Lawmakers spent the weekend negotiating over final items that would yield a balanced budget required to adjourn the session. At this point, it is unknown what final DSA will look like and where the money will come from but we can that the NSEA Lobby Team remains in Carson City and continues to fight for as much money to be put back where it belongs--education.
Additionally, the education reform bills AB 225 and AB 229 proposed by Assemblywoman Debbie Smith and Assembly Speaker John Oceguera we voted on Monday night. These bills have now become bargaining chips and will be part of the compromise between the Democrats, the Republicans, and the Governor in order to balance the budget.
The provisions to AB 225 require: Veteran teachers who receive two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations be placed back on probation. This amendment also dictates that local bargaining agreements cannot supersede or alter state law and, thus, we cannot bargain anything better when it comes to veteran teachers who become probationary again.
The provisions to AB 229 require: When a District considers Reduction in Force, seniority would not be the only factor considered. Other factors to be considered MAY include anything from criminal records, hard to fill positions, nationally board certified, performance evaluations, etc. It also requires all new employees to be on probation for three years, with no exceptions. New probationary teachers and veteran teachers on probation after two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations dismissed in the middle of the year get an expedited hearing.
Cleary, this is what the Republicans wanted in order to support revenue enhancements and balance the budget. Your lobbyists continue to fight for the rights and interests of NSEA members and the kids they serve.
We ask and encourage you to contact your legislators by following this link:http://www.capwiz.com/nea/nv/issues/alert/?alertid=48049501&type=ST and urge them to protect your rights and to not trade them for revenue. Talking points are provided, and you can copy/paste this into your mail to contact other representatives as well.
Tell them that along with our other 28,000 members you will be watching their moves and taking them into consideration the next time you look into a candidates’ voting record on education issues.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Interesting Thoughts...
Consider the life of a Michigan prisoner. They get three square meals a day. Access to free health care. Internet. Cable television. Access to a library. A weight room. Computer lab. They can earn a degree. A roof over their heads. Clothing. Everything we just listed we DO NOT provide to our school children.
This is why I’m proposing to make my school a prison. The State of Michigan spends annually somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000 per prisoner, yet we are struggling to provide schools with $7,000 per student. I guess we need to treat our students like they are prisoners, with equal funding. Please give my students three meals a day. Please give my children access to free health care. Please provide my school district Internet access and computers. Please put books in my library. Please give my students a weight room so we can be big and strong. We provide all of these things to prisoners because they have constitutional rights. What about the rights of youth, our future?!
Please provide for my students in my school district the same way we provide for a prisoner. It’s the least we can do to prepare our students for the future...by giving our schools the resources necessary to keep our students OUT of prison.
Nathan Bootz
Superintendent
Ithaca Public Schools
This is why I’m proposing to make my school a prison. The State of Michigan spends annually somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000 per prisoner, yet we are struggling to provide schools with $7,000 per student. I guess we need to treat our students like they are prisoners, with equal funding. Please give my students three meals a day. Please give my children access to free health care. Please provide my school district Internet access and computers. Please put books in my library. Please give my students a weight room so we can be big and strong. We provide all of these things to prisoners because they have constitutional rights. What about the rights of youth, our future?!
Please provide for my students in my school district the same way we provide for a prisoner. It’s the least we can do to prepare our students for the future...by giving our schools the resources necessary to keep our students OUT of prison.
Nathan Bootz
Superintendent
Ithaca Public Schools
Have you written your legislators today?!?!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Your Action Needed Now!
URGENT…Please ACT NOW!!!
The NSEA Lobby Team urges you to reach out to this list of legislators. As you know, cuts to education are imminent—thousands could lose their jobs and more. So much is at stake for you, as a teacher, and for our kids. Please contact these legislators, no matter where you live, and urge them to support the current revenue proposals. The education budget CANNOT endure any more cuts! Act now and get your colleagues, family, and friends to act too!
