TAAAC ACTION REPORTYour Professional Organization

Volume 36, Number 5

Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County, An MSTA/NEA Affiliate January 2004

TAAAC Changes Bylaws Regarding MembershipCancellations, Membership Eligibility, and Retiree

Membership!

On December 3, 2003, the Association Representative Council took action on three significant Bylaw amend-ments impacting Sections 1, 2, 5, 8, and 9 of the Membership Article. In summary form, the impact of theamendments is as follows:

• Effective immediately, members wishing to cancel TAAAC membership must do so in writing betweenAugust 15 and September 1. The former deadline of October 1 no longer exists.

• Professional employees of the AACPS who hold a bachelor degree but not teaching certificates are noweligible for TAAAC membership.

• There is now a membership category for retired TAAAC members. (1397)

The complete text of the amended Bylaws is shown below:

ARTICLE III -MEMBERSHIPSection 1. Membership in the Association shall be designated as regular, Member Emeritus, or Retired.

Section 2. Any person holding a Bachelor’s Degree or a Standard Professional Certificate or who is a profes-sional employee of the public school system of Anne Arundel County or of the Association shall be eligible tobecome a regular member of the Association.

Section 5. Retired membership shall be offered to Board of Education employees who are active membersin TAAAC at the time of retirement and are at least 45 years of age or who are eligible to receive a pensionfrom an education employment retirement system. Retired members shall be charged a nominal member-ship fee, determined by the Board of Directors for TAAAC-R in consultation with the Board of Directors ofTAAAC, for use of the office, receipt of local Association publications, and attendance at social events.Retired members shall also be required to maintain his/her appropriate membership in the MSTA-Retiredand NEA-Retired. Retired members may not vote in TAAAC elections, hold office in TAAAC, or serve on theTAAAC negotiating team.

Section 8. If a regular member changes his/her educational position so as to change his/her membership cat-egory or membership eligibility, his/her membership status shall be changed immediately.

(Continued on page 4)

COMMENTARY

Sheila M. Finlayson

Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County

2521 Riva Road, Suite L 7Annapolis, Maryland 21401

(410) 224-3330 (410) 841-6022(301) 261-8309 FAX (410) 841-5117

TAAAC Action ReportOfficers

Sheila M. Finlayson, PresidentRon Russell, Vice President

Kathy Naeseth, Secretary-Treasurer

Board of Directors

Donzella Parker Bert Deborah Cottrell Allison CrewsAlice Liptak Susie C. Jablinske Myrtle LinkYolie Marshall Richard Benfer Darlene MurphyTimothy Mennuti Edith M. McDougald

Editors

Bill Jones, Executive Directorand Managing Editor

Roxanne L. Vietmeier, Editor

Happy New Year!As the new year begins, the first sixmonths of the year will be filledwith efforts dealing with the budg-et. The Superintendent submittedhis budget to the Board ofEducation in December. TheBoard submits its budget to theCounty Executive in February. TheCounty Executive submits herbudget to the Council in May andthe Council passes its final budgeton or before May 30. We have amajor role in that process. Weactually have a tremendous respon-sibility. That responsibility is tohelp our elected officials, on alllevels, to decide wisely how mon-eys should be spent.

Of course, our priority is educationand that should be the top priorityof every citizen of AACo. It is ourresponsibility to help the entireAACo. community to understandwhy education should be theirnumber one priority also.

To put it simply, if we don’t have astrong school system, which hasthe resources to educate every childat the highest level possible and theability to recruit and retain the best

and brightest educators, our com-munity will not continue to prosper. “Every time you stop (building) aschool, you have to build a jail.”Mark Twain in a speech deliveredin 1900 spoke those words. Over100 years ago, there was recogni-tion of the need for a great schoolsystem. All of the JusticeDepartment statistics tell us that inareas where there is a strong educa-tion system, there is a lower rate ofcrime.

AACo. is a rapidly growing com-munity. We have more miles ofwaterfront property than anywhereelse in the state. We are in closeproximity to both Baltimore andWashington, which makes com-muting to work a relatively easyride. It also gives us easy access toany cultural or athletic events youmight imagine. This is a beautifulplace to live and work. A strongeducation system will allow AACo.to continue to be a place wherepeople want to live. (3708)

When people look for housing inAACo., one of the first questionsthey ask is about the schools in thearea. Realtors actually have a listof all of our schools, and especiallyour Blue Ribbon Schools, and usethe list as a selling point. Withoutthe pride and success of a strongschool system, who would want tolive here? What would potentialresidents think of a community thatis not willing to fund their educa-

tion system adequately? Thatwould surely cut down on the num-ber of folks who want to live hereand that would have a direct impacton revenues.

