UPDATE www.aala.us Week of February 11, 2019 ON THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIT J IN THIS ISSUE IMPORTANCE OF UNIT J Unit J members are an important and vital component ACADEMIC MEGASTARS of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles. As HEALTH BENEFITS FAQ – MEDICARE such, the weekly Update should be more reflective of PART B DEADLINES APPROACHING the hopes, challenges, and voices from our Unit J COLLEGE AND CAREER EVENTS members. For example, here are some recent voices ANNUAL POSTING REQUIREMENT from the Unit J field: PLLD BRANCH OBSERVATION DUE DATE Q: Several members are questioning why AALA ELECTION DO’S AND DON’TS Updates mainly target Certificated (AALA) and HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY IN MEMORIAM not Classified (Unit J). LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CALIFORNIA CREDIT UNION A: The articles and information in the Updates are SCHOLARSHIPS inspired by members. Unit J members are OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOUR invited, encouraged, and welcome to send their SCHOOL COMMUNITY articles, suggestions, concerns, questions, and CALENDAR calendar items directly to [email protected] and POSITIONS [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday afternoon for publication on Thursday. As a matter of perspective, many certificated members feel the Updates only cater to school-based administrators. It’s a challenge representing the voices of thousands of front-line managers. Nonetheless, there is room enough for all to be heard. Q How is it that there are two separate contracts in one bargaining unit? A: There are two separate AALA contracts because one bargaining unit is certificated; the other is classified. Each collective bargaining agreement covers three years; and because they were organized at different times, the three-year time frames overlap, i.e., they are not contiguous. Q: I also was told that the certificated employees have already received their increase and that classified employees will not get the entire back pay that the certificated will get because the contracts ended at different times. Is this true, do we have a “me too” clause with the teachers, and when should we expect our increase? A: It is true that the AALA Certificated Unit received a raise already for the reason cited above. The old certificated contract covered 2014-2017. The new one was renegotiated over a period of more than 18 months and ratified last summer by certificated members and approved by the Board of Education. This is the agreement with the raise mentioned by your colleague. Unit J’s old contract covered the years 2015-2018. The new Unit J contract is in the process of being negotiated, and a raise equivalent to the certificated raise has already been proposed to the District. NOTE: The Unit J Bargaining Team went into negotiations this morning. The time is now to suggest changes in the current contract being negotiated. You are encouraged to contact the bargaining team with proposals and ideas. The Unit J Bargaining Team members are: A s s o c i a t e d A d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f L o s A n g e l e s UNIT J (Cont.) Dr. Judith Perez, Lead Negotiator, [email protected] Juan A. Flecha, President, [email protected] Phyllis Lott, Vice President Dave Montes, Director Lisa Marine, Director Gizella Czene, Member-At-Large Laura Ramirez, Senior Job Steward In addition, feel free to share your thinking with the AALA Unit J Job Stewards: Stacy Barnett Mauricio Pinto Oscar Marrufo Alfred Sixtos Laura Ramirez CONGRATULATIONS TO ACADEMIC MEGASTARS IN LAUSD’S “SUPER QUIZ” COMPETITION! Garfield High School wins! Garfield decathletes outdid their peers with an unofficial score of 77 points at the 2019 Los Angeles Unified School District’s Academic Decathlon’s “Super Quiz” competition, held on February 2, 2019. Following close behind, Grant High School came in second place with 76 points. John Marshall High School and North Hollywood High School tied for third place with 67 points. Benjamin Franklin High School came in fourth place with a score of 66 points, while Van Nuys High School nabbed fifth place, garnering 65 points. Verdugo Hills High School finished in sixth place with 64 points. Teams rounding out the Top 10 in the “Super Quiz” competition were Bell High School, with 61 points, followed in order, by Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences (60 points), Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (57 points), and Reseda Charter High School (56 points). In all, 55 teams of high school decathletes competed before a rousing crowd of family members, classmates, friends, and educators, including Los Angeles Unified Board Member Scott M. Schmerelson, Local District South Superintendent Michael Romero, Senior