COMMUNIQUÉ Publication for Members of Central OEA/NEA
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Spring 2017
Adrienne M. Bowden, President
We Must Protect Our Profession and Our Students Adrienne M. Bowden (Pickerington EA), Central OEA/NEA President
On February 7th as the new Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, began her first day on the job, educators nationwide began watching for indications of the Trump Administration’s stances on education issues such as charter schools, student debt, for-profit regulations, and privatization. Heavily focused on K-12 education and civil rights issues, the DeVos confirmation was an historic event. Many of us were concerned with her lack of experience and qualifications. She has never been an educator and was vague about her opinions and positions on various issues throughout the hearings. As education advocates, you along with millions of other teachers, education support professionals, and parents flooded social media and the Congressional switchboards to urge the rejection of DeVos. That activism did not go unnoticed. We had record levels of participation from Association members. Our opposition led to a tied vote which required Vice President Pence to record the tie-breaking vote for the first time in history.
We must stay active to ensure a great public school for all students. We do not have to accept that this is our new reality. If we want change to occur, we need to keep up the pressure at all levels- national, state, and local. We saw recently how our advocacy work can be effective when Governor Kasich included teacher externships in his budget proposal. Your continuous calls, letters, and social media pressure has all but ensured the removal of that ill-conceived budget component. These are times like never before. Our profession is being led by a person who has no experience in our field. We, as professionals will be called upon to do things we have rarely been asked to do before. We will need all your voices to ensure our profession maintains the highest quality, where our members are protected and viewed as professionals, and all our students’ needs are being met. We do not have to settle for ideas such as Right to Work (for less), privatization, and a country full of low-performing charter schools. The time to open our classroom doors and engage with the State House and White House is now.
We as educators understand that the Secretary of Education occupies a powerful position that influences almost every component of education policy and practice. We should be vigilant of Secretary DeVos’s agenda and potential influence in our classrooms and worksites.
As Elie Weiesel said “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” We must advocate, we must act, and we must protect our profession and our students.
Public education is an essential conduit to fulfilling the promise of our country. Our public schools play a foundational role in the formation of our students as future participants in the global society and as informed, criticalthinking citizens. More significantly, a high-quality public education is indispensable in order to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to achieve their highest potential regardless of zip code, social economic status, gender, creed, or color.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Delegate Information for the Central Representative Assembly The Representative Assembly is the legislative body of Central OEA/NEA composed of elected delegates from all the locals that make up the Central OEA/NEA district. The meeting is held once per year and is the policy-making body of the Association, including the final approval of the budget. This year’s Central Representative Assembly and All Area Meeting will be held on Friday April 21, 2017, at Columbus Airport Marriott, 1375 N Cassady Ave, Columbus. Some of the expected highlights of the Assembly are: • Election of Central OEA/NEA President; • Election of Central OEA/NEA Vice President; • Election of ESP Representative to the Central Executive Board; • Election of three OEA Board of Directors members; • Adoption of the 2017-18 budget;
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• Proposed changes to the Central Constitution & bylaws; • Debate on any new business items presented by the delegates; • A collection for the OEA Fund for Children and Public Education (bring your checkbook). Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. and closes promptly at 5:30 p.m. President Bowden expects to call the Assembly to order at 5:45 p.m. A buffet style dinner will be provided during the registration period. An OEA delegate briefing will take place during the Central RA. Delegates and local leaders must register on our website this year, to ensure a dinner reservation.
