LEA

LEA Members Speaking Up at Board of Supervisors Meeting on Feb. 22, 2012

2012-02-24T15:40:00.004-05:00

It's Now or Never

2012-02-17T14:40:00.001-05:00

LEA & VEA Elections- Request for Candidates

2012-02-03T13:04:00.001-05:00

ATTEND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT 1/31/12

2012-01-31T12:43:00.006-05:00

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT –
TUESDAY, 1/31/12 AT 6:30 PM – PLEASE ATTEND
LOCATION: LCPS Admin Bldg in Ashburn, VA

In recent budget meetings of the School Board (SB), many questions have been asked and possible options have been discussed regarding all aspects of the LCPS budget.

What YOU need to do:

email the SB at lcsb@lcps.org to share with them your concerns about these potential changes. Let them know how these options could impact you.

attend the SB budget meeting TONIGHT which begins at 6:30pm at the Administration Bldg. in Ashburn. YOUR PRESENCE IS POWERFUL! Please wear a RED shirt or a shirt from your school/work site.

sign up to speak at the meeting tonight by calling 571.252.1020 or sign up to speak at the left side of the dais when you arrive for the meeting.

Sandy Sullivan, LEA President, will speak about protecting the benefits for our current FT employees AND advocating for salary increases for ALL employees groups at ALL experience levels.

No matter what job you hold with LCPS, know that your voice and presence are critical to the budget deliberations. You are urged to ensure that all of our voices are heard!

Be informed, Be active, Be heard!

LEA Success

2012-01-04T11:51:00.001-05:00

By now you may have heard that principals have been informed that there will now be a change to the reporting time for teachers when there is a delayed opening. When there is a one-hour delayed opening teachers are allowed to arrive up to one hour late. In the case of a two hour delayed opening teachers are allowed to arrive up to two hours after their normal time.

Please know that this is an issue that LEA has lobbied Dr. Hatrick about for the past two years. We are so pleased that our work on your behalf has brought this success.

Sandy Sullivan
Loudoun Education Association President

Sign Up Now for Lobby Day - limited space

2011-12-19T16:24:00.004-05:00

VEA Convention 2012

2011-11-28T15:07:00.002-05:00

Phone Service Restored

2011-10-25T15:39:00.002-04:00

We are pleased to share that Verizon has resolved the issue and the phones are now working properly at LEA. Feel free to contact us at (703) 858-7700.

Phone Service Problem at LEA 10/25/11

2011-10-25T10:09:00.002-04:00

We have been made aware of a Verizon problem that is apparently affecting all verizon landlines in the area. The expectation is that service will be restored by 9 am on Wednesday, 10/26/11. Please feel free to e-mail the office at leaweteach@aol.com in the interim.

Thank you for your patience.

Celebrating our Reps and Retirees

2011-06-13T12:17:00.004-04:00

LEA held its annual Rep and retiree appreciation event on June 9. All who attended enjoyed the afternoon as we showered appreciation on our Reps for the time and energy they devote to LEA, as well as thanked our retiring members for their years of faithfulness and support.

Honoring Warren Geurin

2011-05-06T12:36:00.001-04:00

The Loudoun Education Association mourns the loss of J. Warren Geurin. Warren was a long time friend to LEA and a fierce advocate for the children and staff of LCPS, especially in the Sterling community. While we did not always agree, we could have civil and friendly conversations to seek the best outcomes for all students and school employees. Warren had a big heart, but he didn't like to show it too often. He could toss in some salty language from time to time to make sure he had everyone's attention. Warren had a strong sense of right and wrong, and little patience for anything in between. LEA will miss Warren's leadership, enthusiasm, vision and friendship. Rest well, our friend.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14th, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Herndon.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to the Loudoun Education Foundation for the J. Warren Geurin Scholarship Fund.

3% COLA Remains in Finalized Budget & No Increase to Class Size

2011-04-14T12:36:00.001-04:00

All employees will receive a 3% COLA and class sizes will not be increased!

Credit goes to each of you who became active during the budget process (whether you wore a "We're Worth More" button, attended a budget meeting, spoke at a budget hearing, emailed the BOS and SB, ensured that your colleagues and others were informed about the budget, etc.).

It is the collective work of LEA that brought this success.

