Educators’ Conference 3 Statewide 7 Sandefur for justice 8 endorsements 4 I-181 7 Regional meetings 8

Fall 2016 Vol 18 No 3 mea-mft.org MEA-MFT A publication for members of MEA-MFT

Steve Bullock for Governor Melissa Romano for Supt. of for Public Instruction Supreme Court

Montana a good place to work and comes to shove, though, the three It’s all about raise a family. races that have the most direct This newsletter features our impact on our members and the the statewide endorsed candidates. They are the important work they do are for ones who support families, public governor, superintendent of public & local races schools and services, public lands, instruction, and Montana Supreme The presidential race might get the middle class, and workers’ rights. Court justice. the headlines, but here in Montana, Please support them with your vote! MEA-MFT strongly supports Steve statewide and local legislative races Our top three priorities: All Bullock, Melissa Romano, and Dirk are where the action really is. elections are important. When push Sandefur. More inside this issue. The decisions that most directly affect us, our families, our jobs, and our quality of life take place right You can’t afford to miss here in the state. That’s why MEA- the MEA-MFT MFT gets involved in these elections. Educators’ Conference MEA-MFT members, leaders, and staff are working around the clock to Oct. 20-21, Helena elect people who share our values. Your fellow MEA-MFT members We have interviewed the are hard at work to bring you nearly candidates, studied their records, 500 top-quality workshops and and endorsed the candidates who keynote addresses! Read all about Educators get ready to expand their horizons will ight for the things that make our conference on p. 3. at the 2015 Educators’ Conference. revenue vouchers for a wide range of kids to enroll in private and sectar- ian schools. The governor vetoed HB 322. And she supported HB 596 to create a parallel universe of publicly funded but privately operated charter schools across Montana. The bill died in committee. BY ERIC FEAVER In 2015 and previous sessions, MEA-MFT PRESIDENT Arntzen has voted to weaponize k-12 public schools and college cam- puses. She has voted to bastardize steps of distinguished the meaning of teacher tenure and predecessors Nancy end deined beneit pensions in the Keenan, Linda Mc- Teachers’ and Public Employees’ Culloch, and Denise Retirement Systems. She has voted to Juneau? require the election of the Montana It matters to us! board of public education and end There are two candi- election-day registration — a legisla- dates for Montana su- tive referendum the people rejected perintendent of public in the 2014 general election. Melissa Romano instruction: Democrat It gets no better. Arntzen has Melissa Romano and voted to authorize anyone to teach, Republican Elsie Arntzen. supported so-called “right-to-work,” Does it matter? Romano, an award-winning class- and opposed state employee pay (Fall 2015 • Reprised Fall 2016) room teacher, believes as we believe plans. In 2015 she voted to close the Does it matter if the next superin- in things that matter. She will compe- Montana Developmental Center…a tendent of public instruction… tently follow in the footsteps of her vote consistent with her 2011 vote to • Is an accomplished, award-win- last three predecessors. MEA-MFT defund the Montana State Veterans ning classroom teacher? has endorsed her candidacy. Home. • Believes in and advocates for As for Arntzen, she has a leg- Back in 2005, in a special legis- public education? islative record unbecoming of lative session convened expressly • Thinks teachers should be anyone who teaches or has taught to meet Montana’s constitutional licensed and endorsed? in our public schools. Go here: bit. obligation to adequately fund public • Opposes tuition tax credits, pay ly/1PoSiZG just to see how deplor- education, Arntzen voted NO on the vouchers, and charter schools — all able her voting record really is. absolutely necessary k-12 school intended to privatize and outsource But to summarize: In the 2015 leg- funding bill that featured irst-time- our public schools? islative session, Senator Elsie Arntzen ever funding of the quality educa- • Believes teacher tenure — due voted NOT to fund Governor Steve tor payment, Indian Education for process and just cause — must be Bullock’s Early Edge proposal. She All, Indian achievement, and at-risk maintained as it has been for over opposed state funding of 19-year- students. 100 years? olds in high school and opposed So many bad votes, hard to pick • Afirms our public schools must raising the mandatory school enroll- the worst one, but what can be said be gun free and safe? ment age to 18. about her 2009 vote asserting Mon- • Believes early childhood edu- Worse, she voted for SB 410, the tana’s right to secede from the union? cation is the next best step toward irst public school income tax credit Elsie Arntzen’s record matters. If quality education for all Montana privatization bill to pass any legisla- ever to serve as our superintendent kids? ture and slither into law without the of public instruction, she will promote • Believes that after a life-time ca- governor’s signature. SB 410 is now outcomes similar to the legislative reer, teachers have more than earned in heavy litigation. votes she has cast. a life-long supporting pension? In addition, Arntzen voted for Elsie Arntzen is no Melissa • Proactively follows in the foot- HB 322 to provide local and state Romano. Vote Romano!

