Local News
Ed Support Ratification underway!
As Santa Rosa EA has explained for nearly two years, the provisions of your contract, including your wages, benefits, and working conditions would not go away by simply changing the bargaining agent. In fact, one of its first actions since winning the Ed Support election and being declared the new bargaining agent was to sign off on a new agreement with the District just last week. The agreement reads:
- The 2016-2017 Master Contract between the former bargaining agent and the District shall remain in force as a transitional agreement specific to Educational Support employees while a new Master Contract is being negotiated.
- The negotiated Educational Support salary terms for the 17-18 school year, including any prior salary or supplement adjustments specific to Educational Support employees, between the former bargaining agent and the District shall be implemented upon ratification of both parties.
- All terms and conditions of employment contained in the 2016 – 2017 Master Contract shall be open for negotiations in the new Master Contract.
- The transitional agreement shall remain in force until a new agreement is reached and ratified or June 30, 2019, whichever is the earliest date.
The Parties further agree to begin the negotiations for a new Master Contract no later than March 1, 2018.
Santa Rosa EA is committed to having this agreement ratified and monies paid to Ed Support employees as soon as possible. In order to accomplish this, a mail-in ratification will be held during the period of December 15 to December 20, 2017 on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding a Transitional Agreement for moving from the former bargaining agent to SREA. The MOU is the only subject of the ratification vote.
Ballots were mailed on December 15th and must be postmarked no later than December 20, 2017. Instructions for completing the ballot and its return are included in the mailing and must be followed explicitly for the ballot to count.
All Ed Support employees are eligible to vote in this ratification election, regardless of SREA membership status. Ballots will be counted Friday, December 22nd beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Professional Development Center, 6556 Firehouse Road, Room #2. The count is open to all employees of the bargaining unit to observe regardless of SREA membership status.
SANTA ROSA EA RECOMMENDS VOTING TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT.
PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR BALLOT AND RETURN IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
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Despite pushback from the people who would be most affected, two proposed constitutional amendments aiming to change the governance of Florida public school districts gained support from a second committee of the Constitution Revision Commission on Thursday. The proposals to limit school board members to eight consecutive years in office, and to end the election of superintendents, next head to the full commission for consideration whether to place them on the 2018 ballot. They already moved through the commission’s education committee. To get before voters, they still require 22 votes from the commission. To pass, they would need 60 percent support at the polls. READ MORE HERE
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And last, Happy Holidays from Santa Rosa EA! 2017 has been a year full of growth and learning for the members of our organization. We have accomplished much in a short amount of time, and that’s good reason to be proud! 2018 will present us with new challenges, but together we will be able to continue the fight for what’s right – for students and employees alike!
Until Next YEAR!
Santa Rosa Education Association