Week of October 25, 2021
Message from the President
Negotiations Updates
Food Service
The Food Service Negotiations Team met internally on Monday, October 18th to discuss proposals and responses from the district to our proposals. We also discussed answers to district proposals and counter-proposals. The team met with the Board of Education for negotiations on Thursday, October 21st. The two teams will be preparing additional responses and scheduling another negotiations session for the end of October/beginning of November.
Para-Educators
The Para-Educator Contract was ratified and completed on Tuesday, October 12th. The new provisions of the contract are now in effect. Retro pay and pay increases are expected to go into checks the week of November 18th. If that changes, I will let you know. Here is a link to a copy of the newly signed 2020-2022 Para-Educator Contract. I expect negotiations for a successor agreement to begin in January.
Secretaries
The newly formed Secretary Negotiations Team will meet this afternoon at the Union Office. The team consists of five secretaries - Tina Avelar, Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, Cathleen Carbonneau, Dr. Crisp Elementary School, Ann Gauthier, Central Office, Christine Holden, Plant Ops, Kim Palmer, Central Office - and myself. The purpose of our meeting is to discuss ways of reaching out to the membership about negotiations and contract language, and to prepare a timeline for negotiations.
Teachers
As predicted, I was selected for a jury trial last week. Our negotiations session for Wednesday, October 20th was cancelled. Prior to scheduling, we knew this could happen which is one of the reasons that we schedule two sessions so close together. We are meeting now on Tuesday, October 26th. We are expecting a salary proposal from the district. We continue to ask questions and push for more information regarding health insurance proposals.
Sick Bank for Para-Educators, Secretaries, and Teachers - due October 29, 2021
- If you were hired new to the district this school year and already contributed, you DO NOT have to contribute again.
- The only time a Sick Bank Member contributes to the Sick Bank is at initial hire and ONLY when there is a call to replenish the Sick Bank
- You do not contribute one day at the start of each school year
- The last call for replenishment of the Sick Bank was at least 6 years ago.
- If you contribute one sick day by October 29th, you will be a member of the Sick Bank until the next call for replenishment.
- Many have asked if they can contribute more than one day. At this time, there is no, however, I am working on that to see if those who wish to contribute more can do so.
- If you do not contribute one sick day by October 29th, you will not be a member of the Sick Bank and will be excluded. The next opportunity to join the Sick Bank would be at the next call for replenishment.
- Each Sick Bank as two members appointed by the Union and one designated by the Superintendent.
- The Sick Bank can be used when more sick time is needed for an injury or illness to the member only and their accrual of sick time has been used.
- Sick Bank applications typically accompany paperwork when a person goes out on FMLA.
- It is recommended you fill out Sick Bank paperwork at the same time you fill out FMLA, just to be safe.
- Your personal information is redacted from any document sent to the Sick Bank Committee for review
You can email Dot Levesque with your option if you are unable to print this form. I highly recommend you participate in the sick bank. If you decide not to at this time, you will not be eligible to join the sick bank until the next time we call for a replenishment.
PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE IN AN EMAIL TO DOT (levesequed@nashua.edu) and CHECK THE APPROPRIATE LINE IF YOU CANNOT PRINT AND FILLOUT THIS FORM.
Hi Dot,
Please accept this email as my response to the call to replenish the sick bank.
Please check the appropriate statement below.
_________ I would like to contribute one (1) day to this special sick bank replenishment.
_________ I do not wish to contribute to this special sick bank replenishment.
Name____________________________________________________ Date_______________________________
School _________________________________________Position________________________________________
6th Annual Toys for Tots Drive
This year marks the 6th Annual Toys for Tots Drive sponsored by the Nashua Teachers' Union. The blue bins will return for drop off at your school/office. We will continue to have a drop off for new, unwrapped toys at the Union Office. We will continue to accept monetary donations. We will take all donations and purchase toys to donate to our drive or donate it directly to the local campaign here in Hillsborough County. Blue bins will appear in your schools the week of November 1st and we collect items through Thursday, December 2nd.
