Colleagues,
Welcome back. I hope you had a restful February break. Here’s a brief update:
– Sabbaticals. Interested in strengthening your practice with a semester or full year of professional growth that would benefit you and your students? Consider a sabbatical leave. Use that time to enroll in academic courses, to conduct research, to create materials or write curricula, or to travel and pursue an independent study. RTA members who have served in the RCSD for at least 5 years are eligible to apply. Recipients receive 60% of their own base salary for the duration of the sabbatical leave. Find information at < Sabbatical Information Google Folder> and the on-line application can be found at <Sabbatical Leave Application Form>. Email <Sabbatical@rcsdk12.org> or <Stefan.Cohen@rcsdk12.org> if you have questions or need assistance. The application deadline is March 28.
– Job Sharing. This Friday, March 1, is the deadline for notifying the Superintendent of Schools that you are planning to job-share during the 2024-2025 school year. You can email the brief notification to Dr. Christopher Miller, Chief of Office of Human Capital <Christopher.Miller@rcsdk12.org> with a cc to Dr. Peluso <Carmine.Peluso@rcsdk12.org>. After finding a job-sharing partner, the School-based Planning Team where the job-sharing is to occur must also be notified by no later than their last scheduled SBPT’s meeting in June so that the SBPT can act on the proposed job-sharing. Please contact RTA’s Martha Keating <maskerade6@aol.com> if you have questions or need assistance.
– Lesson Plans. Just a reminder that our collective bargaining agreement with the District only requires that teachers HAVE lesson plans. The contract does not require any particular format or content of lesson plans. Nor does it require that teachers hand in their lesson plans. Teachers, as professionals, can and should be trusted to develop and implement their own plans. Please let us know if the administrators at your school are requiring or mandating practices that depart from your contractual obligations.
– Auto Insurance Deductible Reimbursement. Although the number of incidents of car damage or thefts at school parking lots have decreased from last year’s, Superintendent Peluso has agreed that the District would continue to reimburse teachers for the insurance deductible in qualified incidents of damage to their vehicles parked at or near school premises. The claim form and information about filing can be found on the RTA website <www.rochesterteachers.com>. Please contact RTA’s Matt Lavonas <mlavonas@rochesterteachers.com> for further information or for assistance.
– Late Bus Dismissals. A reminder that teachers are only obligated by the contract to assist with students’ dismissal for “up to 15 minutes” after the end of school day. Beyond that, the time must be compensated. Please keep a record of the exact dates and amount of time you devoted beyond the required “up to 15 minutes” and report that information to your principal or other supervisor. Call us at the RTA (585 546 2681) if you have questions or need assistance.
– NexGen EAP. Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s essential. Your free, confidential, 24/7 NexGen Employee Assistance Program is available to you whenever you need it – whether you’re dealing with marital or parenting issues, alcohol or drug abuse, grief or loss, or stress on the job. It includes immediate connection to a mental health professional, financial and legal consultations (one half-hour per issue), unlimited wellness resources and access to health coaches, and other services. Find more information at <https://rochesterteachers.org/eap-information/ > or call (800) 327-2255.
Adam Urbanski, RTA President