Dear Members,

Summer is coming to a close by the time you will receive your Newsletter, therefore work

schedules that are currently on four-ten hour days will return back to five-eight hour work days

beginning August 12 2013.

All bus drivers will start back with preplanning on August 6 , 7, 16 & 19, 2013. You will receive

information via parent link. Remember if you fail to make the dates you will have to make up

this time. Part of this years planning will be your 8 hour annual training mandated by the state.

Failure to comply can keep you from being on your bus.

We have started to “NEGOTIATE”. This year is a pay raise only year. Of coarse that is what we

are hoping, a raise again this year!

Once negotiations is over, HSEF bargaining unit (this means you) will ratify changes in an elec-

tions. The date & voting locations will be advertised in the very near future.

All benefits remain the same. Health insurance will not be going up. Premiums stay as they were

for last year. Reminder: SDHC offers a no cost insurance plan to you as the employee. Have you

thought about this change? Open enrollment begins in October and you will be able to make

changes to your insurance plans then.

Enjoy the rest of the summer. See you in the new 2013-14 school year.

Leave of Absences (LOA)

You have decided that a Leave of Absence (LOA) sick is an option for you to remain em-

ployed with the school district. Several steps are required in order for you to take a LOA.

As an employee you must submit your paper work for approval to your immediate supervi-

sor, with proper documentation in the form of a statement from an attending physician. You

can take up to 30 days of leave, to extend past 30 days to are required to submit another LOA

form with an updated doctors statement prior to the expiration of the previous form. With-

out this request you can be considered AWOL. This leave can be extended every six months,

however, you may return at any time with a written release from your attending physician

stating you may return to full and normal duties. Bus drivers, your return doctor’s statement

must say “As a school Bus driver to perform full duties” when returning from an LOA. (Blue

Collar Contract Section 29)

A Personal LOA request can be six (6) months of leave and or up to one (1) year or the re-

mainder of a school year upon completion of three (3) years of employment and with a mini-

mum of two (2) weeks’ notice. (Blue Collar Contract Section 32)

Employees on such leaves may continue health insurance coverage by paying the premium to

the school system. Also, to remain in good standing with Hillsborough School Employee’s

Federation (HSEF) your membership dues must be kept current. You may send a check

monthly to the HSEF office. A reminder will be sent from HSEF will be sent after 30 days of

an LOA.

Any questions and or concerns please contact: HSEF office at 813-231-2030 ext. 500.

Words from the President:

INSID E THIS

ISSUE

Membership 2

FEA post ESP 2012

story of HSEF

2

Membership

winners

2

Drop program in-

formation

3

ESP DAY 3

Calendar of Events 3

New Website scan

code

4

THE VOICE OF HSEF A U G - S E P T 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 9

E X E C U T I V E B O A R D

P R E S I D E N T

V I C K I L A W R Y E X T 5 0 1

V I C E P R E S I D E N T

I R A N A L I C E A E X T 5 0 2

T R E A S U R E R

T O N Y D I A Z

E X E C U T I V E S E C R E T A R Y

R U B Y S H A N N O N

V P M E M B E R S H I P

K E N C O L L I N S E X T 5 0 3

V P C O M M U N I C A T I O N

M A R Y L O U S A P P

V P A T L A R G E

O P E N S E A T

V P N E G O T I A T I O N S

S T E P H A N I E M A C N E E L

V P O F S T R U C T U R E

P A T M C D O N A L D

V P P O L I T I C A L A C T I O N

R O S A W I L L I A M S E X T 5 0 5

V P G O V E R N A N C E

V I C T O R M O R E N O E X T 5 0 4

5126 N. Florida Ave - Tampa, Florida 33603

PHONE: 813-231-2030 Fax: 813-234-3825

In Solidarity,

Vicki Lawry, President HSEF

P A G E 2

Membership

Great news! Our membership still continues to grow!

Today our membership has grown to approximately 1,500 thus creating a stronger unit.

Welcome to our New Members!

New processed employees, still on probation, may join membership or anyone interest-

ed, please call HSEF 813.231.2030 or go to our website @ www.hsefonline.org

“Tania Raife” HSEF and members would like to

Thank Robert Cuddeback from NTA for providing TV’s to be given away and

providing lunch at our Membership Meetings.

TV Winner from June Meeting

September

14, 2013

Steward

Council

Meeting

9:00am - 10:00am

&

General

Membership

Meeting

10:00am - 11:00am

Please be on time and

make sure you sign in.

