NSEA The Voice December 2010 by Nebraska State Education Association

The

Voice The Nebraska State Education Association ď ś December 2010

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On the Cover: Longtime North Bend Central science and biology teacher Bob Feurer has left his mark on scores of North Bend students. He is Nebraska’s 2011 Teacher of the Year. For Feurer’s story, see

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VOICE Nebraska State Education Association 605 S. 14th Street, Suite 200 Lincoln, NE 68508-2742 · www.nsea.org (402) 475-7611 · (800) 742-0047

Volume 64, No. 4 ISSN Number: 1085-0783 USPS Number: 000-369 Executive Director Assoc. Executive Director Director of Public Affairs Assistant Comm. Director

Craig R. Christiansen Neal Clayburn Karen Kilgarin Al Koontz

NSEA Board of Directors President Jess Wolf, Hartington Nancy Fulton, Wilber-Clatonia Vice President NEA Director Mark Shively, Omaha Leann Widhalm, Norfolk NEA Director

Official publication of the Nebraska State Education Association, Suite 200, 605 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to NSEA Voice, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Published 10 times yearly according to this schedule: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May and August. Payment of annual NSEA membership dues entitles Nebraska educators to receive The Voice. Total cost of producing 10 monthly issues of The Voice each year is about $4.84 per member. Advertising rates of The Voice are available from the assistant communications director. All advertisements and advertisers are screened prior to publication. Appearance of an advertisement in The Voice does not necessarily imply NSEA endorsement of either the product being advertised or the views being expressed.

Great Public Schools For Every Child

At Denver: Six members of the Sutherland Public Schools staff attended a mathematics conference in Denver thanks, in part, to a grant from NSEA. From left are Nancy Hoatson, Otis Pierce, Dan Dyer, Kim Schow, Denee Elfeldt and Brooke Richardson.

Sutherland Teachers Utilize NSEA Stipend

Belz, Lynch, Krause Award Boosts Math Skills; Next Scholarship Deadline Approaching Six members of the Sutherland Education Association took advantage of a scholarship through NSEA to attend the regional conference of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Denver recently. The six received funding from NSEA’s Belz, Lynch, Krause Educational Grant Fund, enabling the conference attendance. They left the conference with ideas and strategies that can be put to classroom use immediately, said math teacher Otis Pierce. “There were many sessions in all grade bands that dealt with differentiated instruction ideas and concepts, new and exciting ways to help students learn their math facts and difficult concepts, and sessions that dealt with specific areas of mathematics that will help us relate the topic to students’ lives,” he said. The benefits will spread well beyond the classroom walls of the five who attended the conference. Pierce said his colleagues will take time in the near future to share their new knowledge with their Sutherland colleagues. “We are now armed with new ideas, concepts, activities, and more to help them learn – and encourage those that struggle with math to learn to enjoy and succeed at math now and in the future,” he said. Attending, along with Pierce, were Nancy Hoatson, Dan Dyer, Kim Schow, Denee Elfeldt and Brooke Richardson. The 2011 application deadline for the Belz, Lynch and Krause funds is near.

The grants are awarded for projects related to improving a local association; development of instructional materials; or for staff development for individuals of a local association. Eligible are any NSEA member; group of NSEA members; or any NSEA local association. The application must include an abstract of the project, not to exceed four typed pages, including the following information: need; how the project will address the need to relate to professional growth goals; project description; timeline; a budget statement; and method of evaluating the project’s success. Applications are online only, and must be completed by Feb. 5, 2011. Recipients will be notified in March. The grants are named for John Lynch, NSEA’s executive director from 1959 to 1974; Paul Belz, executive director from 1974-84; and Helen Krause, a former NSEA president, and the first Nebraskan to serve on NEA’s Executive Committee. For details, or for an application form, visit the NSEA website and click on the “Members” tab at the left of the home page, followed by the “Teaching and Learning” link and the “Scholarships” link. The form will be posted through Feb. 5. The website is at: www.nsea.org More details are also available from Sally Bodtke at 800-742-0047 or via email at: sally.bodtke@nsea.org

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From the President

The Top of the List

NSEA President Jess Wolf

“

We’re left with the inescapable fact that we can do what’s best for a majority of citizens, and we can care for the needy along the way.

