AASD Weekly Update 11/3/2022

REMINDERS

ANNOUNCING THE CREATION OF UASC – IMPORTANT FOR AASD MEMBERS TO READ AND UNDERSTAND. Some of you have heard about UASC; many of you have not. United Administrators Southern California (UASC) is the NEW “parent/umbrella” organization now over AASD. UASC was created by AASD to model a similar structure as teachers unions have – example SDEA (local); CTA (state); NEA (national). AASD is our “local” union and AASD has been a part of the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) (national union) for the past four years. UASC was created this year to be the “state” organization for Southern California in between AASD and AFSA.

Why, you ask? Because UASC will now support more than AASD as other administrator/supervisory/management groups in Southern California (who are too small to unionize on their own) join the union family. Currently, UASC now represents AASD and the Administrators Association Chula Vista (AACV) (unionized in May 2022) with AALS (Administrators Association Lakeside Schools) about to unionize in the next few months under UASC. The new union, AACV, is comprised of Principals and Associate Principals, and AALS will be comprised of Principals and Vice Principals. Other administrators and managers/supervisors of districts in Southern California are in the process of inquiring about becoming a union under UASC. The idea is to eventually have all or many administrator/supervisor/manager groups in Southern California unionized.

How does this change things for me as an AASD Member in Good Standing, Affiliate Member, or Retired Member? There are no changes to AASD with the exception of the fact the staff (currently Donis Coronel and Linda Crout-Hamel with assistance from Jim Costello) are now employed by the parent/umbrella organization, UASC, rather than AASD. The only other change is that the “operating costs” of running the unions (staff salaries, rent, internet, copier, phones, IT support, property insurance, CPA services, etc.) will now reside with UASC, with each member union (currently AASD, AACV and soon-to-be AALS) paying a portion of their member dues to UASC for the operating costs and the remainder of the dues staying with the member local for things specific to that local union.

Will I notice anything different as a Member in Good Standing, Affiliate Member or Retired Member? The only thing you will notice that is different is that very soon the current AASD office will now be renamed the UASC office as it will be used by all member unions. Staff will soon answer the phones as UASC. The UASC office is the same location and office as AASD. We are simply rebranding so that all member unions feel welcome here.

Will the AASD staff still be there for me? Yes! Of course! Donis and Linda will remain and are the UASC staff. Jim retired in January 2022 and has been kind enough to remain to handle membership only. Jim will fully retire by the end of December. Duties will be redistributed with Linda remaining the UASC Office Manager and taking on membership duties. UASC will be contracting with a formal bookkeeper to handle the finances of the new UASC. As more unions sign on as a local under UASC, it will be necessary to increase office and/or labor relations staff. Right now, Donis and Linda can handle the workload of AASD, AACV and AALS.

This has been a huge and exciting undertaking approved by the AASD Board of Directors and we are very proud to announce this change. If you have any questions, please contact the UASC office (Donis or Linda) and we will be happy to help.
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AND FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS IS HERE! Open Enrollment is October 17 through November 14. Information will be forthcoming for all active and retired employees. For information, including dates of Open Enrollment Events, visit https://www.sandiegounified.org/departments/benefits/2023_open_enrollment
ESTATE PLANNING – DISCOUNT FOR AASD MEMBERS! AASD has a partnership with Greg Runge, Estate Planning Attorney. Greg has over 10 years of experience practicing in the areas of wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney and advance health care directives. He has been providing this service to our members for many years. In addition to his legal work, Greg is also a Lieutenant with a local police department, where he is in his 22nd year of service as a sworn officer. As a public employee, Greg is very aware of the unique estate planning issues that can come into play with our members. Greg has focused his legal practice on providing essential estate planning services to public employees and their families at an affordable rate. This benefit is available to all AASD Members in Good Standing, AASD Affiliate Members and AASD Retired Members.

Greg has been offering this service to our members for a flat fee of $750, which is 50% off the going rate for estate planning (very complex or very large estates may require a higher fee that would be individually negotiated with the member). However, for the first time since he began working with AASD members, the discounted rate is being increased from $750 to $950. Please see Greg’s note on how to lock in the “old” discounted rate:

“Dear AASD Membership (Members in Good Standing, Affiliate Members and Retired Members). I will honor the $750 discounted rate through the end of the 2022 year for all members that meet the following criteria: 1) officially "begin the process" before December 31st, 2022. By this, I mean that the member has reached out to me and has returned the completed estate planning questionnaire to me; and 2) complete the process (sign their documents and pay the fee) by June 30, 2023. I appreciate your trust in me and your business. Greg Runge”

To contact Greg Runge, please e-mail gregrunge@gmail.com or call (858) 395-4011 and be sure to mention you are an AASD member, so you receive the discounted rate.
LOOKING FORWARD - MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW! MORE INFORMATION TO COME!

