e-Bulletin                            December 17, 2020

 Dear PFT Members,

We made it! The holiday break is upon us. I would like to give you an update as you head into the two-week break, hopefully to rest and recharge.

Supplementary Retirement Program (SRP)
Good news! The PUSD School Board approved the Supplementary Retirement Program (SRP) at tonight’s meeting! We will be sending out additional information about group and individual meetings very soon to help you make this important decision if you are eligible.

State Budget
There is some positive news about the upcoming 2020-21state budget. Prop 98 for the current year is up 13 billion from original projections. Initial revenue projections were greatly underestimated because California billionaires are doing much better than anticipated. There is a possible COLA of 1-1.5% next year rather than the zero percent that was originally expected. All that said, no one knows at this time what the budget will ultimately hold, especially considering the high need for pandemic relief in our state. The Governor’s State Budget will come out on January 10 and we will better know the impact on PUSD at that time.

PUSD Budget
PUSD is projecting net activity deficits in the multi-year projection (MYP) for this year and the next two years of 21.3 million, 20.7 million, and 32.9 million. The district is projecting the need for 10 mil in cuts for next year and 9.5 mil for the following year. The district is showing cuts in the first interim budget, which they will submit to the county, as is required to maintain a “positive” budget rating (rather than a “qualified or negative rating).” Some of the cuts, such as class size increases and a change in our health and welfare model, are noted as negotiated items. This means these cuts are not definite, but they are being pursued by the district in negotiations. PFT is working to verify the accuracy of the district’s budget projections. If the state budget improves per the info above, PUSD will likely still need to make cuts, though they likely won’t be as severe as currently projected.

Asynchronous Learning Time
Secondary: At the November Board Meeting, the Board approved asynchronous learning time each Friday at the secondary level once campuses reopen. Our recent survey results confirm this decision matches teacher preferences.

Read more

The joint PUSD/PFT IBPS team is pleased to announce we have reached agreement on a Supplementary Retirement Plan (SRP) for the PFT bargaining unit! 

Click here to read the agreement

COVID-19: Union toolkit for California educators and staffSummaries of state guidance by education division

The CFT is posting key resources here as they become available. This toolkit is divided into information for preK-12 schools, community colleges, UC, retirement systems, and state labor agencies. We also include the basic facts about the coronavirus with links to public health agencies. 

Congratulations to our 2020

Teachers of the Year!

Laura Snow		Aaron Smith		Amy Hillebrecht

The Poway Unified School District is proud to announce Laura Snow, Aaron Smith, and Amy Hillebrecht as the three 2020 District Teachers of the Year. All three PUSD Teachers of the Year will be submitted for consideration for County Teacher of the Year.  Read more

 Tentative Agreement Reached!

We are pleased to announce that the PUSD School Board ratified our 2018-19 and 2019-20 Tentative Agreement on September 12, 2019. 

To read more about it, please see links below:

Tentative Agreement
Tentative Agreement FAQ's
Updated salary and retro pay information
Is my paycheck correct?

TPLES - Teacher Professional Learning and Effectiveness System

Dear Colleagues,

The demands on a teacher's time are endless, and the school year seems to go so quickly from this point on. The below link Teacher Professional Learning and Effectiveness System (TPLES) reminder sheet is intended to provide support and suggestions for teachers in the evaluation cycle this year, as they monitor and document progress on their SLO/PLO.  It can also help make the final evaluation conference, for both traditional and alternative evaluations, more meaningful for the teacher and administrator.

Teacher Professional Learning and Effectiveness System (TPLES) reminder sheet - click here

In Unity,
Kelly

Teacher Professional Learning and Effectiveness System What is meant by "Multiple Measures" in relation to Teacher Evaluation?

Evaluating teachers fairly and accurately requires the use of multiple indicators of effectiveness AND multiple ways to measure those indicators. Read more

Classroom Supplies using Online Donation Site

What teachers need to do first to be eligible for donations: Go to www.pusddonate.org. Click your grade level (elementary, middle, high), click your “Site”, click “Teachers”. Please be sure your name is listed. The website is linked to the district’s payroll system.  Therefore, the donation website uses the same name you are using for payroll purposes (legal name).  Unfortunately, we cannot change that name.

What the Online Donation website provides:
1. Parents have the option of donating directly to their child’s teacher(s), program, department, grade level, program, or the school site’s general fund using this online donation website. The website is designed to provide parents with an easy and convenient way to help fund our instructional supply needs. Teachers and schools have received more than $100,000.00 in donations using this website. It works.

2. Parents may access the donation website by going to www.pusddonate.org.  Parents receive a tax deduction and email confirmation when donating. The website also includes a “Matching Gift Program” if a parent’s employer provides that benefit.

3. Teachers receive an automatic email confirmation stating the amount of the donation, donor’s name and email, and student’s name, if provided by the parent. Our District uses a spam filter. Therefore, to receive confirmation emails from the donation site you must check your spam folder. When you see the link, pusdonline@firstlinemerchant.com that’s the Online Donation secure banking (when using a credit card) email address. Please “whitelist” this email address. For accounting purposes, your site finance clerk or site secretary receives a monthly report of all donations. If you have not received an email confirmation but think you have received a donation, check with your site secretary or finance clerk.

Donation: Teachers access these donations the same way they would their regular supply budget/s at the site.

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES: Teachers may communicate this website to parents via their MyConnect site, newsletter, and/or during Back-to-School Night (see Common Message on Q&A attached). To promote greater equity among all our classrooms, we suggest grade-level teams or departments come together to identify their “collective” supply needs and request donations be made to the grade-level or department, rather than individual teachers.

Please note: Donations to this account may only be used for instructional supplies (e.g. school supplies, software, workbooks, art and science materials…). If requesting donations for technology, check with your principal. The primary function of your site Foundation is to purchase software and technology and teachers should be coordinating their efforts.

Field Trip Fees: The Classroom Supplies ~ Online Donations website now offers the option of collecting Field Trip fees. More information and directions for teachers will be coming soon in a separate email.

I've attached an FAQ and a handout you may wish to provide to parents.  Questions or concerns, contact Kris Hizal PFT Director, khizal@powayteachers.org or  khizal@powayusd.com 

Attachments:

FAQ Classroom Supplies
CSOLD Parent Handout

In Unity,
Kelly