NEA-New Mexico

Can you believe it?! We've got health care!

As you may know, the U.S. House passed health care reform. This is the most significant health legislation to pass in decades and it delivers some real wins for children and low-income families. The bill supports two essential programs, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which enable children who do not have private insurance to receive medical care.

 

Many of the provisions will not be phased in for several years, but some immediate wins include:

1. The end of insurer discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions; under the new bill these kids will no longer be denied coverage (this provision for adults will be effective in 2014)
2. Dependent children under the age of 26 will be allowed to remain on their parents’ policies if they cannot get health insurance elsewhere
3. Expansion of high-risk pools so that adults with pre-existing conditions can buy coverage

This bill was a long time in the making and several details still need to be ironed out. Please take a minute to contact and thank your representative for voting to support this bill. Also consider contacting your senators to thank them for all their hard work on this issue and to let them know you appreciate their support in the upcoming final vote.

• Email Sen. Jeff Bingaman at senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov or call 202-224-5521.
• Email Sen. Tom Udall via a form on his website or call 202-244-6621.
• Email Rep. Martin Heinrich (Dist. 1) via a form on his website or call 202-225-6316.
• Email Rep. Ben R. Lujan (Dist. 3) via a form on his website or call 202-225-6190

NEW NEA FOUNDATION WEB SITE AND MORE NEWS!

If you haven’t visited our new Web site yet, you’re in for a surprise! The new neafoundation.org has taken flight! Easier to navigate, with more stories, photos, and videos, you can now donate to the Foundation, apply for a grant, learn about our Gaps work, and, soon, register for the gala, all in one paper-free place. We encourage you to check out our new public face and to share our link with others!
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The NEA Foundation Partners with Nickelodeon and the Staples Foundation for Learning to Fund “Green” Grants for Educators. Made possible by unprecedented back-to-back financial commitments from Nickelodeon and the Staples Foundation for Learning to fund “green grants” for public school educators, the NEA Foundation will grow its grants program for individual and teams of educators. The new $150,000 in grant funding, matched by another $100,000 from the Foundation, is designated for projects that integrate green-related topics and experiences to increase student engagement and to improve academic achievement.

The program builds on the success of the NEA Foundation’s Student Achievement and Learning & Leadership Grants.

Public school educators are eligible to apply for individual grants worth up to $5,000 for the development and implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches for teaching “green” concepts. The next grant application deadline is Oct. 15, and grants are slated to be awarded in January 2010. The Foundation will award two more rounds of the green grants in 2010, with deadlines for applications falling on Feb. 1 and June 1.
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Update on the Al Gore Green Prize in Public Education: In the spring of 2010, the NEA Foundation will announce the first ever winner of our inaugural Al Gore Green Prize in Public Education (the Gore Prize) to recognize and showcase an outstanding public school educator or program that best advances social and environmental responsibility.

Endorsed by Al Gore, the purpose of the Gore Prize is to recognize those public school educators or programs that empower and inspire students to be more socially and environmentally responsible and to become better environmental stewards, creating a sustainable environment for our communities, country, and world.

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Awards for Teaching Excellence Nominations Now Online
We are pleased to announce that the application for The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence is now online.
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Individual Donations Make NEA Foundation’s Grants to Public School Libraries Possible
Made possible by support from individuals, the NEA Foundation will make $1,000 awards to public schools serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books for school libraries as part of the NEA's Books Across America Library Books Award program. In collaboration with the National Education Association, the NEA Foundation will make approximately 50 awards to public school libraries.

Interested educators can visit our Web site to view application guidelines and to download the application form. Applications must be submitted
by e-mail and the next deadline for applications is Friday, November 20, 2009.

If you would like make a donation to help bring the gift of reading to students, visit our Web site and make an online contribution. It’s a great way to promote the original free, reusable resource for learning by supporting public school libraries.
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NEA Applauds Steps to Help Students with Disabilities

Lawmakers are taking steps to fulfill broken promises by the federal government to help students who need special education services. Reps Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Todd Russell Platts (R-PA) and Tim Walz (D-MN) introduced a bill to make new funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandatory. The bill also calls for full funding of IDEA in six years.

When IDEA became law in 1975, Congress agreed to provide 40 percent of the cost of educating students with disabilities. Funding for students with disabilities has never reached half of the promised amount over the past three decades. Other than the historic infusion of funds included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal government has not come close to meeting its commitment. Federal law requires that IDEA services be provided to children with disabilities.

“Schoolchildren cannot wait another three decades for Congress to fulfill its commitment,” said Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association. “The devastating combination of underfunding and state fiscal crises have forced school districts to either raise taxes or dip into general education budgets to make up for the shortfall. As a result, other critical services are cut.”

The Everyone Deserves UnConditional Access to Education (EDUCATE) Act is a bipartisan effort that would benefit the six million students who receive special education services throughout the United States. Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced a similar bill in the Senate last week. S. 1652 would amend IDEA to make new funding mandatory and fully fund IDEA in six years.

“NEA is pleased that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are supportive of this effort,” added Van Roekel. “I look forward to the day when school districts no longer have to grasp at straws to provide critical services to students with disabilities. By creating a steady revenue stream for IDEA, Congress would free up dollars at the local level, allowing more money to be spent on programs that benefit all students.”

NEA VP HIGHLIGHTS HISPANIC AWARENESS

In a recent speech at a gathering of influential Hispanic political, community and political leaders, NEA Vice President Lily Eskelsen pointed out that Hispanics are changing the composition of cities and states from coast-to-coast and influencing all aspects of American life but that education still remains the key to opportunity.

“The face of America is changing,” NEA Vice President Lily Eskelsen told the audience of Hispanic leaders. “But one thing will not change. It hasn’t changed for over 200 years. Public education will continue to be the key—la llave a la puerta de la oportunidad. Everything hinges on public education because NEA’s mission is to take all children, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, income, language, skills or ability or disability; we take all children and give them the keys to the doors they might want to open.

Eskelsen is one of the highest-ranking labor leaders in the United States and one of its most influential Hispanic educators. She delivered the opening luncheon address at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Public Policy Conference, an annual event that brings together leaders to address issues affecting the Hispanic community.

In her speech, Eskelsen also recognized the critical role the U.S. Congress and the Obama administration are playing in helping to transform public education, with the largest investment of federal funds in the history of education. She noted, “We are lucky to have an administration that puts children first because this country cannot afford to leave any more students behind—not one.”

Recounting her experience, Eskelsen said, “My mother used to tell me to stop whining about homework. She said every class I took was a key to put in my pocket. She’d say learn the time tables—that’s a key. She said: Memorize the Preamble to the Constitution. That’s a key. Put it in your pocket. You never know when that key might open a door for you. You should have as many keys in your pocket as you can hold.”