COMMUNIQUÉ Volume 45, Number 3
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Spring 2017
Published four times a year as a service of
CENTRAL OEA/NEA, INC. 947 Goodale Blvd. Columbus, OH 43212
Adrienne M. Bowden, President Kevin Griffin, Vice President Russell Hughlock, Communications & Organizing Coordinator Editors Ann Eblin, Judy Furnas, Carla Noll & Tricia Sanders Fiscal Manager Tim Skamfer Production Russell Hughlock Design Pam McClung Phone 614-222-8228 E-mail aa@centraloeanea.org
2016 - 17 Growth and Development Grants Growth and Development Grants are awarded to locals that wish to improve the effectiveness of their local. Grants are reviewed by Central OEA/NEA Finance Committee and recommendations for the awards are made to the Executive Board. So far, this school year, eighteen local associations have been awarded over $39,000 in Growth and Development Grants: Benjamin Logan EA, Berne Union EA, Delaware City TA, Dublin EA, Dublin SSA, Indian Lake EA, Jonathan Alder EA, Licking Heights ESP, Miami Trace EA, Miami Trace Non-Certified EA, Northwestern TA, Reynoldsburg EA, Southeastern Local EA, Southeastern Local ASE, United Riverside EA, Westerville Educational SSA, West Liberty Salem EA, Worthington ESP. As Central OEA/NEA now has a “rolling” application process, additional grants may still be awarded for the 2016-2017 school year. More information can be found on the website www.centraloeanea.org or by contacting Andre Prenoveau, Central OEA/NEA Project Manager pm@centraloeanea.org.
Central Retired Mary Binegar (OEA-R) Central Retired Committee Chair Retirement may be far away, within a few years, or already a reality. No matter where you are on this continuum, you need to join NEA/OEA/Central Retired. Joining now locks the price of your lifetime membership. Joining now also allows an easy transition of your NEA member benefits at retirement. When you retire, you leave your job, not your profession. In order to stay connected and informed, members receive the NEA and OEA magazines, the Communique and the Central Retired newsletter. Additionally, they receive occasional email updates about issues or events critical to public education. Our members stay politically involved by attending rallies, lobby days and other events. Many help mold future teachers through the Intergenerational Mentoring Program. Serving on Central committees or attending social events allows members to stay in touch with their association friends. Stay involved and join our retired association now. For more information please contact Mary Binegar binegm@aol.com.
Spring 2017
Save the Date
2017 OEA Minority Leadership Training Program July 21 – 22, 2017 OEA Headquarters For questions or additional information Contact Demetrice Davis at davisdem@ohea.org or call (800) 282-1500 Ext. 3100
Meet the New State Board of Education Brittany Alexander (Hilliard EA) In January, six newly elected members of the State Board of Education took their Oath of Office. One Board Member, Stephanie Dodd, was recently reelected to her seat in District 9, and is not included among the new members highlighted below. Linda Haycock represents District 1, covering a large area of Northwest Ohio. Ms. Haycock is the President of the Shawnee Local Schools Board, and serves on the Federal Relations Network of the Ohio School Boards Association - a role that allows her to advocate for public education with officials at the federal level. Her campaign statements indicate that she wants to ensure all stakeholders’ voices are included in implementation of ESSA, hold all schools that receive public money accountable, and broaden meaning of success beyond test data. Lisa Woods represents District 5, covering parts of Northeast Ohio. Ms. Woods is a cofounder of Medina County Friends and Neighbors, a conservative grassroots group. Her campaign statements indicate that she wants to allow teachers and staff to carry guns to counter school attacks she feels that Ohio’s learning standards are not working. Dr. Antoinette Miranda represents District 6, covering parts of Central Ohio. Dr. Miranda is a Professor and Director of the School Psychology Program at The Ohio State University, and previously worked as school psychologist, resulting in more than 35 years of education experience. Her campaign statements indicate that she wants to work toward equitable school funding, hold all schools that receive public money accountable, and focus on the education of the whole child.
Spring 2017
Nancy Hollister represents District 8, covering a large portion of Eastern Ohio. Ms. Hollister has served in a number of government roles, including Mayor of Marietta, Ohio’s first female Governor, and an Ohio House Representative. Her campaign statements indicate that she wants to hold all schools that receive public funding accountable, usher in virtual reality education and more career and technical skills, and continue discussions regarding public school funding. Nick Owens represents District 10, covering a large area of Southwest Ohio. Mr. Owens is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Brown County and has previously served as an aide to Congresswoman Jean Schmidt. His campaign statements indicate that he wants to incentivize and increase funding to schools that redesign curriculum to fit the needs of the current labor market, constantly emphasize technology in classrooms, and improve educational opportunities in order to close achievement gaps. Meryl Johnson represents District 11, covering most of Cuyahoga County. Ms. Johnson is a retired educator with 40 years of teaching experience in Cleveland, and serves on the Executive Board of North Shore AFLCIO. Her campaign statements indicate that she wants to reduce standardized testing, include educators and students in educational decisions, and hold charter schools accountable.
