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Filling the Gap

2021 Everyday Superhero Nominees

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As North Dakota United members, I believe we can all agree that our state and our people have made tremendous progress in the fight against COVID-19. The war is not done though, and many challenges remain. Together, we can best face these issues and solve the problems before us. United as one, we will overcome every obstacle. In this issue of United Voices, we look at a few of the most pressing challenges that we are all facing, individually and collectively, as public professionals. Our feature story dives deeper into the widening gaps that are

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 President’s Post 4 Helping with Health Care 6 Filling the Gap 10 The Legislature is Over: You Made the Difference 14 2021 Everyday Superhero Nominees

17 19 20 24

opening up within education, and the disproportionate effect it is having on students of color and with special needs. We also are pleased to share the story of how the ND University System and its 11 campuses are working together to help students from all backgrounds find affordable health insurance options. Also, check out our wrap-ups of the 2021 legislative session and our NDU Delegate Assembly, and help us celebrate our newest Every Day Heroes! Thanks for reading,

Kelly Hagen, United Voices Editor

2021 Delegate Assembly is in the E-Books NDU Election 2022 Everyone Deserves a Safe Workplace: Identifying Sexual Harassment Teachers of the Year Group Share Reasons for Vacccination

25 A Public Health Perspective on Efficacy of COVID Vaccines 26 Upcoming NDU Events 28 Protecting Defined Benefit

United Voices is the official publication of North Dakota United, 301 N 4th St, Bismarck, ND 58501 Contact Us: 701.223.0450 | comments@ndunited.org Postmaster, send address changes to: North Dakota United, 301 N 4th St, Bismarck, ND 58501 Kelly Hagen Director of Communications kelly.hagen@ndunited.org

Tom Gerhardt Director of Public Affairs tom.gerhardt@ndunited.org

Image Printing Design/Publisher

Leah DeKrey Digital Director leah.dekrey@ndunited.org

Sarah Keiser Special Projects Coordinator sarah.keiser@ndunited.org

Alex Rohr Organizer alex.rohr@ndunited.org

ND United Voices

President’s Post

Politics Affects Us All

Decisions made by lawmakers can alter the course of your career, life One thing I hear often from friends, relatives and even some of our members is that they hate politics. They tell me that they are sick of the partisanship, the vitriol and the politicians themselves. One friend went so far as to share with me what he sees as the etymology of the word “politics.” He said, “Politics is made up of two words: Poly which is Greek for ‘many,’ and tics, which are blood-sucking parasites.” What is clear is that he is not alone in his assessment of the current state of our political environment. Given what we have witnessed in recent years, it is easy to understand why people are cynical about politics. But we cannot allow our cynicism to cause us to disengage from the political process. Every single decision that affects the lives and livelihoods of public employees is a decision made in Washington, DC, or Bismarck, ND. That said, then, it is vitally important that public employees engage in the process whose results dictate. During the recently concluded 67th Legislative Assembly, we saw a continuation of legislative efforts to pass legislation that was not in the best interests of ND United members and other public employees. ND United had to fight off three voucher bills that would have sent public dollars to private

By Nick Archuleta NDU President

institutions and those who do not avail themselves of public education. We derailed a plan that would have ended the defined benefit retirement plan for state employees. We successfully battled to improve a bill that altered the longstanding collective bargaining law. ND United had to lobby exceptionally hard for a nominal increase to the K-12 funding formula. Looking ahead, we do not see those challenges abating any time soon, so it is exceptionally important that we remain engaged in the important work of influencing policy. To that end, ND United is currently developing plans to increase the opportunities our members have to increase their activism. It is my fervent hope that our member activist numbers will increase, and our voices will be amplified. Finally, it is important to note that this is not about Democrats or Republicans, it is about taking action to advocate for great public schools, public universities and public service. As John F. Kennedy said, “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you. — Pericles ndunited.org

Helping with Health Care

University System goes extra mile to help students find affordable insurance By Kelly Hagen, NDU Communications

Health insurance is a complicated subject at any age. Figuring out coverage and determining the right plan can be a daunting task. Imagine now what that’s like for an international student at one of our 11 public universities in North Dakota. Brand new to their community, this state and country, independent for the first time in their lives and faced with an enormous decision. As Director of Student Affairs for the ND University System, Katie Fitzsimmons has been tasked with helping college students make these decisions since her first day of employment. “When I started in my position in October of 2016”, said Fitzsimmons, a member of ND United, “my boss said, ‘I need you to solve our student health insurance problem. ... It’s a mess.’” The NDUS requires all international students to have health insurance. This insurance also has to meet a standard of coverage, according to Fitzsimmons. “You can Google ‘international student health insurance,’ and you will get 500 options,” she said. “It’s crazy cheap because it doesn’t do anything.” Prior to 2015, the student health insurance policy was being handled by 4

