It's not to late to register for WTU's Summer Institute at Kimball Elementary School. Four exciting new courses plus yoga breaks, ice cream socials, line dancing, and more! Come spend a week socializing and learning from your colleagues! Classes start Monday, June 26th! A light breakfast and registration begins at 9:30AM. Classes start promptly at 10AM. To learn more, register here.

Here's What's Brewing Today

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

The WTU would like to thank you for another great year. As we celebrate Graduation and the end of another school year, I hope that you'll take a moment to reflect on the successes of this past year. It's through your hard work and dedication to our students, and to our Union, that we are able to achieve so much.

On Juneteenth, we celebrated not only the end of slavery in the United States but honor the resilience and strength of Black Americans. As a union, let's continue to fight for justice and equality for all.

Before the school year ends, we have one more request. Please complete your workplace violence survey. We need all responses by Friday, June 23^rd.

WTU hopes you take time during this summer break to rest and take care of yourself. We wish you a safe, fun and exciting summer. We look forward to working together when you come back to ensure a signed contract by September 30, 2023.

Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks is OPEN

Join the WTU Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks. If you are already a member, there is no need to rejoin.

Click here to join the WTU Sick Leave or Maternity Leave Banks

Contact Charmaine Wilks at 202 517-1475 or at [email protected] to enroll or with any questions. Open enrollment will occur from June 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023. After you complete the form, you will receive a confirmation email from Google Forms; be sure to check your spam folder.

Boundaries Meeting

From DCPS - Technology Advisory Committee

Are you passionate about creating equitable and inclusive education through the power of technology? Then, we invite you to apply for the Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) and become a driving force behind developing comprehensive agency standards for technology in DCPS classrooms.

As a diverse group of DCPS representatives across schools and wards, the TAC plays a crucial role in supporting DCPS' mission to achieve digital equity. Our primary objectives include:

• Actively engaging in developing key recommendations.
• Distilling short- and long-term priorities for consideration.
• Informing sustainable, equity-centered standards and structures for DCPS.

Together, we will have honest discussions, identify problems, and propose creative and thoughtful solutions that shape the future of technology integration in DCPS classrooms.

Whether you are a school leader, instructional staff member, tech POC, or a family member of a DCPS student, your unique perspective and expertise are invaluable. If you are ready to make a meaningful impact and contribute to advancing digital equity, we encourage you to submit your application by June 19, 2023, at 5 pm EST. If, for any reason, you are unable to apply to the committee, we kindly request that you recommend someone whom you believe would be interested in joining us. For any questions or further information, please click here or contact Bilan Jama at [email protected].

Don't miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of educational innovation and help pave the way for a brighter future in DCPS. Apply now and let your voice be heard!

DCPS in the news

• Ultimate frisbee is growing. Jackson-Reed in D.C. is at the forefront. - The Washington Post

Ward 5 Annual back to school drive

4th Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive and Giveaway (google.com)

AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, June 12, 2023

Happy Pride Month! WTU hopes that you had an opportunity to attend or participate in some of the fun and exciting Pride events in and around the District this weekend!

We will receive the remainder of our retro payment on Friday, June 16^th. Retro payments were loaded into the PeopleSoft system all weekend. City Administrator, Kevin Donahue informed WTU that the District should finish programing all the retro payments onto PeopleSoft by the close of business on Tuesday, June 13^th. Please reach out to your WTU Field Representative if you do not see your entire retro payment in the system by this Wednesday.

Our dedicated WTU Contract Bargaining Team met again this past Thursday and they worked hard preparing contract proposals for DCPS. Each week, you can watch a video of what they accomplished on our social media channels or website – www.wtulocal6.net.  WTU would also like to thank the 500+ members who have taken the time to fill out the Violence in Schools Survey.  We still need to hear from more members. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to check your email and fill it out. WTU will bring your feedback directly to our city leaders and the contract negotiating table.

As the school year winds down, WTU hopes you will remember to join the WTU Sick Leave Bank. We also hope you plan to participate in this year’s WTU Summer Institute. Please check out this year’s list of courses and take advantage of classes that count as PLUs or graduate credits

WTU Membership Meeting - June 13, 2023 at 4:30 PM

We hope all WTU members will join us at our June 13 Membership Meeting! Click here to register to attend! Registration is required. After your membership is confirmed, you will receive an email with a link to join the meeting from WTUno[email protected]. Check your spam folder if it isn’t in your inbox.

