Schaumburg Education Association

SEA Snapshot: Steering Through the Week

Welcome to the month of October, SEA!  Thank you to our newest SEA Building Reps who ran in last week’s special elections in their buildings:  Scott Burger (Addams), Lisa Grosenbach (Armstrong), Jennifer Hernandez (Campanelli), Kara Morgan (Fox), and Danni Koscielak (Muir).  We appreciate your willingness to be an additional representative for your members for the remainder of this 2026-2027 School Year! 

Our SEA Research Team for contract negotiations spent last Friday continuing to go through the 100+ proposals and prioritizing the contract revisions that would benefit our members the most.  Thanks again to our contract chair, Dan Levin, for the work he is doing to lead out the work this team is doing in to prepare for our early negotiations.   This team will be meeting again later this month.  

There have been questions in regards to the 2027-2028 School Year calendar. A calendar has yet to be presented and approved by the Board of Education. With a new format to conferences this year, I did not think the SEA could approved a calendar for the next school year without experiencing next month’s conferences. If you wore red or your solidarity shirts last Friday for IEA’s first walk-in of the year, THANK YOU! If you missed it, don’t worry! The next walk-in will be held on Friday, November 6th.

Slides from Last Week’s Building Rep Meeting

Thank you to all of our SEA Building Reps who were in attendance at last week’s meeting. I know our 10-minute meetings are also happening across the district to share out the highlights. While we know 10 minutes is not enough meeting to cover everything, I will continue to send out the link to the Building Rep Meeting slides to all of our members the Monday following the meeting. Please review the slides, particularly the presentation on Basics of Health Care Insurance that Ben Gray, our IEA UniServ Director, led out. We want our members to understand what it means that our district runs a self-funded plan and what the impact of a 4% increase means.

IEA Early Career Fall Blitz – October 24

Join members of IEA’s Early Career Committee and other local Early Career educators (years 1-10 in the profession) in our area for the Early Career Fall Blitz in Oakbrook on October 24th. Learn how you can get involved with IEA as an early career educator, how to have a small part in decision-making bodies within IEA, and to take election-related action for public education. This is a FREE event and includes lunch. Resources and promotional items will also be provided for Early Career Region Representatives to take back to their regions. For more information and how to register, check out the link to the Early Career Fall Blitz.

Workplace Solutions – Our Employee Assistance Plan

As an employee of District 54, you have access to our employee assistance plan called Workplace Solutions. You can visit their portal at www.wseap.com but will need to enter our district’s access code. If you do not have the access code, you can contact Diana Peters in HR. Workplace Solutions provides confidential counseling, strategies for work-life balance, as well as legal and financial support. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling their toll-free number: 877-215-6614. There is no cost to you or your eligible family members to utilize the Workplace Solutions Services. This is also a confidential service to you.

SEA/SEEO Craft and Vendor Fair

Looking for crafters and vendors for our 4th Annual SEA/SEEO Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 7th from 10 AM – 4 PM. Registration is open now. This event serves as a fundraiser for the D54 Education Foundation. We have about 30 vendors registered so far, but we would love to keep growing this event! Save the date and be sure to let your friends and family know about our event. Register to be a vendor by clicking here.

Weekly Contract Reminder – Horizontal Movement on the Salary Schedule

An official transcript confirming advanced training completed before the start of the school year must be filed in the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources’ office (Dr. Colette Bell) on or before November 1 for first semester implementation in order to qualify for higher salary classification to be paid during the school year. An official transcript confirming advanced training completed must be filed with the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources’ office on or before March 1 in order to qualify for higher salary classification to be paid during the second semester. No changes will be made in these allowances after the above dates. (Page 25)

Upcoming Events

Monday, October 12: No School (Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day) Monday, October 19: SEA Building Rep Meeting, 3:30 – 5 PM in the PLC Saturday, October 24: IEA Early Career Fall Blitz, St. Charles or Bloomington Register here for the IEA Early Career Fall Blitz Wednesday, October 28: Report card website open

SEA Snapshot: Steering Through the Week
We have officially made it to Fall and the end of September! This week is busy for members of the SEA with our building rep meeting and Region 35 meeting today, and the contract negotiations team meeting this Friday. Our research team will continue to read through proposals and looking through other district’s contracts in order to put together the best bargaining agreement for us.

