EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

Good morning everyone!  Here is a reminder that registration for the Annual Conference is now open along with the discount code for registering for hotel rooms.  The early bird pricing for the conference will be available from December 15-31, 2022 so don't miss out on the opportunity to save.  The Career Fair registration has been delayed and will open January 3, 2023. 

We have partnered with OSPI to get out the information on the NEW requirements in (HB 1426) specifying minimum continuing education requirements for administrator and teacher certificate renewals that focus on equity-based school and classroom practices starting July 1, 2023. We currently have a webinar scheduled February 14, 2023 which will be open to everyone and a session scheduled during our Annual Conference to get members more information.  This does NOT affect certificate holders who need to renew by June 30, 2023 unless of course they miss the deadline.  Look for more information coming out from OSPI on this bill and forward it to all administrators and other certificate holders due for renewal on or after July 1, 2023.

Due to high demand, we added an additional day of training for our Bargaining 201 Workshop with Porter Foster Rorick on February 1, 2023.  Here are the details:  "Porter Foster Rorick and Washington School Personnel Association are pleased to announce the addition of another date for our Bargaining 201 curriculum on February 1, 2023, as a part of the 21st Century Bargaining Skills Workshop series. All the other details for the 201 workshop (content, price, location and time) remain the same for the February 1 date. An updated flyer can be found at the link above and on our website.

If you are on our waiting list for the Bargaining 201 workshop on January 24 or 31, please let us know if you would like to attend on February 1 and you will be given priority access. If you are currently registered to attend Bargaining 201 on January 24 or 31, you have the option of retaining your seat on one of those dates or changing to the February 1 date. Opening up seats on January 24 or 31 will allow us to accommodate people on our waiting list who are hoping to attend Bargaining 101 and 201 on back-to-back days.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call any of our staff at (206) 622-0203 or reply to info@pfrwa.com.

Reminders:

There are several new laws going into effect January 1, 2023.  In addition to the new FSLA regarding exempt employees, another such law affecting every School District in the state of Washington is the New Job Posting Requirements law.  If you have not yet heard, all employers who "engage in any business, industry, profession, or activity" in Washington state and have fifteen (15) or more employees must include pay ranges and benefits information in their job postings.  RCW 49.58.110 goes into effect January 1, 2023, Perkins Coie Law Firm has posted additional guidance on their website regarding the New Job Posting Requirements.  As always check with your District's Law Firm for guidance on this.

As you can see with our Upcoming Events below we are busy creating and making available several Professional Development opportunities for you.  Please check them out and take part in them.  Here is a reminder that the Randy Hathaway Scholarship and Fellowships are open for our members to apply.

Member Request this week:
In regards to Interpretation and translation services, does your District require employees to have a certificate in order to be an interpreter?  If so, do you have any recommendation for the testing location?  Any information is appreciated.

Thanks,

Leann Nguyen (lnguyen@nthurston.k12.wa.us)

HR – Classified Coordinator

North Thurston Public School

360-412-4898 or Ext 40371

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• January 6, 2023 - Discipline & Investigation Workshops (registration is Open)
  
• 1/6/23 - Evergreen School District
• January 13, 2023 - Discipline & Investigation (Zoom)
• January 23, 24, 30, & 31, 2023 - Bargaining Workshops (registration open)
• February 7, 2023 - HR Audit
• February 14, 2023 - Certification
• February 26 - March 1, 2023 - Annual Conference - Silver Cloud Hotel - Tacoma (registration 12/15/22)
• March TBD, 2023 - Worker's Compensation Series
• March TBD, 2023 - Provisional/Non-Renewal
• March 14, 2023 - Career Fair - Spokane Convention Center (registration 12/23/22)
• March 23, 2023 - Bargaining Workshop (registration open)
• March 28, 2023 - Career Fair - Greater Tacoma Convention Center (registration 12/23/22)

DRAFT Topics for the Annual Conference

• Calculating Salary & Benefits by Union Group
  
• Legislative Update
  
• Recruiting and Retention
  
• Surviving the Acronym Puzzle
  
• Certification Requirements
  
• Dealing with Conflict
  
• Grievances, Demand to Bargain
  
• Working with Labor Unions
  
• Special Education
  
• Drug Free Business
  
• Educator Equity Tool
  
• Working with School Boards
  
• Workforce Secondary Trauma Initiative
  
• Investigations & Reasonable Suspicion
  
• Fitness for Duty
  
• Paraeducator Law Updates
  
• E-certification Tool
• ADA & Accommodations
• Retirement Information
  
• Balancing your Workload
  
• RIFS - What is happening out there?
  
• HELP & SHRM - What are they all about?
  
• Public Records Requests
  
• Electronic Records
  
• HR and Payroll Team Collaboration
  
• HR & District's Strategic Plan Alignment

Thought for the week: "Dog is such a small word for something that takes up so much room in your heart", if you are a cat lover, the same can be said....

Have a great week everyone and Happy Holidays to all.  I will be back with "WSPA This Week on January 3"!

Darrell Heisler

WSPA Executive Director