Is this the future of Alabama schools?
Transcription
Is this the future of Alabama schools?
SLUG -- PAGE 1 CMYK ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION The Official Publication of the Alabama Education Association Volume 132, NUMBER 2 • February 23, 2015 Urgent message from Plan to attend 2015 Divisional Conference ! President Anita Gibson AEA President delivers remarks regarding recent actions of the AEA Board of Directors pg 2 Housing deadline nears for Divisional Professional Development Conference AEA Election Results Results for the 2014-2015 AEA Board, ESP Board, and NEA Delegate elections pg 6 pg 7 Is this the future of Alabama schools? The verdict is in: an array of studies, reports and anecdotal evidence from across the nation say taxpayer-funded charter schools perform no better, and oftentimes worse, than public schools. Yet the Alabama Legislature is poised once again to pour scarce public dollars into an unproven concept at a time when the state ranks as one of the lowest for perstudent spending. Funding for charter schools in Alabama would come from the same per-student school funding system now in place, which would cause problems for a state education system already in a financial crunch. Charter schools receive public tax dollars, but operate independently of the established school system in which they are located. They take funds away from local schools and often exploit the system because of exemptions from oversight and regulation. Senate Bill 45, the recently filed Alabama charter school bill, puts no limits on the number of schools that a local school system could convert to a charter school. If a charter’s application is denied by the local school system, it could be overridden by a nine-member statewide commission, which requires that “...each member of the commission shall have demonstrated understanding of and commitment to charter schooling as a tool for strengthening public education...” So much for local control. The authorization of charters in Alabama flies in the face of numerous national studies that have shown charter schools, especially in a largely rural state such as Alabama, simply weaken already struggling local schools. AEA runoff election ballots mailed to local presidents by March 6 Make your vote cou See AEA election results on pg 7 Fernando Zulueta, president of Academica, makes a champagne toast at the Bahamas’ Atlantis resort during a leadership retreat for principals of several Florida charter schools. A recent study on charter schools released Feb. 23, 2015 by the East Lansing, Mich.-based Great Lakes Center for Education Research & Practice, found that “a defense of charter schools relied exclusively on advocacy documents rather than more careful and balanced empirical research, and provides only a superficial examination of any ‘criticisms’ regarding charter schools.” The study concludes that, “The main outcomes of charter schools have been to promote privatization and accelerated the stratification and resegregation of schools.” Another national study in 2014 by the Stanford University-based Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) showed that only 29 percent of charter schools outperform public schools with similar students in math, while 31 percent performed worse and 40 percent performed the same. The expanded update of the CREDO study led The Washington Post to conclude that charter schools “don’t produce better academic results when compared to public schools.” More and more academic studies are coming to the same conclusion: charter schools don’t perform any better than public schools, and in some cases they’re worse. The concept of charter schools was first developed more than 40 years ago as a way to bring innovation to schools by freeing them from regulations that often limit and constrain traditional public schools. Ch Manaagrter Compaenment y But instead of collaborating with public schools as originally envisioned, charter schools have become the centerpiece of a market-based reform strategy that places greater emphasis on competition and profit. Recently, a widely circulated report from Propublica revealed how charter schools increasingly use arrangements known as “sweep” contracts to send nearly all of a school’s public dollars - anywhere from 95 to 100 percent into for-profit charter-management companies. National education expert Diane Ravitch says the charter school movement has “turned into a favorite mechanism in many states to promote privatization of public education and to generate profits for charter corporations like Imagine, Charter Schools USA, and K12.” “Today, charter advocates claim that their privately managed charters will ‘save low-income students from failing public schools,” she said. “But the Minnesota experience suggests that charters face the same challenges as public schools, which is magnified by high teacher turnover in charter schools.” A story that appeared in Forbes in late 2013 foretold much of what would come to pass in 2014. That story, “Charter School Gravy Train Runs Express To Fat City”, brought to light for the first time in a mainstream source the financial rewards that were being mined from charter schools. -continued on page 3, “Future” AEA helps Madison County bus drivers with salary disputes nt! Paying rank-and-file blue-collar workers for all of the time they work is a simple and fair concept. It is also the law. However, there are still times when employees aren’t properly paid. When that happens, and those affected are members of the Alabama Education Association, AEA springs into action to defend their rights. AEA is currently reviewing allegations from members employed as bus drivers, bus aides, and bus mechanics by the Madison County Board of Education. Those allegations include failure to pay for all time worked, including time for pre-trip and post-trip inspections required by law, monthly safety inspections, working open houses, bringing in buses to the shop for repairs, time for random drug testing required by federal law, and other duties that are part of the employees’ job description. The employees also allege that they have received instructions to falsify their timesheets by only putting down their scheduled start and stop times, not the time they actually worked. Others have alleged that when they tried to report the correct time, their