I hope you’re enjoying your spring recess and following CDC recommendations. We are all used to a routine, and for most of us that routine has been altered due to COVID-19. If you’re stressing over being isolated at home and need assistance, EAP is there for you.

The Employee Assistance Program will be answering calls during the spring recess from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The program is for you, the individual employee, and for your immediate family members. EAP is designed to provide confidential help to individuals whose personal problems are affecting their ability to function at home, in their social life, or on the job. All of us at one time or another have personal medical problems which affect us in many areas of our lives. Most of the time we find our own solutions to these problems. Sometimes, however, outside help and professional guidance are needed. Your Employee Assistance Program is a good place to start.

EAP deals with all types of problems including alcoholism, drug abuse, emotional or other concerns, such as health, family, stress, marital, financial, legal, or vocational difficulties. Miami-Dade County Public Schools recognizes behavioral disorders and mental health problems as illnesses that can be successfully treated. The program goal is to help those individuals by providing consultation and referral to treatment and rehabilitation, in order to prevent their condition from progressing to a degree at which they cannot work effectively.

Do not hesitate to reach out for assistance. It’s completely confidential. For assistance by phone, please contact EAP directly at (305) 995-7111

or you can email:

Mr. Jose Garcia 

JFGarcia@dadeschools.net

I hope you’re doing well and are in good health. I want to reassure you that DCSMEC continues business as usual. As we enter spring break, we urge you to take COVID-19 seriously and follow the CDC recommendations.

As we have been advised by maintenance, beginning Monday, March 23rd through Wednesday, April 15, 2020, all Maintenance staff will be on leave. Only emergencies will be handled for the most part. Please continue to monitor your Board issued cell phone, email and the emergency hotline for further instructions as they become available.

At our last negotiations we changed the status of new hires from hourly employees to full time employees, hourly employees may see a disruption in pay as a result of the emergency closure. DCSMEC today only has full time employees. Full-time employees will continue to be paid as normal. If you have any questions, please contact the DCSMEC office at (305) 477-6002.

Negotiations are still pending for the 2019-2020 school year. We will proceed as soon as we are able to have meetings. Negotiating sessions will be difficult to have at this time due to COVID-19. However we cannot predict a timeline at this juncture as we do not know when M-DCPS will return to normal operations.

As a reminder, the U.S. Census information collection began on March 12, 2020. Please be sure you answer the Census questionnaire that you receive.  You can answer online, by phone, or by mail.  

The results of the Census directly affect funding for local services, including education.  You don’t have to wait to get an invitation from the Census either.  The direct link to the Census is https://2020census.gov .  Click on the respond button and follow the prompts.  Please make sure you are counted!

Enjoy your spring recess and stay safe.

The employer has updated the work schedule, check your email or call the maintenance hotline before reporting to work Monday March 16, 2020 for updates.

All ITS employees: please contact your supervisors via email to get the latest information. All maintenance employees: if you have not received notice from the employer, call your emergency hotline for the latest information.

HOTLINE FOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL:

MSC-1     305-523-0812.    Edward Willis

MSC-2.    305-523-0814.    Tom Quigley

MSC-3.    305-523-0815.    Joe Garcia

MSC-4.    305-523-0816.    Tim Jones

Central Maintenance Up-Stairs 305-523-0810 Berny Blanco

Central Maintenance Down Stairs 305-523-0834 Jeff Ware

DCSMEC is taking the spread of COVID-19 virus seriously, and we urge our members to do the same. On Thursday, the superintendent said he was not closing schools. Approximately twenty four hours later on Friday, all MDCPS schools are closing effective Monday, March 16, 2020 due to COVID-19.

I suspect there is some confusion about what happens Monday. Here is what you do if you have not gotten any notice from the employer. All ITS employees: please contact your supervisors via email to get the latest information. All maintenance employees: if you have not received notice from the employer, call your emergency hotline for the latest information.

