Alabama Education Association
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SLUG -- PAGE 1 CMYK ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Volume 131, NumBeR 10 • APRIl 14, 2014 In a tough legislative year, AEA protected schools and educators Stopped Pay cut stopped, PEEHIP funding educator pay cut restored in legislature’s education budget With the target still squarely on the backs of at the top of AEA’s 2014 legislative agenda: education employees, the 2014 legislative session the protection of PEEHIP; the halt to any Protected abruptly ended April 3 after the passage of an expansion of the Alabama Accountability Act; education budget that did not include an educator and, the defeat of the attempted use of student PEEHIP pay raise. The budget was sent to Governor test scores as a replacement for seniority in Bentley who has repeatedly vowed to veto the determining a teacher’s value in the classroom. budget if it did not include at least a two percent The 2014 lobbying efforts displayed by AEA pay increase for all education employees. Killed members were unprecedented and resulted in efforts to In spite of the long odds, AEA members and thousands of phone calls, emails and personal visits staff worked tirelessly against the legislative with legislators. It took all of us working together expand AAA supermajority and to defeat the proposed educator pay cut. And, as achieved victory of press time, there is still a chance that Governor on three of the Bentley will veto the Education Trust Fund budget Defeated four items and provide the pay raise educators deserve. LIFO Will the doctor heal sick budget? As the Alabama School Journal went to press on April 9, there was still no word from Governor Bentley’s office about the future of the 2014 Education Trust Fund budget that was sent to him by the Alabama Legislature. The governor has until April 13 to either keep his pay raise promise or deny educators the raise they deserve. All AEA members are encouraged to contact Governor Bentley and ask him, again, to keep his promise and VETO the budget. PAGE SLUG: PUBLICATION NAME, PAGE CMYK 2 ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL | APRIL 14, 2014 Stop the Time to weed out bad seeds ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Alabama educators have been sizes are it as in this case) regarding Board of Directors attacks under siege by Montgomery larger now public schools and its teachers, President politicians who took the reigns than they As your state support professionals, and Anita Gibson president, of government four years were 15 administrators. State leaders I had the Vice President ago. Under the new regime, years ago, used to value public education Sheila Hocutt Remington opportunity the Republican legislative and multi- and showed their support to serve as Past President leadership has cut school generational through actions rather than an observer Dorothy J. Strickland at the funding in Alabama more than educators are platitudes. State leaders NEA Directors International any other state in the country. discouraging used to understand that the Sherry Tucker Summit on The Republican legislative their Dr. Henry C. Mabry, future of the state depended Dr. Susan C. Brown AEA Executive Charlene McCoy the Teaching leadership has attempted to children upon embracing rather than Anita Gibson, Secretary Ashley Strickland Profession. AEA President give over a billion dollars of from penalizing public education There were Administrator President public education money to entering the profession. and the educators who take participants Dr. Cathy McNeal corporate interests, and this care of our school children. from 16 nations, including We have a shortage of teachers Postsecondary Representative Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, group has increased class Vacant for core subject matter, and Belgium, Brazil, Canada, sizes. They have taken away Exercise your right to thanks to the new budgeting vote in June primary ESP Representative and the People’s Republic money from every school Carol Hiett of China. The participants system these baboons put district in the state and given We have let you know and will ACT President included education in place, we will see more it to Bob Riley to dole out for continue to let you know which Bonita English ministers and education funding cuts in 2016 even private school scholarships. lawmakers are supportive AERA President employee union leaders though there should be $1 from countries and regions of public education and the Robert Davis billion in the bank at that with high-performing and Historic siege against identities of those who are not. SAEA President time. Class sizes will be even rapidly-improving education public education Concerning those lawmakers Brooke Brock bigger, fewer educators will systems. Presenters shared The Republican legislative up for reelection in June and/ District 1 Directors the understanding that great man the schools, and children Michelle Robinson leadership has taken away job or November, please exercise education employees are a will