This issue of KEA News contains required information about the 144th KEA Delegate Assembly April 6-8, 2016, in Louisville, including the full text of two proposed amendments to the KEA constitution. There are statements from both candidates running for KEA President and two of the three candidates for KEA Vice President in the election to be held April 7, and notice of a potential "if/then" election for NEA Director. The cover story details KEA's years of advocacy for full funding for the Kentucky Teacher's Retirement System and the current status of Governor Matt Bevin's plan to put nearly half a billion dollars into the system in his proposed state budget for the 2016-2018 biennium.
8
KEA members continue to fight to close the gap in KTRS funding - and Frankfort is finally listening Members and leaders of KEA and KEA-Retired attended every meeting of Governor Beshear’s KTRS work group, and many offered testimony about the importance to current and retired educators and to Kentucky’s economy of maintaining a sound pension system. Clockwise from top: The most poignant and memorable testimony came from four KEA members who spoke at the work group’s September 11, 2015, meeting: Tyler Hartz, a senior at UK; Jefferson County Teacher Alan Young; Daviess County Middle School teacher Andrea Higgs; and Shanna Byrd, who teaches at Summit View Middle in Kenton County. KEA-Retired President Joyce Dotson testified on behalf of retirees. KEA was represented on the work group by JCTA President Brent McKim and KEA Executive Director Mary Ann Blankenship. On the cover of this issue: Hundreds of members have taken advantage of KEA’s 2016 Days of Learning to come to the Capitol and advocate for KTRS, by meeting with their legislators and attending committee hearings. KEA advocacy in action Governor Bevin met with KEA leaders on the afternoon of January 26, before he presented his first biennial budget for the Commonwealth in a televised address to a joint session of the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate. He told them at that meeting that the budget he would propose contained a general fund contribution of nearly $131 million into the Kentucky Retirement Systems for state employees, and more than $591 million into KTRS as the state’s contribution for teachers. He also told them, as he told the General Assembly just hours later, that the budget included provisions that could make it possible for the Commonwealth to put as much as $135.7 million more into the retirement systems during the biennium. KEA President Stephanie Winkler called it “a significant step in the right direction,” and added, “It’s clear that KEA members have played their part.” Winkler said, “KEA members have been engaged on the pension issue like never before. There is no doubt in my mind that their calls, emails, social media campaigns and visits with their legislators helped make funding KTRS a priority for Governor Bevin.” KEA called for all members to contact the governor on January 20 and ask him to close the gap in KTRS funding. So many members responded, Winkler said, that by mid-day, the phone lines into the governor’s office were tied up, and the voice mail and email in-boxes were full. “Obviously, our members have had it with the way this issue keeps getting kicked down the road,” Winkler said. Years of KTRS advocacy KEA has a close relationship with KTRS. The two organizations have worked together for years on the growing problem of insufficient state funding of the pension system. KEA started messaging members on the problem in the summer of 2013, and continued that messaging—and advocacy with legislators and the governor—through the fall of that year and into the 2014 legislative session. In April 2014, the KEA Delegate Assembly adopted a new business item directing KEA leaders to focus on the issue, meet with stakeholders and ramp up advocacy for a solution. In response, Winkler and the KEA Executive Committee created the Raise Your Hand campaign, which produced grass-roots member advocacy across the state in the form of calls and emails to legislators and heavy messaging on social media. On January 20, 2015, Winkler and KEA-Retired President Joyce Dotson participated in the news conference at which State Auditor Adam Edelen released the findings of his office’s audit of KTRS and called for “swift action” to save KTRS, declaring, “Given the gravity and certainty of this problem that has to be addressed right now, ‘no’ is not an option.” KEA joined Edelen in supporting a plan drafted by House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg) to pump $3.3 billion into the pension system through bond sales. Stumbo’s plan, which he introduced in the 2015 session as House Bill 4, was approved by the House but was changed in the Senate to a call for a study of KTRS. KEA member action After the 2015 session KEA leaders immediately put together a plan for member advocacy to persuade the legislature to pass a plan in 2016 to close the KTRS funding gap. KEA locals began working the plan—under the banner, “Let’s Close the Gap Together”—late last summer, with the appointment