timesheets were altered within the central office to only reflect their scheduled times, despite traffic delays, altered routes due to bad weather, and other factors beyond the control of the bus employees. While members have told AEA that Madison County ESP members Mike Hill and Vice President Janice Anderson this has been a problem for some time, it came to a head at the beginning of this school year when the system began requiring each driver to perform a “double run,” i.e. service two complete bus routes each morning and afternoon. Previously, each bus employee only performed a single run. The new procedure has, in many cases, set unrealistic expectations of how long it takes to run a route, especially in inclement weather. Unlike some school systems who have a flat rate for bus routes or have salary schedules based on the length of a driver’s route, Madison County maintains that bus employees were paid for 20 hours of service per week. The problem is, many bus employees are working beyond those paid hours without additional compensation. AEA Associate Executive Secretary Gregory T. Graves said, “All employees should be paid what they are owed. While AEA will never argue for members to receive anything to which they are not entitled, we will vigorously advocate for our members to receive every dime they are owed. Everyone in public education has a difficult job, but those we entrust to transport our students face unique challenges. Thus, no school system should look to these individuals to try and cut corners to save money.” AEA attorneys have requested a significant number of public documents to investigate the members’ allegations. Meetings with the affected employees have been and will continue -continued on page 3, “Bus drivers” CMYK Page slug: Publication Name, Page 2 ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL | February 23, 2015 AEA leaders moving AEA forward Rumors and gossip. Where does this stuff come from and what good does it accomplish? Oh, if we could only harness the energy some expend on the negative and turn it in to resources for our classrooms or benefits for our members. I want to first thank you for your membership in your professional association. For those who were able to join me on our tele-town hall conference call, thank you for taking the time to participate and for your interest in knowing the facts. As I share my comments from those calls with you now, I ask that you join your elected leadership on the AEA Board of Directors in setting aside the rumors and gossip as we stay focused on the truths involved in this matter. On Saturday, February 21, I stood and reported out on the actions taken by the AEA Board of Directors. I want to share the same with you now. The Alabama Education Association (AEA) has faced many threats over the years and has always prevailed. AEA faced another serious threat that we have begun to address to ensure the association is on a positive path forward. In a September letter to association members and leaders, retired AEA Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Paul Hubbert alerted the association’s leadership of “an immediate danger, in fact crisis” as related to AEA’s current finances. Dr. Hubbert’s letter attributed the crisis to financial challenges, declining membership, risky investments, and the loss of influence. Dr. Hubbert called for AEA to conduct an independent audit of the association’s finances. The AEA board immediately called for and saw completed a comprehensive independent audit of AEA’s finances and operations. The board was briefed in detail on the findings of the audits and the recommended remedies and actions we must take to ensure we can restore our association to its former strength and vitality. The audit affirmed serious concerns about a lack of financial controls, appropriate checks and balances and substantial evidence of the failure of our Executive SecretaryTreasurer to meet his obligations toward the sound financial operation of AEA. As a result, the board passed a motion to provide NOTICE TO THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TREASURER OF A PRETERMINATION HEARING. This was a difficult decision by the Board but one that was necessary to close a difficult chapter in AEA’s recent past and turn to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead. We cannot and we will not dwell on the past but must move forward and build for the future. that no matter what zip code they live in, regardless of their family income or the color of their skin, that each and every student has the time, tools and resources to be successful. Anita Gibson, AEA President We must address as an association the losses suffered by AEA over the last several years. Today, we have begun the process to face these challenges head on, to right the ship, and put AEA on a better path for the future. We must take steps to return AEA to strength and vibrancy. The recommendations laid out in the audit reports plot a path to financial and operational stability. We could not have accomplished that without the leaders of this Board coming together to act in concert to put our association on a sounder footing. To ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the financial and operational plans for AEA, the board passed a motion to request that NEA partner with AEA so that swift and appropriate action can be taken to safeguard AEA and its members. Let me emphasize, the AEA Board of Directors asked NEA for temporary assistance. Through this partnership we can access national expertise and resources to put in place the financial and operational changes needed to ensure the strength of our association. And, while we have the partnership, it is Alabama leaders that took action to create solutions for this association and it will be Alabama values and leaders that will be a guiding light for our association as we chart a new course. As a result of the leadership of this Board, we are ready to turn the page and we are ready to redouble our efforts to fight for the needs of our students, our schools and Alabama’s educators. The 2015 legislative session will bring a host of opportunities and challenges. We must continue to fight against any charter school designed to rob our community schools of funding and local control. We must renew our efforts to secure funding for libraries, technology, textbooks