FEA Advocate Magazine Posted an HSEF Article from ESP DAY 2012 Union leadership in Hillsborough County wanted to show the same dedication and commitment to their ESP members as their members have shown for their school community. This year, Hills-borough CTA (HCTA) and Hillsborough School Employees Federation (HSEF) leaders united to host their first ever joint ESP Day of Appreciation. Members from Hillsborough (HCTA) and Hillsborough School Employees Federation (HSEF) enjoyed the fun packed event which included live entertainment, dancing and plenty of food. Staff profes-sionals from both units filled the HSEF hall on North Florida Avenue throughout the day and into the night.

HSEF President Vicki Lawry called the ESP Day of Celebration a “Special Event” because it provided a model for union solidarity that members need to experience. Lawry joined HCTA President Jean Clements in encouraging members to meet, greet and network with their colleagues they didn't already know. “Budgets cuts and policy changes have made it increasingly difficult for ESPs to meet the demands of their jobs. Since both unions share common goals and similar issues, this event can lay the founda-tion for union collaboration on major district issues and give our members a much stronger and united voice,” said Lawry. HSEF represents most of Hillsborough school districts blue collar workers, while HCTA represents the pink collar employees. In the past, both unions celebrated separately hosting two individuals ESP events that rarely united members of the two Hillsborough locals.

***********************************************************************************

Four lucky winners @ our June

meeting received $50 Visa cards.

Jackie McCollister, Gustavo Luna

Anna Rodriguez & Manny Fernandez

First Day

Of

School

August 20, 2013

September 14, 2013

Steward Council Meeting

9:00am - 10:00am

General Membership Meeting

10:00am - 11:00am

National School Bus Safety Week

October 21 - 25, 2013

ESP Day

November 20, 2013

National American Teach in

November 18 - 22, 2013

December 14, 2013

Steward Council Meeting

9:00am - 10:00am

General Membership Meeting

10:00am - 11:00am

Following Meeting Holiday

Fellowship Dinner

HSEF WILL HOST ESP DAY NOVEMBER 20, 2013

ESP Day (Employee Support Personnel) is for any member or non

-member within our blue collar contract bargaining unit and you

are invited!

This year our celebrated event will be held here at our office

(5126 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 33603) on Wednesday November

20, 2013 from 10:00am - 4:00pm.

Good food will be served along with free give aways, entertain-

ment , Creative Benefits, NTA, FEA and venders.

If you would like to set up for a vender space (limited space)

please contact HSEF 813.231.2030

************************************************

The National Great American Teach In November 18 - 22,

2013

Celebrating here at HSEF November 18 -

22, 2013 from 10:00am - 3:00pm there

will be different professions entertaining on different days, stop

by and join the fun here at HSEF.

************************************************

For those retiring or in the DROP - Florida Retirement Benefits remain the same – there are NO changes. For new hires (after 7/1/2011)

Retirement benefits will be calculated on the highest 8 fiscal years of compensation (rather than the highest 5) Retirement age increases from 62 to 65; years of service increases from 30 to 33. Vesting requirement increase from 6 years to 8 years of service. For all others (including new hires)

All members of the FRS will be required to make a 3% contribution on gross compensation Members will no longer receive the Cost of Living Increase on service after July 1, 2011 (until July 1, 2016)

For Members Considering DROP The interest rate paid on the DROP account will be 1.3% for those who enroll after July 1, 2011. Your DROP amount will not decrease, only the interest earned. If you have reached normal retirement age and are considering DROP, keep in mind it takes a minimum of 30 days to enroll. Be sure to discuss your options with a financial advisor familiar with the Florida Retirement System. The Florida Retirement System has advisors available to work with members of FRS at no charge. If you are considering changes to your status before the new laws take place, please be sure to contact them. 866) 446-9377, Option 2 • (Monday through Friday from 9 am – 8 pm EST) www .MyFRS.com **********************************************************************************************************************************************************

UNITED WE STAND

FACEBOOK ADDRESS:

HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES FEDERATION

Do not write

Statements!

Para leer in Español visite

www.HSEFonline.org haga clic en "La Voz"

para descargar el PDF

HSEF

5126 N. Florida Ave

Tampa, FL. 33603

Phone: 813-231-2030 | Fax: 813-234-3825

www.HSEFonline.org

This bar code is to the HSEF web site. Any member

with a smart phone can use it to access HSEF web.

They must have a QR reader app to read.

www.feaweb.org/ Watch for your new 2013-16 FEA/ACCESS Membership Card in the Mail. If you do not have one please contact HSEF 813.231.2030