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November Newsletter

Ask BESE for an Instructional Minutes Waiver for 2020-2021

A few members have questioned why 30 minutes are being added to the school day. Here’s the reason: Louisiana law requires all school districts to have a certain number of minutes of instruction each year.

Last school year, those requirements were waived because of COVID, but so far this year, the State has not issued any such waiver. You can help address this issue by sending an email to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Superintendent Brumley to ask them to waive the traditional instructional minutes requirement for this year.

Click here to send an email now!

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The AFT calls for freedom to teach

AFT President Randi Weingarten today delivered a major address on the crisis hollowing out the teaching profession—massive disinvestment in public education and deprofessionalization. In her speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., she called for reinvestment and freedom to teach. It was followed by two panels featuring education leaders who laid out pragmatic solutions.

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Your Vote is Your Voice

Early voting is Oct. 16-27 (excluding Sunday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 25) from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. 
 
Generally, your early voting polling location will differ from your election day polling location, so it's important to look up your voting sites at www.geauxvote.com.
 
Election day is Tuesday, November 3rd. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 
Please click here to see the AFL-CIO/JFT endorsed candidates and amendments.
 
For additional information visit www.aftvotes.org.
 

Your vote is your voice

AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest column outlines the urgency of using our voices—our votes—in this life-changing election, when we will make a choice “between President Donald Trump, who has trafficked in chaos, fear, lies and division, and former Vice President Joe Biden, who seeks to reverse Trump’s failures on COVID-19 and the economy, and to unite and uplift the American people.” Besides the four crises we face—a pandemic, an economic crisis, racism and a climate emergency—democracy itself is on the ballot, as Trump continues to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election.

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JFT Update

From the Lawyer’s Desk

By Larry Samuel, JFT General Counsel
Rittenberg, Samuel & Phillips, LLC
 
“I’m here From Human Resources and I need to speak with you.”
 
The day begins as most days do. You get ready to go to work, you go to work, and you begin working….when…suddenly…someone approaches you and says, “I’m here from Human Resources and I need to speak with you. Or you may receive a phone call, directing you to report to Human Resources.
 
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‘Back to school’ like never before

In her September New York Times column, AFT President Randi Weingarten says that going back to school has never looked like it does now. Weingarten explains that because of President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus, which has been chaotic, contradictory and inept, and the lack of federal guidance and funding, we’re seeing a patchwork of school reopening plans across the country.

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Important Back-to-School Updates

This school year has had a start like none other! These are unprecedented times. We thank you for your resilience. A special thank you to those who have used the JFT reporting form to document concerns at your school/worksite. We are using this information to inform the district about your concerns and work through resolutions. Please remember, issues cannot be addressed, if they are not documented and shared with our staff.
 
Please continue to use this form if there are safety concerns at your school/worksite. Your name is not revealed, when sharing the information with the district.
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August/September Newsletter

165 Question Update

JFT held member meetings after the Jefferson Strong Start Plan was released. As a result of those meetings, members posed 165 questions. The responses are in green. Questions that have not been addressed at this time are denoted with an asterisk (*). Some questions have been addressed at individual school sites.

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Join Us for a Virtual Meeting about Back-to-School

This week, the School Board decided to delay schools by a few days to address safety protocols around reopening. We are asking you to join us for an urgent meeting to discuss all the outstanding questions and concerns within your schools. We will hold 17 school-specific, virtual meetings.

Below you will see the time slot for your school. Please register here* and we will send you the information to join the meeting.

*You must register by 8 P.M. the night before your meeting is scheduled. We will only send you the login information after verifying your membership.

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