LCPS Budget Reconcilation Messages

2011-04-07T14:54:00.003-04:00

Message to Dr. Hatrick (edgar.hatrick@lcps.org)

Dr. Hatrick,

The recent years of frozen salaries have been difficult for all LCPS employees. Given that fact, I want to express my appreciation of and support for your recommended budget reconciliation which retains the 3% COLA for all school employees, and ensures that class size limits will not increase for the coming school year.

Sincerely,

NAME

WORKSITE

Message to School Board Members (lcsb@lcps.org)

As an employee of LCPS who has endured the hardships related to the recent years of frozen salaries, I write to you asking for your support of Dr. Hatrick's budget reconciliation recommendation. Maintaining the critical components of the 3% COLA for all employees, and holding class size limits at current levels are so important to me. I urge your support of these items when you act on the budget next Wednesday.

Sncerely,

NAME

WORKSITE

Messages to the Supervisors for Full Funding of the LCPS Budget

2011-03-31T15:04:00.002-04:00

The Supervisors will set the tax rate and allocate funds to Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Tues., April 5. That allows you just a little more time to ensure that the Supervisors have heard your support for full funding of the LCPS budget.

Below are suggested messages, one from parents and one from LCPS employees to the Supervisors who through a straw vote (non-binding vote) supported cutting the LCPS budget by one percent.

Kurtz (Catoctin) sally.kurtz@loudoun.gov
Delgaudio (Sterling) eugene.delgaudio@loudoun.gov
York (At Large) scott.york@loudoun.gov
Burton (Blue Ridge) jim.burton@loudoun.gov
McGimsey (Potomac) Andrea.McGimsey@loudoun.gov
Waters (Broad Run) lori.waters@loudoun.gov

SUGGESTED MESSAGE FROM PARENTS:
I understand the position you took in last week’s straw vote may have been directed toward transportation, but please know that if any reductions to the school budget impact the educational experience of my child, I will hold you responsible when I vote in November.

SUGGESTED MESSAGE FROM LCPS EMPLOYEES:
I understand the position you took in last week’s straw vote may have been directed toward transportation as opposed to the three percent COLA for school employees. However, please know that if any reductions to the school budget lessen the three percent COLA, I will hold you responsible when I vote in November.

Contact the Supervisors for full funding of the school budget

2011-03-28T15:08:00.001-04:00

Last week the Supervisors took a straw vote (non-binding) to cut the school budget by 1 percent. Sally Kurtz (Catoctin) moved to cut the budget by 1% as she believes the schools' transportation budget is too large. After very little discussion the straw vote was taken and passed with the following Supervisors supporting this cut to the LCPS budget:

Kurtz (Catoctin)
Delgaudio (Sterling)
York (At Large)
Burton (Blue Ridge)
McGimsey (Potomac)
Waters (Broad Run)

LEA believes it is crucial that the Supervisors listed below are contacted regarding their upcoming final decision (April 5) on funding for LCPS. Suggest talking points are provided.

Stevens Miller (Dulles) @ stevens.miller@loudoun.gov
~ Thank you for your opposition to the straw vote to cut the school budget by 1%
~ I am counting on your continued support in order for LCPS to receive full funding.

Jim Burton (Blue Ridge) @ jim.burton@loudoun.gov
Sally Kurtz (Catotcin) @ sally.kurtz@loudoun.gov
Andrea McGimsey (Potomac) @ Andrea.McGimsey@loudoun.gov
Scott York (At Large) @ scott.york@loudoun.gov
~ Revenues are continuing to come in higher than expected and the needed tax rate to fully fund the schools has decreased.
~ IN YOUR OWN WORDS describe your personal experience regarding how salary freezes, increased class size, etc. has impacted you and your family.
~ LCPS is currently second to last. We want to be second to none.

The Supervisors must continue to hear from supporters of the school budget. Take time to send your message of support.

LCPS students and employees are worth more!
We’re Worth More!

Supervisors Must SEE YOUR Support for the LCPS Budget

2011-03-11T15:24:00.001-05:00

Your presence at the March 14th Board of Supervisors’ (BOS) public input session is a critical opportunity for the Supervisors to SEE support for the LCPS budget.

Each person’s presence makes a difference!

Please plan to attend and bring your colleagues and neighbors.

Preschoolers AND students are welcome to attend.