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Blue Cross Blue Shield. A platinumlevel plan was available to both international and domestic students for an affordable cost, approximately $750 per year. “We had many stories of students enrolling to take the minimum credits in order to get the health insurance,” Fitzsimmons said. “Our campuses were hearing these stories and felt this is a real problem.” Because both international and domestic students were eligible for these plans, but only international students were required to participate, international students were largely subsidizing affordable rates for domestic ones. “Less than 500 domestic students were purchasing the health insurance and roughly 2,000 international students,” Fitzsimmons said. “International students – generally speaking – do not use the health insurance. They don’t go in every single time they have a sore throat. They’re not used to navigating our health systems or insurance.” Most international students in North Dakota are from Canada and will generally seek care when they visit home. When BCBS dropped their student health insurance plan in December 2014, NDUS had to scramble to get those students onto a new plan. United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) stepped in and offered a

plan that was around a $1,200-1,500 annual premium, which was roughly double the previous plan’s cost. “Because of the unbalanced utilization between domestic and international students, that premium jumped to $2,000-2,500 within a year or two,” Fitzsimmons said. As premiums rose, more and more domestic students dropped out of the program, which caused premium rates for all students to rise dramatically. The decision was made to parse out domestic students from the plan. “The facts were pretty simple,” Fitzsimmons said, “We could get the international student health insurance down to $1,400-1,500 a year, and they’d be paying their fair share. Domestic students, if they still want it, it’s going to cost them $3,500 a year still to pay for insurance, but it’s more appropriate to their utilization rate.” Three years after domestic and international student health insurance plans were parsed, the premium rates for domestic students had skyrocketed. “In the fall of 2019, we decided we needed to drop the domestic plan,” Fitzsimmons said. “It was going to be over $5,800 per year. We only had 123 students on the plan in the entire system. So, we’re talking .02% of our population.” It was determined that students would be able to find better plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace, or exchanges, set up by the Affordable Care Act of 2010. “It was such a difficult decision to make, but we knew that domestic students had more options available to them through the Marketplace,” Fitzsimmons said. “As it turned out, those alternative options ended up, for the most part, being far more affordable than anything we could have ever offered for the

domestic student population, all while the international student insurance premium rates became more tenable.” Domestic students would need help in navigating their options on the Marketplace, though. “That’s where Maureen (Potucek) came in,” Fitzsimmons said. A veteran of health insurance sales, Potucek came to work for the University of North Dakota in 2017. When the domestic student insurance plan was closed in the fall of 2019, the University System took notice, and Potucek’s knowledge and skills were utilized. “She’s very, very savvy with the insurance world and the terms,” Fitzsimmons said. “So, she would work with students one-on-one and help them navigate coverage.” North Dakota State University added a similar position to their Student Health Services, and these two individuals went to work in helping students from the U.S. find affordable health insurance for themselves. Since 2018, Fitzsimmons estimates that adding these two positions has helped more than 200 students at UND and NDSU find health insurance plans that work well with college student’s unique needs. “It’s fulfilling for me and so gratifying that I can share what I know,” Potucek said. Fitzsimmons says that even more tools and resources are on the way for students across the state. “United Healthcare also has this new module that helps students walk through insurance options that are available to them,” Fitzsimmons said. “This will just be a free thing that we can link to on all of our campus websites and through the System website.” She anticipates the web portal will launch sometime this summer. ndunited.org

Filling the Gap

COVID-19 learning disruptions hit vulnerable students the hardest By Alex Rohr, NDU Communications

While teachers, paraprofessionals and education staff rose to every challenge they faced this past year with a heroic commitment to serving students and communities, the unprecedented shifts in learning structure meant some of the most vulnerable students may now be struggling more than ever.

What’s referred to as a “learning gap” or “unfinished learning” became apparent as swift changes to education meant most students and teachers worked remotely or on staggered hybrid schedules, at least for a time. These fluctuations occurred while many students encountered new stresses at home or in their communities, including the economic and cultural 6

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repercussions from a pandemic that killed more than half a million Americans and put roughly 100,000 North Dakotans out of work. The new stresses reverberated across every part of society and made canyons out of cracks that don’t always draw enough attention from the public, including in education. Where inequality or a lack of opportunity and access existed long before COVID-19, the pandemic expanded the divide. The gaps are clear in data collected by Dr. Ellie Shockley, an institutional researcher at the North Dakota University System. The trends show the groups most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were those who already experienced barriers prior to

COVID-19, in particular low-income students, Indigenous students, students who receive special education, and English as a second language learners. “Part of that is that’s always what happens,” said Shockley, an ND United Public Employee, Local #4660, member. “COVID just exacerbated the existing disparities. That’s just kind of the trend we see in general. COVID didn’t create these disparities. Students who live on the margins for one reason or another are already just more vulnerable. If you’re already vulnerable, then bad things happening hits you harder.” Shockley compiled the best North Dakota data available to examine ongoing concerns around the COVID-19 learning gap. The issue has received national and statewide attention, including targeted funding for states and localities to address it through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which also featured assistance for working families in challenging economic circumstances that affect learning every day. Although analyses involved only a sample of students because the pandemic led to the cancelation of 2020 state assessments, Shockley juxtaposed winter 2019-20 interim assessments prior to COVID-19 shutdowns to comparable assessments made approximately 12 months later. The result is a snapshot the Department of Public Instruction can use as a guide for the challenges that students and educators are facing together and how the state and districts can support them. “If they’re not addressed, it could cause

some real struggles down the line,” Shockley said. One sociological through line across vulnerable groups is poverty and economic stress. Among low-income students who previously performed math at grade level, 34% now perform below grade level, according to Shockley’s report. “A kid raised in poverty may be more likely to have neurological or behavioral struggles,” Shockley said. “There are just all these social forces that are really deeply entangled. Students are just going to need more support to even have the hope of catching up.” While there may be new attention to the learning gap, the problem is likely to persist unless state leaders recognize these disparities have been here all along and that a systemic problem requires a systemic solution. That includes providing teachers, paraprofessionals and schools with the support they deserve and need as part of addressing the longtime educator recruitment and retention crisis. SPECIAL EDUCATION CONCERNS Krisanna Peterson, a member of the Mandan Education Association, is a paraprofessional who serves students with disabilities. She’s also the mother of a son with special needs, including autism and asthma. Of special education students who previously performed writing at grade level, 63% now perform writing below grade level, according to Shockley’s report. ndunited.org

