If you’re confused over your 3% payment, you’re not alone. Payroll has paid on Friday, October 22, 2021 pay period both the 3% and the 2.3% (return to work). If you look at your pay stub, on the top, left-hand corner you will see “return to work” – that is your 2.3%. If you continue looking under “return to work”, you will see the 3% supplement.

I hope this clears up any confusion. We are still pending the stipend, and we are waiting for instructions on how to get the license incentive and Foreperson’s supplement. Don’t forget, the 2022 Active Open Enrollment starts November 2nd through November 16th. Stay tuned for further details as they become available.

It’s enrollment time, and this year is all about providing employees with the tools to evaluate if the benefits they have today still meet their personal needs.

The 2022 Active Open Enrollment starts November 2nd through November 16th.  The district will be providing a personalized Compensation Statement and 2021 Benefits Confirmation Statement.  These two documents will provide the employee current information which will help them in determining if they need to make a change during this enrollment. 

During this enrollment, employees only need to enroll if making a change to their current benefits.  The current benefits (including the dependent coverage) will not see an increase in premium.

Additionally, employees currently opting out of healthcare will not need to re-enroll. This selection will rollover, but the employee will be required to resubmit the proof of current, active coverage.  Employees currently opting out of healthcare will be receiving a letter next week advising them of the enrollment dates and the need to resubmit.  After the appeals, enrollment employees that remain enrolled in this option, but have not submitted the proof, will receive a second reminder.  If not submitted by the second request, then the opt out will be terminated and the employee will be auto assigned to the Cigna SureFit Plan.

Also, next week letters will be mailed to employees covering a spouse or domestic partner asking them to verify the status of their dependent having or not access to other group healthcare coverage.  After appeals, another notification will be sent to assure that the proper surcharge flag is being applied.  

Regarding the dependent verification process, letters will be mailed post enrollment to employees who have not submitted their proof since October 2019.  Any employee who submitted their proof from October 2019 thru the commencement of enrollment, will not be required to resubmit.  Additionally, employees covering a domestic partner will have to submit the proof annually due to the need of validating the status for taxation verification.

Finally, enrollment support is being provided via phone, virtually, or onsite at select locations.  All CDC recommendations to provide a safe environment will be followed. DCSMEC will bring you further insurance information as it becomes available, including select locations.

I want to say, thank you, to the ladies and gentlemen of DCSMEC. You are the strength and character that makes DCSMEC a great organization. We have an update on your 3% payment. Management has informed the Union that you can expect to see the 3% on Friday, October 22, 2021. 

We are also working with management to attempt to fast track the 2.3%, and the $530.00 stipend. Stay tuned for further updates. Halloween is approaching and we have some suggestions from fda.gov:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, in a Sept. 26 interview,  said yes, it’s safe to trick-or-treat this year, but families still should use caution. The CDC also updated its holiday safety tips, applicable to all of the upcoming holidays.

Of course, Halloween costume and traffic safety measures still apply for trick-or-treaters.

Costume Safety

To help ensure adults and children have a safe holiday, fda.gov has compiled a list of Halloween safety tips. Before Halloween arrives, be sure to choose a costume that won’t cause safety hazards.

• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant
• If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks
• Opt for nontoxic Halloween makeup over masks, which can obscure vision; always test makeup in a small area first to see if any irritation develops
• Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation

When They’re on the Prowl

Lack of visibility because of low lighting at night also plays a factor. Keep these tips in mind when your children are out on Halloween night:

• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you
• Agree on a specific time children should return home
• Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home, and take care to avoid any food allergies
• Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.

DCSMEC wishes everyone a safe and fun Halloween!

DCSMEC RATIFICATION RESULTS 

(Ratification contract 2020/2021–2021/2022)

YES (76.3%)                 NO (23.7%)

Congratulations, the contract passes. The contract now goes for School Board ratification on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. You can expect to see the 3% on November 5, 2021 and the 2.3% + $530.00 stipend on November 19, 2021. I’d like to give a very special thank you to Michael Phillips. Great job assisting DCSMEC with the online vote. Congratulations to the negotiating team. It’s amazing individuals like you that make a difference and help keep DCSMEC at the forefront of the labor movement. 

Negotiating committee members:

Rolando Sardinas (Business Representative/Chief Negotiator)

Arthur Bowra (Business Agent)

George Ellis (President)

Howard Horne (Vice President)

Oliver Reyes (Recording Secretary)

Curtis Green (Executive Board/Negotiaing Team)

Larry Morat (Executive Board/Negotiaing Team)

Michael Phillips (Executive Board/Negotiaing Team)

David Sears (Executive Board/Negotiaing Team)

Raymone Jones (Negotiation Team)

Carlos Vega (Negotiation Team)

Kudos to our great team of computer specialists, thank you:

Michael Phillips (executive Board/Region 1 & 2 Steward)

Juan Borges (Region 3 Steward)

Dennis Angel (Region 4 Steward)

Raymone Jones (Negotiaing team/Region 5 Steward)

Jeffrey Swanson (Region 6 Steward)

In closing, Arthur and I want to say thank you, to the ladies and gentlemen of DCSMEC, who make it the outstanding organization it is today…

The DCSMEC contract ratification VOTE is today: Thursday, September 30, 2021 starting at 7:00 am. Please check your district email for your link to vote, then follow the instructions.

