A publication of the North Eastern Education Association -- http://www.neoea.org/ -- http://neoea-r.ohea.us/ 6001 Landerhaven Drive, Suite D, Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124-4190 -- 216-518-0200 - retired @ neoea.org

Volume 21, Number 2 October 2020 Hank Haynes, Editor

OEA-Retired Delegate Election OEA Coronavirus FAQ OEA-R Higher Education Representative Vote During October As part of OEA’s commitment to monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on our members, we want to address the impact that the mandatory Please Support Candidates from NEOEA COVID-19 school closures may have on you, and provide you with ways to advocate for yourself during this public health crisis. OEA-R delegates will be elected during October by online and mail-in ballot. In October, look for election information by email and US mail. OEA is continuing to advocate with the Ohio Department of Education Please support candidates from NEOEA-R. (ODE), the Ohio legislature, and leaders from other statewide education associations, for appropriate flexibility in the delivery of OEA-R members should look for an email and/or a postcard “Vote now special education services. Additionally, OEA is working with the NEA in the OEA 2020 Elections” from “Ohio Education Association to advocate for temporary flexibility at the federal level to ensure that all ”. Everyone will get a postcard or an email students can access the best education possible during these with an explanation and instructions for requesting a paper ballot by unprecedented circumstances. October 15. The email and the postcard provide an “Election Code” and a “Voting PIN” along with a link to the voting page. Please vote For more information: https://www.ohea.org/oea-coronavirus-faq/ online no later than 5:00 PM Friday, October 31, 2020. For more information, candidate biographies, and to vote online; go to https:// www.ohea.org/oea-retired-members/. NEA Recommends OEA-R members will elect 27 Delegates to the OEA Representative for President Assembly from a field of 31 candidates. The 18 OEA-Retired Advisory Kamala Harris for Vice President Council members are automatic delegates by virtue of office, for a delegation of 45 delegates and 4 alternates by order of votes. Steady, informed, compassionate leadership has never been more important—our schools and our nation deserve nothing less. That’s Please support the 14 candidates from NEOEA. Here are the why NEA is proud to recommend Joe Biden for president. candidates: Debbie Bernauer, Marsh Buckley, Lyn Curry-Huston, Nanci J. DiBianca, William A. Dorsey, Marti Franks, Hank Joe Biden: The NEA Interview Haynes, Cheryl W. Hill, Norm Hillstrom, Bill Lavezzi, Steven Our pick in the 2020 race sits down with NEA President Lily Eskelsen Mitchell, Jene Wilson, Nancy Wonson, Diallas York. García to share his vision for public education. Visit www.StrongPublicSchools.org for the video. Delegates attend both the Fall and Spring OEA Representative Assemblies. On the day before, the OEA-R Delegate Assembly meets It's Time for Action to carry out the business of OEA Retired and for a briefing with the From Biden all the way down the ballot, pro-public education OEA officers and reports from the OEA-R Advisory Council. Delegates candidates need our help. Show your support at a rally, march, or from NEOEA also attend the Fall and Spring NEOEA RAs. canvass near you. Local events are a great way to join fellow educators in making your voices heard. This feed lists candidates who The OEA Representative Assembly will be December 5, 2020 at 9:00 also use the Mobilize platform and will be supplemented by NEA and AM and the NEOEA Representative Assembly will be November 7. affiliate-sponsored events. Please visit www.StrongPublicSchools.org Both will most likely be virtual. The OEA-R delegates may also meet for more information. virtually the day before the OEA RA. Donate Now to FCPE Please check for meeting summaries and minutes of the OEA-R Use a credit card to make a donation to the OEA/NEA Fund for Advisory Council, OEA-R Delegate Assembly, and the OEA Board of Children and Public Education: https://www.ohea.org/donate/ or Directors on the Documents/Reports page of the OEA-R website at OEA-FCPE — https://www.ohea.org/oea-fund/ http://oea-r.ohea.us/. Register to Vote or Update Registration  Have you moved?  Has your named changed?  Do you have children who will be 18 by election day?  Are all your friends or family members registered?  Not sure? Want to check? Visit: VoteOhio.Gov Page 2 ------NEOEA - R ------October 2020

