Agreement Reached

Dear Members:

• I thought oh, that subject heading will get people to read an email.  😊
• So, read the MOU first (Memorandum of Understanding), and I’ll go through the major pieces of the agreement and try to explain the gobbledygook.  Deal?

1. There are words like encouraged, may, and can and those are terms making the activity optional.
2. There are words like will, shall, and should and are not optional words.
3. Our calendar schedule is our current calendar schedule including minimum days.  That was not touched. If it is a flex day like next Thursday, your work day is completed at end of school IF all professional responsibilities are completed.  Is an IEP a professional responsibility?  Yes, it sure is.
4. Some of your admin want a schedule of your day.  Do you see schedule in that agreement anywhere?  Let me answer that for you.  NO!  You’re a professional.  We pushed back on that big time.  I swear, I have never worked so hard as these past few weeks.  I’m hearing that from so many of you.  And, you want a schedule from me?  Don’t you already know what kind of teacher I am already?
5. Grades.  Can we talk about that tomorrow please so this isn’t too long so we can all get some sleep.
6. This MOU is what we use!  This MOU supersedes that thing that was posted on the district website on Monday.
7. Working conditions
   1. You can choose work remotely or at school until this agreement expires.  You may choose to bring your child to school if interested.
   2. You’re encouraged to use District platforms like Teams but aren’t required to.  Teams is just one district digital platform.
   3. K-5 will post direct instruction lesson daily
   4. 6-12 encouraged to post direct instruction lessons daily or will post daily lessons once a week.  For me, I gave my students a lesson with all of the work for that week.
   5. Direct instruction is defined and agreed to by both teams as “Direct Instruction lesson means a lesson the teacher develops that is directly related to the standard which is being taught.  The direct instruction component can be in a variety of formats including packets/consumables that has guidance with them.”
   6. Members will have flexibility in the lesson format.  You decide how the message is delivered.  Powerpoint, worksheet, recorded or live lesson, etc…
   7. You’ll include some independent work as it relates to the lesson(just like regular school!)
   8. Develop and communicate your office hours to parents, students, and admin.
   9. Office hours are during your regular work hours.  You have to be available to your admin during this time for a phone call or email, but not your students.  You can limit that time at your discretion.
   10. K-5 encouraged to connect with all students daily.
   11. 6-12 encouraged to connect with all students daily and at least, weekly.
   12. The teacher will contact admin if teacher can’t connect with students.
   13. Educators in specialized areas will provided supports as deemed necessary.
   14. Evaluations are done for this year and summatives will be issued shortly.  If your admin never did any evaluations this year, (LOL), they cannot put you on the evaluation cycle next year.
   15. Members will not be subject to any formal disciplinary writeups as it relates to preparation, delivery, and grading of lessons.