of KTRS “education contacts” at schools and other work sites. These contacts took responsibility for passing on to their colleagues information about KTRS, the funding gap, and the progress of legislation to close it. At the beginning of this school year local association leaders began asking their school boards to pass resolutions of support for KEA’s efforts “to secure a viable funding plan that will ensure the KTRS pension system will provide for teachers in their retirement years.” On August 20, the Marshall County Board of Education became the first to do so. Since then other school districts have followed suit. Across the state, KEA members organized local demonstrations of support for KTRS funding, such as wearing black one day a week to dramatize the need to keep KTRS “in the black.” They posted hundreds of pictures to social media, and recorded and posted testimonial videos telling why secure funding for KTRS is important to them. Governor’s work group At the same time, KEA Executive Director Mary Ann Blankenship and JCTA President Brent McKim were serving on the KTRS Funding Work Group appointed by then- Governor Steve Beshear to “review best practices in other states regarding pension benefits, conduct a comprehensive review of funding options and make recommendations for improving the fiscal solvency of the KTRS.” The group met eight times before issuing its final report. All eight of those meetings were attended by dozens of KEA and KEA- Retired members. Dotson and Winkler both testified before the work group, as did KEA members Tyler Hartz, a student at the University of Kentucky College of Education; JCTA member Alan Young; Daviess County Middle School teacher Andrea Higgs; and Shanna Byrd, who teaches at Summit View Middle in Kenton County. Winkler said, “I have been so proud of the continued advocacy of our members on this issue. From students to retired, they made their voices heard—and Frankfort has listened. But the fight is far from over. “We must keep communication strong with members of the Kentucky House and Senate in order to keep pension funding a priority.” Governor Bevin’s proposed budget was introduced in the House as HB303 by Representative Rick Rand (D-Bedford), the Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Revenue. At the time this issue of KEA News went to press, the bill had been assigned to Rep. Rand’s committee, and subcommittee hearings on it have begun. Winkler said, “It is vital that every member of KEA follow the progress of HB303, and stay in contact with your legislators about it. We are grateful for the money the governor has given us in his budget plan but it isn’t nearly enough. We will continue to advocate to close the gap—and to make sure that it does not come at the expense of other key areas of public education. “ You are KEA and together we will make the difference!”
Transcript
KEA members continue to fight to close the gapin KTRS funding - and Frankfort is finally listening
Members and leaders of KEA and KEA-Retired attended every meeting of Governor Beshear’s KTRS work group, and many offered testimony about the importance to current and retired educators and to Kentucky’s economy of maintaining a sound pension system. Clockwise from top: The most poignant and memorable testimony came from four KEA members who spoke at the work group’s September 11, 2015, meeting: Tyler Hartz, a senior at UK; Jefferson County Teacher Alan Young; Daviess County Middle School teacher Andrea Higgs; and Shanna Byrd, who teaches at Summit View Middle in Kenton County. KEA-Retired President Joyce Dotson testified on behalf of retirees. KEA was represented on the work group by JCTA President Brent McKim and KEA
Executive Director Mary Ann Blankenship.On the cover of this issue: Hundreds of members have taken advantage of KEA’s 2016 Days of Learning to come to the Capitol and advocate for KTRS, by meeting with their legislators and attending committee hearings.
KEA advocacy in action
Governor Bevin met with KEA leaders on the afternoon of January 26, before he presented his first biennial budget for the Commonwealth in a televised address to a joint session of the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate. He told them at that meeting that the budget he would propose contained a general fund contribution of nearly $131 million into the Kentucky Retirement Systems for state employees, and more than $591 million into KTRS as the state’s contribution for teachers.
He also told them, as he told the General Assembly just hours later, that the budget included provisions that could make it possible for the Commonwealth to put as much as $135.7 million more into the retirement systems during the biennium.
KEA President Stephanie Winkler called it “a significant step in the right direction,” and added, “It’s clear that KEA members have played their part.”
Winkler said, “KEA members have been engaged on the pension issue like never before. There is no doubt in my mind that their calls, emails, social media campaigns and visits with their legislators helped make funding KTRS a priority for Governor Bevin.”
