Week of January 9, 2023
Message from the President
Teacher Membership Meeting
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.
Informational Session on the Proposed Sidebar
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
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.
Staff Listening Sessions
RSVP required: https://forms.gle/Scj547rWg4B88WEw6
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 Update
The Secretary Negotiations Team declared impasse on December 21st. There will be a meeting for all members of the secretary's contract on Wednesday, January 11th at 4:30pm, Nashua High School North Lecture Hall, Room B166. The negotiating team will be on hand to discuss what impasse means, what's still on the table, and next steps. If you have any questions, please contact Adam (president@nashuatu.org).
Paraeducator Negotiations Update
New Survey on Negotiations
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 3, 2023
January 4, 2023
January 5, 2023
January 6, 2023
January 7, 2023
January 8, 2023
January 9, 2023
AFT-NH Legislative Updates
Divisive Concepts Repeal Bill
Divisive Concepts Law The House Education Committee once again has over 100 bills to be heard and will be especially busy in the upcoming session. They are starting out this session quickly by hearing House Bill 61 which would repeal the divisive concepts law on Thursday, January 12th at 9:30 AM in Representatives Hall. The divisive concepts law passed two years ago in the budget was designed to prevent the teaching of honest history and is negatively impacting our students’ ability to learn critical information. As we all know this bill has already had a chilling effect on teachers, staff, and students. AFT-NH is currently suing the state over this horrendous law, but we all agree it would be better for the legislature to just stop this policy and its harmful effects in its tracks.
Please Take Action For many of you, you will be in the classroom or at work and unable to participate in the hearing, but you can still make your voice heard by signing in and supporting the repeal or writing to the members of the committee.
You can register your support for HB 61 and repeal of the Divisive Concepts Law by completing the quick and easy form at the link below:
Remote Sign-in Form https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
Step 1: Fill in your personal information.
Step 2: Select January 12th
Step 3: Select House Education Committee
Step 4: Select Bill Number (HB 61)
Step 5: Select a member of the public and you are representing yourself.
Step 6: Select SUPPORT.
Step 7: Click Submit.
Have an idea for the Just for Fun section? Send it to Adam (president@nashuatu.org).
New Year's Resolution - that's a No!
No surprise again this week. Almost three-quarters of you said no, and I'm a no, too!
Upcoming Events
- January 10th
- Board of Directors, 4:15pm, Nashua High School North
- January 11th
- NTU President/Superintendent Meeting, 3:00pm, Central Office
- Secretary Membership Meeting, 4:30opm, Nashua High School North
- January 12th
- NTU Member Listening Session, 3:00pm, Nashua High School South
- NTU Member Listening Session, 4:30pm, Nashua High School North
- 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
- January 18th - January 27th
- Adam Traveling
- January 30th
- Internal Paraeducator Negotiations, 4:00pm
- February 1st
- NTU President/Superintendent Meeting, 3:00pm, Central Office
