Educational Support Professionals

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Did you know that all staff members can request a library account? And with that account you can access the hundreds of eBooks and audiobooks available at your school. For more information about using the eBooks please click here.

If you're ready to start reading and need an account, please click here and we will contact you once your account has been created.

FLEX! What is a Flex Spending Account? A FSA is a special account you use to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care and/or day are expenses. You don't pay taxes on this money. That means you'll save an amount equal to the taxes you would have paid on the money you set aside. Click here for the flyer and more information.

Spring Open Enrollment for benefits began Monday, May 16th and will be open until June 15th. Check for the email from the district and follow the instructions to sign up for your regular benefits. Make sure you check out the information above on FLEX, as you can sign up for it during Open Enrollment.

It was an amazing and very successful Delegate Assembly this year. Here are some of the highlights from those two days:

• We raised over $25,000 for the Children's Fund for the state.
  
• The BEA set a new record and raised $18,610.45.
  
• DA approved a change to the bylaws that changed what would have been a $45.75/$15.25 yearly increase to dues, down to $5.00/$1.75 yearly increase.
• A statewide SPARKS for ESP was also approved and funded.
• Check out photos and posts by searching for #IEADA2016.

One of the benefits available to members are the many professional development opportunities. One of the options, was to attend a training in using GAFE, specifically GMAIL and Google Drive.

We had over 25 members attend this free training, where we worked together as a group learning the in's and out's of how Google works and how to get it to work for you in the classroom.

Make sure to click here for an example of a handout for GMAIL in case you are interested in attending future sessions. Information on registering for classes will be available on the BEA website.

On January 23, thirty BEA volunteers plus several volunteer community members boxed 5,000 pounds of frozen food.

We had a great and successful time coming together with fellow educators and community members. Our hands were cold, but it warmed our hearts to help reach out to fellow Idahoans going through difficult times.

Did you know in the last six years that donations are now 75% fresh/frozen and 25% dry.

Please check out the Food Bank's website for interesting information, programs and volunteer opportunities. www.idahofoodbank.org

Thanks to Stephanie Myers and her family for volunteering for both AM and AM shifts plus refreshments!

Hope to see you next year for the BEA/ESP Community Annual Volunteer event.

One of the amazing things that are available for ESP members is the opportunity to attend professional development and conferences all over the U.S.

Six members of the IEA and four BEA members were fortunate enough to attend the National Education Association's conference for ESP's in Orlando, FL. Besides the many options for workshops that were available throughout the weekend, attendees also get the chance to meet and talk. Sharing not only ideals, but also experiences and ideas on what has worked for their unions back home and what hasn't.

If you would like to know more about how you can attend a conference in the future, please contact someone on the committee for information.

-BEA President, Stephanie Myers
-BEA Executive Director, Kathy Yamamoto

-Chair, Gena Harris, Hawthorne
-Debra Brown, Horizon
-Mary Gordon, Retired
-Jeanine Rishel, South
-Allison Gordon, DSC
-Bree Wildman, Morley Nelson
-Stacie Aspiazu-Johnson, Hillside

Newsletter Editor:

-Allison Gordon

Email: info@boiseea.org
Website: www.boiseea.org
Location: 620 N 6th St, Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 345-4450
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESPBoise