California will add the COVID-19 to the well-established list of vaccines currently required for in-person instruction. School staff inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are among those now eligible for a booster shot at least six months after receiving their second shot of the primary series. Member leaders are asked to share the latest information and how you can find a COVID-19 vaccine.

CSEA is returning to in-person meetings and events sponsored by the state Association. Please share the latest information about the safety protocols CSEA has in place to protect its members and staff, and to minimize the spread of COVID-19 at its facilities, meetings, trainings and events.

September 2021: The Governmental Relations Report for the 2021/2022 regular and special extraordinary sessions. Includes a status report on CSEA sponsor, oppose and support bills.

The California School Employees Association (CSEA) is offering an opportunity for CSEA members to participate in a PERS candidate training program for members interested in running for the PERS Board in the coming years.

CSEA recognizes that student loan debt is a major burden for many Americans, including many CSEA members. To assist members with this burden, CSEA has a Member Student Loan Reducer program. Applications are now being accepted for this program which offers twenty grants in the amount of $500 each. Applications are due February 15, 2022 An application form is included with this GIB. Information and the application are also available at www.csea.com/education.

In June, Congress passed a bill designating Juneteenth as a national holiday, and President Biden acted with extraordinary speed to sign this bill into effect by Friday June 18, 2021 so all federal employees could receive that day as a holiday. Some California school management attorneys decided it was not yet an official federal holiday, resulting in hundreds of school districts neither providing this holiday or reaching a settlement. On September 17, 2021, CSEA’s Board authorized CSEA’s Legal Department to bring a class action suit against all districts that have refused to resolve this issue. Before this can occur, a claim will need to be filed with each district's governing board. Guidance is forthcoming on how affected chapters should complete the claim form by November 1.

All temporary pandemic policy waivers, including the Policy 610 and Policy 618 waivers, will extend through December 31, 2021 as approved at the September 2021 Board of Directors meeting. Member leaders are asked to share this latest information concerning policy waivers and electronic meetings held by chapters.