NEWS FROM THE WTU ELECTIONS COMMITTEE:

2023 WTU ELECTIONS
The Elections Committee would like to thank those members who exercised their rights and came out to vote on Friday June 9, 2023. Full election results will be posted on the WTU Website by Tuesday June 13, 2023. Reminder that there is a 15-day period (June 24, 2023) to contest election results. If you have any questions for the Elections Committee email [email protected].

2023 WTU ELECTION WINNERS

Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks is OPEN

Join the WTU Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks. If you are already a member, there is no need to rejoin.

Click here to join the WTU Sick Leave or Maternity Leave Banks

Contact Charmaine Wilks at 202 517-1475 or at [email protected] to enroll or with any questions. Open enrollment will occur from June 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023. After you complete the form, you will receive a confirmation email from Google Forms; be sure to check your spam folder.

WTU Constitution and Bylaws

There has been a petition submitted to amend the WTU Constitution and Bylaws. The petition will be voted on during the membership meeting on June 13. See below. If the WTU membership passes the amendment, it will go to the American Federation of Teachers for review.

Contract Team update

DCPS in the News

• In DCPS Procurement Scandal, Black-Owned Small Businesses Weigh In
• Southeast DC shooting causes nearby school to go into lockdown | wusa9.com
• Students Explore Academics, Impact and Employment at Youth Environmental Summit - The Washington Informer
• High School Students Prove to Be Seasoned Jazz Musicians - The Washington Informer

Retirement Seminar

It’s never too early to plan for your retirement. The DC Retirement Board has offered to host another retirement session in June. Day and time of the session will be based on the DCRB’s availability. Please complete this form to indicate your interest in attending a retirement session in June. Click here to express interest in attending a future session.

AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, June 5, 2023

WTU Membership Meeting - June 13, 2023

We hope all WTU members will join us at our June 13 Membership Meeting! Click here to register to attend! After your membership is confirmed, you will receive an email with a link to join the meeting from WTU[email protected]. Check your spam folder if it isn’t in your inbox.

NEWS FROM THE WTU ELECTIONS COMMITTEE:

2023 WTU ELECTIONS

THE WTU 2023 Elections will be held at Eastern Senior High School, 1700 East Capitol St NE, Washington, DC 20002, on Friday June 9, 2023 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. Parking is available; Eastern is Metro Accessible. Please walk with a form of picture identification as verification that you are a full dues paying member will occur. Please be advised you must be a full dues paying member in order to vote in the upcoming election. 

The Ballot Count will begin at 8:15pm, at which time only verified observers will be present. Each candidate has an opportunity to have an observer present on their behalf. Candidates are not allowed at the count. Candidates will receive the form to identify their observer in the upcoming week. 

Please exercise your democratic right as a full dues paying WTU member and come out to vote!

Elections results will be shared with the membership on Monday June 12th in the Morning Brew and posted to the WTU Website by Tuesday June 13th. 

If you have any questions about the upcoming elections you can email the WTU Elections Committee at [email protected]

Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks is OPEN

Join the WTU Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks. If you are already a member, there is no need to rejoin. Contact Charmaine Wilks at 202 517-1475 or at [email protected] to enroll or with any questions. Open enrollment will occur from June 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023. After you complete the form, you will receive a confirmation email from Google Forms; be sure to check your spam folder.

Click here to join the WTU Sick Leave or Maternity Leave Banks

Sick Leave Buy-Back (from last week)

Applications for Sick Leave Buy-Back are now available for use in accordance with the current WTU Agreement. Article 17 Leave Policy and subpart Sections 17.1.11.1 and 17.1.11.2 states: “Teachers who have perfect attendance (no absences and no use of sick leave during a given school year) shall have the right to return to DCPS all of the sick leave they accrued during the year. A Teacher may elect to return to DCPS one half (1/2) of the sick leave days accrued but not taken during the current year at the current daily rate of pay. Unreturned sick leave shall be credited each year to the Teacher’s sick leave balance and shall not be subject to the Sick Leave Buy-Back Plan.” Applications will be available at school sites for any teacher who elects to participate in the plan. The deadline for submission of the application is June 9, 2023. Additionally, sick leave buy-back applications can be obtained

Retirement Seminar

It’s never too early to plan for your retirement. The DC Retirement Board has offered to host another retirement session in June. Day and time of the session will be based on the DCRB’s availability. Please complete this form to indicate your interest in attending a retirement session in June. Click here to express interest in attending a future session.

AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Here's What's Brewing Today

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

The WTU is incredibly concerned about violence in our community and its impact on you and on our students. We continue to work with the administration and the Council to ensure that our city invests in proactive measures to help prevent violence across our community. And we need to hear from you about the extent violence impacts you in our classrooms.

Please share your experiences around violence in our schools here

WTU Membership Meeting - June 13, 2023

Registration is required WTU Membership Meeting. Please click here to register and join us.

Update from the Contract Negotiations

The WTU Contract met for the second time this week to prepare for negotiations with DCPS in June. Click here for an update from the negotiating team.

DC Council Hearing on “Out of School Time Special Education Inclusion and Standards Amendment Act of 2023”

Monday, June 5^th is the deadline to sign up to testify at the COW hearing on Bill 25-36, “Out of School Time Special Education Inclusion and Standards Amendment Act of 2023.” Click here to sign-up.

Sick Leave Buy-Back (from last week)

Applications for Sick Leave Buy-Back are now available for use in accordance with the current WTU Agreement. Article 17 Leave Policy and subpart Sections 17.1.11.1 and 17.1.11.2 states: “Teachers who have perfect attendance (no absences and no use of sick leave during a given school year) shall have the right to return to DCPS all of the sick leave they accrued during the year. A Teacher may elect to return to DCPS one half (1/2) of the sick leave days accrued but not taken during the current year at the current daily rate of pay. Unreturned sick leave shall be credited each year to the Teacher’s sick leave balance and shall not be subject to the Sick Leave Buy-Back Plan.”

Applications will be available at school sites for any teacher who elects to participate in the plan. The deadline for submission of the application is June 9, 2023. Additionally, sick leave buy-back applications can be obtained

Revised DINR Window From DCPS (from last week)

DCPS is asking us to send this message to apologize for an error which resulted in you not receiving communications regarding the Declaration of Intent Not to Return (DINR) application opening, as well as key dates for the DINR process. The DINR instructions and a revised timeline for any WTU member who did not receive notification follow:

We acknowledge that personal decisions may lead you to depart DCPS. As outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) and DCPS, the DINR process provides WTU members who do not intend to continue employment with DCPS for SY 23-24 an online form to indicate their separation intent. This requirement applies to members who are retiring as well as resigning from the school system. As such, we are reaching out to share a revised DINR application schedule for those WTU members affected by the communication error.

Please note, WTU members receiving this communication who submit a DINR application by May 26, 2023, and do in fact leave the school district of their own accord at the conclusion of the school year, shall be eligible for a one-time $1,000 bonus payable by September 30, 2023. Members receiving this communication who do not submit the DINR application by May 26, 2023, at 5 PM, and voluntarily separate from DCPS during the 2022-2023 school year or at any point before or during the 2023-2024 school year, may be required to pay a $1,000 penalty fine to DCPS.

The DINR application will serve as your resignation letter and the effective date of separation will be June 26, 2023 (10-month WTU employees), July 5, 2023 (11-month WTU employees), or July 7, 2023 (12-month WTU employees). This date ensures you will receive all owed payments.

If you intend to return to DCPS for the 2023-2024 school year, you do not need to take action.

To participate in the 2023 DINR process, please apply online here: Resignations and Retirement Application.  

Questions regarding this process can be directed to the off boarding team at [email protected].

DCPS in the news

• Mayoral Control: How D.C.’s Education Governance System Is Failing (washingtoncitypaper.com)
• Social Media and youth mental health: Surgeon General Issues New Advisory About Effects Social Media Use Has on Youth Mental Health | HHS.gov

The DME wants your Input for boundary study

Click here to make your voice heard.

AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, May 22, 2023

Tragically two more students lost their life to gun violence last week. Please keep the families, friends, teachers and communities of Arianna Davis and Jefferson Luna-Perez in your thoughts and prayers.

The WTU is incredibly concerned about violence in our community and its impact on our students and teachers. We continue to work with the administration and the Council to ensure that our city invests in proactive measures to help prevent violence across our community. On Wednesday, you will receive a survey on violence in our schools and the community. We hope you will take a moment to fill it out. Educators are on the front line and know best how to craft solutions that will work.

Teacher Leaders

Congratulations to Teacher Leaders Tanesha Chang, Ina Slaughter, Shaunta Morris, Chandler Dennard, Candice Pettus, Michael Edgerton, Ana Williams and Celeste Locke who presented their 10 month long research project on Saturday. Special thanks to Nadia Torney and Margaret Thomas who were the facilitators. The leaders presented dynamic and informative research and we hope to have additional opportunities for them to present their work to you. Special thanks to Nadia Torney and Margaret Thomas who were the facilitators. Thank you also to all of our members and community leaders who attended the Teacher Leader Symposium in support.

Retro Pay

Please contact your Field Rep if you weren’t paid the correct amount of retro pay on Friday, May 19^th

• WTU members active since School Year 2020-2021 would receive $3,000.
• WTU members active since School Year 2021-2022 would receive $2,000.
• WTU members active since School Year 2022-2023 would receive $1,000.

Sick Leave Buy-Back

Applications for Sick Leave Buy-Back are now available for use in accordance with the current WTU Agreement. Article 17 Leave Policy and subpart Sections 17.1.11.1 and 17.1.11.2 states: “Teachers who have perfect attendance (no absences and no use of sick leave during a given school year) shall have the right to return to DCPS all of the sick leave they accrued during the year. A Teacher may elect to return to DCPS one half (1/2) of the sick leave days accrued but not taken during the current year at the current daily rate of pay. Unreturned sick leave shall be credited each year to the Teacher’s sick leave balance and shall not be subject to the Sick Leave Buy-Back Plan.”

Applications will be available at school sites for any teacher who elects to participate in the plan. The deadline for submission of the application is June 9, 2023. Additionally, sick leave buy-back applications can be obtained via email from Tisa McGhee at [email protected]. 

For more details, click here. For the application, click here.

DCPS in the news

• 17-year-old student fatally shot outside Roosevelt High School in D.C.
  
• 10-year-old who was shot on Sunday dies (msn.com)
• C. Council Quietly Backtracks On Pulling Police Officers Out Of Schools
• Roosevelt High Student Fatally Shot In School’s Parking Lot
• Hardy Middle School principal leaves after parent complaints - The Washington Post
• C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Congress, crime, and the Commanders
• 7 DC high school students, future marine biologists earn certification in scuba diving (msn.com)

The DME wants your Input for boundary study

Click here to make your voice heard.

Revised DINR Window From DCPS

DCPS is asking us to send this message to apologize for an error which resulted in you not receiving communications regarding the Declaration of Intent Not to Return (DINR) application opening, as well as key dates for the DINR process. The DINR instructions and a revised timeline for any WTU member who did not receive notification follow:

We acknowledge that personal decisions may lead you to depart DCPS. As outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) and DCPS, the DINR process provides WTU members who do not intend to continue employment with DCPS for SY 23-24 an online form to indicate their separation intent. This requirement applies to members who are retiring as well as resigning from the school system. As such, we are reaching out to share a revised DINR application schedule for those WTU members affected by the communication error.

Please note, WTU members receiving this communication who submit a DINR application by May 26, 2023, and do in fact leave the school district of their own accord at the conclusion of the school year, shall be eligible for a one-time $1,000 bonus payable by September 30, 2023. Members receiving this communication who do not submit the DINR application by May 26, 2023, at 5 PM, and voluntarily separate from DCPS during the 2022-2023 school year or at any point before or during the 2023-2024 school year, may be required to pay a $1,000 penalty fine to DCPS.

The DINR application will serve as your resignation letter and the effective date of separation will be June 26, 2023 (10-month WTU employees), July 5, 2023 (11-month WTU employees), or July 7, 2023 (12-month WTU employees). This date ensures you will receive all owed payments.

If you intend to return to DCPS for the 2023-2024 school year, you do not need to take action.

To participate in the 2023 DINR process, please apply online here: Resignations and Retirement Application.  

Questions regarding this process can be directed to the off boarding team at [email protected].

AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

WTU President Pogue-Lyons issued a statement to Channel 4 News on the murder of a 17-year-old student outside his high school, calling it an "unspeakable tragedy." She emphasized the need for community schools, which provided much-needed wraparound services for students and their families, especially mental health services, counseling and mentoring. To watch the full news story, click here.

Fox 5 News reporters interviewed WTU President Jacqui Pogue-Lyons and Teacher Clare Berke about how DCPS' delay in retroactive pay affects teachers. Read/watch the full story here. @WTUTeacher #RedforEd #Teachers #Unions

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, May 15, 2023

We want you to know the WTU is working diligently to make sure you receive the full amount of back pay due. We apologize for being put in the position to bring you the disappointing news of the delay in back pay at the beginning of what should have been a joyful week. WTU will continue to update you on any new developments in retro pay as soon as they are available. 

