Welcome back!

As you probably know, there is a 30-minute block of time set aside this Thursday in each school for the BTU Building Representative to go over material that has been sent out in the last few days. That material includes newspapers to be used as a guide, membership application cards, COPE cards and a template to be used for the discussion. All schools were sent packets. If your school for some reason did not get the packets, please let us know ASAP and we will make sure the packet is delivered.

Last Friday, August 28, was the last pay date of the 2014-2015 school year. September 11, 2015 is the first of this year. It’s always a good idea to check your paystub at the beginning of the school year. See here. In November, there’ll be a 3% salary bump that takes effect 11/1.

Here’s how a mid-year salary increase works: The salary in effect on the 9/1/15 paycheck is the rate of pay you’ll earn for 20% of the school year (September and October). The rate in effect on 11/1/15, with the 3% increase, is the rate you’ll have in effect for November 1through June 30, or for 80% of the school year. Work that is consumed throughout the course of the year (athletic coaching, teacher in charge, and so on) are paid by a blended rate, which is a weighted average — 20% of the pre-11/1 rate, and 80% of the post 11/1 rate. All of these rates can be found in your burgundy contract booklet.

When you are checking your paycheck, we suggest that you also check your career award, even though the granting of the awards is supposed to be automatic. Just last week we had a situation whereby the ‘automatic’ career award did not kick in as planned. So we advise all to check their salary. And while you’re at it, it is a good idea to check each deduction on a routine basis so you know where(!) your money is going each pay period.

Also, keep in mind that all ELT teaching personnel in Schedule A schools earn an additional $4,464 yearly and will be subject to the yearly salary adjustment negotiated. This money will be spread out over your paycheck schedule and will be retirement worthy.

All paraprofessionals who are assigned to an ELT school will receive an additional 40 minutes pay at their contractual hourly rate and will work the additional 40 minutes.

Itinerant staff who are assigned to ELT schools will work the 40 minutes on the days they are assigned, and their salary will be prorated to reflect that. Disputes as to how itinerants are scheduled and paid will be resolved prior to September 30 by a three-person panel.Eligible Teachers, including itinerants, and paras should receive the pay bump on their first paycheck.

Please note: Staff who work in an ELT school will receive an additional 35 minutes of P&D per week, either as a single block of P&D time OR as a 7-minute add on to the current daily 48-minute block, bringing it to a 55-minute daily block. In addition, these same staff shall receive a weekly 40-minute block of teacher-directed collaborative time (this is not PD time). Staff not receiving this time are entitled to financial compensation. Please email Michael or Caren with questions.

A reminder on Salary Schedules: The same salary in effect in June will be in effect through October 31, 2015, at which point a 3% across-the-board salary increase will kick in. See both current and new schedules.