Hispanics have become the largest minority group in the U.S., and that growth is reflected in America’s public schools. Fifty million students attend public schools. About 20 percent of public school students—10 million children—are Hispanics. Moreover, according to the U.S. Census, one out of every four kindergarten students in the U.S. today is Latino. That means in 12 years (16, counting college), 25 percent of the national workforce will be Latino. These students will grow up to pay taxes, raise families, vote, run for office and run businesses.

“The success or failure of 25 percent of America cannot be ignored,” said Eskelsen. “No country can withstand that rate of failure. If America marginalizes our Latino community, we do so at the entire country’s peril. The rest of the country cannot advance economically, politically, or globally if we leave 25 percent of us underemployed and undereducated.”

Keenly aware of the role great teachers and great schools play in preparing students, NEA is committing $6 million over the next six years to support quality teaching in high-needs schools. The commitment is part of an initiative, launched in partnership with the Center for Teaching Quality, to break ground for new teaching policies and strategic partnerships. The centerpiece of the initiative is a report titled, “Children of Poverty Deserve Great Teachers: One Union’s Commitment to Changing the Status Quo.” The report is a compilation of conversations with more than 2,000 of the nation’s best teachers who shared what will attract and keep the most effective teachers in the nation’s most challenging schools.

Eskelsen’s remarks also kicked off Hispanic Awareness Month. To mark the month-long celebration and to help educators learn more about Hispanic history, culture and education, NEA has put together the following resources:

• Lesson plans to help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month www.nea.org/home/ns/13900.htm
• A list of resources for learning more about Hispanic history, culture, and education www.nea.org/home/16772.htm
• Hispanic education issues, scholarships, and other online resources www.nea.org/home/15648.htm
• Learn how NEA’s Minority Community Outreach project is working with the Hispanic community
www.nea.org/home/15424.htm

NEA Foundation Recognition Goes to Robert Stuart

Robert L. Stuart of Raton will be a special guest at The NEA Foundation's 15th annual Salute to Education gala on Friday, February 12, 2010 in Washington, DC. The event attracts about 900 guaests, including NEA and corporate leaders as well as friends of education from around the country. Stuart is one of five educators nationwide recognized for extraordinary accomplishments in education described as admirable and "the best representative of teaching and learning in New Mexico." The recognition includes a $750 gift which will sent to Stuart's school. Congratulations!

Questions and Answers About the Graduation Summit

Lt. Governor Diane Denish will host a Graduation Summit in Las Cruces, NM on September 10, 2009 to call attention to the need to improve graduation rates statewide. The Summit will convene over 500 stakeholders including young people, educators, lawmakers, administrators, the business community, nonprofits, and others to come up with ideas and action plans to address critical issues. The Summit is connected to a national effort led by America’s Promise to address graduation rates. Summits are taking place in over one hundred cities and states this year.

WHO SHOULD REGISTER?

Everyone. Especially young people. The summit has the capacity for 500 people, the goal of which is to have over half the audience being young people who are encouraged to attend. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult or a sponsoring organization and must have completed necessary permission forms.

WHERE WILL THE SUMMIT TAKE PLACE?

The Summit will be held on the New Mexico State University campus in Las Cruces. All Summit activities will take place in the Corbett Student Center.

WHEN IS THE SUMMIT?

September 10, 2009 from 9:00am - 4:30pm. Checkin and registration starts at 8 am.
HOW MUCH DOES REGISTRATION COST?

The Summit is FREE. You need to preregister yourself and any young people attending at
the Summit web site.

IS LODGING AVAILABLE?

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Sleep Inn in Las Cruces. The Summit will pay for one night lodging for young people (two people per room) at the hotel. To book a room call the Sleep Inn directly at 575-221-1700. Please be sure to tell them you are with the Lt. Governor’s Graduation Summit. The address is 2121 S. Triviz, Las Cruces, NM 88001

WHO SHOULD MAKE THE ACCOMMODATIONS WITH THE SLEEP INN?

You should make accommodations for yourself and for any youth who are coming to the Summit with you. Please also be sure you have the appropriate permission forms for all young people under 18 attending.

IS ANY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR TRANSPORTATION?

If you are chaperoning a group of young people, please arrange for transportation, and you and your organization will be reimbursed, provided an estimate of transportations costs is provided prior to the event. Please send an email to sandra@threesixtynm.com for preapproval.

WHAT ABOUT MEALS?

Lunch is provided on Thursday, Sept 10th and there will be snacks and beverages available at the Summit all day.

Cell Phones Go Public During September

All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you may start to receive sales calls. You may be charged for these calls. To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the national DO NOT CALL list. One call blocks your number for five years. However, you must call from the number you want blocked. For more information: www.usaphone.com

Graduate New Mexico! Governor's New Initiative

Governor Richardson has announced the next generation of Making Schools Work education reform initiatives: Graduate New Mexico! It’s Everybody’s Business. His announcement is the first of several initiatives to be unveiled during the next several weeks. It is designed to bring back 10,000 dropouts, address the achievement gap, and improve graduation rates in New Mexico.

“To sustain New Mexico’s growing economy and workforce, all New Mexican’s must at the very least graduate from high school. We must accept that in the 21st century, to secure a job that will support a family and provide a decent quality of life, a high school diploma is a must,” said Governor Richardson.

“Incremental gains are good, but not good enough. We must take bold steps in our reform effort,” said Education Secretary Veronica C. García.

The total investment in new education reform is $8.9 million dollars from federal stimulus money. Governor Richardson announced the first six components of Graduate New Mexico! It’s Everybody’s Business:

1. An expansion of IDEAL-NM (Innovative Digital Education And Learning). The Public Education Department will make online courses available to up to 10,000 students that need to make up credits to graduate. The credit recovery program will provide on line courses that students can take any where there is internet access. Students must go to their high schools to register.

2. The appointment of a task force for the Schools Most In Need of Improvement. The taskforce will examine the schools that have consistently failed to improve over the last five years and will make recommendations about intensive interventions New Mexico should consider to improve its persistently low performing schools. The task force will be headed by Education Secretary, Dr. Veronica C. García.

3. The establishment the Office of Hispanic Education at the Public Education Department. The office will liaison with the Hispanic Community to engage in meaningful ways to address the achievement gap.

4. Three Governor Summits on the Achievement Gap, each with a separate focus on Hispanic, Native American, and African American student achievement to be held in October, November, and December of 2009. The purpose of the summits is three fold: 1) to call attention to educational challenges, 2) to collaboratively arrive at solutions, and 3) to engage parents and community in the process.