Executive Director, Diversity, Learning and Instruction Hilda Maldonado, and Administrator of High School Instruction Patricia Heideman. The event was held at the Roybal Learning Center gymnasium in downtown Los Angeles. “The 1960’s: A Transformational Decade” is this year’s study topic. ACADEMIC MEGSTARS (Cont.) 2 A s s o c i a t e d A d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f L o s A n g e l e s AALA commends all principals for maintaining a school climate of academic excellence. Special kudos to principals of the top 10 winners: Andres Favela, Garfield HS; Vicky Damonte, Grant HS; Dr. Gary Garcia, John Marshall HS; Rick Rosales, North Hollywood HS; Regina Marquez-Martinez, Franklin HS; Yoli Gardea, Van Nuys HS; Arturo Barcenas, Verdugo Hills HS; Rafael Balderas, Bell HS; Kelly Hanock, Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences; Marty Price, Sherman Oaks CES; and Melanie Welsh, Reseda Charter HS. The winning team will be announced Saturday, February 9, at the Los Angeles Unified Academic Decathlon awards ceremony at Hollywood High School. The team with the highest score and additional wildcard teams will compete in the 2019 California Academic Decathlon, scheduled for March in Sacramento. HEALTH BENEFITS FAQs― RETIRED AND TURNING 65? SURPRISE! YOU’LL PAY A PART B PREMIUM What’s this about a retiree paying Medicare Part B premiums when reaching age 65? Benefits-eligible retirees are often shocked because they assume the District covers all health care costs (including Medicare costs) in their guaranteed lifetime benefits. Unfortunately, all retirees 65 or older in the United States pay Part B premiums if their adjusted gross income exceeds $85,000 annually. As a condition of maintaining your District-paid benefits, retirees at age 65 must enroll in Medicare, the national health insurance program. Medicare Part A covers hospitalization and Medicare Part B covers outpatient services (routine care). Medicare coverage pays for 80% of eligible inpatient/outpatient expenses, while the District provides supplemental coverage for the 20% Medicare doesn’t pay. All retirees in the U.S. pay Part B premiums on an income-based, sliding scale. Most District retirees receive premium-free Medicare coverage. What happens if you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A is discussed in another section. What will I have to pay for Medicare Part B? Premiums for 2019 are calculated on a taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for 2017, as shown below: Part B Monthly Premium Individual Filer Income Joint Filer Income $135.50 $85,000 or less $170,000 or less $189.60 $85,001-$107,000 $170,001 - $214,000 $270.90 $107,001 - $133,500 $214,001 - $267,000 $352.20 $133,501 - $160,000 $267,001 - $320,000 $433.40 $160,001 - $500,000 $320,001 - $749,999 $460.50 Greater than $500,000 Greater than or equal to $750,000 MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS (Cont.) 3 A s s o c i a t e d A d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f L o s A n g e l e s Are there any other Medicare-related costs I will incur? Yes, you may have to pay additional fees. Even though District retirees age 65 or older must not enroll in Medicare Part D (prescription coverage), Part D coverage is part of all District plans for Medicare retirees—Kaiser Senior Advantage, Health Net Seniority Plus, and SilverScript for both Anthem Medicare Preferred (PPO) and Anthem EPO. Medicare assesses individuals a monthly Part D “income-related monthly adjustment amount” (IRMAA) that ranges from $12.40 to $77.40 a month on a sliding scale. I’m retired and approaching 65. What are some recommendations to ease the process? 1. Enroll in Medicare Parts A and B within three (3) months BEFORE your 65th birthday. This is important because you will lose your District health coverage if you don’t have your Medicare card by your 65th birthday, even if Medicare allows you up to three (3) months after your birthday to enroll. If coverage lapses because of nonenrollment, coverage will resume when the District receives evidence of Medicare coverage. 2. Enroll at a Social Security Administration (SSA) office or online for Medicare Parts A and Part B. Social Security Administration will determine if you are eligible for both Parts A and B, which are required by LAUSD to continue your District-paid health benefits. Although you may apply online for just Medicare, AALA recommends you go through SSA. 3. If you don’t qualify for Medicare Part A because you lack 40 quarters of Social Security income through other employment, you don’t qualify through your spouse, or because you did not have Medicare taxes withheld from your District salary AND you retired prior to July 1, 2012, first contact CalSTRS for information regarding your eligibility for CalSTRS’ premium payment plan.