A Good Start to a New School Year

MSTA Legal Services Department Blog

Written by MSTA Staff Attorney Scott Smith

Schooooooooool’s Out, For Summer!!! Year after year, we hear Alice Cooper’s classic play as the kids run out the door and the last bell rings in the spring. The song has clearly withstood the test of time. Lots of energy, and lyrics we can all relate to. Sadly though, summer has come to an end. And as many times as we might wish for a longer summer break, a new school year is underway. I know a great deal of information is thrown at you in August, but here are just a few little tips as we get settled into this new school year.

Check Your Calendar:
In addition to knowing the start and end date of the school year, make sure you know the little nuances as well. Note how many sick and personal days you get, when you can use them, and why you can use them. With substitute teachers becoming harder to find, schools have more strings attached to taking days off. We are seeing more schools adopt “blackout” dates on the calendar. So keep an eye out for those, as well as the procedures for using your days. Just because you have the days, it does not mean you can use them however you wish.

Building Relationships:
Whether you have a new superintendent  or a principal you’ve been working with for 15 years, the start of a new year is a good time to make sure you all are on the same page. Knowing what the expectations are and being aware of any rule changes from the prior year will help you have a successful year. Further, these conversations build trust and enhance the communication between you and the administration.

While school board policies are long and can be hard to navigate, it’s important to be familiar with them. We are here to help you find them, so if you ever wonder what’s in your board policies, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Contacting MSTA:
If you have a question related to your employment with your school district, you should contact MSTA. The MSTA Legal Services Department handles a laundry list of school employment issues, including FMLA, ADA, DSS investigations, workplace accommodations, pay and benefits, and contract issues, just to name a few. MSTA also has Member Service Coordinators across the state who help members with issues surrounding their school. You can contact the MSTA Legal Services Department directly by calling 866-343-6186. You can also reach out to your member service coordinator by calling 800-392-0532 or emailing membercare@msta.org.

It’s important to contact MSTA as soon as you think a problem is surfacing. It’s better to call too early than too late. If you aren’t sure who to contact at MSTA, don’t stress about it. Member service coordinators and the Legal Services Department work closely together to assist you with problems as they arise. If you have a legal situation, MSTA staff will make sure it gets directed to one of the MSTA staff attorneys in a timely manner. Lastly, you don’t have to go through your CTA president or building representative before contacting an MSTA staff member. We always encourage you to reach out directly to your member service coordinator or the Legal Services Department if you need assistance.

We hope you have a great school year!