KEA called for all members to contact the governor on January 20 and ask him to close the gap in KTRS funding. So many members responded, Winkler said, that by mid-day, the phone lines into the governor’s office were tied up, and the voice mail and email in-boxes were full.
“Obviously, our members have had it with the way this issue keeps getting kicked down the road,” Winkler said.
Years of KTRS advocacy KEA has a close relationship with
KTRS. The two organizations have worked together for years on the growing problem of insufficient state funding of the pension system. KEA started messaging members on the problem in the summer of 2013, and continued that messaging—and advocacy with legislators and the governor—through the fall of that year and into the 2014 legislative session.
In April 2014, the KEA Delegate Assembly adopted a new business item directing KEA leaders to focus on the issue, meet with stakeholders and ramp up advocacy for a solution. In response, Winkler and the KEA Executive Committee created the Raise Your Hand campaign, which produced grass-roots member advocacy across the state in
the form of calls and emails to legislators and heavy messaging on social media.
On January 20, 2015, Winkler and KEA-Retired President Joyce Dotson participated in the news conference at which State Auditor Adam Edelen released the findings of his office’s audit of KTRS and called for “swift action” to save KTRS, declaring, “Given the gravity and certainty of this problem that has to be addressed right now, ‘no’ is not an option.”
KEA joined Edelen in supporting a plan drafted by House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg) to pump $3.3 billion into the pension system through bond sales. Stumbo’s plan, which he introduced in the 2015 session as House Bill 4, was approved by the House but was changed in the Senate to a call for a study of KTRS.
KEA member actionAfter the 2015 session KEA leaders
immediately put together a plan for member advocacy to persuade the legislature to pass a plan in 2016 to close the KTRS funding gap.
KEA locals began working the plan—under the banner, “Let’s Close the Gap Together”—late last summer, with the appointment of KTRS “education contacts” at schools and other work sites. These contacts took responsibility for passing on to their colleagues information about KTRS, the funding gap, and the progress of legislation to close it.
At the beginning of this school year local association leaders began asking their school boards to pass resolutions of support for KEA’s efforts “to secure a viable funding plan that will ensure the KTRS pension system will provide for teachers in their retirement years.” On August 20, the Marshall County Board of Education became the first to do so. Since then other school districts have followed suit.
Across the state, KEA members organized local demonstrations of support for KTRS funding, such as wearing black one day a week to dramatize the need to keep KTRS “in the black.” They posted hundreds of pictures to social media, and recorded and posted testimonial videos telling why secure funding for KTRS is important to them.
Governor’s work groupAt the same time, KEA Executive
Director Mary Ann Blankenship and JCTA President Brent McKim were serving on the KTRS Funding
Work Group appointed by then-Governor Steve Beshear to “review best practices in other states regarding pension benefits, conduct a comprehensive review of funding options and make recommendations for improving the fiscal solvency of the KTRS.” The group met eight times before issuing its final report. All eight of those meetings were attended by dozens of KEA and KEA-Retired members.
Dotson and Winkler both testified before the work group, as did KEA members Tyler Hartz, a student at the University of Kentucky College of Education; JCTA member Alan Young; Daviess County Middle School teacher Andrea Higgs; and Shanna Byrd, who teaches at Summit View Middle in Kenton County.
Winkler said, “I have been so proud of the continued advocacy of our members on this issue. From students to retired, they made their voices heard—and Frankfort has listened. But the fight is far from over.
“We must keep communication
strong with members of the Kentucky House and Senate in order to keep pension funding a priority.”
Governor Bevin’s proposed budget was introduced in the House as HB303 by Representative Rick Rand (D-Bedford), the Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Revenue. At the time this issue of KEA News went to press, the bill had been assigned to Rep. Rand’s committee, and subcommittee hearings on it have begun.
Winkler said, “It is vital that every member of KEA follow the progress of HB303, and stay in contact with your legislators about it. We are grateful for the money the governor has given us in his budget plan but it isn’t nearly enough. We will continue to advocate to close the gap—and to make sure that it does not come at the expense of other key areas of public education.
