COVID-19 Update: 4/10/20

The volume and pace of information and change over the last month has been overwhelming. During this time, your SVEA and WEA representatives have been busy representing educator and student interests as we sort through this unprecedented situation together. We, along with our labor partners at PSE and SVASA, are in ongoing discussions with SVSD administration to protect your interests. This includes, but is not limited to:

• ensuring no loss of pay,
• continuation of benefits,
• minimizing the need for higher risk members to deplete sick leave,
• working conditions during the transition to remote learning, and
• member health and well-being.

We've made progress on many of these issues and our Representative Council has approved two MOAs: MOA Regarding COVID-19 Impacts and MOA Regarding Rescinding Resignations. You can learn more about these agreements and our collaborative work with the district by joining one of our Zoom Member Meetings this afternoon (4/10) or reading more below.

Your health and safety, that of our families, students and community is of utmost importance, so please, do take good care. -Nate

Zoom Member Meetings
Please join us this afternoon for one of our member Zoom meetings for an update and to ask questions (using the chat feature). Our elementary, secondary, and student services leads will be present to answer questions and gather input. We hope you'll join us if you're available.

MOA Regarding COVID-19 Impacts
This agreement, approved by our Representative Council on Monday, 4/6 addresses many of our interests.

• Ensuring No Loss of Pay: Washington State has assured districts that they will continue to fund schools as usual which allows the district to continue to provide SVEA members their regular pay. Second semester class size overload compensation will be paid.
• Continuation of Benefits: Health benefits will not be impacted by the school closure.
• Higher Risk Members: SVEA has negotiated Pandemic Health Leave to support members at higher risk who are unable to meet the expectations for their position. 
• Remote Learning: SVEA teams at each level have been in ongoing collaboration with administration to facilitate our transition to remote learning according to OSPI guidance. While there have been missteps and miscommunication, SVEA is committed to bringing members’ voices to the table. The feedback we’ve received from members has been essential. Employees will use sound professional judgment to accomplish this work and will communicate with their supervisors/administrators regarding any clarifications needed for this work. Read more below about the work of our elementary, secondary, and student services teams. 
  • Technology: Employees are not required to use their personal devices for work assignments. The District will make reasonable efforts to provide employees with the technology required to perform remote work. Technology may include, but is not limited to voice/video accessibility, laptop, and wifi hotspot. Lack of access to technology shall not negatively impact an employee’s evaluation or be used as the basis for discipline.
  • Professional Boundaries: Employees will follow District guidelines and policies related to communicating with students. Guidelines will be developed collaboratively between the District and Association. Relevant District policies include, but are not limited to:
    • Maintaining Professional Staff/Student Boundaries (5253 policy/procedure)
    • Electronic Resources and Internet Safety (2022 procedure)
    • Social Networking Guidelines for Staff
  • Member Protection: Students committing offenses such as, but not limited to, harassing or inappropriate e-mail messages, websites, false electronic text messages or other technological misconduct that threatens the safety and/or reputation of certificated staff may be disciplined in accordance with RCW 9.61.260 and District policies.
• Member Health and Well-Being:
  • Physical Health: All SVEA members are able to work remotely to reduce exposure to the virus and prevent further spread. Pandemic Health Leave is available in the event a member tests positive for COVID-19.
  • Flexibility: We've attempted to provide educators with as much flexibility as possible. 
    • Employee work hours may be flexible during this closure, but generally employees will check email and be available for phone calls and virtual meetings during their regular work hours on normally calendared work days during this crisis.
    • Employees will be given at least twenty-four (24) hours advance notice of a required meeting. 
    • Expectations for the following week will be communicated to employees no later than the Friday prior.

MOA Regarding Rescinding Resignations
This agreement, approved by our Representative Council on Monday, 4/6 addresses the financial well-being of our members who planned to resign, retire, or take a leave of absence during the 2020-21 school year. While these requests would typically be denied, SVEA/SVSD have reached a compromise that gives members flexibility without impacting the district's ability to fill open positions.

For those who submitted a resignation, retirement of leave of absence request for the 2020-21 school year prior on or before March 13, 2020: The District will make every effort to accommodate a request for rescinding a resignation, retirement or leave absence that is received in Human Resources by close of business on April 30, 2020.

• For positions where a replacement has not yet been hired, the employee will remain in their current school, subject to the normal provisions of the CBA regarding involuntary transfers and/or assignments.
• For positions where a replacement has been hired, the employee requesting to rescind their resignation, retirement or leave absence will be placed in the next open position for which they are qualified.