- Building Political Power for a Stronger MCPS
- MCEA Back-to-School Ball: A Minority Scholars Program Fundraiser
- Tomorrow! Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s Educator “UnConference”
- MCEA’s Comms Team Wants to Hear from You!
- Minority Affairs Committee Minority Leadership Training Program: Deadline 9/13
- Women’s Concerns Committee Women’s Leadership Training Program: Deadline 9/13
- Upcoming MSDE Literacy Policy Changes: What You Need to Know and How You Can Get Involved
- Transferring Unused Sick Leave from Your Former School District to MCPS
- Member Win: Special Enrollment Period for Medical Insurance
- Upcoming Events from MSEA
1. Building Political Power for a Stronger MCPS
It’s critical for us to win at the ballot box! We must elect politicians who will adopt a school budget that allows us to raise salaries, improve benefits, and ensure that students get the resources they need.
We win elections by contributing to our Political Action Committee (PAC). Our PAC funds are used to pay for digital ads, political mailers, and our famous Apple Ballots, so that we can educate voters on the most pro-public education candidates.
- Contribute to PAC through payroll deduction here.
- Make a one–time or recurring PAC contribution here.
- Download the form to contribute to PAC through payroll deduction here.
- Volunteer for an Apple Ballot shift on Election Day.
- 1+ PAC Sticker
- $10 to $14.99 PAC Backpack
- $15 to $19.99 PAC Tumbler
- $20 + All PAC Incentives
2. MCEA Back-to-School Ball: A Minority Scholars Program Fundraiser
Time is running out to purchase your ticket to the hottest event of the season!
We’re thrilled to announce MCEA’s Back-to-School Ball taking place Saturday, September 21, 2024, featuring incredible leaders from the Minority Scholars Program. MCEA is a proud sponsor and supporter of the MSP. Proceeds from the Back-to-School Ball will go to support the work of this program.
Attendees will enjoy a festive evening of dinner, drinks, a DJ, and dancing. It will showcase the powerful work of the program. Purchase tickets by clicking the invitation above.
3. Tomorrow! Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s Educator “UnConference”
Zoom: https://bit.ly/4dYO0Iz
RSVP: https://bit.ly/3Z27NlZ
4. MCEA’s Comms Team Wants to Hear from You!
MCEA’s Public Affairs team wants to improve how our union communicates to members and external audiences (the press, community members, etc.).
Complete this short survey to help inform how our union will develop and structure future communications.
5. Minority Affairs Committee Minority Leadership Training Program: Deadline 9/13
MSEA needs strong, diverse leaders to help move our schools and communities to safer, more equitable, and more empowered places where everyone is welcomed and respected.
The MSEA Minority Affairs Committee Minority Leadership Training Program (MLTP) is a year-long, cohort-based, professional development program that seeks to support diverse educators interested in pursuing leadership opportunities within the association at the local, state, and national levels. Cohort members will engage in a powerful learning journey whose goal is to raise their individual and collective awareness about their ideas and competencies as leaders. The cohort will build and strengthen their capacity to become transformational leaders and catalyze them to take action and lead the movements focused on creating and sustaining equitable, inclusive, and just schools and communities as well as strengthening a professional association firmly rooted in racial, social, and economic justice. Please note the early application deadline.
Deadline for applications: September 13, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply here.
Contact: Tina Dove, [email protected]
6. Women’s Concerns Committee Women’s Leadership Training Program: Deadline 9/13
MSEA needs strong leaders who identify as women/womxn to help move our schools and communities to safer, more equitable, more empowered places where everyone is welcomed and respected.
The MSEA Women’s Concerns Committee Women’s Leadership Training Program (WLTP) is a year-long, cohort-based, professional development program that seeks to support diverse educators interested in pursuing leadership opportunities within the association at the local, state, and national levels. Cohort members will engage in a powerful learning journey whose goal is to raise their individual and collective awareness about their ideas and competencies as leaders, build and strengthen their capacity to become transformational leaders, and catalyze them to take action and lead the movements focused on creating and sustaining equitable, inclusive, and just schools and communities as well as strengthening a professional association firmly rooted in racial, social, and economic justice. Please note the early application deadline.
Deadline for applications: September 13, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply here.
Contact: Stephanie Walters, [email protected]
7. Upcoming MSDE Literacy Policy Changes: What You Need to Know and How You Can Get Involved
Date: September 17
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkdOuprzMpGNzyZyCXDWfDBeuVMxOv5Zgx
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) introduced a new literacy policy that aims to elevate literacy outcomes for all students. This policy marks a significant shift, especially for our youngest learners, K-3 practitioners, special education, and ESOL educators. The members of the State Board of Education plan to take a vote on this policy on September 24.
This upcoming virtual Q&A session on September 17 will delve deeper into the policy, discuss areas of concern, and outline next steps. This is your opportunity to ask questions, share thoughts, and learn how you can advocate for changes. Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or concerned stakeholder, your voice is crucial.
Both current MSEA President Paul Lemle and former MSEA President Cheryl Bost wrote to the State Board of Education outlining concerns and recommendations. Click here to read Paul’s letter click here to read Cheryl’s letter.
For more questions contact: Paul Lemle, Nikki Woodward, and Géraldine Duval
8. Transferring Unused Sick Leave from Your Former School District to MCPS
Did you come to MCPS from another Maryland school system? Upon request, MCPS allows professional employees to “transfer in” up to 100 days of accumulated sick leave from a former school district. To request the transfer, send MCPS Form 430-62 to your former school district.
Here’s an important note about “transferred-in” sick leave: Under Article 31 C. 6. of the MCEA-MCPS Collective Bargaining Agreement, when you end your MCPS employment, MCPS will convert 20% to 35% of your unused, MCPS-earned sick leave into cash at your final hourly rate. However, MCPS will deduct all of the transferred-in leave before calculating your payout. Transferred-in sick leave is “use-or-lose.”
9. Member Win: Special Enrollment Period for Medical Insurance
Just when an MCEA member was celebrating the July 1 pay increase that he and other MCEA members fought so hard for, he found that his salary had increased so much that he and his family were no longer eligible for Medicaid—he would only be able to keep his healthcare insurance plan if he paid impossibly high premiums. Nonetheless, MCPS told him he was not eligible to enroll in MCEA/MCPS-negotiated insurance because he had not “lost” his coverage. According to MCPS, he would have to wait until the regular “open season” to select coverage that would begin in January 2025. This would have left his family without any healthcare insurance for several months!
When MCEA learned of his plight, it quickly determined that, under federal and Maryland law, the member was entitled to an immediate “special enrollment period” and advocated on his behalf. As a result of MCEA’s advocacy, his MCPS insurance began the day after his Medicaid coverage ended, ensuring that this union member and his family remained safe and protected.
10. Upcoming Events from MSEA
- Q&A Town Hall on Conditionally Licensed Teacher Program:
- 2024 National Board Certification Fall Jump Start: 9/20-21 – learn more here.
- Q&A Town Hall on Pre-K Para Child Development Associate Credential: 9/26 – learn more here.
- Q&A Town Hall on Pre-K Para Child Development Associate Credential: 10/3 learn more here.