AASD Winter Holiday Party – December 9, 2022, 5:00 p.m. at Marina Village. Free to all AASD Members in Good Standing, Retired Members and Affiliate Members.

AASD Spring Conference – March 21, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon (breakfast begins at 7:00 a.m.) at Marina Village. Mandatory for all in the AASD bargaining unit. All non-represented management and confidential employees and retired members are also invited.

AASD Casino Night Fundraiser for Scholarships – March 3, 2023, 6:00 p.m. at Marina Village. Come and support our AASD Scholarships for children of our members!

AASD Summerfest End of the Year Event – June 23, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at Marina Village. Free to all AASD Members in Good Standing, Retired Members and Affiliate Members.
AASD OFFICE IS OPEN
Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday. We ask that you call the office before visiting to ensure staff are not offsite at an appointment, running work-related errands or at lunch. To check in before visiting, the office phone number is 619-295-2118.

The AASD Weekly Update will continue as usual on Thursdays with important news and information for AASD members.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS (ACSA).  ACSA is a statewide organization for school leaders, serving more than 17,000 California educators and administrators in 19 regions throughout California, each made up of local charters. ACSA’s Mission: The Association of California School Administrators is the driving force for an equitable, world-class education system, and the development and support of inspired educational leaders who meet the diverse needs of all California students. Visit ACSA's website at acsa.org for more information about this organization.

Deborah Burke is our Region 18 ACSA Membership Services Representative. She is local and your completed membership applications can be sent directly to her. By completing your application and signing it, then scanning and attaching it to an email to Deborah, you will expedite the processing of your application. If you have any questions about ACSA, cost, benefits, opportunities, etc., please reach out to Deborah at dburke@acsa.org or at (619) 504-3512.

The following types of ACSA membership are available, as applicable, to people in San Diego Unified/AASD. All memberships can be paid by payroll deduction, personal check, or Mastercard/VISA. The following are descriptions of each type of application.

SELECT UNION DISTRICT Membership: Click here for application.
$1/day ($30.42/month) for remainder of the current school year. Dues are prorated after July 1. Member may choose to be a Regular Member with full benefits or be a Consolidated Member, without legal support, but can contact advocates for limited consultation. Standard dues begin July 1 of their second year of membership.

ASSOCIATE Membership: (associate on cover – with Business Reply Mail cover)
$250/year and prorated for new members joining after July 1. Can be paid by check (full amount), Payroll deduction (3 equal installments of $83.33; not offered after September), or VISA/Mastercard (full payment).  Click here for application.

RETIRED Membership: (2 types)  Click here for application.
Emeritus Lifetime - $700 (a one-time fee). May be paid in (3 equal installments of $233.34 (not offered after September), via Master Card/VISA (full payment), or via a personal (full payment) check.
Full Regular - $125/year paid via a monthly deduction from member’s STRS pension via a payroll deduction, or Master Card/VISA (full payment), or a personal check (full payment).

If you wish to use ACSA's online application process to join, click here for the “Steps for Joining ACSA.”
DISCOUNT MOVIE TICKETS. AASD has both AMC and Regal Entertainment Group (Regal/Edwards/UA) movie passes available to members in good standing, affiliate and retired members. Regal tickets are $9.00 each. These passes have no expiration date and are unrestricted, so they can be used any time and for newly-released movies.

The AMC tickets are $10.25 each, have no expiration date, and do not have any restrictions. Contact AASD to purchase tickets or if you have any questions.

Placing and fulfilling an order can be done via phone, email and U.S. mail. Please contact Linda Crout-Hamel linda@aasdcs.org at the AASD Office if you are interested.
IMPORTANT - PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS. AASD communicates with members via personal e-mail address. We do not communicate via "sandi.net." If you know of a colleague that is not receiving the Update, or if your personal email address changes, please remember to notify AASD by e-mailing Linda Crout-Hamel at linda@aasdcs.org.
UNION PLUS - MONEY-SAVING PROGRAMS FOR AFSA MEMBERS
AFSA membership is provided to all AASD Members in Good Standing at no additional cost. For more information regarding AFSA and Union Plus benefits, please visit their website: https://www.theschoolleader.org/

IMPORTANT: For Members in Good Standing and Affiliate Members who have added AFSA -- If you have not turned in the “Combined AFSA Benefits Information Form,” please submit the form immediately. This form must be submitted in order to be eligible for the professional liability, legal services, etc. You do not need to list your full social security number on the form; however, AFSA has requested that you provide at least the last four digits. For a copy of the form, click here

For all our Members in Good Standing, and Affiliates and Retirees who have selected to be members of AFSA, there are many money-saving programs offered to you. Click here to review your many options!