Take action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 so we can return to school

We must demand our governor take all necessary steps to slow the infection rate in our state so that our children can return to brick and mortar schools.  

Please take action today to keep our students, staff and communities safe. Make your voice heard by signing the Florida Education Association petition.

 

Demand Safe Schools! Wear RED Wednesday, September 2nd!

Wednesday, September 2, 2020 is a National Day of Action to urge the US Senate to pass the HEROES Act. 

MEA is joining with other educators and education stakeholders around the state and nation to create a social media presence that urges the Senate to pass and the President to sign the HEROES Act. 

If passed, the HEROES Act would provide critical resources to protect students, teachers, paras and our families from COVID-19; to save jobs and to meet the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of all our students. 

Whether working from home or at your worksite MEA is asking members to do the following:

  • Wear RED on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020,
  • Print and fill out this sign,
  • Mask up,
  • Take a selfie with your sign, and

 

Post on your social media page(s) using the hashtags #DemandSafeSchools and #HEROESAct.
(On Facebook use @manateeea to tag MEA in your post.)

PDF icon day_of_action_mea_090220-i-demand.pdf

2020-2021 Teacher and Para Millage Supplement

August 27, 2020 - The School District of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Association have reached agreement on the millage supplements for the 2020-2021 school year. The millage supplements are based upon employee allocations for the new school year and current millage revenue estimates. 

more

Amendment to 20-21 Reopening of Schools MOU

July 31, 2020 - The language in the Reopening of Schools MOU regarding pay for teaching more than one schedule needed to be clarified. For that reason, Superintendent Saunders and MEA President Pat Barber have agreed to the PDF icon this AMENDMENT to the MOU. 

Administrators received the same information from Ms. Saunders.

PDF icon reopeningmouamendment.pdf

Memorandum of Understanding for 20-21 Reopening of Schools

July 30, 2020 - The Manatee Education Association and the Superintendent have reached agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that spells out the working conditions for teachers and paras during the re-opening of schools under the conditions of the pandemic and the Executive Order of Commissioner Corcorcan to open brick and mortar schools 5 days a week. 

We are providing highlights but encourage you to read the attached MOU to fully understand your rights and working conditions. 

Highlights 

  • Expectations for two weeks of pre-planning 
  • Assurance that CDC guidelines will be followed 
  • Teacher and para working conditions for all 3 student schedules 
  • And much more… 

Please read the details contained in the attached documents and let us know if you have questions. 

Pat Barber          Cynthia Saunders

 

President            Superintendent

PDF icon mou-005-07292020_-_2020-2021_reopening_of_schools.pdf

Information from MEA for Teachers Only (We are still working on protections for high-risk paras)

Any teacher who wishes to teach in the eLearning schedule because he/she falls in a high-risk category according to CDC guidelines* should follow the following steps:
1. inform his/her principal of that fact as soon as possible.  
2. the principal should then direct the teacher to contact HR Director Wendy Mungillo to provide information regarding the condition or circumstance that causes the person to be high risk. This also pertains to those who live with or care for a high-risk individual in their homes.

We suggest that you wait to hear from Ms. Mungillo about sending the doctor's note.

This is not going to be a cumbersome process with a lot of documentation needed. A simple explanation and a doctor's note will be enough.

*The following conditions put people at high risk for COVID:

  • being above 60 years of age 
  • cancer
  • chronic kidney disease
  • COPD
  • immunocompromised state
  • obesity
  • serious heart conditions
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Type 1 and 2 diabetes
  • Asthma
  • hypertension or high blood pressure
  • Cerebrovascular disease
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Neurologic conditions
  • Pregnancy
  • Liver disease
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Thalassemia