowski: President (2nd Grade @ SES)
Amy Jones: Vice President (Elementary Instructional Coach @ TRES/FCES)
Jen Gose: Secretary (4th Grade @ CVES )
Lynn Bradwell: Treasurer (Math teacher @CKMS)

I know I am leaving you in very capable hands as I head into retirement in July. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as your President for the last 6 years and an Exec Board member for the last 12.

In the Spring of 2019, SVEA will have an election for Vice President and Treasurer. Be thinking ahead, if you want to get involved.

Lisa J Radmer
SVEA President

SVEA Leadership Election

3/19/2018

SVEA is a member-driven, democratically governed organization. The Executive Board consists of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary who are elected for two year terms. An election for the officers of President and Secretary will be held March of the even numbered years and the election for the offices of Vice-President and Treasurer will be held March of odd numbered years. This year, we are choosing our union’s President and Secretary.

Ballots will be distributed on Tuesday, March 20 and must be returned to your building representative by Thursday, March 22 at 4PM. If you have not received a ballot by Wednesday, March 21, please contact your building representative.

President: "The president shall: preside at all official meetings and shall perform such duties as are customarily associated with the office, appoint and/or discharge all committee members with the approval of the Executive Board (and/or Representative Council) and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees or designate someone to do so, charge committees with their duties, and represent the Association at meetings with school district management."

Candidate: Nate Ziemkowski
"This is my 11th year teaching second grade at Snoqualmie Elementary. I first became involved in SVEA as a building representative about 7 years ago. After seeing how our union was able to make improvements for members and students during our 2013 negotiations, I decided to get more involved. I’ve been our secretary since 2014, served on our bargaining team, represented SVEA members as a delegate to WEA Representative Assembly, and sat on the statewide WEA-PAC board. I’m proud of the gains we’ve made during this time, but we still have much work to do in terms of compensation, benefits, class size/caseloads, student supports, and giving educators a say in the direction of our schools. I'd appreciate the opportunity to serve as your SVEA president."

Secretary: "The secretary shall: handle all correspondence for the Association, notify the appropriate members as to the time and place of the Executive Board, Representative Council and membership meetings within the time limits set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws, keep accurate minutes of all Executive Board, Representative Council and membership meetings, distribute copies of Executive Board minutes to Executive Board members following meetings, distribute minutes of general membership meetings to all members within thirty (30) days following meetings and distribute minutes of the Representative Council meetings to Representative Council members within the thirty (30) days following meetings, maintain the records, files and membership records of the Association, and distribute copies of all proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws."

Candidate: Jen Gose
"This is my fourth year teaching at Cascade View. I am currently teaching 4th grade. This is my second year as a building rep for CVES. I believe that we are better educators when we support each other, not only in our classroom practices, but also in our professional futures. I want to be part of the movement to preserve teaching as a noble profession, where educators can provide security for their own families. I would be honored to serve as your SVEA secretary.”

SVEA Members Are Continually Learning

3/17/2018

Congratulations to these 15 SVEA members who took next step as educators by earning Nation Board Certification.

Mary Allinger, MSHS
Jennifer Christensen, TFMS
Alexandra Clark, Parent Partnership Program
Lindsey Elgammal, MSHS
Wendy Harrison, OES
Jennifer Holloway, MSHS
Haley Isaacs, MSHS
Emily Larson, CVES
William Leather, MSHS
Victoria Miller, SES
Rebecca Rice, TRES
Leslie Seelye, MSHS
Katharine Sharkey, SES
Matthew Wenman, MSHS
Shannon Wenman, MSHS

These educators will be honored at the upcoming March 22 School Board meeting. Please join us at 6:30PM at Snoqualmie City Hall to celebrate their accomplishments. Your SVEA sisters and brothers are proud of you! #unionproud

Levy Action

2/18/2018

Over the last month, more than 100 Valley educators helped canvass over 8,000 homes and wrote 6 letters to the editor in support of our local levies. Check out the letters:

Heidi Ames, Laurie Fitzpatrick, Shelby Lee, Joanna West (Snoqualmie Elementary): Levies mean new curriculum, instructional coaches, nurses, counselors
Trista Bamer (Snoqualmie Elementary): Levies will support essential school functions in Snoqualmie Valley
Alexandra Clark (Parent Partnership Program): Levies provide important funding to bridge gaps, run important programs
Emily Larson (Cascade View): Vote ‘Yes’ for school replacement levies
Anne McGavran (Cascade View, Snoqualmie Elementary): School levy will support student access to nursing services
Emily Rourke (Twin Falls): School levies will support equal, expanded language program, STEM, music programs

We made our voices heard!

Find updated results here: http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20180213/king/.

SVCS Needs You to Canvass

1/10/2018

SVEA has committed to help Snoqualmie Valley Citizens for Schools (SVCS) reach 5,000 voters before election day on February 13. To accomplish this task, it'll take the help of at many of our members. Sign up using a personal device at signup.com/go/uKOeUTP.

Volunteers will spend 90 minutes hanging door signs on voters' doors around your school. No phone calling, no door knocking, no talking... just reaching out with much needed information and encouragement to vote. Each school has a couple designated days. If you cannot help on your school's day, please help out another school. Kids are welcome to join!

With the changes in state school funding that still leave many areas underfunded (nurses, instructional coaches, 4-12 class size, counselors, technology...) we need these levies to pass. Without them, students and staff will have to do with less in the classroom. Please help the district, yourself, and your students by signing up to distribute door hangers. Our kids are worth it!

General Membership Meeting

8/4/2017

Mark your calendar for our back to school general membership meeting. The district will be providing a BBQ lunch for staff on Thursday, August 24. Our meeting will take place immediately before or after lunch.

We will be providing information about upcoming changes to our salaries, benefits, and more due to recent legislation. Take a peek at the changes to pay, health care, class sizes, testing, and pro-cert on OurVoice.

Enjoy your summer and see you August 24!

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