“You are KEA and together we will make the difference!”
2
Kentucky Education Association March 2016 Volume 52 Issue No. 3
The dictionary defines the word “empower” to mean, “to enable or permit.” Our KEA mission
statement uses the word as well, “KEA will unite, organize, and empower its members…”
As I’ve been thinking about this word I have to ask, does anyone have to enable us or give us permission to feel EMPOWERED as public school employees in 2016? The answer is not so clear cut.
As I travel around and meet members from all corners of the state, I am always surprised at how many members seem afraid to speak up and speak out against those who are the decision-makers in our school systems. At every level, from the school councils and the school board
to the state legislature and Congress, there are individuals elected to make critical decisions that dictate the daily lives of public school employees and the students we serve. The fear of being retaliated against or singled out is a reality.
So what can we do to make school employees feel empowered to take on these decision makers?
We can start by being proud to belong to an association like KEA, which protects our rights as school employees at every level.
We can encourage others to join with us and also be members of KEA. We can support those we work with who do feel empowered to speak up, by standing with them.
We can communicate with our elected officials on a regular basis and invite them into our worksites to experience
what we do each day.If we do not empower and support
each other to make our public schools great, then who will? We have to give ourselves permission to use our voices, for collectively we make a difference.
Collectively, we can change our public schools for the betterment of our students.
I want to empower you to let your voice be heard. Please do not be silent. For it is when we use our voices together, and only then, that we can truly make a difference in our professions and in our public schools.
I have always held public schools and the people who work in them in the highest regard. Public schools are embodied by my own teachers Mrs. Chandler, who taught me to read, and Ms. Ritter, who taught me to love literature; and my colleagues Betty Jackson, who was creative, smart and fun, and Katie Jenkins, who demanded the most of our students and put up with no nonsense from them.
I now have even more faces to personalize my admiration for the people who make public schools work.
Over the last couple of months KEA staff and leaders have been
visiting with KEA members one-on-one. Our primary objective is to listen to members, hear their stories about their work with students and learn from them what issues they want to work on through KEA.
I’ve visited in urban and rural high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. I must say that I’m impressed. The reality of public schools exceeds even my high expectations.
In every conversation, I’ve heard of teachers’, education support
professionals’ and specialized instructional support personnel’s (SISP – a new acronym) deep commitment to their students. I’ve heard stories about new programs created to assist English learners and their families. I’ve heard stories about programs for African American young men. I’ve met students who credit their teachers for their plans to become the first in their family to attend college.
I’ve been amazed at the optimism and dedication of every educator I’ve met. Despite the huge problems some of their students bring to school with them, the lack of resources and scant support they too often receive, these teachers, ESPs and SISPs never give up. They know they can make a difference in students’ lives and are willing to do what it takes to raise them up.
It’s been a rare privilege for me to spend time with these educators. Don’t get me wrong, I see lots of KEA members every month. Those I see in the normal course of my work are the leaders of KEA who, in addition to their students, dedicate themselves to leading the profession through their Association.
These last few months I’ve broadened that group to include members who are not as active in the Association but who support our work through their membership. While they do not always
attend our meetings, they are glad to contact their own legislators and to work locally with other members to help their students and colleagues.
I wish all those who like to hold forth about public schools would spend just one day listening to a fraction of the educators I’ve met. Too many of those commentators have not darkened the door of a public school since they graduated from high school. Too many of them have a political ax to grind and they do it at educators’ expense. The victims of their rhetoric are ultimately the students whose educators are demeaned and devalued.
I wish there were a requirement that anyone who is going to pass education policy had to spend at least one full day every month in a public school that their policy will impact. They will find, as I have, students who are usually polite and work hard. They will find educators who give everything they have to their students.
A recent study found – based on statistics – that Kentucky schools are one of the best bargains in the country. We achieve more with less than almost any other state. All it takes is one day in a public school to see the reality – based on relationships – of that truism. Thank you, Kentucky educators.
If we do not empower and support each other to make public schools great, then who will?
