Good Morning,
There are many important pieces of information for you today so please take the time to read through each one.
Voluntary Return: This morning your building principal should have announced the district’s plan of a voluntary return for professional staff. The information needed to be disseminated by administration, however please know that REA made sure there were safe guards in place. First and foremost THIS IS A COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY RETURN. While the majority of the membership voted to stay virtual in the survey sent out by the district, there was around 30% that voted to return to on-site instruction. (Parent surveys were only given the option of hybrid or virtual) When we had originally discussed the option of a return to work on-site it was “all or nothing.” In this new plan it will be addressed week by week. The district will have a sign in sheet for any staff member who CHOOSES to return solely for contact tracing purposes. It has been made explicitly clear that if a member chooses or doesn’t choose to return it can in no way be used as an evaluative tool. IF, you receive any comment about returning/not returning in PAETEP, you must let your Rep know ASAP so we may address it. I understand many of you will want to ask the “what-if” questions for when the return is no longer voluntary, if I am able to answer the questions I will, however this will be an ever evolving situation. For those of you who have medical concerns in regard to a mandatory return, please remember we have a few leave options/alternate scenarios. For leave options, there is FFCRA/FMLA time. For alternate scenarios, there are ADA accommodations. Please know we are also continuing to address the HVAC concerns as this slow return begins. Rep Council is this Thursday, if you have further questions or concerns please let your Reps know so we may address it.
Vaccines: In last week’s Wellness Wednesday email from Lisa Magrowski, it was announced that RSD has been approved by the DOH to be a vaccination site. This does not mean that they will solely vaccinate RSD staff. Vaccinations will be available to the public as well as staff following the tiered system for Pennsylvania. For our members that are willing/able to receive a vaccine, we will now have another site available to us. Please watch the Wellness Wednesday messages for more information.
Intent to Run Form: Attached is a copy of the Intent to Run form for REA executive board positions as well as Delegate positions. All forms must be sent electronically to foxbonnie07@gmail.com. Intent to Run Form 2021
REA Scholarship: Attached is the REA Dependent Scholarship application. This scholarship is also available to 1 RHS student, school counselors please feel free to disseminate this to your students as well. All applications must be received NO LATER than April 1st. They may be sent in via USPS or scanned to president@readingea.com REA_Dependents_Scholarship_Application_writable
PSEA Special Ed Conference: Friday March 5t h 7-10 PM & March 6t h 8 AM-3:30 PM. ASHA credits will be given at the conference. You can register on the PSEA website https://www.psea.org/news–events/conferences2/psea-special-education-conference/. You will need your Member ID# and PDE# to register. The conference is free this year and it will be virtual.
Quote of the Week: “Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.” Buddha
Be Well,
Rebecca