OUHSD Retirees` Association Winter 2016 Newsletter

OUHSD Retirees’ Association
Winter 2016 Newsletter
From the Leadership Committee
I am proud to announce that members of the Oxnard Union High School District Retirees’ Association,
Denise Barnett and Jim Nielsen, were invited to participate in a focus group to select the next superintendent of OUHSD. Our hard work seems to have paid off, as the district now recognizes the value of retirees
and our opinions.
Members of the Leadership Committee continue to be active on behalf of all retirees. Although work was
a little slow during the holiday season, the Leadership Committee continues to attend CSEBO meetings at
the VCOE, Trust Meetings, and the District Board meetings. Look for updates on the Trust in the newsletter. Currently we are planning for the annual meeting in early May, so keep reading our newsletter and
be on the look-out for new emails. Please enjoy reading the latest newsletter and contact one of us if you
have a benefits problem, are in contact with another retiree who is not a member, or have something you
wish to contribute.
Becky Buettner, President
OUHSD Retirees’ Association
Spotlight On Linda Valdez
In September of 1967, Linda Valdez started
her career with the OUHSD as an English teacher
at Camarillo High. She stayed there for 35
years, adding librarian and Department Chair to
her resume. Eventually, Linda began to work part time at the District Office in Ed Services and Staff Development, until she transferred to the D.O. full time in 2002. There she assisted teachers who needed to complete their English as a Second Language requirement, served as GATE coordinator, was a BTSA support provider and instructor, and was also a textbook coordinator. She retired in 2006.
Did she then enter a life of leisure, sipping tea, reading her beloved books, and crocheting? Not Linda. She
has worked more in retirement than many people who are employed full time. Since retiring, she has been a
mentor for new teachers and a mentor instructor for the county, has served as a PAR consulting teacher for
the OUHSD, and is a board member of the ACHS PTSA, the Camarillo Council of PTAs, and the Ventura County
Educators’ Hall of Fame. In her “spare” time, she volunteers at ACHS events and even pitched in to help at
Rancho Campana during its opening. New baby on the way? If Linda hears about it, you can expect one of
her crocheted baby blankets. Students in need of a community service project? Linda taught an entire class
of AP students how to crochet caps for oncology patients. Community or retiree event? There’s Linda
greeting people and signing them in.
Linda and her husband Manuel, also a retired teacher (Thousand Oaks High), have been married 41 years.
They, and their Husky Ralph, live around the corner from their daughter, Angela. Although Linda is recovering from a recent health scare, she hopes to be up and around and back in action soon.
REMINDER: 2016 DUES ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW!!!
Annual dues: $10.00
Lifetime Dues: $100.00
Make check payable
to OUHSDRA
In Memoriam
We honor the memory of those who have passed
away and extend our sincere condolences to their
families, friends, and associates.
Richard Krinsky—spouse of Constance Woods (DO)
Virginia Meyerson—classified (ACHS)
Lorin Maygren—spouse of Donna (ACHS)
Seymour (Sy) Posner— teacher (ACHS)
Muriel Posner (spouse of Sy)
Dorothy Giles—classified (OHS)
PO BOX 7195
Oxnard CA 93031
A special thank you to all members who are supporting the OUHSDRA through their dues.
Association Happenings
.
Planning
is
underway for a
May TGIF for
members
of
our
association, as well as
vested active
employees.
Stay tuned for
more
information.
The Rio Mesa “Breakfast Club’ meets the
2nd Monday of each month, beginning at
8:00 am, at Eggs N Things in Camarillo. All
former Spartans are encouraged to join us.
Jeaneen Belletti was recently honored for her
many contributions to the Oxnard Police Department. Way to go Jeaneen!
February 17 Board of Trustees Meeting
The OUHSD Board met on 2/17 and one agenda item was of extreme interest to the OUHSDRA. An action item was to appoint
members of the Medical Trust Board by position, with the recommendation that the District’s appointees be Assistant Superintendent Administrative Services, Assistant Superintendent Educational Services and a Principal appointed by the Superintendent
(board designee). The OUHSD Retirees’ Association took the position that a vested retiree should be a member of the Medical
Trust Board and made that request to the board during public comments.
Becky Buettner, President of our Association, made a formal request that a vested retiree be included as a standing member of
the Medical Trust Board. Yvonne Peck and Vicky Holmbom also spoke to the issue of having a retiree on the Medical Trust Board.
They were supported by a turnout in the neighborhood of 60-70 retirees who were present at this meeting.
During Board discussion, Dr. Davis spoke at length about the proposal. He praised the work that Rocky Ortega has done on behalf of the Medical Trust, and indicated that Rocky has expressed interest in continuing his service on the Board. Dr. Davis also
pointed out the fact that Trustees may be re-appointed by the governing board. He also questioned why the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and a very busy school Principal were to be included. Further discussion also questioned the wisdom of including these two positions as mandated members of the Medical Trust Board.
