Welcome Back!

Welcome back to a new school year!  As we all work hard to get our classrooms and lesson plans ready for the year, don’t forget to take care of yourself and your colleagues by joining our association.  BCEA is working to protect the contract that benefits every teacher all year long.  Look for professional development opportunities sponsored by BCEA during the year as well.

TEA is active in Nashville, keeping us informed on education legislation and advocating for better laws and budget resources.  TEA also sponsors Conferences and Professional Development Workshops to keep us up-to-date on our profession.

As a member, don’t forget to use your Member Benefits to get discounts on products and services you already use, like  Restaurants, Shopping, Hotels, Car Rentals, discounted Insurance rates, Home or Auto Financing special rates.  Check out the Member Benefits section of the TEA website for more information. Some of our members use these services to save more money than they pay in dues!

Benefits of membership in BCEA & TEA  include:

• Maintaining and increasing funds for public schools
• Increasing Teacher Salaries, Insurance and Retirement Plans through TEA’s 60, 80, 90 Initiative
• Retaining the Fiscal Soundness of the Teachers’ Retirement Plan
• Retaining Tenure Rights (currently under attack)
• Retaining Teacher Duty-free Lunch, Planning Time, Sick Leave
• Monitoring of Class Size and Teacher Workload
• Retaining Rights to Bargain Local Contracts
• Locally Negotiated Health Insurance
• Locally Negotiated Health Insurance for Retirees
• Locally Negotiated Retirement Incentive
• Locally Negotiated Life Insurance
• Locally Negotiated Language on Vacancies, Transfers, Layoffs/Recalls, Reassignments
• Locally Negotiated Sick Leave ABOVE State Requirement
• Locally Negotiated Personal Leave ABOVE State Requirement
• Locally Negotiated Language to Protect Transfers/Replacements Resulting from NCLB
• Locally Negotiated Language Regarding Faculty Meeting Days and Time Lengths
• Locally Negotiated Participation in Sick Leave Bank
• Representation at County Commission and School Board meetings
• Legal Representation
• Liability Insurance
• Monthly periodicals
• Accidental Death and Life Insurance
• Dues Tab Life Insurance
• Job Related Injury Insurance
• Home/Vehicle Protection Plan
• Instruction and Professional Development Workshops

I don’t want to join because. . .

“It costs too much.”

How many of us have thought this?  Especially this year, when budgets are so tight.  But you can’t afford not to join! Think about it this way:

Dues for a full time teacher are only $1.35 per day.  That’s a large coke or a cup of coffee.  Don’t you spend that on a daily basis for things much less important that your Association?  Instead of caffiene to get you through the day, you’re making your day easier.  Because of that $1.35, you get a break during the day at lunch time.  You know that if you were falsely accused, TEA will be there with legal assistance.  You know, because of your  contract, that you won’t go to work tomorrow and be told you’re moving to another school or  have to sit through three-hour long faculty meetings every week.  You have Dues-Tab life insurance to help your family if necessary.

“But I get most of those things for free already!”

It’s not free.  Would you expect the teacher next door to buy you a coke every day?  Because when you’re not a member, that’s effectively what you’re doing–letting the teacher next door pay for you.  Without a strong membership base, we aren’t as effective at the negotiating table.

“I just don’t have the money.”

Some BCEA members recoup more than the cost of their dues by taking advantage of the special rates for financial products and ACCESS discounts offered through the association.  Check the TEA website or contact the Association Representative in your building to find out how.

Budget Meetings

The County Commission voted to keep the current property tax rate, and approved a $75.2 million school budget for next year. The school board must now find places to cut $2.4 million from their budget.
The school board had a workshop on Monday, and will take the final voteon this year’s budget on June 29th.

Sources:

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20090619/NEWS/306199979/-1/RSS10&rssfeed=RSS10

http://www.blountk12.org/

Saying goodbye to another school year. . .