”

I am guided by two adages imparted to me many years ago by people I thought were wise and reasonably well off. The first, spoken in the best W.C. Fields voice, was, “You have to spend money to make money, my boy!” The second had a more philosophical tone: “Those who have must take care of those who have not!” The just-concluded political campaigns seemed to have been an attempt to repudiate the first statement. The on-going mantra was that we need to cut, cut, and then cut more from government spending. The theory, of course, is that by cutting government spending, we can reduce taxes, allowing those who have money to invest in their businesses, thus creating jobs. Well, that theory hasn’t been working for us lately has it? The fact that the top 5 percent of American citizenry now hold a larger percent of the wealth and property in this country than they did 10 years ago is undisputed. Yet, that fact hasn’t led to increased investment in job creation over the past 10 years. And the economic incentives in the form of tax breaks – which have effectively cost education jobs – apparently haven’t helped job creation, either.

pears that greed is at the root of much of our current political debate. Build Local Prosperity I’m quite sure my statements here will be condemned as shortsighted and uninformed. If a label can be slapped on me, I’m sure I might be compared to the Platte River. You know, “a mile wide and an inch deep!” But let me be clear: I’m not against small business or Main Street in any way, shape or form. I am not against capitalism. Our country was built on, and thrived because of, the hard work and talents of those who pooled their resources to survive and prosper. It’s simply a matter of fairness. Money spent on Main Street (including money spent by school districts and school district employees) helps to build local prosperity. Why would we expect that changing such a successful formula would allow our communities to do better? We’re left with the inescapable fact that we can do what’s best for a majority of citizens, and we can care for the needy along the way. Or we can acquiesce to those who would seek to starve the state for political and personal gain – to buy a bigger car, house, boat or pro sports team.

Entrenched, Reinforced The second, more philosophical statement was instilled in my character early on in my life. It became entrenched in my very being, and was reinforced by teachers and friends in elementary school in South Dakota and later at St. Joseph’s High School in Atkinson. Who were these ‘have nots’? For me, it became a of hierarchy of folks. I’ve always felt children were at the top of the list, as they rely on others for many of their needs. The poor, the sick, the uneducated, the incarcerated and those to whom life has simply dealt a poor hand also make my list. The elderly, too, qualify, especially if they meet one of the other criteria – but not if they’re well to do and able to provide for themselves. And it was, and still is, necessary and proper to be nice to my elders! With that preface, let me say that it ap-

Still at the Top I’m reminded of the quote from German Pastor Martin Niemoller who, after World War II, was reported to have said on several occasions (and I paraphrase here) that, “First they came for the Jews, gypsies, Catholics, incurably sick, communists, trade unionists, and since I was not one of them, I said nothing. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak up.” My fear, fellow educators, is that we, as public school educators,, are on a list. Whether we’re first or last doesn’t make a difference. What does matter is whether we speak up for others and for ourselves, and whether others will stand for and with us. My list, meanwhile, has not changed. Our children must be our top priority. I hope your list is similar, and that you’re willing to stand with me on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves!

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Retirement Picture ‘Rosier’ State Investments on the Rebound, Still Have Ground to Make Up The outlook for the state-managed teacher retirement plan received some good, but not great, news in November. The stock market’s 2010 upturn has helped the pension plan for teachers, but there is still plenty of ground to make up following market losses in 2008 and 2009. That news was delivered by state consultant Doug Fiddler to a joint meeting of the Nebraska Investment Council and the State Public Employees Retirement System (NPERS) Board of Directors. The NIC manages the investment portfolio for teachers, state patrol and judges, while NPERS receives and disburses the retirement dollars. Fiddler said the assets of the defined benefit plans for teachers, troopers and judges grew by 13.6 percent from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010, nearly 6 percent more than projections. Yet the fund has about $1.1 billion in losses to recoup from the market losses experienced in 2008 and 2009. In 2009 alone, the market fell 27 percent below assumptions, he said. “It’s a rosier picture, but it’s still not a great picture,” Fiddler said. Meanwhile, market growth has lowered the needed infusion of state dollars to keep the plans for teachers, troopers and judges sound. State officials had projected a need for $56 million in state contributions each of the next two years. With the growth