and other resources our students need to compete in the 21st century. We must ensure that all education professionals receive adequate compensation and fully funded healthcare and retirement benefits. Our house will be set in order, but now we must turn our sights from our house to the preservation of the school house and the support of each and every student and adult in those schools and ensuring ATTENTION LOCAL PRESIDENTS You should have received two e-mails from NEA regarding NEA RA DELEGATE ALLOCATION INFORMATION. You may visit www.nea.org/delegaterequirements to view the memos and other reference documents. If you did not receive these e-mails, call Terri Taylor at AEA, 1-800-3925839, ext. 402 immediately. In addition, you should have received a mailing from AEA regarding 2015 AEA Delegate Assembly reporting forms. All reports should be returned by June 10, 2015 to AEA, Attn: Terri Taylor, P.O. Box 4177, Montgomery, AL 36103. Those remarks are not just my words but the unified voice of the AEA Board of Directors who worked together to craft that report. These actions change nothing about our dedication and support for our members. As a result of the leadership of the AEA Board of Directors, AEA will be able to quickly move to stabilize its operational capacity and build its strength in service to our members. In fielding questions during the tele-town call I have put together the following summary in hopes of further clarification. I want to be very clear about NEA’s role in this process. First, it was AEA leaders who initiated this process to look into the financial and human resources operations of our association. It was the AEA Board who called for the audits and, based on the findings, it was the AEA Board who decided the actions that needed to be taken. I can assure you Alabama values and Alabama leaders will be a guiding light for our association as WE chart a new course. The partnership with NEA gives AEA access to expertise and resources to help us make the changes and achieve the solutions far quicker than we ever could alone. They are here to help us, to support us as WE right our own ship. The AEA Board chose this path to move us all forward to a better place. Restoring our association to financial and operational stability and ensuring we are able to continue to meet the needs of our members and their students is OUR responsibility - and the leaders of AEA take this responsibility very seriously. There have been many requests for copies of the audit reports and details on the termination process that has been initiated by the board with regard to Dr. Mabry. Because the reports and the process related to Dr. Mabry are extremely sensitive, confidential, and pertain to personnel and legal matters, it is not appropriate for anyone on the AEA Board to share that information. In fact, we are legally liable to maintain the confidentiality of that information. While we want to be responsive to you, we must follow the law. I can tell you that the board was briefed in exhaustive detail on the findings of the audits and spent several hours reviewing them in detail, asking questions and considering their implications. Our decisions were well informed and based on objective independent fact finding. Once all legal issues have been resolved it will be the decision of legal counsel as to when and what will be released. No one, with the exception of Dr. Mabry, has been barred from the AEA building. All of our former and current leaders are welcome here during regular business hours. As we reviewed our security, we became aware that there were several non-AEA employees who had access to the building during non-working hours. We aligned our security with the industry standard and are only issuing electronic pass cards to current AEA employees. There have been several concerns expressed as to who is leading AEA right now. The AEA Board of Directors is leading AEA through all of the actions I have discussed. The AEA Board has given notice to Dr. Mabry and we have to honor that process. First steps first. Once that is complete we’ll move to the next step. In the meantime I, along with Dr. Graves and the executive staff of AEA are working with the support of NEA to ensure we are ready to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead of us. As members of this association we can pound our fists upon the table demanding our pound of flesh, we can continue to stir the pot of confusion, or we can trust our elected leadership on the AEA Board of Directors who spent hours listening to the reports and the recommendations that came with them, leaders who after hours of careful deliberations and much discussion took necessary actions to place AEA on a path that will chart a new, stable course to restore this great association as swiftly as possible. Thank you for your undying and unwavering faith in our association, our leaders, and our staff as we progress through this transition period. Please rest assured that work in the building continues, our UniServ staff, are in the field working hard for you every day, we are gearing up for the 2015 legislative session, and nothing will turn our focus from what is most important to our members and the students you serve. Today, I am asking you, on behalf of the AEA Board of Directors, to join us as we turn our focus to doing what we do best, and that is expending all our energies to ensure that every child in this state has the opportunity to receive a world class education; that every public school in Alabama is a “rock star” 21st century school staffed by caring, committed professionals who come to work equipped with the tools and resources needed to motivate our students as they prepare for a successful role as members of society. ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Board of Directors President Anita Gibson Vice President Sheila Remington Past President Dorothy Strickland NEA Directors Dr. Susan C. Brown Charlene McCoy Ashley Strickland Sherry Tucker Administrator President Dr. Cathy McNeal Postsecondary Representative Dr. Barbara Cady ESP Representative Carol Hiett ACT Representative Bonita English AERA President Robert Davis SAEA President Graham Bufford District 1 Directors Pam Baker Stephanie C. Taylor Michelle Robinson District 2 Directors Tammy Sims Elaine Carter Theresa Leonard District 3 Directors Amelia Couch Shannon Clark Vivian Crosby District 4 Directors David Holt Dr. Susan W. Brown Arthur Crumpler District 5 Directors Benita Moyers Dr. David G. Belton Gregory S. Martin District 6 Directors Darryl Traylor Vacant Bernard Sanderson District 7 Directors Dr. Rhonda Mosley Bobby J. Pierson Suzanne Clemons The Alabama School Journal (USPS/ISSN 0011-821) is published weekly while the Legislature is in session monthly otherwise, by the Alabama Education Association, 422 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36103-4177. Periodical postage paid at Montgomery, AL. Postmaster: Send address changes to Alabama School Journal, P.O. Box 4177, Montgomery, Ala. 36103-4177. Associate Editor: Dr. Gregory T. Graves; Managing Editor: Amy Marlowe; Editorial Staff: Sheri Monfee and Brannon Walden. Manuscripts and other material submitted for publication, as well as advertising matter, should be addressed to Managing Editor, Alabama School Journal, P.O. Box 4177, Montgomery, AL 36103-4177 or myaea@alaedu. org. Advertising rate card furnished on request by contacting Sheri Monfee toll free at 800.392.5839. Problems concerning delivery or addresses can be answered by calling toll free to 800.392.5839. We encourage letters and opinion articles from members of AEA. All submissions must have your full name, mailing address, phone number, and local affiliation. Because of space limitations, we reserve the right to edit for length. Letters of less than 200 words are given preference for publication. CONTENTS © 2015 The Alabama School Journal. All rights reserved. SLUG -- PAGE 3 CMYK February 23, 2015 | ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL 3 We have the blueprint Green Ribbon schools announced The state Department of Education announced that Lincoln Elementary School and Lincoln High School in the Talladega County system, and Bluff Park Elementary in Hoover have been named as Alabama’s 2015 Green Ribbon Schools for their efforts to improve the environment and promote environmental and outdoor education. “Environmental education is an important part of our overall instructional program,” state school Superintendent Tommy Bice said. “We are proud to honor schools who are creating and innovating new ways to teach and learn about conservation efforts.” Each of Alabama’s winners will be considered for national “Green Ribbon School” status. National winners will be announced on Earth Day -- April 22. Birmingham ups property taxes for schools Birmingham residents voted in favor of a 3 mill property tax increase for Birmingham City Schools. The additional $8 million in revenue for Birmingham City Schools will be used strictly for arts, music, foreign language, pre-k, and career academics. Birmingham Board of Education President Randall Woodfin said the vote was a “major milestone” and that “this is a victory for the school system, for families and our children in how it relates to what we can provide for our classrooms.” Winston county voters extend tax for schools Winston County voters overwhelmingly approved a renewal and continuation of a 3 mill county-wide property tax for schools. The ballot measure will continue the levy for an additional 29 years. Sylacauga renews property tax for schools Sylacauga City voters overwhelmingly approved of a 25 year extension for an ad valorum tax for the Sylacauga City School system. The extension will accomplish two things; complete a renovation at Legion Stadium and provide a long-term source of funds for future capital needs. Superintendent Dr. Todd Freeman thanked voters and said, “This investment in the future of our school system is a legacy that will benefit our children and grandchildren. Additionally, the entire community will soon be able to share in the enjoyment of the beautifully renovated Legion Stadium.” If you’ve never read AEA Network Attorney Don Eddins’ book on AEA’s history, AEA: Head of the Class in Alabama Politics, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy and read it. It paints the picture of how the modern AEA came to be after the 1969 AEA-ASTA merger through the 1990s. The first chapter in the book is entitled, “The Wallace Years.” It tells the story of the famous diversion fights between AEA and Governor George Wallace. The state’s general fund was broke and federal mandates regarding mental health were causing further stress. Fresh off an electoral victory of the former governor, Albert Brewer, who AEA strongly supported, Wallace decided to try and get the money from the Teachers Retirement System. AEA was still fighting off the effects of the merger. Drs. Hubbert and Reed had only been in their respective positions for two years. Many educators who opposed forced integration had dropped their membership. It would be another decade before passage of the Fair Dismissal Act and the coordinated recruitment of ESP members. Thus, AEA was not any force to be reckoned with. However, on July 1, 1971, after the Governor announced his intention to divert $24 million from the TRS to the General Fund for mental health, a special edition of the Journal was prepared. After it was published, the reaction was immediate. “It was amazing,” Dr. Hubbert says in the book. “Teachers, administrators, everybody started coming unglued. We told them they Future -continued from page 1 As reporter Addison Wiggin explained, a mixture of tax incentives, government programs and Wall Street investors anxious to make money were coming together to deliver a charter school bonanza -- especially if the charter operation could “escape scrutiny” behind the veil of being privately held or if the charter operation could mix its business in “with other ventures that have nothing to do with education.” In May of 2014, a blockbuster report released by Integrity in Education and the Center for Popular Democracy revealed that fraudulent charter operators in 15 states were responsible for losing, misusing or wasting more than $100 million in taxpayer money. The report, “Charter School Vulnerabilities to Waste, Fraud Bus drivers -continued from page 1 to be conducted while AEA awaits the information. AEA’s legal team will also be making arrangements to interview each affected member to determine what relief may be appropriate for them. needed to contact their legislators and we had them piling in here by the hundreds. We would have five or Dr. Gregory T. six hundred at the Capitol