Legal Questions

Legal Questions

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New Education Law Aims to Keep Students and Educators Safe

“Our jobs are to educate our students in a safe, healthy environment,” said MSEA President Cheryl Bost. “This new law regarding sexual misconduct is intended to add a protective layer to the hiring process to safeguard students’ well-being.” The Law The law*, which went into effect July 1, 2019, requires an applicant for a position […]
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Family Medical Leave Act: New Progress for ESP Coverage

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Employees who have worked for the board of education for at least 12 months and at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months. A 10-month certificated employee who has worked full-time during the school year will qualify for benefits under FMLA on the first day of work of their second year […]
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A Word From the Legal Team on Social Media Posts …

Employees may mistakenly believe that the First Amendment protects their right to post anything they want on social networking sites. Unfortunately, school employees have limited free speech rights — employee speech is not entitled to First Amendment protection. Save these tips and share them with colleagues. Keep you and your job safe! 15 Tips from MSEA’s Legal Team Set […]
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A Word from the Legal Team on Working with Parents

Every educator wants parents who are involved in their child’s education. Time has proven to us over and over again that it’s essential. But some parents can go a bit…overboard. As an educator have you ever experienced a parent who: • Questions your subject matter knowledge? • Questions your grading rubric? • Complains about you […]
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Tax Relief for Educators!

Last year, the General Assembly passed a new tax law for educators, allowing for a state income tax subtraction modification of up to $250 for unreimbursed classroom supplies that are purchased by educators. This is the first year that you can take advantage of this new law — keep an eye out for it when you file […]
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Your Evaluation … “Developing?“ “Ineffective?” Now What?

You’re a tenured teacher with an Advanced Professional Certificate and you’ve just been evaluated as less than effective — which means a designation of either developing or ineffective. It’s time to make some choices. What to Do? You Can: 1. Participate in the development of a Performance Improvement Plan to identify resources and support in the areas identified […]
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An FMLA Tutorial

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides job-protected, unpaid leave under certain circumstances. Who is eligible for FMLA? Government and private sector employees qualify for FMLA if their employer has at least 50 employees and they have worked for 12 months and 1,250 hours. Ten-month certificated educators in the public […]
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Your Rights as an Educator-Activist

iStock Photo Educator activism — locally and across the country — is building for safer schools, increased funding, better pay and support for educators, and improved professional respect. MSEA encourages activism, but we also want members to protect themselves, their jobs, and their local associations by understanding the differences between types of actions and their effects. Let’s look first […]
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Who Decides What’s on the Bargaining Table?

Educators know they have some basic rights thanks to the contract negotiated by their local association bargaining team. Salary and wages, health and life insurance, sick leave and sick leave banks, retiree health care provisions, and more are, in fact, mandatory subjects of bargaining. Your local association brings those and other issues — ones imposed by the […]
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