President and Trustee Open Position

July 12th 2018

Greetings Classified Staff!!

We now have an opening as a Trustee on the Chapter Executive Team.

With the vacancy of the President and Trustee position, we will be taking nominations at our September chapter meeting.

The September Chapter meeting will be held on September 11^th at 5:30 pm in the library at Thurston High School.

We will accept nominations again at the October chapter meeting at which time, nominations close and balloting occurs.

Our October chapter meeting will be held on October 9^th at 5:30pm in the library at Springfield High School.

Our constitution

Professional Development Opportunity

Dear Staff:

I am happy to announce, the District and the OSEA Chapter 4 Executive Team have been meeting to put together an opportunity for Classified staff to access funds for professional development opportunities. We have $40,000 to use for individual requests each school year. Staff members may receive funds only once every two years. If you apply and are not awarded funds you may reapply. Individual grants shall not exceed $1500 per person. If you were to use a personal leave day for a conference the professional development fund will match that day to cover the second day you will be gone

Tim Stephens Named Oregon Classified Employee of the Year

Oregon School Employee Association President Tim Stephens was surprised with the OSEA State Employee of the Year award at the May 14 board meeting.

This prestigious award is given to one OSEA member each year whom exemplifies the hard work, dedication with good character, and outstanding work performance. The nominated members are judged by a panel of past OSEA presidents.

Tim has been with the district for more than 18 years. In addition to the volunteer hours he puts in as OSEA president, he serves as Lead Inventory Specialist for the district, managing a team of workers and all the ins and out of a huge inventory.

Following are some excerpts from Tim's nomination:

"I have rarely encountered an employee that more exemplifies service-based leadership than this candidate....Never have I heard him say 'it can’t be done' but rather 'this is how we make it happen.' This person leads by example without hesitation....He always gives 110% and serves as a true mentor for others in his workgroup and well beyond."
"When the Lead Inventory Specialist position opened, there was no question by the members of selection team that this individual was the right person for the job. Since being placed in this role, he has helped transform the Warehouse & Material Movement function of the District into one that is among the top in the state."
"Most recently, this individual has stepped into an OSEA leadership role. I am very gratified again to point out this person’s selfless nature and willingness to represent his coworkers without personal acknowledgement, for the hours he spends assuring fair representation for those on the front lines."
"Hard working, intelligent, consistent, diligent, personally responsible, trustworthy, innovative, compassionate – all of these adjectives fall short on their own. However, collectively they paint a picture of this individual and his longstanding commitment to supporting excellence in education."

Please join us in congratulating Tim!

Wellness Clinic

All services are available for FREE to covered current or

former employees and their covered dependents!

What is it?

Think of your doctor's office. Now imagine having a free, full-service healthcare facility right down the street from you. Instead of calling your regular doctor, employees and your families can use the clinic for everything from regular exams to more urgent illness or injuries. Children ages 4 and up can get sports physicals, some vaccinations, and tests for strep, flu and ear infections. Also, because the providers are not limited by quotas and time limits of many regular

New Contract

Just a reminder of the opportunities for you to vote on the new contract.

You must have a “Signed” membership card on file with the State office to be eligible to vote. I have attached one to print off for those who have not completed one.

They must be turned in before the May 1^st meeting.

We reached a tentative agreement with the District on a new contract. An informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 1^st in the Library at Thurston High School at 6:00 pm. We will present you with an overview and a summary of changes, and then allow time for questions and answers.

You will then

Classified Employee of the Year 2018

Congratulations to Elaine Lessar, long-time administrative secretary at Thurston Middle School, who was selected as this year's Classified Employee of the Year! Thurston Elementary secretary Kathy Laird was the first runner up; Gateways educational assistant Phylicia Bullis was the second runner up.

Elaine has been with the district for nearly 32 years, having started as a bus driver for several years. She's been at Thurston Middle School ever since. She was nominated this year by her principal, Brandi Starck, who called Elaine’s work “exceptional” and said she is a “master of customer service