Voting Instructions   1. Click on the voting link.  2. If you see a Microsoft sign-in page, provide the following information.Username: Employee#@dadeschools.netPassword: (You Portal Password)  3. Once you see the ballot, select your answer and hit the submit button.

If you’re experiencing problems, please send an email to (DCSMECBA@gmail.com) with your full name, employee number, cell phone and a brief message. We will have computer specialists standing by to assist you. They are highly trained and friendly professionals, eager to provide a helping hand.

Vote today from 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM. If the vote is ratified today, it will go in front of the school board on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 for Board ratification.

Do not hesitate. Hurry and VOTE early. Remind your fellow DCSMEC coworkers to VOTE early. The VOTE only takes a moment. You could VOTE from anywhere using your cell phone, laptops, hand-held devices, wearable tech, desktops, and any smart device at your disposal.

VOTE EARLY.      VOTE EARLY.       VOTE EARLY.      VOTE EARLY. 

The DCSMEC RATIFICATION VOTE will be on Thursday, September 30, 2021 starting at 7:00 am. On Thursday please check your district email for your link to vote, then follow the instructions.

Voting Instructions   1. Click on the voting link.  2. If you see a Microsoft sign-in page, provide the following information.Username: Employee#@dadeschools.net Password: (Your Portal Password)  3. Once you see the ballot, select your answer and hit the submit button.

If you’re experiencing problems, please send an email to (DCSMECBA@gmail.com) with your full name, employee #, cell phone and a brief message. We will have computer specialists standing by to assist you. They are highly trained and friendly professionals, eager to provide a helping hand.

Voting starts at 7:00 AM and concludes at 3:30 PM. Don’t hesitate, hurry and VOTE, remind your fellow DCSMEC coworkers to VOTE. The VOTE only takes a moment. You could vote from anywhere using your cell phone, laptop, iPad, PC or any smart device at your disposal.

Keep in mind you need to VOTE on Thursday September 30, 2021 between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM. Don’t wait to the last moment. VOTE early in the morning, especially those seasoned veterans like myself, remember: the early bird catches the worm. For my younger binary (language) friends, brothers and sisters who have easy access to laptops, hand-held devices, wearable tech, and desktops, please don’t hesitate to vote early!

Due to the surge of COVID in our community, we will not have a road show. Instead, if you have any questions about the contract we urge you to contact your yard representatives or steward to inquire about the 2020/2021 & 2021/2022 tentative agreement.  

As always, you can also contact DCSMEC directly for further guidance. We are currently working together with management to facilitate an online vote using your school board email address that can be easily accessed by your district cell phone, computer, iPad or any smart devices you use. The vote will be as easy as – yes (I,accept the agreement) or no (I don’t accept the agreement).

If for any reason you need access to a smart device in order to vote, please let your DCSMEC representatives at your facility know so we can arrange for management to provide you with accessibility to a computer. You need to tend to that right away.

The online VOTE will take place on Thursday, September 30, 2021 between 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM. Take the time now to inquire about the tentative agreement. DCSMEC wants to thank you for your support and encourages everyone to vote. This vote is open to everyone under the DCSMEC contract.

With record numbers of Covid-19 cases in our communities, DCSMEC recommends that you follow CDC guidelines for your safety and that of others.

DCSMEC Tentative Agreement (2020-2021 & 2021-2022)

DCSMEC has reached a two (2) year tentative agreement that provides money for everyone thanks to the thorough work of our Negotiating Team. They searched everywhere to locate funds, and they found innovative ways to use the federal funds available. State funding was once again diluted, so we got creative to squeeze out every penny possible.

Thanks to our Negotiating Team’s resiliency, we continued to deliberate until there was nothing left to get. DCSMEC was the last to reach a Tentative Agreement. We negotiated a comprehensive package using ESSER public dollars that puts money in your pocket and goes towards your retirement.

“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each service man and woman who died protecting it…” On this Memorial Day, DCSMEC remembers all our veterans who gave the last measure of devotion for our freedom.

General George S. Patton once said:

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived…” 

Please take a moment to reflect on our fallen heroes as you enjoy this memorial weekend. 

God bless and be safe.

As we near Thanksgiving, and I reflect on 2020, we have been uniquely tested in our ability to adapt and work together. Since the start of the pandemic, our goal has been to safeguard the workforce, students, and staff.

With public health conditions rapidly changing, and much uncertainty ahead, we will continue to use the best current data and most updated science available to achieve our goals. We now have the hope of a vaccine coming soon.

Our DCSMEC family has at every turn in this pandemic adapted and provided all required assistance to sustain the welfare of our M-DCPS educational goals and priorities. Your dedicated efforts reaffirm my belief that our best day’s are yet to come.

I’m so proud of the commitment, sacrifice, and hard work you demonstrate regardless of the unique challenges this pandemic has presented. I hope you take some time to reflect on the important work you do for our students. Take a moment to reflect and remember the lives you have positively impacted throughout the year. 

Arthur and I extend our best wishes for your continued success and wish all of you a joyful and safe thanksgiving holiday.