After much discussion, amendments were made to the proposal. On a 3-2 vote, with trustees Gary Davis and Wayne Edmonds in
opposition, the Board of Trustees voted that the District appointees to the Medical Trust Board will be: Assistant Superintendent
Admin Services; Assistant Superintendent Human Resources; and a “vested active” employee. The motion also indicated that an
alternate will be selected by the current Trust Board Members (according to the founding documents).
Obviously the OUHSDRA was disappointed that a retiree will not be included in the membership of this very important Board. We
will continue to monitor and attend all meetings of the Retiree Medical Trust.
The Medical Trust Board meets quarterly.
Next meeting is March 18, 2pm in the District Board room
Annual Meeting
Mark your calendar for our Annual Meeting to be
held on Tuesday, May 3 at OPAC. You can count on
our delicious breakfast burritos being served. We
are currently planning the program and we promise it to be a topic of interest. Look for further information.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
As of February 11, 2016, we have 488 members. However, there are still many retirees out there who are
not yet members. If you have any contact information on these retirees, please pass that information on to
Membership Chair Denise Barnett at [email protected]. We keep all of your contact information confidential within a small number of Leadership Committee members who need it. If you have
lost touch with a former co-worker and would like to try to re-establish contact, you may contact Denise at
the above e-mail address. She will pass on your request. Finally, if you have any change in your personal
information that you would like us to have, such as your e-mail address, please let Denise know.
The Leadership Committee has agreed to add the names of new members to our newsletter. Since the Fall
newsletter was published, the following retirees have joined our association:
Peggie Eichorn, District Office
Stephen McFarland, District Office
Cathleen McFarland, spouse of Stephen
Brad Smith, District Office
Reg L. Welker, HHS, and his spouse, Shirley
Welcome to our new members!
If you receive this newsletter by mail, and
you now have an email address, please
notify us of your email address. Newsletters sent by mail are much more expensive and any help in reducing overhead
costs is much appreciated. Send your
email address to:
[email protected].
Retiree Health Benefits Trust
The Board Members of the OUHSD Retiree Health Benefits met on December 4th, 2015. As you know,
these meetings are open to the public and about seven retirees consistently attend, including members of
the Leadership Committee. The meetings are not very exciting, but it is important that we attend. A major
portion of the meeting is listening to Canterbury Consultants describe how the trust is doing – what is
growing, what is declining, and what should be done about it. As of 9/30/2015, the total fund is at
$47,624,131. Since July 30, 2015, the fund has declined $3,420,000. According to Canterbury Consultants, the decline is due to global issues, primarily Greece and China, and that there is no “new” money
coming into the trust. The growth and decline is based on interest that the fund earns and how our portfolio is managed.
The Trust Board did select a new bank as a result of the RFP. Our trust will now be held at US Bank. The
Board also decided to begin the process to update an actuarial study for the district. At the previous Board
Meeting, Dr. Gary Davis did speak to the Board and asked them to consider appointing a substitute member to the Board to represent retirees. The Board is split into two groups – OFT appointees and District
representatives. If an OFT representative is absent, Wes Davis, president of the OFT, sits on the Board. At
this point there is still no substitute for a district appointee.
The next Trust Board Meeting will be Friday, MARCH 18, at 2:00 in the District Board Room.
Giving Back
Channel Islands Naturalist Corps (CINC) is a joint program between Channel Islands National Park
and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The Naturalist Corp is a group of specially trained
volunteers dedicated to educating visitors about the unique resources found within the sanctuary
and park. Members reach out to thousands of area residents, visitors, and school children annually.
They also participate in numerous local outreach events and collect valuable research on marine
mammals and other important sanctuary and park resources.
Volunteers accepted into the program are specially trained in a 5-week training class with topics including sanctuary and park resource protection programs, interpretation techniques, and an overview of the physical, biological, and cultural aspects of the Santa Barbara Channel and Channel Islands.
Paul Petrich (on right) just completed 10 years with the Naturalist Corps, while Jim Graves (on
left) finished his 15th year. They can be found working on the islands, on whale watching boats, or
doing outreach events on land. Both would probably agree that being part of the Naturalist Corps is
a lot like teaching except there are no papers to grade, nor uncooperative students or difficult parents.
Jeff Moynihan, retired para educator from Oxnard HS, volunteers with
RSVP (Retired Seniors Volunteer Program). Their office is located in Wilson Park, in the city of Oxnard. RSVP matched Jeff with the Braille Institute in their Low Vision Class at the Wilson Senior Center. This Low Vision Class helps people who are totally blind, partially blind, or in the
process of going blind. As the only person in the class with normal eyesight, Jeff helps give out information, sign up new members, and other
assorted tasks such as making the coffee for the organization’s
meetings.
OUHSD Retirees’ Association
P.O. Box 7195
Oxnard, CA 93031