Volume 11, Issue 8 November 1, 2000 Elementary teachers may use previous report card or pilot the new one Given the polling results that indicated teachers eters for an elementary field test this year of a Standards- misgivings about the format of the proposed progress based progress reporting tool. report and the workload it created, the District, SEA and 1) Staff members can use last years report cards if the Principals Association agreed Monday to new param- they wish. They may choose to be part of the pilot. The school should decide by at least a 2/3 majority what form to use. (Any cert actively involved in filling out report Polling Results cards is eligible to vote). Be aware that staffs are responsible for making an We believe we reached a fair and sensible decision original student copy of the chosen report card as well as about a Report Card for November, 2000. Thank you’s enough copies of the finished report card for all required go out to all of you who took the time to help inform parties. the decision! 2) The joint study 58 elementary schools took polls of the teachers committee on student who do student grading. (There is a total of 73 elemen- progress reporting will be the tary schools) There were 874 respondents. Standards, Assessment and • 587 said that last year’s report card was the way to go Work Load bargaining sub- • 154 gave the O.K. to the new Progress Report committee. This committee (106 teachers did not choose between the two) will systematically solicit input from stakeholders about Of the pressing issues shaping teachers’ opinions: the format of a universal elementary standards-based • 655 though it was a poor format for parents student progress reporting tool. • 383 said it presented further workload issues 3) The staff, in those schools that elect to pilot, will • 223 highlighted that the new report card didn’t receive a stipend equal to 10 hours of extra pay at the include prior teacher input $28.28 rate. The stipend will pay for the analysis and • 225 said it does not have Special Ed., ESL or Alterna- feedback portion of the pilot (not for completing them). tive School options Thanks to Kathleen Robel, SEA Board member and Adams teacher, who pressed this issue and made the motion to the Representative Assembly. Thanks to SEA leaders John Dunn, Wendy Kimball, and Nancy Murphy Election Day, who shepherded this to a fair and quick conclusion. November 7, 2000: Know Your Contract Its goin to be neck and neck. More $$$ for The King County Democrats need every possible volunteer for Buildings · Literature drops (weekend) · Phone-banking (weekend) The Contract Extension included an · Sign-waving (Election Day) increase in elementary stipends from $3750 · Mobilizing voters (Election Day) per building to $4750 per building. Each building will be allocated $3000 to support We want to make sure EVERY Democratic voter stipends for site-based decision making. The District-SEA gets to the polls on November 7! Leadership Committee developed guidelines for how these Can you help? funds could be allocated at each building. The money can This is your opportunity to see how the political be used to support the work of the BLT. The decision is to process works at the grassroots level. be made by the BLT. Examples of how it could be spent For times, locations, and information, call the include, paying the BLT for the time they spend outside Labor Coordinator, Jim Kainber at Washington their normal workday or paying for professional develop- State Democrats, 206-441-8613. ment. The rates of pay can be contractual rates or the BLT Or stop by the campaign office at 2332 2nd Ave could determine a different rate. (corner of 2nd & Battery) in Be sure you access this new Belltown. money! We can make a difference on November 7 The Presidential race is so close no one can predict who will NEA/WEA/SEA Political Action win. As a swing state; the out- Committee endorsements: come in Washington could President: Al Gore determine whether Bush or Gore U.S. Senate: Maria Cantwell is our next President. Congressional Races NEA-PAC endorsements: Statisticians are saying that a 1st CD: Jay Inslee Democratic win is all about voter 2nd CD: Rick Larsen turnout. The more voters, the 7th CD: Jim McDermott higher chance that Gore can win! 8th CD: Heidi Behrens-Benedict (See front for opportunitities to Get Out the Vote.) 9th CD: Adam Smith On Education the Gore/Lieberman platform includes: Statewide Races WEA-PAC Endorsements: $Expand loan forgiveness for teachers in high-need Governor: Gary Locke areas or subjects. Lt. Governor: Brad Owen $Raise all teachers salaries, including a $5,000 raise for Secretary of State: Sam Reed all qualified teachers and $10,000 for master teachers. Treasurer: Mike Murphy $Create a National Teachers corps to attract young people Auditor: Brian Sonntag into the field and provide up to $10,000 in college aid. Attorney General: Christine Gregoire $Offer quality after-school programs. SPI: Terry Bergeson $Promote partnerships with community resources to Insurance Commissioner: Mike Kreidler improve education. Commissioner of Public Lands: Mike Lowry $Increase funding to IDEA. State Supreme Court WEA-PAC Endorsments: $Create learning communities and safe places to go Justice Position #7: Bobbe Bridge outside school hours. Justice Position #8 Gerry Alexander Green strategy turns to the internet Justice Position #9: Tom Cham- bers Green Party and Gore supporters are taking to the Legislative Races WEA-PAC En- web-waves to enhance their chances. www.nadertrader.org dorsements promotes the idea of Nader voters in swing 1st/Senate McAuliffe statesexchanging their votes with a voter in a state that is 1st/House OBrien/Edwards already certain to go to Bush. Gore gets swing states and Nader gets his 5%. 11th/Senate Prentice Get out the word: YES ON COLA I-732! 11th/House Cody/Veloria 21st/House Cooper nd r Call your friends, family, and neighbors before 32 /House Kagi COLA I-732 Election Day, and tell them why they should vote YES on 33rd/House Schual-Berke/Keiser for COLA I-732. $ I-732 is a straight-forward initiative. 34th/Senate Constantine $ Our children deserve the best, a COLA would help 34th/House Poulsen/McDermott attract and retain quality teachers 36th/House Sommers/Dickerson $ There are new, higher standards and greater account- 37th/House Tomiko-Santos ability for student achievement. Yet salaries are not 39th/Senate Smith keeping pace with inflation. 39th/House Dunshee/Loomis More info at : www.yeson732.com. 41st/House Jarrett 43rd/House Chopp/Murray % Thanks to those who contributed $$ for ads for 45th/House Ruderman I-732. They are on 14 Seattle-area radio stations this 46th/House McIntire/Kenney week! Also, see the big ad in the Weekly, listing the th 47 /House Simpson/Cairnes Election Day Party endorsements SEA members gathered! f If you havent returned your postcards, do it NOW! Joe McDermott Thanks to all who have participated! for Rep in West MetLife offers Retirement Workshop at the Westin Hotel, Party Suite 4341, 7 PM to 11 Party Hotel, at the Westin Do you have questions or concerns about your Seattle to the are invited You retirement? MetLife Resources (MLR) will be hosting informational workshops at: Last Friday, 6 SEA members who · Mercer Middle School - November 7th work or live in the 34th District met with · Madison Middle School - November 9th Joe McDermott (D), the Seattle School District budget [Both will be from 3:30 to 4:30] analyst who is running for State Representative. Karen and Don Holert, Marian Wolfe, Nancy LaRiviere, Marianne MetLife Resources will conduct a special Pension Bratsanos, Linda Bothell, SEA President John Dunn, and Maximization seminar for married members December SEA Associate Exec. Dir. Kraig Peck reviewed 7th, at the SEA building, from 6:00 to 7:00. Bring your McDermotts writtten questionnaire and discussed his goals spouse! For general questions or to RSVP for one of and views. The group was unanimous that they will these workshops, call the Financial Services Hotline @ recommend to the SEA Board and Rep Assembly that 206.283.8443. ext 42 McDermott should be endorsed..