in the market, however, that need has fallen dramatically to just $21 million in the first year and $52 million the second. Of that, $18 million would be required for the teacher share of the plan in the first year, and $48 million would be needed for the teacher plan in the second year. Those numbers, of course, would change, depending on investment results as of June 30, 2011. Fiddler said a strong economic recovery, with returns above the 8 percent rate of return, would be needed to avoid state contributions in the future. Last year, in order to shore up the teacher retirement plan, teacher and school district contributions to the plan were increased. And, since June 30, the Dow Jones index has moved from about 9,730 to above 11,000; the NASDAQ has moved from 2,100 to more than 2,500. Other States Making Changes Members of the NIC and the NPERS board discussed the overall retirement system health, and noted that other states have reduced cost-of-living increases; switched from defined benefit to defined contribution plans; and switched to tiered systems that, for instance, provide defined benefit plans for existing plan members, but defined contribution plans for new plan members.

Districts Seek to Shift Health Costs Ploy Would Have Teachers Pay District’s Low Participation Penalty

“This is a cost-containment measure Negotiators beware: there’s a prothat allows for better management of posal circulating that, if allowed into premium costs and will optimize plan contract language, could cost members coverage for participants,” said NSEA plenty of pocket money. Executive Director Craig R. ChristianAt least two local associations have sen, who until Sept. accepted contract lan“This is a poorly constructed 1 chaired the EHA guage that allows the Board of Directors. school district to pass solution looking for a problem In some districts, on to teachers the cost that doesn’t really exist.” cash-in-lieu of health of any penalty the — Jess Wolf insurance offers have district incurs for low NSEA President lured participants participation in the from the EHA health statewide Blue Cross care plan, raising costs for those who and Blue Shield of Nebraska health care remain with the plan. In addition, those plan. Other local associations are being who accept cash-in-lieu of health insurpressured to accept similar language. ance put themselves at added risk for The Educators Health Alliance additional income taxes – perhaps going (EHA) governs the Blue Cross and Blue back as many as three years. Shield plan utilized by nearly every The EHA penalties on a district can Nebraska school district. In an effort to range from 5 to 15 percent of the monthkeep health insurance costs low, and to ly premium cost, depending on parensure the ongoing vitality of the stateticipation. Should school districts pass wide health care plan, the EHA board those penalties on to educators, it could voted several years ago to assess pencost an individual up to $2,500 per year, alties on districts where participation in assuming the maximum 15 percent penthe health care plan dropped below ceralty and depending on the BCBS health tain benchmarks, in terms of a percentcare plan used by the district. age of eligible membership.

Currently, however, only a handful of school districts pay a premium penalty. “This is a poorly constructed solution looking for a problem that doesn’t really exist,” said NSEA President Jess Wolf. “It’s nothing more than a cost-shift to already poorly paid teachers and public school employees. Why would anyone accept a job in a district where this language was in the contract?” Christiansen said school boards should take the high road, and simply seek to reach the Blue Cross and Blue Shield incentives that provide premium discounts – and should share that discount equally with teachers by giving them an extra check during the year. There is one other aspect to consider: extra duty pay could be reduced in districts where extra duty pay is actually tied to the district’s base salary. Both Christiansen and Wolf urged local associations to turn back any and all efforts to include such language in final contract language. Other solutions exist. Questions? Contact your UniServ director at 1-800-742-0047. December 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 5

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Constant questions: When Bob Feurer offers a lesson in his classroom, the hands go up — students ask, and Feurer encourages — questions.