Peterson is more concerned about the loss in socialization some children are experiencing from being away from other kids their age, especially those with longer stints learning from home. “It could be more stressful because they’re not used to that stress at school, and it was kind of a dramatic change for some kids,” Peterson said. “I think we shouldn’t judge kids the way they are right now. We just need to accept them. We’ve all gone through this trauma together, and we’re figuring out the best way out of it.” Students who transfer districts often need to catch up on skills when they move to a new school using different grade-by-grade standards than their old one, she said. However, helping students with disabilities meet their potential often involves a lot of trial and error and personal attention, she said. “Working with each kid is so different. They say if you’ve met one kid with autism, you’ve met one kid with autism,” Peterson said. “We just need to find them where they’re at and work with them.” RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION This legislative session North Dakota United successfully advocated for 1% increases for each of the next two years for public education, including a provision that requires 70% of new state money to go toward raises for teachers and support staff. But there’s still a long way to go, even with new money coming from Washington, D.C. “We know that we are in fierce competition with other states for highquality teachers at a time when fewer 8

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individuals are choosing teaching as a profession. The answer to recruiting and retaining teachers is not to lower our standards and make it possible for just anyone to teach. The answer is to invest in the profession and give our educators the respect, autonomy, and supports they have earned,” said NDU President Nick Archuleta. North Dakota United has long supported local control and solutions along with state funding and policies to make district-by-district problemsolving possible. While educators are among those most concerned over bridging the pandemic-related learning gap and other disparities, they were also asked to go far above and beyond over the last year, adding new pressure on the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS While part of bridging the learning gap must feature investments in educators, paraprofessionals and support staff, other resources include access to early childhood education and healthy food as well as curriculum that incorporates children’s unique abilities, experiences and culture. Sashay Schettler, Bismarck Public Schools’ first full-time Indian Education Director, is developing the district’s Indigenous Education Program. She said for most of these students and Indigenous students specifically, COVID-19 ramifications and systemic issues, including racism “can’t be divorced, they’re just so connected.” “Every time something big like this hits,

Indigenous peoples are hit harder,” said Schettler, who is a citizen of M.H.A. Nation. Among Indigenous students who previously performed writing at grade level, 61% are now writing below grade level, according to Shockley’s report. Throughout the pandemic, many districts allowed students to choose virtual learning from home. And with that option available, Indigenous students were more likely to choose distance learning, Schettler said. Their decisions were influenced by a longstanding lack of sense of belonging in their educational environment as well as a virus that did disproportionate damage in Indigenous communities, including higher death rates and greater impact on young people amplifying longstanding disparities. “Our students should be able to see themselves every day. They shouldn’t have to put their identity on the shelf when they walk into Bismarck Public

Schools, and as a former graduate that’s what I had to do,” Schettler said. Bismarck’s Indigenous Education Program is early in the planning stages, but the process will and must incorporate Indigenous voices, including parents and students, Schettler said. It should also include teaching contemporary examples of Indigenous success to balance a longstanding narrative. “We know that we can’t have community collectively without a common history, without our common values, and a lot of these overlap,” Schettler said. “I think that strength can be found in collaboration and community. The work that needs to happen is about all of us, and when we are able to address these issues and heal, we will be able to move forward and create a community that looks out for each other.”

BY THE NUMBERS

- Among low-income students who previously performed math at grade level, 34%

now perform below grade level.

- Among Native students who previously performed writing at grade level, 61% now perform writing below grade level. - Among special education students who previously performed writing at grade level, 63% now perform writing below grade level. - Among English as a second language learners who previously read at grade level, 32% now read below grade level. Stats from North Dakota Department of Public Instruction: Winter 19/20-Winter 20/21

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The Legislature is Over: You Made the Difference By Alex Rohr, NDU Communications

The legislative session has ended, and despite our service during the most challenging year of our professional lives, public education and public employees faced unprecedented attacks on the work we do every day, our benefits, and our pay. With your thousands of contacts to your legislators, a robust lobbying effort led by President Nick Archuleta, and a targeted multimedia campaign, NDU successfully secured increases to education funding and public employee salaries. We fended off a last-minute broadside against our pensions and defeated several pieces of legislation, including three voucher bills, that would have harmed our schools, classrooms, and benefits. 10

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However, some legislators succeeded in passing a bill deliberately attacking academic freedom on our university campuses and another that chips away at teachers’ right to bargain in what could be the beginning of a disturbing trend. Following their success this session, we can expect opponents of public education and public employees to double down in future sessions, and we need to be ready. That said, all of us at ND United thank you for your outstanding advocacy in support of great public education, great public service, and the incredible public employees who provide them. TOGETHER, WE SECURED INCREASES TO K-12 FUNDING As usual, education funding came down to the last days of session. After often contentious negotiations, the legislature

passed the bill with everything advocated for by ND United. Our efforts helped secure a 1% increase in the K-12 funding formula in each year of the next biennium. In addition, the language we proposed declaring that 70% of all new monies would go to salary increases for teachers and education support professionals was also adopted. Considering that the House GOP pushed for 0% increases for each year of the biennium, the efforts of our lobby team and our members gave the Senate conferees the support they needed to stand firm. While we continue to believe that the investment in public education should have been higher in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are confident that this package was the best we could get in light of the fact that there will be a significant impact made by the influx

