Leadership training: April 28, 5-7 p.m. at BBE room 305. This is a great opportunity for building reps and others to build their leadership knowledge and skills. If you are a building rep, this is essential training. If you are not, but you want to help your union make BISD a better place for students and staff, this training is for you. Dena Donaldson will lead the training and BFT will provide snacks.
The Teacher Organizations met with the district administrators Tuesday. We covered a wide range of issues. Here are the notes:
Budget update: The district is looking to give raises, but they have not determined an amount yet. The range is 1-3%. I don't think anyone should expect 3%. Some of you expressed concern about losing paraprofessionals to other districts because of low wages in BISD. Mr. King (HR director) said that they will look at the market (what area districts pay) to see if adjustments are needed to stay competitive. He added that BISD does this regularly.
The district currently has 33 instructional coaches. Next year we will have 19. However, the restructuring has not been finalized, so they can't yet say where those positions will be. The end of the TLI grant and reduced tax revenues from the power plant will impact the budget. However, Mr. Edwards says there will be no RIFs, that all the ICs will fill open teaching slots.
Summer PD: The district set a goal of having all ELA teachers trained through the Heart of Texas Writing Project over the next two years, even those teachers who have completed New Jersey Writing. Teacher who attend this year will be paid $150/day with the district trying to find daycare options. Those that are not trained this year will be trained next year. I requested that they notify staff of those dates earlier than April next year. Mrs. Liefer said that they cannot notify teachers before HOT notifies them, which may not be until March.
Substitutes: Because the economy is improving and gas prices are low, it is difficult for the district to find enough substitutes. Mr. Edwards provided this article to explain. This district has provided seven substitute orientations this year and lowered some of the hiring requirements in order to attract enough substitutes. This is a problem across the state.
Electronic Teacher Contracts: The second reminder to electronically sign contracts went out today. The next reminder will go out Friday. The final reminder will go out Tuesday morning. Any contract that is not signed by 5 p.m. Tuesday will be considered rejected. Teachers must electronically sign the contract in Skyward Employee Access. To view your signed contract, look in the "forms" tab. If you have any questions, you can contact HR. The next change will be online resignations.
Process for IR schools: We currently have two IR campuses. Part of the requirements this year was for the district to draft turn-around plans for those campuses in case they are again IR. Those plans have been drafted and will go to TEA in the coming days. After TEA approves them, the board will have to approve them. If the schools are again IR, the plans will be implemented. If they are not IR, then the schools will be on "maintenance." The turn-around plans include things like professional development, tutoring, and intervention. No one will be automatically transferred.
Recess at elementaries: I asked the district to look at increasing recess to one hour at elementaries. I gave Mr. Edwards this article. At one school in Ft. Worth, the test scores have gone up and behavior problems have fallen. The ATPE representative at our meeting argued against increased recess time.
Stipends: If you are not receiving a stipend that you are due, please contact HR immediately. Mistakes happen. The district will be changing how some stipends are paid next year. Some that are now annualized (paid out a little each month throughout the year) will instead be paid in one or more installments, depending on when the stipend is earned. For instance, coaches of spring sports may not receive their stipend until the spring instead of beginning in September. At any rate, the stipend and payment schedules will be published on the website when they are finalized (perhaps May).
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