5. The availability of online cultural competence training for teachers. The course will be offered in collaboration with NM Highlands University Center for the Study and Education of Diverse populations to train teachers in culturally relevant teaching techniques and materials.

6. The creation of an annual report card clearly reporting achievement, graduation rates, drop out rates, college attendance, college remediation rates, and post secondary attainment levels for each ethnic group. The first baseline report will be released no later than December 31, 2009.

“It is going to take a statewide community effort if we are to ensure that every New Mexico high school student graduates from high school ready to contribute to New Mexico’s economy. Graduate New Mexico. It’s everybody’s business,” said Richardson.

Recently Back from Washington, DC by Tammie Maxie

Three NEA-NM members, Mary Bennett, Tammy Maxie, and Greg Maxie, were among 140 NEA members nationwide who traveled to Washington D.C. in late July to take part in the Third Annual Republican Leaders Conference (RLC) hosted by the National Education Association. The purpose of the conference was to bring together NEA members who are Republicans for three days of skills training and networking.

For the past three years, NEA has worked to engage their one million members who identify as Republicans in the work of the Association and assist them in advocating for public education with Republican policymakers. Participants of the conference were provided the opportunity to explore Capitol Hill and meet with Republican Members of Congress to lobby for NEA positions on education.

In addition to NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, other members of NEA’s staff and executive committee, as well as former and present members of Congress, spoke at the conference. One of many keynote speakers was Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. This was the first time someone from the Republican National Committee had ever spoken at NEA headquarters.

This program is a continuation of the resolution passed at the RA this year to engage Republican members of NEA to be trained in effective lobbing. NEA recognized that these members could reach House and Senate members who previously had not been supportive of NEA positions. NEA members who attended this meeting also had the opportunity to attend the Main Street Republican awards dinner and were recognized by the congressional members. “I’m an NEA member and a Republican,” was a statement met with surprise many times on Capitol Hill. New avenues of dialog were opened and many members of Congress expressed a willingness to reconsider NEA positions on education.

Photo by Greg Maxie

NEA-NM Joins Planning for NM Dropout Prevention Summit

The New Mexico Dropout Prevention Summit will be held in Las Cruces on September 10, 2009. About 500 people are expected to attend. The New Mexico Graduation Summit is being planned by a collaborative planning committee representing a diverse group of leaders from sectors around throughout the state.

Over 400 individuals who attended the Children’s Cabinet town hall in June of 2008 will also be invited to attend. Extensive outreach efforts will be undertaken to ensure that individuals representing non-profit organizations, foundations, businesses, municipal and state government, youth serving organizations, and faith-based groups from across New Mexico will attend the summit.

NEA-NM is part of the planning group.

The summit will begin with opening remarks from the Lieutenant Governor who will welcome attendees and will present the expected outcomes of the summit. Dr. Vernonica Garcia will discuss the current education reform efforts around the state through the PED. One or two young people will share their thoughts on the graduation rate in New Mexico.

Summit participants will be encouraged to focus on policy implications and opportunities to influence policy development at the state and the federal level.
Summit participants will be encouraged and coached to develop action plans that strengthen current efforts and initiate new strategic activity around measurable policy and program supports for young people in New Mexico. These plans will address the state’s drop out rates and will include measurable goals and a timeline for implementation as well as policy recommendations for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Children’s Cabinet and members of the New Mexico State Legislature.

For more information, contact Claire E. Dudley at 505-476-2250.

What is "Race to the Top?"

President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have announced that states leading the way on school reform will be eligible to compete for $4.35 billion in Race to the Top competitive grants to support education reform and innovation in classrooms. Between the 2009 budget and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more than $10 billion in grant money will be available to states and districts that the government has determined "are driving reform."

"This competition will not be based on politics, ideology, or the preferences of a particular interest group. Instead, it will be based on a simple principle —whether a state is ready to do what works. We will use the best data available to determine whether a state can meet a few key benchmarks for reform—and states that outperform the rest will be rewarded with a grant. Not every state will win and not every school district will be happy with the results. But America's children, America's economy, and America itself will be better for it," President Obama said in a speech at the U.S. Department of Education headquarters in Washington.

The centerpiece of the Obama administration's education reform efforts is the $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund, a national competition which will highlight and replicate effective education reform strategies in four significant areas:

· Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace;

· Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals;

· Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and

· Turning around the lowest-performing schools.

"The $4.35 billion Race to the Top program that we are unveiling today is a challenge to states and districts. We're looking to drive reform, reward excellence and dramatically improve our nation's schools," Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said at the event.

In addition to the Race to the Top Fund, over the coming months the Department plans to award more than $5.6 billion in additional grants through several other federal programs that support the Administration's reform priorities, thus making available dollars that have been allocated by Congress under the FY 2009 budget and the ARRA. The Department of Education will publish draft regulations on each of the programs in coming weeks. In releasing the documents, Secretary Duncan is calling on state officials to intentionally prepare to use money from all of these programs in an integrated way to advance these essential areas of reforms.

The additional programs include the $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund. Like Race to the Top, the Investing in Innovation Fund is part of the ARRA. It will support local efforts by school districts and partnerships with nonprofits to start or expand research-based innovative programs that help close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for students.

With $297 million in the Teacher Incentive Fund, states and districts will create or expand effective performance pay and teacher advancement models to reward teachers and principals for increases in student achievement and boost the number of effective educators working with poor, minority, and disadvantaged students and teaching hard-to-staff subjects.

With $315 million from the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems program, states will expand their data systems to track students' achievement from preschool through college and link their achievement to teachers and principals. Applications for these funds are being posted today.

With $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement Grants, the Department will support states in efforts to reform struggling schools, and focus on implementing turnaround models in the lowest-performing schools. Secretary Duncan has set a goal of turning around the bottom 5 percent of schools in the next five years. In addition, $919 million in State Educational Technology Grants to help bring technology into the classroom will be made available. These funds are distributed to states by formula but states must deliver at least half of the money to districts on a competitive basis. States can make all of the money competitive.

Within Race to the Top, $350 million has also been set aside to help fund common assessments for states that adopt common international standards. Draft guidelines and criteria for the Race to the Top competition as well as the second round of grants from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund are being published today.

In the near future, the Department will release guidance on the Investing in Innovation Fund, the Teacher Incentive Fund, the Title I School Improvement Grants, and the State Educational Technology Grants.

The Department will finalize the regulations and start accepting applications for the Race to the Top competition this fall. The first round of grants will go out early next year. The second round of applications will likely be due in June 2010 and final awards will be made in September.

