| ROEA Reporter Archive |
|
|
ROEA REPORTER
Volume 1, Issue 2 February, 2001
Technology:
Good News and Ambiguous News
by Sid Kardon, ROEA President
After
many discussions at Joint Committee we have made a small, but
significant modification in the employee computer user agreement
(“Employee Agreement on use of Royal Oak Public Schools Computer
Equipment.” Board policy 2435B). Many teachers had reservations
about signing the original document which discussed discipline
and/or discharge for accessing inappropriate content on the
district’s computer system. The ROEA Executive Board also felt
that the language was not protective of teachers since inappropriate
content could appear unintentionally on any teacher’s computer.
The
good news is....
The new agreement adds the words “knowing and intentional or
negligent” to the inappropriate use sentence. The new sentence
reads as follows:
“I
further understand that any knowing and intentional or negligent
violations of these regulations may result in the denial of my
continued use of the school district’s computer system.”
Kim
Pino has reviewed this with the MEA legal staff. We, therefore, feel
that this phrasing is much more protective of our members. As a
result, we are comfortable with the new computer user agreement and
support its use.
And
now the ambiguous news....
The details of the state’s Teacher Technology Initiative (the
laptop for classroom teachers program) are still not finalized. The
state continues to negotiate with vendors. It seems as though the
intention of the state is to have a package for the laptop which
would include some software and a warranty.
We have
discussed the program at Joint Committee. At this point, the
administration feels that it does not have the financial resources
to support the TTI beyond what the state will provide for teachers.
In other words, additional software and maintenance will be costly
and the administration feels that they are not able to bear these
costs to directly support the TTI program. This is NOT to say,
however, that individual teachers will incur any mandatory costs.
An article in the latest edition of the Employee News discusses obligations of teachers in a way which we feel is inaccurate. Here is a problematic sentence:
“Unfortunately,
the laptop program...has a major shortcoming: it obligates districts
or participating teachers for huge local expenditures....”
The article goes on to cite what teachers ‘must’ pay for.
Based on information from the MEA this seems to be inaccurate. There are no mandatory costs to teachers that we are aware of. You may wish to add software to your computer, but that is your option, not a mandatory cost of the program. Similarly, we are unaware of other costs such as insurance that teachers will have to pay. Hopefully, the state will have all contracts and conditions in place as quickly as possible so you can make an informed decision about your needs as a teacher.
A Letter to ROEA Members
From Bertha Vela Arribas, Dondero High School
Dear
ROEA Member,
l am a
candidate for re-election to the MEA Board of Directors. My
goal is to serve and inspire others. I have served as a Business
Education and a Spanish teacher in the Royal Oak Neighborhood
Schools since 1983. My service and leadership in the MEA began in
1984 as a local MEA RA delegate. I am presently serving as ROEA Vice President. I have also served as Region 7 Secretary,
Region MEA/NEA Delegate, State Minority Concerns, IPD Commission,
and IPD Conference Chair. Through experience, I have gained the
reputation of a committed leader and earned the respect of our
colleagues.
As a
mother of three boys in the Lake Orion Community Schools, I also
volunteer my services to this school community. I have inspired
teachers in this district, as well as in Royal Oak. to become
proactive union members. I have energized members to become involved
with the issues, and to fight for public education. I hope I have
gained your trust and I welcome the opportunity to continue to serve
and to inspire. I am very appreciative of your continued support
throughout the years.
I
once again ask for your help in promoting my candidacy. As you know,
I am a candidate for Region 7 MEA Board of Directors. Region 7
includes many districts, such as Royal Oak, Troy, Oak Park, Madison
Heights, Hazel Park, Ferndale. Clawson, Novi, Bloomfield Hills,
Birmingham, Berkley, Pontiac, Northville, Livonia, Clarenceville,
Waterford, Holly, Clarkston, Farmington, Rochester, Avondale, Huron
Valley, West Bloomfield, Walled Lake, South Lyon, Oxford, Brandon,
and Southfield. If you have relatives, friends, or acquaintances who
are teachers or educational support in any of these districts,
please encourage them to vote for me. We
all know that every vote counts!
There
are three candidates running for two open seats on the MEA Board of
Directors for Region 7. l am one of the two incumbents running.
Eddie Turner from Pontiac is the other. Both of us
would love to continue advancing the mission of the MEA, as well as
serving our members. I encourage you to cast your vote for us during
the March election.
As
the election approaches, you will hear more of my candidacy. Copies
of my campaign flyer are available on the ROEA website (www.ROEAonline.org).
I encourage you to copy the flyer to distribute to friends,
neighbors, or relatives- I will also bring copies to the next ROEA
meeting, where I will gladly provide your building AR with as many
copies as needed. Finally. l am available to answer any questions
you may have about the election or about the MEA Board of Directors.
Please feel free to
contact
me at my home, (248) 391-2066, at school
(248) 541-7100 ext. 257 or through email BArribas@mea.org. Thank you
for your support and your vote.
Sincerely,
Bertha Vela Arribas
Teacher
Leader Update
by Kim Pino, Executive Director
The Teacher Leader Committee, which was established as part of our last contract agreement, has met several times. This committee is currently in the process of developing a survey to help define the nature and scope of a Teacher Leader. A short presentation explaining the survey will be aired on the district’s cable channel during the building staff meeting on Tuesday, March 6, 2001. The survey will be available and completed during that meeting. Your input is needed and very much appreciated!
Legislative Alert!
By Linda Myers