of federal dollars going to districts via the American Rescue Plan. Still, we must continue working together to educate legislators about the resources we need to address serous issues our schools face, such as teacher recruitment and retention. TOGETHER, WE SECURED PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RAISES After a year of public employees going above and beyond to keep North Dakota safe and served during the COVID-19 pandemic, we advocated for a 3% pay raise for each year of the biennium because ND’s dedicated public employees have definitely earned it. We were successful in securing a 1.5% raise for the first year and 2% for the second, but we have more work to do to ensure legislators recognize the ndunited.org

outstanding work public employees do every day. North Dakota public employees already make at least 7% less on average than their counterparts in the private sector, according to the Hays Group report from 2011. North Dakota has a long way to go before we pay our public employees equitably for the vital public services you all provide, and we are going to need your help to make that happen. TOGETHER, WE PROTECTED PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING BY DEFEATING VOUCHER SCHEMES Together, we defeated three voucher schemes that would have diverted tax dollars away from our classrooms to private schools and home schools. While we prevented HB 1281, HB 1369, and SB 2288 from becoming law this session, if trends from this year follow, we will see even more vicious attacks on public schools and our classrooms. TOGETHER, WE FENDED OFF ATTACKS ON OUR PENSIONS Despite a lack of understanding about how the changes to our pensions could hurt our state long term, the House pushed a last-minute attack on the PERS retirement plan that would put new employees on a defined contribution plan. Particularly disturbing is that this plan came about because SB 2046, which we supported in the Senate, was hog-housed to amend out all the good language of the bill and replace it with language that would end the defined benefit retirement plan for future state employees. Furthermore, it would have split the plan into one for state employees and 12

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one for political subdivision employees. SB 2046 was introduced late in the session, was not heard in a Senate committee with the amended language, and would have ended the defined benefit plan without an understanding of the ramifications to our members, the state, and political subdivisions. Equally disturbing is that the bill would have had been passed before an actuarial study could inform decision-makers of the true impact of the bill. The House tried to divide public employees by saying the switch would only affect new employees, but NDU members joined together to defeat the legislation that would further chip away at our retirement and benefits. Some legislators even indicated pension cuts could soon come for those not included in this proposal, such as teachers, higher ed, judges and law enforcement. THE LEGISLATURE PUT YOUR FREEDOM TO BARGAIN AT RISK SB 2215 was an unprecedented attack on the freedom of teachers to bargain at the local level. Among other regulations, the bill added a new and arbitrary deadline that will shrink the amount of time for negotiating contracts starting in 2022. The new law disrespects the role of teachers advocating for pay, benefits, classrooms, and students while giving even more power to school boards. We were successful in pushing the deadline for bargaining to end from June to July, which limits the threat on local negotiations. Please alert us if any school boards choose to take advantage of the new laws in bad faith by delaying negotiations.

LEGISLATORS HIJACKED CHALLENGE GRANTS TO DISMANTLE ACADEMIC FREEDOM What should have been a positive and noncontroversial bill to match state funding to challenge grants awarded to North Dakota universities became a knife to the heart of academic freedom. Because of SB 2030, any educator or administration official approving a grant that has even tangential ties to Planned Parenthood or similar organizations can be found guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and punished with a $1,500 fine, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both. The legislation was aimed at a partnership between NDSU and

Planned Parenthood for a sex education program that has nothing to do with abortion and did not use a single cent of ND taxpayer money. To say that SB 2030, in its present form, will have a chilling effect on researchers currently in our system and those looking to come to North Dakota’s research universities is an understatement. NDSU members and allies valiantly rallied to oppose the bill, but it passed the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities. A week after the Legislature returned home, Governor Burgum did veto Section 5 of this bill, eliminating the egregious penalties that could have been imposed on both state employees and institutions of higher education without due process.

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HEATHER

ERIN

Roosevelt Elementary School (Mandan)

Cavalier Elementary School

SWANSON “Heather and so many teachers stepped up and continue to step up for the kids of ND! I can not thank all of them enough but particularly proud of my little sister for being an Everyday Superhero for her students and her own kids!” – Nominated by Chad Oban JULIE

HETLAND Clara Barton Elementary (Fargo)

“As an Office Assistant, Julie’s job involves answering the phones and taking care of some of the other tasks needed to make the building function. On top of that when a student comes to the office she is like a mom to many students.” – Nominated by Scott Hanson

OVERMOE “Erin is a beacon of light and positivity towards the staff in the building and she always goes the extra mile for the students in her classroom.” – Nominated by Alicia Greenwood BETH

ANDERSON Robert Miller Elementary (Bismarck)

“Beth Anderson is surely a super hero. She has been dealing with a brain tumor for about a year and shares her journey with family and friends.” – Nominated by Corinne Welder HARRY

SUMMERS Minot Public Schools Students in Transition Assistant Coordinator (NDU Retired)

“After retiring from a 29-year career 14

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teaching first grade, Harry just felt her work was not done yet. So she is now in her second career, helping families who are homeless or in food shortages, and therefore have trouble learning or keeping up in school.” – Nominated by Nel Summers ANDREA

WEIKUM Horizon Middle School (Bismarck)

“Mrs. Weikum is my 6th grade English teacher. She is always kind and she is always ready to help with anything. She is the best teacher any person could ask for. When I wanted to do a special project she took time out of her day to help me accomplish it. Her superpower is love and compassion for her students.” – Nominated by Nevaeh Rode LINDSEY

BRAVENDER Flasher Public School

“There is nothing Lindsey wouldn’t do for her school and kiddos! She tirelessly advocates for students, she volunteers to organize student activities that help make school “fun”, she helps out in classrooms by subbing as needed (sometimes even for weeks at a time), and if there is something to do at Flasher School, Lindsey is there!!!” – Nominated by Nancy Malm DAVID