NEA Responds to "Race to the Top" Guidelines

The U.S. Education Department has announced its guidelines for the $4.35 billion “Race to the Top” fund today, which spells out how states can apply to win grants for innovation in education. The program is part of the nearly $100 billion allotted to education as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel had this to say about it: “The Obama administration has continued to show its commitment to creating great public schools for every student, and educators around the country could not agree more with that goal. We are especially impressed by the administration’s willingness to listen and insist that the entire education community be involved in this process. As educators, we know that collaboration is key to transforming our schools and we look forward to continuing our dialogue with the administration.

“We are concerned with some of the details included in the draft proposals and encourage the Education Department to think more broadly about what it views as the basic tenets of a student’s educational experience. If we continue to focus narrowly on test scores, then students in need of the most support will continue to get more test prep rather than the rich, challenging, engaging education they deserve. Teachers should be evaluated on their practice using multiple criteria, not just one.

“We will analyze the details of the proposal and use the 30-day comment period to find common ground with the administration. While we may not agree on every tactic or proposal the department puts forward, our commitment to the end result could not be clearer. We want a great public school for every student in this country, and we know that it will take serious measures to achieve this goal.”

For additional information, please visit www.nea.org

Judge Refuses Request for Temporary Injunction

NEA-NM President Sharon Morgan said she was "disappointed" after hearing a state district judge wouldn't approve a request for a preliminary injunction to stop the State of New Mexico from collecting additional pension contributions. Morgan said NEA-NM and other public employee unions involved in filing for the injunction are now investigating next steps.

Judge William Lang rejected the argument that public employees would suffer "irreparable harm." Legislation passed during the 2009 sixty-day legislative session increased employee payroll contributions by 1.5 percent of their salaries and it will reduce payments by the same amount for the state over the next two years. Employees who make more than $20,000 per year will carry the weight of the increases. The measure passed by the state legislature was intended to help save New Mexico $43 million dollars annually.

Public employee unions argued in their brief filed in June of 2009 that the increases were unconstitutional. They are of the opinion that the increases should have been the responsibility of the state, not public employees and educators.

Back to School Tax Holiday: August 7-9, 2009

Governor Bill Richardson has announced the fifth annual Back-To-School Tax Holiday to help New Mexico families save money on their back-to-school supplies. The tax holiday starts Friday, August 7th and will end at midnight Sunday, August 9th, 2009.

“Every year New Mexicans look forward to the back-to-school tax holiday and this year the anticipation is even higher as families struggle through the current economic climate,” Governor Richardson said. “The tax holiday is much needed-relief for families across New Mexico, allowing them to address their children’s back-to-school needs without breaking their budgets.”

“I would like to thank all retailers participating in this program because it not only makes good business sense but they’re also making a valuable contribution towards the education of our children,” State Taxation and Revenue Secretary Rick Homans said. “I encourage all parents to take advantage of this program and save the extra cash.”

Nontaxable items include: clothing and footwear $100 or less; school supplies such as pens and paper $15 or less that are typically used in a classroom setting; computers $1000 or less; as well as assorted computer equipment $500 or less. The price limits are for each item – not the total amount spent for all purchases. For example, a family could purchase two computers tax-free as long as each computer did not exceed the $1000 limit per computer.

The tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and concludes on Sunday at midnight. During that time the law provides a deduction from gross receipts on qualifying items in effect allowing the retailers to sell the items “tax free.” Anyone can take advantage of this program to purchase qualifying items.

For more specific information on the legislation, definitions, types of sales, (rain checks, exchanges, refunds, gift cards, layaways, Internet, mail order and telephone sales) please see Gross Receipts Tax Holiday available on the Taxation and Revenue Department web site at www.tax.state.nm.us.

Ed Secretary Hears From NEA Members at National RA

Education Secretary Arne Duncan told NEA members at the NEA Representative Assembly in San Diego that educators must be at the table for any discussions about transforming America’s public schools. Duncan addressed more than 7,000 educators as part of a town hall exchange at the NEA’s Annual Meeting in San Diego, and heard their views on how to best ensure that every student has access to a quality public education.

Mary Parr Sanchez of Las Cruces represented New Mexico

“I know we won’t all agree on everything, but I’m confident there will be more we agree with than not,” Duncan said. “It starts with our shared values. We believe it is our moral obligation to give children the very best education possible. We believe every child can learn and every school can succeed. We believe teaching is a profession, and good teachers and principals are essential to success.”

Duncan said schools must be the hub of communities, the federal government must increase the number of national certified teachers, and “a union of educators is a positive force that can drive the kind of change that many of our schools need.”

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel noted that he recently visited schools in New York and Connecticut where he saw what change is possible when there is a strong collaborative relationship among the teachers’ association, the school district and community partners.

“The best way to achieve results is for local unions and other partners to collaborate locally, while thinking globally about what students need to succeed,” Van Roekel said. “I believe that most teachers do an outstanding job, but that shouldn’t stop us from working together to find out what works best.”

Duncan spoke with NEA members on the eve of the opening of the 147th Annual Meeting and 88th Representative Assembly. The RA is the highest decision-making body within the over 3.2 million-member NEA and with nearly 10,000 delegates, it is also the world's largest democratic deliberative body.

During the question and answer period, many NEA members noted how educators are on the front lines dealing with the real-world implications of education policy, and know better than anyone what works best in the classroom.

“You can’t have great public schools without great teachers,” Van Roekel said. “We need to have educators at the table, helping all teachers become as good as they can be. Secretary Duncan should be applauded for seeking the input of NEA members. Educators know what their students and schools need, and we look forward to working with him. We have an unprecedented opportunity to improve public schools for all students.”

NEA Endorses Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court Nomination

The National Education Association's Board of Directors has voted to endorse Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court. The NEA is joined by leading national organizations, from civil rights organizations to the Fraternal Order of Police, in supporting Sotomayor. The U.S. Senate will begin confirmation hearings in mid-July.

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel said the following: “If confirmed, Sotomayor would bring more federal judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any justice in 100 years, and more overall judicial experience than anyone confirmed for the Supreme Court in the past 70 years. She would replace Justice Souter as the only justice with experience as a trial judge, and she has handed down decisions on a range of complex legal and constitutional issues.

“In addition to her professional experience, she brings a unique set of personal experiences to the Supreme Court. Her father, a factory worker with a third-grade education, died when Sotomayor was nine years old. At an early age, her mother instilled in Sotomayor and her brother a belief in the power of education. Driven by an indefatigable work ethic, and rising to the challenge of managing a diagnosis of juvenile diabetes, Sotomayor excelled in school. Her commitment to education, both in her professional and personal life, is one we would all do well to follow.”

