News

Wednesday, September 2, 2020 is a National Day of Action to urge the US Senate to pass the HEROES Act. 

MEA is joining with other educators and education stakeholders around the state and nation to create a social media presence that urges the Senate to pass and the President to sign the HEROES Act. 

If passed, the HEROES Act would provide critical resources to protect students, teachers, paras and our families from COVID-19; to save jobs and to meet the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of all our students. 

Whether working from home or at your worksite MEA is asking members to do the following:

• Wear RED on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020,
• Print and fill out this sign,
• Mask up,
• Take a selfie with your sign, and

Post on your social media page(s) using the hashtags #DemandSafeSchools and #HEROESAct.
(On Facebook use @manateeea to tag MEA in your post.)

day_of_action_mea_090220-i-demand.pdf

July 31, 2020 - The language in the Reopening of Schools MOU regarding pay for teaching more than one schedule needed to be clarified. For that reason, Superintendent Saunders and MEA President Pat Barber have agreed to the this AMENDMENT to the MOU. 

Administrators received the same information from Ms. Saunders.

reopeningmouamendment.pdf

mou-005-07292020_-_2020-2021_reopening_of_schools.pdf

Any teacher who wishes to teach in the eLearning schedule because he/she falls in a high-risk category according to CDC guidelines* should follow the following steps:
1. inform his/her principal of that fact as soon as possible.  
2. the principal should then direct the teacher to contact HR Director Wendy Mungillo to provide information regarding the condition or circumstance that causes the person to be high risk. This also pertains to those who live with or care for a high-risk individual in their homes.

We suggest that you wait to hear from Ms. Mungillo about sending the doctor's note.

This is not going to be a cumbersome process with a lot of documentation needed. A simple explanation and a doctor's note will be enough.

*The following conditions put people at high risk for COVID:

• being above 60 years of age 
• cancer
• chronic kidney disease
• COPD
• immunocompromised state
• obesity
• serious heart conditions
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 1 and 2 diabetes
• Asthma
• hypertension or high blood pressure
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Neurologic conditions
• Pregnancy
• Liver disease
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Thalassemia

Attention:  MEA Members

June 4, 2018 - In February 2017 MEA informed members that we were working with our attorneys to determine viable avenues to assist members in recovering any losses which have been sustained, or which may occur in the future, stemming from the District's improper disclosure of W-2 forms.

By now you should have received information via US mail (a post card) from the class action settlement administrator, Equip Systems. The information details how to access the settlement website and how to submit a claim.

In order to receive money from the settlement, a member must complete a claim form and submit it to the Settlement Administrator.

Anyone who does not submit a claim form, will not receive any money from the settlement.

All information is available at www.AlbertVManateeSettlement.com including the claim forms.

Notice outlining the settlement terms

April 20th is a Nationwide Day of Action Against Gun Violence in schools.  This day was selected because it is the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School.  12 students and one teacher died that day.  As a result of more recent school shootings in communities like Parkland, lawmakers have taken the easy way out.  Instead of discussing meaningful solutions and having discussions with us, they turned to arming staff - just one more thing for teachers and school employees to do.  Educators across the country believe there are other resources we need more than a deadly weapon. 

We need real solutions that make our schools and our communities safer.  Our focus is on both the mass shootings in schools and on campuses and the gun violence far too many students and families face in their communities everyday. 

We're standing together again on April 20th so say NO MORE:  No more children murdered in our classrooms or our streets.  No more parents sending children to school who never come home.  No more teachers, coaches, principals, media specialists or other staff standing between students and a gunman.  Let's have real conversations and find real solutions.

WHAT CAN I DO?

1.Ask your colleagues and friends to wear orange, Friday, April 20th - the color of the movement

2.Use the hashtag #ArmMeWith to publicize what educators really need, like #ArmMeWith . . . counselors, technology, books, time to develop relationships with my students, whatever you think schools need.

3.Send us your photos and share them on social media!

August 9, 2017 - In 2008 MEA filed an Unfair Labor Practice against the district when they declared “Financial Urgency” and imposed a 1% pay cut on teachers and paraprofessionals. MEA’s case was stayed until the FL Supreme Court resolved the statutory interpretation. That has been resolved in MEA’s favor.

Because so much time has passed and a make-whole is not likely from the current Public Employee Relations Commission (PERC), a settlement was reached with the district.  Click here to read the Settlement Agreement.

The district must email the notice below informing all employees that MEA’s interpretation of the statute was correct, and that the district will follow that interpretation in the future.

The decision of the Supreme Court is very timely and important due to the potential financial impact of House Bill 7069 on school districts.
 

NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES

            Section 447.4095, Florida Statutes, provides that, in the event of a “financial urgency requiring modification of a collective bargaining agreement,” the parties “shall meet as soon as possible to negotiate the impact of the financial urgency.”  On May 5, 2008, the former Superintendent invoked this provision and sent the MEA a letter demanding that the parties enter into bargaining.  The MEA disagreed that there was a financial urgency and declined to negotiate outside of the regularly scheduled negotiations.  Thereafter, the School District proceeded to make the following changes in teacher’s working conditions:  (1) reduce the teacher work year from 198 days to 196 days, the net effect of which was a one percent decrease in teacher salaries; (2) reduce paraprofessional salaries by one percent; and (3) eliminate a step salary increase.

            The MEA filed an unfair labor practice charge with PERC alleging that the School District’s action was unlawful because, among other things, there was no “financial urgency” sufficient to require modification of the collective bargaining agreement. The MEA contended that modification of a collective bargaining agreement due to financial difficulties could occur only as a last resort where there was no other way to resolve the financial problem.  The 2008 School District Administration disagreed.

            On March 2, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court decided that the statute must be interpreted narrowly, requiring a public employer to demonstrate there are no other reasonable alternative means of preserving the agreement in whole or in part.  The employer must also demonstrate that the funds required to address the financial problem are not available from any other possible reasonable source.

            The MEA has agreed to dismiss the ULP and to forego further litigation of this matter based on the School District’s acknowledgement that it will follow the Florida Supreme Court’s interpretation of Section 447.4095 when deciding whether to invoke this statute should the issue arise in the future.

• MEA negotiated a minimum $544 increase for eligible teachers and a minimum $400 increase for eligible paraprofessionals for the 2014-2015 school year
• MEA defended members facing allegations of child abuse within the district and at the Florida Department of Education
• MEA negotiated the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the district that ensures that between 2014-2015 school year and the 2016-2017 school year no teacher will receive a rating of less than effective on the student learning growth portion of the Manatee County Teacher Evaluation System
• MEA worked jointly with management to survey teachers and administrators and compile information to improve the Manatee County Teacher Evaluation System
• MEA succeeded in restoring the supplement paid to all guidance counselors
• MEA negotiated a MOU with the district that ensures Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Funds (aka ‘Teacher Lead’ money) will not be paid via a debit card
• MEA worked with management to correct pay for ROTC instructors and many individual teacher and para members
• MEA is in contact with the district administration on a daily basis to resolve issues and problems for its members
• MEA provides assistance to members with concerns on their evaluations, including understanding the process, writing a rebuttal and meeting with their administrators
• MEA provides an avenue for new and experienced teachers who may want mentoring or intervention
• MEA/Management committee works together to ensure a safe working environment for all teachers and paraprofessionals and a safe learning environment for students
• MEA/District Paperwork Reduction Committee approves and eliminates district forms and handles school-based forms that are appealed