Donate to Berkeleysideand support independent local journalism. Unlike full-time teachers, a temporary teacher works from the get-go for a defined period of time in a given role. If your child is new to Berkeley Unified School District or starting preschool, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or 7th grade, you will need to provide your childs school with documentation that your child has been fully immunized. The program includes counseling, financial advising, legal consultations and other services. The union that represents principals, vice principals, deans, Special Education program supervisors, etc. If you believe your benefits deductions are incorrect on your paycheck, or you have a question about your benefits you should schedule an appointment: https://calendly.com/busdbenefits. In addition, you must make a brief oral report to a staff meeting (at BHS this means a small school, department or program meeting). Berkeley Federation of Teachers. BFT Contract (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022) BFT Salary Schedules (2021-22) K-12 Calendar (2022-23) TK-12 Calendar (2023-24) Union of Berkeley Administrators: The union that represents principals, vice principals, deans, Special Education program supervisors, etc. A: With proper verification from your physician you can use sick leave. A: BUSD and BFT do not see this issue in the same light. Be sure to keep a copy of your Enrollment Change form. For example, hourly teaching rate increases benefit all BAS teachers. UBA Contract (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024) (12.2.12), A: Yes, BAS teachers are eligible for all leaves of absence without pay for up to one year. Donating any amount to the Berkley Education Foundation, whether $25 or $2,500 will directly impact students in the Berkley Schools. Resources. (10.8), A: Bargaining unit Adult School teacher receive four (4) paid hours per month for planning and meeting time (three hours of planning time and one hour of meeting time). BFT Member Benefits BFT members can use the Berkeley YMCA for FREE between September 13 - September 27th by presenting your BFT membership card. (9.6), A: Yes, there are significant seniority rights for BAS teachers. While the class size averages will remain the same overall 23 students per teacher at the elementary level lowering the cap on maximum class size from 32 to 27 ensures that there is less variability between class sizes. BFT Officers; Executive Board; Teachers of Color Network; Organizing Team; BFT Political Action Committee; . BFT members that join by the end of September will have the enrollment fee waived. Q: Who is eligible to go on a Reduced Workload? If this is something you would like to request, please call the BFT office at 510-549-2307 so that we can assist you. I am honored to serve as the President of the Berkley Education Foundation (BEF). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Nonprofit news. A: One good resource is the Employee Assistance Program. A BAS teacher can do this for only one semester if their hours will exceed 17.5 hours per week with the new assignment. If you do not get a reply to your email, contact Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Pauline Follansbee and cc president@berkeleyteachers.org. BFT Officers; Executive Board; Teachers of Color Network; Organizing Team Contacthr@berkeley.net if you have a question or concern about: Your status (Temporary, Probationary I, Probationary II, etc. A: We recommend an email to Glendaly Gascot-Rios, Director of Personnel, requesting confirmation of your current sick leave balance. If you suspect an error (i.e. December 7, 2021 Social Security WEP/GPO Bonnie Ciedel, a retired teacher, runs the advocacy group Social Security Fairness that seeks to end the WEP and GPO. March 1, 2021 A California teachers' union president who has led the charge against reopening schools until teachers receive the coronavirus vaccine sends his daughter to a private preschool. By Jean Whittlesey, Berkeley Federation of Teachers BERKELEY, Calif.-- About 300 Berkeley High School students walked out of class March 6 to protest budget cuts. There is a BUSD contribution to the cost of dental benefits based on the number of hours worked per week, and the employee pays the rest of the premium through a paycheck deduction. The cost to the district will be just under $4 million, some of which will come from federal COVID-19 relief funds. You are eligible for up to 40 days from the Bank for each medical incident (documentation from your doctor is required). The DHMO dental plan is free or very low cost for BAS teachers. BUSD makes a contribution to the cost of these benefits based on the number of hours worked per week, and the employee pays the rest of the premium through a paycheck deduction. A: It is important to use ONLY EMAIL in contacting staff in these departments. When you retire under STRS all unused sick leave contributes to your retirement. If you are a current BUSD employee on BUSD medical benefits, you can switch to CIL during the Open Enrollment period in September by going in person to the BUSD Benefits office or to the BUSD Benefits Fair. If you leave BUSD mid-year before you are . It is best to contact all of these departments using email. You should include a Separation Form with the last date of service listed as TBD. Guerrilla Momz told PJ Media that this isn't the only stakeout they have in the works. Berkeley Unified teachers will receive a routine 1% raise next year as well as a 3.5% one-time bonus for the 2021-22 school year, according to a tentative May 26 agreement between the teacher's union and the school district. Berkeley Unified currently has 129 vacant positions, a 50% increase from fall 2019. Urgent questions can be directed to a telephone counselor at 1-800-228-5453. A: This is covered in Article 15.10 of the BFT/BUSD collective bargaining agreement and BFT encourages any BAS teacher being evaluated to review this section. For example, hourly teaching rate increases benefit all BAS teachers. A: BAS teachers who work nine (9) or more hours per week are in the BFT bargaining unit and are covered by the BFT/BUSD collective bargaining agreement. To make an in person appointment call the STRS office in Santa Clara. As a retired BUSD teacher you will automatically be on the preferred (requestable) bargaining unit sub list. A: Yes, if you are 55 or over and have worked at least 10 years, you can reduce your workload and receive benefits and STRS credit as if you were working full time. Be sure your proposal makes clear that you are not just asking for time off. Sabrina K. K-5 SPED ), through the employee portal: https://escape.acoe.org/#/login. A: BFT encourages you to talk with a STRS counselor. They may respond to your request by saying that they will release