The public input portion of the meeting will begin no earlier than 6:30pm this Monday, March 14 at the Government Center in Leesburg.

For those of you who wish to speak:
~ Call 703.771.5072 by noon on Mon., Mar. 14 OR sign up to speak when you arrive for the meeting (http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=1021).

~ Simply communicate your support for full funding of the LCPS budget and add your personal experiences/remarks, if desired.

~ Know that we are happy to assist folks with their remarks. Just send them to Sandy @ ssullivanlea@aol.com.

After March 14, communicating with the BOS continues to be important.
~ Email your support for full funding of the LCPA budget to the BOS at loudounbudget@loudoun.gov OR call the comment line @ 703-777-0115.

A Message to LCPS Parents

2011-02-17T15:51:00.000-05:00

LEA has planned a meeting for parents of LCPS students for Thurs., Feb. 24 from 10-noon at our office in Lansdowne. At that time we will share the current status of the LCPS budget and discuss the timeline as the budget now passes from the Board of Supervisors (BOS) and back to the School Board (SB) in April. We will also share with you how you can be (and need to be) a part of the budget process. In addition we will allow time to answer any questions you may have.

We’d love to have you attend! Please share this invitation with your contacts, as we would like to meet with as many interested parents as possible.

Email Sandy Sullivan, LEA President @ ssullivanlea@aol.com to RSVP or if you have any questions. We’d appreciate a reply by Wed., Feb. 23. If you do not RSVP, and then find you are able to attend, please join us at 10am on Wed., Feb. 24 at our office at 19465 Deerfield Ave., Suite 206 in Lansdowne.

We look forward to meeting with many LCPS parents!

School Board Adopted Budget & What You Can Do

2011-02-11T13:35:00.000-05:00

This is a summary of School Board’s (SB) adopted budget and the next steps WE must take in the budget process.

Dr. Hatrick’s proposed budget was adopted by the SB without any changes made, so the 3% COLA & no increase in class size is still included in the budget, as well as NO action to require employees to contribute all or part of their contribution to VRS.

The adoption occurred Monday, Feb. 7, BUT on Tuesday the SB had to reconsider the two motions which ended in a tie with Guzman (Sugarland Run) absent.

The motion of greatest concern to us included only a 2% COLA with the increase only being applied to the first $75,000 of salary, a $5 increase to co-pays & a shift from all employees who are on LCPS health insurance to an individual plan cost WITH coverage of a child or spouse to be paid for BY the employee (which equates to an $800-1000 average increase/year for those impacted employees).

If you would like to see Tuesday’s discussion regarding this item, 01:34:48 is the timestamp for the beginning of that motion on the webcast: http://lcps.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=23&clip_id=1329&meta_id=47638.

That motion FAILED (THANKFULLY) with the following SB members in support: Stevens (Potomac), Geurin (Sterling), Guzman (Sugarland Run) & Ohneiser (Broad Run). Please know that Patsy, Pam & I will discuss how LEA should best work with those SB members who supported that drastic cut to benefits of employees.

NOTE: The other motion that did NOT pass cut 15.5 FLES positions in order to help decrease class size. Depending upon the certification & employment status of those employees whose positions would have been cut, those employees may have been able to move into a different position within LCPS.

Now we MUST turn our attention to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) and encourage our membership, those who are not-yet members, parents and the entire community to do the same.

Our Association meeting will be held Wed., Feb. 23, 4:30-6pm at Harper Park MS. We will provide subs, chips, dessert and water so folks can eat dinner with us at our meeting and then head to the Government Center in Leesburg for the 6:30pm public hearing
.
Please plan to attend, secure 5 colleagues to join us at the budget hearing, as well as send the BOS an email (loudounbudget@loudoun.gov) showing your support of the SB’s adopted budget AND plan to speak (call 703.771.5072 to be placed on the speakers’ list).

OUR VOICES MUST BE HEARD
DO NOT FORGET…WE’RE WORTH MORE

School Board Budget Work Session--Feb. 7

2011-02-07T19:42:00.004-05:00

UPDATED AT 10:32PM--Update is in italics at end of post.
UPDATED AT 10:15PM--Update is in italics below.

In order to follow the discussion and actions of the School Board at tonight's budget work session, you can follow "the action" on the LCPS website. Just search "website" on the LCPS website OR tune into channel 18 on Comcast Cable.

