The AFT kicked off its first get-out-the-vote town hall with two special guests: Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz (wife of vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz) and longtime AFT ally Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). DFT President, Lakia Wilson Lumpkins was asked to speak at this forum to explain what DFT members will be doing to promote Get Out the Vote in Michigan, a swing state that will be a major factor in this fall's presidential election. Read the article here: GOTV AFT Town Hall Meeting.

We are pleased to announce the ratification of the tentative agreement. The final results of the vote are YES   954     NO  197     total votes cast 1,151

The next step in the process is to have the DPSCD School Board agree to accept the results of the vote. This is planned for the July 9 regular school board meeting. Once the school board has agreed to this, then we will publish the tentative agreement to our website, under key documents.

On behalf of the negotiating team, thank you for your support.

DFT unit members planning on retiring at the end of the 2023-2024 school year should complete all of the forms related to retirement by May 1, 2024.  These forms include:

1.  A Separation from Service Form (SFSF) found on the District's Hub.  Please remember that in order to be paid for sick days upon retirement from DPSCD, eligible employees must submit a SFSF to the District's Human Resource office (HR) no later than May 1, 2024 and retire effective July 1, 2024 (or August 1, 2024 if working during the month of July).  The SFSF should be emailed to HR by May 1, 2024.  (Follow the instructions on the Hub.)  The "effective date of separation" on the SFSF should be listed as June 15, 2024 (or July 31, 2024 if working during the month of July).  After the SFSF is submitted to HR, a confirmation email will be sent to the employee.  Employees should print a copy of that email for their records.

Eligible employees meeting the May 1, 2024 deadline will be paid $45 for each unused sick day in their sick bank for days 1 to 100 and $65 for each unused sick day in their sick bank for days 101 to 200 for a maximum payout of $11,000.  Payout for sick days upon retirement does not include a payout from the catastrophe bank.  (To calculate the number of sick days in one's sick bank, divide the number of sick bank hours by eight [8].)

2.  The pension application forms found on an employee's miAccount with the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (https://www.michigan.gov/orsschools).  (Click on the menu item "Ready to Retire", then the box that says, "Apply for Retirement", and then follow the instructions.  Use the same date for "the last day worked" as was used on the SFSF (June 15, 2024 or July 31, 2024).

3.  The application forms for Social Security (if eligible) and Medicare (if eligible) found on Social Security's website (ssa.gov).  (This website is separate and unrelated to the Michigan Office of Retirement Services' website and an employee's miAccount.)

Questions about retirement can be directed to the DFT's retirement counselor, Patrick Falcusan, at 313-875-6783 at any time during the year.

The February DFT Retirees Chapter meeting will be virtual. There will be no face-to-face meeting due to the Mint having scheduled another event for the same afternoon. Please reach out to Treasurer, Mary Helen D'Angelo, for the Zoom link to join the meeting. She can be reached by phone. Details are on the Events tab.