GEA NEWSLETTER
January 10, 2022
Greenwich Education Association Executive Board
*Updated Emails:
Lillian Perone, President -- president@greenwicheducationassociation.org
Lori Mulligan, VP Secondary -- vpsecondary@greenwicheducationassociation.org
Melissa D'Amato, VP Elementary -- vpelementary@greenwicheducationassociation.org
Chrissy Distel, VP of Communications -- communications@greenwicheducationassociation.org
Jessica Punchatz, VP of Membership -- membership@greenwicheducationassociation.org
Chuck Costello, PR&R Chair - prr@greenwicheducationassociation.org
Secretary -- secretary@greenwicheducationassociation.org
Courtney Powers, Treasurer -- treasurer@greenwicheducationassociation.org
PAC/BOE Chair, Aaron Johnson -- pac@greenwicheducationassociation.org
GEA Leadership At Work
News & Recaps
- Class Coverage Data Form: If your administration requires you to cover another class/duty, please fill out this form. The GEA Executive Board uses this valuable data in our meetings with Dr. Jones and cabinet members.
- GEA President Lillian Perone met with Dr. Jones on Wednesday and Thursday evenings of last week advocating for the need to make weather related decisions in a timely manner in order to protect the safety of every teacher. Dr. Jones then sent an email stating the District aims to make these decisions by 5:30am, and made the call for Friday's snow day on Thursday evening. We hope everyone enjoyed the snow day and had a safe and relaxing weekend!
- In another collaborative effort between Lillian Perone and Dr. Jones, our professional learning day on Friday, January 14 will be virtual and teachers may participate from their classrooms or from home!
- At-Home Covid Tests: GPS has received their delivery of at-home Covid tests. Staff members who have been directly exposed or are symptomatic may obtain one from their school nurse.
- Students who are symptomatic or have been directly exposed may receive a Covid test to take at home from the school nurse. If the parent's permission is obtained first, then the student may be tested at school.
- N95 masks have also been delivered. You may request one from your main office or school nurse.
- Quarantine Days: Lillian Perone met with Dr. Jones regarding the use of quarantine days vs. sick days. If you are quarantining due to Covid, put in for your sick days through Frontline as you typically would. Then email HR, notify them you are quarantining due to Covid, and ask them to change your sick days to quarantine days. Your sick days should be returned. *HR has recently begun denying this request under the false reasoning that quarantine days can only be used for in-school transmissions. Our contract language does NOT specify the origin of transmission. Our contract says: "Leave because of quarantine, by order of the Board of Health, shall not be deducted from accumulated sick leave." Article 13 #3 (pg 17) Regardless of where the transmission occurred, you are still required to quarantine by the Board of Health for the designated time. Therefore, if you are denied your quarantine days, please contact Lill at president@greenwicheducationassociation.org. We hope to have this matter resolved soon with HR, but are prepared to continue advocating for the appropriate use of quarantine days.
New CDC and CT DPH Guidance on Five Day Isolation and/or Quarantines
The CDC and CT DPH now support a five-day isolation after a person tests positive, with a return to school on Day 6. On the advice of our health professionals, GPS has implemented this new five-day rule for students and staff.
An easy way to follow this new guideline is that you can return to school by adding one week/minus a day from the day you tested positive.
The Connecticut DPH has recommended the latest CDC guidelines for isolation and quarantine:
For those who test positive for COVID:
- Stay home for five days
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after five days, you can leave your house
- Continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days
- If you have a fever, continue to stay home for 24 hours until your fever resolves
For those with COVID symptoms, regardless of vaccination status:
- Test for COVID, either self-test or at a testing site, and stay home
- If test results are negative, return to activities when fever-free for at least 24 hours and other symptoms are significantly improved
- If test results are positive, isolate for at least five days, return to activities on Day 6 or later when fever-free for at least 24 hours and other symptoms are significantly improved
- Wear a mask at all times when around others for an additional five days when returning to activities
Holiday Bear 2021
Thanks to the amazing generosity of our teachers, over $19,000 was raised for this year’s Holiday Bear. 290 GPS students and families received gifts this holiday season, 187 students at the elementary level alone! A large donation from the Umbrella Club also covered 49 students. Between community sponsors and our incredible staff donations, every student identified in the Holiday Bear project received gifts and will have an extra special holiday this year. Thank you teachers for all your help and support donating, shopping, and wrapping and delivering gifts! A huge thank you to Kristen Mulhearn for organizing and spearheading this wonderful program! What a heartwarming display of the true meaning of the holidays!
