2022 Virtual Legislative Conference Highlights

VIRTUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

The health insurance issue has been a big part of the work that AEA has been doing over the past year.

Virtual Legislative Conference Highlights Fiscal Session, Importance of LOCAL Advocacy

The day was full of robust discussion about the upcoming fiscal session and how legislation is driving local activism at the state board level. Senator Linda Chesterfield kicked off the event by explaining what the fiscal session is, and what can be expected to arise. She reminded our members that we need to remain vigilant in the “off-season” because this is when legislation is created and priorities are set for the next legislative session. Next, Representative Denise Garner reviewed the budget process and the work that goes into funding our schools and programs. She shared that the funds the Governor approved for Arkansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities will have an impact on our students. The health insurance issue has been a big part of the work that AEA has been doing over the past year. We heard from Representative Jeff Wardlaw about a new package of bills that will help secure the public school employees insurance rates and benefits. In addition, the package also includes help for educators over 65 to find Medicare plan B, as well as coverage for bariatric surgery. Representative Fred Love helped to explain the matrix of funding for Arkansas’s public school and how the adequacy process works. He explained that there are issues with this process, and we need thorough understanding of it so that we can be on alert and at the ready to advocate for our schools. Laura Howard is the Community Schools Model Coordinator from Batesville. She shared her positive experience with this model, and how it benefits educators by having a system of support for students and their families. She also discussed the legislation behind community schools, and how the model is implemented. After a short break, we came back to Clayton Blackstock and Michael Muskheli explaining how legislation and the ruling by Judge Fox on the mask issues had created a dire need for activism at the local level. They spoke about how educators can speak out at school board meetings, and the largescale and organized efforts of dark money groups using CRT and mask mandates to engage and amplify a small but vocal base. The Uniserv directors did an amazing job with their reports from the field. They discussed issues that their members are facing. They brought to our attention the diverse experiences that each educator is having during this unprecedented time, only further reinforcing the need for local activism. Executive Director Tracey-Ann Nelson went over the results of the Omicron Survey. While experiences may be different for our members, we learned almost all educators are seeing emotional distress, malnourishment, and behavior issues in our students. We also learned that most of our respondents do not feel heard by their district or administrators on the issue of Covid.

READ ACROSS AMERICA

Two years ago, AEA began the gift of reading program to bring books to school libraries across the state. This year, with the assistance of the NEA Read Across America Grant Program, AEA is able to provide books to school libraries and place books in the hands of Arkansas students. If you’re interested in AEA bringing the Gift of Reading to your school district, please send us a message at www.aeaonline.org/contact. We are happy to travel to share books with students and spark their love of reading.