Then, there is the business commu-nity. We are an attractive locationfor businesses interested in relocat-ing and those that are here tend tostay. They have been able to relyon our school system to providethem with an educated workforce.The under funding of our schoolsystem will jeopardize our abilityto continue to provide the caliber ofworkforce businesses require anddeserve. Economic developmentwould be at risk.

I could go on about why educationis important to AACo. but youknow the story. You also know thatyou are the ones who make it allwork. You are the backbone, thelinchpin that holds it all together.

Now, I am going to ask you to goout and tell the rest of the commu-nity about the importance of whatyou do. Help them to understandthe true danger we are facing ifeducation is not adequately funded.And don’t be shy. Educatorsdeserve to be paid well, with goodbenefits. The evidence of thecommunity truly understandingand valuing education will be intheir ability to direct the CountyExecutive and County Council tomake education their top priority.

Page 2 TAAAC Action Report

From Contentia this month . . . Rating Frequency…Why can’t it get done right?

Every year the central office distributes a memorandum to principals explaining to them which members of theirstaff may need to receive a formal rating. No letter is distributed to identify those educators who do need to berated. As a result many educators have their names on the list even though they do not need to be rated.

The problem is that four different rating frequencies apply to educators in four distinct situations, and educatorsare put on that list if it is possible that any of the four may apply, without regard to which individual situationexists. To confuse matters yet further, many school administrators perceive the list as a directive to rate every-one named on it, despite the term may, which is emphasized in the memo. (5340)

Here are the applicable standards with their matching circumstances:

Circumstance Frequency

Untenured teachers Twice per year, first due by December 1st

Tenured SPCI and SPCII holders Once per year

Tenured APC holders Every two years based renewed before ’95 upon odd/even birth year

Tenured APC holders Twice every five year certification cycle. renewed after ’95 One must be in the first of the five years,

and the other in the third or fourth, depending upon birth year.

How is this screwed up so regularly? Here are two examples:

Jerry Howard, a teacher who holds an APC last renewed on July 1, 2002, was born in the fall of 1953. He nowhas a five-year certificate, which does not expire until June 30, 2007. He would have been rated last year, in2002-03 since it was the first year of his new APC, and he does not need to be rated again until 2005. That’sthe fourth year of his certificate and it is a year commensurate with his odd year of birth. But, since Jerry doeshave an odd birth year, and we are currently in an odd year, Jerry would be on the list of those who may berated, because based on his birth year, one of the frequency standards may apply. (8531)

Jerry’s brother, Howard, was born in 1956. His APC was just renewed in July 2003 and he needs to be ratedthis first year of the certificate. His name appeared on the list last year because it was an even year, and he wasrated even though a rating was not required. While he really does not need to be rated again until 2006, aneven year and the third year of his certificate, his name will appear on the list in 2004, and he will likely be ratedunnecessarily again. From the fall of 2002 through the spring of 2007, a span of five years, Howard will havebeen rated four times, twice unnecessarily.

In an environment where the workload on the educators and on the administrators is crushing, why…?

Happy New Year!TAAAC Action Report Page 3

NEA ImpactsChange in

Assessments ofSpecial Needs

Students

On December 9, 2003, the U.S.Department of Education issuedits final regulation for assessingstudents with disabilities underESEA/”No Child Left Behind.”The bottom line: This regulationallows much more flexibility thanprevious Department guidance.

NEA is calling on theAdministration and theDepartment to allow states andschool districts that missedAdequate Yearly Progress (AYP)solely due to the performance ofthe students with disabilities sub-group to review their AYP calcula-tions in light of this new rule.Since the new rule allows moreappropriate assessments for stu-dents with significant cognitivedisabilities, including out-of-leveltesting, NEA believes fewerschools will be inappropriatelylabeled.

Under the rule, these studentswould be tested against standardsappropriate for their intellectualdevelopment and, for accountabil-ity purposes, their scores would becounted as part of their school’sperformance. The intent is two-fold: to protect children with dis-

abilities from being excluded fromaccountability systems that pro-vide valuable information to par-ents and educators and to ensurethat schools receive credit for theprogress of all children. Thenumber of “proficient” scorescounted for adequate yearlyprogress may not exceed one per-cent of all students in the gradestested (about nine percent of stu-dents with disabilities), althoughstates may appeal for a higherlimit. Without this flexibility,those scores would have to bemeasured against grade-level stan-dards and considered “not profi-cient.” (7684)

The Administration has finallyrecognized how building greaterflexibility into the ESEA/”NoChild Left Behind” education lawis essential to improving overallstudent achievement and closingthe achievement gap. These much-needed changes in assessing spe-cial-needs students were stronglyurged by NEA, teachers, parentsand many others across the coun-try over the last two years.

NEA urges the Department ofEducation to establish the sameflexibility for states and schools inother areas of assessment, espe-cially for English language learn-ers, as well as for additionalchanges to the law to ensure thatschools are not measured just ontest results on one day.Printed from Education Insider: Dec. 12, 03

MARK YOURCALENDAR

Remeber these important dates!