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Now More Than Ever
Kevin Griffin (Dublin EA), Central Vice President and Linna Jordan (Hilliard EA) OEA Board Member I believe teachers are the experts in their fields and know what is best for their students. I believe we have the responsibility to speak up for our students in order to meet their needs without fear of retaliation. I’m a union member because I believe in fairness and professionalism. Others don’t believe this. They have never taught, don’t understand how students learn, and think teaching can be reduced into a one-size-fits-all boxed curriculum. They think they can accurately evaluate students and teachers based on test scores. They think teachers’ jobs are easy and we should simply do as we’re told, whether we believe in it or not.
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Don’t believe you’re being micromanaged? Two years ago, HB 420 stated that teachers would lose their license and be charged with a misdemeanor if they spoke out against common core standardized tests. Six years ago, the governor mandated OTES and that test scores be put in your evaluations. Since then numerous studies have proved this is a bad practice, yet it continues. ODE has been told, under no uncertain terms, it should drastically reduce the amount of time students are tested. Yet it continues. More recently, Governor Kasich added in his budget bill that teachers should be required to complete an internship in the private sector as a requirement to renew their license. Let’s not forget that he also thinks we should ban teachers’ lounges because that is where we complain about how “woe is us.” And then Representative Brenner, our House Education Chair, who once referred to schools as socialism, wants us to be required to teach cursive handwriting. There are inequitable school funding issues, the experiential charter school disaster, the unethical over-funding of ECOT, and our grizzly bear fearing Secretary of Education. Feeling vulnerable yet? This is why I’m a union member.
We may often wonder, “What is the union doing about this?” We should remember that we are the union. Our association is not a separate entity serving a few. Instead, it is us, all of us united with a common purpose. When each one of us adds our voice, professional expertise, and personal insight, we form a community that is strengthened by our numbers. Our connections to each other through local issues, political interests or professional improvement are what makes our voice stronger. With a united voice, we are better advocates for our students, our communities and our profession. We must be wary of any attempts to weaken an association whose mission it is to advocate for our students and members. During these uncertain times our voices, working together, are not optional. Central OEA/NEA offers many opportunities for you to become involved and to help you amplify your voice.
Spring Is the Perfect Time to Take a Closer Look at NEA Member Benefits Every member can find a way to save money and time just by visiting the NEA Member Benefits site from discount movie tickets and deals on cell phones, to financial planning, insurance and even professional development, opportunities to save are there. The “Click and Save” tab is an easy way to shop online, download paper discount coupons and find deals on everything from tires to local restaurants. If you like to travel, NEA Member Benefits should be your starting point when planning your next trip.
Another anti-union right-to-work bill was introduced in the Ohio legislature. Supporters claim this legislation will give school districts and teachers flexibility from “constrictive union contracts” and enable them to run their districts more efficiently. We should remember that the word “efficiency” typically means “cheaper,” as in cheaper salaries and cheaper benefits and/or fewer opportunities for our students.
NEA Member Benefits provides discounts for many major car rental companies as well as hotels and group vacations.
While Ohio’s out-of-touch legislators are proposing ridiculous laws about teacher internships and cursive handwriting, we are still dealing with already-passed ridiculous laws about testing and evaluations. We need a strong union now more than ever.
Check out www.neamb.com, and you can spend less on many of your everyday purchases.
Looking for fraud protection? NEA MB gives a discount on that, too! Insurance protection for you, your belongings and even your pet can be discounted through your NEA Member Benefits.
