Happy New(er) Year, EPEA!
Flipping the calendar to a new year always represents an opportunity to reflect and grow, whether personally or professionally. For our schools, this time of year can be a stressful pivot point. Observation cycles are at their peak. Student grades are due in a matter of days for the first semester. Students returned from a two-week break with a collection of stressors that would otherwise be masked by their normalized school day experiences. All of this is a lot for a person to shoulder, and these make up a portion of the work that you accomplish daily.
On the other side of this pivot, there are significant changes for some of us. For some of our colleagues, that means retirement is within reach as a well-earned conclusion to a lengthy career serving our students and our community. The district’s preferred, but not mandated, date for retirement notification is February 1. For those of us not necessarily nearing retirement yet, Education Minnesota is continuing to push for pension reform, and you can help as easily as signing your name to this petition. If you have questions about retirement, we have resources available, including an information session on when you can afford to retire on January 22.
As a reminder, the terms for the EPEA President, Vice President, and Treasurer expire this summer. As noted in my message on January 6, I will be running for President with Kristen Mantel as our Vice President and Jessica Brent as our Treasurer. We are currently accepting nominations for those interested in filing their candidacy for the referenced positions. If you are interested, please contact Mike Woizeschke, prior to noon on January 21, 2025, to have your name placed on the ballot.
In solidarity,
Charles Cooper
Sabbatical and General Leaves
Not quite to retirement age yet? Still looking for something that is a little different than the daily classroom experience? Our contract has some options that provide for personal and professional growth, away from the district. In Article XI, our contract provides for various types of leave. One of the least utilized forms of leave in the district is our ability to take a sabbatical. Art XI, Sec 8 (beginning on page 22 of our contract) provides an exhaustive description for sabbatical requirements and eligibility. If you have taught in the district, full-time, for seven consecutive years (50% compensation) or 13 years (60% compensation) and you are considering seeking further educational opportunities, a sabbatical may be worth considering. Sabbatical applications must be submitted to the personnel director by February 1.
More commonly used, Article XI, Sec 11 provides stipulations regarding personal leaves of absence. These leaves are unpaid and at the discretion of the district. Taking a personal leave ensures access to our health insurance, but the district does not provide any contribution to the premium. Personal leaves also maintain any accrued benefits and continue to accrue seniority during the period of the leave. This is also one of the broadest categories of leave contractually defined, as it can cover instances ranging from election to political office to overseas teaching, career changes, further education, or personal/family health. Our contract does not designate any particular date as a deadline for requesting such leave.
Guidance from Your Member Rights Advocate
If you are in need of support at an administration meeting, believe there is a contract violation, or have a performance/conduct-related support request, please connect with Carla Thompson
(Lead MRA) cthompson@edenpr.org or 952-240-6577
Member Benefits:
Built In Benefits With Membership
ESI PerksConnect - discounts to area activities and restaurants
NEA Discount Marketplace - discount tickets and travel programs
January 6 School Board Workshop
The Eden Prairie School Board held their first meetings of the year on January 6. During the organizational meeting, the board took action to confirm leadership and calendars for the upcoming year. New Directors (board members) Jody Ward-Rannow and Ann Bradsher took their oaths of office, Afterward, the board voted unanimously to name Aaron Casper the Board Chair, Steve Bartz as the Board’s Vice Chair, Abby Libsack as the Board’s clerk, Ann Bradsher as the Board’s Treasurer, and Kim Ross as the representative for Intermediate District 287. The board also took action to fill the vacancy incurred by DD Dwivedy’s military leave. The board voted unanimously to appoint former-director (member) CJ Strehl to the vacancy, which is anticipated to last 2-4 months. There will be a special organizational meeting prior to the February workshop meeting for Strehl to be sworn in.
The board discussed creating a policy regarding vacancies, but ultimately decided against pursuing any policy creation at this time. The board also rejected an increase in the stipends associated with serving on the board, despite having budgeted for an increase.
Immigration Webinar
Since the election, many educators have wondered what the new federal administration will mean for their colleagues, students and families who come from other countries. Attorneys from Education Minnesota and several local immigrant advocacy organizations will cover the following topics:
Rights of immigrant students in schools under current law.
Immigration actions we might expect in the new administration.
Proactive steps educators and schools can take now to support students and families.
Contact information for Minnesota immigration attorneys and advocacy organizations.
**This webinar was recorded on January 14, 2025, and is available on Education Minnesota’s MEA Online platform.
Rally to Fund Our Future
Join hundreds of educators and allies to demand Minnesota’s wealthiest corporations pay what they truly owe in taxes so our elected leaders can invest in educators and other working people. Without improvements in educators’ pay, pensions and health care, Minnesota can’t fix the staffing crisis in our schools or provide our students with the education they deserve. Advance registration is strongly encouraged.
Important Dates and Happenings
Jan 21 (Noon): Filing deadline for EdMN delegates and EPEA Exec Board candidates
Jan 21: EPEA Representative Congress (4:30, CMS Community Room)
Jan 22: ESI-EFS presents “When can I retire?” (Zoom, registration required)
Jan 24-25: Education Minnesota Collective Bargaining and Organizing Conference
Jan 27: School Board Business Meeting (6:00, Administrative Services Center)
Jan. 29: Rally to Fund Our Future, State Capitol.
"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey
In Solidarity,
Charles Cooper, EPEA President
Mike Woizeschke, EPEA Vice President
Brent Bovitz, EPEA Treasurer
Jessica Premo, EPEA Secretary
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