Today we also have SEA Special Elections to elect additional building reps for a few of our buildings: Addams, Armstrong, Campanelli, Fox, and Muir. Building reps in those building should be sending you information on when and where to vote today, as it is necessary for a paper ballot vote for this election. Reps, please bring these ballots to our building rep meeting today. Thank you!

Today’s Building Rep Meeting
As a SEA member, you are invited to attend our first SEA Building Representative Meeting of the 2026-2027 School Year today from 3:30-5:00 PM in the PLC. All members are welcome to attend! Your building reps will be having a brief 10-minute meeting sometime within the next week or so with the members in your building to review the meeting highlights. We will have a special presentation from Ben Gray, our UniServ Director, on the Basics of Health Insurance and the work of our Benefits Committee. Additionally the building reps will be taking action on the proposed amendments to SEA’s Bylaws.

First IEA Walk-In of the Year: Friday, October 2
Join IEA members all across Illinois for monthly solidarity walk-ins. As part of the May Day Strong movement, we are standing up to the ultra rich who are trying to privatize and profit off of our public schools, colleges and universities. We will take action on the first Friday of every month and build our power throughout the 2026-27 school year. Please wear your Solidarity or Red for Ed shirts and meet by your flagpoles this Friday morning and participate in the first IEA Walk-In of the year.

IEA Early Career Fall Blitz – October 24
Join members of IEA’s Early Career Committee and other local Early Career educators (years 1-10 in the profession) in our area for the Early Career Fall Blitz in Oakbrook on October 24th. Learn how you can get involved with IEA as an early career educator, how to have a small part in decision-making bodies within IEA, and to take election-related action for public education. This is a FREE event and includes lunch. Resources and promotional items will also be provided for Early Career Region Representatives to take back to their regions. For more information and how to register, check out the link to the Early Career Fall Blitz.

Professional Development Opportunity Funds
Want to attend a professional development outside of the district? The Illinois Education Association (IEA) allots $40,000 annually to be spent on professional development to meet the specific needs of its members across the state.

The IEA Professional Development Funding Opportunities Committee oversees distribution of these funds.

Visit http://www.tinyurl.com/IEAPD today to review the criteria and submit your application!

SEA/SEEO Craft and Vendor Fair
Looking for crafters and vendors for our 4th Annual SEA/SEEO Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 7th from 10 AM – 4 PM. Registration is open now. This event serves as a fundraiser for the D54 Education Foundation. We have about 30 vendors registered so far, but we would love to keep growing this event! Save the date and be sure to let your friends and family know about our event. Click here to register to be a vendor!

Weekly Contract Reminder – Religious Observance Leave
Pursuant to the application of state law, educators who decide not to use their business days and who need to take time off from work in order to practice religious beliefs will be permitted to engage in work during hours other than the employee’s regular working hours, consistent with the operational needs of the District, and in order to compensate for work time lost for religious reasons.

The employee and direct supervisor will develop a plan to make up for this time, keeping in mind student/school needs and employee needs with work that closely aligns to the employee’s job description. In order for an educator to take time off from work to practice religious beliefs, the educator must give the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources or designee written notice at least five (5) calendar days prior to the day the educator intends to take off (Page 14).

Upcoming Events

• Monday, September 28: SEA Building Rep Meeting, 3:30 – 5 PM in the PLC, membership vote on the SEA Bylaw Revisions
• Friday, October 2: SEA Research Team Meeting #2 at the Palatine IEA Office (8:30 AM – 3 PM)
• Friday, October 2: First IEA Walk-In of the Year – please wear red or solidarity shirts.
• Monday, October 5: SEA Exec Board Meeting, 3:30 – 5 PM in the Board Room
• Monday, October 12: No School (Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
• Monday, October 19: SEA Building Rep Meeting, 3:30 – 5 PM in the PLC
• Saturday, October 24: IEA Early Career Fall Blitz, St. Charles or Bloomington | Register here
• Wednesday, October 28: Report card website open

SEA Snapshot: Steering Through the Week

Thank you to the SEA members who applied to be a part of our negotiations research team.  While the SEA Exec Board could not select all applicants, we have a great representation of members from across the district and across most job descriptions that are now engaging in the work to bring the best contract to the SEA membership.  The team has close to 80 proposals they will be reading through.  Among some of the topics prioritized are duties/stipends, sick/business leave, job alike, working conditions, plan time, conferences, salary, benefits, and evaluations. 

