NEA Board of Directors’ Report
December 7, 8, & 9, 2006
Washington, D.C.
Tom Wellman and Ken Buhrmann

 

NEA Legislative Lobbying on Capitol Hill- (Thursday, December 7, 2006)

 

Nevada’s NEA Directors returned to Washington, DC on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, in order to attend a legislative briefing scheduled for the next day. Needless to say, there was an air of celebration to this briefing as a result of the success from the November 7 election and the democrats regaining control of both the House and the Senate. It is believed that this power shift will have a dramatic impact on assisting NEA, state, and local affiliates in promoting a positive public agenda for public education. Things look positive for public education, but it will still take time to navigate this territory as we look at who these newly elected members of both the House and Senate will align with and more importantly, why? It will be necessary to evaluate the political agenda of these groups such as the “Blue Dog Dems,” “New Dems,” Congressional Black Caucus, and the Hispanic Caucus. NEA has established a very aggressive political agenda and will continue to work with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to see that we can move the agenda forward to better meet the needs of our students, parents, and professional colleagues.

 

We looked back and celebrated many of the victories from the 109th Congress:

  1. Vouchers- NEA successfully blocked an extension of the private school voucher program for students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The program ended in September 2006.
  2. Estate Tax- NEA and our allies waged an intensive grassroots and lobbying campaign that resulted in the defeat of a plan to repeal the estate tax permanently. Permanent repeal would cause states to lose billions of dollars that could be spent on education and other priorities.
  3. Social Security privatization- Despite a major push by the Administration, Congress retreated on Social Security privatization due to intense pressure from NEA and other groups that rallied significant grassroots opposition.
  4. E-Rate- NEA secured two consecutive one-year extensions of an exemption from accounting rules that had stopped E-Rate funds from flowing. The exemption has allowed funds to continue flowing uninterrupted to schools and libraries.
  5. Education Technology- NEA helped launch a campaign with major high-tech companies to save education funding for states. As a result, the program, which was slated for elimination by the Administration, survived 2006.
  6. Paraprofessional “highly qualified” requirements– NEA secured an extension of the deadline for paraprofessionals to meet the NCLB’s “highly qualified” requirements from January 8, 2006, to the end of the 2005-2006 school year.
  7. “S” endorsement for bus drivers- NEA secured a one-year extension of the deadline for school bus drivers to receive the “S” endorsement on their drivers’ licenses. The extension averted potential disruptions in school transportation and school closings as several state Departments of Motor Vehicles were not prepared to administer required tests to drivers.
  8. High School testing- NEA blocked Administration proposals to mandate two additional years of testing in high schools under the No Child Left Behind Act.
  9. Career and Technical Education- NEA blocked the President’s plan to eliminate all funding for career and technical education. As a result, the House and Senate voted to reauthorize career and technical education with almost no opposition. The reauthorization bill also reflected a number of substantive NEA priorities.
  10. GEAR-UP and TRIO- NEA saved the GEAR-UP program and two TRIO initiatives, all of which were targeted for elimination by the Administration. GEAR-UP and TRIO provide valuable resources and assistance to encourage low-income students to apply to remaining post-secondary education programs.

 

NEA’s priorities for the 110th include:

           

  1. ESEA Reauthorization: Enact changes to NCLB that advance NEA’s five priorities: accountability, smaller class sizes, quality educators, engaged parents, families and communities and resources.
  2. Education Funding: Restore/increase funding to levels necessary to ensure great public schools for every student.
  3. Achievement Gaps: Advance proven strategies such as reducing class sizes, ensuring high quality educators, and promoting parent involvement.
  4. Dropout Prevention: Invest $10 billion over the next 10 years starting with $1 billion in FY 2007.
  5. Social Security Offsets: Repeal Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. (Our own President, Terry Hickman, made a presentation to all of the state presidents about the need for NEA to maintain this as a priority on the upcoming legislative agenda.) President Weaver made it clear that he understands the importance of this piece of legislation and the impact it has on the membership of those affected states. He assured all of the presidents that NEA will continue the fight on this legislation.
  6. Higher Education:  Expand access, maintain quality, expand and improve teacher prep. programs, help low-income students transition to post-secondary education, protect academic freedom, reflect growing diversity of student population.
  7. Educator Tax Relief: Extend and expand educator tax deduction.
  8. Health Care: Medicare Part D “donut hole,” Re/importation of prescription drugs, negotiate fair prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries, move toward national health care policy that will mandate universal coverage with highest quality health care at lowest possible cost.
  9. Minimum wage: Increase from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour.

