PD

 

 

DTA PD BUDGET: $115,000 Available; $136,000 Approved!

 

That’s right! The Professional Development Committee received from the District just under $115,000 this school year. As of May 9th, the Committee had approved just slightly less than $136,000 in PD funding requests from members. Don’t we wish that ordinary household budgeting could work in this way?

Over the last three years, the surplus - funds accumulated due to the strike in 2005, has been reduced considerably, with the trend continuing and accelerating each year. But now there is a need to make adjustments to ensure continuity of funding for next year.

Effective, July 1st, 2012, teachers applying for “Regular” PD on Form 5020R and for Credit Course Funding on form 5020CC will see a change: “All DTA members are eligible to apply for professional development funds up to $650.00 per year to a maximum of $1,000.00 over three years.”
For 2012-13, a dues-paying DTA member may apply for up to $650; the amount allocated will be determined by the amount the member has received in the school years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. The total allocation for this period may not exceed $1000 for any eligible teacher.

Beginning July 1st, 2012, “National/International PD” will be discontinued, freeing up an additional 10% of the PD fund to be re-allocated to “Regular” and “Credit Course” funding.

Over the past four years, the “School Based Group Planning” fund, and the “LSA Fund” have been used by members to initiate professional activities. The fund was introduced to allow teachers to plan PD days at the school and District levels. The response to this innovation has been positive. As of July 1, 2012, both School Group-Based and Local Specialists Associations will apply for funding under a single, new category, Interest-Based Group PD. Funding levels will be consistent with what has been allocated in previous years to the two former categories.

In addition to changes in the budget, the Committee hopes that a dialogue with the School District will produce a return to a degree of consistency and stability to the District’s funding of school-based PD. There are significant changes in next year’s PD funding and potentially more to come. Please make sure you are aware of what is available to you. For additional information, call me at the DTA Office.

To read the complete article, please see the PD News – Volume 8, Issue 2.

Paul Leroy,
PD Chair
 

Don't forget to submit your PD receipts for reimbursement after the course is complete!