Graves, Associate Executive Secretary one day and a different five or six hundred the next.” What happened next was history. The teachers of Alabama rose up with one voice and beat arguably the most popular governor in the state’s history at the peak of his power. No one thought that AEA had a chance, but the educators of the state stood up for what was important to them. “What happened next was history. The teachers of Alabama rose up with one voice and beat arguably the most popular governor in the state’s history at the peak of his power.” History always has a way of repeating itself. Fast forward to 2015 and the General Fund is in shambles again. Instead of a federal takeover of the mental health system, Alabama is facing the real threat of a federal takeover of its prison system. This state is in desperate need of new revenue and while Governor Bentley has proposed a tax increase, everyone knows that all eyes are on education funding to make up the shortfall. and Abuse,” combed through news stories, criminal records, and other documents to find hundreds of cases of charter school operators embezzling funds, using tax dollars to illegally support other, non-educational businesses, taking public dollars for services they didn’t provide, inflating their enrollment numbers to boost revenues, and putting children in potential danger by foregoing safety regulations or withholding services. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Chicagoarea Concept Schools, part of the Gulen charter chain, were subjects of an ongoing federal investigation. The begun taking steps to address the issues in Madison County and I stand ready to continue those efforts on behalf of my members.” Dr. Graves added, “Our hope is that should the documents Beverly Sims, AEA UniServ Director for Madison County and the rest of District 3, reports that she has developed a good rapport with the newlyelected superintendent. She said, “The superintendent is a reasonable and fair Madison County ESP members Mike Hill and Fred Anderson check fluids man. He has already All that said, Dr. Hubbert never took credit for the win in that first diversion fight, or the ones that followed before Governor Wallace finally saw the light, or for any of AEA’s legislative victories. He always gave the credit to those who got involved, who got in the face of their legislators and let them know, in no uncertain terms, how they felt. Just as it was in 1971, the future of education in Alabama is in your hands. Anti-public education and anti-educator bills are coming. When they are introduced in the Legislature, AEA will provide you with information about all the negative impact it will have on you, your students, and our public schools. What happens next depends heavily on you. If you stand up and fight, like your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles before you, we will win. Hear me clearly: if educators respond in 2015 like they did in 1971, facing similar difficulties, we will win. All that is required is for each of us to stand united and do our part. Unlike 1971, today’s technology allows you to be in Montgomery every day without leaving home. You can call and e-mail your legislators often to let them know how you feel. You can post on social media and share the information we provide to you about all that the anti-education forces are doing in Montgomery, and have your friends and family join the effort. And it wouldn’t take much. If we have 500 members per day contact their legislators one day, and a different 500 do so the next day, and then 500 more the inquiry revealed nearly $1 million that has been paid to contractors all with ties to the Gülen network. So what is pushing the move towards charters? The answer is simple: profit. Under a law passed in 2000, banks and equity funds that invest in charter schools and other projects in under-served areas can take advantage of a very generous tax credit - as much as 39 percent - to help offset their expenditure in such projects. And it’s not just U.S. investors who see the upside of investing in charters. Rich donors internationally are now sending money to fund U.S. charter schools. Why? Because if they invest at least $500,000 to charters under a federal program day after that, we will win. Please be clear, times have changed. I do not recommend that you call anyone just for the sake of agitation. Your call to legislators should be for the sole purpose of giving and receiving meaningful information regarding specific issues. Period! However, none of you can have those conversations unless you are abreast of the issues. You need to be informed. “If educators respond in 2015 like they did in 1971, facing similar difficulties, we will win.” Equally important, you have to get to your legislators in person when they are back home. Most of you will not have physical access to them once they get to Montgomery. But right now, before they get to the Capitol, and when they come home on weekends, they need to know how you feel. One of Wallace’s floor leaders told a group of doctoral students the year after the 1971 diversion fight that, “When I came home and went to the post office; [educators] were there; they were at church, and when I went home I couldn’t find a parking place in my yard. Now that gets your attention.” Dr. Hubbert has gone to his well-earned rest and reward. We have to do it ourselves this time. We have the blueprint for how to do it. It is up to each of you reading this to do your part. As always, together we stand. called EB-5, they’re allowed to purchase immigration visas for themselves and family members -- yet another mechanism in place to ensure that the money keeps rolling in. Proponents of education reformers argue that investments like these are all about how successful charter schools are, and show how much support they’ve gathered in just a few years. But it’s hard to take this on faith when there are billions of dollars in profit, and, for some, a path to U.S. immigration, at stake in these investments. With all of the questions and corruption surrounding charter schools in other states, Alabama legislators should tread cautiously as they begin the charter school debate in the upcoming session. Otherwise Alabamians could end up paying a high price lining the pockets of profit seekers in the risky gamble of charter schools. confirm the allegations of our members, the superintendent and his legal counsel will work collaboratively with AEA’s legal team to resolve the issues and make our members whole. While AEA always stands ready to litigate if necessary, we will exhaust every opportunity available to resolve these issues short of legal action. Madison County ESP member Rickey Stone There is no deadline set by law for production of the documents requested by AEA. However, communications have remained open between the two sides and it is hoped that the documents will be available for review in the coming weeks. After sufficient time for AEA’s legal team to review the documents and confer with each affected member, a further course of action will be determined. The Alabama School Journal will be monitoring this story and will update this report as conditions warrant. 