Teachers Advisory Council Input Needed

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The next PCS Teacher’s Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 27, 2020. This will be a virtual meeting and is set to begin at 2:00pm. If there are questions, concerns, feedback, or input you wish to have brought before the Council, please complete the online link here by Friday, January 17, 2020.
Please note, you will see in the advisory council minutes PEA items raised from multiple worksites. Note, there were additional items presented that were past the submission deadline. For this reason, they are on the docket for the January meeting. A list of those items are provided below:
 Can PCS consider hiring a communications person for the division? This person would be responsible for developing, updating and maintaining PCS social media accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter. There is a need for such a person in PCS and other surrounding school divisions do have someone in that role as well.
 Why does PCS Anthem drug refills must now get a 90 day refill instead of a month by month refill?
 A reading specialist position was posted in 2018. The individual with the administrative license was selected. There was an understanding that a division reading specialist position was created around the start of the 2019 school year. A former Title 1 reading teacher was chosen. The individual had an administrative certification and no reading specialist license. The International Reading Association stresses the importance of having certified specialists in such positions. Can you please explain what occurred?
 Can PCS take a look at when grades are due and to not have a deadline set on the same day as professional development activities. I understand that grades should be updated regularly, but when students are absent and you are allowing them time to make up their work, the reality is that it becomes a problem when your time to work/grade is limited when you are required to be at PD trainings.

VEA 2020 Legislative Agenda

Fully funds the revised Standards of Quality (SOQs), as adopted by the Virginia Board of Education.
 Restore the probationary period for teachers to three years.
 Attracts and retains high-quality teachers and school personnel and improves professional development opportunities for all school employees.
 Protects professional teaching licenses.
 Improves, implements and funds programs, resources, and professional development for educators to support student behaviors that reduce the need for suspensions and expulsions.
 Eliminate the requirement that school principals report to law enforcement certain disciplinary incidents that may constitute a misdemeanor or offense.
 Increases funds directed to programs
The VEA Board of Directors has approved the following legislative agenda for the 2020 session of the Virginia General Assembly.
 Provides resources to ensure that school employees earn a living wage and that teacher salaries are at or above the national average.
 Open participation in Virginia’s current state employee health insurance program to all school employees.
 Supports the needs of and addresses the inequities in Virginia’s small and rural school divisions.
 Reduce the total number and type of required Standards of Learning assessments to the minimum federal requirements.
serving Virginia’s most at-risk students.
 Supports and protects the safety and mental health of our public school educators and students.
 Maintains designated school property as gun-free zones.
Keep up with all the latest legislative news affecting schools by reading VEA’s daily updates during the General Assembly session. You’ll find them at www.veadailyreports. com.

The Pittsylvania Education Association (PEA) is hosting the first-of-its-kind Teacher Share Fair for Pittsylvania County Public Schools on Monday, February 17, 2020

First Teacher Share Fair Sponsored By PEA (with an inclement weather date of Thursday, May 28, 2020 at Chatham Middle School)

Similar to a job fair model, during the share fair, teachers will set up booths and have teachers, staff and guests come by to visit for a presentation. The presentation could be about a particular topic, unit of instruction, and/or a combination thereof. Additionally, we plan to offer workshops geared for new teachers, veteran teachers, and staff that will provide

curriculum/instruction support and/or enhanced information. 

Presenters should receive recertification points towards their licensure, in addition, points should be offered to share fair attendees.

We are asking members to complete the survey here to assist us in planning for the event. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, December 17.

The Teacher Share Fair is a professional development event for PCS teachers and staff.

Collective Bargaining

The VEA is holding a Collective Bargaining training for local Education Associations. Under the leadership of VEA Vice President, Dr. James Fedderman, all locals were asked to assemble a team to represent their EA at the training. Your PEA team consists of Evangelina Balmori, Dr. Willie Sherman and Dr. Jessica Jones. Other locals signed up to participate in the training include:
Arlington Education Association, Augusta County Education Association, Bland County Education Association, Chesapeake Education Association, Dickenson Education Association, Education Association of Norfolk, Education
In 1993, Collective Bargaining for Public Sector Employees came to an end. While most states mandate collective bargaining for school staff, here, in Virginia, it is prohibited by law; however, that could change! Collective bargaining laws strengthen education associations by allowing them to negotiate fair and equitable contracts by regulating salaries, benefits, working conditions, and other rights for employees. Since there is strength in numbers, teachers and support staff in collective bargaining states have historically enjoyed better salaries and greater protections than those in states where the practice is
Association of Suffolk, Frederick County Education Association, Giles Education Association, Gloucester Education Association, Grayson County Education Association, Halifax Education Association, Henry County Education Association, Loudoun Education Association, Prince Edward Education Association, Prince William Education Association, Richmond Education Association, Russel County Education Association, Shenandoah County Education Association, York Education Association and the VEA-Retired.
Dr. Fedderman stated, “The reality is we are in this together. I am confident this training will unify us, strengthen us, and strategically prepare us for the next steps of the Collective Bargaining process.” Stay tuned! There is hope on the horizon!