Educators give everything they have to make a difference in their students’ lives
Stephanie WinklerKEA President
Mary Ann BlankenshipKEA Executive Director
3
March 2016 Volume 52 Issue No. 3 Kentucky Education Association
KEA NEWSVolume 52, Issue 3;
March 2016
Stephanie Winkler PresidentLisa Petrey-KirkVice President
Mary Ann Blankenship Executive Director Charles Main
EditorPeriodical postage paid at Williamsport,
PA. KEA News is published five times a year, in September, November, March,
May and July, by the Kentucky Education Association, 401 Capital Avenue, Frankfort,
KY 40601. Phone 800-231-4532. KEA News is the official publi cation of KEA and reaches all KEA members. The annual subscription
rate to members is $1.50, included in annual dues. The subscription rate to others is $5.
ISSN 0164-3959Postmaster: Send address changes to KEA
News, 401 Capital Avenue Frankfort, KY 40601
KEA offers professional learning on new standards for arts and humanities and next generation science
KEA members continue to express a need for professional learning about the new state standards for science and arts and humanities. In response to those concerns, KEA convened core groups of teachers in each field to create meaningful training to help teachers teach to the new standards.
Those core planning teams will hold a “train the trainers” weekend in Louisville March 4-5 to prepare KEA’s new training cadres on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the new Kentucky standards for arts and humanities. Already 18 teachers have committed to attend and be trained to join the Arts and Humanities Cadre. A dozen will attend the NGSS training.
Nancy Broyles, who teaches freshman
science at Tilghman High School in Paducah, is a member of the core team that designed the new NGSS training. She said the training is built around creating engaging, interactive lessons. “We are always going to improve our teaching the more that we are able to let our kids do something hands-on, and that is what these are designed to be—hands-on. By opening us up and letting us have this enriched activity it will help our kids love the science and they are going to learn it better.”
Sharon Thompson-Saito, who teaches at Watterson Elementary in Jefferson County and helped write the elementary-level training for NGSS, said, “If you come to this training you’re going to walk out with things you can use in your classroom the next day.”
Elizabeth Lovett, an itinerant music teacher for Knox County Public Schools, is part of the core planning team for KEA’s training on the new arts and humanities standards. She said teachers who attend the training “will be able to read and analyze the standards and create activities using them, as well as understand the processes and complete activities by using these processes.” Lovett added that participants also will learn “how to advocate for the arts and discover resources. It’s about the process, not the product.”
If you have questions about the trainings, or want to arrange one for your KEA local, your school or your school district, contact Michelle New, KEA’s Director of Professional Excellence, at [email protected].
Because there are more than two candidates for KEA Vice President, and because the outcome of the vice presidential race could create the need to hold an “if/then” election for the office of NEA director, we must plan for at least four rounds of voting at the 2016 Delegate Assembly. This unusual circumstance means that the first round of voting will occur on Thursday morning and will be accomplished through a combination of electronic and paper ballots.
ROUND 1: All delegates who are registered when registration closes on Wednesday evening will vote electronically on Thursday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. All electronic voting will occur in the Rose room. Delegates who are in line at 10:00 a.m. will be allowed to vote.
As normally occurs, registration will be open on Thursday morning from 8:30 until 9:45 a.m. and will re-open one more time for 15 minutes after the commencement of the 2nd Business Session. Delegates who register on Thursday morning will be provided a paper ballot so they can participate in the first round of voting.
The first round of voting will close when registration closes for the second time on Thursday morning. The results of the electronic voting and the paper voting will be tallied and combined by the Compliance/Constitution Committee and the results will be announced as soon as possible during the 2nd Business Session. Only those delegates who are properly registered by the time registration closes for the second time on Thursday morning
will be eligible to vote in any additional rounds of voting that may occur. After the first round, all subsequent rounds of voting will occur electronically; no other paper ballots will be available.
The Round 1 ballot will include the candidates for KEA President, KEA Vice President and the proposed constitutional amendments.
ROUND 2: This round will occur mid-day on Thursday, specific time to be announced. The content of the ballot will depend on the outcome of Round 1.
ROUND 3: If necessary, this round will occur upon recess of the 3rd Business Session on Thursday afternoon, specific time to be announced. If this round of voting is necessary, the delegates will be voting on the candidates for NEA director.
