MUTA Newsletter September 2006

As your Association President, I’d like to welcome back all our veteran teachers and extend a warm “Welcome to the District” to all our new colleagues. Your Teacher’s Association works to insure the best working environment for all members and stands ready to assist you when you have questions or need help in adjusting to the demands of teaching. My goal for the past year has been better communication between the membership and the Association Board. This newsletter is one of our attempts to get information to the membership. The elected Board reps are another. The most important way to communicate your problems and concerns is the monthly site rep meeting.

Most of the calls that I receive deal with site concerns. It doesn’t matter how well things at the District level are going if you are dissatisfied with the environment at your school. MUTA’s most important meeting takes place on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4 P.M. at the MUTA office. This is an opportunity for the faculty reps from each site to get together and determine the direction our association takes. Many decisions are made at these meetings that impact each of us.

Sadly, many schools are unrepresented or underrepresented. Each site is allowed one rep for each 15 teachers or portion therof, but we have nowhere near that many in attendance. If a site in not represented, we have no way of knowing the wishes of the teachers. Our faculty reps are the vital link between what is happening at each site and the MUTA Board. We need to hear what your concerns are and in what direction you would like your association to be heading. Many of our faculty representatives go on to serve on the MUTA Executive Board Committees.

Being a faculty rep is often a thankless job, but it is a vital one. If your site is not represented or is underrepresented, please consider serving in this important and necessary role. We cannot succeed without you. Remember – YOU ARE MUTA.

Your Bargaining team met with the District negotiators on Tuesday, September 20^th. The meeting was positive and productive. We worked on setting an agenda for this year, focusing on the total compensation package, standardizing the length of the workday and NCLB issues that will impact the contract and MUTA members. The next bargaining session will be October 11^th.

The curriculum committee has asked for a September meeting with District representative, Lenny Tate. The committee’s objective is to have a report for the rep council each month. If you have curriculum concerns, please contact a committee member: Dave Pummill, Don Hanson, Sherry Hoon or Conner Oliver.

School employees may wear political buttons while they are teaching if the district has no policy prohibiting wearing buttons. However, even if a district has a policy, school employees may wear partisan campaign buttons while they are on duty and not providing classroom instruction. School employees may also discuss political issues on campus when they are not engaged in instructional activity. Districts may not prohibit wearing political buttons at other locations and times on the campus, even if students are present. Teachers may, for example, wear political buttons at Back-to-School nights.

If you are nearing retirement, it is in your best interest to see a retirement counselor. There are financial ramifications for you and your beneficiaries when choosing a retirement option. Everyone with at least 5 years of service and who is 50 years of age, should make an appointment with Amaryllis Case. Ms. Case is the STRS counselor for this area and can help you understand the choices you face in retirement benefits. You can make an appointment to see Ms. Case by calling Mary Jo at (530) 749-4900.

Last year was the final year that retirees received fully paid medical benefits for 15 days service to the District. Future retirees will continue to receive the same Plan 4 coverage ( for 15 days service) but will be responsible for paying any increases to the current premium.

At age 65 , when the retiree is eligible for Medicare coverage, benefits will cease. Medical benefits are available to those employees who retire with at least 15 years of service.