April 2025

PD (Professional Development)

• PC collaboration w/ application PD slide deck.
• The outcome- for greater opportunities for classified employees not to be screened out when applying for positions.

         -  Documenting information accurately.

         -  Do’s, Don’ts, and near misses.

• 1st Training will take place this Spring.
• 90 min session.
• Morning & afternoon.
• Sign-ups will be through MYPD.
• Approx. 25 people each session.
• CSEA will be assisting with the application process by appointment.

ERS (Employee Relations)

• District initial proposals sunshined at the April 9 Board of Education meeting, and approval at the May 7 meeting.  CSEA initial proposals were also presented at the same meeting.  No dates yet for Negotiations.
• The District followed up on the "Superintendent meeting" if there were additional questions.
• CSEA followed up on information requests that were requested but have not been received yet.  The last information requests were not accessible.
• CSEA requested to reinstate the Catalina Employee who was impacted by the PERB appeal, while the appeal is ongoing.

PrePC/PC

• The new Associate Personnel Analyst was introduced; her name is Andrea Armas.
• Currently, there are 3 technician vacancies. So they are working on that recruitment. Students who are currently enrolled in a culinary arts class once they graduate. They would like to hire them for nutrition services while in college.
• They are still working on donation letters for the classified week.
• There are currently 68 applications. 25 applications have gone through the screening process thus far.
• The Personnel Commission continues to host and be invited to job fairs. The most recent was at Compton College, where they handed out 120 flyers. 
   

HBC (Health & Benefits)

Aetna Updates

• Enhanced Weight Management program for 178 participants (160 existing + 64 new) saved $680,309.
• Minute Clinics:

           - MinuteClinic is a walk-in clinic inside select CVS Pharmacy and Target stores and is the largest
provider of retail health care in the United States, with over 1,100 locations in 33 states and
the District of Columbia.

           - Open every day, including evenings. MinuteClinic offers both walk-in and scheduled
appointment options.

          - MinuteClinic health care providers treat a variety of illnesses, injuries, and conditions.
They can also write prescriptions, when medically appropriate.

• Teladoc:

          - teladoc.com/aetna.

          - Talk to a doctor for $49 or less.

          - Download the app, set up your account, enter basic contact information, and create your account.

• Weight Watchers update:

          - 144 new members, 296 average total.

          - 82% employees enrolled vs 9% spouses and 9% retirees.

          - 97% of members have maintained or improved their BMI.

• Don’t forget to search “LBUSD Benefits” on Facebook and Instagram.

March 2025

Safety

• During the safety meeting, Minga was discussed. Minga is an app that allows students to use their phones as a pass to go to the restroom. It was discussed how to delete history as well as how to limit and reinstate bathroom pass privileges.
• Also, there are no district restrictions on having elevator keys for staff. So, if there’s an issue or concern in gaining access to an elevator key, reach out to the administrator at your site. If members continue to have issues, contact ERS.

ERS (Employee Relations)

• Initial Proposals were requested before April 1st to make it to the April 9 Board of Education meeting.
• April and May ERS meetings will be held earlier in those months.
• CSEA asked that the Uniform Committee be formed.  Currently, there is no uniform committee district-wide, but since departments and/or sites have different needs, a local department or site committee can be established.
• CSEA asked that information request documents be emailed as attachments, not links.  Most of the time, the links are not accessible.

PD (Professional Development)

• Professional Development consisted of the PC staff wanting to promote within. How would they go about that, whether it’s promotional or not, is to have the applicant reach out to PC.
• Personnel Commission staff will give you the information you need to get the five points added to your score. The PC staff would like for you to be as detailed as possible on your application. The very thing you may deem as not necessary may be the thing that will kick your application out. If applicants need help on their applications, the staff is available to support them.
• The PC staff is promoting the Equity Leadership & Talent Development program. If any members are interested, applications are open until April 7th. Members can contact the Equity Leadership & Talent Development Office at (562)997-8328 or visit lbschools.net/eltd.

PC (Personnel Commission)

• PC offered CPR training to Classified staff.  There are 56 Classified employees who are certified or re-certified as of today.
• PC managers have been invited to participate in the Quality CORE visits at school sites. These visits are elements of the district's overall strategic plan, and assist in determining the direct observations.
• Classified staff bring a different lens onto the campuses and into the classrooms.
• The board took action to abolish nine positions. Not all positions were 100% FTE. One of which was never held by anyone.
• Personnel Commission was able to mitigate a lot of layoffs. The layoffs were fewer than what PC had anticipated.  They were able to transfer staff to ward off layoffs.
• Also at the board meeting, we had some members, as well as our Secretary Maria Leonè and treasurer Claudia Yela, and Labor Rep Dallas Emerle spoke on the chapter's behalf.

