Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back to a new school year, and for those of you who are new members, welcome to the Lane County Education Association! While the beginning of every school year is always thrilling and challenging, it goes without saying that this fall will be different. Our students, their families, our colleagues, and the community, are putting their faith and trust in us more than perhaps ever before. Together, we are up to the challenge. Through the strength of caring people coming together to support one another, the members of LCEA are here to help. That’s you!

A few important things:

Vaccine Mandate: The timeline to meet the deadline of October 18th is moving incredibly quickly, and it is critical that, if you are not yet vaccinated, you begin that process immediately if you have not already (or begin the process of seeking an exemption immediately, if that is the route you will be taking.) LCEA is in the process of negotiating an MOU regarding the vaccine mandate.

Get Involved in Your Union: We have three openings on the LCEA Board – two reps for Service Areas staff, and one rep for Licensed Special Education staff. The minimum time commitment is only one evening meeting per month, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you think you would like to get involved! Want to take it to the next level? Join a state-level OEA committee!

Grant Opportunities: OEA gives away a bunch of money for students, staff, and schools. Check out all the current grant opportunities here!

Last Year’s Accomplishments: LCEA did a lot of good work in the past year or so. Here are some of the highlights!

• Had no layoffs during COVID
• Prevented proposed cuts for all IAs to go down to 6 hours
• 2.5% COLA
• Over 5% benefits increase
• Connected members with OEA trainings and professional development
• Informal zoom chats and listening sessions
• Utilized the Workshare program to mitigate budget cuts and put more money in employee pockets (and made sure members that were not eligible did not furlough)
• Successfully ensured remote work accommodations for many members
• Ensured representation on the COVID steering committees

Happy Labor Day: Did you know Oregon was the first state to honor workers by making Labor Day an official public holiday? Thanks for being part of the ongoing movement!

And as Always, Contact Us: Here’s a convenient online form to let us know what you need and what’s important to you.

Good luck, stay healthy, and do good work!