jeff orvis, neieu unit president - isea · 9/3/2016  · 5 2017-2018 neieu executive board members...

1

W hen you start to look at this newsletter, you may be thinking that we made a mis-

take and sent something from two years ago. You may remember that I was the

unit president then, and yes I am back for another term.

For those who don’t know me, I am an Instructional Coach at Waverly-Shell Rock. I am

the president of the Northeast Iowa Education Unit (NEIEU). You, whether you know it or

not, are a member of NEIEU. This is the organizational structure between your local asso-

ciation and the state. UniServ (“UniServ” is short for “Unified Service”) units have two

main purposes: Service and Governance.

When an issue arises that you or your local needs help with, service is provided by a UniServ Director. We have

two directors in Northeast; Shelly Staker and Kevin McDermott. Shelly works from the Waterloo office and

Kevin from Dubuque. Linda Alderson provides office support for us too. These folks are our experts for negoti-

ations, grievances, recertification, licensure, training, and so many more things. Some of the problems that

they help us with have never been listed on a job description because they come completely out of left field. We

ask that they be contacted after seeking help from your local first, so they don’t get overwhelmed by issues that

can be handled close to home. Governance is our voice at the table. I am part of governance. NEIEU has a

president, president-elect (Vice President), secretary, treasurer, a delegate to the state executive board, sub-

unit representatives, and committee chairs. In April of each year, many of these positions are open for election

and any member can run. The electorate are from all of the approximately 50 locals who send representatives

to the NEIEU Spring Representative Assembly. These are often the local presidents and others who attended

the state delegate assembly a few weeks prior, but the local president can send any local member. Sub-unit

representatives communicate with local presidents and are our representatives at our monthly NEIEU meet-

ings. We plan trainings, share what issues are coming up across locals, and discuss the impact of legislative

issues and how we should react.

I hope when you read this newsletter, you see your members being recognized. I hope you read those remind-

ers about licensure and ethics. I hope you see the value in what NEIEU does for you. When asked, please con-

sider offering your time and talent.

Volume 42, Issue 1

September 2017

Northeast Iowa Education Unit

The Voice

Jeff Orvis, NEIEU Unit President

“Great leaders inspire greatness in others.”

Anonymous

2

Recertification

W hat is recertification? Recertification is a new election process whereby all employees that are part of the

bargaining unit (whether members of the association or not) must actually vote to retain the association as

the certified bargaining representative for purposes of negotiating the Master Contract and consultation with the dis-

trict concerning the handbook and teaching/learning issues.

W hy does our local need to hold a recertification election? The legislation passed in 2017 requires a

recertification election to establish the association’s legal ability to remain the bargaining agent for the Mas-

ter Contract. Elections need to take place approximately one-year before your contract expires.

W hat does it mean to vote YES? Voting YES to recertify means the employee (you) wishes to maintain the

current bargaining agent (Your local association/ISEA) as representatives for the Master Contract. This vote

has nothing to do with joining the association. All employees of the bargaining unit must vote — association members

and potential members. Failure to vote in this election is a NO vote.

W hat recertification is not: Recertification does NOT affect your association’s ability to remain an active

local association, or to provide members with access to representation and legal services.

Why Does Your Membership Matter?

M embership is essential because a united voice is important. ISEA is up to the challenge because our chil-

dren, families and profession are priorities!

ISEA advocates for and with members when:

Contracts and board policies change (Bargaining has not ended — it has changed):

◦ Leaves, salary, transfer and prep time

◦ FAIR Evaluation procedures, class size and reduction procedures

◦ Career advancement and equal treatment for all employees

◦ All other working conditions

Assistance plans should be monitored

Chapter 102 allegations are made

Licensure or parental complaints are filed

Disciplinary actions may be taken

Member and administrator issues surface

Liability coverage is needed

Professional development opportunities are needed

A voice in the legislature is a seat at the table

Working to build local, state and national community coalitions

Advocating for students and public education

Members have access to a wide variety of discounts through NEA Member Benefits, receive support and

representation from ISEA staff statewide and locally, have access to professional development

courses needed for licensure through the ISEA Academy and receive professional publications with

important and practical information about the profession.