How do you request an absentee ballot? can return it by mail or -- if you want go to candidates, only voluntary FCPE  Visit VoteOhio.Gov to print a form or call extra peace of mind -- you can return it in contributions. your county board of elections (you can person to the secure dropbox at your request today!) county board of elections. Just drive up A few facts about the upcoming election:  Mail your request form back to your own to the dropbox and drop in your vote-by-  All 99 Ohio House of Representative county board of elections as soon as mail ballot. seats are up for election. possible (Fill out completely and SIGN)  You can go online at VoteOhio.Gov and  Sixteen (16) of the 33  Wait to receive your ballot in the mail track your vote-by-mail application and seats are up for election. (will be sent 30 days before the election, ballot just like you would track a package  The will pass starting October 6) to make sure it was received. legislation on issues like:  Return your voted ballot as soon as  Vote-by-mail ballots, along with votes  Equitable school funding possible! cast early in person, are the first votes  The state report card  Track your ballot at VoteOhio.Gov! counted on Election Night.  EdChoice Vouchers  Charter accountability The 2020 OEA Get Out the Vote program is VOTE EARLY IN PERSON  Coronavirus relief similar to past Friends and Family outreach  If you like voting in person but you know  During 2021, the General Assembly programs. This year OEA is using the you’ll be busy on Election Day, you can will pass a biennium budget. OutreachCircle.com platform. Join with cast your ballot in person at your  We have TWO Supreme Court OEA Group code NAS319. Feel free to invite county’s early voting location starting on endorsed candidates that need our your friends and colleagues. Throughout the Tuesday, Oct. 6. Early in-person voting support -- Jennifer Brunner and John 2020 General Election, OEA members will is open during the week and on the final O'Donnell. use OutreachCircle to engage friends and two weekends before Election Day.  The Ohio Supreme Court decides issues family members who are active within our like: organization to make sure they know how to VOTE ON ELECTION DAY  Redistricting in 2021 safely and securely vote on or before  In-person voting at your polling place will  Collective bargaining rights November 3rd. Download flyer with QR be open on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov.  Protection of the salary schedule, Code. 3. This will be your LAST CHANCE to military and teaching service credits, vote in this critical election. and the right to payment under  The future of our country is on the ballot. leaves guaranteed by law; Make It Count If you want to be the first to make your  Independence of state retirement voice heard, you should make a plan to systems and health care provider Here in Ohio every registered voter has three vote BEFORE Election Day. choice and benefits convenient and simple options for voting.  Protection of constitutional rights of QUESTIONS? students to a thorough and efficient VOTE EARLY BY MAIL  The Voter Protection Team is ready to system of funding education  If you want to be one of the first to vote, help. Call 844-OH-I-VOTE (844-64-4-  Protection of constitutional rights to make your voice heard, and move our 8683) for assistance with voting in Ohio. freedom of speech and association. country forward, voting early by mail is  Go to MakeItCountOhio.com for more  There are TWO State School Board your best option. information candidates that need a successful  You don’t need an excuse to vote by election in our area of Ohio -- Meryl mail in Ohio, and it is simple and Johnson (District 11) and Christina convenient. Campaign 2020 Collins (District 5).  Voting by mail is a stress-free way to OEA Endorsed Candidates  The State Board of Education considers make your voice heard, and you can do issues like: it from the comfort of your own home. Endorsements are made by OEA members  The approval of standards  In Ohio, you can apply for a vote-by-mail serving on screening committees from locals  Interpretation of legislation like the ballot now. Registered voters should within the district. Decisions are made based Ohio State Report Card, charter have received a vote-by-mail application on the candidate’s position and record in school accountability, testing, etc. from the secretary of state in early support of OEA educational priorities.  OTES and OTES 2.0 September.  RESA  But don’t worry, if you didn’t receive one Need to look up your House and Senate  Bold — District within NEOEA in the mail, you can still go to District? Enter your Zip code or address at boundaries VoteOhio.Gov to request a vote-by-mail https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislators/  *- Endorsed as friendly incumbent application. district-maps  Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent to those who apply starting in early October. Donate online now to FCPE at https:// Once you’ve received your ballot, you www.ohea.org/donate/. No dues money can Page 3 ------NEOEA - R ------October 2020

