Week of January 16, 2023
Message from the President
Teacher Membership Meeting - Happening This Week!!!
During last negotiations, there was a minor change to a date in the transfer language. An April date was moved to May 31st which has had a catastrophic impact on the district’s ability to start the hiring process until AFTER May 31st. This date move was agreed upon because the previous district administration and HR Director were adamant that we make this change. Since then, there has been a major problem with the hiring process.
With the current issues of filing vacancies, the NTU and the district worked to develop this Sidebar Agreement. A sidebar agreement is a change in contract language requiring a vote by the membership. For the NTU, the Teachers’ Negotiations Team, the Executive Board, and the Board of Directors have signed off on these changes and are sending them to the membership.
Proposed Sidebar Agreement Comparison of Current Language with Proposed Changes
Informational Session on the Proposed Sidebar - Happening Tomorrow!!!
Teachers’ Membership Meeting
Tuesday, January 17th at 4:30pm
Via Zoom – click here to register.
No motions or voting will be permitted as this is an informational meeting.
Voting - Happening Wednesday!!!
Paper secret ballot
Wednesday, January 18th
Each building before and after school
Zoom Registration for Informational Session
https://aft.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dTUXPzk3TYi1wTslpUQQjw
The Board of Directors will be looking at electronic voting for ratification meetings moving forward. Right now, that is not an option because of the turnaround time needed to do it and we did not budget for additional electronic voting. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Know Your Contract
Teacher Retirement Deadline Notice
Attention teachers considering retirement at the end of this school year!!!
Under Article 4.9A of the contract, in order to be eligible for your severance, you must submit a binding letter of retirement to the Superintendent no later than February 1, 2023.
I would also suggest that you set up an appointment with the New Hampshire Retirement System. In order to receive your severance, you must provide a copy of your first retirement check.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Negotiations Updates
Secretary Negotiations - Mediation Scheduled
Mediation for the secretaries’ contract has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th. Updates will be sent out on the 7th as they become available.
Paraeducator Negotiations Update
New Survey on Negotiations -
Ends This Week
The Paraeducator membership present at the meeting on December 19th rejected the 3 year tentative agreement. The Paraeducator Negotiations Team has created a survey to get feedback and direction from the membership.
We are asking all paraeducators who are members of the NTU to complete this survey. To take the survey, please go to https://www.nashuatu.org/negotiations/unit-b-para-educators/2023-unit-b-paraeducator-negotiations-survey.
The survey is open January 2nd through January 20th. The Paraeducator Negotiations team will meet on January 30th to review the data. The data will be available to the membership after the 30th.
Testiomonials and Information about Secretaries
January 10, 2023
January 11, 2023
January 12, 2023
January 13, 2023
January 15, 2023
January 15, 2023
The Latest Play from Bill Ivers
Our colleague, Bill Ivers, has written a play that is gaining international attention. It is currently on the short list being considered for a production at the prestigious Royal Court Theatre in London.
However, it is debuting at The Hatbox Theater in Concord, NH in February (Details below). As an additional enticement, I am playing a small role as painter Bob Ross in it.
I wanted to let you know in case you could make it and see this terrific, funny, and thoughtful play. Dates, times, and ticket info are in the poster JPEG below. I know this play is destined for big things.
Thanks,
Walt Freeman
Bill Ivers and Walt Freeman are both English teachers at Nashua High School North.
AFT-NH Legislative Updates
Action Request
You can sign in OPPOSED to HB 464 and HB 367 and make sure the Education Committee knows that New Hampshire does not support an out-of-control voucher system becoming even larger. It just takes 1 minute to make sure your voice is heard.
Here’s the link to submit your opposition: Remote Sign-In
You will need to submit your opposition to each bill.
Step 1: Fill in your personal information.
Step 2: Select January 19th
Step 3: Select House Education Committee
Step 4: Select Bill Number (HB 464 and HB 367) [You need to submit the form twice.]
Step 5: Select a member of the public and you are representing yourself.
Step 6: Select OPPOSE.
Step 7: Click Submit.
Have an idea for the Just for Fun section? Send it to Adam (president@nashuatu.org).
Early Release...
A surprising number of you, to me at least, miss Early Release. Interesting...
Just for Fun
Upcoming Events
- January 16th
- No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 17th
- NTU Executive Board/Superintendent Meeting, 4:00pm, Central Office
- Teachers' Membership Meeting, 4:30pm, via Zoom - Registration is required
- BOE Curriculum and Evaluation Committee, 5:00pm, Nashua High School North
- BOE Finance and Operations Committee, 5:00pm, Nashua High School North
- January 18th - January 27th
- Adam Traveling
- January 25th
- BOE Policy Committee, 6:00pm, Nashua High School North
- January 30th
- Internal Paraeducator Negotiations, 4:00pm
- BOE Human Resources Committee, 5:45pm, Nashua High School North
- Board of Education, 6:00pm, Nashua High School North
- February 1st
- NTU President/Superintendent Meeting, 3:00pm, Central Office
- February 6th - February 10th
- National School Counseling Week
- February 7th
- Secretary Contract Mediation, Time TBD, Union Office
- BOE Finance and Operations Committee, 6:00pm, Nashua High School North
- February 8th
- NTU President/Superintendent Meeting, 3:00pm, Central Office
- February 13th
- BOE Curriculum and Evaluation Committee, 6:00pm, Nashua High School North
- February 14th
- Happy Valentine's Day
- BOE Policy Committee, 6:00pm, Nashua High School NOrth
- NTU President/Superintendent Meeting, 3:00pm, Central Office
- February 20th
- No School for Students, Presidents' Day
- In-service/Professional Development Day
- February 21st
- Board of Directors, 4:15pm, Nashua High School North
- February 22nd
- NTU Executive Board/Superintendent Meeting, 4:00pm, Central Office
- February 27th - March 3rd
- No School - Vacation