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February 23, 2015 | ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL 5 CMYK SLUG -- PAGE 5 CMYK Page slug: Publication Name, Page 6 February 23, 2015 | ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL Register now for the 2015 Divisional Professional Development Conference • March 1-3, 2015: Alabama Transition Conference, Marriott Grand National, Opelika, Ala. • March 3-4, 2015: Alabama Science Teachers Association (ASTA), McWane Science Center, Birmingham, Ala., www. astawildapricot.org • March 6-8, 2015: NEA ESP Conference, Hilton Riverside, New Orleans, La., http://www.nea.org/ grants/31430.htm • March 12-14, 2015: 37th Annual Alabama School Nutrition Association (ASNA) Expo, BJCC, Birmingham, Ala., www.alabamasna.org • March 18-20, 2015: Alabama Community Education Association Conference (ACEA), Hyatt Regency, Birmingham, Ala., www.aceatoday.org For additional conference information please visit: www.myaea.org. Members in need of sick leave Baldwin County Annie Wright, a Baldwin County ESP member and paraprofessional from Bay Minette Intermediate School for 26 years, had major shoulder surgery which requires a long recuperation period. Having been approved for catastrophic leave she is in need of donated days. If anyone can spare donating sick days, please contact Darlene Harville, Baldwin County School System at 251-580-2512. Thank you for your help. John Hudson UniServ Director, District 32 Chilton County Gerald Stamps, a Clanton Middle School special education teacher, has exhausted his sick days due to chemo and radiation therapy which makes him very ill. This is his third time being diagnosed with colon cancer within the last 2 years. If you can please donate days, contact Chilton County Board of Education Payroll Clerk Nancy Smith at 205-280-2995. Allison B King UniServ Director, District 18 Marshall County Judy Chartier, a Marshall County ESP, has recently been struck with a debilitating illness. For the past several months, she has been unable to work and has exhausted her sick leave. She also suffers from adverse reactions to her medication, and treatment has been less than successful. Retirement disability is not currently an option and she is less than 40 days away from being vested. If she does not get help, this selfsupporting bus driver will have no financial means and no PEEHIP insurance. Please help donate sick leave by calling Robert Counterman at the Marshall County Board of Education at 256-582-3171. Johnnie McDaniel has been a school teacher for more than 23 years and is a member of the Boaz Education Association. In the last few months, Johnnie has exhausted all her leave to attend to her mother who is recovering from a serious health issue. With no where else to turn and no other means to provide the care her mother needs, she is asking for a donation of sick leave days by contacting Susan Rutledge at the Boaz Board of Education at 256-593-8180. Rhonda Jett UniServ Director, District 6 The annual AEA Divisional Professional Development Conference will be held at the Sheraton Hotel/BJCC Complex in Birmingham March 20-22, 2015. A wide variety of training will be offered for all AEA members classroom teachers, education support professionals, administrators and postsecondary members. PLUs as well as CEUs will be offered during this conference. The pre-registration form and hotel information are listed below, or you can visit http://bit.ly/1MyaajE to register online. Jesse McDaniel UniServ Director, District 27 Registration will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 20, on the third floor of the BJCC in Birmingham. Registration will close at 6 p.m. that evening but will open again the next morning at 8 a.m. The pre-registration fee is $25 per person and on-site registration is $50 per person. Use one registration form for each participant and duplicate the form as needed. As an incentive for early registration, the first 200 to registrater will receive a special gift upon checking in at the conference registration desk. On Friday afternoon, March 20 at 4:30 p.m., AEA President Anita Gibson will host a networking session for members who are 35 years of age or younger and/or those who have ten years or less experience in education. Mail by March 6 and take advantage of pre-conference savings! "" '3*# $ % !#%! !' #%&# %$!# '% %#$%#%! !#"#$! %!##) !( ! %!#) $&$! !#!#"#$! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& $&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& &&&&&%&&&&&&&&& ,'551/)'(1+&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& /3)19*+'6+')4*+#460&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&42+&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& >1+'7+448((6+:/'8+&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& $! $+7&&&&&&&&&& 4&&&&&&&&&& 347*+7,479.+)43,+7+3)+)+39+7945745+71=57+5'7++').97'/3/3- 744251+'8+/3*/)'9+=4:7,/789 8+)43*'3*9./7*97'/3/3-8+88/43,47+').9/2+5+7/4*1/89+*3+)8/43 51+'8+2'70/,=4: '3*47=4:7854:8+</115'79/)/5'9+/39.+$+113+88!)7++3/3-"./8/3,472'9/43</11'114<9.+8)7++3/3-744294(++,,/)/+391=89',,+*3 +)8/43/3*/)'9+=4:72+'15'79/)/5'9/43,47+').2+'14,,+7+* '896*'<'6).'2='2 &&&&+3+7'1!+88/43>433+)99.+498>#7+*/9 '896*'<'6).'2='2+1+)88.6++/3,/6787+)43*'3*8./6*46*+64,56+,+6+3)+ &&&&34</3-/*8?+.';/47>:77+397:-"7+3*8 &&&&"7'/3/3-,47$470+78 &&&& 41+4,$470,47)++;+1452+39/34898+)43*'7=*:)'9/43 &&&&1'('2'?8 88+882+398>#7+*/9 &&&&&!).441:8!',+9= &&&&&+897')9/)+8,47,,+)9/;++'*+78>#7+*/9 &&&&&"7'/3/3-,47:894*/'38 &&&&&4<94;4/*9.