HOTLINE FOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL:

MSC-1     305-523-0812.    Edward Willis

MSC-2.    305-523-0814.    Tom Quigley

MSC-3.    305-523-0815.    Joe Garcia

MSC-4.    305-523-0816.    Tim Jones

Central Maintenance Up-Stairs 305-523-0810 Berny Blanco

Central Maintenance Down Stairs 305-523-0834 Jeff Ware

March 23 – March 27 is spring break. We all need some time to relax, recharge, and to take a little time for ourselves to be with friends and family. This year there is no higher priority than the health, safety, and well-being of our families.

The CDC gives this advice: avoid nonessential plane travel, don’t go on cruise ships (passengers are at a higher risk of infection), avoid crowds and poorly ventilated buildings, when in public try to keep some distance from other people, and wash your hands with soap after going out in public.

Coronavirus and older adults: What to know and how to prepare

People ages 60 and up are at higher risk of novel coronavirus infection. Symptoms include fever, dry cough and difficulty breathing, and it’s primarily spread between people. Here’s how older adults can prepare and protect themselves from the novel coronavirus. This guidance comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Drs. Carla Perissinotto and Samir Sinha, both geriatricians.

Note: Recommendations for Covid-19 may change as officials learn more, so monitor your local health department and the CDC for updates.

By Scottie Andrew, CNN

Take precautions

• Cancel non-essential doctor’s appointments
• Schedule telehealth sessions for appointments you can’t miss 
• Designate an emergency contact
• Wash your hands frequently (scrub for 20 seconds with soap and water) 
• Use hand sanitizer when soap isn’t available 

Stock up

• Make sure you have enough groceries and household products to last you a “prolonged period of time” at home
• Prescription medication may be difficult to get ahead of time, so consider mail ordering

Travel

• Avoid nonessential plane travel
• Don’t go on a cruise —— cruise ship passengers are at a higher risk of infection

Life

• Stay at home as much as possible if you live in an area where there’s an outbreak 
• In public, avoid crowds and poorly ventilated buildings
• Keep several feet of distance from people 
• Wash your hands with soap after going in public
• If you need to isolate, keep in touch with family and friends

Nursing homes

• Most long-term care facilities have pandemic plans
• Call facility staff for information on their plan 
• If you’re sick, do not visit a nursing home 
• If you’re visiting a nursing home in an outbreak area, get screened before entering
• Figure out an alternative mode of communication if a nursing home bans visitors

If you think you’re sick

• Call your doctor before going in for a test
• Don’t use public transportation and stay at home as much as possible
• Call a local coronavirus hotline for more information

After hearing from experts at the CDC, WHO, and the Florida Department of Health, DCSMEC (in an abundance of caution) is temporarily suspending all general and steward meetings until further notice. We hope that smart action today will prevent the spread of the virus tomorrow. Our membership is our number one priority.

All other DCSMEC activities will continue as usual. COVID-19 is a bigger threat to the elderly and those with chronic disease. The WHO (World Health Organization) is pulling out all the stops in their effort to get the world to respond to the situation with the seriousness it deserves.

Superintendent Carvalho began his day by stressing, “It is a regular school day with no interruptions.” While all school and after school activities are continuing, travel plans are being canceled. “All out of country field trips have been canceled until further notice based on guidance by the Florida Department of Education, an  immediate moratorium is being placed on all out of state air travel,” explained Carvalho. “All in-county and in-state field trips, not requiring air travel, are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis.”

Students and parents who have returned from high warning level countries or a cruise and are exhibiting symptoms are being told to contact the Florida Dept. of Health. Students who are sick are being told to stay home even if they think it is the common cold or the flu. “Stay home. This is not the time to strive for perfect attendance,” said Carvalho. Perfect attendance requirements are being lifted so students can stay home if they are ill.

The school district will partially activate its emergency command center starting Wednesday morning. It has also opened a coronavirus hotline, the number is 305-995-3000. In addition, M-DCPS has launched a dedicated website for the most up-to-date information regarding schools and the coronavirus. It can be found at COVID19.DADESCHOOLS.NET. There is also a new website for its Instructional Continuity Plan for Emergency Schools Closures of District School. This is where online learning would continue should it be necessary to close a classroom, a school or a group of schools, but again, all schools remain open at this time. School principals are being told to intensify cleaning of schools and buses, and to promote personal hygiene.