Governor Richardson to Receive National Award From NEA

NEA will honor New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson with America's Greatest Education Governor Award on Friday, July 3, 2009 at the national NEA Representative Assembly in San Diego. The annual award recognizes and honors governors who have made major, state-level education strides that improve public schools.

Gov. Richardson will be recognized for a number of his accomplishments, including efforts to improve early childhood education, student wellness, teacher compensation and student achievement assessments.

Nearly 10,000 educators from across the country will debate and vote on pressing issues facing their schools, their students and their profession at the Representative Assembly which is the highest decision-making body within the 3.2 million-member NEA.

New Mexico has a delegation of about 40 people from locals around the state.

NEA-NM Delegates Head Out to San Diego for RA

A delegation of about 40 NEA members from around the state are preparing to leave for San Diego for the annual Representative Assembly. This is a high point of the year for many members, many of whom say that it's an experience not to be missed. Others pride themselves on the number of times they've attended and how the experience is always fresh and new.

For the highlights of the 2009 NEA Representative Assembly, visit the NEA web site.

NEA-NM Lawsuit To Recover Madoff-Related Losses

Jones, Snead, Wertheim & Wentworth, P.A. (“The Jones Firm”) and NEA-New Mexico jointly held a press conference on June 24, 2009 to announce that the state court in Santa Fe unsealed an action against Austin Capital Management Ltd. (“Austin Capital”) on behalf of the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board (ERB) and the State Investment Council (SIC). The law suit seeks to recover approximately $25 million in losses of public money resulting from Austin Capital’s investment in funds managed by admitted fraudster Bernard L. Madoff (“Madoff”).

NEA-NM brought the action as the so-called qui tam plaintiff under the New Mexico Fraud Against Taxpayers Act which permits private parties to seek recovery of losses of public money.

The complaint charges Austin Capital with having ignored several red flags that should have kept it from placing money with Madoff and with having failed to disclose its longstanding business relationship with Madoff to investors. Austin Capital is a limited partnership that oversees hedge fund investment portfolios.

Unbeknownst to investors, Austin Capital had invested approximately 7.5% of its funds in Madoff-managed investments and allegedly failed to perform an appropriate investigation into the suitability and risk associated with the Madoff investment, a process known as due diligence.

“We wanted our general counsel to bring this lawsuit to do whatever we can to insure the integrity of the teacher and public school retirement system,” said NEA-New Mexico President Sharon Morgan.

“This case is about Austin Capital’s not doing their homework on Bernie Madoff. Our investigation appears to be unique in having uncovered Austin Capital’s longstanding relationship with Madoff, a reason they missed all the red flags,” attorney John Wertheim said.

The ERB is a retirement fund for New Mexico’s public school teachers and employees, and the SIC is charged with investing the Land Grant and Severance Tax Permanent Funds, as well as other public funds.

Established in 1948, The Jones Firm specializes in complex litigation on behalf of plaintiffs and it has served as general counsel to NEA-New Mexico since 1968.

Mary Parr Sanchez to Represent NM in National NEA "Town Hall"

Mary Parr Sanchez of Las Cruces will be one of 50 State Affiliate Representatives to meet with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a "Town Hall" event on July 2, 2009 at the NEA national Representative Assembly. The event will be moderated by NEA national president Dennis Van Roekel at the San Diego Convention Center, Hall G - RA Floor, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. A "town hall"-style stage setup will be created with 50 delegates, one from each state affiliate selected at the discretion of the state affiliate president. The delegates will remain seated on the stage throughout the event.

Mary K. Parr-Sanchez of Las Cruces is an eighth grade history teacher who has worked in education for 19 years.

Teacher Appreciation Day at Staples: August 8, 2009

Mark your calendar for Staples Teacher Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 8 from 9 am to 12 pm noon. This year's events will include a reusable "eco easy" bag filled with special values that will be given to the first 100 educators, while supplies last. In the past, these events have proved to be enormously popular with NEA members. For details on locations in New Mexico, click here

Peggy Stielow Meets the Press

Peggy Stielow (right), President of the Rio Rancho School Employees Union, speaks to a reporter at the June 15th press conference in Albuquerque. Stielow is a plaintiff in the case.

"I decided to join this law suit as a plaintiff because the situation violates my constitutional rights on several levels, as it does other working New Mexicans. The bottom line to this story is that the state was strapped for cash this year. They came up with $454 million short --which in the context of the state's $6 billion a year budget is far from being catastrophic.

"In response to this budget shortfall, state officials passed a law that gave them a right to a pension payment holiday for two years and put the burden of that cost solely on the backs of public employees. At the end of the day, the best answer the state could come up with, when faced with this budget shortfall, was to take money from working people who are already struggling to get by.

"The scariest and most baffling aspect to the passing of the law is that our Retirement Board came out during this process and explicitly advised the state that this law violates the constitutional rights of public employees. Yet the state proceeded anyway. A financial bump in the road does not mean the state can choose whether or not to respect and observe the constitutional rights of working New Mexicans.

"We are here today as working New Mexicans who are saying loud and clear --enough is enough. We won't give up our constitutional rights because the state is inconvenienced by its obligations to us. And we will stand up today and forever how long it takes. . . "

NEA-NM Among Unions Suing State of New Mexico Over Violations of Employees' Constitutional Rights

NEA-NM joined AFSME, AFT and CWA in filing a law suit on June 15th, 2009 in the Second Judicial District in Albuquerque for violations of numerous constitutional rights of public employee pensioners by enacting a 1.5 percent increase in employees' pension contributions. The legal papers present the argument that the increase violates pensioners' constitutional rights of actuarial soundness, uniform taxation, due process, equal protection and vested property rights.

The pension contribution swap, enacted by House Bill 854, balances the state's budget by making employees pay 1.5 percent for two years. The law, which will start July 1, reduces what the state pays into public pensioners' funds by 1.5 percent. The law increases payroll taxes on teachers and other public employees by the same amount to cover the cost of the state's two-year holiday on pension payments.

The contribution change will apply to employees covered by the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and the Educational Retirement Board's (ERB) pension for education employees.

The legal papers argue that the changes impose an unfair wage tax on a select group of individuals --in particular, public employees-- to enhance the general revenues of the state. The state is not imposing any sort of contribution from private employees to shore up the state's budget deficit.

During the 2009 legislative session, the unions proposed numerous revenue alternatives to close the budget gap, but all ideas were turned down by lawmakers in favor of the 1.5 percent payroll tax. Also championed was a concept called combined reporting which would have brought in new revenues while leveling the field of local businesses.

NEA-NM Seeks Injunction From Court

On Monday morning, June 15, 2009 NEA-NM will be among four public employee unions holding a press conference to announce the filing of a Preliminary Injunction against the State of New Mexico to stop the state from forcing more than 66,000 public employees to shore up the state’s budget deficit by paying 1.5% more out of their paychecks to the state for two years.

Union representatives will speak about the details of the lawsuit and explain why the New Mexico and U.S. Constitutions forbid balancing the budget on the backs of public employees. NEA-NM, as well as three other statewide public employee unions, (AFSCME, AFT New Mexico, NEA New Mexico and CWA) are seeking the help of the courts to stop the enactment of a law that would use public employees’ pay to shore up the state’s budget deficit. The state is enacting a law that will decrease the state’s payment into public employee pension funds 1.5% for two years. That cost, over $80 million, is passed directly on to employees who will have to pay for the state’s lost contribution by paying an additional 1.5% into their pension funds. The funding swap violates a number of public employees’ constitutional rights.

The court papers will be filed on Monday, June 15 at 10 a.m. in the Second Judicial District, 400 Lomas NW in Albuquerque following the press conference.

Read Across America Celebration in Pojoaque

The Cat in the Hat was a highlight of the Read Across America celebration at Pablo Roybal Elementary School in Pojoaque on May 29th. This is the third consecutive year that NEA has played a pivotal role in the reading awards ceremony.

A total of 122 reading awards were handed out for gains in short-cycle assessments, from fall to spring. Eight students received plaques for exceptional gains which were presented by the Christopher Montalvo Fund. Twelve students were acknowledged for overall gains. The school's activity fund awarded eight $25 gift cards for high scores in oral fluency and reading. Joshua Roybal had the highest gains in MAP reading scores.

Students and teachers focused on the challenge last fall when students were asked to make reading their primary focus. The increases in reading scores have been linked to overall academic gains.

The assessments included DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators for Early Literacy Skills) and NWEA MAP reading scores.

A special thanks to Chelamia Quintana, school librarian, who volunteered as the Cat in the Hat.

Keebler has their elves --Hobbs has their ESPs

A great deal goes on behind the scenes of school districts that goes unrecognized. A story about ESPs in the Hobbs school district didn't have to go unnoticed, according to Greg Maxie, President of Hobbs' NEA local and a teacher at Hobbs Freshman High School. He first wrote an article which was distributed to NEA colleagues in the district. The district then made the article available to all employees.

The opening sentence of the article describes the accomplishment: "On April 30th, at the height of the H1N1 flu scare, NMAA sports delays, every building in the district received a well-timed case of hand sanitizers."

The article featured the role of the district's ESPs in repackaging and distributing hand sanitizer previously acquired by the district which was then made available to every district employee. It was an example of employees working together to respond to an immediate health need.

The article was entitled< "Keebler has their elves...HMSD has our dedicated warehouse ESPs."

Join the NEA-NM Facebook Group!

We’re putting our ducks in a row to build a large and powerful Facebook group that will be poised and ready to go when it comes to issues of Political Action starting in the fall and especially for the next legislative session.

Sign up with Facebook and set up a Facebook page. It’s free and anyone can join. Go to www.facebook.com

Once you have a Facebook page, go to the box at the top right of your page and search for NEA-New Mexico. Then join the group.

This Facebook group is for NEA-NM members only.

Organizing Drive in Hobbs

New life was brought to Hobbs in early May during a concentrated effort to recruit new members. For three days, recruiters visited five schools and brought in 30 new NEA members. This was a significant leap for Greg Maxie, the new local president, who believes the time has come for Hobbs to become a strong and visible NEA local. The Hobbs organizing drive benefitted from the efforts of a member organizing grant from NEA national.

Loving and Lake Arthur Take a Huge Step Forward

It may seem like a miracle, but it's more like hard work and determination that's responsible for a large jump in NEA membership in Loving. The district had four NEA members when membership recruitment began. After an early-morning recruiting meeting, the membership is now close to 30 employees. This has been responsible for a enormous jump in morale and the determination to begin the process of chartering a new local in Loving. NEA members in Lake Arthur, not far from Roswell, are also moving forward in the process to charter a new local there.

Collective Bargaining Begins in Ruidoso

NEA members in Ruidoso are celebrating the fact that they achieved recognition for collective bargaining and negotiations will soon be underway. A training for the members of the negotiations team will bring participants up to speed on the fundamentals of bargaining. No date has been set for the first session with the school district, but it is expected to be some time in June. Kevin Clawson and Brian Brown, who serve as co presidents, worked hard with the local's executive team and membership to bring the local to this point where collective bargaining is imminent. Six people are expected to serve on the bargaining team.

Carlsbad Negotiating Teams Get Trained for IBB

On June 8, 2009 teams for NEA and the Carlsbad school district will be trained in Interest-Based Bargaining at a special session from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the district's central office in Carlsbad. David Martinez, a mediator, will conduct the training. A total of twelve people are expected to participate. The training is expected to make bargaining more efficient because members of both teams will be familiar with the principles associated with IBB and they will have shared the same basic training.

Rep. Heinrich in Support of Resolution for National Teacher Day

U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich honored the teachers of New Mexico’s First Congressional District for their lasting contributions by introducing a National Teacher Day resolution on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Teachers keep the values of our democracy alive by educating children to think freely and by broadening their understanding of the world,” said Rep. Heinrich.

“I'm focused on making our district an outstanding place to raise a family,” said Rep. Heinrich. “Teachers hold the key to a stronger, more productive tomorrow. They are the caretakers of our children's futures.”

The National Teacher Day resolution stated that there should be a national day of recognition for teachers on the Tuesday of the first full week of May, as recognized by the National Education Association.

Further, this resolution would call on the President to issue a proclamation to the American people to observe and celebrate a National Teacher Day, a concept endorsed by NEA.

One of the key focuses of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Rep. Heinrich voted for earlier this year, was making investments in education, including appropriating $512 Million for New Mexico public schools for IDEA and Title I programs. These investments were designed to prevent teacher layoffs and other cuts in education services by hard-pressed local school districts, maintain programs for low-income students and students with disabilities, and develop a better educated workforce in order to jumpstart the economy.

NEA-NM BOARD ELECTS NEW MEMBERS

The following individuals have been elected to the NEA-NM Board of Directors:
ESP at-large elected for 1 year terms beginning July 15, 2009: Eva Gomez, Roswell (SE);Debra Stiggins, Roswell (SE); Connie Finney, Alamogordo (SW); and Bruce Bennett, Los Lunas (Central).

The following Retired at-large members were elected for a one-year term beginning July 15, 2009: Dorothy Eachus, Rowell (SE) and Pat Jaquez, Las Cruces (SW).

October 2009 Professional Conference in Las Cruces

It’s not too early to be thinking about the 2009 Fall Professional Issues Conference set for Friday, October 23, 2009 in Las Cruces. It will be sponsored by NEA-NM and Las Cruces Public Schools. The theme is: “A Circle of Learning: Strengthening our Educational Connections.” The day of professional workshops and exhibits has six strands, including a common mission, vision, values and goals; ensuring achievement for all students; collaborative teaming; using date to guide decision making and continuous improvement; gaining active engagement from family and community; and building a sustainable leadership capacity. Watch the NEA-NM web site for more information and registration online links. If you’re interested in presenting, contact Leslie Fritz at lfritz@nea.org

ESP Conference in Las Cruces

Sixty-three Education Support Professionals from around the state gathered at the Ramada Palms Resort and Conference Center on April 17 and 18 for a conference. Laura Vernon, the NEA ESP of the Year, was the keynote speaker. Laura Vernon has served in the field of education for 32 years, currently in the Division of School Safety and Security in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). She has been employed as a paraeducator and safety assistant, as well as taking the role of a leader in her community.

Vernon ’s national union involvement include the National Council of Education Support Professionals (NCESP) for six years; National Council of Urban Education Associations (NCUEA) for four years; and National Education Association (NEA) Black Caucus for nine years. She has participated in NEA training seminars and served as an alternate NEA Director for two years.

She has served as a member of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) Board of Directors for four years, and as a board alternate four years. She has been a member of the WEAC Leadership Team for two years and has served as chair of the New Board Members Committee and the Awards and Elections Committee. She is recipient of a WEAC Presidential Award and ESP of the Year Award.

As a strong member of her local, the Milwaukee Educational Assistants’ Association (MEAA), she has served on the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) Executive Board, receiving MTEA recognition of service. She was MEAA president and secretary and has served on many committees.

Participants at the ESP conference attended workshops on living wage campaigns, member recruitment, employee rights and AR trainings.

Collective Bargaining Conference in Santa Fe

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CONFERENCE IN SANTA FE

A total of 37 NEA-NM members from 12 locals attended the Collective Bargaining conference in Santa Fe on Saturday, April 4, 2009. NEA-NM attorney Todd Wertheim took participants through the filing of grievances and Prohibited Practice Complaints. Both are important parts of protecting a collective bargaining agreement. This work is handled by seasoned NEA-NM members who carry out this important work, often behind the scenes. Collective bargaining is a way of practicing democracy, and it is an essential part of the work of any local.

Kudos to Locals on a Job Well Done

Keeping the membership rolls updated and billing statements cleaned up is a job that requires patience and persistence. When done right, it means a great deal in terms of locals running efficiently and contributing to the larger organization. The following locals deserve recognition: Artesia (Patricia Heidenreich), Bernalillo (Cordela Chavez), Carlsbad (Sandra White), Cimarron (Jannette Walker), Deming (Armida Uzueta), Española (Beverly Averitt), Estancia (Jeff Dulaney), Jemez Valley (Barbara Smith), Las Cruces-CSEC (Marcia Brown), Las Vegas City (Linda Gomez), Las Vegas West (Margie Seay), Los Lunas ( Monica Arguello), Roswell (Margaret Peck), Texico (Bremda Wren), Tucumcari (Teresa Maestas), Tularosa (Pamela Skinner), and Wagon Mound (Jaylyn Maestas).

Retire From Your Job , Not Your Profession

NEA-NM retired membership is open to any retired employee of a school district, college, university or other institution devoted primarily to educational work. As a member, you are entitled to all active NEA membership benefits except the NEA Dues Tab insurance and legal services. The annual membership is $50. Life membership is $400 for a one-time payment. Dues can be deducted from your monthly retirement check.

The NEA-NM Retired Board of Directors includes Mary Howard, president, Bobbie Davis, Javana Black, James Mullings, Ray Stevens, Eloy Gonzales, Patricia Jaquez, and Dorothy Eachus.

Española Community Celebrates Completion of Contract

May 1st is the date set for NEA Española’s ratification of the first collective bargaining agreement for the school district. During the second half of the April, radio and print ads in Española will highlight the accomplishment. The agreement addresses a wide range of issues, including: the district’s payment of more than 2% of the insurance premium, voluntary work during the summer and weekends, new leave policies, updated stipends, a Reduction in Force policy, fair student and employee discipline and grievance policies, and no more time clocks for employees working in one building. A celebration party is set for May 1st following the ratification vote.

Lincoln Teacher Fellowships This Summer

Lincoln Teacher Fellows
Five-Day Summer Seminar
July 13-17, 2009
For Social Studies, History and English Teachers
With a Focus on Learners in Middle Grades
A five-day learning adventure that will immerse participants in the Civil War history of Washington and the nation. By preparing and performing historical speeches, interpreting letters, and "reading" artifacts, images and places, Lincoln Teacher Fellows will develop teaching techniques intended to strengthen reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Visits to three historic sites in some of Washington's most historic neighborhoods are scheduled. This program is designed for teachers in the D.C. Metropolitan area, but teachers interested in Civil War Washington history from around the country are also welcome.
To download a program and application, please click here. For more information, please call Jake Flack at (202) 638-2941 ext. 567 or email jflack@fords.org.

INFORMATION ON AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT

The guidelines of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are of special interest to us, especially the spending Title I and IDEA part B fundsand their allocation. These are funds that local school districts will have some flexibility on decisions for spending.

For instance, New Mexico school districts could use Title I funds to pay for additional time for professional development to help make up for the salary decreases caused if House Bill 854 is signed to increase retirement withholding by 1.5 percent. Also, districts that receive IDEA part B funds may be able to spend up 50 percent of their stimulus grant on operational needs. However, new guidance from the US Department of Ed indicates that only school districts that receive a determination under IDEA 616 of "meets requirements" can take advantage of this flexibility. Only 19 districts met requirements last year, although many more are expected to meet requirements this year. Your school district should be able to give your this information or it will be available on the PED web site.

The U.S. Department of Education's web site has a number of significant documents on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Raffle and Silent Auction

The NEA-NM Minority Caucus will hold a raffle and silent auction on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Spring Delegate Council to be held in Santa Fe. The proceeds from the fundraiser will fund delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly in San Diego. Ethnic minority members interested in running as local, cluster or state delegate positions are encouraged to join the Caucus. Donations to the raffle and silent auction are welcome.

Española Teacher Recognized for Accomplishment

Former Velarde Elementary teacher and NEA member Beth Sanchez accepted an award at the state capitol in recognition of her students’ 80 percent proficiency on last year’s standardized tests. This was the highest ranking of students from around the state. Several of her former students, now seventh graders, accepted the award with her. Sanchez now teaches at Española Elementary.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION WINDING DOWN

Please check the 60-day legislative session blog for the final updates on bills pending before the state legislature in the final days of deliberation. The link for the blog is at the top of the NEA-NM web page.

There's still time to weigh in on several critical measures!

NEWS FLASH: FUNDING FORMULA PASSES HOUSE 42-23

House Bill 331 passed on March 9th. Sponsored by Representative Mimi Stewart, it changes New Mexico's outdated funding formula for public schools. The bill bases school funding on student needs including poverty, ELL, enrollment growth and other factors. The fight isn't over yet.

House Bill 346, which provides the funding for the formula set out in HB 331, should follow soon. The rationale to oppose tax increases for public schools was removed after a recent poll found New Mexicans willing to pay higher taxes for public schools.

NEA-NM activists who have been following the movement of these bills through the 60-day session should remain on their toes for last-minute updates posted on a regular basis to the NEA-NM 60-day legislative session blog.

NEW MEXICANS SUPPORT GROSS RECEIPTS TAX FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

A study commissioned by the New Mexico Education Partners (NEA-NM is a member) about funding public education with a gross receipts tax has determined that the majority of the state's registered voters, who were polled, support this method as a stable funding source. This is an important development as the funding formula bill is being voted on Monday, March 9, 2009.

The study conducted between March 2 and 3, 2009 puts the legislation to fund the new public schools funding formula in a more favorable light. The study's highlights and key findings are laid out in a summary report.

The proposal to be considered by lawmakers provides for a gross receipts tax of three quarters of one percent for additional public school education. When respondents were told that school funding would be cut without the tax increase, even more voters supported the increase.

To follow the hour-by-hour developments on this critical phase of the vote in the legislature, check with the 60-day session blog on the NEA-NM web site.

CLOVIS IS TARGET OF MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN

The NEA local in the Clovis Municipal School District will be the focus of intense activity when six teams of two people each head out to 19 school sites March 16- 19 , 2009 to recruit NEA members and discuss the state funding of public schools, as well as other pressing issues facing the district and its employees.

The event is called the Clovis TOO STEP, which identifies the local as a Target of Opportunity for membership. The organizers have been recruited from NEA-NM, NEA national, and the Clovis Education Association.

The Mini-TOO follows on the heels of Target of Opportunity campaigns of previous years which have focused mostly on locals in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe and Las Cruces areas. Andres Becerra and Charles Goodmacher are coordinating the TOO STEP . The following people will be members of the outreach team: Kimberly Anderson, Andres Becerra, Patrick Chavez, Russell Clemons, Leslie Fritz, Christi Gonzales, Charles Goodmacher, Debbie Hanson, Melissa Howard, Molly Smith, Ima Lee Wells, and Phadra Williams.

There are 1100 employees in the Clovis school district.

NEA THANKS OBAMA FOR MAKING EDUCATION A PRIORITY

When President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress on February 24th to outline his ambitious vision for America in the 21st century, he pledged to make education a national priority in his administration and usher a new era of national service for this and future generations. The statement echoed sentiments he expressed during his historic inaugural address.

President Obama is off to a solid start after signing legislation to provide health care coverage to 11 million children. And just last week, he signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, landmark legislation to help struggling families, public schools and states around the country cope with the worst economic and financial crisis since the Great Depression. With the help of NEA, he successfully urged Congress to make the largest investment of federal funds in the history of public education, aiming to transform and modernize public schools for the 21st century.

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel made the following statement:

“On behalf of the 3.2 million members of the National Education Association, we thank President Barack Obama for making public education a national priority and calling on all Americans to join him on his quest to usher in a new era of national service in the name of Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT). His vision for public education is one we firmly embrace, affirming that the road to economic recovery and prosperity runs through the nation’s classrooms.

“Moving forward, we believe President Obama will make the tough decisions to tackle the pressing issues of our times—bringing economic security, restoring fiscal discipline, modernizing the nation’s education system and ushering energy independence. The president also plans to tackle health care reform, which is important not only to our economic future but also critically important to our nation’s children and their families. Students can’t learn unless they come to school healthy.

“The time to make these tough choices is now. Getting our fiscal and economic house in order in the short term is critical, and ensuring great public schools for every student in the 21st century is fundamental to the long-term economic well-being of our nation.

“We look forward to working with President Obama and Congress to enact an agenda as bold as the challenges facing Americans.”

READ ACROSS AMERICA EVENTS

Read Across America will be observed by the New Mexico State Legislature on March 2, 2009, between 10 and 11 a.m., with an appearance in the State Senate of the Cat in the Hat who will appear with the 2009 RAA Honorary Chair, Senator Mary Jane Garcia. A Democrat of District 36-Dona Ana County, Senator Garcia has served in the State Senate since 1988.

Senator Garcia has made it a point of visiting all public schools in her district, an occasion when she meets with young people in their classrooms and talks about the importance of education, reading and participating in the democratic process.

On March 3, 2009 there will be a special Read Across America celebration at Pinon Elementary School in Santa Fe where celebrity readers will read to the students. The Cat in the Hat is expected to make a special appearance. The RAA observance at Pinion begins at 8:20 a.m with RAA activities in the classrooms, followed by celebrity readers until 9:50 a.m. Then the students gather in the cafeteria, beginning at 10 a.m., for a special celebration, including a program, songs and music.

Read Across America events are scheduled throughout New Mexico the first week in March. NEA-NM has two Cats who spread the word of literacy and good cheer. Schedule the cat in your classroom or school district by contacting Elizabeth Martinez at 505-982-1916.

IMPASSE DECLARED IN ESPANOLA

An impasse was declared on January 22 between NEA Espanola and the Espanaola school distrist after a series of breakdowns in negotiations that led to both sides declaring an impasse. A mediator from the federal Mediation and Conciliation Service through the state labor board will become part of the process to reach agreement. Mediation sessions began on February 12.

The two sides couldn't reach agreement over teachers’ stipends and Association rights. The District has paid $68,781 to the controversial firm of John Martinez, the district's representative for negotiations. NEA-Espanola claims that the amount of money spent for Martinez and Management Associates would have resulted in a $1,000 raise for each of the District’s cooks and custodians.

The district says it needs the expertise Martinez provides and that its use of Management Associates is not an "adversarial" move."

Both sides are optimistic about the prospect of mediation. If agreement isn't reached after a month of mediation, state law provides for both sides to jointly appoint an arbitrator, who would resolve the conflict by choosing one of the two parties’ best, final offer. The arbitrator’s ruling is final and binding.