Snoqualmie Valley Education Association
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All About Those Dues

9/19/2016

 

Why do I pay dues?

It takes money to run an organization, like a church, a club, or a union. Union dues pay for contract negotiation expenses, office and support services, legal services, union newsletters and other communications, training for building representatives and members, and organizing.

SVEA protects the rights of our members, advocates on their behalf, assists them in resolving conflicts, answers their questions, offers suggestions, and listens to their concerns. It is SVEA's responsibility to negotiate with the school district on behalf of our members over wages, hours, and working conditions. In addition, we offer professional development and training opportunities to our members in a variety of subject areas throughout the school year.

Luckily, the members of the Snoqualmie Valley Education Association do not stand alone. Our Association cooperates closely with the Sammamish UniServ Council, Washington Education Association, and National Education Association

How much are my dues?

Your dues vary depending on your FTE and whether you're a PAC member. If you work full-time (1.0 FTE) and belong to WEA-PAC and NEA-FCPE (PAC), your total dues for 2016-17 are $1,117.61. Dues for part-time members are less. These dues are split between NEA, WEA, Sammamish UniServ Council, and SVEA.
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How are my dues spent?

SVEA, WEA, and NEA are a member-driven, democratically governed organizations. So members decide how dues dollars are spent. SVEA's elected building representatives are part of the SVEA Representative Council which annually sets the budget according to the council's priorities. WEA and NEA both hold an annual Representative Assembly (RA) which are the chief policy making bodies. Once a year, local associations select more than 1,000 WEA members to gather for RA. The NEA RA is the world's largest democratic deliberative assembly. These annual meetings, which have a look and feel similar to a major political convention, provide a forum where WEA/NEA members can collaborate, debate and vote. Individual members and local associations submit New Business Items, New Resolutions or Amendments to Continuing Resolutions, Standing Rules, Bylaws, and WEA/NEA Constitution, which, when passed, set the organizational priorities for WEA/NEA for the coming year.

Regular membership dues and special assessments do not support political candidates' campaigns. Only optional WEA-PAC and NEA-FCPE dues go to support political candidates' campaigns. 

Here is the 2016-17 WEA membership dues structure:
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Here is the 2016-17 NEA membership dues structure:
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Education is a civil right in Washington

9/17/2016

 
"It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision
for the education of all children residing within its borders,
​without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex."

Washington Constitution, 1889
The state Constitution is clear: For Washington's 1.1 million public school students, amply funded public schools are a civil right. In its 2012 McCleary decision, the Washington Supreme court ordered the state to follow the Constitution and to provide ample funding for basic education. Since then, the state has made some progress but has made little to no progress on the investments that will make the biggest difference for our kids, including smaller K-12 class sizes and competitive compensation to attract and keep great educators.

That's why school funding is going to be the big issue in this fall's state election and in the 2017 legislative session that starts in January.

There are starkly different visions for what should happen. As educators we put students at the center of everything we do. Here are our recommendations for fully funding basic education as required by the McCleary decision:
  • Fund smaller class sizes in every grade and additional support staff (from nurses to custodians) as required by I-1351, which is now the law. Students have the right to small class sizes and professional support that provide the individual one-on-one attention they need to be successful.
  • Fully fund competitive, professional base pay and benefits to attract and keep caring, qualified teachers and support staff. Students have the right to caring and committed teachers.
  • Fund 10 days of professional development. Students have the right to qualified and well-trained teachers.
  • Fund the full cost of supplies, operating costs, and transportation, and make sure all schools are equipped with modern technology. students have the right to well-maintained schools, current curriculum, safe buses, and adequate school supplies.
  • Fund specific needs, including special education, gifted, learning assistance program, and ELL services. All students have the constitutional right to a quality education.
  • Fully fund school construction to modernize existing schools, build new schools, and expand classroom capacity. Students have the right to learn in clean and safe facilities.
  • Protect levy funding and preserve local control of public schools. All students have the right to a public education that meets their unique needs. Local school boards, educators, and parents best know their students' needs and the specific needs of their own communities. They are not served by a levy swap that redirects local taxpayer dollars to the state.
It's simple: McCleary requires the state to increase funding for basic education. McCleary does not require limiting local collective bargaining or restricting how levy funds are used to enrich basic education. For more information, visit: OurVoice.