LEA President, Sandy Sullivan, will post important changes made to tonight's budget.

Several School Board members stated from the dais tonight that they are hopeful the budget will be adopted tonight.

As of 10:15pm on 2/7/11 several amendments have been discussed, but none have passed. At this time Dr. Hatrick's proposed budget remains as was presented.

At 10:32pm on 2/7/11 the SB adopted their budget. NO changes were made to Dr. Hatrick's proposed budget.

Support Your Colleagues

2011-02-02T12:19:00.004-05:00

In order to support our classified staff, Education Support Professionals (ESP), purchase your t-shirt today. Follow the directions on the form below.

Member Benefits

2011-01-21T17:25:00.005-05:00

Be sure to check out all of the NEA Member Benefits available to you at http://www.neamb.com/.

Don't forget about this discount that is available currently...

File a federal form 1040EZ for FREE or save $20 on tax preparation at a participating H&R Block tax office, or do your taxes yourself with H&R Block's “At Home” online or software. Go to www.neamb.com and look under the “Money” tab in the “Discount” section to get an office coupon or start your return with At Home!

VEA Convention 2011

2011-01-11T14:31:00.002-05:00

Superintendent to Present Proposed Budget

2011-01-04T10:06:00.002-05:00

LCPS Superintendent, Dr. Edgar Hatrick, will present his proposed operating budget this Wed., Jan. 5, @ 6:30pm in the School Board meeting room at the Admin. Bldg. in Ashburn. Attending this presentation will give you the opportunity to hear firsthand what will (and will not) be included in his budget. Please take the time to attend this meeting as the budget process begins in full swing.

Also note that Saturday, January 8, 9am-1pm @ the Administration Building in Ashburn, the School Board will host an informal public information & input session on the budget. Attend this meeting and share your priorities with School Board members and administrators.

"Wear Red for Public Ed" Day

2011-01-03T15:42:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, Jan. 4, is “Wear Red for Public Ed” Day. Please plan to wear red to show your support for our nation’s public schools.

Here’s a link with more information:
http://www.edvoices.com/blog/2010/12/31/wear-red-for-public-ed/.

This action alone certainly won’t save our public schools, but it will help begin critical conversations about the importance of our public schools that is needed locally, statewide and nationally.

HUGE SUCCESS!

2010-11-16T16:49:00.000-05:00

Supervisors release Federal Funds to LCPS and employees’ pay is restored…

Today the Supervisors voted 5-3-1 to release the Federal Education Jobs Fund Grant to the School Board. The pay cut from the furlough days will be undone! Thanks to all who emailed Supervisors in support of this important item, as well as those who spoke at last night's public input session. During the discussion it was stated that the Supervisors received hundreds of emails about this item. (Way to go!!) The five Supervisors in support of the transfer of funds were: Miller (Dulles), Buckley (Sugarland Run), McGimsey (Potomac), Burton (Blue Ridge) and Kurtz (Catoctin). The 3 opposed were: York (At-Large), Waters (Broad Run) and Delgaudio (Sterling). Burk (Leesburg) recused herself from the vote because she is an employee of the school system.

$4.5 million of the federal monies will restore employee pay this year and the remaining funds (approximately $5 million) will go into the 2011-2012 (FY12) budget.

This success is a perfect example of how the Association advocates for its membership, how members speak up for themselves, and how we can all make a positive impact when we stand together!

Part 2: ACTION NEEDED: Federal Funds

2010-11-11T13:40:00.002-05:00

Please take the time today to contact the BOS members who did not vote in support of the Federal Education Jobs Fund Grant going to LCPS or do not serve on the Finance Committee. As I did yesterday, I am asking you to do two things:

~ email the Supervisors listed below to encourage them to support the Federal Jobs Funds coming to LCPS. Below is suggested text for your email—please send this email from your personal email account after school hours and include in your email how the salary freezes and pay cuts are impacting you:

Kelly Burk: supervisor.kelly.burk@loudoun.gov
Eugene Delgaudio: eugene.delgaudio@loudoun.gov
Sally Kurtz: sally.kurtz@loudoun.gov
Andrea McGimsey: Andrea.McGimsey@loudoun.gov
Lori Waters: lori.waters@loudoun.gov
Scott York: scott.york@loudoun.gov

Based on Wednesday’s vote of the Finance Committee, at your meeting next week you will have before you an item regarding allotting the Federal Education Jobs Fund Grant to the School Board. This item transfers all the Jobs Grant to LCPS, with roughly half to be used this year and the rest in FY12.

