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CONTACT US:

PPSTA Office: 40 Garden St. Suite 207 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Phone: 845-471-3376 Fax: 845-471-6793

PPSTA Office Secretary: Olga Mirabilio hours: M-F 8:00-12:00 officesecretary@ppsta.org

PPSTA Officers:

Please see our website for contact information: www.ppsta.org

Important Dates

May: 1 : PPSTA Exec – 3:30 – Garden St 2 : General Membership Meeting – PHS 3:30 8 : Chief Building Rep Mtg – 3:30 – Garden St 10 : Parent Teacher Conference ½ Day Give Back 15 : PPSTA Rep Board Mtg – 3:30 – Garden St 21: School Budget Vote 24 – 27 : Memorial Day Weekend June: 1: New PPSTA Elected officers begin their term 5: PPSTA Exec – 3:30 – Garden St 14: End of Year Social – Poughkeepsie Grand ***If you would like something included in the Bulletin,

including PR articles, congrats and condolences, please send by June 1st to bulletin@ppsta.org***

THE PPSTA BULLETIN IS THE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION FOR

OUR MEMBERSHIP REGARDING ALL MEDICAL AND DENTAL INSURANCE INFORMATION

THROUGH UMR. Benefit Trust Coordinator:

Debbie Kardas Office hours: Tues, Wed, Thurs:

10:30-1:30 Questions? Call PPSTA office

845-471-3376 Or email at

benefittrust@ppsta.org

Find us under “Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers’ Association”

VOLUME 21 ISSUE #8 MAY 2019

School Budget Vote and Board of Education Election will be held on Tuesday, May 21,

2019. Polling Places:

Morse School 101 Mansion Street 1st Ward and 3rd Ward

Warring School 283 Mansion Street 5th Ward

Clinton School 100 Montgomery Street 2nd Ward and 4th Ward

Poughkeepsie Middle School 55 College Avenue 6th Ward and 7th Ward

Krieger School 265 Hooker Avenue – Whittier Blvd. Entrance 8th Ward

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PPSTA UPDATES: SLO Changes:

Ø A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5 with Dr. Farrell, Dr. TenDyke, PPSTA President Stephanie Green, and PPSTA President-Elect Heather Martino

Ø Updates will follow

PPSTA End of Year Social: Ø Come celebrate our newly tenured and retirees Ø This year’s event will be held on Friday, June 14th

at the Grand Hotel from 6-10 (flyer attached)

APPR: Ø Please notify your CBR via email with APPR

violations as we will be filing individual grievances for each.

PPSTA Committees: Ø We are looking for additional representatives for

the upcoming school year from the elementary and secondary levels for the following committees: Social, Curriculum, In-Service, New-Member, Professional Development, and Political Action

Ø Please send your interest via email to president@ppsta.org

General Membership Meeting: Ø On Thursday, May 2nd, PPSTA Benefits

Coordinator, Debra Kardas and representatives from UMR shared some exciting changes to the POMCO plan. (Included in this Bulletin.) If you have any questions about the Maternity Wellness Program, Teledoc or the UMR Plan, please call the PPSTA Office.

Open Enrollment: Ø The Open Enrollment period for making changes

to your medical and dental plans is about to begin Ø The PPSTA is awaiting the dates from the

District Ø If you know you would like to make changes in

your enrollment, please fill out the appropriate medical/dental forms and send to the PPSTA Office (UMR and PPSTA dental only) or to the District (for District sponsored plans)

Ø All changes will be effective July 1, 2019

Contract Corner

Question: I have a student teacher this semester. Do I receive any compensation from the District?

Answer: Yes. Our contract, Article XII, Sec 6.7, states, “Any teacher who accepts the responsibility of supervising a practice teacher shall be entitled to extra compensation of $60 during the school year of such service.” You may put in for this compensation on a time card.

Question: I have been told that in order for me to get paid for credits beyond my Bachelors or my Masters degree, that they must be graduate level courses. Is this true?

Answer: No. According to Article XII, Section 5.4, there is no stipulation in either section (a) (BA) or section (b) (MA) that the credits must be at a graduate level. All this is mentioned is that there is a maximum of seventy five (75) credit hours for pay beyond a Bachelors degree and sixty (60) credit hours beyond a Masters degree, except for in-service coursework which may be accumulated beyond the hours above. Note: Fifteen (15) in-service hours equal one credit. Credits are paid at a rate of $95 per credit during this school year. (Either college credit of in-service credits.)

Question: I am going to be taking an in-service course during the summer and the in-service committee does not meet during the summer. According to Article XXVII Section 4.1(a) the application for the course must be submitted in advance. How is this possible?