ROUND 4: If necessary, this round will occur from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning, before the commencement of the 4th Business Session. If this round is necessary, the delegates will be voting on the candidates for NEA director.
If an NEA Director vacancy occurs, nominations will be taken from the floor at an appropriate time on Thursday. Depending on the final number of candidates for NEA Director, additional rounds of voting may be necessary on Friday. If that occurs, the times for those additional rounds of voting will be announced from the floor.
Important notice to delegates about registration and voting
4
Kentucky Education Association March 2016 Volume 52 Issue No. 3
Statements of candidates for KEA offices to be elected at the 144th Delegate AssemblyDelegates to the 144th KEA Delegate Assembly will vote on Thursday, April 7, 2016, to elect the next KEA President and Vice President and (depending upon the outcome of the election for Vice President) possibly one NEA Director. The following statements were submitted by the candidates, who are solely responsible for their content. KEA prints these as a courtesy to the candidates and publication does not indicate support of or opposition to any statements contained therein. Dale Warren, who also is a candidate for KEA Vice President, did not submit a statement for publication.
Stephanie Winkler for KEA PresidentServing as the President of KEA the
past three years has been an honor and a privilege. You and I have worked hard together and we have accomplished so much!
Our membership, leadership, and political activism are growing by leaps and bounds every day. We have organized with energy and enthusiasm around the issues that matter to you and we have been successful.
We continue to focus on recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, and on what we know we must do to assure the future of KEA. We have created a successful path to leadership in our KEA
Fellows program. Our Days of Learning are bringing in new political activists from every county in Kentucky.
We continue to engage more and more members in activities that showcase their professional skills and talents, while supporting others through trainings and mentoring.
I would be honored to continue to work with the 43,000 members and leaders of KEA, the preeminent voice for public education. I have the drive, passion, and experience to lead us in good times and in bad.
With your help and with your vote we can make that a reality.
Eddie Campbell for KEA Vice PresidentSpeak Up! Speak Out! I am a veteran
educator with classroom experience from Northern, South Central, and Eastern Kentucky. Currently, I’m a Choral Director in Knox County. I hold both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree and earned my NBCT in 2015.
My KEA involvement began as a student. I was a member at Union College and fell into the fold as an active KEA member after graduation. During my twenty years of active membership, I have held many leadership positions. I’ve served as a Board Member, Secretary, Vice President, and President of my local association. Additionally, I’ve served on
four state level committees and chaired the Compliance and Constitution committee from 2009-2012. For the past four years, I have represented KEA as a member of the NEA Board of Directors where I serve on two committees and vice-chair our regional caucus. This has given me countless opportunities to elevate the voice of members everywhere.
I would be honored to serve as your Vice President. If elected, I will continue to serve our association by speaking out on issues that matter to you. I will represent the members of KEA and continue to advocate for quality public schools for all of Kentucky’s children.
1. Amend B-6.2 to read as follows: B-6.2. Types and Functions of Standing Committees. a. Standing Committees are established
to facilitate the operations of the Association and to advise the Association’s governing bodies in various areas. Membership of each committee shall consist of one person elected from each district association, one person elected from the Retired association, and one member elected from the Student association. No person may simultaneously serve on more than one standing committee. Each district association, the Retired association and the Student
association shall also elect one (1) alternate member of each Standing Committee. No person may simultaneously serve as an elected member of a standing committee and as an alternate of another committee, nor may any member simultaneously serve as an alternate for more than one standing committee. Members from district associations and the retired association shall be elected for a term of two years beginning July 1. Student members shall be elected for a term of one year beginning July 1. A member shall serve for no more than six consecutive years except in the case where the member was originally elected to fill a
partial unexpired term which had become vacant. In that case, the member may serve no more than the unexpired term plus six consecutive years. These committees are:1. Compliance/Constitution 2. Government Relations
3. Visibility4. Diversity5. Program and Budget
Submitted by: The Compliance/Constitution CommitteeRationale: Serving as an elected member of a Standing Committee is an opportunity for leadership and participation within the district, and those opportunities should
Proposed amendments to the KEA constitutionto be voted on by delegates to the KEA Delegate Assembly on Thursday, April 7, 2016
5
March 2016 Volume 52 Issue No. 3 Kentucky Education Association
Statements of candidates for KEA offices to be elected at the 144th Delegate AssemblyDelegates to the 144th KEA Delegate Assembly will vote on Thursday, April 7, 2016, to elect the next KEA President and Vice President and (depending upon the outcome of the election for Vice President) possibly one NEA Director. The following statements were submitted by the candidates, who are solely responsible for their content. KEA prints these as a courtesy to the candidates and publication does not indicate support of or opposition to any statements contained therein. Dale Warren, who also is a candidate for KEA Vice President, did not submit a statement for publication.