As an employee whose personal finances have been deeply impacted for three years, this is a small recognition of my hard work

Please support this important action next Tuesday.

~ plan to attend and speak at the public input session on Mon., Nov. 15 @ 7pm at the Government Center in Leesburg. This is our last opportunity before this important vote to make it clear to the Supervisors that LCPS students and employees are worth more. Simply call 703.771.5072 to be placed on the speakers list. Please feel free to contact me if you would like us to review your remarks.

We have worked on this important issue for several months now—this is the last push and your voice matters. Speak up.

We’re Worth More!!

ACTION NEEDED: Federal Funds

2010-11-10T14:33:00.002-05:00

At Wednesday’s BOS Finance Committee meeting, the committee supported a motion to allocate the entire $9.4 million dollars of the Federal Education Jobs Fund Grant to the School Board. Of that, $4.5 million will be used to restore full salaries to LCPS employees and the remaining funds will be set aside for the FY12 LCPS budget. As a result, the Association strongly encourages you to do two things:

~ email the BOS Finance Comm. members who supported this item to thank them for their right vote and encourage them to support this item when it goes before the full Board on Tuesday, November 16. Below is suggested text for your email—please send this email from your personal email account after school hours and include in your email how the salary freezes and pay cuts are impacting you :
Stevens Miller (Dulles): stevens.miller@loudoun.gov
Susan Buckley (Sugarland Run): susan.buckley@loudoun.gov
Jim Burton (Blue Ridge): jim.burton@loudoun.gov

I appreciate your vote to recommend to the full Board that the entire $9.4 million dollars of the Federal Education Jobs Fund Grant be allocated to the School Board. Choosing to have $4.5 million used this year and setting aside the remaining funds for the FY12 LCPS budget is a balanced and reasonable approach.

As an employee whose personal finances have been deeply impacted for three years, this small recognition of my continued hard work is a help to both my morale and my personal finances.

I look forward to your continued support of this item when it comes before the full Board next Tuesday.

~ plan to attend and speak at the public input session on Mon., Nov. 15 @ 7pm at the Government Center in Leesburg. This is our last opportunity before this important vote to make it clear to the Supervisors that LCPS students and employees are worth more. Simply call 703.771.5072 to be placed on the speakers list. Please feel free to contact me if you would like us to review your remarks.

The Association has worked on this important issue for several months now—this is the last push and your voice matters. Speak up.

WE’RE WORTH MORE!!

LCPS Employees Working to the Rule

2010-11-09T15:32:00.001-05:00

Currently LCPS employees are engaging in work to the rule through November 19. This is “round two” of LEA’s efforts to highlight all that the school employees do for our students every day. As we all know, LCPS has been underfunded in recent years which has resulted in increased class sizes and frozen salaries for employees (and if salaries are not made whole - a pay cut). Sitting back and not speaking up for our students and ourselves is not an option.

We are putting special emphasis on American Education week, and ask that all employees wear their “We’re Worth More” buttons. This week would also be a perfect time to be vigilant about arriving on time and leaving on time each day. Please email ssullivanlea@aol.com if you need a “We’re Worth More” button.
Also, please know that we have “They’re Worth More” buttons for community members who support our efforts. If you would like to have some buttons so you can give them to parents and others, please email ssullivanlea@aol.com.

Keep our message going strong…

We’re Worth More!

LEA- Working behind the scenes for YOU

2010-10-26T13:48:00.003-04:00

LEA works on behalf of our membership on a daily basis. Here’s one example:

Before the first School Board (SB) meeting in October, a recommended change to SB policy 2-29 Participation by the Public concerned LEA. The policy language change removed the protection for LCPS employees during public input at SB meetings. The original proposed revision would have allowed members of the public to criticize school employees in this very public (and televised) setting, with no specified limitations.

LEA immediately began conversations by email, phone and face-to-face with SB members and LCPS Division Counsel in order to advocate for the protection of employees.
Today a new staff recommendation will go before the SB at tonight’s meeting. This link (http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/Public) includes the initial proposed language change and the new revision that LEA supports.
It is just another example how LEA supports our members!

