September 17, 2023
Bargaining 9/21
Join us for our bargaining session on Thursday, September 21 at the union offices- 23 Empire Drive at 4:30. All are welcome! Major proposals from SPFE will include: Restorative Practices and Special Education related proposals. Bring a coworker and join us! Reach out to your Contract Action Team (CAT) leader in your building or your steward for more info!
2023 Elections Update – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Four school board seats are up for election this year. Help us elect a board that sees educators as partners, not problems. Sign up to to phone bank, door knock, or send postcards to other educators in Saint Paul, and please share this flyer with your colleagues. You can also get regular updates by checking out the 2023 elections page on the SPFE website.
Proud to be SPFE
Throughout this year we want to highlight members on our social media feeds sharing why it is important to become a member. We are asking folks to fill out this google form and share your selfie or short video about why you joined SPFE or why it is important to be in our union.
Parent Group Information
If you your school has a parent group(PTO/PTA/Parent PAC) please fill out this form. We will be using this list with our Community CAT team in order to engage more parents and community members.
Community Engagement Committee
Are you interested in working with SPFE to engage community groups, parent, community members and students? As we gear up our bargaining campaign, we want to start include more of those groups around our Common Good bargaining campaign. If you have questions, please email jay@spfe28.org. If interested, fill out the form.
SPED Due Process Day — Tuesday, September 19th from 8:30-3:00pm at SPFE(23 Empire Dr.)
Attention Special Education Teachers and related service providers — per our Licensed Staff Contract pg 41, you are entitled to take “paperwork days” to complete necessary paperwork and other work related to due process. This year, SPFE will be hosting SPED Due Process Days with SPPS. Members of the SPPS Compliance Team will be available and onsite at SPFE to support you with due process. Questions? Please reach out to Clara Dockter, clara@spfe28.org
Welcome back to school! Join fellow LGBTQIA+ educators at The Black Hart of Saint Paul(formerly The Townhouse – 1415 University Ave W., St. Paul, MN 55104) for an affinity group social meet-up Wednesday, Sept 20 from 4:30 – 6:30pm. This is for LGBTQIA+ identifying SPFE members only. Please RSVP for an accurate count: http://bit.ly/SPFE_LGBTQIA_BlackHart .
Teacher of the Year Michael Houston and Julia Shepherd (SPFE members and Harding educators) have formed a team to participate in NAMIWalks, an event that raises awareness and funds to address mental heath concerns. As educators, we see out students, colleagues and community face these struggles daily. You can support the Harding Knights team by joining them on walk day, making a donation, or sharing this link.
PEIP virtual meeting
Learn about how your insurance works and learn tricks to save money. There will be 3 virtual sessions leading up to Open Enrollment with Shawn Byrne with PEIP. Tuesday, September 26, Tuesday, October 24, or Wednesday, November 8 from 4:30-5:30 pm. Please RSVP here to get the link.
Parent Teacher Home Visits
- Last PTHV training of the year is on September 23. Register in PowerSchool.
- Debriefs will be held December 4 & 5 (choose one date). Register in PowerSchool.
- Spring debriefs will be in late May/early June. Not yet in PowerSchool.
Childcare and Translation Services Needed for SPFE meetings
As we head into a busy bargaining year, SPFE is looking to contract with members who can provide translation services or childcare for community meetings. Please fill out the form here if you are if you are interested in providing one of these services.
Did you know? AFT has extensive reading resources available for FREE to you at Reading Universe. Click the link to check it out.
SPFE Climate Action Team
- Please join this year’s first Climate Action Team meeting. The meeting (virtual) will be on 9/25 starting at 4:30. To join you can use the link, meet.google.com/fqu-ksot-mwo
- Ever wonder why acting on climate justice is important to us educators? Check out the article at the following link to learn more. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/it-has-to-be-a-priority-why-schools-cant-ignore-the-climate-crisis/2022/05
September 11, 2023
2023 Elections Update – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Four school board seats are up for election this year. Help us elect a board that sees educators as partners, not problems. Sign up to to phone bank, door knock, or send postcards to other educators in Saint Paul, and please share this flyer with your colleagues. You can also get regular updates by checking out the 2023 elections page on the SPFE website.
New Educator Shower Join us for a new educator shower on Friday, September 15th at the Como Lakeside Pavilion from 4:30-6:30. All new educators to SPPS (Licensed staff, EAs and SCSPs) are welcome to join us! We will have food, teacher supplies giveaways, and time to connect with new folks from across our union. Please RSVP here.
SPPS Job Classification Survey: EA and SCSPs likely received an email from the District this past week that informed employees of a Job Classification Survey. SPPS has hired a consulting firm to complete a “market assessment” for all their bargaining units. SPFE is encouraging our members to complete the survey. However, please remember that SPPS cannot set or change wages without negotiating with our union!
Bargaining 9/21 Join us for our bargaining session on Thursday, September 21 at the union offices- 23 Empire Drive at 4:30. All are welcome! Major proposals from SPFE will include: Restorative Practices and Special Education related proposals. Bring a coworker and join us! Reach out to your Contract Action Team (CAT) leader in your building or your steward for more info!