Mark of Excellence

Shortly after he came out of surgery several years ago, Bob Feurer discovered the initials of a former student written in marker on his toes. That’s the risk a high school science teacher takes, especially when more than 60 of your former students have entered the medical field. “I have enough former ‘kids’ out there with M.D. and R.N. after their names to concern me when I go into a medical facility,” Feurer said. While at least one of those former students has left a visible mark on Feurer, he has left a much deeper mark on the hundreds of students who have walked the halls of North Bend Central Public Schools over the past 32 years. Feurer’s success in his science classroom is the reason he has been named the 2011 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Feurer was selected for the honor and was recognized at a luncheon attended by Gov. Dave Heineman in November. Various educational groups, including NSEA, honored Feurer with a gift package of cash and grants. SMART Technologies gave a projection system and software valued at $17,000. Four other finalists received software

packages valued at more than $1,500. They were Nicholas Kleve, South Sioux City; Clark Kolterman, Seward; Michael Musil, Lincoln; and Dan Widick, Eustis-Farnam (see sidebar). Divine Intervention Feurer claims that it was divine intervention that diverted him from a medical career to a high school classroom. He was a medical technology major through his junior year at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. But married to a nurse, he soon learned from her daily stories that he had little desire to work in a hospital setting. He turned his chemistry, math, biology and physics classes toward a degree in education. It took an additional 18 months to get his degree, and he accepted a job offer at North Bend in 1979. In his first 10 years as a teacher and coach, Feurer says his classroom teaching effort was “adequate.” The 80-hour weeks took a toll, and with young children at home, he stepped away from coaching. That gave him more time to create curriculum, to be involved in professional organizations and to look for better ways to “get to” kids.

The Feurer Files n Grades 7-12 Science Teacher, North Bend Central Junior-Senior High School, North Bend, since 1979. n Bachelor’s degree in K-12 biological and physical science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Master’s degree in science education from UNK. Other Facts n Nebraska Rural ComFeurer munity School Assn. Secondary Teacher of the Year, 1992; numerous other teaching awards over the past 20 years. n Current or former adjunct faculty member at Metro Community College, Midland University, Doane College and Peru State College. n Past president (1998) of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science. n Past president (1986) Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association. n North Bend Central Education Association president for five years.

Then he attended a week-long, insight-filled, “doing” science workshop that Feurer says paved the path for the past 20 years of his teaching career.

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“I could ‘see’ things I had never seen before, and wanted to share those previously invisible things with my students, so I began to integrate those ways of learning into my classroom,” Feurer wrote in his Teacher of the Year application. Today, “I try to make my students scientists, not teach them science.” ‘Become Biologists’ His philosophy of teaching explains his classroom effort. “One is planning a trip to the Grand Canyon with two options: fly or drive,” wrote Feurer. “Flying definitely gets you there faster, but you miss a lot of experiences along the way. Teaching is the same – experiences along the way need to be capitalized upon.” Feurer quotes Albert Einstein, who said “The only source of knowledge is experience.” He added that “I do not want my junior students to study biology, I want them to become biologists. I want to change their dispositions. I want them to develop ‘seeing’ eyes, not just vision.” The school grounds give Feurer’s students plenty of opportunities to ‘see’ science and biology. The grounds include a 22-acre arboretum and outdoor classroom that Feurer has been curating for 20 years. Students planted the trees, shrubs and grasses, and the 50-member Science Club added a pond. The site has been an accredited affiliate site of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum since 1996 as well. “I don’t think I realized how beneficial it would be to create a living classroom,” Feurer wrote. “Demonstrating fall colors in leaves leads to teaching the role of pigments in photosynthesis. Insect collections developed in the early school year make interesting study of metamorphosis in the winter. We don’t just study dendrochronology, we do dendrochronology.” Feurer pulls learning opportunities from anywhere and everywhere. A football field is a lab for learning about GPS devices. In the arboretum, an unlucky cottonwood tree, struck by lightning, offers a classroom lesson. A “serendipitous ‘frog rodeo’ during a tank cleaning or feeding is a real learning opportunity. “What nature does for me, I can’t do with a book. I have to have nature, trees and a pond to do what I do. It’s part of my nature, growing up on a farm.” Raised near Tecumseh, he said his mother’s work ethic, and his father’s love of nature, have been a big influence

