See http://www.arps.org/node/3299 for more information.
Professional Development Information
Notice to Eligible Employees of Opportunity to Make Elective Deferrals to the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District 403(b) Plan
New enrollees should open (and confirm the fact that their account is open) with an approved vendor first before faxing an Salary Reduction Agreement form to Mid America. Any employee that currently has a 403(b) and has not previously submitted a Salary Reduction Agreement should submit one to MidAmerica.
All Salary Reduction Agreements should be submitted to the Business Office, attention Joan Chamberland.
See the instructions listed below to locate the proper Salary Reduction Agreement for your district.
Approved 403(b) Plan Vendors
Please review the attached documents to learn more about AESOP, our absence and substitute system . If you have further questions please contact Rachel Bowen, Assistant Director of HR at 413-362-1808 or at bowenr@arps.org.
Hour of Operation: 9:00-4:45 (Monday-Friday)
Office: 781-338-6600
Fax number: 781-338-3391
Please watch for extended hours of operation during critical school months.
Dial: 781-338-3000 and then press "2" to obtain the status of an existing licensure application
Hours of Operation 8:45-4:45 (Monday-Friday)
Located on the 1st floor
Please mail all correspondence, documents, and official transcripts relating to your licensure application to:
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Office of Educator Licensure
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148
To ensure proper identification, please include your name and academic license number or social security number on all documents submitted.
Applicants can view particular licensure requirements (Preliminary, Initial, Professional, Temporary) at Licensure Help by selecting the license of interest. When you have decided on the license(s) of choice, simply Apply Online or send a paper application. Please remember to send an official transcript as proof of bachelor's degree, if the office does not have a copy on file.
Download an application
Teacher Test/MTEL
Find a Preparation program
Find a job
School and District Profiles/Directory
For questions about Vocational Technical Educator Licensure, please send an email to VocEducators@doe.mass.edu
For information about becoming a Vocational Educator, please visit: http://www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_license.html?section=voc
For questions about Adult Basic Education (ABE) Licensure, please send an email to licenseabe@doe.mass.edu
For information about becoming licensed as an ABE teacher, please visit: http://www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_license.html?section=abe
To learn about the Guidelines and other Professional Development Opportunities, please visit: www.doe.mass.edu/recert
http://www.doe.mass.edu/Educators/contact.html
Attached is an easy to follow chart outlining the process for achieving "highly qualified" status.
Employee contracts are attached below. Teachers are part of Unit A, Professional Staff. See also the website of the Amherst-Pelham Education Association.
Amherst Pelham Education Association
(Teachers Unit)
And
Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee
Amherst School Committee
Pelham School Committee
The Amherst Pelham Education Association (“the Association”) and the Amherst Pelham Regional School Committee, the Amherst School Committee and the Pelham School Committee (“the Committees), having met to discuss cost saving measures in an attempt to minimize layoffs and other disruptions resulting from the cutbacks required to balance the Committees Fiscal Year 2011 budgets, hereby record their agreements as follows:
The Association and the Committees agree that teachers employed by the Committees will be furloughed for a total of three (3) days for the 2010-2011 school year. Teachers will not work and will not be paid for three (3) curriculum days. Payroll deductions will be implemented by agreement of the parties.
Savings generated by said furloughs will be used exclusively to preserve staffing in each of the school districts.
The current collective bargaining agreement between the parties, dated September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2011, is not modified in any respect by this memorandum. Further, the parties acknowledge that there has been no agreement to extend the current collective bargaining agreement.
This agreement is contingent upon the passage of a proposed override by the voters of the Town of Amherst, in the amount of $1.68 million dollars, said vote to be held on March 23, 2010. Should the override fail, this agreement shall be null and void, and of no effect between the parties.
This agreement is subject to ratification by the Association and by the Committees.
FSAP is a free and confidential counseling, consultation, and referral service that assists employees in resolving a broad range of personal, work-related, and family problems.
FSAP serves employees of UMass Amherst, Amherst/Pelham public schools, and the UMass Five College Federal Credit Union. Immediate family members are also eligible. All FSAP services are a benefit and voluntary.
FSAP does not bill insurance companies and we do not collect co-payments. This is an employee benefit for faculty and staff. Confidential. FSAP counselors carefully adhere to professional standards of ethics and confidentiality. Appointments and services are confidential to the fullest extent permitted by law. All records are kept separate from any medical or personnel records.
People are encouraged to take advantage of this free benefit, ideally before issues become overwhelming. Supervisors concerned about an employee can recommend the FSAP, but participation is not a condition of employment.
The FSAP is based here in western Massachusetts, on the UMass Amherst campus. Personal. Counselors and clients meet face to face and are here to provide ongoing support.
Visit us at:
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University Health Services
150 Infirmary Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9288
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(hours can be modified based on need)
Phone: 413-545-0350
Web page: www.umass.edu/uhs/services/fsap/
Email: fsap@uhs.umass.edu
Directions:
From the intersection of Routes 116 and 9 in Amherst, take Pleasant Street north through Amherst. Turn left onto North Pleasant (third traffic light). Go to second set of lights and turn right onto UMass campus. Take the first right onto Thatcher Rd., continuing to University Health Services (UHS).
A gated FREE patient parking lot is located just past UHS, on the left.
Regularly scheduled FSAP group meetings offer a safe, supportive environment for people to share concerns, find solutions, and connect with others in similar situations. Topics vary; recent sessions have included stress reduction, work/life balance, working with students with emotional challenges, care giving, and transitioning into retirement.
April 7, 2010
Please see the attached documents.
Please note: The rates for the HMO for both Blue Cross and Harvard Pilgrim are not correct in the Open Enrollment booklet. The rates did not change from last year. The correct rates are:
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AmherstMeds is an optional international mail order program designed for the Employees, Retirees (Non-Medicare Eligible) and their dependents of the Town of Amherst (including all three school districts) that currently have health insurance coverage through the district. For your convenience, a listing of eligible medications, as well as an enrollment form can be found on the attached document. If you have questions about this program please contact Maggie Jaeger at jaegerm@arps.org or at (413) 362-1895.
Read more at http://www.canarx.com/AmherstMeds/index.html.
This Flexible Spending Account program, administered by Sentinel Benefits is plan that allows you to withhold pre-tax dollars from your paycheck to pay for qualified, non-reimbursable health related (including dental) and dependent care expenses. Please see the attached documents for more information. If you have any questions please contact Maggie Jaeger at jaegerm@arps.org or call (413) 362-1895.
The VisionSavings Eyecare Program offers eyecare and eyewear discounts with convenient access to a nationwide network of thousands of participating eye care providers and optical retailers, including:
Employees qualify for discounts on eye exams, glasses, contact lenses and laser vision correction surgery. Plus, employees can order contact lens replacements online at EyeMedContacts.com for additional savings and convenience. What's more, there are no enrollment or claim forms and no membership fees. Plus, using this value-added program is convenient and easy.
Please click on the MetLife Vision Program link below for complete details or call Maggie Jaeger at 413-362-1895 or by e-mail at JaegerM@arps.org
To access Kronos for employees
https://kronos.arps.org/selfservice/scripts/CommLog.aspx?ComLogon=1
Welcome to the News You Can Use Staff Newsletter. Please click on a date to view the newsletter of the week. You can find the attachments referred to in newsletters below.
If you have any questions please contact Sharon Gross at grosss@arps.org.
Please see the attachments for Public Employee Retirment Guide (support personnel) and for the MTRS Retirment Guide (professional staff).
Please see the attachment below for the Employee Accident Report.