Thank you teachers for another great year!  As the school year winds down, teachers are busier than ever.  Over the summer, you find professional development opportunities,  take college courses, and begin planning for another school year.  BCEA leaders will be attending local negotiations meetings, learning more about leadership at the Summer Leadership Academy, and even represent us at the NEA Representative Assembly.

Be sure to  do  your part!  Join your association.  Sign up for email updates to this page so you can stay informed of BCEA events over the summer.  Check the TEA page for summer legislative updates.  Don’t forget to take advantage of your member benefits as you plan your summer vacation–look there for discounts on tickets, shopping, or dining out!

Blount County Principal Evaluation Survey

Please take a few minutes to complete this year’s Principal Evaluation.  Click HERE to begin. http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/8cf9g3d6b7

While you are here, sign up to receive email updates or add us to your RSS feed.

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The BCEA-Blount County Board of Education Contract (Article XIX. Section E) requires that all teachers under a building level supervisor annually evaluate that supervisor.

This survey and the other components of the principal evaluation will be used to ascertain the professional development provided for building level administrators.

Survey results, comments and suggestions will be collected and given to the Director of Schools. To protect teacher identity no personal information will be collected or provided.

County Tax structure

For those interested in the local tax structure, here’s some information from the Blount County Industrial Board:

Blount County Tax Structure

Real property tax, personal property tax, and sales taxes are the only local levies made. There are no separate taxes for schools, hospitals, or other improvements.

Blount County Property Tax Rates

	Residential Real	Business Real	Business Personal
Blount County	$2.23 per $100@25%	$2.23 per $100@40%	$2.23 per $100@30%
Alcoa	$2.10 per $100@25%	$2.10 per $100@40%	$2.10 per $100@30%
Maryville	$2.30 per $100@25%	$2.30 per $100@40%	$2.30 per $100@30%

Property assessments are calculated at current market value. Residents of Maryville and Alcoa pay city and county property tax.
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue
Sales Tax
Local Sales Tax – 2.25%
State Sales Tax – 6.00% on food and food ingredients.
7.00% on all other tangible personal property unless specifically exempted

Charter School Expansion Bill up for a vote soon

Of possible interest to local educators:

“The House Education Committee will probably vote on HB 2146 (the charter school expansion bill) on Wednesday, May 20 .

HB 2146 , as amended, would make all “free and reduced lunch” students in the twelve largest school systems by Average Daily Membership (ADM) eligible to attend charter schools.  . .  Four systems, Tipton, Sullivan, Maury, and

Blount

Counties — while not yet at the 12,000 student threshold – are very close and could be affected very soon. “

—–Source: TEA Legislative Alert.  (Sign up for legislative alerts, and find out more here).  

Contact your local legislators. Click here to contact local legislators.

Member Benefits

Take advantage of the benefits available to you through your Membership. One benefit is the NEA A+ Auto and Home Insurance program managed by California Casualty.
Call now for your free, no-obligation quotation 1-877-331-8951
* Low rates with your NEA member discount
* Multi-policy discounts for Auto & Home coverage
* Discounts for family members who are good students or mature drivers
* Theft of personal property from your vehicle covered up to $500 – including school supplies
* Identity Theft Resolution Services included with auto or home policies at no additional cost.
* Deductible waiver for vandalism in a school parking lot or within 500 feet of a school or school event.
* Visit our web site at www.calcas.com/jkremer

If you would like to obtain a No Obligation Quote, please dial 1-877-331-8951
We serve the people who serve our communities.

Association Rep Meeting

An Association Rep Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 4:15 p.m. in the BCEA office.  If you have concerns or questions to be brought up at that meeting, please communicate those to your building-level representative.  You are always welcome to come to any meeting!

Association Rep Meeting

An Association Rep Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 15th at 4:15 p.m. in the BCEA office.  If you have concerns or questions to be brought up at that meeting, please communicate those to your building-level representative.