WOODS II Wahpeton High School

“David believes representation matters and he wants his children — all children — to see

people of color in leadership positions making a difference. He’s a man of action, a difference maker. A super hero.” – Nominated by Heather Woods DAKOTA

WHITE Eastwood Elementary (West Fargo)

“Dakota is a dedicated teacher who greets her students with a smile everyday. Students and parents love her and know she will always have her students’ best interest at heart.” – Nominated by Judy Kvaale HEATHER

WOODS

Wahpeton High School

“Heather is an innovator in the classroom, often utilizing technology to have Wahpeton alumni, political figures, and authors discuss ideas with current students.” – Nominated by David Woods KATHY

DEMERS Grafton Public Schools

“Kathy is an incredible role model for others and always willing to help a student in need. In addition to her invaluable commitment to students she also is Grafton Public Schools’ very own Grinch and loves spreading her holiday cheer at Christmas time!” – Nominated by Darcy Eszlinger

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STEVE

JERYL

Lincoln Elementary School

Drayton

LUGER “Mr. Luger’s superpower is his ability to bring the best out of every student he’s ever encountered. To help them succeed, to achieve their goals, and help them grow into their own self.” – Nominated by Darlyne Luger HEATHER

HAGENS Lewis and Clark Elementary (Mandan)

“Heather always finds a way to connect socially and emotionally with each and every one of her students. Hugs, high fives, and laughter are given out by the hundreds every single day.” – Nominated by Megan Weigel JESSICA

KALLENBACH Fargo North

“She is a teacher at North, but she is also a very kind mother. My mom cares for me in every way. She also goes above and beyond everyday for our community as a teacher. My mom loves to donate her time and money to charities. Our family has a tradition of having a lemonade stand on one week in the summer to raise money for the animal shelter.” – Nominated by Ben Kallenbach 16

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THOMPSON “Dear Mr. Thompson, As a role-model for me, it makes it easy for me to put time in and try to be a good teacher when I see you do it so well. I think back and consider the positive impact you have made on hundreds or thousands of peoples’ lives. I wish to emulate that. Maybe someday I will hear, “That Marcus Tucker is a lot like Murph Thompson.” That would be the greatest compliment I could ever receive.” – Nominated by Marcus Tucker JOLENE

HERMANSON Grafton Public Schools

“Jolene is an amazing teacher who is invested not only in the character development of her students but also exciting their enjoyment for learning and discovery! She goes above and beyond for her students and brings an awareness of learning and life skills to her lessons.” – Nominated by Darcy Eszlinger

Dakota Un ite d

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DELEGATE ASSEMBLIES Ap

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2021 Delegate Assembly is in the E-Books Annual NDU decision-making gathering held online for second year due to COVID-19 By Kelly Hagen, NDU Communications

Early on the morning of Saturday, April 17, North Dakota United President Nick Archuleta welcomed delegates, leaders, guest speakers and staff to the 2021 NDU Delegate Assembly. For the second year, our DA was held entirely virtual, due to safety precautions for the COVID-19 pandemic. “Last year when we met, I welcomed delegates to what I hoped would be our first and last virtual Delegate Assembly,” Archuleta said. “I think that’s a direct quote. Well, here we are again on Zoom, but hope springs eternal.” In his opening remarks, President Archuleta expressed more of that hope for the future, as NDU has weathered the storm of COVID better than most. “You are the public employees that bind our society together, whether you’re an auditor, a counselor, a researcher or

a K-12 teacher, an education support professional, higher ed faculty, or someone who plows our roads or keeps us healthy,” Archuleta said. “You are providing the remarkable public services that the citizens of North Dakota have come to realize are essential to the quality of their lives.” This year’s special guest speaker was NEA Secretary-Treasurer Noel Candelaria. As the son of Mexican immigrants, Candaleria is a firstgeneration American who rose through the ranks of the Texas State Teachers

NEA Secretary-Treasurer, Noel Candelaria was the guest speaker at the 2021 Delegate Assembly.

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Association to be elected to his current office at NEA this past year.” “We all sometimes hear about leaders being born,” Candaleria said. “And I know that real leaders are not born. The ability to help others triumph over adversity is not written into genetic code. Real leaders are made, they’re forged in crisis. And as this COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world in nation after nation, city after city, neighborhood after neighborhood and in our union, leaders like you have stepped up in this moment of crisis and acted in the face of great uncertainty, real danger and collective fear.” One New Business Item was brought forward for a vote. NBI #1 was submitted by the NDU Board of Directors, and read as follows: “The NDU Foundation Special Assessment Allocation be changed to onethird (1/3) for professional development and two-thirds (2/3) for the general operations of the Foundation. This would be effective for the fiscal year starting September 1, 2021.” NBI #1 passed by electronic vote, and no other NBIs were introduced. Five board positions were filled without a vote, due to candidates successfully filing petitions and running unopposed. They were elected without objection after President Archuleta moved to elect by unanimous consent. These candidates and new board members are: • Denbea McNally, Minot – Education Support Professional (ESP) Director • Ernst Pijning, ND Public Employees, Minot State University

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chapter – Higher Education FourYear Institution Director • Danielle Borseth, Mandan Education Association – K-12 Greater Than 600 Director • Darby Hart, Langdon Area EA – Northeast Region Director • Alan Leintz, Minot Public Schools Building & Bus Personnel #52 – Northwest Region Director Five more board positions were then filled by voice vote from their respected constituencies, after being nominated from the (digital) floor. Those individuals are: • Marcelo Campoverde, Grafton EA – Ethnic Minority Director • Jamie Eriksson, NDPE, Mayville State University chapter – Higher Education Support Director • Ellie Shockley, NDPE – Public Employee Director • Jared Adams, Fargo EA – Southeast Region Director • Alexis Rasset, Mandan EA – Southwest Region Director Two positions on the board – Higher Education Two-Year Director and K-12 Less Than 600 Director – were left unfilled due to no nominations or petitioned candidates. The NDU Board of Directors can fill these two positions at a later date for one term at their discretion, according to the NDU Constitution and By-Laws. Delegates elected to represent ND United at the NEA Representative Assembly this summer were: • Tim Thueson, Williston EA • Sara Medalen, Minot EA