Finalists Exemplify Excellence Expertise is in Elementary Ed, English, Science Five Nebraska teachers were finalists for the 2011 Teacher of the Year Award. In addition to winner Bob Feurer of North Bend, they were Nicholas Kleve of South Sioux City; Clark Kolterman of Seward; Michael Musil of Lincoln; and Dan Widick of Eustis-Farnam. Feurer, Kleve, Kolterman and Widick are NSEA members. Nicholas Kleve, E.N. Swett Elementary School, South Sioux City Kleve credits his older brother,Tim, with influencing his decision to become a teacher. “I grew up assisting my parents taking care of Tim, who is four years older than I and has cerebral palsy,” he said. “He taught me patience, kindness, tolerance, acceptance, and how to advocate for someone who cannot advocate for himself.” In high school, a community service project helping disadvantaged children turned Kleve to the profession. A teacher asked him to teach the students about Kleve Kolterman Widick first aid, and that experience pinpointed his destiny. “Working with these students, I knew there were many other kids for me to help, inspire, care about and teach,” he said. “Every year my students depend on me to give them the best educational experience possible,” wrote Kleve. “They are the 21st century leaders in our community, state, nation and global society. Providing a mediocre learning experience for my students is just unacceptable.” Clark Kolterman, Seward High School Kolterman has led two lives. For more than 20 years, he was actively involved in the family’s variety store business and the Seward community. When the business was sold, his wife encouraged him to turn to teaching.“She was a major influence in my career change at the age of 42, and my start on the path of becoming an educator,” wrote Kolterman. He had intentions of teaching business, but was hired by his hometown high school to teach English. Kolterman said he works hard to involve a large variety of students in activities like quiz bowl, academic decathlon, one act plays or the speech team. “I feel a sense of accomplishment when they respond with the positive results my teaching has generated,” he wrote. “It is not that I taught them everything, but that I have given them opportunities, experiences and a foundation to learn.” Dan Widick, Eustis-Farnam High School Widick’s parents constantly encouraged their children to go to college, and they planted that seed in his mind. But a high school biology teacher made him understand, and even enjoy, science for the first time. “I made the decision to go to Kearney State College and major in biology to become a high school teacher,” he wrote. In his first year in the classroom, he admits that he thought that learning should be focused on the textbook.Today, after 39 years at Eustis-Farnam, he says his “ideas about good education have grown considerably,” and he frequently goes outside and beyond the textbook to teach. “Students need to learn the fundamental content of whatever course they are enrolled in, but they also need to learn problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, and to develop an understanding of the importance of a desire to learn throughout their lives,” he wrote.

on his life and his teaching. Motivate and Inspire Former North Bend Board of Education President Jim Minarick and wife, Ann, wrote in support of Feurer’s nomination, noting the former students now in the medical field. “If you were to ask any of those doctors, physician assistants, nurses, physi-

cal therapists, pharmacists, radiologists or PhDs of research what they thought of his teaching, we’re sure they would tell you how he was able to challenge, motivate and inspire them in all of his classes,” they wrote. Principal Brenda Petersen said Feurer “doesn’t just teach science; he teaches students how to become learners.” That’s the mark of a great teacher. December 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 7

