This week begins the 7th week of the ISTA Trusteeship – Ed has been in Indiana since May 18 and Ann since June 8.  We’ve managed to get out to see some of you at the UD meetings at Shadeland, Logansport and Bloomington and we’ve met a lot of you, though not everyone, at headquarters.  We’re very grateful for and impressed with the professionalism and dedication we’ve encountered.  This is a very difficult time for the ISTA staff, both for those employees directly affected by the staff cuts and for the rest of you who are long-time friends and colleagues of the staff who are losing their jobs.

 

We have dedicated our Massachusetts careers to the union movement and to the teachers and education support professionals who make public education work for this country.  The nature of the task with which we have been entrusted with here in Indiana is not one we could ever have anticipated, but its success is as important to us as any we have undertaken in the past.  Fundamentally our job is to identify and implement swiftly the drastic steps needed to put ISTA on the road back to financial well-being while honoring commitments, moral and contractual, which are at the core of ISTA’s values.  From what we have seen we firmly believe that ISTA can and will emerge from this crisis in a strong position to carry on its mission as a powerful advocate for teachers and education support professionals and for the children of Indiana who depend on ISTA’s members.  That said, we are also convinced that, as a result of this crisis, ISTA must change the way it does business so that it becomes a more efficient and effective organization, able to meet ISTA’s financial challenges, which will take many years to resolve.

 

With this message we are launching a weekly communication with ISTA staff.  We will use it to keep you informed of important developments in our organization and in the environment in which we operate.  We welcome your suggestions for what would be useful for you.  We regard this as a work in progress but would be interested in any initial thoughts you have and could pass on to us this week.  Direct them to Cheryl Cherry by email by Wednesday so that we can take them into account right away.

 

A few things to note this week.

 

Special Representative Assembly:  On June 20, the Special Representative Assembly met.  Three hundred forty-five (345) delegates were present.  Nate reported to the delegates on the events leading up to his request to NEA for trusteeship and steps that have been taken to address the most pressing financial issues.  His report was very well received by the delegates, often interrupted by applause and several standing ovations.  Teresa moved, Kathy seconded, and the delegates approved, a bylaw amendment for a $40 dues increase which will be reviewed no later than 2012. Kathy presented ISTA’s revised budget which was also adopted.  This week at the NEA RA, Nate will be addressing the NEA Board to report to them on the trusteeship.

 

Realignment of UniServ Service Districts:  On Friday we sent a plan for realignment of UniServ service districts out to affected locals and districts.  All staff were sent a copy of the memo and plan and we welcome your input on that.  Direct any comments to Ann by July 10.

 
Dan is in the process of scheduling meetings to which affected UD’s and UA’s will be invited.

 

Office closings and consolidations:  A list of offices which will be closed or consolidated is attached.  Dan Clark and Larry Davis are working on the myriad of details involved in this process (phones, computers, disposition of furniture etc.) and we will be communicating about those details as the process moves along.  This issue will be part of the meetings referred to above.

 

Membership Campaign:  NEA has offered to provide assistance to ISTA as we gear up to assure that the 2009 membership drive is successful.  We will be meeting with the NEA folks after the NEA RA to see what helpful resources NEA might be able to provide.  In addition, useful suggestions were made at the Logansport and Bloomington meetings and before the 2009 membership meetings are underway, we will be refining the message for the fall campaign.

 

• Medical.  ISTA will transition from a self-funded medical benefits program under the Insurance Trust to a fully-insured relationship with UHC. 
• LTD.  ISTA currently self-funds this benefit through the Insurance Trust.  We re seeking a carrier to take over this plan.
• Dental.  ISTA employees presently receive their coverage through Delta Dental and that coverage is continuing.
• Vision.  ISTA employees presently receive their coverage through Vision Services Plan and that coverage is continuing.
• Life.  Coverage is provided through MetLife and is continuing.
• Long Term Care.  MedAmerica is our carrier and that coverage is continuing.

In the coming months, several of these policies will be up for renewal and with those, as in all matters impacting ISTA finances, we will be conducting a thorough review.

401A, 403B and |VEBA benefits for ISTAS members:  Discussions are underway with Met Life concerning a number of issues, including our service delivery model.  We’ll keep you informed of this and other issues concerning these employee benefit programs for ISTA members as we make progress in resolving transition issue on a number of fronts.

This week at the State House:  A major effort is underway to settle a state budget within the next 2-3 days.  ISTA continues to advocate for increases in school funding and for a school funding formula which is fair to all schools.  The worsening state recession and declining state revenues continue to threaten school funding.  The focus of our legislative efforts are to ensure that  (1) no funding for private school tax credits is included in the budget and (2) language to evaluate teachers by student test results is not included in the budget. 
Check the ISTA's Legislative Hotline for updates.

 

Management meetings:  Every morning at 8:30 we meet with Nate Schnellenberger, Dan Clark, Larry Davis and Chuck Rolph.  If you have any matters that you would like to bring to our attention, talk to Dan, Larry or Chuck who will bring that matter to our attention at our 8:30 meeting the next day.

 

We wish you and your families an enjoyable Fourth of July.