2 | MEA-MFT Today Fall 2016 | mea-mft.org 2016 You can’t MEA-MFT afford to Educators’ Conference miss this. OCTOBER 20-21 HELENA

Where else can you… You name it, the Educators’ Rub shoulders with some of the world’s top experts in your Conference probably has it. ield... A few random samples of workshops Network with outstanding educators from all across Mon- & keynote addresses: tana and the nation… • What’s So Funny About Math? Choose from nearly 500 workshops and keynotes on every • Sign Language imaginable education topic… • How Your Students’ Projects can Teach the World Get the renewal units you need… • Giants of Young Adult Literature Celebrate the next Montana Teacher of the Year… • Montana History Scavenger Hunt ….all in one two-day period? • Flipping the Classroom Nowhere else! • Discovering Euclid with Geogebra The annual MEA-MFT Educators’ Conference offers the best • Teaching Bio-Diversity with a BioBlitz professional development you can get anywhere in the Paciic • Increasing Student Resilience Northwest. MEA-MFT works with 21 Montana curriculum groups • Save the Brain! Learning after Concussive to present this one-of-a-kind conference. Injury REGISTRATION & AGENDA: • AND HUNDREDS MORE. Visit mea-mft.org/educators_conference.aspx and follow direc- tions to log in to the conference. You’ll see the conference offer- SPECIAL EVENT: ings and build your itinerary as you log in. Your itinerary builder will 2017 Montana Teacher of the Year even alert you if you have scheduling conlicts! Celebration PRE-REGISTER & SAVE! Thursday, October 20 Pre-registration saves you time and money. If you’re an early-career 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Silent Auction MEA-MFT member, you might be eligible for a conference fee 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Dinner & Awards waiver, but only if you pre-register. Pre-register here: mea-mft.org/ Gateway Center, Helena educators_conference.aspx All conference participants invited! To get the reduced fee, pre-register by October 18. (Only credit card, debit card, or purchase orders accepted for payment.)

QUESTIONS? Contact Jami Wood at MEA-MFT: 800.398.0826 or [email protected].

Register & ind info here: mea-mft.org/educators_conference.aspx 3 | MEA-MFT Today Fall 2016 | mea-mft.org MEA-MFT’s endorsed candidates for statewide ofice Your fellow MEA-MFT members have interviewed the candidates and studied the records. We proudly endorse these candidates for statewide ofice in Montana:

STEVE BULLOCK MELISSA ROMANO DIRK SANDEFUR DENISE JUNEAU Governor Superintendent of Supreme Court U.S. Congress Public Instruction These candidates all strongly support public education, public services, educators, and public employees. They support our collective bargaining rights. They support our public lands. Please support them with your vote! JESSE LASLOVICH MONICA LINDEEN TIM FOX State Auditor Secretary of State Attorney General

elections fun, and I thought it would be cool to make it VOTER into an interactive game,” said Reichelt. “People are really enjoying it.” The game asks members basic questions about their voter status, and gives them the web site where they can easily check their answers. For example: • What is your voter registration address? • Are you registered to vote? Trivial Pursuit in pursuit of a not-so-trivial goal: That’s • Are you signed up to vote by mail? the game MEA-MFT members are playing in preparation • What are your house and senate legislative districts? for this fall’s elections. The fabulous prize? Everyone’s a winner when MEA- The brainstorm of Shauna Reichelt, MEA-MFT MFT members are armed with the knowledge they need administrative assistant in our Billings ofice, the MEA- to vote for candidates who support public services and MFT trivia game is a way for members to check their education, public employees, and public lands. voter status and see how easy it is to make sure they Want to play? Go to sos.mt.gov. Click on “My Voter are on track to vote. “We were looking for ways to make Page” to test YOUR knowledge of your voting status.

