Welcome Back WEA Members | Updates and School Concerns

The start of the school year always brings a long list of moving parts. New routines, new students, new schedules, and new questions all arrive at once. This year also begins with an important foundation in place: the new WEA contract is effective as of July 1.

That contract will guide many of the conversations ahead. It also gives members a shared reference point as questions come up about time, duties, staffing, assignments, postings, and working conditions across the district. Please note the RIF process has been updated within this new contract. The contract is available on the WEA website. At this time, it has not yet been updated on the BOE pages, so members should avoid relying on older BOE-posted versions when checking contract language. Until those pages are updated, the website version is the one members should consult.

This welcome-back update brings together the major items members should have on their radar, including what building-level concerns are being raised, and which topics WEA is continuing to monitor closely.

Protecting Teacher Time During the Year

The WEA is continuing to focus on keeping time encumbered for teacher use, especially during the school day. WEA will continue to monitor how schedules are being built and how staff time is being assigned. When concerns come up, members should document the issue clearly and bring it to their building representative or a union officer. Specific information helps identify whether a situation is isolated, recurring, or connected to a broader staffing or scheduling problem.

WEA Representation on the AI Committee

Artificial intelligence is already raising questions in classrooms. WEA will have representation on the AI Committee so teacher concerns are included as the district discusses policy and practice.

Miller Driscoll Updates

Several concerns have been raised at Miller Driscoll, and they connect directly to staffing, planning time, and member duties. These issues are being followed closely because they affect both working conditions and the student experience. Our WEA President, Peggy Meurer, will start to attend building rep visits with your administrator this fall to keep clear and consistent expectations across all roles.

• Lunch and recess staffing assignments and duties are being investigated and we are seeking clarity around coverage expectations and the staffing plan for these parts of the day.

• Members have raised concerns about whether Special Education teachers at Miller Driscoll are receiving the planning time they need and are entitled to. This will remain an active issue this fall.

Cider Mill Updates

At Cider Mill, monthly meetings between building representatives and administration are continuing as a way to raise concerns, track progress, and keep communication open. These conversations are especially important around staff assignments. The WEA has identified the need for an adjustment to the substitute MOU related to staff assignments and both Peggy and David Eng-Wong, our Uniserve rep, will be addressing the need with Human Resources.

Middlebrook Updates

At Middlebrook, your representatives and officers worked hard with administration to ensure staff were not burdened with extra responsibilities/time on campus during Open House. Say thanks in the hallway! Your Middlebrook team is also hard at work ensuring duty schedules are appropriately aligned with contractual expectations and schedule.

Several members of your staff at Middlebrook are also serving on the district AI Committee. Please reach out to them with any concerns that you may have. They are there to represent you as individuals and the union as a whole.

Wilton High School Concerns

At Wilton High School, two topics have been raised: position postings and retirement workshops.

1. Members have expressed concerns about additional FTE position postings and the process of choosing a candidate. We are working with administration to ensure consistency and clarity within future hiring processes.

2. The WEA has met with administration regarding the AI policy, the disruption caused by modified scheduling during the first few weeks of school, and parking. The administration is working with us to ensure continuity and hopefully positive change in the coming months.

CEA Retirement workshops are scheduled for October

Retirement workshops are scheduled for October. These sessions will be important for members who are considering retirement, nearing eligibility, or simply trying to understand future options.

• 8 Oct | Stamford Academy of Information Tech and Engineering 4pm - 615pm

• 15 Oct | Danbury Broadview Middle School 4pm to 6.15pm.

Districtwide Concerns Include Advanced Degrees and Summer Work

Several concerns extend beyond one building. Two items in particular have been raised this fall: advanced degree institutions and summer work selection.

Advanced degree institutions need a clear protocol

Members have raised concerns related to advanced degree institutions and denials of the accredited programs by HR. The WEA is aware that this affects how degrees are recognized on the salary grid, how credits are reimbursed and how members navigate enrollment requirements.

The WEA is addressing this issue with Maria Coleman to seek clarity so members understand expectations before committing to programs or coursework. We will update you once we have more informaiton.

Summer work selection should be transparent

Summer work selection is another area where members have asked for attention. When summer opportunities are available, the process should be clear and consistent. We will be addressing the "voluntold" element of summer work with Central Office and adminstration. All summer work is voluntary and there should be no pressure or expectation to complete a day during the summer.

MOVING FORWARD

The best way to protect strong working conditions is to stay informed and share concerns early. Many issues are easiest to address when they are documented clearly and raised before they become routine.

Welcome back, and thank you for the work already underway in classrooms, schools, and teams across the district. Staying connected will help ensure that concerns are heard, contract language is followed, and members have the support they need throughout the year.

Your Executive Board

Peggy Meurer, Darren Gunn, Cindy Cherico, Michelle Charlton, Suzannah Karlins, Kelly Holtz