January 26Education Funding Rally

Lawyer’s Mall6:00-8:30 p.m.

January 27AACPS Budget Hearing

Old Mill Senior High7 p.m.

January 29AACPS Budget Hearing

Parham Building7 p.m.

Welcome New MembersDavid J. Gehrdes James H. ToddJacqueline W. Lubniewski Susan B. VervaetTracy S. Prater Deborah A. Yates

Donald K. Ziegler

(Continued from page 1)

Section 9. Regular members shall beenrolled upon receipt of the annualdues or upon their signing an authori-zation for payroll deduction of dues.Payroll deduction membership in theAssociation shall continue duringuninterrupted employment untilrescinded in accordance with this sec-tion. Cancellations must be providedto the TAAAC office in written formbearing the original signature of thecanceling member. Electronic corre-spondence and tele-faxed copies arenot acceptable. Cancellations must bereceived between August 15 andSeptember1. An annual cash mem-bership in the Association shall termi-nate at the end of the fiscal year inwhich it is received. Membership inthe MSTA and the NEA shall continuein force in accordance with the bylawsof those associations.

Page 4 TAAAC Action Report

DECEMBER ARC ATTENDANCEThe following schools, departments, and affiliates were represented at theDecember 3, 2003 Association Representative Council meeting:

Elementary - Annapolis, Belle Grove, Benfield, Bodkin, BrooklynPark, Cape St. Claire, Central, Crofton, Crofton Woods, Eastport, FolgerMcKinsey, Fort Smallwood, Four Seasons, Freetown, George Cromwell,Glen Burnie Park, Glendale, Harman, Hillsmere, Jessup, Lake Shore,Lothian, Marley, Maryland City, Mayo, Meade Heights, Oak Hill,Oakwood, Odenton, Overlook, Pasadena, Pershing Hill, Point Pleasant,Quarterfield, Ridgeway, Rolling Knolls, Severn, Severna Park, Solley,South Shore, Southgate, Sunset, Tyler Heights, West Annapolis, WestMeade, Windsor Farm – Secondary – Annapolis Senior, Arundel Middle,Broadneck Senior, Brooklyn Park Middle, Central Middle, ChesapeakeSenior, Crofton Middle, Lindale Middle, Meade Senior, North CountySenior, Northeast Senior, Old Mill Middle North, Old Mill MiddleSouth, Old Mill Senior, Severn River Middle, Severna Park Middle,Severna Park Senior, South River Senior, Southern Middle – Special –Center of Applied Tech. North, Center of Applied Tech. South, CentralSpecial, Infants & Toddlers Program, Marley Glen, - Affiliate –Counselors, EBOTA, EMAAAC, PPW’s, Psychologists, ReadingTeachers, SLAAAC

Have you spotted thelast four digits of

your phone number? Please contact the

TAAAC office.

Tax Season is HereRobert Pellicoro will be availablefor appointments for tax prepara-tions at the TAAAC office on thefollowing dates. Call the TAAACoffice to arrange an appointment.This service is for TAAACmembers only.

Mon., Feb. 16, 2004 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Thurs., Feb. 19, 2004 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 25, 2004 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Mon., Mar. 8, 2004 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Thurs., Mar. 18, 2004 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Summer EmploymentOpportunity:

DRD Pool Service, Inc. is accept-ing resumes for summer jobopenings as swimming pool fieldsupervisors, swimming pool man-agers and lifeguard instructors.No Experience Necessary, willtrain. For more information, callNoelle Navarro @ 1-800-466-7665.

TAAAC Action Report Page 5

Fair Share Fees Coming?On December 3, 2003, the TAAAC Association Representative Council acted ona motion resolved to pursue what is commonly referred to as an agency shop forUnit 1 employees. If successful, the effort will result in nonmembers, who havebeen enjoying the protections and benefits in the Negotiated Agreement at the costof and to the detriment of dues-paying members, paying an agency fee. It is alsoreferred to as a fair share fee. The amount of the fee, which will be computed annu-ally, is that portion of membership dues nonmembers may be required to pay tooffset the cost of serving them.

It is defined in law as:

...a reasonable service or representation fee, to be charged nonmembers for representing them in negotiations, contract administration, including grievances,and other activities as are required...

The effort will require two-steps. The pertinent provisions of the EducationArticle must be to render the fair share fee a lawful topic for negotiation, andit must be agreed to at the bargaining table. There will be benefits to both theemployer and employee organization and we are cautiously optimistic hereat the TAAAC office.

How did the Association Representatives feel about it? The resolution passed unanimously.

Page 6 TAAAC Action Report

WE ALL

NEED TO

BE THERE!

Buses leave High Schools

at 4:30

Support PublicSchools

January 26, 20046:00 p.m.