have fewer resources to Pam Baker protections; and they have your right to vote and help prerequisite to producing learn in less safe environments Stephanie Craig Taylor consistently high levels of refused to provide necessary us weed out the bad seeds in thanks to how the Republican District 2 Directors achievement for every student. supplies, equipment, and Montgomery. With your help Tammy Sims legislative leadership has set For many, there was another a safe environment for our and your family’s help, the Theresa Leonard the stage if they are allowed shared understanding – what school children and educators. future of public education can Elaine Carter it takes to attract and retain to continue without reprisal. They have worked to water get back on track. The primary District 3 Directors great education employees down professional teaching elections are in June and many Vivian Crosby for every student. There Elections matter - you Amelia Couch were frank conversations requirements, worked to have the power to Republican challengers will be Shannon Clark debilitate public schools, and on the ballot, and there will be across four areas: Teacher decide future District 4 Directors Recruitment and Preparation; they have cut the pay of every some Democratic incumbents Arthur Crumpler Every soul interested in public Development, Support, and single educator in the state. with challengers as well. Please David Holt Retention of Education education has the power to do educate yourselves and others Dr. Susan W. Brown Employees; Evaluation and These are each indisputable something about the atrocities about the candidates. Every District 5 Directors Compensation; and Education facts. Historically, we that have already occurred educator needs to know which Gregory Martin Employee Engagement cannot find any time since and will further occur if these Benita Moyers in Education Reform. candidates are for public Reconstruction and just leaders running amuck are left Dr. David G. Belton education and which ones are Since we are often compared thereafter in which a group unchecked. Every educator District 6 Directors not for public education. Bernard Sanderson to Finland, I was impressed of politicians has been so and their family members can Darryl Traylor when the very first thing anti-public schools as the get public education back on If in doubt, please ask, and Finland’s minister of education Charlotte Wilson ones currently in charge. the right course by throwing the staff will be happy to said was, “We love our District 7 Directors the anti-education scoundrels provide you with information teachers. We really love our Since the 1930s and 1940s, Dr. Donna D. Strong teachers.” It soon became very out of office in the Republican regarding the candidates. Dr. Rhonda Mosley public education has made clear that education employees primary on June 3 or in the The next four years will be Bobby J. Pierson continuous improvements are given the respect they November general election. important for your livelihood until this short, four year deserve as professionals. and how students and Finland is heralded as number time period. In four, short Public educators are treated one in education around the years our schools have 10,000 schools by the state. Now The Alabama School Journal world and their education fewer personnel and no are (USPS/ISSN 0011-821) is employees are 100 percent is the time to significant money has been reliant published weekly while the union. A comparison in our become informed Legislature is in session; put into school improvements. upon state country would be to look at and seize the normally twice a month A quarter million school government otherwise by the Alabama Massachusetts, whose schools opportunity are consistently ranked as children, mostly white, do not for money. Education Association, 422 to do Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, number one and whose have text books to take home Seventy cents AL 36103-4177. Periodical education employees are something for studying. The state spent of every public postage paid at Montgomery, 100 percent union. Does positive almost three times on school education dollar AL. Postmaster: Send address anyone else see a trend that rather than books seven years ago versus comes from the state. changes to Alabama School deserves another look? being seized by Journal, P.O. Box 4177, today, and the state no longer The state legislature those unfriendly politicians Montgomery, Ala. 36103-4177. Other recurring themes spends money anymore on makes the rules and who only wish harm upon in many of these countries professional development or spends the money Manuscripts and other material include strong communication public education. submitted for publication, as library enhancement. Class (or withholds between policy makers and well as advertising matter, the education employee should be addressed to unions; a commitment to find Managing Editor, Alabama School Journal, P.O. Box 4177, ways to bring “new” money Montgomery, AL 36103-4177 to the budget to fully fund or by email at myaea@alaedu.