Dear Colleagues,

Welcome Back! 

1)      Contract Update:  We are proud to be starting this school year off with a newly ratified contract!   94% of the NTU members who came out to vote and the full Newark Board of Education approved this contract.  Our voting process is based on the percentage of members who vote, not on a majority of the membership.  Take a look at your town, state, and national elections.  Winning is determined by a majority of the actual voters, not the number of eligible residents.

MPEC Officials and staff are working to ensure your physical and mental well-being are taken into consideration as DGS officials work to resolve the problem of bed bugs at the 201 W Preston building.

Red for Ed Wednesdays Return

(August 21, 2019) BROOKSVILLE, FL -- Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association is calling for all public education advocates to recommit to the Wear Red for Ed campaign through the 2019-2020 school year. Red for Ed is both a statewide and national effort to draw much needed attention to the funding crisis which is impacting classrooms across the country. Wearing red on Wednesdays throughout the year is a show of solidarity and a visible reminder of the ongoing struggle to appropriately fund public education.

In 2011, the Maryland State Legislature passed a pension reform bill which made changes to retirement benefits to control state costs.  Employees were required to increase their contribution to the pension plan from 5% to 7%, without any increase in monthly allowance in retirement.  The legislation created a lower benefit level for employees hired after July 1, 2012.  The sixteen years an employee must work to qualify for health benefits in retirement was extended for new hires.  The bill also eliminated prescription drug benefits for retirees age 65 or older effective January 1, 2020.  The

(July 30, 2019) HCTA Executive Board members joined Hernando County Schools in welcoming nearly 100 new educators to the county during the district's annual New Teacher Orientation. Day one of the three day induction allowed our professional association to greet incoming teachers, provide lunch, and share the benefits of membership in our local, state and national organizations. A majority of attending new hires chose to invest in their profession through membership! Together, we make a difference! HCTA is excited to be growing with these professionals.

Teacher of the Year nomination are open.  Forms are being distributed this week.  Please nominate an outstanding educator for recognition.  Any staff member, parent or student may nominate educators for this honor.  Nominations need to be in the NMFT office by October 4th. 

HPS Para of the Year

 

Looking Back

 

Betty Gadson Scholarships

AFT Healthcare-Maryland sent members and staff on a “blitz” to organize employees in bargaining Unit E. The blitz brought committed member activists together with staff from AFT-Maryland, AFT’s national office, and our partners at AFSCME to engage public health care professionals across the state and bring them to the union.