Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 7-27-2020

We’re doing everything in our power to keep you safe

Inside this issue

• PSA: We can all do our part to keep each other safe
• We still have a long way to go on Washington’s COVID-19 relief bill
• Upper Dublin ESP members make custom face masks
• New COVID-19 Q&A on school reopening
• PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning: Summer Learning Series
• Member benefits spotlight: PSEA Visa Signature Card

PSA: We can all do our part to keep each other safe

We continue to work closely with districts and government officials to ensure plans to reopen schools include every necessary safety precaution to protect our members and our students.

Some of the many ways PSEA has your back include:

• Field staff and local leader advocacy on your behalf with your employer
• Resources for members and leaders on prepping for a return to school
• Legislative and policy advocacy at the state level
• Participation with other stakeholder groups to shape back-to-school planning
• Communications to the public highlighting the importance of protecting the health and safety of students and education employees

Here’s something we can all do to help. According to CDC, PDE, and DOH guidelines, the bare minimum safety precautions include wearing a face covering and maintaining 6 feet of social distance.

We all want to get back to our classrooms and see our students. So, it’s up to all of us to model good behavior and take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and our communities as safe as possible.

We still have a long way to go on Washington’s COVID-19 relief bill

U.S. Senate Republicans unveiled their proposal for $1 trillion in COVID-19 relief aid on Monday. It differs in substantial ways from the $3 trillion package House Democrats approved in May. And it falls $70 billion short of the $175 billion in aid we believe our nation’s schools need to ensure they can open safely in the fall.

The proposed aid also includes Betsy DeVos-favored voucher plans. A full 10 percent of the K-12 aid would go directly to private schools, and two-thirds of it comes with conditions attached on going back to in-person instruction.

Congress has a long way to go to find consensus on these proposals. In the meantime, we will continue to push Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators to support a bill that includes the full $175 billion in emergency aid for our K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities.

Let’s keep the pressure on Washington to do what needs to be done.

Upper Dublin ESP members make custom face masks

Back in April, members of Upper Dublin Educational Support Personnel Association (UDESPA) Executive Board got word their essential personnel needed masks. So they decided to make their own.

“We decided it would be a great idea to have masks supplied to all our members promoting UDESPA,” said association president Robin Piccari. “The member making the masks was asked if she could put our logo on the mask and, after a few size issues with the letters, the UDESPA mask was born.”

Now all 187 members of the association are staying safe and stylish in their new custom face coverings.

*NEW* COVID-19 FAQs on school reopening

In our continued efforts to keep our members informed about the ever-evolving guidelines for COVID-19 safety as we head toward reopening, we put together an updated set of Q&As that should answer some of your most pressing questions.

You can view the complete document at the link below.

PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning: Summer Learning Series

Wellness Wednesdays:

• Reimagining Challenges 
  • Aug. 5, 4-5 p.m. 
• Mindfulness for Members IV 
  • Aug. 12, 9-10 a.m. 

Webinars: 

• Seesaw (Advanced)  
  • Aug. 4, 6-7:30 p.m. 
• Session 1/3 - Providing Accommodations and Scaffolds in Distance Learning
  • Aug. 6, 6-7:30 p.m. 
• Session 2/3 - Providing Accommodations and Scaffolds in Distance Learning
  • Aug. 11, 6-7:30 p.m. 
• Session 3/3 - Providing Accommodations and Scaffolds in Distance Learning
  • Aug. 13, 6-7:30 p.m. 

Act 48 Book Discussions: 

• “Boy 21” - Matthew Quick 
  • Aug. 3, 9-10 a.m. 
• “The Reason I Jump” - Naoki Higashida 
  • Aug. 4, 9-10 a.m.  

Member Benefits spotlight: PSEA Visa Signature Card

PSEA has partnered with Commerce Bank to bring members the PSEA Visa Signature Credit Card offer. With this card, members can earn cash back rewards with every purchase, with no point cap or opt-in required.

• Earn 3 percent cash back on coffee shops, fast food, and ride-sharing services
• Earn 2 percent cash back on gas and restaurants
• Earn 1 percent cash back on all other purchases

Enroll in the toggle feature and add more flexibility to your PSEA Visa Signature credit card. With the toggle feature, you can:

• Choose to Pay Now by a specific category or purchase amount,
• Choose to Pay Later by a specific category or purchase amount,
• or Unwind a transaction.

Check it out and get the card that rewards you and supports Pennsylvania educators with every purchase.