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Start at the Bottom

Start Saving! Your NSEA Membership Card Has Arrived It’s in your mailbox. The new, 2010-11 NSEA Access Membership Card should have arrived at your home address on or about Dec. 1. The card offers a whole world of savings, and gives members the opportunity to save much more than the cost of annual membership. And, with the economy beginning to turn around, saving is important! NSEA’s Access Card serves double duty. It’s both an Association membership card, and a discount card that can be used at thousands of merchant sites across the country. Whether you’re shopping for new clothes, dining out, looking for hotel discounts or buying home electronics, your NSEA Access Membership Card can save you lots of cash. The card you just received is valid through December 2011. All NSEA members, including first-time members, can access the same savings by using their individual 10-digit Association identification number, which appears above your name on each Association mailing. To start saving, members must activate their card once it arrives. It’s easy to do, by following these steps: n Log on to the NSEA website at www.nsea.org. n Enter your member ID number (located on the front of the card or on the mailing label above your name). n Create your personal account by following the registration instructions. You can also activate your account by calling the toll-free number listed on the back of each card. Some merchants require that you present your card at the time of purchase. Others require that you print a coupon from the Access website, so be certain to check the individual merchant page on the site for specific instructions. Start saving!

Report Says That Would Improve Teaching To improve teaching, start at the bottom. That’s the message in a report from McKinsey & Company entitled Closing the Talent Gap: Attracting and Retaining Top Third Graduates to a Career in Teaching. The authors note that nearly all efforts to boost teacher effectiveness in America focus on teachers already in the classroom, “instead of seeking to change the caliber of the people who enter teaching in the first place.” According to the report, “Three of the top-performing school systems in the world — those in Finland, Singapore and South Korea — take a different approach, recruiting 100 percent of their teachers from the top third of their high school and college students.” Those countries screen would-be teachers for important qualities, like scholastic prowess; and they invest heavily in training teachers and in retaining them for their entire careers. Teacher education programs are highly competitive and selective, with those programs accepting no more than one of every seven or eight applications. In fact, “attracting high-quality people to the profession is considered a national priority” in those countries.

Further, Singapore and Finland fully fund teacher education, and pay students’ salaries or stipends. South Korea, meanwhile, has a starting pay equivalent to about $55,000, with top salaries of $155,000. Singapore offers retention bonuses of $10,000 to $36,000 every three to five years. The report noted that emulating the success in those countries would require a total makeover, but would not break the bank. For about $30 billion – about five percent of K-12 spending in the U.S. – salaries could be raised substantially, and the percentage of new teachers drawn from the top third of their class could be raised from the current 14 percent to 68 percent. The cost of inaction, however, would be high. The report indicates that if the academic performance in the U.S. had been raised to the level of Finland and South Korea between 1983 and 1998, the U.S. gross domestic product would have been roughly $1.3 trillion higher in 2008. “The ongoing cost of that difference is the equivalent of a permanent national recession much larger than the one from which we are now emerging,” wrote the report’s authors. To learn more, go to: http://www.mckinsey.com/

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Honoring Veterans, Their Service Millard Teacher Places Wreath at Tomb of Unknown Soldier When Millard teacher Tom Whisinnand proposed that a wreath be placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery during American Education Week, he envisioned National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel would handle the honors. On Monday morning, Nov. 15, however, it was Whisinnand at Arlington National Cemetery, placing a wreath at the tomb. The act honored both educators who are veterans, and all veterans, on the first To watch a video of weekday of American the wreath laying Education Week. ceremony, go to the “While we someNSEA website at: times struggle to ensure www.nsea.org equity and quality in our public schools, Americans can be proud that every student in America is at least offered the chance, the hope of a better life, by receiving the incredible gift of a free, public education,” said Whisinnand. “One reason America can offer such a wonderful gift is, at least in part, due to the honorable armed services personnel who have fought and died to protect our right to a free public education,” he said. “And while some may not agree with specific, current military practices or policy, the reality is that we have the freedoms and rights we have today because of the military men and women who came before us.”

Solemn act: NSEA member Tom Whisinnand, a member of the Millard Education Association, places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Monday, Nov. 15. He was assisted by Lorraine Wilson, a National Education Association staff member, and a member of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Honor Guard.