 

 

Once again we were able to successfully schedule appointments in all offices of our Congressional delegation. As this was an end of the 109th Congress and a transition period for many of the newly elected members, we did not get to meet directly with a number of our elected leaders. We had only one question to ask as part of our lobby efforts and that was to find out how the elected leader felt about NEA’s nine priorities for the 110th Congress. We met with staff in Senator Reid and Ensign’s office. Both of the staffers were supportive on the issues, and Senator Ensign’s office even agreed that they would potentially revisit their position on the Social Security offsets. We did meet with staff in Congressman Porter’s office and they continue to be supportive on our issues. The staffer we met with is still relatively new and learning the issues. She was supportive on the Social Security offsets and wanted to learn more. We have provided her the information that she requested. We were able to meet with Congresswoman Berkley and she, of course, was 100% supportive of the issues presented. Congressman Gibbons was not available as he was working on his transition to Carson City. We did have the opportunity to meet with Tray Abney, one of his senior staff members, who will be joining the new Governor in Carson City. We thanked Tray and the Congressman for their help and support during this past year, and talked briefly about the next legislative session in Carson City. It’s safe to say that it should be a very interesting session.

 

NEA Pacific Regional Caucus-(Thursday, December 7, 2006)

 

The Pacific Regional caucus was held on Thursday, December 7, 2006, in room 814 of the NEA building. At this time, presidents gave their state reports and discussed the outcome of the elections in their state. The mood was very light as most had the chance to talk about the positive outcome of the election. Many more friends and supporters of public education were elected and many of the good ballot initiatives also passed. Those states that suffered defeats already had plans in place to come back swinging and ready to try again.

 

The Pacific Regional Steering committee gave a report on the upcoming conference. This year’s theme is America’s Best Investment: Great Public Schools. The conference is scheduled for February 16-18, 2007, and will be in Anaheim, California. The conference will be housed at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel. Presidents were told there appeared to be some problems with room registration at the hotel. Joanne Waller’s office will keep the presidents informed of any changes or problems that may occur.  

 

NEA Board of Director’s Meeting
December 8 & 9, 2007
NEA Building
Washington, DC

 

President: President Weaver discussed his activities with us during the past weeks since our last meeting. He explained that support continues to mount for NEA’s adopted positive agenda for the reauthorization of the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act.” During the September meeting, he unveiled a twelve-step plan for Reducing School Dropouts. This plan was publicly rolled out at a very well attended news conference on October 4, 2006. A packet containing statements of support from major stake holders was also presented to members of the Board. The news conference was very well attended and the plan was well received by the media.

 

Vice-President: Dennis Van Roekel discussed his activities with the board of directors since our last meeting. Dennis continues his hard work and dedication to implementing the NEA Academy, and the online professional development program for members and state and local affiliates. The trial phase has successfully ended with over 100 participants and three sample courses available. The Academy will be rolled out during 2007, and phased into all state and local affiliates. Dennis is meeting with a task force established to assist with moving the associate membership back to the RA for a vote. (Tom Wellman has asked to sit on this task force to make sure that Nevada’s concerns over this membership category are addressed.

 

Secretary-Treasurer: Lily Eskelsin discussed her activities with the Board of Directors since our last meeting. The best news is that membership is up over 39,778 new members- a strong start for the new year. She also presented the auditors report from our new firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. NEA received an “unqualified opinion” from the auditors, which means the organization is utilizing sound accounting and financial practices. This is the kind of audit opinion that an organization strives to earn.

 

Executive Director: John Wilson discussed his activities with the Board of Directors since our last meeting. Mr. Wilson talked about his work with the commission on the Skills of the American Workforce and a report they had completed called “Tough Choice, Tough Times.” This is an interesting report that presents some unique recommendations, including most students finishing high school after the 10th grade with many students going on to technical or trade schools or the community college. College bound students would remain in the high school. Those interested in learning more about the commission and the report can visit the website at www.skillscommission.org.

 

General Counsel: Bob Chanin brought members of the Board up to date on the court cases that NEA is involved with and will have potential impact on the membership. NEA continues their involvement in the “NCLB” case, Pontiac v. Spelling, regarding the unfunded mandates of “NCLB”. It is scheduled to be heard in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Chanin went on to discuss a Supreme Court case that has just been heard regarding desegregation plans from Seattle, Washington, and Louisville, Kentucky. This case and the findings could have a compelling impact on public education in the future. Another case that has some implications for members involves the Washington Education Association and the collection of agency fees for political activity. This case will provide some direction for those agencies that collect fees from employees that want to opt out of having those fees used for political activity. NEA was informed that the request for a rehearing on the case of Alabama v Chao was denied. This was the case that had been filed by 33 state Associations against the Secretary of Labor. At that time, the Secretary had ruled that these Associations fell under the Landrum-Griffin Act, as does the NEA. As a result of the denial, the case is now back in the Department of Labor.

 

Executive Committee: All members of the Executive Committee provided the Board with written reports on their activities since the last meeting. Marsh Smith, from Maryland, reported on her work with the Action for Healthy Kids campaign. She sits on the Steering Committee representing NEA and the Health Information Network. The purpose of the program is to promote healthier eating and increased physical activity among K-12 school children.

 

Action Items

 

  1. CONTINGENCY FUND REQUEST: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POSITIVE AGENDA ON ESEA (PRINGLE-MARKS)

 

Motion to recommend for Board of Directors approval the authorization of up to $1 million from the Contingency Fund to implement the Positive Agenda on ESEA Reauthorization.