Teachers - Time is running out!Your pension is rapidly being drained
away. Underfunding of the KTRS pension and secrecy in KTRS investments are triable offenses which have been successfully challenged - legally - in other states by NEA and AFT affiliates.
Why not in Kentucky? Why does KEA oppose transparency (Senate Bill #2)? At 37% funding (assets/debt) - LOWEST in the U.S. - KTRS has lost 20% of its value in the last three years. Current KEA/JCTA leadership - through limp, ineffective action - are killing your retirement pension. Why do KEA/JCTA praise a budget that raids over $200 million-a-year from our pensions, and
relies on across-the-board cuts statewide to save a pension system damaged by repeated underfunding for 10 years? While less than the $400 million-a-year raided last budget cycle, any organization that accepts $200 million raided from its pension is not doing its job! Support TRELF’s lawsuit(s) to save KTRS!!! There is NO issue in the state more pressing than this economic crisis which KEA leadership just does not grasp.
Go to: WWW.KENTUCKYTEACHERRETIREMENT.WEEBLY.COM. Or “like” TRELF on Facebook. Click on the GoFundMe button and support our lawsuits to save KTRS.Vote Dr. Randolph Wieck for KEA President.
Randolph Wieck for KEA President
Kandie McDaniel for KEA Vice PresidentI’m a wife, mother, Special Education
teacher, and advocate. Fighting for you is my passion. I have
loved serving KEA as your senior NEA Director, a district president, and co-president of a unified local.
This is a crucial time for our public education system. KTRS, budget shortfalls, talk of charters and school choice. These are all daunting issues but we are strong.
The Vice President has many responsibilities, and can do a lot for the association. I pledge that if elected, I will never stop working tirelessly for you.
I have a vision for KEA. Frankfort is
distant to many, both figuratively and literally; I want to visit each school district in Kentucky twice during this term so I can bring Frankfort to you.
I want to be proactive and spearhead voluntary enrollment into EBT and move us away from payroll deduction.
The VP has no active role at NEA Board meetings, so I’ll stay here. I will use this time for school visits, legislative meetings, and member meetings. I have the experience, strength, and stamina to help lead us through this difficult time and come out stronger on the other side.
I hope I can earn your vote.www.kandieforkeavp.com
be available to as many eligible members as possible. When a single member simultaneously occupies more than one elected position on a Standing Committee, it limits the opportunities for meaningful participation for other members. Also, in recent years, all the Standing Committees have met simultaneously on All Committee Weekend.
When one person serves as an elected member of more than one committee, it unnecessarily complicates the district’s participation in that event and requires at least one committee to be covered by an alternate.
The CCC believes the same logic applies to service as an elected alternate: no one person should simultaneously be a full member of one committee and an alternate
to another committee, nor should a single member simultaneously serve as an elected alternate for two or more committees.
2. Amend Article V, “Board of Directors & Executive Committee”, Sections 1 and 5, to read as follows:
Section 1. Composition. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice President, NEA Directors any KEA member who is elected to the NEA Board of Directors, and any administrator director at large, the two ethnic minority directors-at-large, one representative of the student program, representatives of the district education associations, and representatives of the retired association as follows . . .
ANDSection 5. Executive Committee. The
Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, the NEA Directors any KEA member who is elected to the NEA Board of Directors, and the senior ethnic minority Board member at-large.Submitted by: The KESPA Board of DirectorsRationale: Any KEA members who are elected to the NEA Board of Directors should have full voting rights on the KEA Board and should also serve on the Executive Committee.