Answer: The phrase “in advance” refers to submitting of the APPLICATION for the course prior (even on the same day) to the course being run. If the application is timely, even if the committee does not meet prior to the course being run, the application would be considered. Submit all applications during the summer to the Human Resources Office Attn: Barbara Williams.

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CURRICULUM CONNECTION Teacher Registration Holders of Permanent and Professional certificates must be registered with NYSED. Those with Professional certs must also accrue 100 hours of CTLE hours every five years. Please see www.nysed.gov for details and record keeping forms. In-Service Paperwork for new course approval or previously approved courses MUST be received BEFORE the start of the course. Send In-Service requests to Barbara Williams at HR. Gayle Gerrard, committee chair, meets with the team monthly to review applications. Make sure you provide ALL information required as noted on the form. If you have any questions, please contact Gayle via email at ggerrard@poughkeepsieschools.org

The Importance of Record Keeping IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAKE AND KEEP A DIGITAL OR HARDCOPY OF THE FOLLOWING:

Ø Personal business requests Ø Time cards for payment Ø In-service credit requests or course

approval Ø APPR Evaluation & Timeline Ø Communications with the District or

Administration

Often problems arise and if these forms are lost or misplaced, it makes it much more difficult to retrace steps and for the PPSTA leadership to argue on your behalf. Without copies of all documents, it becomes more complicated to make sure that you are afforded all the rights to which you are entitled. Any confrontations with administration or parents should be documented for yourself in writing. It’s easier to recall conversations right after they have taken place. Put exact quotes in documents. Documenting such encounters and making copy of all documents, allows your union to represent you more effectively.

REMINDER: June 15th is the deadline to file for the one time 10% longevity benefit for those unit members that have been employed full time in the Poughkeepsie City School District for at least twenty (20) accredited years as unit members in the Poughkeepsie system, Article II Section 5.8 on page 12). If you believe you qualify and want to file for this benefit, call the PPSTA office for a form letter. This benefit is paid as additional salary during the 2017-2018 school year but is listed separately from contract salary so as NOT to be utilized as Final Average Salary in the calculation of benefits for teachers entering the retirement system after June 1971.

Vote/Cope is among the most important contributions you can make!

VOTE-COPE is NYSUT's non-partisan political action fund that coordinates the voluntary contributions of members and supports NYSUT-endorsed candidates and campaign committees that are pro-public education and pro-labor. This year’s campaign will begin in April and will be spearheaded by PPSTA 2nd VP Nancy Dingee. You may donate either by check, cash or by payroll deduction. Contributing by payroll deduction means equal installments will be taken out of each of your first eight (8) paychecks of next year. NYSUT sends rebates to local unions based on a percentage (up to 40 percent) of the contributions VOTE-COPE receives from that local union's members. Those rebates can be used in local activities such as school board races and for passage of school budgets.

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PPSTA%ELECTION%RESULTS%Term%June%1,%2019%–%May%31,%2021%

!Office% Name% PHS% PMS% PACE*%

%Clinton% ELC% Krieger% Morse% Warring%% Total%

President% Heather%Martino%

56! 55! 7! 21! 25! 36! 40! 22! 262!

1st%VP% Nancy%Dingee%

62! 58! 7! 21! 25! 35! 41! 22! 271!

2nd%VP% Jay%Lynch% 60! 57! 7! 20! 25! 37! 40! 21! 267!Secretary% Joe%North% 64! 59! 7! 21! 25! 34! 40! 20! 270!Treasurer% Dominick%

Aquafredda%17! 31! 5! 13! 20! 21! 19! 13! 139!

Treasurer% Amber%Grant%

30! 23! 2! 2! 4! 10! 5! 5! 81!

*Includes!Curriculum!Specialists!housed!at!Central!Office!–!No!building!or!trustee!vote!!

Write%In’s%%President% % 1st%VP% % % 2nd%VP%Tom!Bell! ! Mike!Colluci!–!1! Heidi!Murphy!L!1!Nancy!Dingee!–!2! Kim!Messick!L!1!Barney!–!1!Kim!Popken!L!1! Delegates to NYSUT RA and AFT Conventions President%and%1st%Vice%President%are%automatic%delegates.%%Position% Name% PHS% PMS% PACE*%

%Clinton% ELC% Krieger% Morse% Warring%% Total%

Delegate% Amber%Grant%

59! 60! 6! 15! 24! 34! 40! 21! 259!

Delegate% Stephanie%Green%

59! 53! 8! 15! 26! 32! 42! 22! 257!

