Champaign Educational Support Professionals

01/27/2022

01/25/2022

HB2778 Update:

After months of languishing on the Governor's desk, it's official. The bill that passed the legislature with overwhelming support and would have guaranteed *all* public school employees paid time off if they were forced to quarantine as a result of COVID infection or exposure has been vetoed. The original bill was the result of collaboration between our parent union, IEA, as well as IFT and others.

Instead, a new initiative (The COVID-19 Sick Leave Initiative) is going back to the legislature for approval that includes the wage protection provisions from HB 2778, but limits the available administrative leave time and restoration of sick time already spent on quarantine to vaccinated employees.

While CESP recognizes the effectiveness of vaccination and encourages all of our members to get immunized, this measure completely disregards the efforts put forth by our members that have opted not to receive a vaccine. We are deeply disappointed in the Governor's decision to use this much-needed measure as an incentive for vaccination instead of generally recognizing the risks and difficulties faced by all of our workers.

Still, it's a measure that will protect all our members in the event of COVID-related shutdowns, and that's good. It will also provide another layer of protection for the majority of CESP, which is good. It isn't everything we wanted, but a subdued victory is still a victory. We're proud to have played a part in this process, and hope that it sets a precedent for the minimum protection and respect for the safety of support staff and educators in Illinois going forward. It will take effect after both houses of the legislature approve it and it is signed by the Governor.

01/22/2022

WHAT: Solidarity rally for Champaign teachers, students, parents, and community members before the school board meeting

WHEN: Monday, January 24, 4 PM

WHERE: Outside of the Mellon Building
703 S. New St. Champaign, IL 61820

Champaign, IL – Teachers in Champaign Unit 4 School District will hold a solidarity rally in advance of an upcoming scheduled bargaining session with the School Board. As bargaining drags on and Covid continues to complicate a third year of teaching, frustration for families and teachers grows. The District continues to ask more and more of its already overtaxed staff.

“We are here to show support to and honor the work of our elementary colleagues and all of our members as they continue to go above and beyond, under constantly changing circumstances, to keep students in school and learning,” said CFT Co-President Mike Sitch. “The Board is proposing an extension of 55 minutes to the elementary school day. Unfortunately, the District just doesn’t have the staff, the capacity, or the track record to facilitate this change even one year down the road. We are asking the Board to listen to the experts -- those dedicated educators who work with our students in classrooms across the District every single day. The situation in our schools right now is dire – we fear the ramifications of this proposal. Our students and our community deserve better.”

This action by teachers comes on the heels of public comments made at the last board meeting, when Sitch described the dire context of what it takes to work in district schools right now.

01/14/2022

https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-teachers-asking-the-district-to-step-up/?fbclid=IwAR2YDXXSpTCJTeL0K6v-XVEsuV9nUNuqUTP9h1LNu8jmGYTlSJXd1UDVJjQ

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Champaign teachers said they are being stretched thin, and they’re calling on district leaders to do something. Several teachers said they’re experiencing sever…

01/11/2022

Well said. The struggles and difficulties described here by CFT are felt by the whole system, and everyone in it; Teachers and Students, Secretaries and TAs, Nurses and Custodians. We're very proud of the job we've done in keeping the schools operating, but there comes a point where there just isn't any more to give.

CFT Board Comment 1/10/22 What a start to the second semester. Thank goodness for the people in our schools who are going above and beyond to make it work. From my perspective as a teacher and co-president of the Champaign Federation of Teachers, last week was the absolute worst week in my 16 ye...

11/03/2021

It's been in the news a little, but there's a bill that IEA has been fighting for (HB2778) on the Governor's desk that we simply have to get signed. It basically requires school districts to provide paid administrative leave for employees that meet vaccination/testing criteria to use for quarantine and testing. It also requires that sick time *already spent* for quarantine or caring for children in quarantine be returned.

We have several employees that would be affected by this, and there are so many more across the state. Please, whether you're a part of CESP, another type of employee, or just a friend of school staff, call or email the Governor's office, or click the link provided for an auto-generated letter you can personalize and sign off on.

COVID School Employee Benefit & Wage Protection Bill

10/26/2021

This evening, the Unit 4 Board of Education approved a one-time bonus to district employees that have worked 300 hours or more between July 1 and October 29 in the amount of $1000.

CESP began lobbying for a bonus in this vein months ago, and appreciates the gratitude and generosity shown by the district in recognizing the additional effort put forth by its staff in light of all the adversity of this school year.

We are very pleased to report this windfall for hundreds of our members who have put in the hours to keep our school district running. Thank you all, and enjoy the reward for the long hours and work well done!

Take care out there,
Benjamen Gulley
CESP President

09/09/2021

This is the nightmare scenario for any education worker, regardless of when and where they work. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the staff who had to make quick decisions in the moment - no one should be put in that situation, and it's a terrible thing that you were. Lots of people will have lots of questions, and rightly so, but from CESP: Thank you, and we're overjoyed that you, and the kids you transport, are safe.

The same goes to all the staff involved in recent near-misses and threats: attention easily goes to larger issues and community impact, and those are real concerns. Let us be the ones to say thank you for doing your jobs diligently, even in harm's way. You're truly appreciated by those that work alongside you to provide education, health, and safety to Unit 4's children.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign Police officials said one person was hurt after a shooting on Thursday afternoon. They also stated a Champaign Unit 4 School bus was hit by a bullet. In a n…

09/04/2021

We're pleased to see that the State timeline for the vaccination mandate has been relaxed somewhat, and are proud that IEA and others were successful in gaining that breathing room for us. We hope to use that time to work with Unit 4 to answer outstanding questions about implementation.

The deadline for health care workers, teachers and higher education students to receive the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine has been extended two weeks, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday.

09/01/2021

This evening, Unit 4 announced the particulars of the agreement made to bring its staff into compliance with Illinois's vaccine mandate for educational workers. After deliberation, collaboration, and the inclusion of many points of view, we arrived at what we feel was the best possible arrangement to protect the health and safety of Unit 4's workers and students while being respectful of employees' needs and considerate of those that are unable to receive a vaccine.

The agreement also includes a measure to safeguard the sick time of those who do receive a vaccine, but are forced to quarantine anyway.

All in all, I'm proud to have been part of that process, and thank all those that have reached out with their own points of view. We'll continue to work toward better conditions for everyone in Unit 4, and I hope you'll continue to speak up as we face new challenges.

Every one of us has worked harder than ever before to provide the best environment for students during this crisis, and I'm proud to be one of you. Keep going, and stay strong!

Benjamen Gulley
CESP President