++3'19= !+77/437 &&&&&3897:)9/43'1+'*+78?"4410/9,47439/3:4:82574;+2+39 +6:/7+*,47!9'3*'7* &&&&&+/3-':19:7'11=425+9+39*:)'947 +6:/7+*,47!9'3*'7* '896*'<'6).'2=52+1+)88.6++/3,/6787+)43*'3*8./6*46*+64,56+,+6+3)+ &&&&34</3-/*8?+.';/47>:77+397:-"7+3*8 &&&&!).441!',+9=,47*:)'9/432514=++8>#7+*/9 &&&&"7'/3/3-,47!+)7+9'7/+8 &&&&:77+394898+)43*'7=88:+8 &&&& +8947/3- +85+)9'(1+1'887442+.';/47>#7+*/9 &&&&$.+394-+9/3;41;+*/3!9:*+39/-.98>#7+*/9 &&&*+789'3*/3-9.+/**1++;+1+'73+7>#7+*/9 &&&&439741%4:743+='2+ &&&&4<94;4/*9.++3'19= !+77/43 &&&&/3*/3-4224374:3*43:11=/3- +6:/7+*,47:11=/3-# '896*'<'6).52=52=#+113+77)6++3/3-=.+)0+').8.'8'551/+7 &&&</115'79/)/5'9+/39.+$+113+88!)7++3/3-43'7). &&&=854:8+</115'79/)/5'9+/39.+$+113+88!)7++3/3-43'7). The Wellness Screening will be open Saturday, March 21, 2015, 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Screenings will be done on a first come, first serve basis. ".+$+113+88!)7++3/3-</11(+45+3!'9:7*'='7). 52:39/152!)7++3/3-8</11(+*43+43',/789)42+,/7898+7;+('8/8 93*'<'6).'2='2+1+)88.6++/3,/6787+)43*'3*8./6*46*+64,56+,+6+3)+ &&&&!).441!',+9=,47*:)'9/432514=++8>#7+*/9 &&&&+-7++8349+(9 &&&&439741%4:743+='2+ &&&&'/7'(47!9'3*'7*8)9 &&&&!4)/'1+*/'>#7+*/9 &&&&+2(+7+3+,/98 !+77/437 &&&*+789'3*/3-4;+79=>#7+*/9 &&&&$.'989(4:9+".'9%4:'3?9"+'). +6:/7+*,47!9'3*'7* &&&&+;+145/3-:19:7'1*+39/9= +6:/7+*,47!9'3*'7* +'1'68/)/5'8/43=.+)0+').2+'18.'8<49;/115'68/)/5'8+/3 &&&</115'79/)/5'9+/39.+7/*'='36:+9 &&&</115'79/)/5'9+/39.+!'9:7*'=7+'0,'89 &&&</115'79/)/5'9+/39.+!'9:7*'=:3).+43 &&&</115'79/)/5'9+/39.+!:3*'=7+'0,'89 +-/786'8/43,++/78.+7'2+6+-'6*1+774,2+'15'68/)/5'8/43 ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MARCH 20 - 22, 2015 DIVISIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE HOTEL & RESERVATION INFORMATION Mobile County Regina Stewart is a bus aide who serves special needs children. She had spinal surgery to address chronic back pain that had become unmanageable. Having exhausted her own leave she was forced to borrow the maximum from the sick leave bank. If you can please donate a day or two to help her repay this loan, contact Gretchen Clanton at gclanton@mcpss.com or 251-221-4528. There are serious issues facing public education in Alabama. During the conference, an array of speakers will provide beneficial information so that school employees can move forward in an increasingly difficult climate. Reservations: Host Hotel: The Sheraton Hotel 2101 Richard Arrington Jr., Blvd., N. Birmingham, Ala. Room Rates* Single/Double: Triple: Quad: $129 $139 $149 *Does not include 17.5% tax per night. Subject to change without notice. Call: 1-800-325-3535 Identify yourself as being with AEA’s Divisional Conference or visit: https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/aleedu2015 Deposit Requirement One night deposit required at the time of making reservations. Cancellation Policy 72 Hours Prior to Arrival Reservation Deadline - March 6 Or until the room block is filled, whichever comes first. After this date, reservation requests will be accepted based on the space and rate available. Taxes & Fees Subject to change without notice. SLUG -- PAGE 7 CMYK February 23, 2015 | ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL 7 AEA members elect new board officers, delegates The AEA Elections Committee met on Friday, February 13, 2015, to certify the election results for the 2014-2015 AEA Regular Election. To view the election returns in their entirety, including the AEA delegate elections, visit http://www.myaea.org/be-active/aea-elections. The results are in PDF format. Please contact Tina Collins in the AEA Business Office at 800-392-5839 or tinac@alaedu.org for questions concerning AEA elections. Summary of 2014-2015 Regular Election Returns AEA Board Positions NEA Delegates (continued) AEA President District 3 Active Delegates Sheila Hocutt Remington 8119 51.69% Dr. Susan C. Brown 7589 48.31% Winner AEA Vice President Vivian L. Crosby 1036 13.25% Delegate Beverly C. Johnson 1031 13.19% Delegate Amelia Couch 976 12.49% Delegate Report on 2014-2015 Regular Election Returns Sherry Tucker 4237 27.58% Run-Off Sylvester James 960 12.28% Delegate Sylvester James 3558 23.16% Run-Off Vivian Mitchell Martin 948 12.13% Delegate Bobby J. Pierson 3402 22.14% Joyce A. Harris-Stokes 916 11.72% Delegate Dr. James Owens 2314 15.06% Kelvin Jones 732 9.36% Captain Tom Daniel 1853 12.06% Pam Meadows Gregory 728 9.31% Velvet Faison 490 6.27% Doris J. Zeigler 418 35.30% Delegate No Returns Received Delegate District 1: AL Southern Active/ESP, Andalusia City ESP, Bishop State Active, Clarke County Active, Clarke County ESP, Covington County ESP, Escambia County ESP, Faulkner CC ESP, Jeff Davis CC Active/ESP, L B Wallace CC Active/ESP, Monroe County Active, Opp City Active, Opp City ESP, Reid Tech Active/ESP, Saraland City ESP, Satsuma City Active/ESP, Thomasville City ESP, Washington County ESP, Wilcox County ESP NEA Director Position One The following lists contain the names of local associations and the reasons their votes were not included in the tabulation of election returns. If you have any questions concerning your local’s returns please contact Tina Collins at 800-392-5839. District 3 ESP Delegates Ashley M. Strickland 6466 42.37% Run-Off Bernard Sanderson 3604 23.62% Run-Off Linda Taylor Ruffin 2791 18.29% Johnny Cunningham 399 33.70% Harry Richardson 2399 15.72% Agnes Terrell 367 31.00% Anita Gibson 1909 15.99% Delegate NEA Director Position Two District 4 Active Delegates Charlene McCoy 7926 52.99% Winner Benita Moyers 3710 24.80% Charlene McCoy 1765 14.79% Delegate Barbara Dunham 3321 22.20% Susan Williams Brown 1700 14.24% Delegate Katie Harper 1474 12.35% Delegate Mary Beth Tate 1356 11.36% Delegate Shasta Gibson Dollar 1287 10.78% Delegate Arthur Crumpler 1284 10.76% Melba Wiegand 1160 9.72% Debra Lee 760 28.59% Delegate Larry H. Wells 756 28.44% Delegate Amy LaCount 686 25.81% Delegate Russell J. Twilley 456 17.16% AEA District 1 Director Ashley M. Strickland Unopposed AEA District 2 Director Tammy Sims Unopposed AEA District 3 Director Becky Horn Unopposed AEA District 4 Director David Holt Unopposed AEA District 5 Director Benita Moyers Unopposed AEA District 6 Director District 4 ESP Delegates District 5 Active Delegates Carolyn Russell-Walker 485 48.50% Run-Off Dr. Barbara Cady 1338 17.71% Delegate Cassandra F. Childress 273 27.30% Run-Off Gwen