3

Northeast Iowa Education Unit

Waterloo Regional Office Dubuque Regional Office

203 E. Tower Park Drive 3430 Dodge

Suite A Suite 15

Waterloo, IA 50701 Dubuque, IA 52003

Phone: 1-800-378-6851 1-800-378-6297

Phone: 1-319-287-8021 1-563-556-1692

Fax: 1-319-234-1740 1-563-556-1693

Shelly Staker sstaker@isea.org

Kevin McDermott kmcdermott@isea.org

Linda Alderson lalderson@isea.org

New Address? Please let us know

ASAP

Please remember to notify our

office as soon as possible if you

have a change of address. You

may call us at (800) 378-6851 or if it is more

convenient, the information may also be

e-mailed to Linda at linda.alderson@isea.org.

T he following suggested activities will help ensure a smooth start to your school year and avoidance of conflict at a

later date.

If you have earned credits for lane advancement, file transcripts in accordance with required policy and

timelines.

Review your personnel file. Make a list of its contents. If inappropriate items are contained therein, immedi-

ately notify your Association Rights chairperson. Make periodic reviews of your file throughout the year.

Once published, check the seniority list for accuracy. If there is an error, seek immediate correction.

Verify that your salary and other conditions of your individual contract are in compliance with

the Master Contract. Your first paycheck should be compared to the contractual amount so that any errors can

be corrected immediately.

Check to be sure that you are enrolled in the insurance(s) you want—

especially if your employer has changed insurance carriers or your family status has

changed.

Be certain that your building orientations include information on: procedures to

use in case of student injury, specific dos and don’ts in discipline, and a complete ex-

planation of evaluation procedures and criteria.

Start your own personnel file. Include your teaching certificate, copies of college transcripts, documentation

of any awards, commendations or honors you receive, records of seminars, workshops or conferences you attend,

letters of reprimand or praise, copies of correspondence to or from school administration or parents, written sum-

maries of any out-of-the-ordinary incidents such as disciplinary actions you’ve taken, student accidents or stu-

dents’ notes you’ve intercepted, and any other items related to your employment.

If you begin having difficulties with an administrator, parent, or community member, start a daily log. Record

all items that could be related to (future) charges against you. Include dates, times, and brief descriptions of inci-

dents and/or witnesses.

As You Start the Year

4

I t’s time to pat yourself on the back for being

active in your community!

Tell us about your association involvement

in your community and WIN!

Entries will be reviewed by the NEIEU Public Rela-

tions Committee and one winner per month will be

chosen. The monthly winner earns a Subway gift cer-

tificate!

All monthly winners are entered to win the “Best Asso-

ciation Activity of the Year.” One yearly winner re-

ceives $100 for their association.

HOW?

Submit a brief summary and/or send newspaper clippings

of Association activity within your community.

SEND TO:

charrison@Oelwein.k12.ia.us or

lalderson@isea.org or

Linda Alderson

ISEA Waterloo Office

203 E. Tower Park Drive, Suite A

Waterloo, Iowa 50701

Toot Your Own Horn!

Reminder!

Y ou can review and confirm your NEA Com-

plimentary Life Insurance beneficiaries by

visiting the NEA Member Benefits Website at

http://www.neamb.com/insurance/nea-

complimentary-life-insurance.htm. Once there you need

to log in and/or register and from there you can check

and/or change your beneficiary.

Also, NEA Member Benefits (www.neamb.com) offers a

number of programs to assist you!

Upcoming Events (Rough Draft)

OCTOBER:

1 Membership materials due to NEIEU Office

5 Partners in Learning meeting

11 NEIEU Executive Board

20-21 ISEA ESP Conference, Hotel Savery, Des Moines

21 ISEA Bargaining Conference, Des Moines Marriott

NOVEMBER:

6 Certified Bargaining Training, ISEA Waterloo Office

8 NEIEU Executive Board

13 Classified Bargaining Training, Fayette Public Library

15 Certified Bargaining Training, Starmont HS Media

DECEMBER:

7 Partners in Learning meeting

8-9 ISEA Executive Board

9 NEIEU Executive Board/Christmas Party,

Bills Smokehouse, Independence

JANUARY:

5 ISEA Retired Members Committee

19-20 ISEA Legislative Conference

20 TLC Committee

FEBRUARY:

2-3 ISEA Executive Board

14 NEIEU Executive Board

MARCH:

14 NEIEU Executive Board

APRIL:

6 ISEA Executive Board

6-7 ISEA Delegate Assembly

18 NEIEU Executive Board

19 NEIEU Spring Representative Assembly

MAY:

9 NEIEU Executive Board

12 ISEA Executive Board (conference call)

15 ISEA Retired Members Committee

National Education Support Professionals Day

N ational ESP Day honors and recognizes the contributions

education support professionals (ESPs) make to public

education. It is a time to support and show respect for ESPs,

who are equal and essential partners in public education. Na-

tional ESP Day is the Wednesday of American Education Week.

