
With the first round of conferences ending today and MEA Break ending our week, it is a good chance to catch our breath. I want to thank each of you for the role you have played in making sure our students, families, and colleagues have had a successful launch to the year. As a series of committees begins their year’s work this month, now is a great time to consider how to help our union truly represent each of us. Our safety taskforce is holding their first meeting this month, Meet and Confer is meeting (… and conferring) later this month, and our negotiations team is seeking members as the first Labor Management meeting is to be held in November. All of this work would be impossible without your contributions to our union, and I am deeply thankful that each of us continue to work together for the betterment of our profession.
In Solidarity,
Charles Cooper

EPEA NEWS:
Ever had a thought on how to improve teaching in Eden Prairie? Now’s the time to step up for the negotiations team!
We are building a team of negotiators to represent our colleagues at the table this summer. It is important to have a voice at the table that represents the diversity of our union. Our team of five negotiators needs a voice from the elementary schools, middle school, high school, and the nontraditional settings, like TASSEL or EPO to help make our voices heard! Whether you’re a classroom teacher, an occupational therapist, or a social worker, if you are in our union you are eligible to represent our colleagues at the negotiation table! The timeline for applications is included below, and I encourage each of us to consider the opportunity to join the negotiations team!
10/1 - Applications open
10/21 - Application Deadline
10/23 - Interviews with EPEA Exec Board
10/28 - Negotiation Team approved by Representative Congress
The Dues Deductions Are Coming!
Eden Prairie Education Association dues will be deducted from each paycheck beginning with today’s (10/15) and concluding through the June 30th paycheck. The EPEA has not raised dues in 7 years, and during that time we have worked to maintain healthy finances through numerous grant applications, partnerships, and creative duty descriptions for our union leaders. If you have further questions regarding your dues, please contact Charles Cooper.

Relicensure Representatives
Every site has a designated Relicensure Representative to help our members navigate the relicensure process. This work includes evaluating continuing education activities, aligning clock hours, and recomending license renewals for Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses in accordance with Minnesota Rules, chapter 8710.
Our Relicensure Chairperson, Dawn Head, is a 1st grade teacher at Forest Hills. In addition to her work in the classroom, Dawn calls and conducts meetings for the committee, prepares agendas, records approved clock hours into the Continuing Education Clock Hour Reporting System for community members, provides leadership in orienting new committee members, serves as a liaison in the committee's relationship with outside agencies/individuals, and coordinates revision of local guidelines when needed.
Each of our Relicensure Representatives works with the the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to certify eligibility for relicensure and coordinates with site professional development teams to accurately upload offerings so that members can enroll, track, and report continuing education credits (CEUs) in preparation for the application of license renewal. In addition, the relicensure representatives review requirements for relicensure and make recommendations to PELSB for state-wide requirements. One last function of the relicensure committee is to provide an appeals opportunity when a written request is received by an individual to appeal a decision of ineligibility for relicensure based on CEU requirements.
In January, relicensure representatives will send out a preferred protocol to follow for each site.
Much gratitude goes to the following Relicensure Committee Representatives:
Dawn Head (Forest Hills) - ChairBrent Bovitz (TASSEL, EPO, Cedar Ridge, and Oak Point)
Lindsay Klaverkamp (CMS)
Maria Chepokas (Eagle Heights)
Liz Taylor (Eden Lake)
Karen Linscott (Community Education)
Kevin Koetke (EPHS)
Justin Kieffer (Prairie View)
Angie Roesner (Resident Member)

Contract 101: Lane changes
For many of us, the opportunity to further our learning and grow as a professional is just as important as the extra compensation that comes along with it. When you are considering further educational opportunities, please be aware of our contract’s language!
Art VII, Sec 3, Subd. 4. Prior Approval: All credits, in order to be considered for application on the salary schedule, must be approved by the superintendent or superintendent’s designee, in writing, prior to the taking of the course. A teacher taking a course without receiving prior approval does so at his/her own risk. A form requesting a lane change must be completed not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the effective date, as provided in Subd. 5 hereof.
Additionally, District Regulation 402.3R states all course work must be from an accredited college or university that grants teacher licensure, third party providers may not be approved, and preference is granted to Minnesota institutions.
If you’re planning on taking a course, don’t gamble on your salary placement! Be sure to file the appropriate paper work with Human Resources at least two weeks before the course begins! (Request for Course Approval is linked on EP’s HR section for the staff intranet)

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

October 14 School Board Meetings
The Eden Prairie School Board met on October 14 in a joint workshop session with the Eden Prairie City Council prior to holding their monthly workshop meeting. Meeting agendas and materials are available on the Edenpr.org website. A summary of the workshops and the October School Board meeting will be included in the October 31 membership update.

Teacher of the Year nominations are open from October 1 through November 15!
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for their students? Do you have a coworker that is always there for you? Now’s the time to recognize those folks. EdMN’s Teacher of the Year program utilizes an independent selection panel to choose a teacher that best represents our profession in the coming year.
Your voice matters! Make a plan to vote by the time polls close!
I’m certain you’ve heard how close November’s election is going to be, and I am not going to spend any time belaboring the point. As educators in public schools, much of our daily experiences are determined by what happens in St. Paul during the legislative session. Please make a plan to vote, and if you can, take a friend or family member along with you! Education Minnesota has done great work across the state identifying pro-public-education candidates. The list of endorsed candidates, sample ballots, and links to register to vote can be found on EdMNVotes.org.
“The opportunity to step away from everything and take a break is something that shouldn’t be squandered.” – Harper Reed
In Solidarity,
Charles Cooper, EPEA President
Mike Woizeschke, EPEA Vice President
Brent Bovitz, EPEA Treasurer
Jessica Premo, EPEA Secretary
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