News

Tough Mudder is a proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project and by donating on behalf of Dan Staples, a Tough Mudder participant, you can help the Wounded Warrior Project.

Marie Blistan, NJEA speaks to members

The MTEA was pleased to welcome guest speaker Marie Blistan from NJEA to our General Membership Meeting on March 16.

to understand how we got where we are today, Marie pointed out several important events in the last few years which include a recession 2 1/2 years ago, unemployment at close to 10%, and politics.

She reiterated the importance of tenure, and how it protects teachers from political patronage jobs.

Marie spoke about an upcoming political group, "Democrats for Reform" whose base is mad up of hedge fund operators looking to make education a business opportunity.

Divide and conquer best describes the Governors use to the media to turn the public against the NJEA and educators as a whole: including member against member.

We were urged to make our presence known with politicians at all levels, esp. locally. Control of our local districts is ebbing away, and we need to do more than just organize around negotiations. A long term sustained effort is vital. Members were urged to attend Township Council meetings and Freeholder meetings to put a face to our message. It is important that we write to our Legislators and make them understand how their decisions impact us. Our current political situation is all about money, patronage and control.

Finally, Marie emphasized the importance of passing the budget in the upcoming School Board Elections.

We can make a difference.

Rationale for Revisions

BYLAWS_Final_Draft

MTEA Constitution

June 3 - 4

Our theme this year is:

"Shore to Find a Cure!"

So wear your flip-flops, slap on some sunscreen, and get ready for the best beach party ever!

Volunteers are needed to chair several committees; serve as committee members; or be team captains.

There's room for everyone to get involved for this worthy cause.

Fresh ideas are welcomed, and hands on help is appreciated, so save the date.

Thanks NJEA

Right to bargain	Prescription Insurance
Major Medical Protection	Dental Insurance
Post-retirement Health Care	Vision Insurance
Seniority	Paid Personal Days
Family Leave Days	Tenure
Maternity/Paternity Leave of Absence	RIF Procedures
Bereavement Leave	Just Cause/ Due Process
Defined Workday / Work Year	Right to Respond to an Evaluation

Members Action Center

Now, more than ever, we need to stand together and let our voices be heard. The following issues concern each of us.

ISSUE: Governor Christie’s Pension/Benefit Attack

Although there is currently no specific legislation, the proposals include:

· eliminating cost of living adjustments

· Changing the retirement age for participants with fewer than 25 years of service to 65 years

· Requiring employees to work 30 years for full retirement instead of 25

· Changing the pension formula

· Changing the calculation of final average salary

· Increasing PERS and TPAF contributions

· Requiring employees to pay 30% of their health insurance cost

· Increasing employee and retiree co-payments, deductibles and other out of pocket costs.

What You Can Do:

Contact your legislators. Tell them it’s time for the state to make it’s required contributions. Tell them to sit down with the NJEA and discuss fair and meaningful solutions to secure the state's pension system.
Check your faculty room bulletin boards MAC updates.

Remind Them….

· Public employees contribute to the pension fund out of every paycheck, even while the state has made no contribution for 12 of the last 16 years.

· We have contributed more than $6 billion into the retirement fund—SIX TIMES what the state has put in over the same period of time

· In his campaign for governor, Christie promised not to change our pensions, one year later he's proposing reductions!

Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to an outstanding group of teachers that were selected as this year's Teacher of the Year!

High School: Val Schaefer
Middle School: Marcia Paglione
MTES: Janice Carey
Ridgeway : Robyn Pilcher
RDS: Leslie Old
Whiting: Brenda Sheftall

Legislative News

214th New Jersey Legislature

Click on the link above to find your NJ Legislatures and their contact information.

For more information log onto the NJEA website. You'll need to click on the Legislative link.

The above is from the NJEA website.

Have you checked it out lately?

Caution!

If you are using your school’s computer to send personal e-mails during the work day you may be putting yourself at risk. The school computers belong to the Board of Education and can be monitored at anytime. Make sure you are not using them during a duty period; or sending information that is not meant to be shared with just anyone.

Are you on Facebook, or My Space?

Do you know that you can be held liable for discussing fellow staff member's inappropriate behavior on Facebook? Are you conversing with students on a non professional level? The MTEA is in the process of putting together a workshop to discuss these issues. In the meantime, you need to know that there are teachers that have lost their teaching licenses and pensions as a direct result of their Facebook postings.

Family Leave Act

On July 1, 2009 the FMIA began. This leave entitles a person to take an additional six week leave at a reduced pay without an interruption of medical benefits. For more information and eligibility requirements, please contact your Association Representatives.