Campaign 2020 HD 23 Nancy Day-Achauer (D) HD 81 No Position OEA Endorsed Candidates HD 24 (D) HD 82 No Position HD 25 (D) HD 83 John Cross (R) Ohio Supreme Court Justice HD 26 Erica Crawley (D)* HD 84 (R) HD 27 Sara Bitter (D) HD 85 No Position  Judge Jennifer Brunner HD 28 (D)* HD 86 (R)  Judge John O’Donnell HD 29 (R) HD 87 No Position HD 30 (R)* HD 88 Chris Liebold (D) Ohio State Board of Education HD 31 (D)* HD 89 Alexis Miller (D) HD 32 (D)* HD 90 No Position SBOE 1 No Position HD 33 No Position HD 91 Scott Dailey (D) SBOE 5 Christina Collins HD 34 Emilia Strong Sykes (D)* HD 92 Beth Workman (D) SBOE 6 Antoinette Miranda* HD 35 (D)* HD 93 No Position SBOE 9 Michelle Newman HD 36 Matt Shaughnessy (D) HD 94 (R)* SBOE 10 Mary Binegar HD 37 (D)* HD 95 Don Jones (R) SBOE 11 Meryl Johnson HD 38 (R) HD 96 No Position HD 39 Willis Blackshear Jr (D) HD 97 Alaina Swope (D) Ohio Senate HD 40 No Position HD 98 (R) SD 2 Theresa Gavarone (R)* HD 41 Cate Berger (D) HD 99 Richard Dana (D) SD 4 Kathy Wyenandt (D) HD 42 No Position SD 6 Mark Fogel (D) HD 43 No Position SD 8 Louis Blessing (R) HD 44 Paula Hicks-Hudson (D)* NEA & OEA Discounts SD 10 No Position HD 45 (D)* SD 12 No Endorsement HD 46 (D)* Enjoy financial programs and discounts SD 14 Ryan Ottney (D) HD 47 Nancy Larson (D) offered by your OEA-R/NEA-R membership. SD 16 Crystal Lett (D) HD 48 (R) SD 18 Betsy Rader (D) HD 49 Thomas West (D)* NEA Member Benefits: For questions call SD 20 Christian Johnson (D) HD 50 No Position 1.800.637.4636 (toll free); https:// SD 22 No Position HD 51 No Position www.neamb.com/ . SD 24 Tom Jackson (D) HD 52 No Position SD 26 Craig Swartz (D) HD 53 Michelle Novak (D) NEA Click & Save, http://www.neamb.com/ SD 28 Vernon Sykes (D)* HD 54 Morgan Showen (D) clickandsave. SD 30 Michael Fletcher (D) HD 55 (R)* SD 32 Sean O'Brien (D) HD 56 Joe Miller (D)* OEA ACCESS, https://ohea.org/member- HD 57 Dara Adkinson (D) center/member-benefits/. Ohio House HD 58 Michele Lepore-Hagan (D)* HD 1 Alison Theiss (D) HD 59 Chris Stanley (D) HD 2 No Position HD 60 (D) OEA Legislative Watch HD 3 (R) HD 61 Adam Dudziak (D) HD 4 Bob Cupp (R)* HD 62 Erin Rosiello (D) OEA Legislative Watch is the association’s HD 5 No Position HD 63 (D) newsletter covering the legislation and HD 6 Phil Robinson (D)* HD 64 Michael O’Brien (D)* policies that affect public education HD 7 (R)* HD 65 Alan Darnowsky (D) employees. https://www.ohea.org/get- HD 8 (D)* HD 66 No Position involved/legislative-watch/ HD 9 (D)* HD 67 Rachael Morocco (D) HD 10 (D)* HD 68 (R)* HD 11 (D)* HD 69 Donna Beheydt (D) Retirement System Updates HD 12 (D)* HD 70 Kevin Barnet (D)