• Erik Holland, NDPE • Heather Hintz, Bismarck EA • Alexis Rasset, Mandan EA Outgoing board members were then recognized and thanked for their service. They are: • Antonia Gumeringer, Bismarck EA – SW Region Director, 2013-21 • Leah Hamann, United Tribes Technical College – Higher Education Two-Year Director, 2015-21 • Paul Markel, NDPE, Minot State chapter – Higher Education FourYear Director, 2015-21 • Jeff Feist, NDPE – Public Employee Director, 2018-21 • Laura Beach, Hazen EA – K-12 Less Than 600 Director, 2019-21

• Jenifer Mastrud, Fargo EA – SE Region Director, 2019-21 • Tyann Schlenker, Fargo EA – ESP Director, 2019-21 The Delegate Assembly finished after Vice President for Public Employees Gary Feist and NDU CFO Gary Rath walked delegates through the proposed 2021-22 Budget. A motion to adopt the budget plan as presented was made and officially adopted by electronic vote. Our entire union would like to thank all of our delegates who attended what President Archuleta playfully referred to as “our second, and last, virtual Delegate Assembly. Hopefully, at this same time next year, we all can safely assemble again, face-to-face, for our annual Delegate Assembly.

NDU Election 2022 The NDU offices of President, Vice President of Education, Vice President of Public Employees and NEA Director are up for election in 2022. The elections will be held at the 2022 NDU Delegate Assembly in Bismarck next April. Nick Archuleta, NDU President; Alicia Bata, VP of Education; Gary Feist, VP of Public Employees; and NEA Director Brenda Seehafer are all eligible to run for another three-year term. NEA RA delegates will also be elected at the 2022 Delegate Assembly. The 2022 NEA RA will be held in Dallas, Texas, July 2-6. North Dakota is allowed 15 delegates, but current Board members are eligible to attend and those

attending will be subtracted from the 15 prior to the election. The number of delegate positions open will be announced in January. If you are interested in running for any of these positions, you must file a nominating petition signed by 50 active members in good standing by Feb. 15, 2022. Active members include all NDU membership categories except K-12 substitute members, Retired and Aspiring Educator (student) members. The retired and student officers are elected by their constituencies. Request a petition for office or RA Delegate by contacting Ellie Sharbono at ellie.sharbono@ndunited.org.

Everyone Deserves a Safe Workplace: Identifying Sexual Harassment A Q&A with North Dakota United Legal Counsel Michael J. Geiermann What should I do if I believe I’m the victim of sexual harassment? If you believe you are a victim of sexual harassment or believe a coworker is a victim of sexual harassment, call North Dakota United: 701-223-0450. What are the origins of laws prohibiting sexual harassment? There are both federal laws and state laws that deal with this issue. The main federal law is referred to as Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act. Section 703 provides as follows: 20

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“It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer - (1) To fail or refuse to hire or discharge an individual or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin...” Title 9 of the 1972 Education Amendments to the Civil Rights Act also applies. Title 9 may be familiar because it was the federal law that

ensures equal opportunities for boys and girls, men and women, in athletics. Title 9 for our purpose only deals with discrimination which is brought by students against school districts when it involves sexual harassment. Another law that deals with prohibition of sexual harassment in the workplace is the North Dakota Human Rights Act. NDCC 14-02.4-03. Like title 7 of the Civil Rights Act, this section of the North Dakota Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on sex. What is sexual harassment? Harassment on the basis of sex is a violation of Section 703 Title 7. Unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment.

A good resource for more information on sexual harassment: EEOC website, www.eeoc.gov. Types of Sexual Harassment Quid pro quo A quid pro quo means if I give you something, you’ll give me something in return. Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a victim’s continued employment or advancement is based upon the provision of sexual favors. Hostile Work Environment The harassment still must involve discrimination based upon your gender. But the harassment does not

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How to determine if you’re experiencing a hostile work environment: - Is the conduct related to your gender? - Is the conduct directed your way unwelcome?

- Is the conduct pervasive? (It means it happens a lot, not every day, but a lot.) - Is the conduct severe?

- Has the conduct been so unwelcome, pervasive, and severe that you have altered your employment, don’t want to go to work anymore, or are avoiding certain people in your office because they treat you a certain way?

- Do they just treat you like this or do they treat everybody like this?

have to involve sex, sexual desire, or sexual favors. Sexual harassment, for a lack of a better term, is based upon power or authority. The conduct is actionable if the behavior is unusually severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of a victim’s employment and to create an abusive working environment. The correct inquiry in regard to a hostile work environment is whether the victim by their conduct indicated that the alleged sexual advances were unwelcome, not whether their actual participation in intercourse was voluntary. Most of the time the victim will tell the person to stop, but the law doesn’t 22

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require you to tell the harasser to stop. Who commits sexual harassment? Courts have ruled that sexual harassment is not just made by males against female victims. Actionable sexual harassment claims may be made against anyone who meets the above criteria, regardless of the gender or sexual identity of either the harasser or victim. What if I’m not sure whether I’m a victim of sexual harassment? When in doubt, pick up the phone, call NDU or your field representative. Tell them what’s going on in your workplace. You don’t’ need to endure this. We will try to assist you in every way we can to rectify the situation.