If you were unable to attend a listening session, join us as a guest at the SEA Building Rep meeting next Monday, September 28, where we can continue to answer any questions you might have.

5th Annual IEA Fall Fest – LAST CHANCE TO RSVP

As a reminder, Region 35 is hosting the 5th Annual IEA Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 AM – 1 PM in the PLC. Join IEA members from across our Northern Regions for sessions on New Laws & Their Impact, Preparing to Bargain, Building Rep Training (presented by Lori), 1:1 Conversations, Mapping Out Your Financial Future (presented by UD Ben Gray), Tax Justice 101, & Merging for Power (ESPs/Certified). 

There will also be round table discussions you can choose to attend: Ethnic Minority Issues, Local leaders/leadership issues, bargaining issues, Education Support Professionals, and Grassroots Political Activists. The event ends with a lunch with legislator event.  Last chance to RSVP is today.

Professional Development Opportunity Funds

Want to attend a professional development outside of the district? The Illinois Education Association (IEA) allots $40,000 annually to be spent on professional development to meet the specific needs of its members across the state.  

The IEA Professional Development Funding Opportunities Committee oversees distribution of these funds. 

Visit http://www.tinyurl.com/IEAPD today to review the criteria and submit your application!  

IEA Early Career Fall Blitz – October 24

Join members of IEA’s Early Career Committee and other local Early Career educators (years 1-10 in the profession) in our area for the Early Career Fall Blitz in Oakbrook on October 24th. Learn how you can get involved with IEA as an early career educator, how to have a small part in decision-making bodies within IEA, and to take election-related action for public education. This is a FREE event and includes lunch for all attendees.  Resources and promotional items will also be provided for Early Career Region Representatives to take back to their regions.  For more information and how to register, check out the link to the Early Career Fall Blitz. 

SEA/SEEO Craft and Vendor Fair

Looking for crafters and vendors for our 4th Annual SEA/SEEO Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 7th from 10 AM – 4 PM. Registration is open now. This event serves as a fundraiser for the D54 Education Foundation. We have about 30 vendors registered so far, but we would love to keep growing this event! Save the date and be sure to let your friends and family know about our event. Click here to register to be a vendor!

Weekly Contract Reminder – Planning Time

In the event of the loss of planning time below two hundred seventy (270) minutes due to the performance of required job‐related duties, the affected educator(s) and principal will meet to develop a mutually acceptable replacement planning period.  This meeting will be held within a week of the lost plan time. 

 (Pages 22-23)

This language is particularly important for members of our CSTs across the district.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 26: IEA Fall Fest at the PLC from 9 AM – 1 PM –Register here to attend.

Monday, September 28: SEA Building Rep Meeting, 3:30 – 5 PM in the PLC, membership vote on the SEA Bylaw Revisions.

Friday, October 2: SEA Research Team Meeting #2 at the Palatine IEA Office (8:30 AM – 3 PM)

Friday, October 2: First IEA Walk-In of the Year – please wear red or solidarity shirts.

Monday, October 5: SEA Exec Board Meeting, 3:30 – 5 PM in the Board Room Monday, October 12: No School (Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day) Monday, October 19: SEA Building Rep Meeting, 3:30 – 5 PM in the PLC Wednesday, October 28: Report card website open

Welcome back to all of our members of the SEA!

Hope your school year has started off well.  As our kindergarten teachers and ELC teachers look forward to welcoming their students later this week, it will be another week of special moments in District 54!