CALL:
Legislative switchboard: 1-800-995-9080
E-MAIL:
Joe Hardy (R) jhardy@sen.state.nv.us
Mike McGinness (R) mmcginness@sen.state.nv.us
Dean Rhoads (R) drhoads@sen.state.nv.us
Ben Kieckhefer (R) bkieckhefer@sen.state.nv.us
Pat Hickey (R) phickey@asm.state.nv.us
Pete Goicoechea (R) pgoicoechea@asm.state.nv.us
Lynn Stewart (R) lstewart@asm.state.nv.us
Ira Hansen ihansen@asm.state.nv.us
Randy Kirner rkirner@asm.state.nv.us
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Merit Pay; AB 229
Interesting video about merit pay...check it out! It's tested as a business model, but I wonder how it would transfer over to the Education world.
Have you contacted your legislators recently?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
'Sandoville'
Wish we were at 'Sandoville' in person, but are there in spirit! Way to stand up for your rights!
How can you let your voice be heard?
Tomorrow is POWER WEDNESDAY with Miller MS, Mannion MS, Tarkanian MS, Foothill HS, and Silverado HS at the District in Green Valley from 3pm-4pm. Last week we left school at 2:41 and were protesting by 3:10 with a GREAT crowd! The news even sent a heliocopter!
You can also speak up through email and letters! Student/Parent/Teacher talking points are all updated...feel free to use or modfiy!
Or check out these awesome sites that help you write letters, too!
Also, there's a word of a decorating adventure Saturday night ...
"At 11pm on Saturday night we will go around town and place banners wherever we can. Make the banners out of old sheets so we don't get accused of using school supplies. We can place them on freeway overpasses. We can staple them to the political advertisements that are sitting in every desert lot in town. We can tie them to chain link fences. We have to go out ninja style. Everybody take 2 - 3 banners. When Vegas wakes up on Sunday, the town will be decorated with banners that have catchy sayings about funding education in Nevada. Make sure somewhere on the banner it says, "Nevadans for Funding Education in Nevada" so they all know it's an organized effort. This can be awesome if we all get involved! Make sure to take a picture of the banner (oh, that's not admitting guilt, it's just taking a picture of a banner that you happened to come across, hehehe)."
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wear RED for Public Ed Tomorrow!
Tuesday, May 17: Wear RED for Public Ed! If you'd like a red Harney shirt, let us know!
Have you written your legislators today? Check out the Who to Contact & Teacher/Parent/Student Talking Points for more information.
Have you written your legislators today? Check out the Who to Contact & Teacher/Parent/Student Talking Points for more information.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Support AB 569 & SB 491! 18b Music Festival for Education!
This Saturday, May 14, 2011, the Nevada Legislature will be hearing key bills--AB 569 and SB 491--aimed at raising much-needed funding for education and essential state services. It is imperative your legislators hear from you on how the proposed cuts would hurt you, your students and your livelihood.
We appreciate the efforts of those who proposed the bills and urge ALL legislators to support them. These funds are much-needed to ensure our kids and teachers have the working and learning conditions they need to succeed.
The bills, AB 569 and SB 491, can be found on the legislative website at www.leg.state.nv.us. If you are unable to attend in person, you can view the hearings on the legislative website at www.leg.state.nv.us.
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Also! 18b Music Festival on Boulder Ave behind the Arts Factory! 107 E. Charleston, LV, NV! This is going to be great! Rally at 5:30 to support education. Bring your family & friends! There will be live bands, B boys, art exhibits, live action painters, poets, artists and a good time for everybody! Come support education and the arts! This isn't just a rally, it's a community event for everybody!
We appreciate the efforts of those who proposed the bills and urge ALL legislators to support them. These funds are much-needed to ensure our kids and teachers have the working and learning conditions they need to succeed.
The bills, AB 569 and SB 491, can be found on the legislative website at www.leg.state.nv.us. If you are unable to attend in person, you can view the hearings on the legislative website at www.leg.state.nv.us.
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Also! 18b Music Festival on Boulder Ave behind the Arts Factory! 107 E. Charleston, LV, NV! This is going to be great! Rally at 5:30 to support education. Bring your family & friends! There will be live bands, B boys, art exhibits, live action painters, poets, artists and a good time for everybody! Come support education and the arts! This isn't just a rally, it's a community event for everybody!
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