Leave of Absence Forms -- Requests

I recently received a request from the folks at Central Office regarding bereavement forms. Since our contract only provides bereavement in specfic, explicitly stated cases, it will be helpful if we identify the relationship of the deceased to us on our forms. This saves them the awkward obligation of asking us about it. To take time off for the death of someone other than the specifically stated cases, please request a personal day (or half day) with pay. If one is out of personal days, one can still request an unpaid absence, but it requires the Superintendent's approval as a one-time exception.

The other request is for timely application. Most folks have been very good about this, but since the form has to pass through several hands, it is helpful to have these in as soon as possible. Sometimes the forms are not reaching the Supt until after the day requested has passed.

Issues and Complaints Training

At the October RA meeting, MEA Uniserv Director Brian Kilroy offered a basic seminar in how to represent members. He plans a follow up session on Investigations and Complaints -- it will be open to all teachers. He'd actually like to do three of them -- one at the high school, one for the middle school, and one for the elementary schools.

Before we schedule these, the RA will need to know how many folks are interested and when the best time for them would be. I will send out a newsletter sometime around December 1 with a reply section to indicate interest. If in the meantime you want to indicate interest by posting below, that would be great.

Perennial Apology

I see I have not posted in almost two months, excepting one entry which was erroneously posted on the social studies blog and has since been removed. It related to the NEA's endorsement of (now President-elect) Barack Obama and the availability of campaign swag. Rally signs and lapel stickers are still available if you want some for inauguration day.

I now have a big batch of info to be posted. I will put it up in separate posts, all labeled clearly, so you only have to read things that interest you. Well, you don't even have to read that, but perhaps you will.