Here is the link to the first edition of the Monday Message for this school year.   Be sure to take some time each week to read through it.  There is a section with SEA Member Resources which includes our Exec Board’s Who-to-Call List, our 2024-2025 Building Reps, and SEA’s Calendar of Events for the year. 

Here are some other highlights you can find more information about in the Monday Message:

• SEA/SEEO Craft & Vendor Fair – Nov. 9th: SEEKING CRAFTERS & VENDORS
• IEA Palatine Office Fall Fest – Sept. 28th: REGISTER HERE
• Septemberfest Volunteer Opportunities to support the D54 Education Foundation: Parking Cars at Collins (Aug. 31st/Sept. 1st) or Pilot Pete’s Food Booth (Sept. 2nd) 
• Free #RedForEd SEA shirt to new members of the SEA – order here by Aug. 29th

That’s it for now!  Wishing you all the best for this 2024-2025 School Year, SEA!

Good morning and Happy Memorial Day, SEA!  

Just FIVE days left of school!  What an exciting time of year this is for all of us.  Summer vacation is within our grasp!

Here is the May 27th edition of the Monday Message which will be the last one of this school year.  

You will find information about next year’s SEA/SEEO Craft and Vendor Fair scheduled for Saturday, November 9.  We are taking registrations for any crafters or vendors who would like to participate.  Feel free to share the registration with family and friends!  Here is the link. 

There is also several offerings from the Illinois Education Association this summer, including an online book club that will be reading the Monique W. Morris’ book Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues: Education for the Liberation of Black and Brown Girls. The flier attached includes information on how to join.   

You can also join members of the SEA at IEA’s Summer Leadership Academy in July.  Registration is now open and you can receive funding from Region 35 to attend. 

If you need anything from me this summer, feel free to email me at lorimobleysea@gmail.com or call me at 847-344-5249. I may not be as quick to respond as I will be doing my best to enjoy summer vacation too!  😎

All the best, SEA!

Good morning SEA!  

It sure did feel like summer this past weekend.  I was grateful for the amazing weather as my youngest daughter graduated high school this weekend.  It’s amazing how fast time flies by.  Speaking of that, we are down to just 10 days left of school.  Have fun celebrating those “Q” days today for your ABC countdowns.  

Here is the May 20th Edition of the Monday Message.  There is a lot of new information highlighted this week:

• Registration is now open to be a crafter or vendor at our SEA/SEEO Craft and Vendor fair on Nov. 9.  Click here to register. 
• Reminders from SEA’s Benefits Committee 
• Lou Malnati’s Fundraiser to support the D54 Education Foundation – this Wednesday, May 22
• IEA’s Summer Online Book Study: Monique W. Morris’ book Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues: Education for the Liberation of Black and Brown Girls (flier is attached)
• IEA’s Public Leadership Forum – for aspiring board members
• Restore & Connect Writing Retreat for Educators of Color – applications due today!

This Wednesday is our 1/2 day in-service with dedicated time for all educators to be able to work on report cards and any other end-of-the-year work that needs to be done.  Hope it will be a great use of everyone’s time! 

Good morning, SEA!

Hope you had a beautiful weekend and got to spend sometime outdoors!  Three weeks from today, we will be celebrating our last day of school!

As we wind down this school year, the SEA has it’s last building rep meeting of the year today after school in the PLC from 3:30-5:00 PM.  All members are welcome to attend as we will be voting on our SEA Budget for the 2024-2025 School Year.  New building reps for next year are welcome to attend as well!  We do have a Zoom option to attend, but you must fill out this form by 3:15 PM.  The link will be sent to you right before the start of our meeting. 

Here is the link to the May 13 Edition of the the Monday Message.  The May Contract Tidbit is attached to this email, as it reviews the language for the Voluntary Retirement Incentive and some other benefits items. If you are looking to retire in the near future, don’t miss the June 1 deadline to receive the additional compensation during your last four years of employment.

Mark your calendars for SEA and SEEO’s 2nd annual Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 9, 9 AM – 3 PM.   We will be opening up the registration to all of our members to participate as a crafter or vendor next week.   Family members, friends, and community members are welcome to register as well.  More info coming soon!