Updates from the Executive Board
President
Charles Costello has been appointed as Chairperson of the PR&R Committee. Congratulations Charles! Charles's new email is prr@greenwicheducationassociation.org.
Chrissy Distel was voted by the Executive Board to complete the remaining term of VP of Communications. Congratulations Chrissy! Chrissy's new email is communications@greenwicheducationassociation.org.
Courtney Powers was voted by the Executive Board to complete the remaining term of Treasurer. Congratulations Courtney! Courtney's email is treasurer@greenwicheducationassociation.org.
*Please update your contact information accordingly.*
The PR&R Committee closed one grievance. Another grievance has been initiated on behalf of members denied quarantine days. PR&R is currently examining Covid protocols and BOE policies under the new CDC and District guidelines, and its effectiveness in schools.
Contract Negotiations:
The collective bargaining process and negotiations team is the backbone of our union. Negotiations will begin this Spring. We are looking for an even number of elementary and secondary (high school and middle school) teachers to join the Negotiations Team. If you are interested in being part of this integral process and participating on the Negotiations Team, please contact GEA President Lillian Perone at president@greenwicheducationassociation.org.
Elementary
The demand to bargain for the change in working conditions in the ALP Department has been submitted.
Melissa has been meeting with Marc D'Amico and Dr. Stacey Heiligenthaler regarding special education concerns.
Please take note of anything you read, see or hear about that may help us in negotiations. I have already received articles from staff. Keep it coming!
Secondary
Lori and Lill would like to thank the MS/HS building reps for their communication and tireless efforts with members during the first week of January.
CEA Awards season is upon us! If you would like to nominate yourself or a colleague for one of CEA's Awards, please contact Lori Mulligan. A description of CEA Award categories can be viewed at this link: https://cea.org/grants-and-awards/
Treasurer
GEA welcomes aboard our new Treasurer, GHS teacher Courtney Powers!
Reminder - Don't forget to download your December 24th paystub from ADP and save it to compare to your 2021 W2 form for tax season. Please see GEA Pay Day Letter 2021 for helpful tips and please join Google Classroom “New Teachers Orientation 2021-2022” for ADP sign in directions.
Communications
We need your help growing GEA leadership!
If you have any interest in joining a communications committee, please fill out this survey. The committees are Website & Social Media, Newsletter, and Public Relations. We would love to see more members get involved!
Secretary
If you have any interest in joining a secretary committee, please fill out this survey. These include the Elections Committee and the Constitutional Review Committee. We would appreciate your help!
PAC/BOE
December 16th BOE Meeting:
- President's Comments: https://youtu.be/SR1LoBRsTpY?t=607
- BOE passed the operating budget of 176.6 million dollars. There was a late addition of neatly $300,000 to account for a large 15% increase in a transportation contract.
- BOE allocated $250,000 for planning a new CMS building.
- BOE passed a 30 million dollar capital project budget.
Membership
GEA & CEA are excited to offer Greenwich members a virtual Leaves of Absence Workshop focused on helping teachers better understand their rights and procedures around various leaves (medical, maternity, etc.). Save the date - 1/18 @ 4pm!
If you have any interest in joining a membership committee, please fill out the survey. The committees are: Social, New Members, Minority Equity, and Members Benefits. We can use your help! Many hands make light work!
Thursday, Jan 27th @ 6:30-7:00pm - GEA Virtual Comedy Show with Devin Siebold.
Covid Relief Program for Teachers
If you contracted COVID-19 and experienced financial hardship due to lost wages or out-ofpocket medical expenses, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement from the Connecticut Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Program.