Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/45838
What's hot Brandywine and Red Clay leaders round out Executive Board J eannette Wilt, Political Action chair and sr. associa- tion rep for Brandywine E.A., and Michael Bank, former presi- dent of Red Clay E.A., have been appointed by the DSEA Exec. Board to fill unexpired terms that became open this summer. Wilt will serve until September 1, 2013, and Bank until September 1 of 2012. He is a former Exec. Board member and currently the chair of DSEA's Resolutions Committee. Both are long-time delegates to DSEA Representative Assemblies, very familiar with state and nation- al issues. Vacancy for New Castle County member If you work in New Castle County and have been a member for at least one year, you are eligible to be con- sidered for the DSEA Executive Board. Marlene Lacy has resigned her seat, which expires August 31, 2012. Now is the time to think about running for the Executive Board Approximately half of the Board seats will expire next year. Go places with your union card Use your membership card num- ber for access to member-only pages on the web, including a list of discounts, access to all local contracts and more. T Jeannette Wilt (left) and Michael Bank both participated in the recent DSEA Leaders Weekend which focused on unionism and what makes effective unions. For more, see pages 12-13. Anyone - teacher, specialist, ESP - interested in serving on the DSEA Executive Board as a New Castle representative is asked to send a let- ter of intent to the attention of Frederika Jenner, president, DSEA, 136 East Water Street, Dover, DE 19901 by November 16, 2011. You may also e-mail her at Applications to run for open seats will be available online, as well as at each DSEA office, in November. The process includes collecting signatures of members who want to see your name on the ballot. It seems like a long time till DSEA elections in late winter, but it's not. Pick up or download your application and petition in November to be on the ballot! To see who is currently serving and when their seats expire, go to . When you go to , Laurel School Board backs down and agrees to pay all Extra Duty positions ed by the district. Compensation for these positions is negotiated between LEA and the district. "This unfortunate decision was made by the Laurel School District adminis- tration without consultation with LEA, as is required since it is a con- tractual matter," LEA President Sue Darnell told the media. The Laurel Education Association, in communication to members and the media, opposed this move, believing strongly that these positions are important to the student body and the Laurel com- munity. Darnell indicated that, "It is unfair to expect teachers to work in these academic extra duty posi- tions without compensation. Effective immediately, therefore, teachers will no longer be complet- ing these extra duty tasks. This move could have been avoided. Other cost saving measures should LEA exemplifies what strong locals do T he Laurel Education Association (LEA) received notification from their Acting District Superintendent on October 3 that, due to financial dif- ficulties, Academic Extra Duty posi- tions would not be funded. Two days later, after protests from LEA, students and parents, the district and LEA came to an agreement: the district will pay stipends for all Extra Duty positions, but will delay actual payment till the end of the school year. (They are normally paid after each semester). The positions under contention included grade coordinators, class advisors, chorus and band direc- tors, as well as many others. Extra duty positions related to fall sports, however, were still being fully fund- have been taken without cutting money from the people who are directly working with students." Two days later, the agreement to pay for this Extra Duty work was reached. Two percent raise begins January 1 J ust a reminder to all DSEA members and other state workers that the 2% raises budgeted by the General Assembly for this year begin January 1, 2012. Yes, January 1. There has been some confusion and uncertainty around the starting date for this raise, but we have confirmed that it is indeed the same for all: January 1, 2012. you will see on the left-hand side a list of the pages that are for mem- ber eyes only. In addition, to the right, under Quick Links, you will see a link to "Contracts." Members that have logged in can not only see all of the contracts that DSEA and its locals have negotiated, but can search and compare language based on terms. You may also get to the NEA Member Benefits site by logging in to and going to the "Discount List." or you may go directly to and register at that site using your name, date of birth and contact information. Family members may also register at this web site. New membership cards coming in November Watch in the U.S. mail for a new membership card from DSEA. It's a two-year card, so hang on to it. Again, your membership i.d. num- ber won't be changing, so you don't have to register again at . o access "member-only" pages at you need to first register, so that the system can verify that you are indeed a member. You need your DSEA member i.d. number, found on your membership card, and your e-mail address. By the way, your i.d. number never changes. Thereafter, you may log in by using your e-mail address and the password that you set up when you registered. www.dsea.org October 2011 DSEA ACTION! 3 www.dsea.org, www.dsea.org Frederik.Jenner@ dsea.org. www.dsea.org/AboutDSEA/whos who.html www.dsea.org www.neamb.com dsea.org