We should be proud of any KEA member who is dedicated enough to give of themselves to better our Association by running and being elected to the NEA Board. The KEA Board is stronger with the whole elected family represented.
6
Kentucky Education Association March 2016 Volume 52 Issue No. 3
Statements of candidates who have declared early for possible NEA Director vacancy
At the 2016 KEA DA, delegates will elect a KEA President and KEA Vice President. Two of the declared candidates for KEA Vice President are currently serving as NEA Directors. If either of those candidates is elected vice president, there will exist a vacancy in the position of NEA Director.
If you are an Active member
of KEA and have been an Active member of NEA for at least two years preceding the date of the election, you are eligible to be nominated for this vacancy, if it occurs.
The results of the vice presidential election will be final sometime during the afternoon of Thursday, April 7, 2016. If you are interested in being nominated for this
possible vacancy, you should arrange to be nominated from the floor of the Delegate Assembly on Thursday, April 7, 2016, at a time to be determined by the Chair.
Questions about the process should be directed to the KEA Compliance/Constitution Committee, 401 Capital Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601, or by phone at 502-696-8970.
Call for nominations for possible NEA Director vacancy
Robin BrownI am Robin Brown, from Murray, KY. I
have been a teacher at Murray Elementary for 20 years. I taught 2nd grade for 12 years and have been teaching kindergarten for the past 8 years. I received my Bachelors, Masters and Rank I from Murray State.
I joined our local association, MEA, which is a part of KEA and NEA as soon as I began teaching and have been active ever since. I was a Building Rep (RA) for several years. Then I became the local President of MEA, which in turn got me active with FDEA. I hit the ground running
Jo McKimI am proud to serve on the KEA Board
of Directors, and I would be honored to serve as one of your NEA Directors. KEA embodies the spirit of a commonwealth, a group associated by choice and linked with common objectives and interests.
We, the educators of KEA, have chosen to come together as the preeminent voice for public education. As one of only four states officially called a commonwealth, it is essential that our united voice for public education stand strong at the national level. I have the experience and the passion
to make our united voice for Kentucky heard on the NEA Board. With over 20 years of experience as an educator and an association member, I have advocated at the local, state, and national level for our common interests. From class size to evaluations to testing to retirement, and everything in between, I have been there, and I am ready to be your voice in action at the national level. With the end of NCLB and the transition to ESSA, it is more important than ever that we have informed and passionate leaders to advocate for Kentucky students and educators.
Vote Jo McKim for NEA Director.
Beverly Chester-BurtonI am running for NEA Director, because I
want to “STAND UP and SPEAK OUT” for Kentucky. My educational training and hard work has prepared me for this position. I have been extremely active on local, state and national levels. Some of the committees that I have served on includes: Program and Budget, Human and Civil Rights, Teaching and Learning, KTRS, Diversity and Bargaining. Currently, I serve on the NEA Resolutions, NEA Women’s Leadership and Social Justice Training Cadre, and NEA Women’s Caucus Steering Committee.
My work as an EMERGE Kentucky graduate
and member of JCTA, KEA, NEA and NCUEA has afforded me the opportunity to become involved in political issues. These issues could have a major impact on the education profession. As a City Council member, I have developed relationships with community leaders and government officials to ensure ongoing collaboration in decisions that will affect our educators. Please know that I am running to protect the interests of educators. KEA is important to me. “Your work is my work, your pension is my pension and your voice is my voice.” It would be an honor to “STAND UP and SPEAK OUT” for you. We are FAMILY. We are KEA!
by completing a term of a member that wasn’t active anymore, as the FDEA CCC Representative, which I still am, currently as Chairperson. I am presently on the Board of Directors for FDEA for KEA.
I believe that KEA is important to every teacher in Kentucky, not only for the past and present, but also for the future as retirees.
I would like to serve as an NEA Director at Large for KEA to help build the Relationships, Respect and Rights of the teachers of the state to the leaders of both state and nation.
7
March 2016 Volume 52 Issue No. 3 Kentucky Education Association