We will also accept donations by check. Make checks payable to the Nashua Teachers' Union and send to:
Nashua Teachers' Union
Toys for Tots Drive
7C Taggart Drive
Nashua, NH 03060
NTU COPE
Next COPE Meeting: To Be Scheduled
If you are interested in helping out with phone banking for the city election, please come to the NTU Office from 9:00am to 1:00pm pm on Saturday, October 30th, or Sunday, October 31st. Don't feel you have to come for the entire time. Any time you can give to help is appreciated. Furthermore, please attend our Rally for Education at the top of Library Hill in Nashua on November 1st, from 3:00pm-5:00pm.
Rally for Education
Monday, November 1st 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Click here to sign up to help NTU COPE: https://forms.gle/wGsW5h1ikErpqtua6
Committee Members Needed
As continue through the school year, I am recalling the Scholarship Committee and the Election Committee.
With the changes made to the NTU Scholarships, the committee will need to meet to review the scholarships and make any tweaks before we begin the 2022 scholarship process.
The AFT Convention will happen in Boston in July 2022. In order to go to the Convention, delegates need to be elected. We also have our Spring Election to begin planning.
If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, please contact Adam at the Union Office (president@nashuatu.org). Committees are open to all members in good standing from any of the four NTU units.
Digital Literacy Resources
This is Digital Citizenship Week. It’s an opportunity to help students navigate citizenship as it relates to Election Day and being active members in their local communities, but also how digital citizenship relates to keeping students safe online and being responsible members of online communities.
Here are Share My Lesson’s five picks to help students develop their digital citizenship skills.
The Intersection of Civic Engagement, Digital Citizenship and Social Media
Watch this on-demand, for-credit webinar panel featuring speakers from Flocabulary, iCivics, Common Sense Media and Hack the Hood for a deep dive on building better civic education. Get ideas for creating a more adaptive and empathetic culture through culturally responsive instruction for students of all ages.
Should Remote Learning Be an Option, Even After the Pandemic? Common Sense Education
The COVID-19 pandemic may be waning in the U.S., but it continues to disrupt lives around the world. For students and teachers alike, online learning presents a lot of challenges. Use this lesson to start a discussion with your middle and high school students about teaching and learning in the digital age.
Research Project: Technology's Role in Current Events, Google’s Applied Digital Skills
Ideal for middle and high school students, this lesson uses videos to teach critical life and technology skills through a self-guided research project. Students research a current event, like “social media and presidential elections.” Then they create a report to communicate findings to their classmates, so they all can better understand the role of “citizen journalists” and their effect on current events.
Digital Citizenship Starter Kit for K-12, Common Sense Education and Remind
This starter kit features content, activities and tips to help adults communicate the importance of digital citizenship to students.
Teaching "The Social Dilemma": Taking Back Control from Tech, Center for Humane Technology
Watch this on-demand, for-credit presentation about The Social Dilemma, a Netflix documentary, to learn about the ways in which social media companies compete for human attention and the impact that has on everything from individual mental health to the spread of misinformation. You’ll also learn about new, more humane technology and how we can be mindful of the ethics of consumer tech.
Have an idea for the Just for Fun section? Send it to Adam (president@nashuatu.org).
Battery Life vs. Free Wi-Fi
WHOA! A 50/50 tie!!! This would be hard decision for me.
Just for Fun
I came across this last week while I was mindlessly scrolling through Facebook. My answer is kind of ridiculous. No matter how many POST-IT NOTES I own, I will always have the urge to buy more. Not the canary yellow ones, the fun colors, as long as they are 3x3 without lines! What about you?
Upcoming Events
- October 25th
- Internal Secretary Negotiations, 4:15pm, Union Office
- October 26th
- NTU President/Superintendent Meeting, 9:00am, Central Office
- Teacher Negotiations, 1:00pm, Central Office
- October 31st
- Happy Halloween!
- November 1st
- Rally for Education, 3:00pm - 5:00pm, Library Hill
- Executive Board, TBD, TBD
- November 2nd
- Election Day - Get out and Vote!
- In-Service/PD Day
- No Students
- NTU President/Superintendent Meeting, 9:00am, Central Office
- November 8th
- BOE Human Resources Committee, 5:30pm, Nashua High School North (agenda)
- Board of Education, 6:00pm, Nashua High School North (agenda)
- November 9th
- NTU President/Superintendent Meeting, 9:00am, Central Office
- BOE Finance and Operations Committee, 6:00pm, Nashua High School North
- November 11th
- Veterans Day
- No School
- Thank you for your service!
- November 13th
- Teacher Leaders Program, 9:00am, Union Office