Spring 2017
Funding for Public Education a Major Concern as Legislature Debates State Budget Scott DiMauro (Worthington EA) OEA Vice President Governor John Kasich has introduced his fourth and final two-year state budget proposal. Formally introduced on February 8, the 3,512-page bill (HB 49) contains a host of funding and policy initiatives that offer a measure of Ohio’s commitment to meeting the educational needs of all of its students, pre-K through college. Warning of the threat of recession, Gov. Kasich proposes a lean budget, providing only a one-percent overall increase in state funding for K-12 education in each of the next two years. (While there is no evidence of an actual recession, state revenues are coming in below projections, and a series of ill-advised tax policy changes over the previous three budget cycles is making it difficult for the state to cover its expenses.) A closer look at the governor’s proposal shows the vast majority of school districts across Ohio face cuts. Between the funding formula and cuts in tangible personal property tax reimbursements, 390 districts (64%) will receive fewer state dollars in 2018 than they receive in 2017, with most districts flat-funded for the second year of the budget.
the expansion of failing private school voucher programs would be another way of helping public education. Kasich’s budget appropriates $86.1 million for EdChoice vouchers over the next two years. As with previous budget plans, HB 49 includes a grabbag of new policy ideas, ranging from potentially sensible revisions to College Credit Plus rules to some radical ideas for teacher licensure and local school board composition. Seeking to make schools more responsive to the needs of employers, Kasich’s budget would require all teachers to complete an on-site work experience with a local business or chamber of commerce as a condition of licensure renewal. It would also require the appointment of three non-voting local businesspeople to every board of education. OEA has pushed back hard on these misguided proposals.
Where can one find funding to provide Ohio’s districts with more of the resources their students need? One place to start is changing the way charter schools are funded.
Who needs another needless hoop for teachers to jump through that was created by those who are not part of the teaching profession? Responding to pressure in the form of thousands of emails, tweets, posts and phone calls, legislative leaders have signaled their intent to remove the externship proposal from the budget.
OEA is lobbying to revise the funding formula in order to end the practice of penalizing districts with the loss of local revenues when students attend charter schools. Stopping
We’ll need members to continue speaking out as the budget works its way through the House and Senate through the end of June.
Spring 2017
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Build Your Leadership Team, Plan Your Year, It’s Your Time!
Central Diversity Conference Addressed Gender Issues in Public Education Jamel Ammons (Newark TA), Diversity Committee Chair The Central District Diversity Committee wishes to thank all those who helped plan, participated in, or attended, the 2017 Diversity Conference. This year’s conference was held on January 28th at the Central District office. Central members and guests spent the day reflecting on the theme Gender Issues in Public Education.
Central’s Summer Leadership conference has a new name and look. The main focus is the same: TIME … Time for leaders to attend trainings and the opportunity for your leadership teams to plan retreat style. We kept the day-and-a-half retreat style format to allow for uninterrupted planning, time to do the work that needs to be done.
Ms. Stephanie Patton, Principal at Columbus Preparatory School for Girls and Mr. Kyle Gibson, Principal at the Columbus Preparatory Schools for Boys shared with the attendees how they are creating success in their respective buildings. Both Mr. Gibson and Ms. Patton brought students, parents and a member from their faculty. Each of the speakers reflected on how learning communities can be traditional and nontraditional, while meetings the need of twenty-first century learners.
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The second session dealt with the serious and oftenneglected topic Human Trafficking. Connie Anderson, the Director of Justice Ministries, Great Lakes East Region provided alarming data regarding the growing problem affecting our communities. Mrs. Anderson raised our awareness and helped those present understand our need to be informed and proactive about this growing problem. Ms. Heather Cole, Diversity Coordinator, and Ms. Jackie Powers, Supervisor of Equity Inclusion, and with Olentangy Local School District, led our final session and challenged each member to think about individual biases. Members took a quick survey, which, shocked, confirmed, confused and illustrated the urgent need to begin the challenging conversations around bias both explicit and implicit. Feedback from those who attended the conference has been positive and encouraging. This year’s conference ended at 3:15 p.m. However, most attendees commented on how fast the day went. The Diversity Committee is honored to have brought together educators who are committed to making diversity our greatest asset. The Diversity Committee is thankful for all who attended and presented and has already begun planning the 2018 Diversity Conference.
June 12 will offer three concurrent workshops.
• The newer President & Vice President training that normally occurs in August; • A new workshop for Building Representatives
• The annual Treasurers workshop will also be offered at this time.