4 | MEA-MFT Today Fall 2016 | mea-mft.org MEA-MFT member Nicole Peterson introduces Melissa Romano and Steve Bullock in Helena during the candidates’ back-to-school tour. Hundreds of members have joined Romano and Bullock as they stopped around the state to talk about public education. Members stand with Romano and Bullock MEA-MFT members across the state joined Governor Steve Bullock and Melissa Romano in a back-to- school tour this fall. Romano is an MEA-MFT member and a fourth-grade teacher at Four Georgians School in Helena, running for state superintendent of schools. Governor Steve Bullock is running for re-election. MEA-MFT’s Committee On Political Education (COPE) members interviewed both and MEA-MFT members, staff, and other supporters greet Romano and Bullock at the Helena back-to-school rally in September. unanimously endorsed them. Romano and Bullock spoke know I am entrusted with parents’ employees, and public lands in the of their strong support for public most precious gifts: their children. I . education, high standards, am humbled by that responsibility, Find the endorsed candidates for educators, and early childhood and it is why I have decided to leave your area on our web site: mea-mft. education. Their opponents, Elsie my beloved classroom to run for org. Under “Breaking News,” click Arntzen and , have superintendent of public instruction, on “Montana Legislative Candidate shown themselves to be outside the to help all Montana children.” Endorsements by Area.” mainstream on education issues. Both Gianforte and Arntzen MEA-MFT TODAY support diverting public funds to Legislative candidate MEA-MFT Today published bimonthly September private schools. Gianforte is a leading endorsements through July by MEA-MFT. Third Class Nonproit funder of the anti-public school MEA-MFT members inter- Postage Paid at Billings, MT 59101. Permit No. 88 movement in Montana. viewed the candidates, studied MEA-MFT Eric Feaver, President 1232 E. 6th Ave. Erik Burke, Exec. Dir. “Montanans love their public their records, and recommended Helena, MT 59601 Sanna Porte, Editor schools,” said Romano. “As a candidates who will support public 800.398.0826 www.mea-mft.org classroom teacher and a parent, I services, public education, public Cover photo: John Lambing/Alamy Missouri River near Loma, MT

5 | MEA-MFT Today Fall 2016 | mea-mft.org ing letters to the editor, and speaking out in their local unions, communities, and with friends. “Montana is a small state, and one Calling all members! person’s voice makes an impact,” said Hundreds of members help with member-to-member contact Sanna Porte, MEA-MFT communica- MEA-MFT has set the ambitious Volunteer phone banks operate tions director. goal of talking one-on-one with all regularly in Helena, Missoula, Great “Our members are respected 18,000 of our members about this Falls, Bozeman, and Billings. messengers in their communities. important election and our en- “I am impressed with the dedica- Nothing beats a personal endorse- dorsed candidates. tion of our members,” said Boze- ment of a candidate.” It may seem like a daunting task, man member and MEA-MFT ield You can take part! To help elect but MEA-MFT volunteers are up organizer Danny Waldo. “They know champions of public services and for the challenge. State employees, how important this election is to their public education, contact Terry higher education faculty, Head Start, future and Montana’s future.” Minow, [email protected] or health care, and k-12 members are Members are also sponsoring and 800.398.0826. all helping with the effort. attending fundraisers, knocking on THANK YOU to all our amazing “I really enjoy calling fellow MEA- doors for endorsed candidates, writ- volunteers! MFT members,” said super-volunteer and Helena member Jane Shawn. “Our members are great! They want to support the best candidates. They like hearing from fellow members.” Shawn calls regularly from MEA- MFT’s Helena phone bank in support of candidates like Melissa Romano, Steve Bullock, Judge Dirk Sandefur, and Denise Juneau. Jane Shawn Colin O’Brien Kim Stout “One person’s voice makes an impact.”