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Teachers of the Year Group Share Reasons for Vacccination When we returned to school to teach during the 2020-21 school year, we covered our faces with protective masks, and so did our students. We moved our desks farther apart, and we did everything we could to keep our classrooms safe. These measures included hours of cleaning and doing our best to maintain social distancing, just as our school safety plans recommended. We accepted those changes because we wanted to keep students learning while protecting them and everyone in our community from COVID-19. We are hopeful that the coming school year will be much less about COVID-19 and much more about learning, growing and continuing to build relationships in our classrooms. That’s one of the reasons why we made the personal decision to get vaccinated. It’s one small gesture that protects our students, co-workers and families. While COVID-19 can hurt or kill anyone, regardless of their health or age, the virus more frequently takes advantage of the most vulnerable among us. We know young people are less likely to face serious COVID-19 symptoms, but we also know at least one North Dakota teenager died from COVID-19. And one is too many. We are not always aware of who around us might have medical conditions like asthma or diabetes. Likewise, we don’t always know who has regular contact with family members who are vulnerable to the risks associated with COVID-19. When we choose to get vaccinated, it means we’re protecting not only ourselves and our families but our students and their families. It also means we are looking out for everyone we work around and their families, too.

We know that some North Dakotans are skeptical about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. While skepticism toward any rapid process, like developing the COVID-19 vaccinations, is understandable and normal, the available vaccines are proven to be safe. They are the most effective method to stop the spread of the virus that overloaded our hospitals and overwhelmed our heroic healthcare workers. In our experience, the side effects were minimal, a day at most of flu-like symptoms, which beats a trip to the hospital or, even worse, the loss of a loved one from COVID-19. All North Dakotans above age 16 are eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, which are available through our doctors, local pharmacists and even at Walmart. They’re convenient, safe and they work. We have a chance to put this virus and the pandemic behind all of us once and for all. But it takes all of us to reach herd immunity, and that’s why we decided to get vaccinated. Sara Medalen

2020 ND State Teacher of the Year

Kayla Dornfeld

2019 ND State Teacher of the Year

Annette Hovey 2019 ND State Teacher of the Year Finalist

Leah Juelke 2018 ND State Teacher of the Year

Heather Tomlin-Rohr

2016 and 2018 ND State Teacher of the Year Finalist

Melissa Stanley 2014 ND Teacher of the Year Finalist

Melessa Bosch 2012 ND State Teacher of the Year Finalist

Mary Eldredge Sandbo 2010 ND State Teacher of the Year

A Public Health Perspective on Efficacy of COVID Vaccines By Danielle Pinnick, MPH

Still haven’t gotten your COVID vaccine yet? What are you waiting for? As a public health professional working in COVID response, I have gotten a lot of questions about COVID vaccines these past few months. I would like to think I’ve helped some people make the right choice to get vaccinated, but truthfully, I think most people know the right thing to do. They just need a little extra help to do it with confidence. After all, it is your decision, and you deserve the facts: COVID vaccines are safe. The science behind the COVID vaccines has been in development since the early 2000s, and the vaccines were each tested on tens of thousands of people, before authorization. To date, health care workers have administered over 270 million doses of COVID vaccine, in the U.S. Vaccines are the most heavily monitored and regulated thing we do, in medicine. Getting a vaccine is safer than taking Tylenol. (Sorry, Tylenol. I still love you.) COVID vaccines are effective. Recent studies performed by the CDC have shown that these vaccinations have reduced transmission by 90% in healthcare workers and have reduced hospitalization by 94% in the elderly. COVID vaccines are necessary. This coronavirus is very contagious. Without immunity to it, your chances of getting it at some point over the next few

months or years are very high. Your choice to skip the COVID vaccine today may be the choice to get COVID disease tomorrow. COVID vaccine will protect you. Even people who are young and healthy are susceptible to death and disability from COVID. Even people who survive COVID often go on experiencing symptoms weeks or months after their infection resolves. I have seen this happen to vibrant, young and healthy people that I know. You simply do not know how COVID will affect you. COVID vaccine will protect your loved ones – both old and young. We all know how dangerous COVID is to the elderly, but did you know that over 3,700 children in the U.S. have been hospitalized and treated for a rare but serious complication of COVID, called multisystem inflammatory syndrome? Due to advanced medical treatments, these children were spared the fate of the 350 children who have died from COVID. COVID vaccination will help us restore our economy and keep it open. COVID vaccination will help us keep kids in school and activities. In this last year, I have watched the disease of COVID rip families apart, and I have watched the COVID vaccine bring families back together. I hope you make the right decision. ndunited.org

Upcoming NDU Events For specific information and to register, please visit pd.ndunited.org. ONLINE BOOK STUDIES (BY CATEGORY)

Book studies are typically one credit courses that last approximately six weeks. One credit equates to 15 hours of study. Expectations include reading the book, answering discussion questions, responding to others’ responses and a reflection paper/action plan. _______________ Anxiety/Trauma/Addiction • Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction – July 5, 2021 _______________ Behavioral Health • Hacking School Discipline: 9 Ways to Create a Culture of Empathy and Responsibility Using Restorative Justice – July 19, 2021 • Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children at School – July 26, 2021 26

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• Calmer, Easier, Happier Boys: Bringing Out the Best in Boys at Home and in School – September 13, 2021 _______________ Innovation/Success • The Startup Teacher Playbook: Turn Your Ideas into Actions, Personalize Professional Development, and Create Innovative Learning Experiences for You and Your Students – June 7, 2021 *the first 20 registrants receive a FREE copy of the book!

