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Texas Teachers Chatboard

What's it like teaching for the Austin ISD?

by Vesta Hera

Jul 7, 2017

I am currently living in another state and don't have credentials in TX. I would like to teach HS science and want to apply via reciprocity. What is it like teaching in Austin?

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TRS for retired teachers

by aggieswife

Apr 23, 2017

Has anyone heard how much this is going up?

Any retired teachers on this board?

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AW On 4/23/17, aggieswife wrote: > Has anyone heard how much this is going up? > > Any retired teachers on this board?

Ready to pay more for health insurance when you retire? Not only is our social security reduced or eliminated by GPO and WPE, but now we will have to pay more for insurance.

I came across this on the AFT sit...See MoreOn 4/23/17, aggieswife wrote: > Has anyone heard how much this is going up? > > Any retired teachers on this board?

Ready to pay more for health insurance when you retire? Not only is our social security reduced or eliminated by GPO and WPE, but now we will have to pay more for insurance.

I came across this on the AFT site:

The TRS-Care health plan for retired school employees faces a funding shortfall of more than a billion dollars, and HB 3976 by Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) is an attempt by the House to deal with that problem. The bill is due to be debated on the House floor Wednesday afternoon or evening, just like the accountability bill.

HB 397 would put non-Medicare-eligible retirees into a plan with a $3,000 deductible and monthly premiums starting at $200 a month (rising to $370 over four years). Medicare- eligible retirees would all go into a Medicare Advantage plan, with some premium increase anticipated for most participants. The House plan is supported by more than half a billion dollars in the House version of the budget bill–a significantly higher amount than the less-favorable Senate alternative would provide.

HB 3976 can best be described as necessary but not sufficient. It is necessary to pass a bill to provide for some solution to the TRS-Care funding crisis, and this bill is a much better option than the Senate version, which would put much more of the burden of rising health costs on the backs of retirees.

But HB 3976 as yet is not sufficient to protect many retirees from substantial cost increases. The state has never pre-funded TRS-Care, preferring to hold down state outlays by proceeding on a pay-as-you-go basis. Now the bill is coming due. TRS retirees, whose pensions average $2,000 a month, with no cost-of-living adjustments, are ill-prepared to absorb so much of the plan’s rising costs. We need to try to improve HB 3976 and to redouble our efforts to secure more funding in the 2018-19 budget bill to achieve a better deal for retired school employees.

May 7, 2017

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Nonrenewed Teacher

by What now?

Apr 25, 2017

I was nonrenewed yesterday. :( I have worked so hard this year but it was not enough. I was given the option to resign and did. What should I expect now?

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Paris I wouldn't have resigned, non-renewed is non- punitive. You would have gotten unemployment benefits.

Were you really non-renewed, or just informed you would be non-renewed? Usually you can't resign once the board votes to non-renew your contract. It's a done deal. So I assume your principal advised you your contract would be non-renewed an...See More

Apr 30, 2017

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aggieswife I agree with both posters; however, put "look for a job" at the top of the list. Don't let this destroy your self- confidence. Sometimes big districts are looking for new teachers to train but not really wanting a first year teacher. The big push now is "enthusiasm," being very techno-saavy, and professional development on your ...See MoreI agree with both posters; however, put "look for a job" at the top of the list. Don't let this destroy your self- confidence. Sometimes big districts are looking for new teachers to train but not really wanting a first year teacher. The big push now is "enthusiasm," being very techno-saavy, and professional development on your "own" time.

On 4/30/17, Paris wrote: > I wouldn't have resigned, non-renewed is non- > punitive. You would have gotten unemployment > benefits. > > Were you really non-renewed, or just informed you > would be non-renewed? Usually you can't resign > once the board votes to non-renew your contract. > It's a done deal. So I assume your principal advised > you your contract would be non-renewed and then > you resigned. > > There's not much to do, but I'd advise: > > 1) Go through your district's policy and see what > paid leave days you have available. Only state > leave days can transfer with you to another district. > If you have any paid local leave days or sick leave > days you should consider using them, they won't be > worth anything once you leave. > > 2) Once the year is over, go over to HR and ask to > see your district and campus personnel file. They > are required to show you everything. You can make > copies or take photos if you want. Also ask for a > copy of your service record. > > 3) While at HR, I don't know how important your > health insurance is for you but you might get some > benefits like the rest of summer and you would be > eligible for COBRA. In addition find out how the > district will pay out your summer months. Will they > give you one big check in June or will you get paid > through August. > > 4) Speaking of benefits, you might want to try to > apply for unemployment benefits anyway. If you > have any emails or anything that indicates you were > going to be non-renewed you can still make a claim. > > 5) Copy or backup all your email and files from your > school computer. Once you leave they will be wiped > from the hard drive and server. > > 6) Make sure you have all your PD certificates and > hours logged and if a log, have your principal sign > it. > > 7) Start packing now, but be really careful about > what's yours and what's district property. Get your > checkout sheet early, and make sure you have > everything. > > 8) Get contact names, numbers and emails of co- > workers and those in administration, ask them if it's > okay to use them as a reference. > > 9) How you say good bye to your students is up to > you. I recommend you keep it neutral, you're > leaving for other opportunities. > > 10) Start looking for a new job now. It's not the end > of the world. > > > On 4/25/17, What now? wrote: >> I was nonrenewed yesterday. :( I have worked so > hard this year but it was not enough. I was given > the option to resign and did. What should I expect > now?

Apr 30, 2017

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Where are all the posts?

by aggieswife

Apr 23, 2017

What happened to all the old posts?

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Bob R/CA On 4/23/17, aggieswife wrote: > What happened to all the old posts?

They've gone to Betsons.

That would make more sense to you if you grew up around Philadelphia. The truth is, we've migrated the chatboard to a new location, and it's a big hassle to bring the old posts along, so we're starting new.

So get gabby, alread...See More

Apr 23, 2017

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aggieswife Thanks for clarifying the Betsons....never heard of it.

On 4/23/17, Bob R/CA wrote: > On 4/23/17, aggieswife wrote: >> What happened to all the old posts? > > They've gone to Betsons. > > That would make more sense to you if you grew up around > Philadelphia. The truth is, we've migrated the chatboard > to a new ...See More

Apr 23, 2017

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Welcome to the Texas Teachers Chatboard

by Bob R/CA

Apr 17, 2017

Welcome to the new home of the Texas Teachers Chatboard. Texas teachers and teachers with an interest in Texas are encouraged to post here. Bookmark this resource and tell a friend!

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