Osta News 2024
It all begins with an idea.
Joyce Gifford Oregon City Teacher
OSTA’s Government Affairs Chair, Debbie Fery, was the relentless voice of substitute teachers on the historic legislative Joint Task Force on Substitute Teachers (stacked with school administrators). Items recommended for legislation coming out of the JTFST include
1) a multi-tiered plan for professional development,
2) access to medical insurance for substitute teachers working in multiple districts–but unfortunately not outsourced districts
3) due process for substitute teachers barred from a school.
4) a new pathway through TSPC for Restricted Substitute Teachers to be able to advance to a regular Substitute Teaching License
5) an Office of Substitute Teachers in ODE to continue studying substitute teacher issues and providing information to districts and substitutes. Items not recommended by JTFST but which we will continue to pursue along with the above: a pay raise for especially for the long-term substitute teachers, and recognition that all substitute teachers are public employees. Get signed up with OSTA and join us at the Conference and Legislature, write letters, and let your voice be heard.
Sally Sue Cellers in Action
Sally Sue Cellers makes this presentation memorable
SB 1552 – REVERSES SB 283 DECISION ON SUBSTITUTE TEACHER HALF DAY
Under SB 283 (2023) (The Educational Workforce Task Force) substitute teachers who worked exactly a half day were to be paid for a full day’s salary for most of the school year 2023-24. SB 1552 (2024) reversed this decision. For the year 2024-25, substitute teachers working exactly half day will receive half of the daily minimum salary, and hours worked beyond a half day are paid as a whole day. This is the customary language on salary; but troubling language has been added on hours-- suggesting that the minimum salary may not apply to substitute teachers who do not work for a school district and allowing substitute teachers to be employed for less than half a day, thus making it more likely that substitute teachers do not get the same planning time as the teacher they are replacing.
BOLI Opinion Letter on Payment for Training. This decision was made last year, but is an important reminder for all substitute teachers—to ask for and receive your rightful payment for training.
The Bureau of Labor and Industries has issued an opinion that Safe-Schools Training is not a part of licensure, but is required for work and is therefore reimbursable by employers, whether school districts or third parties. You may file a BOLI claim if your employer does not pay you for time taking any trainings you must complete before being called to work.
WHAT THE JTFST DID NOT PROVE
School districts failed to bring timely data to the legislature to prove their compliance with contract law in the outsourcing of substitute teachers—they may not be saving money but they say they had to outsource to get teachers – hence the importance of the ODE Office of Substitute Teachers to bring together the relevant information so that best practices can be followed for the best educational outcomes–and also the importance of asking questions at your local school district and budget committee when outsourcing is being considered.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WHO WORK THE 600 HOURS THROUGH THIRD PARTIES
Do school districts have a right to determine which substitute teachers can retire under PERS? OSTA and Debbie Fery say no. Debbie has received a second denial of retirement eligibility from PERS as her case winds its way through the courts, and OSTA agrees that the 10% of substitutes (those long-term and career substitutes who work every day) more than deserve to receive the same benefits enjoyed by substitute teachers working elsewhere in the state. A win for OSTA and Debbie is a win for all substitute teachers since outsourcing began in 2015.
Minimum Salary 2024-25
The minimum pay rate for the first 10 consecutive days of substitute teaching is $211.92 per day. For school districts with class schedules based on a 4-day week, the minimum pay rate for the first 8 consecutive days is $238.41 per day.
When a substitute teacher teaches for more than 10 consecutive days (more than 8 consecutive days for districts with a 4-day week) in the same assignment, the minimum rate is the district’s annual salary scale for beginning teachers with a bachelor’s degree. These salary increases calculated by ODE are a result of legislative work by OSTA in 1977 and 1979.
OSTA Members vote for leadership
OSTA OFFICER NOMINEES 2024-25
The following slate of officers will be voted upon at the Annual Conference.
President—Leslie Polson – Salem; Vice President- Jon Deshler – Marquam;
Secretary- Sarah Kennedy – Beaverton
Treasurer – Bruce Beebe – Salem; Membership Chair – Kimberly Mandel -Coos Bay
Oregon Substitute Teacher of the Year Chair- Sally Sue Cellers – McMinnville
Co-Substitute Teacher of the Year Chairs --Karen Sims and Evie Linstad
Five Board Members at Large: Yvonne Christensen, Jay Hoey, Rodger Claussen.
Standing Committees: Government Affairs: Debbie Fery with Steve Frank, Legislative Watch;
TSPC Watch: Evelyn Silen; Facebook: Joyce Gifford, Greg Fones; Website: Leslie Polson
Blog Post Title Two
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.