WTU is excited to announce that the WTU Executive Board has voted and the WTU Contract Bargaining Team will have its first meeting to prepare for going back to the table with DCPS on Thursday, May 18^th.  Finally, thank again to those of you who attended WTU’s Teacher Appreciation Party last Friday at Coolidge High School. Check out our website for some wonderful photos/videos from the event! 

• Channel 4 News - DC Teacher Back Pay Delayed
• The Washington Times – Complications Delay Retroactive Pay to Teachers 

Teacher Leaders

Throughout this school year, our WTU Teacher Leaders invested their time and attention to researching issues of interest to them as DC teachers. You will have an opportunity to hear about their research first-hand on Saturday, May 20^th from 9-3PM. To register, please click here.

DCPS in the news

• DC teachers’ retroactive pay delayed due to ‘administrative complications,’ union says - WTOP News
• DCPS Disciplines Staffers Over Unauthorized Payments on Million-Dollar Contracts
• Thousands of DC teachers waiting for pay raise will now have to wait even longer | WJLA
• DCPS Disciplines Staffers Over Unauthorized Payments on Million-Dollar Contracts
• DCPS Unlawfully Awarded $270 Million Worth Of Contracts | DCist
• DC teachers speak out after yet another delayed paycheck from the city (fox5dc.com)

Give your input and attend a meeting on:

Deputy Mayor’s master facility plan
DC Public Education Master Facilities Plan 2023 | dme

Master Facilities Plan meetings:

• Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (click here)
• Wednesday, May 10 at 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (click here)

 Boundary Study meetings:

• Tuesday, May 16 at 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (click here)
• Wednesday, May 17 at 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (click here)

2023 Boundary and Student Assignment Study (office.com)

Revised DINR Window From DCPS

DCPS is asking us to send this message to apologize for an error which resulted in you not receiving communications regarding the Declaration of Intent Not to Return (DINR) application opening, as well as key dates for the DINR process. The DINR instructions and a revised timeline for any WTU member who did not receive notification follow:

We acknowledge that personal decisions may lead you to depart DCPS. As outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) and DCPS, the DINR process provides WTU members who do not intend to continue employment with DCPS for SY 23-24 an online form to indicate their separation intent. This requirement applies to members who are retiring as well as resigning from the school system. As such, we are reaching out to share a revised DINR application schedule for those WTU members affected by the communication error.

Please note, WTU members receiving this communication who submit a DINR application by May 26, 2023, and do in fact leave the school district of their own accord at the conclusion of the school year, shall be eligible for a one-time $1,000 bonus payable by September 30, 2023. Members receiving this communication who do not submit the DINR application by May 26, 2023, at 5 PM, and voluntarily separate from DCPS during the 2022-2023 school year or at any point before or during the 2023-2024 school year, may be required to pay a $1,000 penalty fine to DCPS.

The DINR application will serve as your resignation letter and the effective date of separation will be June 26, 2023 (10-month WTU employees), July 5, 2023 (11-month WTU employees), or July 7, 2023 (12-month WTU employees). This date ensures you will receive all owed payments.

If you intend to return to DCPS for the 2023-2024 school year, you do not need to take action.

To participate in the 2023 DINR process, please apply online here: Resignations and Retirement Application.  

Questions regarding this process can be directed to the off boarding team at [email protected].

AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

NEWS CHANNEL 4 - Channel 4 Investigative Reporter Ted Oberg interviewed WTU President Pogue-Lyons on DCPS' inability to pay teachers the back pay owed to them on time. When interviewed, President Pogue-Lyons said, "They (DC leaders) knew this date was coming,” Washington Teachers’ Union President Jacqueline Pogue-Lyons said. “It’s been six months. To find this out during Teacher Appreciation Week is both disappointing and disrespectful.”

To read the full story, click here.

WASHINGTON (7News) — "Over 5,000 D.C. public school teachers are now being set back financially after learning salary hikes they’ve been expecting are now being delayed. The retroactive pay increase was part of a new contract that was ratified in December." 

“Many of our teachers went through COVID, going back to classes in person, concerned about their health and their students," said Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, the Washington Teachers’ Union President. "To finally get a contract and find out that what they had been waiting for through the ups and downs of the economy is very disappointing.

”She added, “The average teacher is 32 years old, they have student loans, starting a family, hoping to get a home, so they depend on their money.”