A retreat style time is provided following lunch for local teams to work, plan and organize for the coming year. Whether you are planning for negotiations, organizing for membership engagement, revising your C&B, etc., this retreat is for you. You can register for one of the morning workshops on June 12, or your team can register for the retreat on June 12 & 13, or you can take advantage of all the time, and register for both. Register at www.centraloeanea.org/teams The Central Leadership team is excited about providing this time and we look forward to seeing you there.
It’s Your Time!
Spring 2017
Ohio’s New Educators (O.N.E.) Amber Clark (South-Western EA) As many of us know, a staggering number of new teachers leave the profession within their first five years of teaching. The primary reason that these teachers are leaving the profession is because they do not feel like they have the support they need to be successful. In order to fill that gap, OEA has made supporting and engaging early career educators a critical priority. Ohio’s New Educators (O.N.E.) was formed in 2016 as a new community within the OEA family that focuses on engaging those teachers within the first five years of their careers. The goal of O.N.E. is to engage and empower educators to become relevant, active, and visible leaders in our profession through collective action. Above all, O.N.E. aims to provide the support system that teachers need to continue to serve in the profession without having to go at it alone. Beginning in the fall of 2016, a Core Leadership Team comprised of early career educators from across the state has worked to develop the O.N.E. mission and vision. In December, O.N.E. was officially introduced to members and leaders from across the state at the OEA Fall Representative Assembly. We held a reception to introduce O.N.E. to local leaders who can encourage their newer members to engage with O.N.E. In February, O.N.E. hosted a reception in conjunction with the OEA Advocacy and Organizing Conference to provide another networking opportunity for early career educators and active and engaged OEA members to interact.
educators to choose from. Sessions will be offered focusing on classroom management, building relationships with parents, writing for RESA, political advocacy and organizing, communicating through social media, union basics, ESSA, and Degrees Not Debt. The conference will be held on April 7th and 8th at the Columbus Airport Marriott. The link to register for the summit will be posted on the O.N.E. Facebook and Twitter accounts on March 1st. Space is limited to the first one hundred members so register early before the conference is full. Connect with O.N.E. Facebook: www.facebook.com/OHnewedutcators Twitter: www.twitter.com/OHneweducators And through NEA edCommunities at “Ohio’s New Educators”
Over the last few months, the O.N.E. Core Leadership Team has used the results of the NEA New Educator Surveys to plan a professional development opportunity for early career educators to be held in conjunction with Ohio’s Student Association Spring Conference. The O.N.E. Professional Development Summit will offer eighteen different session options for early career
Power Up! The 2017 Central Leadership Conference
A packed room of members at the 2017 Power Up! Conference members watch a video
Spring 2017
Central VP Kevin Griffin meeting with presenters Dan Ramos (OEA) discusses Patty Nyquist (OEA ) and Deanna Chickerella (ODE) school board elections
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CE N T R A L
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O E A/N E A, Inc.
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947 Goodale Boulevard Columbus, OH 43212
COLUMBUS, OH PERMIT No. 204
COMMUNIQUÉ In this issue 2 Delegate Information for the Central Representative Assembly 2 2016-17 Growth and Development Grants 2 Central Retired 3 2017 OEA Minority Leadership Training Program 3 Meet the New State Board of Education 4 Now More Than Ever
Central OEA/ NEA
Upcoming Events
May 12 - 13
OEA Rep Assembly, Columbus Convention Center
June 12 - 13
Central Local Retreat (Includes Treasurers workshop, New Presidents Training), Embassy Suites, Airport Dr.
June 30 - July 5 NEA RA, Boston MA
4 Take a Closer Look at NEA Member Benefits 5 Funding for Public Education a Major Concern as Legislature Debates State Budget
Registrations for all events are available on Central’s website at www.centraloeanea.org
6 Central Diversity Conference Addressed Gender Issues in Public Education 6 Build Your Leadership Team, Plan Your Year, It’s Your Time! 7 Ohio’s New Educators (O.N.E.) 7 Power Up! The 2017 Central Leadership Conference 2017 OEA Minority Leadership Training Program
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Funding for Public Education a Major Cocnern
NEA Click & Save
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Ohio’s New Educators (O.N.E.)
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