Sacrifice Recognized Those who have fought, and often died, in defense of our country have allowed public school educators to “continue to offer the truly life-changing gift of public education,” he said. Though he has never served in the armed forces, Whisinnand recognizes the sacrifice demanded of those who have served. His wife is a veteran, his grandfather was a prisoner of war during World War II, and a great uncle is listed as missing in action in the Vietnam War. A number of his friends have also served. “As a result of those military connections, I have a deep appreciation and gratitude for the sacrifices that our United States military personnel make on a daily basis, so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have as Americans,” he said. Whisinnand first proposed the wreath placement in April,

at NSEA’s annual Delegate Assembly. There, Whisinnand asked the 300 Nebraska educators in attendance to have NSEA’s delegation to the National Education Association annual meeting raise the issue. At the NEA annual meeting in New Orleans, more than 9,000 educators from across the country heard, and approved, Whisinnand’s proposal. The final language of Whisinnand’s proposal called for NEA President Van Roekel, or his designee, to place the wreath. Because Van Roekel had a scheduling conflict, he asked Whisinnand to step in and place the wreath on behalf of NEA’s 3.2 million members. “This opportunity to represent the National Education Association in thanking educators who have served in the Armed Forces is both an honor and a privilege,” he said. Whisinnand, a native of Norfolk, is a teacher at Reagan Elementary School in Millard.

‘Bright Ideas’ Headline Speech Language Hearing Confab Practical strategies and ideas for speech language pathologists will be the focus of a February conference in Kearney. The 2011 Mid-Winter Workshop of the Nebraska Speech Language Hearing Association will look at ‘Bright Ideas That Really Work for SLPs.’ Offered will be basic information about the Response to Intervention process, including a discussion of evidence-based practices. Demonstrations will highlight lessons, activities and strategies designed to motivate speech students of all levels. Additional emphasis will include supporting

literacy skills, models for effective co-teaching and an opportunity to produce materials for use in the therapy room. The conference will be held at the Kearney Holiday Inn, with registration opening at 8 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 25. There is a fee, and early registration is encouraged. The Holiday Inn room rate is $82.95 per night; mention the NSLHA 2011 MidWinter Workshop when reserving your room. For more, call the Association at 402-476-9573, or e-mail to: angie@nslha.org

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Healthier Lives Through Music State’s Interactive Wellness Campaign Aimed at Young Women I am invincible I am just like a rock I am so much stronger Than you ever would have thought I am your oxygen I am not second best I am the reason your heart is beating In your chest Omaha native Ally Rhodes wrote those words as encouragement to herself as she left a bad relationship. “I made a world in the song,” said Rhodes, “and then all I had to do was build myself up to believe it. And that’s exactly what I did.” Her upbeat musical message is one of many now available on the TUNE project website, an effort born indirectly from a federal grant given to 13 states. Each of those 13 states – Nebraska included – had high rates of infant mortality. Research indicated that a contributing factor to infant mortality was a lack of care that young people, particularly young women, provide for themselves. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) launched the TUNE project, its first ever interactive health and wellness program, with a goal of helping young women make better choices and live healthier lives through music. TUNE is intended to motivate young adults to take control of their lives and futures by making positive choices. “Our goal with the TUNE project is to use music to empower young women to choose a healthy lifestyle early on in their lives,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, chief medical officer and director of Public Health. “The project includes a number of interactive and engaging elements to reach this group of women, including: a custom website, social channels, downloadable songs, events and concerts. All components of TUNE will tie in health information and messages.” The campaign asks young people to “Live your life like it’s your favorite song!” and shares with the world the best of more than 150 submitted songs. The songs on the website are for teens to play and to share, as is the information on the website. The site urges visitors to “Take what you can, share what you want. Do whatever you can to stay in tune with yourself.” More than 150 artists submitted songs. Only the most personal, the most inspirational – and the most likely to make you want to sing along – made it to the site. The TUNE music was selected through a contest that received more than 150 submissions of original songs and poetry. Eight finalists were featured. TUNE artists participated in concerts and events throughout the state in 2010. TUNE is funded by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services through a federal grant, with the help of Nebraska educators; health care and service providers; and music lovers. The Bailey Lauerman agency coordinated the campaign. Learn more at: http://www.tunemylife.org/ December 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 11

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Nebraska’s

CIR

The Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations is under attack. This fourth in a series of articles refutes key arguments of CIR opponents.