Now we continue with the active involvement of our membership to lobby the Board of Supervisors (BOS) regarding the Federal Funds (see LEA SUCCESS: Part 1 @ http://www.leaweteach.org/)). If you have not yet sent your message to the BOS, please plan to do so today from a personal email account after school hours (the link above includes the information you need).

Another important element of our lobby efforts include public input at the BOS public input session Mon., Nov. 1 @ 7pm. LEA President, Sandy Sullivan, is signed up as speaker #2 to encourage the Supervisors to allocate $4.5 million of the Federal Funds monies to LCPS. Please plan to attend and speak in support of eliminating the pay cut LCPS employees face. Simply call 703.771.5072 to be placed on the speakers’ list. As always, LEA is happy to assist with remarks.

Your Stories Count!

2010-10-21T09:42:00.002-04:00

LEA members,

We need your help. We'd like for you to share your personal story regarding the effect of three years of frozen salaries, as well as the negative impact reduced school funds are having on your students.

President Sandy Sullivan is beginning to collect stories to potentially be included in an Op-Ed piece that will highlight the impacts of the underfunding of LCPS. If you are willing to send Sandy your personal story for possible inclusion in such an article, please send your story to ssullivanlea@aol.com.

Thank you for your willingness to highlight that WE'RE WORTH MORE!

LEA SUCCESS: Part 1

2010-10-13T11:13:00.002-04:00

At Tuesday night's School Board (SB) meeting, action was taken regarding the Federal Education Jobs Fund Grant. The staff recommendation to the SB was to allocate $3.6 million towards rescinding a portion of the salary reduction due to the two furlough days. That amount would have stopped the reduction of pay beginning Dec. 1, 2010, but would not return any funds already deducted to employees.

When the recommendation was published, LEA immediately contacted our Association Reps and asked them to share information about this item with all employees and email SB members encouraging them to use $4.5 million to fully fund the published salary scales for all school employees for this school year. Also, LEA contacted individual SB members and lobbied in order for this change to be made. After much debate last evening, this motion passed. This is indeed a victory realized by all of us working together.

Now...the next step…

The Board of Supervisors (BOS) must now be reminded how these federal funds coming through the state MUST make it to LCPS in total.

LEA encourages all LCPS employees to contact the BOS regarding this matter: bos@loudoun.gov. Please email the Supervisors from your personal email address before or after school hours.

Below is a sample message for you to use as a starting point. Please begin your message with a couple of sentences regarding how the withholding of these federal monies would negatively impact you and your students. The message below can be used as a foundation but a personal story is critical to demonstrate the impact of not receiving these federal funds.

When you met on September 8th to consider a transfer of funds to LCPS for the purpose of revoking two furlough days, part of the rationale given for the majority “no” vote was that federal monies would be coming soon to LCPS, and those monies could be used for school employees. Now that the federal monies are being disbursed to the local governing bodies, I ask that you vote to expeditiously transfer the funds to LCPS. I need your critical support on this important issue.

Loudoun Education Association--lead story in October’s VEA NEWS!

2010-10-07T15:31:00.002-04:00

We are front page!
Members should have already received, or will receive very soon, October VEA NEWS. Our Loudoun Education Rally and Work to the Rule action is the lead story. Make sure you check it out: http://www.veanea.org/vea-news/1010/images/VEANews1010web.pdf

Stay tuned as we gear up for November's WTR actions (Nov. 3-19). We are creating flyers for employees and parents/the community so all can be informed about the LCPS budget, LEA's actions and how to become involved.

Thanks to all who are sharing their stories about the budget impacts and advocating on behalf of LEA members and LCPS students.

Remember, LCPS students and employees, We're Worth More!

2010-09-21T14:53:00.002-04:00

This is a copy of the email our LEA President is sending to parents who signed our petition for full funding of the school budget last spring. This message is equally applicable to other concerned parents and citizens in the Loudoun community.

Dear Parents,

I am writing to you to thank you, once again, for your support during last year’s budget battles over LCPS school funding. Your electronic signature on our petition last spring supporting full funding of the School Board’s request to the Loudoun County Supervisors was heartening to us all. Sadly, even with over 5000 total signatures, and over 3000 of them from parents, the Supervisors shortchanged the schools again. This has led the Loudoun Education Association to engage in a series of collective actions to draw the community’s attention to the critical issue of funding this year. The community, in turn, must focus that attention on the Supervisors as they decide just how much your children and our students are worth.