you once they have found a replacement for your position. You can find information about the EAP at theEmployee Assistance ProgramFAQ. The district will also be responsible for paying a larger portion of teacher health care benefits. You should email Eman Elkelani in the BUSD Benefits Office and you should cc BFT. 56 were here. Please join me in making a donation to the BEF. Union membership provides you with AFT benefits and full democratic voting rights in BFT. The new agreement will make BUSD responsible for splitting the cost of health care premium increases with teachers, lowering how much teachers pay toward their premiums. Submit one of the following. However, if needed a small committee can be formed to discuss the distribution of students among existing classes within each department. A: Under the current BFT/BUSD Collective Bargaining Agreement, if you complete the school year and resign effective as of the last day of school you will maintain your benefits through July 31unless your contract explicitly says that this will not occur. A: You may be eligible for modifications or accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act. On this type of leave you are paid the difference between your salary and the actual cost to the District of the substitute teacher. In addition, all dependents can stay on CalPERS coverage on a self-pay basis (no employer contribution) during your lifetime. Your donation goes beyond supporting our journalism. Consider listing some of the research you hope to study. If you value what you get from Berkeleyside, please join us with atax-deductible donationso we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. | Berkeley gunfire map | BPD text investigation. If you want to work during summer school you should contact Nestor Aliga, Senior Human Resources Techniciannestoraliga@berkeley.net. No care of, DBA or Business accounts. - CFT - A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals Meet Our Scholarship Recipients! BFT members that join by the end of September will have the enrollment fee waived. A: There are generally three options regarding your CalSTRS benefits. You should also be able to see your step and column through the employee portal: https://escape.acoe.org/#/login. BFT members are eligible for up to 100 days of Extended Sick Leave. This August workday can be individually scheduled by the teacher with the Principal. In the event of the death of a teacher's spouse . You are eligible for up to 40 days from the Bank for each medical incident (documentation from your doctor is required). (10.7.3), A: Yes, BAS teachers can get paid for a voluntary workday of three hours any time in the last three weeks of the Spring semester, or the two weeks following the end of the Spring semester. Rose A. A: BAS teachers in the BFT bargaining unit are eligible for medical benefits through BUSD as long as BUSD is making a contribution to STRS or PERS on behalf of the employee. AFT PLUS is the name of the member benefit programs available to AFT members and their families. A: Yes, you may be eligible for a STRS disability retirement. Morning and afternoon on-site teachers are compensated at their teacher hourly rate for this work; Evening and off-site teachers are paid at the curriculum development hourly rate. Please see the Sick Leave Bank FAQ for more information. CalPERS automatically transfers employees from active to retiree benefits status upon notification from BUSD. Complaint forms are available at school sites and on the district webpage at www.berkeleyschools.net/complaints. You can email this request to Nestor Aligain the Human Resources office via email. (Board Policy 0410, Board Policy 1311, Board Policy 4030, Board Policy 5145.3, Board Policy 5145.7), The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee or job applicant who complains, testifies or in any way participates in the district's complaint procedures instituted pursuant to this policy. Once you switch to retiree status your monthly contribution to benefits will be . If you believe your Step is incorrect contact Betty James at bettyjames@berkeley.net. The Board shall promote programs which ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. This sick leave accrues. For inquiries or concerns regarding BUSD nondiscrimination policy. Teachers are paid at the curriculum development hourly rate for this work. A: If you are a member of the BFT/BUSD Sick Leave Bank, you can apply for days from the Bank. Once you have recieved the signed and dated form from your doctor, then complete the Leave Request Certificated 22-23 Form. All Proofs must be current originals (issued within the last 2 months) imprinted with the name and current Berkeley residential address of the parent/legal guardian. The Berkeley school district will raise teachers' salaries 12% over the next two years, pay a larger share of their health care costs, up compensation for subs and lower the cap on elementary class sizes from 32 students to 27, according to an agreement between the teachers union and administrators. (Article 2.1.4). (co-reps) Substitutes. Please contact the BFT office if you need a BFT membership card. Once you have made that request a confirmation email will be sent to you to schedule an apointment to dicuss your work restrictions and any reasonable acommodations that the district may be able to provide you with. Many of the programs are provided through Union Privilege, the benefit arm of the AFL-CIO; others are unique to AFT and are coordinated directly through AFT PLUS. (13.9.1), A: If BAS administration wants to close a class a committee made up of a BAS administrator, the relevant department coordinator and teachers representatives selected by BFT must meet to discuss the possible closure. You are part of the bargaining unit, but you need to choose to become an official union member. BUSD believes that once a teacher is on aRWL they cannot increase their FTE unless the District approves of the increase (which they are very, very reluctant to do). Applications are available here. Teachers should check with the Principal if they plan to request pay for more than three hours (pre-approval is required). If you notify BUSD of your decision to retire by February 7 you will receive a $1,000 early notification bonus. The BAS teacher hourly rate increases at Year 4 and Year 10. Through the generosity of our community, and the efforts of many dedicated volunteers over the last decade,the BEF has invested more than $354,000 into the Berkley School District since 2010. c) Commissioners Reports Vice-Chairperson Goldstein noted that an MOU with the Berkeley Federation of Teachers (BFT) had A: If you are a member of the Sick Leave Bank and the colleagues who want to donate days to you are members of the Sick Leave Bank they can donate days to you.