Seattle Association of Educational Office Professionals

PRELIMINARY SAEOP ANNUAL REPORT  -  March, 2008 

Introduction This year the SAEOP Officers and Board Members embarked on a full and varied agenda for 2007-08.  Our goals were to reach out to our members to identify proposals for bargaining and to prepare our organization for the hiring of a new SEA executive director. 

We also wished to continue the professional development side of our organization through affiliations with WAEOP and NAEOP, and the Professional Standards Program (PSP).  The officers and board members were:             Debbie Passi, President            Vivian Belcher, Vice-President            Lisa Noyes, Corresponding Secretary            Edwina Washington, Recording Secretary            Jan Grubbs, Treasurer            Carrie Bauer, Past President Board Members at Large:  Winnie Allen, Sue Daley, Gail Larson, Emily Marley, Chris McMillin-Helsel, Elaine Miller, Barb Slatt, and Karen Stinehart-Riddle To accomplish that, our activities were broken into monthly, yearly, and one-time events.  They were initiated in partnership by the SAEOP Board, the SEA Board, and the school district.  The following lists what has been accomplished, along with goals to complete by years end. Special One-Time Events 
  • We welcomed our new Superintendent, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, with a Welcome to Seattle Basket for her family and a book for her daughter.

 

  • Members of the SAEOP Board manned phone banks to help pass the Simple Majority ballot measure.  This will go a long way towards stabilizing funding by creating a simple majority, not 60% approval for school levies.
 
  • The SAEOP Officers and Board held five outreach meetings throughout the city in November to allow the membership to voice concerns, frustrations, and perceived contract and/or workplace issues.  (A copy of that report is contained on the SAEOP website under Newsletter - for members to access.)
 
  • As a result of those meetings, the SAEOP leadership was able to:
a.      Secure extra non-building overtime pay for those secretaries implementing the new payroll and transportation systems.b.      Start working on better communication systems within the organization to target selected audiences for specific issues.  Unfortunately, due to personnel data base problems, we have not made the progress needed.c.       Work with Kim VanAtta and Jill McCullough to have classes on the electronic hiring process and an open lab for timekeepers to take their payroll questions.d.      Begin to identify issues to flesh out for bargaining next year. 
  • The Board worked closely with SEA leadership to negotiate:
a.      The resumption of the Reclassification Study.b.      The scheduling of reclassification hearings that have been pending for several years.c.       No lost hours or wages as a result of the districts newly implemented Staffing Standards. 
  • The SAEOP Board is working with district offices on the implementation of a new program, School Messenger.  Board members voted to be the pilot schools to work out problems prior to its implementation in all schools district wide.  This program involves a telephone emergency service to families in the event of a natural disaster and can be modified for other school functions.

[top]

 

 
 Monthly Events 

  • The president (Debbie) and vice-president (Vivian) must attend SEA Board Meetings.  These are held the first Monday of the month.
  • The president (Debbie) and vice-president (Vivian) have attended the Rep Assembly meetings.  Other board members have also attended this year.
  • Debbie Passi and Barb Slatt are members of the Grievance Review Commission (GRC). The GRC determines if a grievance will go to arbitration and meets monthly as needed.
  • Almost monthly, the SAEOP officers attend board meetings in accordance with SAEOP bylaws.
  • Carrie Bauer sits on the Insurance Committee along with members of other employee groups.  This committee selects and monitors our health insurance choices.
  • The president (Debbie) and other officers as appropriate work with SEA leadership on contract monitoring, contract waiver requests, inquiries from members, committee selections, and possible contract violations/grievances.  Two recent committee assignments were the Waiver Committee (after buildings completed budget and staffing plans) and the Personnel Committee (to hire a new executive director for SEA).
 Yearly/Ongoing 
  • SAEOP has held general membership meetings as per the SAEOP bylaws.  This year, we had a financial training seminar from School Employees Credit Union; a visit from Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, Superintendent, and Laurie Taylor, HRIS; and an update on staffing concerns (March 27).  The fourth meeting will be the installation dinner, tentatively scheduled in May.
 
  • Emily Marley, along with Sue Daley and Vivian Belcher, held PSP classes to help members apply for and receive certificates.  The member was entitled to $30 per certificate earned.
 
  • SAEOP has scheduled a special celebration for all PSP certificate awardees, Ride the Duck, for June.  The officers wanted to encourage those who took the time to get their paperwork in order, submit it, and honor them for the recognition.  The state and national organizations do this in the form of a banquet so we wanted to do something different.
 
  • SAEOP has worked with Kim VanAtta in the districts professional development office to offer classes to membership.  This year, courses were offered on the two statewide professional development days, the day between semesters, and during selected evenings.
 
  • Jan Grubbs has chaired our Sunshine/Recognition Committee this year, and she has recognized members by sending cards when notified to do so.
 
  • We have reaffirmed our relationship with WAEOP by affiliating.  In addition, we continue to encourage members to take advantage of the PSP Program to earn certificates and a monthly stipend of $30 per certificate, with a total possible of $180 per month.  At least 15 new certificates have been awarded since September, 2007.
 
  • We have renewed our relationship with NAEOP by affiliating.  In addition, we continue to encourage members to take advantage of the PSP program to earn certificates and a monthly stipend.
 
  • We have attended conferences, institutes, and workshops sponsored by NAEOP, WAEOP, and NEA to take advantage of the six professional development paid days.  A special note to members:  SAEOP reimburses one half of the registration and gives $15 per day for conference expenses.
 
  • We have sent out SAEOP Scholarship Application forms to all Seattle high schools.  The course of study and type of school for applicants was broadened to create a larger applicant pool.  Barb Slatt will convene a scholarship committee to review the applications; the winner will be announced the evening of the installation dinner.
 
  • Our SAEOP.org website is maintained and updated for members.

[top]

 Goals for the Future 

  • We must create transparency between the leadership and members.
  • We must improve communications through the expansion of the SAEOP Website and technology, and between different components of the membership.
  • We must continue to advocate for SAEOP interests at SEA Board and Committee meetings.

 

SAEOP is the Seattle Association of Educational Office Professionals.  We are a union and professional organization of the Classified/Clerical employees of Seattle Public Schools.  SAEOP's Purpose:

To promote the welfare of its members; to develop an efficient and professional staff; to pool ideas and ideals toward a finer service to the school and to the community.

 

SAEOP is a department of SEA - the Seattle Education Association and as such is affiliated with WEA - the Washington Education Association and NEA - the National Education Association. SAEOP members that pay active membership dues are members of all four organizations.

  

Websites:

SAEOP           

SEA               

WEA             

NEA   

           

SAEOP is affiliated with WAEOP - Washington Association of Educational Office Professionals our state professional organization and NAEOP- National Association of Educational Office Professionals, our national professional organization.  You may choose to become a member of these organizations by paying a yearly membership fee to each organization. Websites:

WAEOP         

NAEOP    

 

[top] 

    

 

 

 

 

< Prev

Last Updated (Friday, 02 October 2009 06:53)