Newsletter+Sept+07

DTA bargaining members met with the DO on August 22nd, and again the first week of September. Negotiations are at “impasse” and we have a tentative meeting w/ the mediator and the District on October 18. Impasse is a technical term that indicates that one side or the other doesn’t see a way toward agreement. Salary remains as the main point left to settle in the contract. Lead Negotiator Jennifer Wiens specifically asked Superintendent Sessions if we could settle the benefit package separately to avoid the payroll deduction starting in the September pay warrants, and he was adamant in his "NO." The negotiation team is fighting hard on our behalf and is not "giving away the ship....".
 * Negotiations Update**

Remember that site problems start with the problem resolution committee. Consult with your site representative about your concern so that this committee can address it at the monthly meeting with the Principal.
 * Problem on Campus?**

Check the following dates if you are interested in any of the four offices available this December: ►President ►VP ►Treasurer ►Secretary Nominations can be made up to the October General Meeting, and the vote occurs at the December General Meeting. There are usually 4 General Meetings per year, not including contract ratification votes which almost always have to be done at Specially-Called General Meetings. A more detailed explanation of the process should be in your boxes soon.
 * DTA Officer Elections Process Starts Now**

This newsletter is always printed on purple paper in honor of Margaret Buchman, DTA president from 1992-2003, who started that tradition. I attempt to get it out during most school months. If you have news you would like to include, space is limited, but available.
 * Newsletter Notes**

The web address for the DTA now has all the space it needs at its new home. I would say “permanent home”, but WWW + Permanent just don’t quite go together for me yet. The address is at the top of this newsletter. The website has a full copy of the contract, and that can be quite handy in clarifying both our responsibilities and our specific rights.
 * Website Has Formally Moved**

Due to the retirement of Albert Perales-Rubín, the DTA has been without a Secretary since May. Toni Gerbrandt has been appointed to fill that roll until the next General Meeting (as per Bylaws) in October. There will be a confirming vote at that October meeting so that she can remain in office until the full slate of officers are voted on at the December General Meeting.
 * DTA Secretary**


 * New Teachers to the District Have Insurance Option Through CTA**

(Note: The following is directly from CTA. DTA re-prints it here as an option to consider.)

If you are new to your district (a first-time hire or you’ve transferred from another district), two of the benefits available to you are the CTA-endorsed, voluntary Life Insurance and Disability Insurance plans. As a newly-hired CTA member, you have 120-days from your hire date to enroll in the Life and/or Disability insurance plans without providing evidence of good health for disability coverage or for up to $200,000 of life and $17,500 in dependent life insurance.

Because most districts do not provide Life or Disability coverage (either privately or through the state) and new district employees have limited sick time and are not vested in CalSTRS or CalPERS, having voluntary insurance can be very important. The CTA-endorsed voluntary Life and Disability coverage is provided through Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) and provides protection to members and those that depend on them. Members also receive peace of mind from knowing a CTA-endorsed plan is continuously monitored to meet CTA’s stringent quality standards.

Highlights of the voluntary Disability plan include:

- Up to 75% of Regular Daily Contract Salary for teachers

- No pre-existing condition exclusions once you are insured and actively at work for 10 regular days of required attendance

- $10,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage

- Partial disability payments

- Convenient payroll deductions

- The Standard SecureCardSM, a debit card-style payment method

Highlights of the voluntary Life plan include:

- Level Term Life insurance with options from $25,000 - $400,000 for members

- Optional Dependent Life insurance for spouse/domestic partner and children

- Automatic Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage

- Convenient payroll deductions

- MedEx Travel Assistance

- Beneficiary Financial Counseling

With up to 120 days to enroll without providing evidence of good health, newly hired and transferring CTA members have time to choose the policy that fits them and their family. Enrollment is easy: 1) enroll on-line on MyCTA at [|www.cta.org] or 2) complete an application form from the Enrollment Brochure. Call The Standard at 800-522-0406 for more information or to get all your questions answered.