EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

Hello everyone! 

Bargaining workshops on the West side of the state start next Monday, January 23, there are still slots open for some of the days, please see below for more information.  We are offering 2 FREE workshops in February, one on preparing for an HR audit February 7 from 9 to 11 via Zoom, and the other on Certification February 14, from 9 to 11 via Zoom.  Yes, they are 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 that webinar is $50 and it will run from 9 to 11 on Zoom as well.  Registration for our Annual Conference is very near capacity so if you are still planning on going and have not yet registered, please do so quickly.  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, but filling up fast.

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.

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 that went 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 went 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:

#1: If any District has board policy language giving guidance/requirements/recommendations on employee accommodations for overnight workshops etc. please send them to me at admin@wspa.net.

#2: Name: Donna Hood
Phone: 425 837 7061
Email: hoodd@issaquah.wednet.edu
Member Request: We haven an expensive system for clock hours, PD enrollment and Danielsen evals that is not user friendly with poor customer service. Do any of you have a system for all 3 that is decent, or good and costs less than $100,000? We'd love to know!

Thanks, the Issaquah HR team
 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• January 23, 24, 30, & 31, 2023 - Bargaining Workshops (registration open)
• February 7, 2023 - HR Audit
• 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

Thought for the week: "I accidentally used the dog's shampoo, now I am feeling like such a good dog"

Have a great week everyone!

Darrell Heisler

WSPA Executive Director