HD 13 Mike Skindell (D)* HD 71 Mark Fraizer (R)  STRS https://www.strsoh.org/ HD 14 (D)* HD 72 HD 15 (D)* HD 73 Kim McCarthy (D)  SERS https://www.ohsers.org/ HD 16 Monique Smith (D) HD 74 No Position  PERS https://www.opers.org/ HD 17 (D)* HD 75 (D)* HD 18 (D)* HD 76 Garrett Westhoven (D) February 2020 OEA Retirement Systems HD 19 (D)* HD 77 Melissa Wilde (D) Update: https://www.ohea.org/resources/ HD 20 Richard Brown (D)* HD 78 Charlotte Owens (D) affiliate-resources/february-2020-oea- HD 21 (D) HD 79 Cindy Richards (D) retirement-systems-update/ HD 22 David Leland (D)* HD 80 No Position Presort Standard --Retired US Postage PAID North Eastern Ohio Education Association 6001 Landerhaven Drive, Suite D, , OH Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124-4190 Permit #1723

NEOEA-R Organizing Committee:

Nancy Wonson, Lakewood TA-R; Chairperson Dennis Lewis, Parma EA-R; Vice Chair Sherri Koncilja, Painesville City TA-R; Secretary Gary Hollow, Bristol-R; Past Chair Donna Smoot-Walters, Barberton EA-R; NEOEA Liaison & OEA-R NEOEA Representative Peg Ham, Lorain EA-R; OEA-R Secretary Barbara Catalano, Mayfield EA-R; OEA-R ESP Representative Hank Haynes, ACCESS-R; web/newsletter editor Debbie Bernauer, Brecksville-Broadview EA-R Rhonda Braylock, East Cleveland EA-R Marsh Buckley, Mentor TA-R Beryl Burkle, Bedford EA-R Dave Ciborek, Twinsburg EA-R Nanci DiBianca, Cuyahoga Hts. TA-R Carol Dolgosh, Lakewood TA-R Martha Dunford, Perry EA-R Sue Fatica, Painesville City TA-R Marti Franks, Twinsburg EA-R Patricia Frost-Brooks, East Cleveland EA-R Martha Harper, Ashtabula ACSE-R Norman Hillstrom, Mentor TA-R Joyce Hives, East Cleveland EA-R Mary Keefe, Maple Hts. TA-R Bill Lavezzi, Aurora EA-R Adele Matias, Mayfield EA-R Steven Mitchell, East Cleveland EA-R Pat Wagar, Mayfield EA-R Jene Wilson, ACCESS-R Beverly Woolridge, Akron ACP-R

OEA Campaign 2020 Click on View Actions to join OutreachCircle NEOEA Calendar Outreach Circle Sign in with your google or Facebook account or create an account with email and Oct 6 Absentee Mail-In Ballots The 2020 OEA Get Out the Vote program is password. sent—Vote and return ASAP similar to past Friends and Family outreach Nov 3 Election Day programs. This year OEA is using the After I set up my account what do I do? Nov 7 NEOEA Representative OutreachCircle.com platform. Assembly, Zoom Scroll through the feed to see all of the ways Dec 5 OEA Representative What is OutreachCircle? you can support our efforts. Some of the Assembly, Zoom—TBD actions you complete yourself; others, you'll Jan 26 NEOEA Leadership Summit OutreachCircle is a platform for organizations share with your friends. Feb 9 NEOEA Retired Organizing and campaigns to keep their supporters up to Committee, Zoom date and share all the ways people can get What happens next? Feb 22 NEOEA Legislative involved. Outreach Circle allows supporters Receptions to volunteer in their spare time, whenever and Periodically, you will receive updates and new Mar 6 NEOEA Megaconference wherever that may be. actions. Also, OutreachCircle is more fun with Mar 30 NEOEA Retired Spring friends, so if you haven't already, you can Conference What does supporting a campaign/ invite them to join. organization on OutreachCircle entail? Join with OEA Group code NAS319 You'll join as a supporter on OutreachCircle with the directions on the left and find all of Scan the QR Code. Feel free to invite your the ways you can support our efforts. friends and colleagues. Throughout the 2020 General Election, OEA members will use How do I get started? OutreachCircle to engage friends and family members who are active within our Use the directions below or open a web organization to make sure they know how to browser and go to https://outreachcircle.com/ safely and securely vote on or before to search for the organization or campaign November 3rd. Download flyer with QR you wish to support. Code.