Mitchell 1260 16.68% Delegate Jessie Shelton 242 24.20% Ava Jordan 1255 16.61% Delegate Benita Moyers 1251 16.56% Delegate Robin Stutts 1233 16.32% Delegate Betty Carter 1218 16.12% Delegate AEA District 6 Director Unexp Nancy Dowdy 543 54.57% JoJo Eyer 284 28.54% Herb Hicks 168 16.88% Winner District 5 ESP Delegates AEA District 7 Director Karen T. Pentecost Dr. Donna Strong 2009 55.99% Nick Rose 1579 44.01% Winner ESP Board Positions ESP President Darryl M. Traylor Unopposed ESP Vice President Bernard Sanderson 2182 51.38% Debbie Gramling 2065 48.62% Winner Cassandra F. Childress District 6 Active Delegates Rita Henderson 612 18.48% Delegate Carolyn Russell-Walker 609 18.39% Delegate Jessie Shelton 587 17.73% Delegate JoJo Eyer 529 15.98% Delegate Allegra L. Pointer 511 15.43% Monquelle Shamburger 463 13.98% District 6 ESP Delegates Bernard Sanderson ESP Secretary Unopposed Delegate 144 51.80% Darryl M. Traylor 77 27.70% Winner Cassandra F. Childress 57 20.50% Sheila Hocutt Remington 1961 15.30% Delegate Cheryl D. Wallace 1447 11.29% Delegate Myra Allen-Jones 1155 9.01% Delegate Dexter Peeples 1134 8.85% Delegate Tara Jones 1129 8.81% Delegate Eleanor Robinson James 1014 7.91% Delegate Stephanie Simpson 920 7.18% Barbara Dunham 909 7.09% Egla G. Richey 852 6.65% District 7 Active Delegates NEA Delegates Administrators Delegates Garry Gibson 8854 50.46% Delegate Herbert Vandervilt Stallworth, II 8694 49.54% Delegate District 1 Active Delegates Bonita Ross English 661 10.03% Delegate Harry Richardson 638 9.69% Delegate Ashley M. Strickland 633 9.61% Delegate Donna Michelle Robinson 594 9.02% Delegate Rosemary Cunningham 841 6.56% Linda Taylor Ruffin 583 8.85% Delegate Carolyn Miller 828 6.46% Betty Hannah 562 8.53% Delegate Vikii Mims 624 4.87% Donna F. Marsh 555 8.43% Henry Cox 551 8.36% Gwendolyn Carter 698 26.12% Delegate Tara Hunter 528 8.02% B.J. Johnson 676 25.30% Delegate Regina Rencher 484 7.35% Kenneth Dukes 661 24.74% Juanita B. Veale 455 6.91% Luke Jackson, Jr. 637 23.84% Alpha Maria T. Porter 343 5.21% District 7 ESP Delegates Ballot Positions for the 2014-2015 AEA Runoff Election District 1 ESP Delegates Nashasta (Shasta) Craig Pollard 295 50.95% Delegate Frances W. Craig 284 49.05% Delegate Debbie Smith 841 17.47% Delegate Jerome Bellamy 832 17.28% Delegate Bernard Sanderson Dr. Victoria Kemp Reese 814 16.91% Delegate Ashley M. Strickland JoAnn Wilson 807 16.76% Delegate AEA District 6 Director Gwen Bean 790 16.41% Delegate Tammy Sims 731 15.18% Jenell Neal 344 30.12% Delegate Carol Walker 322 28.20% Delegate Renard Jenkins 255 22.33% Kimberly D. Washington 221 19.35% District 2 Active Delegates AEA Vice President Sylvester James Sherry Tucker NEA Director Position One Cassandra F. Childress Carolyn Russell-Walker District 2 ESP Delegates Election materials and ballots for the runoff elections will be mailed to all local presidents by Friday, March 6, 2015. The AEA Runoff Election deadline is Friday, April 17, 2015. All election returns must be at AEA Headquarters by 4:45 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2015, in order to be accepted. District 2: ASU Active, ASU ESP, Barbour County ESP, Butler County ESP, Crenshaw County ESP, DYS Mt Meigs ESP, Elba City Active, Elba City ESP, Enterprise City ESP, Enterprise Jr. College ESP, Enterprise Ozark Aviation Active/ESP, Eufaula City Active, Geneva City Active, Geneva City ESP, Geneva County Active, Ozark City Active/ESP, Pike County Active, Pike County ESP, Sparks Tech Active, Sparks Tech ESP, Trenholm Active/ ESP, Wallace CC Dothan Active/ESP District 3: Anniston City ESP, Calhoun County Active, Calhoun County ESP, Central Al CC Active/ESP, Chattahoochee Valley Active, Chattahoochee Valley ESP, Cleburne County ESP, ACESEO Active, Coosa County Active, Jacksonville State Active/ESP, Lee County ESP, Macon County Active, Macon County ESP, Phenix City ESP, Piedmont City Active, Roanoke City Active, Roanoke City ESP, Southern Union Active, Southern Union ESP, Sylacauga City Active, Sylacauga City ESP, Talladega City Active, Talladega City ESP, Talladega County Active, Tallapoosa County Active, Tallapoosa County ESP District 4: Bevill Hamilton Active, Bevill Sumiton Active/ESP, Boaz City Active/ESP, Cherokee County Active, Ft. Payne City ESP, G C Wallace/Hanceville Active/ESP, Guntersville City Active/ESP, Lawrence County Active, Marion County Active, NW Shoals/Phil Campbell Active, NW Shoals/Phil Campbell ESP, Snead State CC Active, Snead State CC ESP, Walker County Active District 5: Athens State Active/ESP, Drake Tech Active/ESP, Florence City ESP, Hartselle City Active/ESP, Jackson County ESP, Limestone County ESP, Madison City ESP, Muscle Shoals City ESP, Scottsboro City Active, Sheffield City ESP, Tuscumbia City Active/ESP, Univ North AL Active District 6: Homewood City Active/ESP, Jefferson State CC ESP, Lawson State Active, Lawson State ESP, Leeds City Active/ ESP, Midfield City ESP, Mt. Brook City Active/ESP, Oneonta City Active, Oneonta City ESP, Pell City Active, Pell City ESP, St. Clair County ESP, Trussville City ESP District 7: Alabaster City ESP, Bessemer State Active/ESP, Bevill/Fayette Active, Bibb County ESP, Choctaw County Active, Choctaw County ESP, Demopolis City ESP, Fayette County Active, G C Wallace CC Selma Active, G C Wallace CC Selma ESP, Greene County ESP, Hale County ESP, Linden City Active, Marengo County ESP, Marion Military Active/ESP, Pelham City ESP, Pickens County Active, Selma City Active/ESP, Shelton State CC Active/ESP Ballots Received after Deadline • Albertville City Active • Bevill/Fayette ESP • Chickasaw Active/ESP • Coosa County ESP • Daleville City Active/ESP • Decatur City Active • Jefferson County ESP • Lawrence County ESP • Marengo County Active • Midfield City Active • Piedmont City ESP • State Department of Education Active • Troy City Active • Winston County ESP No Ballot Affidavit • Baldwin County ESP • Butler County Active • Conecuh County Active • Cullman County ESP • DYS Mt Meigs Active • Haleyville City Active • Henry County ESP • Jefferson County Active • Lanett City Active • Talladega County ESP • Tallassee City Active/ESP • Winfield Active/ESP SLUG -- PAGE 8 CMYK 8 ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL | February 23, 2015 Earn 5MoXrE* Discover the power of your new NEA Online Savings Account. 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