WriteLins!Gail!Gemmel!(5)!Michelle!Carlson!(4)!Joe!North!(1)!!Marvin!Edwards!(1)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony Comunale (Retired Guidance Counselor)is celebrating his 90th Birthday

on May 28th!

Thank you to the Election

Committee, especially Chair Christine Pizer, for all of their hard work organizing and carrying out

the 2019 PPSTA Election.

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PPSTA%BUILDING%ELECTION%RESULTS% %Term%June%1,%2019V2021% % %

%CLINTON%SCHOOL%

Trustee!(1)! Beth!Kassa!(22)! ! !Advisors!(3)! Don!Stark!(23)! Gail!Larabee!(21)! Sabrina!Thorpe!(22)!! Danielle!Omondi!(1)*! ! !! *writeLin!

EARLY%LEARNING%CENTER%Trustee!(1)! Heather!Faircloth!(25)! ! !Advisors!(3)! Nicole!Guerra!(25)! Noelle!Willis!(25)! Jen!Frisenda!(26)!!

KRIEGER%SCHOOL%Trustee!(1)! Sue!Peluse!(38)! ! !Advisors!(4)! Andrea!BoccioLDoran!(32)! Traci!Cillis!(37)! Gina!Collins!(34)!! Pam!Watts!(32)! ! !!

MORSE%SCHOOL%Trustee!(1)! Elizabeth!Rodgers!(37)! ! !Advisors!(5)! Kristen!Hendrickson!(42)! Cheryl!Mongroo!(41)! Heather!Nash!(40)!! Jenna!Tonyes!(41)! Keri!Webber!(36)! !!

PACE%Trustee!(1)! Kathy!Dudley!(5)! ! !Advisors!(1)! Maureen!Charron!(5)! ! !!

POUGHKEEPSIE%HIGH%SCHOOL%Trustee!(4)! John!Cassidy!(60)! Marvin!Edwards!(60)! Lou!Gibson!(58)!! Nick!Cendeno!(1)*! Neal!Grover!(1)*! David!Laffin!(1)*!! Sarah!Hoop!(1)*! Amber!Grant!(1)*! Jason!Petagine!(1)*!! Paul!Donnelly!(1)*! ! !Advisors!(10)! Shanna%Andrawis%(61)% Kelli%Caine%(59)% Denise%DiCarmine%(49)%! Paul%Donnelly%(50)% Heather%DuncanACarter(47)% Sarah%Eyler%(45)%! Justin%Garrett%(59)% Gayle!Gerrard!(41)! Mercedes%Karabec%(52)%! David%Laffin%(48)% Joe%Laster%(45)% LizaBeth!Madara!(42)!! Lily!Pavlo!(28)! Deahnara!Regan!(31)! !! *writeLin!

POUGHKEEPSIE%MIDDLE%SCHOOL%Trustee!(3)! Ken!Hartling!(65)! Julie!Hayen!(63)! Steve!Resler!(63)!Advisors!(10)! Selina!Barrington!(63)! Sara!Burlingame!(63)! Lynnece!Edmond!(63)!! John!Hines!(64)! Aileen!Lord!(64)! Kim!Messick!(64)!! Heidi!Murphy!(64)! Kim!Popken!(65)! Jamie!Sheehan!(64)!! Joyette!Walton!(62)! ! !!

WARRING%SCHOOL%Trustee!(1)! Tammy!Del!Guidice!(22)! ! !Advisors!(4)! Tanya!Holk!(21)! Colleen!Lynch!(22)! Katie!Soto!(20)!! Tina!Wandy!(20)! ! !!

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FYI from the PPSTA Benefit Trust

A member will never pay more than the applicable copay for the tier of the medication but they may pay less. Members will see any cost fluctuations when the cost of the medication is less than their copay. The manufactures’ of drugs can change their pricing at any time.

The Tier a drug is assigned to can change twice a year, January and July. The drugs Tier determine your co-pay. Tier 1: $10, Tier 2: $70, Tier 3: 140, Specialty Drugs $50

Maintenance Drugs must be filled by home delivery after 3 retail fills. There will then be a double co-pay for a 90 day supply.

The PPSTA Benefit Trust voted to make the following changes to the medical plan document effective July 1, 2019. Plan Features In –Network Benefit

Out-of-Network Benefits

Network Copayment REDUCED from $25/per visit to $15/per visit Effective July 1, 2019 “Per visit” means per Provider per day. If two services are performed during a visit that has a Copayment, the higher Network Copayment will apply. When Medicare is prime: Once the Medicare Calendar Year Deductible has been met, no Network Copays will apply for the remainder of the Calendar Year.

