Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I talk to if I’m having a problem? You can talk to your Building Representative in person or you can email gweaexecboard@gmail.com (Lynn, Kim,  have access to this email). You can also reach out to leadership individually.  See the homepage list of board members or go to the Contact Us tab.

If I meet with my building rep, is our conversation confidential? Yes! We take confidentiality very seriously. 

How are contracts negotiated? Who participates? Contracts are negotiated between GWEA and the School Board. GWEA has a negotiation team that meets to discuss contracts and works on any changes that are beneficial to members. These changes are based on feedback by members and the GWEA board. Every contract must be voted on and passed by members and the voters in the district must pass the budget for our salaries. 

How can I access sick bank leave? You can contact Fallone Evans (Crescent Lake School); she is the contact for sick bank leave. You can also contact your building representative. To access the sick bank leave, you must first use any accrued sick time, including personal and emergency days.

Where can I find our collective bargaining agreement? You can find the contract on the SAU website under the staff tab, and on this website under the CBA tab. There should also be a paper copy in the office of your building.

What do GWEA dues cover? How much are the dues?

The GWEA dues are $65 per year, this is in addition to NEA and NEA-NH Dues. These dues cover scholarships, board stipends, and expenses that need to be paid. For example, we gave out payday bars at the beginning of last year, we have purchased t-shirts in the past and used the money to buy signs for voters to put on lawns to pass our budget for salaries, etc. 

Can I join at any point of the school year or is there a deadline?

You can join at any point during the school year. If it is after a certain point in the school year your membership dues may be prorated.

Why do I need to use my personal email for GWEA communication?

Your school email is public information and can be requested via Right to Know. Your school email is intended to be used for school business only, which does not include GWEA. For confidentiality, we ask that you use your email address for all GWEA correspondence. Do we have the wrong email on file for you? Could you let your building rep know? 

Does the district offer maternity leave? Our current contract does not cover maternity leave, however, staff are entitled to medical leave for the purposes of recovering from childbirth. This is achieved through a use of sick leave (for paid time off) and the Family Medical Leave Act (for unpaid time off). The section in our CBA about this says: 

a.     The District recognizes that a woman may undergo a period of time when she is physically disabled as a result of a pregnancy. During the time of physical disability as certified in writing by a duly licensed physician, the female teacher may use paid sick leave or if eligible, access the sick leave bank for the time she is out of work. The Association acknowledges that paid sick leave is only for the time the woman is physically disabled and it is not meant to be used for child rearing. Using paid leave for the time that she is physically incapacitated does not preclude her from seeking the use of additional leave under the Family Medical and Leave Act provided such leave request meets all of the requirements set forth under the law including, but not limited to employee eligibility.

If you have questions about maternity leave, contact your building representative for more information and clarity about various circumstances. 

How can I get the district to help pay for professional development and courses? 

The district will pay for professional development up to a certain amount. The information on this is in our CBA. The district has recently agreed to pay for courses up front if the person can obtain a purchase order. Some schools do allow for this; I believe Plymouth State is one of them. Another option would be to pay for the class or professional development upfront and be reimbursed when the course or conference is complete. Reminder! This was added to our CBA because GWEA negotiated for it during our last round of contract negotiations!

See this document with step by step instructions for paying for professional development in GWRSD.

I'm out of sick time and I need more. How do I access the sick bank? 

To access the sick bank, you must first be a member. Forms will be given out by your building rep in September and must be returned to your rep by the deadline. Next, you must be have exhausted all of your available leave before accessing the sick bank. See this document with more information about sick bank procedure. Finally, you must submit an application to the Sick Bank Chair (Brittany McGuire in 2023-2024) who will then pass it onto the SAU. The SAU will not approve it without our approval first. 

How much will my insurance cost this year? Please see the following tables for information about insurance costs for for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years: