Alabama Education Association
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SLUG -- PAGE 1 CMYK ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Volume 130, NumBeR 10 • APRIl 15, 2013 STOP THE ATTACKS Rallies Decry Anti- Education Agenda of Legislature “Yes, we’re mad, and no, we won’t get over it.” Education Trust Fund to pay education retirees that “I the governor’s office. After being refused an for private school tuition. know y’all are mad at me.” An AEA member from North audience with the governor, The private school voucher The House of Representatives Alabama summed up the rally participants made their is estimated to take up to $60 responded by passing an feelings about Bentley’s snub way to the State House where million this year from public education budget with a of educators. they passed through the schools and spend it for meager two percent raise security check system to visit “Governor Bentley had students in private schools. for only K-12 education time to go make a public with their legislators, many of While systems now do not employees while refusing Cries of “Stop the attacks on announcement that he will whom have yet to understand have money for textbooks, a five percent raise pushed public schools” and “Repeal run for re-election on the day the implications of the private technology, and other basic by AEA for all education HB84,” the private school we were here, but couldn’t school voucher law. school materials for their employees including retirees voucher law, rippled through make time to talk to the students, the Legislature and postsecondary employees. After a member talked to her two rallies of hundreds of people who put him in that continues to divert money Chairman of the House AEA and AERA members office,” a member pointed representative, she expressed from the Education Trust Ways and Means Committee in Montgomery during last out. shock that he did not know Fund. Top estimates for the Rep. Jay Love, a wealthy week’s Education Employees’ the direct impact the private private school bill exceed Montgomery businessman, “We sent notes to the Week. school voucher law would $300 million annually. wrote $66 million in governor since he had no have on his district. the budget for private time to listen to the concerns Education employees and the Other protest signs urged school tuition then told a of those who selflessly operations of public schools legislators to stop ignoring “I doubt that he has even read Montgomery television station dedicate their lives in service have been the victims of a voters, stop increasing class the bill because he didn’t he would take tax credits to the children of our state,” series of harmful laws passed sizes, and stop diverting know that his district has two to help pay for his children another AEA member added. since the seating of this money from public schools. targeted schools and could already in private school. Legislature in 2010. Emotions Several members wore shirts Another member said, “It is lose funding because of this came to a boiling point when bearing the message – “Yes, we Members tried in vain to see a sad day in Alabama when bill,” she said. the legislative leadership and are mad. and No, we won’t, Governor Robert Bentley. tax-paying citizens and voters Governor Bentley crowed get over it!” That message Refusing to meet with them, are denied the opportunity See more about the education about passing a secret bill was in response to Bentley’s Bentley sent his chief of staff to speak with their elected rallies on page 7 of this issue of that takes money from the recent comment before 700 to talk to members outside of leaders.” the Alabama School Journal. Retirees, postsecondary left out of 2% raise For the third consecutive The House-passed budget higher pay raise if lawmakers using state employees as an year, the Alabama House would give Alabama teachers had not approved a private example. “Slap in the has shortchanged teachers, and support professionals school voucher bill earlier in But Mabry noted that a risk approving a $5.7 billion a raise less than the 2.5 the session. face” 2% raise management cooperative education budget with only a percent pay hike proposed by leaves out The Alabama Association of covers state employees, adding two percent pay raise for K-12 Bentley and the five percent School Boards has estimated that Love was “disingenuous postsecondary educators. sought by AEA for K-12 and the private school voucher law to say they (state employees) employees and postsecondary teachers, That’s even short of what will cost the Education Trust have state provided liability support professionals, and retirees. Governor Robert Bentley had Fund between $59 million and insurance.” retirees. proposed and left retired and $367 million, while the School House Minority Leader Craig postsecondary educators with K-12 and postsecondary Superintendents of Alabama nothing. employees have not had a has estimated the cost at Ford, D-Gadsden, called AeA pushed for pay raise since October 2007. between $50 million and $125 Love’s insurance plan ploy 5% for everyone. The last cost-of-living raise for million. simply another “attack on AEA.” retirees was October 2006. But the budget only included In 2012, all public employees $66 million for private school Ford said teachers already See who was in Alabama, including tax credits for the so-called have the coverage and the against you and teachers, were forced to pay Alabama Accountability Act. state has other pressing education needs. for you in the 2.5 percent more out of their Rep. Richard Lindsey, House vote on paychecks for pension and D-Centre, offered an “We’re taking $5 million that insurance coverage. amendment to increase the could be spent on textbooks,” pages 4-5. “This was not a pay raise at pay raise for active and retired added Rep. Joe Hubbard, the program in August 2014 all,” said Dr. Henry Mabry, educators to five percent, but D-Montgomery. will not be able to offer AP executive secretary of the it was defeated on a 62-37 vote programs to students due to along mostly party lines. Meanwhile, the bill also AEA. “This doesn’t even bring diverts $16 million from the budget deficit. our teachers and support The education budget also the Education Trust Fund The lack of AP funding will workers back to where they slashed $10 million from to finance mental health adversely affect schools in were in 2007.” the vital Alabama Reading programs previously included these systems: Baldwin County, Initiative. This is simply a continuation in the General Fund Budget. Demopolis City, Elmore of a long series of political The House also included $5 The budget passed by the County, Enterprise City, attacks on teachers that million to give K-12 teachers House also lacks $1.5 million Etowah County, Guntersville began nearly three years ago liability insurance even though needed to fund successful City, Huntsville City, Jasper and continues until this day. teachers traditionally receive Advanced Placement (AP) City, Lawrence County, Madison City, Monroe County, They’re wasting money that the same coverage, along with programs, even though Opp City, Piedmont City, Saint should be going to classrooms a wide range of other services, Alabama ranks No. 1 in the Clair County, and Sylacauga and fairer compensation for through their AEA dues. nation in gains of high school educators at every level, active City. Rep. Jay Love, R-Montgomery, students passing AP exams in and retired.” said providing liability math, science and language The House version of the Mabry said additional funds insurance outside AEA would arts. Twenty schools previously budget bill now goes to the would be available for the be a savings to teachers, awarded AP grants to begin Alabama Senate. SLUG -- PAGE 2 CMYK 2 ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL | APRIl 15, 2013 Members Resolution of snubs and attacks ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION show will come with a new beginning AeA Board of Directors President solidarity in This week the doublespeak of lawmakers esque propaganda machine. Dorothy J. Strickland educators who have voted against public What they will not say is that Vice President from across education on most (if not they can afford giving hundreds Anita Gibson Montgomery the state all) key votes over the past of millions of dollars to the On Tuesday, April 9 and visited the three legislative sessions parents of children currently Past President Peggy Mobley Thursday April 11, 2013, Capitol and since the 2010 elections. The attending private school, but hundreds of education State House doublespeak came from many they just do not want to give NeA Directors employees and retirees came to voice of these lawmakers whom our more than two percent because Sherry Tucker, to Montgomery to celebrate concerns members helped elect. they wanted to give the raise Dr. Susan C. Brown, Education Employees’ Week. about money instead to the parents Sheila Hocutt-Remington, Dr. Henry C. Mabry, Ashley Strickland Their mission was to meet what state AEA Executive of children currently attending with their politicians Secretary House nixes decent private school. One particular Administrator President legislators are doing to pay raise for all budget chairman who voted Dr. Cathy McNeal and let public education. It was an eye for the bill must be gleeful Postsecondary President Wednesday, the House of them opener for hundreds. considering he will probably Dr. Susan W. Brown Representatives, under know how be getting over $10,000 a year the heavy hand of Speaker eSP Representative they felt extra in his pocket thanks Mike Hubbard, voted down Cassandra Childress about the Governor snubs those to the voucher bill.