 

Motion Approved- Unanimous roll call

 

  1. PROPOSED POSITIONS ON NATIONAL STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS FROM THE NEA NATIONAL ASSESSMENT  AND STANDARDS WORK GROUP (ESKELSEN-SMITH)

 

Motion to recommend  for Board of Directors approval the proposed positions to the National Standards and Assessments from the NEA National Assessments and Standards Work Group.

 

Motion Approved- Unanimous voice vote

 

  1. PROPOSED CHANGES TO NEA DELEGATION POLICY FOR THE WORLD CONGRESS OF EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL (SMITH-MARKS)

 

Motion to recommend for Board of Directors approval the proposed changes to the NEA Delegation Policy for the World Congress of the Education International guidelines as presented.

 

Motion Approved- Unanimous voice vote

 

  1. Elected members of the Board of Directors to represent NEA at the World Congress of Education International.

 

Eight members of the Board were elected by secret ballots to attend this years’ session of the World Congress of Education International in Berlin.

 

 

Discussion Items

 

  1. Health Care Discussion- Dr. Henry Simmons, President of the National Coalition of Health Care (NEA is a member). Dr. Simmons presentation revolved around the major issues of health care, its escalating costs and the impact on membership. He talked about universal coverage, cost management, and the quality and safety of health care. We expect to hear more on this issue in the months to come. If you are interested in learning more about this coalition visit their website at www.nche.org.

 

  1. Resolutions- Brent McKim, Chair of the NEA Resolutions committee, Kentucky. At this time, he reviewed a number of the resolutions that were adopted at last years RA, and also invited members of the Board to submit new resolutions for the year’s annual meeting.

 

  1. Read Across America, Rae Baczek, Chair of the Committee, Connecticut-At this time, Rae reported on the activities of the committee and plans for this year’s Read Across America.

 

 

Information Items

 

  1. Legislative and Political Update-Diane Shust, Director of Government Relations, gave a report on NEA’s political agenda for the 110th Congress. These legislative priorities have been addressed earlier in this report under the “legislative lobbying.”
  2. NEA Ballot Measure/ Legislative Crisis Fund Report (Quarterly Report)-John Stocks, Deputy Executive Director. The budget for this category for the 2006-2007 year began $9,436,871. In the first quarter, eight states (Maine, Oregon, South Dakota, Arizona, Michigan, Idaho, Nebraska, and Nevada) received a total of $5,663,000, for ballot measures. Nevada withdrew its request for $490,000 after the TASC initiative was ruled unconstitutional by the Nevada Supreme Court. The preliminary fund balance for the first quarter will be $3,210,682 of that, $2 million will be set aside by the NEA Board of Directors for selected ballot measures and independent expenditure campaigns.
  3. Update on ESEA Activities- Becky Pringle, Executive Committee, Pennsylvania, presented the Board with an update on the committees’ activities. She presented members of the Board with their homework. Board members have been asked to meet with their legislators “back home” and discuss NEA’s Positive Agenda with them. This lobbying information will be used to gauge the pulse of Congress and where they sit with this issue.
  4. NEA UniServ Program-Barbara Kerr, President California Teachers Association and Chair of the Committee, gave a report on the progress of her committee on reviewing this program. The committee will meet again in Washington, D.C. on January 6 and 7, 2007.
  5. NEA’s Affirmative Action Plan was also presented to the Board of Directors.

 

Former Senator John Edwards from the state of North Carolina made a brief but very informative presentation to the Board. At this time, he talked about his political career and political aspirations as a presidential candidate for the upcoming 2008 election year. He was interesting and very informative and very well received by members of the Board.

 

The Board had a chance to hear the NEA Staff Choir on Friday, December 8, 2006.

The Board participated in a Hispanic Observance on Saturday, December 9, 2006.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 9, 2006.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for February 9 and 10, 2007 in Washington D.C.

 

 

 

Additional Activities of Nevada’s

NEA Directors

 

  1. October 7, 2006-Both NEA Directors attended the UCN meeting held at the WEA building in Reno, Nevada.
  2. November 14, 2006- Both NEA Directors attended ESEA’s general membership meeting held at Valley High School in Las Vegas.
  3. December 8, 2006- Both NEA Directors attended the rally in Washington D.C. sponsored by NEA and joined with AFL-CIO members. The rally was in support of legislation on Restoring Our Freedom to Form Unions and Bargain. The rally was held near the US Capitol. Many noted members of the labor movement spoke, including Senator Edward Kennedy.
  4. January 9, 2007- Both NEA Directors attended a meeting at NSEA Headquarters with Paula Plant, executive director of CLASS. The meeting was an informative presentation on school trust lands.
  5. January 15, 2007- NEA Director, Tom Wellman attended the Las Vegas 25th anniversary celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
  6. January 20, 2007- Both NEA Directors attended the UCN meeting held in Fallon, Nevada.

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