This year it will be November 15, 2017. If you want ideas on

how to recognize ESPs and to celebrate, NEA has produced a

guide that has been used over the past several years “A Guide to

Celebrate National Education Support Professionals Day.” Any

member or local can look at the guide on-line at www.nea.org/

esp and order them from esp.program@nea.org.

5

2017-2018 NEIEU Executive Board Members

Name Title Local E-mail

Jeff Orvis President Waverly-Shell Rock E.A. Jeff.orvis@wsr.k12.ia.us or orvis@cfu.net

Janelle Meyer-Smith Vice President & ESP

State Rep MFL MarMac E.S.P. smithjl@mflmarmac.k12.ia.us or

Janelle.smith1024@gmail.com

Lori Lee Secretary Retired Lee3@butler-bremer.com

Steve Bunn Treasurer Oelwein C.E.A. sbunn@oelwein.k12.ia.us or

bunn.steve@yahoo.com

Roberta Hass ISEA Executive Board

Rep M-F-L MarMac E.A. hassrk@mflmarmac.k12.ia.us or

randrhass@gmail.com

Ronda Rathe Sub Unit A Rep Dunkerton E.A. rrathe@dunkerton.k12.ia.us or

rathe@dunkerton.net

Stacey Brandt Sub Unit B Rep Sumner-Fredericksburg

E.A.

brandts@sfcougars.k12.ia.us or

jsbrandt@iowatelecom.net

Steve Larson Sub Unit C Rep Decorah E.A. Steve.larson@decorah.k12.ia.us or

kabekonalake@yahoo.com

LuAnn Bolsinger ESP Rep Ed-Co C.A. lbolsinger@edge-cole.k12.ia.us or lu-

annbolsinger@hotmail.com

Jaci Feuss Sub Unit A Cedar Falls E.A. Jaci.feuss@cfschools.org or jaxflutter-

by@hotmail.com

Lori Thurm Sub Unit B Wapsie Valley E.A. lthurm@wapsievalleyschools.org or

blthurm@mchsi.com

Linda Monroe Sub Unit C Postville E.A. lmonroe@postville.k12.ia.us or klmon-

roe@acegrop.cc

Barb Renz ESP Rep Nashua-Plainfield E.S.P. brenz@nashua-plainfield.k12.ia.us or

NPESPGroup@gmail.com

Kristie Brincks Leadership Chair New Hampton E.A. K_Brincks@new-hampton.k12.ia.us or

ksbrincks@gmail.com

Pam Schmidt BBTLE Chair Retired pamnbct@aol.com

Dennis Pagel Contract

Advancement Chair New Hampton E.A. D_Pagel@new-hampton.k12.ia.us

Barb Havlik Government

Relations Chair Retired B_Havlik@new-hampton.k12.ia.us

Jim Young Membership Chair Cedar Falls E.A. Jim.young@cfschools.org or jycap-

tain@cfu.net

Craig Harrison Public Relations Chair Oelwein C.E.A. charrison@oelwein.k12.ia.us

Deb Turnball Resolutions Chair Retired dfturnball@msn.com

Joyce Amber Retired

Membership Chair Retired Cubs.fan23@hotmail.com

Julie Williams Contract Maintenance

Chair Retired

Vee Barnard Multi-Cultural Chair Cedar Falls E.A. Vee.barnard@cfschools.org or

V112683@gmail.com

6

Take Charge of Your

Professional Growth

Y ou want positive growth mindset in your

teaching? You want to design personalize

professional development? You want reflective

practice in your teaching? Then National Board

Certification is the plan for you. All of this and

more is accomplished when you go through

this process. And if you don’t want to be alone,

invite others in your district to join you as a

team that helps each other and holds each oth-

er accountable to the process. And better yet

ISEA has support classes to help you through

the process for credit that can be offered close

to home with instructors that have completed

the National Board Certification process and

are National Board Certified. Contact Bert Hass

at rhass@alpinecom.net, Liz Fox at

liz.fox@decorah.k12.ia.us, Melanie Wirtz at

Melanie.wirtz@cfschools.org, or Pam Schmidt

at pamnbct@aol.com for more information. NEIEU representing at the NEA

Representative Assembly

Mike Beranek at Johnson's Restaurant & Reception

Hall at NEIEU Fall Leadership/Membership Rally.