HBC (Health & Benefits)

Aetna PPO

• Hinge Health appears to have saved us about $900,000.
• Weight loss patients on GLP-1’s dropped noticeably this year.
• Bill/Aetna suggests making weight management a requirement for weight loss GLP-1’s.
• Cylinder + GLP-1 changes can be implemented to PPO at any time.
• Aetna launching an AI for finding a doctor. Basically, they are using AI technology to find doctors for customers based on their needs, location, and most importantly their quality of care. This eliminates the process of patients having to go through the long list of providers to find the right one for them.  Recommendations are based on cost-saving options as well as how doctors prescribe.

Kaiser 

• Notice of GLP-1 change is going out 30 days before change is effective in July. They’ll make exceptions in open enrollment due to inconvenient timing.

February 2025

ERS

• Steve Rockenbach stated that he and other representatives will be meeting with the council regarding the PERB case (reduction in hours that was done illegally).  He said he would get back to us with a decision.
• It was said that all employees of the bargaining unit were to be given notice of the Juneteenth settlement.  Those who have been notified have submitted their forms for compensation.
• Due to ST funding, we may not have as many positions this year.
• ESY, which is Special Education Summer School extended school year and our high school programs, will be operating based on numbers.  Staffing should be normal.  There will not be as many additional positions due to changes in funding from the state.  There was a much larger Summer SEAL and Enrichment program over the summer.  Unfortunately, the funding for that is not where it was.  
• There will be a program for Early Learning opportunities.  It will expand a little bit this year.  
• Due to this lack of funding, there will be a reduction of work, which will affect the clerical staff.  This would affect more so on the certificated side.
• Administrator Olivia suggested we have an MOU in place due to changes that may come with increasing costs of our medical benefits.

Personnel Commission

• The Classified Employees' Celebration will be held at the TRC on May 23rd.  PC is currently reaching out to vendors.
• More people are added to the committee.
• To date, 377 Summer School applications have been submitted.
• 18 substitute applications have also been submitted.

Health and Benefits

AETNA Legislative Updates

Federal

• Trump executive orders are looking into tax cuts and limit the ability to negotiate drugs (for Medicare).
• Concerns on regulating pharmacy managers will lead to higher pharmacy prices.

State

• Newsom will term out in 2026.
• The proposed budget includes protecting Medicaid, subsidies in Covered California (to lower the cost for health insurance), behavioral initiatives, and increasing transparency to health benefits managers and pharmacies (will result in lower cost of drugs).
• Legislations to prohibit limits to menopause and insulin drug coverages.

Updates from Bill

• Hinge Health for virtual physical therapy for chronic issues.
• Members should look into our health benefits incentive programs.
• Employees need to be more aware of their health:  Better sleep, healthy diet, mental health,  adherence to medication, and health and vision exams.

January 2025

Professional Development 1/14/2025

• Met with the Personnel Commission - Discussed the application process.  District employees can call the Personnel Commission with any questions.
• If anyone walks into the Personnel Commission seeking assistance with the completion of their job application, staff will be on hand to assist with any questions or concerns.  
• To receive a total of five extra points to their overall placement score, they need to provide proof of attendance, completion of courses you may have taken through the portal, and also any training or seminars you have attended.
• For promotional points and lost time capture, they will look into how the new software will allow employees to access the website to obtain points for attendance.  
• For office staff regarding custody issues at drop off and pick up time, school personnel should check Synergy first.

Personnel Commission

• August 11, 2023, there were 727 approved and funded classified vacancies.  As of December 12, 2024, the number of vacancies has decreased to 547.  The number is expected to decrease by filling vacancies and working with the Office of School Support Services to abolish vacant positions.
• Former CSEA Site Representative Coordinator Eric Larsen was acknowledged for retirement as a Sign Maker.

Employee Relations (ERS)

• The District has the intent to continue to participate in the Summer Saver program.  SIgnups for 10-11 months eligible employees will be able to sign up when it is ready.  
• Juneteenth claim forms were sent out to CSEA-eligible employees.  Check your district emails.
• The District will fund 10 Paraeducators to go to the CSEA Paraeducator Conference in March.  Expenses will be covered. Sponsored employees are expected to report back what they learned from the conference, do a presentation, and a little training in Professional Development.
• Concerns on contracted aides - the District had 8-hour contracts last year, this school year is now only 6 hours.  We need to know if we are seeing 8-hour contracted aides in the district.  Please contact the hotline if you are aware of sites with 8-hour contracted aides.