This morning the principals will be contacting all first year teachers to let them know they will be RIFed, and also to give them a brochure that includes information about the RIF and the timeline for applying and interviewing, etc.  In addition to first year teachers, all non-tenured part time teachers will also be released.

This brochure includes FAQ’s, a Timeline and other information important for those who are part of the RIF.  It will also be helfpul when Displaced Teachers are announced next week.

A few important notes:

• The following sections of the contract will be helpful for you to review: Section 6.6.1.5, Section 7.7, Section 6.6.1.4, Section 6.6.2.2
• Administration and UFEA meet with RIF teachers:
  January 26 – 4:00 pm @ KJHS and January 28 – 4:00 pm @ KJHS

Timeline (from the Brochure)

• January 22: RIF teachers identified
• January 29: Displaced teachers identified
• February 1-4: Seniority lists sent to buildings, Internal building transfers conducted
• February 5: Vacancies posted for displaced teachers
• February 8-26: Placement of displaced teachers
• March 10: Board approval of RIF resolution and in-building transfers and placement of displaced teachers
• March 11: Letters mailed to RIF teachers by certified mail, District vacancies posted
• March 11-19: Voluntary transfers for in-district candidates only (RIF teachers are not eligible at this time)
• March 29-April 8: Teachers requesting transfers interviewed and placed
• April 9-16: All vacancies posted
• April 19: Interviews, selections and assignments

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Q. How will I find out about insurance and unemployment benefits?
  UFEA will have an informational meeting on these topics later in the spring.
• Q. Can a displaced teacher move to a vacancy within their current building during the internal transfer process?
  Yes, that would occur during the internal transfer (within building) process and the decision is up to the building principal.
• Q. Will displaced teachers have to interview for jobs?
  No, displaced teachers will only need to select a job from the list provided.
• Q. Who will have to interview for jobs?
  Teachers requesting internal transfers and RIF’ed teachers applying for vacancies will be interviewed.

The Unit Five Education Association annually awards three scholarships to individuals purusing a career in education.  Applications for each $1000 scholarship are due by March 19, 2010 at 3 pm.  Applications should be completed and returned to:

Pat Fitzgerald
NCHS
3900 E. Raab Road
Normal, IL 61761

One Rosenbaum Scholarship is awarded to a senior at Normal Community High school, while another is awarded to a student at Normal West.  A third scholarship is awarded to the child of a UFEA member (may be a high school senior or current college student, pursuing a career in education).

The application form maybe downloaded using the links below.

 2010 UFEA Scholarship Application  |  2010 UFEA Scholarship Application (Word document)

The newly ratified contract between UFEA and Unit 5 is now available online.  Printed copies will be available soon.

To view the contents of the contract, click on the “Contract” link found on each page.  The Contract page includes links to the entire contract as a PDF that can be downloaded and printed, and also incluces links to the contents of the contract that can be viewed right within ufea.org.  The salary schedules (both A & B) are also available there.

Please let us know if you have questions or have any trouble finding what you are looking for.

As a reminder, your December 15 pay check should include both the new amount as a result of the contract and your retroactive pay.  A worksheet is currently being developed to assist you in verifying that your check is correct.