EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

Hello everyone! 

With the Annual conference two weeks away, I am looking to our tradition of honoring all WSPA retirees.  If you or someone you know is planning on retiring sometime during the 22-23 school year, please fill our this form and let me know so we can honor you/them properly.  The TWIO Week Five is here for your reading pleasure!  WSPA and OSPI are offering a workshop on Certification February 14, from 9 to 11 via Zoom.  Please encourage your teaching and learning department to attend the Certification webinar so they get the latest on the NEW requirements for certification renewal starting July 1, 2023.  Yes, it is FREE, but you must click on each link and sign up to take part.  On February 15, we have a webinar on Evaluation and Non-Renewal in partnership with Porter Foster Rorick and WSPA.  The cost for the webinar is $50 and it will run from 9 to 11 on Zoom.  Registration for our Annual Conference is FULL and at this time we have a wait list for those who are still interested in attending.  The Title IX training offered the day before the Annual Conference on February 26 from 9 to 4 is a stand alone in-person workshop and can be purchased separately.  There is still room for participants in that workshop and the draft agenda can be seen here.

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 FREE 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.

Member Request this week:

Franklin Pierce is looking at what other districts are doing to compensate (specifically teachers/cert staff) for attending new hire training. Currently, our newly hired teachers are asked to attend a full 4-day in depth training (separate from any PRAD training) and they are being compensated with a stipend. Would you please share with us…
1.   How long does your new hire induction training last?
2.   How do you compensate for this training, if at all?

Thank you,

Mandie McAfee
Certificated Manager, Human Resources
Franklin Pierce Schools
315 129th Street South
Tacoma, WA 98444
Ph. 253.298.3082
Fax. 253.298.3016
Email. mmcafee@fpschools.org

Funny for the week: "A friend started a dating site for chickens.  It's not his day job, he did it to make hens meet"

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• February 14, 2023 - Certification
• February 15, 2023 - Evaluation and Non-Renewal
• February 26 - March 1, 2023 - Annual Conference - Silver Cloud Hotel - Tacoma
• March TBD, 2023 - Worker's Compensation Series
• March 9, 2023 - Reductions in Force
• March 14, 2023 - Career Fair - Spokane Convention Center (registration is open)
• March 23, 2023 - Bargaining Workshop (registration is open)
• March 28, 2023 - Career Fair - Greater Tacoma Convention Center (registration is open)

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

Have a great week everyone!

Darrell Heisler

WSPA Executive Director