Does not apply

Outpatient Deductible per Calendar Year as of 7/1/2019

Shall be reduced from: $183 to $0 per individual $366 to $0 per two persons $549 to $0 per family of three or more

Remains:

$1,000 per individual $3,000 per family

Deductible applies to Outpatient Services only. For services where the Deductible applies, the Deductible must be met before Copays or coinsurance apply, except where benefits are paid at 100%.

Due to these changes, the wellness program will no longer be offered.

Don’t Forget!!! Just found out that you are expecting? Make sure to enroll in our Maternity Management program! You will be contacted at least once a trimester and once postpartum. You will receive a gift card for participating that covers co-pays incurred. The nurses will help you understand your Plan Benefit information. Is there a benefit for belonging to a gym or health club? Yes! Submit proof of membership after

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PPSTA Benefit Trust Information Calendar year information:

Medical calendar year: 1.1-12.31 Legal calendar year: 4.1-3.31 Dental calendar year: 7.1-6.30 Opt-out calendar year: 9.1-8.31 Vision calendar year: 9.1-8.31

Notice to all UMR Plan members:

Ø Members can locate UMR Choice Plus providers by logging onto UMR Ø To access it go to www.ppsta.org, On the top menu, click on “BENEFITS” then click on the “PPSTA Plan”. You

can also find the gym reimbursement form on this page. Getting married? Call Olga at the PPSTA office for a change of status form. After you receive the marriage license, please send a copy to Olga. New family members MUST be enrolled in 30 days! Moving? Call Olga with a change of address and phone information. You will also need to notify the PCSD Business Office. Are you expecting a new family member? Newborns are automatically covered during the first 30 days following birth. Enrollment is required during the first 30 days to continue coverage, if you were not previously enrolled for family coverage. From date of adoption, provided family or dependent coverage is applied for within 30 days of adoption or legal custody. Please send a copy of the birth certificate to the PPSTA office. Status Changes: Members are responsible for updating the plan within 30 days of any changes in health or dental coverage (for any covered member) or any changes in family status (divorce, separation, retirement, birth, death, adoption, change in full time student status, no longer an eligible dependent due to age, etc.) If you need to make changes to your enrollment status, or to the enrollment of any of your eligible dependents, please contact the PPSTA Benefit Trust office. Did your child graduate from college recently? All children are covered under their parent’s plan until the age of 26 as long as they are enrolled in the plan. Traveling to a foreign country? PPSTA Medical coverage is limited to Emergency Care and is subject to the Emergency Care Copay plus an additional $250 Copay for Foreign Travel. The bills need to be detailed in English or which are translated to English with the medical procedures clearly listed. For a non-emergency situation, if you are out of the country less than six(6) weeks, the $250 copay would apply to any service and the balance of the charges would be paid as an out of network benefit subject to the NPPO deductible ($1,000) and coinsurance (30%). When you travel to a foreign country, we recommend you get some temporary travel insurance that is appropriate for the country you will be visiting. *If you are returning from a leave of absence, it is your responsibility to contact the PPSTA office to re-enroll for benefits. Medicare Eligibility: Once you and/or your spouse are no longer actively employed and Medicare Eligible, you need to update your enrollment status. Please provide the plan with an updated enrollment form along with a copy of your Medicare ID Card. You must enroll in both Medicare Part A and B once you are no longer covered under a plan of a member who is actively at work. You must contact the District for information on reimbursing your Medicare Part B premiums. QUESTIONS about prescription drug related questions, contact OptumRx at 1-877-559-2955. QUESTIONS regarding available benefits, including preventive and routine services available to you and your dependents, contact UMR at 1-800-826-9781 Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm.

ANY PROBLEMS with the adjudication of claims or with a provider, PLEASE call the PPSTA office!!

Debbie Kardas’ hours are Tuesday-Thursday 10:30-1:30. You can also contact her at benefittrust@ppsta.org.

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You’re Invited to the Annual PPSTA Year End Celebration!

on

Friday, June 14, 2019

at

The Poughkeepsie Grand 40 Civic Center Plaza

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Cash Bar)

(6:00 to 7:00 appetizers and 7:00-10:00 dinner and dancing)

There will be tableside choices of: chicken, steak, fish and vegetarian options.

The cost: $35.00 for PPSTA

$55.00 for Guests Please make checks payable to PPSTA

RSVP by: June 7, 2019 To: Olga Mirabilio at the PPSTA Office, 40 Garden St. Suite 207,

Pougkeepsie, NY 12601 *********************************************************************************************

PPSTA Annual Year End Celebration Name: _______________________________________________________ Amount:_________________________ School:_____________________________ PPSTA________________ Retired_______________ Guest __________________ Office information: Check Number __________ Cash________ Total Attending ______