_______________ Leadership • Leading While Female: A Culturally Proficient Response for Gender Equity and Dare to Lead COMBO COURSE – July 12, 2021 _______________ Literacy • Know Better, Do Better: Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read – June 21, 2021 • Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers – September 6, 2021 _______________ Mindset • 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential – June 7, 2021 • Ready or Not: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Uncertain and Rapidly Changing World – August 2, 2021 • The Energy Bus – September 6, 2021 • Mindsets for the Classroom: Building a Growth Mindset Learning Community – September 30, 2021 _______________ Organization/Time Management • Organize Tomorrow Today: 8 Ways to Retrain Your Mind to Optimize Performance at Work and in Life – August 30, 2021

_______________ SEL for Students • Brain Awakes: Empowering Children through Breath, Balance and Reflection – July 12, 2021 • How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain – September 27, 2021 _______________ Self-Care for Educators • The Burnout Cure: Learning to Love Teaching Again – June 21, 2021 • Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life – August 9, 2021 _______________ Social/Racial Justice • So, You Want to Talk About Race – June 28, 2021 • White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism – July 19, 2021 _______________ Technology/Success • Tech Like a Pirate: Using Classroom Technology to Create an Experience and Make Learning Memorable – June 14, 2021 • Building Blocks for Tiny Techies: A Teacher’s Guide to Digital Learning in Primary Classrooms – September 13, 2021 Cost: Members $50; ESP $25; Student members $0; Non-Members $100 The cost associated with this registration is for course participation only. This course is eligible for 1 graduate credit through UND at an additional cost of $50 per credit paid directly to UND ndunited.org

Public Service Perspectives

Protecting Defined Benefit By Gary Feist, NDU Vice President of Public Employees

The North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) board of directors had legislation introduced, Senate Bill 2046, that would have provided the fourth and final shared 1% and 1% contribution increase, putting the main retirement plan, covering state and political subdivision employees, on the path to becoming fully funded. PERS previously introduced this legislation during the 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 sessions, and each time it was defeated. With days remaining in the 2021 legislative session, SB 2046 was hog-housed (amended) to close the defined benefit (DB) plan to new hires without completing an actuarial study to know the implications of the plan. The closure of the DB plan would have placed all employees hired after December 31, 2023, in a defined contribution (DC) retirement plan, which is like a 401K. Legislators were clear the change would not affect current employees. The state has a contract with employees and is obligated to pay retirement benefits under the DB plan to current and future retirees that are part of the Plan. The amended bill included an infusion of $100 million and future cash infusions if the plan’s actuarial funded status dropped below 70%. The future additional contributions were legislative intent, but as public employees have experienced in the past, legislative intent rarely becomes reality. North Dakota United’s (NDU) activists 28

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and the legislative team defeated this terrible legislation on the last day of the session. This will not be the last attack on the DB pension by political ideologues who want to move public employees to a DC plan placing all the investment risk on the employee. Over the interim, NDU along with our members and allies will continue the fight to maintain our DB plan, which provides for a secure retirement for the life of the employee. Other states have closed their DB retirement plans only to see costs skyrocket requiring the state to reopen their DB plan. An argument has been made that young employees want a DC plan because of the portability it provides if an employee leaves their job, but the research shows most employees including millennials prefer a DB plan. The PERS DB plan is a hybrid plan providing flexibility through the PEP program. An employee that contributes to a 457 plan (401K) can transfer up to 4% of the state’s contribution to their account bucket should they leave public employment and want to take their retirement with them providing portability as well as enhancing the employee’s retirement savings through an employee managed and directed 457 plan. Join the fight for a secure retirement through a DB plan and contribute to a 457 plan to enhance your retirement security.

This program has changed my perspective. Everything I’m doing – from my instruction in the classroom to how I collaborate with my colleagues – I’m now able to see from the lens of an administrator. – Todd Bergeson, 7th grade math teacher, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (Minnesota) Middle School

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Did you know we’re more Did you know we’re more than an insurance company? Did you know we’re more than an insurance company? We are dedicated to helping educators make informed financial decisions than an company? they can stay the insurance jobeducators they love. make Our representatives offerdecisions no-cost Weso are dedicated toinhelping informed financial education a variety of topics important to educators. so financial they canwellness stay in the job theyon love. Our representatives offer no-cost We are dedicated to helping educators make informed financial decisions financial wellness education on a variety of topics important to educators. so they can stay in the job they love. Our representatives offer no-cost financial wellness education on a variety of topics important to educators.

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Horace Mann and its affiliates enter into agreements with educational associations pursuant to which Horace Mann or its affiliate pays the educational association to provide various services that are aimed at familiarizing the association’s members with the Horace Mann brand, products services. Forinto more informationwith or to ask questions about your educational association’s services Horace Mann and itsor affiliates enter agreements educational associations pursuant to which Horace Mann or itsagreement, affiliate email yourassociation inquiry to association.relations@horacemann.com. paysplease the educational to provide various services that are aimed at familiarizing the association’s members with the Horace Mann brand, products or services. For more information or to ask questions about your educational association’s services agreement, Horace Mann and its affiliates enter into agreements with educational associations pursuant to which Horace Mann or its affiliate please email your inquiry to association.relations@horacemann.com. pays the educational association to provide various services that are aimed at familiarizing the association’s members with the Horace Mann brand, products or services. For more information or to ask questions about your educational association’s services agreement, please email your inquiry to association.relations@horacemann.com.

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United Voices, Vol. 7 No. 4