Proud to be SPFE Throughout this year we want to highlight members on our social media feeds sharing why it is important to become a member. We are asking folks to fill out this google form and share your selfie or short video about why you joined SPFE or why it is important to be in our union.
SPED Due Process Day — Tuesday, September 19th from 8:30-3:00pm at SPFE (23 Empire Dr.) Attention Special Education Teachers and related service providers — per our Licensed Staff Contract pg 41, you are entitled to take “paperwork days” to complete necessary paperwork and other work related to due process. This year, SPFE will be hosting SPED Due Process Days with SPPS. Members of the SPPS Compliance Team will be available and onsite at SPFE to support you with due process. Questions? Please reach out to Clara Dockter, clara@spfe28.org
PEIP virtual meeting Learn about how your insurance works and learn tricks to save money. There will be 3 virtual sessions leading up to Open Enrollment with Shawn Byrne with PEIP. Tuesday, September 26, Tuesday, October 24, or Wednesday, November 8 from 4:30-5:30 pm. Please RSVP here to get the link.
Welcome back to school! Join fellow LGBTQIA+ educators at The Black Hart of Saint Paul (formerly The Townhouse – 1415 University Ave W., St. Paul, MN 55104) for an affinity group social meet-up Wednesday, Sept 20 from 4:30 – 6:30pm. This is for LGBTQIA+ identifying SPFE members only. Please RSVP for an accurate count: http://bit.ly/SPFE_LGBTQIA_BlackHart .
Class Size Issues If you haven’t already done so, please look over your class sizes with your building administrators. If after attempting to adjust the class sizes you are still over the cap or average you need to call for a class size committee meeting. You can read more about class sizes in our contract linked here starting on page 79 of the Licensed Staff Contract. Please reach out to your organizer if you need to file a grievance for class size overages.
Parent Teacher Home Visits
- Last PTHV training of the year is on September 23. Register in PowerSchool.
- Debriefs will be held December 4 & 5 (choose one date). Register in PowerSchool.
- Spring debriefs will be in late May/early June. Not yet in PowerSchool.
Childcare and Translation Services Needed for SPFE meetings As we head into a busy bargaining year, SPFE is looking to contract with members who can provide translation services or childcare for community meetings. Please fill out the form here if you are if you are interested in providing one of these services.
September 5, 2023
2023 Elections Update
Four school board seats are up for election this year. Help us elect a board that sees educators as partners, not problems. Sign up to to phone bank, door knock, or send postcards to other educators in Saint Paul, and please share this flyer with your colleagues. You can also get regular updates by checking out the 2023 elections page on the SPFE website.
Para Pro Prep Class
Are you an EA who needs to pass the ParaPro Test? Join the FREE test prep course starting in October through Hubbs Center- taught by your fellow SPFE members!https://www.spps.org/Page/42892
PEIP virtual meeting
Learn about how your insurance works and learn tricks to save money. There will be 3 virtual sessions leading up to Open Enrollment with Shawn Byrne with PEIP. Tuesday, September 26, Tuesday, October 24, or Wednesday, November 8 from 4:30-5:30 pm. Please RSVP here to get the link.
New Educator Shower
Join us for a new educator shower on Friday, September 15th at the Como Lakeside Pavilion from 4:30-6:30. All new educators to SPPS (Licensed staff, EAs and SCSPs) are welcome to join us! We will have food, teacher supplies giveaways, and time to connect with new folks from across our union. Please RSVP here.
Bargaining 9/21
Join us for our bargaining session on Thursday, September 21 at the union offices- 23 Empire Drive at 4:30. All are welcome! Major proposals from SPFE will include: Restorative Practices and Special Education related proposals. Bring a coworker and join us! Reach out to your Contract Action Team (CAT) leader in your building or your steward for more info!
Membership Meeting
Join us for the first SPFE membership meeting of 2023-24 on Monday, September 18th from 4:30-6:00 at SPFE (23 Empire Drive) in the Big Room. We will discuss membership business first and then move into Contract Action Team (CAT)business. All members are welcome to attend! Building CAT leaders should plan to attend as well.
Affinity Group Meetings
Members or Color Affinity space is will hold it’s first outing at The Nickel Joint(501 Blair Ave, St Paul) on Friday, September 8th from 4-6:30. Come and mingle with other educators of color, share food, and kickoff the new school year with folks. Please RSVP at this linkif you plan to attend.
Welcome back to school! Join fellow LGBTQIA+ educators at The Black Hart of Saint Paul(formerly The Townhouse – 1415 University Ave W., St. Paul, MN 55104) for an affinity group social meet-up Wednesday, Sept 20 from 4:30 – 6:30pm. This is for LGBTQIA+ identifying SPFE members only. Please RSVP for an accurate count: http://bit.ly/SPFE_LGBTQIA_BlackHart .
Class Size Issues
If you haven’t already done so, please look over your class sizes with your building administrators. If after attempting to adjust the class sizes you are still over the cap or average you need to call for a class size committee meeting. You can read more about class sizes in our contract linked here starting on page 79 of the Licensed Staff Contract. Please reach out to your organizer if you need to file a grievance for class size overages.