Attend a Certification Workshop

9/13/2016

 
The Sammamish UniServ Council, of which SVEA is a member, is hosting a workshop about certification issues. It will be held at Pine Lake Middle School in Sammamish on October 6 from 4:30-7:30. Especially if you are in your first five years as an educator, be sure to attend. Please RSVP by emailing Charlotte Cole at ccole@washingtonea.org if you plan to attend.
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Attract & Retain Stipends Keep Our Pay Competitive

9/12/2016

 
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SVEA members love working in the Snoqualmie Valley. But it isn't always easy living in the area on an educator's salary. This is especially true when educators in surrounding districts have historically earned more than those in SVSD. With this in mind, SVSD and SVEA collectively bargained Attract and Retain Stipends to ensure our pay is competitive with neighboring districts (Issaquah, Lake Washington, Riverview, & Tahoma).

The bargaining teams studied compensation in these districts and agreed on stipends that would place SVEA members at the average for their level of education and years of experience. Based on this research, the yearly Attract and Retain Stipends for 2016-19 are as follows:
  • 0-11.99 Years of Experience: $500
  • 12-16.99 Years of Experience: $750
  • 17-23.99 Years of Experience: $1,500
  • 24-29.99 Years of Experience: $2,000
  • 30+ Years of Experience: $3,500
These stipends will allow SVSD to attract and retain the most highly qualified and effective educators possible - rather than lose them to neighboring districts that offer more competitive compensation.

It's SVSF Grant Time!

9/12/2016

 
Grant applications are due October 7. Thanks SVSF for supporting our many innovative educators. This year's grant application can be found at https://svsfoundation-public.sharepoint.com/classroom_grants.
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Know Your Rights

9/11/2016

 
As a member of SVEA, you are offered many rights and benefits. Here are just some of them:
  • You have the right to union representation during investigatory interviews. Contact your building representative or our President, Lisa Radmer, immediately if you are being investigated.
  • As a WEA member you are eligible for Educator Employee Liability insurance.
  • The WEA also provides members some discounted legal rates via the Attorney Referral Program.
  • You're entitled to view your local contract. Once finalized, our contract will be posted on the district and SVEA websites.
  • Understand the grievance process and what to do when the district violates your contract.

McCleary & School Funding Back in Court Sept. 7; Then What's Next?

9/6/2016

 
From OurVoice...

On Sept. 7, the Washington Supreme Court will once again hold a hearing for state officials to explain why they haven’t complied with the court’s demand for a plan to fully fund public schools.

In Washington state, public education is a civil right guaranteed by the state Constitution. A quality public education gives all children the opportunity to be successful. Yet every day the state fails to fully fund basic education, we are violating our children’s civil rights.

We do not know what action the court will take after the hearing, including whether the court will impose tougher sanctions beyond the $100,000 a day the state is being fined (which now totals nearly $39 million).

We do know that instead of fully funding basic education, the 2016 Legislature punted – they created yet another committee to study school funding (the fifth or sixth such group, by some accounts).

Earlier this summer, the committee held hearings and solicited recommendations from stakeholders. WEA submitted our recommendations for funding the basic education our children deserve, regardless of their ZIP Code or family background.

It really is pretty basic:
  • Fund smaller class sizes in every grade level and additional support staff as required by I-1351, which is now the law.
  • Fully fund competitive, professional base pay and benefits for all K-12 school employees, and maintain flexibility for school districts to supplement educators’ pay beyond the base state salary.
  • Fund 10 days of professional development.
  • Fund the full cost of supplies, curriculum, operating costs and transportation, and make sure all schools are equipped with modern technology.
  • Fund specific student needs, including special education, gifted, learning assistance program, and transitional bilingual education for English language learners.
  • Fully fund school construction to modernize existing schools, build new schools and expand classroom capacity.
  • Protect levy funding and preserve local control of public schools.

​WEA’s complete report, including salary and class size charts, is here. Our plan also calls for increasing state revenue and reforming the state’s tax code to make it more fair.

    About SVEA

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    The Snoqualmie Valley Education Association represents the 475+ certificated staff of the Snoqualmie Valley School District. We believe empowered educators, stronger together, are the foundation of great schools.

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