Author: ieaesp

This short video shows how the Fair Tax amendment will fix Illinois’ broken tax system, ensuring that 97% of Illinoisans—those who make $250,000 a year or less—get a tax cut or pay no more than they do now. Working people need relief now more than ever, and that’s exactly what Fair Tax reform will provide. 

Education support professionals are essential front line workers. During spring ESPs have provided a wide variety of services from child care to children of essential workers to supporting students through virtual platforms. Education support professionals have been and will continue to be an intricate piece to the success of distance learning.

Many districts will be returning remotely this fall and within these districts ESPs job expectations vary greatly. What are some duties ESPs in your districts are doing? Please share in the comments below or send to Jill.scarcelli@ieanea.org

You know what they say about the best laid plans!! I want to apologize about the technical difficulties with yesterdays IEA ESP Roundtable! We will work on the issues for next months Roundtable on September 19th. For those who were able to attend, we did have a fabulous discussion with Dr. Stacy Young about ESP Health and Safety As We Return To School. Once the audio is ready it will be uploaded to IEA’s Members Only site.

Thank you again for your patience!!

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) announced a medical review panel that will determine if school district re-opening plans are safe for students, staff and communities.

The panel, which will consist of more than a dozen doctors, will review district plans that educators fear may not be safe under public health guidelines. The panel will then determine whether the plans meet a list of commonly agreed upon protocols.

“We will be watching to make sure our students’ and educators’ health and safety is being protected.  And if the panel finds a district is operating in a way that puts lives at risk, we will do everything in our power to keep people safe,” IEA President Kathi Griffin said.

National Education Support Professionals Day is an important part of NEA’s American Education Week celebration, taking place November 16-20.

!!Don’t miss this great opportunity!!

ESPs please join us for our next ESP Empowerment Roundtable where we will discuss ESPs health and safety as we return to school. Our guest speaker is from Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP)

This Thursday August 6th, 6:30-8:00pm

Register here: https://bit.ly/ESPRoundtable

This reviews your rights under federal law. Always check with your local and state associations for assistance in enforcing these rights and about additional rights you may have under state laws, collective bargaining agreements or memorandums of understanding with the employer, or policies. 

BY ALICE O’BRIEN, NEA GENERAL COUNSEL

Q: CAN MY SCHOOL INSULATE ITSELF FROM LIABILITY BY FORCING ME TO SIGN A DOCUMENT WAIVING MY LEGAL REMEDIES I MIGHT HAVE IF I CONTRACT COVID-19 ON THE JOB?

Some schools have reportedly asked educators to sign documents waiving any rights they have against the school based on exposure to COVID-19. These waivers are not enforceable for several reasons. First, employees cannot be asked to waive their rights under the workers’ compensation laws, which would likely be their main source of recovery for contracting COVID-19 at work. Second, to the extent the school has an obligation under occupational health laws to maintain a safe workplace, that duty cannot be waived. Third, tenured teachers generally cannot be disciplined or fired for refusing a demand to decrease their workplace protections. Fourth, in states with collective bargaining for school employees, schools cannot unilaterally change educators’ working conditions without bargaining with the union.

We are all teachers…whether you have a certificate or not. If you love a child, listen to a child, support a child, and yes teach a child, you are a teacher. This includes learning within a classroom or hallway… ESPs come in many job categories, and each and everyone is essential to the education and well being of the child.

Many of us don’t know what this next school year brings, or maybe you have been given a “plan”. Don’t worry… If we’ve learned anything that “plan” will change tomorrow. This school year for many of us will look very different. Different is change and change is hard. As we look to this year, the most important thing we need to decide is…is the “plan” that my district is presenting safe, following CDC and IDPH guidelines? Will I have all the PPE that I will need to stay safe? Your health and the health of your students is the most important thing there is!! If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to your union president or uniserv director. NEA IEA are here to support you!!

Today, in a joint statement with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, we are announcing how we are fighting for our members and our students, including supporting health and safety strikes.

Read the full statement here: https://ieanea.org/…/joint-statement-from-the-illinois-edu…/