December 2007

LMEA to Support PSEA Innovative Teaching Grant

The PSEA has targeted the achievement gap with this year’s awarding of Innovative Teaching grants. These $1000 grants are given out in May at the PSEA House of Delegates in Philadelphia. The LMEA has decided to support this effort by promising to award an additional $1000 to any LMSD teacher or staff member who is recognized by the PSEA for the 2007 Innovative Teaching Grant provided that the grant targets the achievement gap in Lower Merion schools. A mailing recently went out to the professional staff. The application deadline for the grant is February 4, 2008. Applications and more information can be found at the PSEA website: www.psea.org.

FMLA Settlement Reached

The LMEA and the district have reached a settlement in a grievance filed over the eligibility for professionals taking FMLA leave. In order to be eligible for up to twelve weeks of FMLA benefits professionals must meet two basic requirements: 1) employed by the same employer for the previous twelve months and 2) at least 1250 total hours of “service” to that employer. As part of the new agreement the district will now credit professionals with nine (9) hours of service for each day worked during the previous year; and should that not meet the 1250 hour requirement they can add additional hours worked during the summer or any EPER activity done outside the contractual day. A number of women taking maternity and child rearing leave were affected by the district’s previous application and eligibility qualification formula. They will now have their FMLA granted and the district will cover any financial losses incurred. Any member with questions about the new policy should contact Chris SantaMaria (santac@lmsd.org) of Arlene Flicker (flickea@lmsd.org).

Unit Meetings

Once each year the president of the LMEA holds a unit meeting in each of the schools and major departments. These meetings are an opportunity to share issues and have questions answered directly by the LMEA leadership. The schedule for the remaining 2007-08 Unit Meetings is as follows:

NEXT UP:

Lower Merion……….Dec. 12 @ 2:45 Welsh Valley…………Mar. 3 @ 3:15

Gladwyne……………Jan. 8 @ 3:45 Penn Wynne………….Mar. 27 @ 3:45

Operations…………….Jan. 29 (time TBD) Merion………………..Apr.24 @ 3:45

Transportation HH…...Feb. 4 (time TBD) Harriton………………May 6 @ 2:45

Transportation LM…..Jan. 17 (time TBD)

March LMEA Retirement Workshop Now Full

The very popular LMEA retirement workshop hosted by Les Benzak on March 13, 2008, is now full and members wishing to attend can sign up for space available if there is a cancellation: lmeducationassoc@comcast.net

NEA Member Benefits

In recent years our members have saved hundreds of dollars on their car and auto insurance by switching to A+ offered through the NEA. Anyone interested should contact Amy Malloy at NEA Member Benefits (215) 491-9320 or agrosso@aplus.com.

Did You Know This Is In Your Contract?

Male employees are eligible for child rearing leave consistent with the leave for a natural mother. [see Article 19.L p.19]

Employees classified as having attained a master’s degree under Article 26 can earn salary credit for approved travel. Two (2) semester hours can be earned for three (3) continuous weeks of travel and up to three (3) semester hours of credit for five (5) or more continuous weeks of travel. Applications for salary credit for approved trips must be submitted to the Superintendent in advance of travel and other limitations apply. [ see Article 32 p.36]