top of page
Search

January 31st, 2024

Writer's picture: Jessica PremoJessica Premo

Updated: Jan 31, 2024


Thank you to everyone that came and stood in solidarity at the school board meeting on January 22nd!


Our negotiations team appreciates your responses to the most recent survey. They will use that information as they continue to negotiate a fair contract for our members that appropriately addresses safety, workload, and compensation.


To get a glimpse of the January 24, 2024 negotiations session from a neutral observer, please read the EPLN article, "EP's Latest Teacher Contract Offer Meets Some Union Asks, Refuses Others"





EPEA NEWS:

EPEA LEADERSHIP POSITIONS:  

The Eden Prairie Education association will be holding its annual elections on Thursday, February 22 for two leadership positions:

     1. Site Representatives

         Cedar Ridge (2 positions),

         CMS (3),

         Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion (2),

         Eden Lake (2),

         EPHS (5),

         EPO (1),

         Forest Hills (2),

         Lower Campus/Tassel/District Wide (1),

         Oak Point (2),

        Prairie View (2)


    2. Delegates for Education Minnesota Rep. Convention:

        We have a total of 9 spots to represent all of the EPEA at the Education Minnesota Representative Convention (April 19-20).  This is an important spot for the EPEA/EPPEA "voice" to be heard through voting and networking.  The nine delegates will have a short Zoom meeting before the convention to learn of the items on the agenda that will come to a vote, as well as discuss the positions that will best serve the EPEA/EPPEA.  This is one way EPEA can nudge the direction of our larger union and its advocacy.

    Those interested in putting their names in for either the Site Representative or Delegate positions should notify EPEA VP Charles Cooper by Friday, Feb 2nd. 


ROUNDS OF HIRING:  The district has met with EPEA leadership to finalize the Rounds of Hiring.  Please take a look at the following chart for specific dates: 



Probationary staff should expect to hear from their direct supervisor/admin of their status for next year prior to March 11.


LEAVE of ABSENCE, RESIGNATION or RETIRING?

     For those considering a leave of absence for the 24-25 school year, those leave applications are due to your supervising administrator by February 1, 2024.  In addition, those planning on retirement at the end of this school  year should also inform their supervising administrator by February 1.

     For those who want to resign from Eden Prairie Schools at the end of the school year, state statute indicates that an employee must do so in writing before April 1, 2024, to be within the law (first year of the contract).  Eden Prairie Schools has the right to report any resignation not meeting state statutes timelines to the Professional Educator Licensing Standards Board (PELSB) for "job abandonment."  Please direct any questions to Dominic Kirkpatrick.



EPEA STAFF:




EPEA CONTRACT 101:

EPEA Constitution and Bylaws:  Ratification Vote Language

As the EPEA will be engaging in a “Ratification Vote” on a tentative agreement sometime in the future, it is good to review the language of our Constitution and Bylaws regarding this event:

 

ARTICLE 9: Collective Bargaining Agreement Ratification and Strike Provisions 


Section 1: The ratification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the local and the school district shall take place at a general membership meeting called for that purpose. The vote shall be conducted by secret ballot and all members of the local shall have the right to vote. A majority of those voting is necessary to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 


     a. If the Collective Bargaining Agreement ratification meeting takes place while members are involved in a strike, only members of the union who participate in the strike shall be eligible to vote on the proposed Agreement. A majority of those voting is necessary to approve the Agreement. 

     b. If a tentative agreement is reached at a time when school is not in session, the president shall be authorized to call a meeting for the purpose of ratifying the proposed Agreement. A notice of the meeting shall be mailed to the membership within five days of the tentative agreement. The meeting shall be held not later than seven days after the date of the notice. Included with the notice will be an outline of the negotiated changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.


Section 2: In the event that a Collective Bargaining Agreement cannot be reached between the local and the school district, the local shall conduct a strike vote at its discretion. Such strike vote shall be conducted at a general membership meeting called expressly for that purpose. The strike vote is restricted to union members only. The vote for a strike shall be by secret ballot. Two-thirds (66%) or sixty-six percent of the membership must vote their approval of a strike action. 


Section 3: If a general membership meeting has been called for the purpose of ratifying the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Agreement is rejected as set forth in Section 1, the local may conduct a strike authorization vote, at this meeting, as set forth in Section 2. 


Section 4: During a strike or in the event of an emergency, the executive board shall have the authority to establish alternative timeline for negotiating and balloting.



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:




 

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Martin Luther King, Jr.


In Solidarity,

Dominic Kirkpatrick, EPEA President

Charles Cooper, EPEA President

Brent Bovitz, EPEA Treasurer

Jessica Premo, EPEA Secretary












569 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


© 2023 by Eden Prairie

Education Association

     

All rights reserved.

Screen Shot 2021-08-14 at 5.12.13 PM.png
Screen Shot 2021-08-14 at 5.13.44 PM.png
Screen Shot 2021-08-14 at 5.09.06 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-08-22 at 2.08.45 PM.png
Screen Shot 2021-07-29 at 7.21.37 PM.png
bottom of page