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Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, August 2, 2021
Reopening Schools
On January 29th, Mayor Bowser announced that DC will reinstate indoor mask mandate as coronavirus cases rise in the region. It was previously announced that DCPS would require masks for all staff and students when schools open for in-person learning in August.
The WTU is committed to reopening our schools for in-person learning and continues to negotiate with DCPS over terms of a MOA for the 2021-2022 school year. We believe that DCPS must require social distancing, provide detailed information on HVAC systems, and limit simultaneously learning - where a single teacher is instructing students both in-person and via distance learning platforms. The Mayor approached union leaders from across the District last week to engage in a conversation about vaccine requirements (the WTU does not have further information at this time on whether or not the Mayor will institute a vaccine mandate for DC government or DCPS employees).
2021-2022 Open Season for Maternity Leave and Sick Leave Banks
The WTU is adding an Open Season from August 1st through August 31st for the Maternity Leave and Sick Leave Banks. To join either bank please click here: https://forms.gle/Q7sAsbViYgsHyXVt7
To join either bank, you donate 8 hours (one day) of the total 96 hours (12 days) that is loaded to your leave balance on October 1, 2021 (to join both banks, you’d donate two days or 16 hours). After enrollment, there is a 3 month wait before you can access the banks (ie, you’ll be eligible on January 1, 2022). Once you join the bank you remain in the bank, until you opt-out. If you have any questions contact Charmaine Wilks at [email protected] or 202 517-1475.
DCPS will not accept individual requests to be removed from either the Sick Leave and/or the Maternity Leave Bank. Please contact Charmaine Wilks at [email protected] before the October 1, 2021 if you’d like to be removed from these banks.
FY2022 Budget
On 8/3, the Council of DC will have the 2nd vote on the Local Budget Act & votes on the Federal Portion & Local Budget Emergency Adjustment Act. During the budget debate, we expect Councilmembers to move an amendment to require DCPS to move $3.5m to ensure there is a full-time librarian in every DCPS school. We expect some opposition to this amendment and its fate remains uncertain. Please watch your email in the event we need to mobilize to support our colleagues before the budget vote on Tuesday.
You can see the latest budget info from the DC Council here: https://bit.ly/3hRTYkl. The Chairman’s Budget Report (which lays out changes from the Mayor’s proposed budget) is available here.
On 8/10, the Council of DC will have the 2nd vote on the Budget Support Act. We do not currently expect any efforts to remove the Robert White amendment that requires DCPS to aggregate and release the results of teacher surveys concerning IMPACT as well as the American University report on IMPACT.
AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.
Professional Development
WTU Summer Professional Learning!!!
Register TODAY for these exciting, engaging and informative summer professional development courses and workshops HERE. Courses and Workshops that are still open:
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (8/7 and 8/14) FREE
Decolonizing the Curriculum (continues on 8/3) FREE
Financial Literacy Fridays for MS and HS Educators (5 part workshop series continuing 8/6) FREE
OSSE Licensure Focus Group
OSSE is launching a series of focus groups to enable us to better understand how our educator credential candidates are experiencing our website. We’re hoping to hear directly from current or aspiring DC teachers and school service providers who have recently engaged with OSSE’s educator credential website. Interested individuals will be eligible to participate in a 45-minute virtual focus group, and should complete this brief interest form by Friday, Aug. 6, 2021.
Additional Professional Development opportunities are also posted regularly to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog.
Upcoming Events
August 7 – WTU Executive Board Meeting, 10AM, via Zoom
Save the Date
Pick up your WTU Swag -- 3:00pm – 5:00pm
- Friday, August 20th @ Wilson HS
- Monday, August 23rd @ Anacostia HS
- Tuesday, August 24th @ Capitol Hill Montessori
- Wednesday, August 25th @ Luke C Moore HS
- Thursday, August 26th @ Coolidge HS
- Friday, August 27th @ CHEC (Columbia Heights Education Campus)
- Thursday, September 2nd @ WTU Office (1239 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE)
Partner events and other upcoming events of interest are also posted to the AMBrew Blog.
Reminders:
2021-2022 Vacancies
Open positions for the 2021-2022 School Year are posted here.
ICYMI: DC Educator Wellness Center
In partnership with EVERFI, a social impact educational technology company, the WTU is pleased to share with you the DC Educator Wellness Center. The funding for the DC Educator Wellness Center is provided by Johnson & Johnson. In the DC Educator Wellness Center you will find access to a prevention-forward, self-guided, digital microlearning experience designed to provide you with on-demand content related to mental health. The growing list of topics includes Mental Health Basics, Managing Mental Health Challenges, Developing Resilience, Supporting Loved Ones With Mental Health Challenges, and Mindful Living. You can read more here.
We’re continuing to update our database.
Please help us ensure we have your current personal contact information on file.
Click here or email [email protected] to provide us with updated information.
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