Local News
Fact of the Week
Under the law, Santa Rosa EA can (and does) represent members in investigations and grievances. Representation is provided by professional staff from FEA or from trained leaders of Santa Rosa EA.
School Visits This Week
Santa Rosa continues to visit schools each week, as we want know what teachers and Education Staff Professionals want from their new organization. This week visits will take place on Tuesday, August 30th 2:40 at King Middle School – Media Center and Wednesday, August 31st at Milton High School – Teachers’ Lounge.
Take a brief survey regarding your preplanning days
Santa Rosa EA wants to hear from you! We want to know more about your preplanning days and how they were used this year. Click HERE to take the survey.
Your Voice, Your Choice!
Santa Rosa EA is committed to being a different employee organization by involving members and listening to employee concerns to learn what they want. In order to have Santa Rosa EA as your bargaining agent, please complete the Showing of Interest card (please fill out the correct form – the top is for teachers and the bottom for education staff professionals), and send it one of two ways:
- Mail to Santa Rosa Education Association, P.O. Box 723, Milton, FL 32570
- Email us at [email protected] to arrange for your card to be picked up at your worksite
State News
Who’s eligible for Best and Brightest teacher bonus
by Jeffery S. Solochek, Tampa Bay Times, August 22, 2016
Florida school districts are acting with caution in considering which educators can get a state Best and Brightest bonus, despite a recent ruling that teachers without classrooms are eligible.
Some school districts decided after the ruling that all “instructional personnel” could qualify for the award. Sumter County schools officials sent a query to the Florida Department of Education, though, wondering if anyone other than classroom teachers were able to get the bonus of up to $10,000, noting that the statutory definition of classroom teacher does not include guidance counselors or media specialists.The DOE confirmed Best and Brightest was “only for classroom teachers,” which prompted Sumter superintendent Richard Shirley to reach out to his colleagues with some advice.
“While I certainly think good guidance counselors and media specialists are very deserving of more money when possible, I would encourage you to be very careful with your B&B plan…but it sounds like it may be paid for out of your local General Fund dollars, and not Best and Brightest.”
Bay County expanded eligibility to everyone on its instructional salary schedule. Pasco County, by contrast, did not. Teachers can apply for the award through Nov. 1. Districts will determine who qualifies by Dec. 1, with the money being distributed to teachers by April 1, 2017. Read more.
National News
Report: Teacher Pay Penalty Growing More Severe
As Cost of School Supplies Soar, Educators Step In to Help Parents
Educators Mobilize as School Takeovers Open Door For Charter Expansion