You may have seen recent articles in the newspapers regarding our “work to the rule” (WTR) effort. Let me be clear, during our WTR, educators will continue to provide a rigorous academic program each and every school day for your child. What they will not do is work outside the regular work day to perform the many activities they have taken on which serve to supplement the school budget. While some have tried to portray our actions as harmful to our students, we believe nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we believe that continuing to mask the deconstruction of our top-rated education program in Loudoun will result in the true harm to our children. As class sizes grow, some to the point of “spilling over”, each student receives less individual, focused time from the teacher. As each school’s population grows, each student receives less time and attention from all school staff. With less time and attention, academics suffer. Standardized test scores may not drop immediately, but they cannot, in the out years, escape the effects of educators being stretched too thin.

Additionally, this is the third year that school employees have had salaries frozen. Many are now forced to take on second jobs just to make ends meet. In addition, all school employees are slated to lose two days of pay due to furlough days scheduled in November. We all understand the economy is difficult at present, but Loudoun County continues to be rated as one of the wealthiest in the nation. We can afford to do better.

We anticipate that both salaries and per pupil expenditures for the current year will fall to dead last in the metropolitan region once these comparisons are completed. This is unacceptable. We need your support now, more than ever, to do better by our students and school employees.
If you are willing to help us in our effort to increase school funding in Loudoun to essential levels this year, please send your email address to me at: ssullivanlea@aol.com . Also, please access our website at www.leaweteach.org for updates on our efforts, and for periodic “calls for action”. Finally, if you have any questions about our WTR or other planned activities, please email me or call me at 703.858.7700.

We are counting on your help as we all work together to regain lost ground before it is too late.

Thank you for your support.

Coming soon...Letter to Parents

2010-09-20T14:56:00.003-04:00

Watch for our latest posting, an open letter to parents on 9/21/10.

Please check out our hot links that are related to the Work to the Rule and other actions.

Loudoun Education Rally...Sept. 13... RSVP Now!

2010-09-03T10:27:00.008-04:00

Please RSVP to ssullivanlea@aol.com

by Wed. Sept. 8th.

Greetings from Your President

2010-08-12T13:34:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this new school year and to LEA’s new online presence. We look forward to this new communication venue as a means to share information on a more timely basis. Our goals are to:
· increase awareness of the advantages of membership,
· highlight the cost savings opportunities for members, and
· provide accurate information to help concerned citizens stay “in the know” about the issues that impact the important work we do with LCPS students. Opportunities for involvement in supporting these endeavors will be highlighted throughout the year.

The summer was busy and included such noteworthy events as the annual National Education Association (NEA) Convention in New Orleans where you were represented by twenty of your LEA member-colleagues, and regional training opportunities also attended by LEA members. Please keep your eyes and ears open throughout the year for professional Association trainings and events that may pique your interest.

We have also spent much time preparing for the coming school year. Our LEA Crisis Committee has continued to meet throughout the summer to fine-tune our collective actions for this school year. Members should have already received a green “Save the Date” postcard from us regarding our plans for three targeted time periods for Work to the Rule (WTR). Please mark your calendars for our Loudoun Education Rally on September 13 to kick off WTR. Also, we are working to involve the community in a concerted effort to ensure that our students are treated like the asset they are.

Another item that is important for you to be aware of relates to a county budget surplus from FY09 which, in LEA’s opinion, is available to restore the two scheduled furlough days for this school year. At the August 10 School Board (SB) meeting, the Board voted to make a supplemental appropriation request of the Supervisors in the amount of $4,458,000 to offset the cost of the two furlough days for all school employees. LEA is pleased this item passed unanimously that evening, with Guzman (Sugarland) absent. Please note that LEA made two separate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests of the Supervisors over the summer in order to search for documentation of any unspent funds. The school system also sought documentation of these monies. I ask you to stay tuned and be prepared to communicate with members of the Board of Supervisors (BOS) when we share details with you regarding the timing of their vote and which members will need encouragement to make the right decision in support of this budget request.

I wish you all the best as this new school year begins. Please visit our site often to stay in the know and ready for action!

~Sandy Sullivan
LEA President