President Trump has address the nation by taking unprecedented action to attempt to keep Americans safe, including a suspension of “all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.” “We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus,” President Trump said. “We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay. I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health and safety of the American people. I will always put the well-being of America first.” President Trump late Wednesday canceled campaign events in Colorado, Nevada, and Wisconsin because of the coronavirus outbreak.

DCSMEC will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19.  Please use common sense precautions. Keep your hands away from your face, and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds multiple times a day.

The latest information on COVID-19

M-DCPS will remain open and are being kept updated on COVID-19. Some field trips and public gatherings have been canceled. M-DCPS will continue to monitor and provide updates as they become available. DCSMEC is constantly monitoring the situation and will act accordingly to safeguard our members.

Miami-Dade County officials continue to work with local, state, and federal agencies in monitoring COVID-19, part of the coronavirus family.

State of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an Executive Order and Surgeon General Scott A. Rivkees declared a public health emergency on March 1. Gov. DeSantis declared a state of emergency on March 9.

Individuals in Miami-Dade County who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call the Florida Department of Health at 305-324-2400. If you have a medical provider, call them. If traveling to a medical office or facility, call ahead.

Prevention methods include the basics, such as washing your hands for at least 20 seconds several times a day and staying home when you’re sick. Students, teachers and maintenance employees should avoid touching their eyes, noses or mouths to keep from spreading germs, and schools should wash and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs and desktops.

Parents, students, and families should get the facts, but it’s also important to keep the conversation on what we can do rather than focusing on information that causes fear.

For questions about COVID-19 in Florida, please call the Florida Department of Health at 1-866-779-6121. 

Since last year (2019) we have been hearing that Management was discussing changing our regular work schedule. Management on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 issued a memorandum to all maintenance employees from Administrative Director Francis X. Hoar notifying everyone that effective the pay period of Friday, April 3, 2020 a standardized work schedule 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. would begin.

The memorandum is consistent with contract language see below:

This schedule change may be implemented by the Board after notification to the Union. Employees affected by a change in their work week shall be given not less than two weeks’ notice of the change in schedule. Such changes in schedule may be designated by the bureau/office head or designee and shall not be arbitrary.

DCSMEC had suggested an earlier start time or a four ten schedule, however management decided to go back to the traditional 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. work schedule.

This standardize work schedule will not affect the following employees:

—————Alternate shift – Monday to Thursday, 12:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

—————Night shift coil cleaning crew – Monday to Friday, 2 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

If this new schedule creates a hardship for you, please call Francis X. Hoar at 305-995-4044 to set up a hardship appointment as per contract language see below.

Hardship –  Unit employees who undergo what is considered an unexpected or undue hardship can request to be returned to their previous work schedules, if available, or to an open position. each case to be heard as soon as practicable but no later than 20 working days after notification. Where a vacancy occurs as a result of a hardship, management may fill the position from among the employees in a manner that facilitates a safe and efficient workforce.

The new work schedule is for maintenance employees only.

For H-2 Salary employees only

Attention all H-2 salary employees, DCSMEC is working with management to make sure that if you did not receive your tool allowance in November of 2019. We have identified 23 members that were affected, your tool allowance will be paid on the 1-31-20 paycheck. We are also looking to find out what caused the glitch and have it corrected.

If you have any questions you can contact us at 305-477-6002 and always check the DCSMEC website at www.DCSMEC.org.

We have identified 23 members who will be paid on the 1/31/20 paycheck. See your yard representatives to verify if you’re name is on the list.

Attention all DCSMEC members the General Membership Meeting scheduled for January has been moved to March 17, 2020. 

DCSMEC continues working closely with management to finalize the new Insurance programs, we hope that registration will be provided no later the end of March.

Contract Negotiations have stalled and we hope to resume negotiations soon.