36
Opinion
April 16 - May 6, 2016
www.SanTanSun.com
Community Commentaries
Disability awareness award winners deserve praise BY COUNCILWOMAN NORA ELLEN
Every year, the City Council celebrates the achievements of Chandler residents with disabilities as well as the people who support them. It is always a pleasure for me to meet the recipients of the Disability Awareness Recognition Awards selected by the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities at a City Council meeting. I would like to congratulate them again and publically share extracts of their nominations. They certainly deserve our praise. This year, two students were selected as students of the year. The first award was granted to Michael Gonzalez Santiago from Santan Junior High School. Michael is an eighth-grade student who was nominated by one of his teachers. In the nomination, Michael is referred to as one of the biggest advocates for students with special needs. Unknowingly, Michael has motivated more than 100 students to apply to become peer helpers, known as “Stormin’ Buddies” for the next school year. His teacher attributes his academic success to his positive attitude as well as “the endless efforts of his mother, Luana Santiago, and his uncle, Kyle Tolman.” Michael’s family has been “extremely
supportive of Michael and has been encouraging him to be the best he can be.” Congratulations, Michael, for overcoming your challenges and being a bright light to those around you. The second award for student of the year was given to Madeline Chan from Basha High School. Madeline was also nominated by one of her teachers who stated that she is “every teacher’s dream student.” The nomination reads: “she arrives every day with a smile, anxious to get started with the day’s activities. She excitedly participates in all learning activities and especially likes reading class where she can point to symbol vocabulary as the teacher reads the story. She is also a teacher’s challenge, as the learning expectations must expand higher and higher because Maddie continually rises to meet them, especially with using her AAC device to communicate.” Congratulations, Maddie, on winning this year’s award. Several students were also recognized for their volunteer efforts to assist people with disabilities. This year’s awards for volunteers of the year were given to Connor Dorn and Max Rhoads from Santan Junior High School, and Kyla Belville from Chandler High School. They have gone above and beyond to
assist students at their schools difference in students’ lives. and demonstrate “kindness, Finally, the employer of the friendliness and the ability to year award was given to Home always be outgoing and positive Depot. They gracefully agreed to role models.” hire two students with intellectual I would like to thank you disabilities from the PLACE for your leadership skills and Transition Program as temporary compassion. employees. Home Depot staff The Chandler Mayor’s worked with a job coach and the Committee for People with students to provide them with an Disabilities has chosen two exceptional learning experience. Nora Ellen. Submitted winners for the “Educators of The students were later hired as photo the Year.” Angelica Menchaca permanent employees and still has worked at Bogle Junior High for 17 years work at Home Depot. Thank you to Sherry and her nomination praises her for her Jenkins at Home Depot for enabling the devotion to the school, students and the collaboration with PLACE. community. “Angelica does her utmost to All of this year’s award recipients, help students, not only understand concepts along with the members of the Mayor’s being taught, but ensures they know how Committee for People with Disabilities can much she cares about them as individuals.” take great pride in all they have done for the The second award was given to Stephanie City of Chandler. Jones from Basha High School for being To learn more about the work of the a “quintessential teacher” and for having Committee and scholarship opportunities, “incredible instincts when it comes to visit www.chandleraz.gov/therapeutic or call understanding and accommodating a Collette Prather at (480) 782-2709. student with complex needs, yet pushing them to be as independent as possible.” Nora Ellen, whose term expires in January, Congratulations to you both for excelling can be reached at nora.ellen@chandleraz.gov. at your work and making such a great
Employees matter BY RICK MURRAY, CEO, ARIZONA SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Arizona’s economic success in recent years can be attributed to our pro-business environment, fiscal conservatism and common sense approach to government regulation. But it is Arizona employees who make and keep businesses strong. Their skills and productivity build the foundation of success. Despite Arizona’s right-to-work laws and current low rate of unionization, Arizona employees and businesses are increasingly exposed to big labor’s stranglehold on the workplace and economic growth. For too long, federal statutes have equated employees with unions and
ceded worker’s fundamental rights to the labor organizations claiming to represent them. Labor organizations are ramping up recruitment efforts in our state and fighting to maintain their influence in Washington. The interests of their members and potential members have fallen by the wayside. That is why Congress must pass the Employees Rights Act. This legislation would increase accountability by union leaders to members and allow employees to make the choice of whether to join, remain with, or leave a union by requiring a recertification vote whenever more than 50% of the workforce turns over. Federal statistics
show a mere 7 % of today’s workforce actually voted for their own union because certification was achieved decades before they were employed. In addition, certifying unions using public card checks rather than a secret ballot vote leaves employees vulnerable to intimidation and threatens the integrity of the certification process. In surveys, union members by 81 % approved of the requirement that unions receive prior approval from its members before spending their dues on politics. To be clear, this legislation does nothing to hinder the right to unionization, but sets some basic rules to ensure fairness. Employees will continue to have the right to benefit from collective bargaining and
other union benefits if they so choose. The Employee Rights Act guarantees employees greater transparency, enhanced accountability and a strong democratic process which ensures employees are treated as the valuable asset they are within Arizona’s economy. Sen. John McCain and Reps. Trent Franks, Paul Gosar and David Schweikert are a few of the prominent co-sponsors of S. 1874 / H.R. 3222 The Employee Rights Act and should be commended for their support and taking a stand to guarantee the citizens of Arizona and our county their right to work.
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