UFEA: Unit Five Education Association

Union of education professionals affiliated with the Illinois Education Association and National Education Association - IEA-NEA, Advocating for Public Education Employees and Teachers in the McLean County Unit 5 School District located in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

From the President:  October Update

-UFEA-  

  • IEA President Al Llorens, 73, passed away Thurs., Sept. 25: 
    • Llorens, who spent more than 30 years in the classroom in various cities around the state, had been president for two years. He was an athlete, a coach, a math teacher, a loving husband and a father, among so many other things. He will be greatly missed. 
    • Statement from Karl Goeke, IEA President & UFEA Member
      •  I am sure that many of you have heard the tragic news that our beloved president, Al Llorens, recently passed away. Suffering a loss like this is never easy, and it certainly is not easier as we live through times when it is difficult to be an educator. The truth behind all of this is that life is never guaranteed to be easy and circumstances make it difficult and, at times, overwhelming. The good news is that when times are hardest, we know we have each other. 
    • Memorial Service
      • The family of Al Llorens would like us to share that his memorial service will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 West 95th Street Chicago. IEA offices will be closed on December 5 in remembrance of President Llorens.
      • Donations in his honor may be made to the IEA Foundation. The IEA Foundation is a 501(c)3 not for profit charitable organization that supports educators, students and programs aligned with the mission of the IEA. For online donations and additional information about the Foundation, please visit: https://ieanea.org/about/donate-to-the-iea-foundation/
      • Reminder: if you would like to send a card or message of support, please direct it to:
        • The President’s Office
        • 100 E. Edwards St., Springfield, IL 62704
  • Insurance Update for 2026
    • Open Enrollment will be from 10/27-11/21
    • Bargained increase for 2025-2026 from $765-$805
    • Coverage change – GLP1s for weight loss will only be covered on the Silver and Gold plans
  • 2025-26 UFEA Calendar

-IEA-

  • Your opinion needed:
    • LGBTQ+ Inclusivity Survey
      • The Illinois Education Association is seeking your input. Please complete this short survey about LGBTQ+ inclusivity in Illinois school districts. Each year, about 1,100 IEA members, elected by their colleagues to represent them, gather at the IEA Representative Assembly. At the IEA RA, those members introduce and vote on proposals that set the direction for the state union’s work.  
      • At the 2025 IEA RA, members passed New Business Item #8, which directed the IEA to survey its members and make the data available to “other state affiliates to assist members and families seeking supportive educational environments due to adverse conditions in their current locales.”  
      • Data collected as part of this survey will remain confidential. Your participation is greatly appreciated. https://site.ieanea.org/survey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=8633983M. 
    • Workplace well-being and mental health survey:
      • The Illinois Education Association (IEA) is seeking your input. Please complete this short survey examining the workplace well-being and mental health of IEA members.
      • At the 2025 IEA Representative Assembly (RA), members passed New Business Item #11, which directed the IEA to “conduct polling, available to all IEA members, which will compile data on educator’s workplace well-being and mental health.” 
      • All data collected will be kept confidential. We appreciate your participation. The Survey will close on December 1. 
  • Love and community care:
    • Transformative visions in troubling times, virtual series — The Equity Literacy Institute and IEA bring you a virtual, four-part workshop and conversation series about how we as educators and educational leaders can maintain hope, lead with love and embrace an ethic of community care as we continue our transformative efforts during these present times. The first 100 IEA members to register will receive a reserved spot in this virtual series at NO COST. Check out this flier for details and the registration link. Those reserving a spot will need to be prepared to commit to the series dates: Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20, 6-7:15 p.m. 
  • 2026 Summer Leadership Academy request for proposals:
    • The 2026 Summer Leadership Academy will be held July 27-30, at Illinois State University Bone Student Center. We are looking for presenters who can deliver training sessions in the areas of bargaining, grievance, organizing, equity, political action and leadership development. Please consider submitting sessions that will help our local leaders and members prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.   
    • The sessions layout will be similar to last year – 1-, 2-, 3- or 6-hour sessions to be held on Tuesday afternoon, all day Wednesday and Thursday morning. Six-hour sessions will tentatively be held on Wed., July 29. Anyone interested in submitting for a session should complete the Summer Leadership RFP by Jan. 15. 
  • IEA Funding for Professional Development/Conferences
  • Undo Tier 2 

-NEA-

-ONLINE REPORTING FORMS-

  • MEMBER RECOGNITION –  Share the details so that we can give them a shoutout on social media!
  • PERSONAL EVENTS – In the event that a UFEA member experiences a significant personal event, whether that be a loss or celebration please complete this form.  Hospitality Chair, Blair Ediker, will consider the request and send an appropriate gift.
  • CONCERN RESOLUTION – Please remember that if there is an issue with another bargaining unit member, we have a negotiated process to address those concerns called Concern Resolution.

UFEA Members, 

School is in full swing and we have survived the Harvest Moon.  We just have to make it through Halloween and it is smooth sailing to Thanksgiving and Winter Break….right.  This month’s update includes information about honoring IEA President Al Llorens that we lost unexpectedly, information about our upcoming insurance renewal, IEA surveys and information on protecting your digital privacy.  Please take a moment to look through this information when you have time.  Thank you for all you do each and every day for our students.    

Now go enjoy your three day weekend!

Julie

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