Erika McMillin

6 | MEA-MFT Today Fall 2016 | mea-mft.org (incumbent Congressman ) to protect our rights.” Juneau enjoys widespread popularity among MEA-MFT members. “Denise is a proven champion of everything this union stands for,” said MEA-MFT Political Director Terry Minow. “Our members have great inluence in their communities. By speaking up for Denise and all our endorsed candidates, MEA-MFT members will have a huge and positive effect on this election.” I-181: Too dangerous Initiative 181 (I-181) will appear on this fall’s ballot. It’s a measure that Denise Juneau: sounds good at irst, but a closer look clearly shows it will create more proven champion problems than it solves. MEA-MFT recommends a NO Head Start to Harvard. Classroom the federal government over the vote. Here’s why: teacher to Montana Superintendent ridiculous requirements of No I-181 would siphon millions of of Public Instruction. Superintendent Child Left Behind,” said MEA-MFT dollars out of Montana’s budget to to member of congress. First Native President Eric Feaver. support bonding for private health American elected to statewide ofice “She wasn’t at all intimidated by care research on brain injuries. This in the . First Native U.S. Secretary of Education Arnie is a iscally dangerous way to fund American congresswoman. Duncan and the power of the federal private research. It’s an impressive path MEA-MFT government,” Feaver said. “Thanks to Montana has huge infrastructure member Denise Juneau is on, and Denise, Montana didn’t go down the needs: repairs on our crumbling MEA-MFT members are happy to dangerous path of charter schools schools, bridges, and water systems. help as she runs to serve Montana as and other punitive policies that have Many of our public buildings are our lone member of Congress. hurt the rest of the nation’s schools.” outdated and falling apart. Some MEA-MFT’s Committee On MEA-MFT secretary-treasurer don’t even have water sprinklers in Political Education (COPE) and state employee Kevin Bock case of a ire. unanimously endorsed Juneau for said, “Denise speaks out for public We need to prioritize those needs Congress after a lengthy interview services as well as education. She irst. If I-181 passes, it would force by the 35-member elected knows our union represents all the legislature to spend $20 million a committee. kinds of employees and that we are year for research instead of ixing the COPE members noted Juneau’s all important to Montana’s future. public facilities that need to be ixed. strong leadership for Montana’s She’s the irst to say we do work that Medical and pharmaceutical public schools, her Graduation matters!” companies make billions in proits. Matters Montana campaign that has Bock cited Juneau’s position on They, not the taxpayers of Montana, boosted Montana graduation rates privatization of public lands, saying, should fund the research. to record levels, and her excellent “Denise would never let our public I-181 is a hidden tax, with no record on the Montana Land Board. lands fall into private hands. I don’t guarantee the money will stay in “Denise went toe-to-toe with think we can count on her opponent Montana. Please vote NO.

7 | MEA-MFT Today Fall 2016 | mea-mft.org Nonproit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 88 1232 East Sixth Avenue Billings, MT Helena, MT 59601

county prosecutor, as well as district Judge Dirk Sandefur of Great Falls and his family. judge. He has been endorsed by every living former justice. Sandefur’s opponent is supported by the out-of-state RSLC Judicial Fairness PAC, a corporate group funded by global insurance companies, pharmaceutical conglomerates, and global natural resource industry conglomerates. None of these groups has Montanans’ interests at heart. “We can’t let dark money groups buy Montana’s Supreme Court,” said Terry Minow, MEA- Sandefur for justice MFT’s political director. “The state Quick, name one of the most Falls District Judge Dirk Sandefur. Supreme Court is what decides important races in Montana that lies Sandefur is a third-generation what is constitutional, what the law under the radar of most voters. Montanan from a Great Falls working means. We need justices who are If you answered Supreme Court family. He worked as a police oficer nonpartisan, impartial, and fair. justice, congratulations. You are before going to law school. He has That’s why we’re working so hard to exceptionally well informed. served as a public defender and a help elect Dirk Sandefur.” The race for Montana Supreme Court doesn’t draw a lot of attention in a year illed with top ticket MEA-MFT Regional Meetings races for president, governor, and All MEA-MFT members invited! congress. Talk to your local president for more information But this race has everything to Missoula Sept. 26 5:30 p.m. Missoula Children’s Theatre, 200 N. Adams do with how we Montanans live Kalispell Sept. 27 6:00 p.m. Kalispell Labor Temple, 347 2nd Ave. W. our lives. It deserves your careful Helena Sept. 29 5:30 p.m. Great Northern Hotel, Iron Horse Rm. attention and informed vote. Great Falls Oct. 1 10:30 a.m. GFEA Conf. Rm., 511 13th Ave. S. The contested race for the Butte Oct. 3 6:00 p.m. Carpenters Union Hall, 156 W. Granite Supreme Court is one of MEA-MFT’s Bozeman Oct. 4 6:00 p.m. Bozeman Library top priorities. MEA-MFT’s Committee Billings Oct. 8 10:00 a.m. Billings EA, 510 N. 29th St. On Political Education (COPE) Havre Oct. 11 6:30 p.m. MSU-Northern SUB interviewed both candidates. COPE Wolf Point Oct. 12 6:30 p.m. Elks Dining Room voted unanimously to support Great Miles City Oct. 15 5:30 p.m. Rib and Chop House