I wanted to send a follow-up email identifying the concerns with the recent change to your arrival and departure time . I understand the proposed arrival of 7:30 am and departure of 3:45 pm was used during the 2023-24 school year. Because arrival of 7:15 am and departure of 3:15 pm was used for 2024-25, the most recent school year, this is a change to your working conditions and the Union is allowed to bargain this with WSSB should members choose to do so. Members have spoken up and that is why I filed a demand to bargain.

I’ve heard concerns and impacts specific to carpooling, the ability to continue scheduling medical appointments in the afternoon (we know that those perfect time slots are hard to come by!) and the amount of exchange time that you accrue. From my understanding, IEPs meetings take place at the end of the school day, so if you are scheduled to leave at 3:45 (rather than 3:30), that is 15 minutes less of exchange time that you all can earn. How do you use your exchange time? When earning exchange time you may use it periodically- flex out on a Friday or in lieu of sick leave (reference 12.3 of our contract , which states, “The Employer will allow an employee to use compensatory time, exchange time, personal holiday, or vacation leave for sick leave purposes in the same manner as the use of accrued sick leave.”), parental leave (article 15.2), pregnancy disability leave (15.3), bereavement leave (17.7), or when you need it: child and elder care emergencies (18.8).

Is the proposed schedule worth losing 15 minutes of exchange time?

For those who do not use their exchange time, this may not be an impact to you. To those who use exchange time, this has been brought forward to me as an impact. I reached out to you all for input because I need to hear from the collective.

What does a solution look like? Unless I hear otherwise, I will propose that WSSB agree to the previous schedule of 7:15 am and 3:15 pm. If after that discussion WSSB denies the Union’s request, I will ask for reassurance (written agreement)that WSSB allow flex schedules per the commute trip reduction policy .

I appreciate any feedback, emails sent directly to ashley@wpea.org , as I will meet with WSSB next month.

I hope you are enjoying your summer break and I thank you for your time!