Thanks again for making those PAC Fund donations.  Today is the last day your building reps will be taking up collections.  Reps, please bring your envelope to today’s building rep meeting. 

Lastly, you will find attached IEA’s new Harassment and Discrimination Policy Guidance Document for its members. This document defines the different forms of harassment, discusses employer liability, and includes example policy language and resources.

I appreciate you taking the time to stay up-to-date with what’s going on in the SEA & IEA each week by reading through the Monday Message.  Enjoy your week!

Lori Mobley 

(she/her/hers)

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

www.sea54.org | @D54SEA

Good morning, SEA!

We are officially in the month of May!  Today’s ABC Countdown Day is the letter ‘G’ whether it’s Game Day, Go Noodle Day, or Green Day, have a lot of fun!

May is also the month of so many celebrations.  Particularly this week as it’s National Teacher Appreciation Week.  Thank you to all of our members of the SEA for your advocacy, mentorship, and educating of your students.  You make such an impact on your students’ lives.   Be sure to take a moment to give a special shoutout to an educator who inspires you.  Share it on your social media pages, tagging @NEAToday and @D54SEA, and using #ThankATeacher, or call 202-743-5371 and leave a message, or share the story of an extraordinary educator in your life by clicking here.  

This week we also are taking up our annual NEA PAC Fund donations. The NEA PAC Fund is our voice in Washington – it speaks on behalf of our 3 million members from all 51 affiliates of the National Education Association.  Your building reps should be reaching out to you to let you know when and where you can make a voluntary donation.  

Here is the May 6th Edition of the Monday Message for you.  You can find out more about the PAC Fund, IEA’s Educator Voice Academies, WINGS Housing Wish List and Pantry Wish List,  and District 54’s EAP Workplace Solutions (password SD54) and their new iConnectYou mobile app (download via the App Store or Google Play and use company passcode 39953. 

I do want to give a special shout out to our SEA Treasurer Michelle Meyers (Einstein) and SEA Secretary Kara Zielinski (Enders-Salk) for being re-elected to their positions for another two-year term. 

Hope you have a memorable week everyone!

Good morning SEA!  

You’ve made it to the last two days of APRIL!  After today, there are only four more Monday morning wake-ups this school year!

Here is the April 29th Edition of the Monday Message. 

You will find information about WINGS, an organization that SEA has supported financially in the past.  WINGS provides a pathway to independence for adults and children who are escaping from domestic violence and abuse. This spring we are asking our members to help out by viewing their Amazon wish lists where you can ‘click and purchase’ necessities they are running low on.   Here is their HOUSING WISH LIST and their PANTRY WISH LIST. 

Some other things highlighted in this week’s Monday Message:

• IEA’s Educator Voice Academies –  click here to find out more and apply  
• IEA’s Early Bird Registration for Summer Leadership Academy – registration goes up May 1
• Share your NEA Member Benefits story
• ISBE’s Literacy Landscape Survey – participate here

Let the end-of-the-year ABC countdowns begin!

Good morning SEA!

Time to kick off that last full week of April.  Last week started off AMAZINGLY with the SEA/SEEO General Meeting.  Today’s April 22nd Edition of the Monday Message highlights that event.  If you have never gone to a General Meeting, it’s basically like a wedding reception but without the dancing!  We’ve already reserved April 14, 2025, at Chandler’s for next year’s celebration and hope you will attend!

We appreciate you taking the time to call your legislators last week for the Undo Tier 2 Week of Action.  It’s not too late to pick up the phone or send an email to your legislator.  The Monday Message highlights what you should say as this impacts a majority of our membership.  Do you really want to work until age 67 in order to collect full benefits? 

Attached are the results of last Monday’s SEA/Region 35 Election.  Thank you to all the members of the SEA who ran to be a 2024-2025 Building Rep or Exec Board member.  You are all invited to the May 13, 2024, building rep meeting where we will not only recognize you, but vote to approve the 2024-2025 SEA Budget which is also attached, with the Budget Memorandum.   Feel free to contact Cynthia Dressler, SEA Vice-President, if you have questions about the proposed budget.