Editor’s Note: Mark McGuire is a managing partner with the law fim of McGuire and Norby and has worked on behalf of NSEA for nearly 30 years. By Mark McGuire The last three issues of The Voice have set forth what the Commission of Industrial Relations does, and how it applies its statutory directive to resolve “industrial disputes.” What was accurately depicted was a well-established, rational process to resolve industrial disputes upon the request (petition) of public employees or their employers. The result of this statutory process is a system that is highly predictable. That is best demonstrated by the fact that of Nebraska’s more than 250 school districts, 19 Educational Service Units and six community colleges that bargain collectively, only 36 have gone to the CIR in the past 10 years. Why so few? The fact is that negotiators on both sides of the table know and understand the case laws from the Commission and the Nebraska Supreme Court, and incorporate that knowledge as an approach that is best for those parties to reach a predictable settlement. Despite the predictability and peaceful labor relationships fostered by CIR, and the commission’s effective dispute resolution process, the CIR is under attack. This is not the first time. The CIR, and collective bargaining rights, was challenged in the 1970s. At that time, the constitutionality of the CIR was challenged, and the Nebraska Supreme Court sustained the constitutionality during that challenge. Today, the criticism is inappropriately blaming the CIR for fiscal woes faced by some of Nebraska’s largest cities. In the last 30 years, in a cyclical fashion, legislative challenges to some or all of the Industrial Relations Act/CIR have been tried. In each case, the Legislature has taken the side of predictable public policy that supports employees collective bargaining rights and the public interest in providing public services without any threat of employee strikes or work stoppages. This time, unreasonable attacks on the CIR and the entire Industrial Relations Act process will escalate. The most extreme position is calling for total repeal of the CIR. CIR opponents support their claims with misleading statements linking the CIR to public budget woes; the CIR and problems with

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city and county employee pensions; and the CIR and tax rates. For example, a small group with deep pockets published a document that claims the CIR is “wreaking havoc” on city budgets in Nebraska. Yet the research to support that claim does not mention one city upon which the CIR has “wreaked havoc.” The fact is that publicly-elected officials sitting on city councils, county boards and other governing bodies of set budgets. Further, thousands of such public boards reach reasonable settlements with public employees each and every year. Some individuals have written that the solvency issue of a few public employee pension plans is related to the CIR. They fail to mention that retirement is a reasonable fringe benefit negotiated by public employees and their employer. The CIR has no involvement with public pensions. And a few groups make misleading statements that link the CIR to increases in your taxes. Yet the CIR has no taxing authority. Middle-of-the-Road Finally, some opponents suggest that the CIR is a free-standing entity which, on its own, seeks and finds parties who have not completed negotiations, and then establishes outrageously high salary agreements. This is a gross misrepresentation of fact and case law that show CIR rulings as predictable for both the employee group and the employer. Two years ago the City of Omaha brought a wage case to the CIR, naming the Omaha police union as respondent, seeking resolution to a labor-management dispute. The City, with a sophisticated personnel management team and a bevy of high-quality lawyers, was not “wreaking havoc” upon itself by filing with the CIR, but rather filed a lawsuit with the CIR to get a predictable settlement resolution to a prolonged negotiations impasse. Meanwhile, Omaha police remained on duty, proof that the “havoc” CIR opponents allege is devoid of substance. Ability to Pay The most significant claim by CIR foes is that the CIR does not consider an employer’s ability to pay for salary and benefit settlements. Critics breezily state how the adoption of Iowa statutes “provide an excellent example of how ability to pay can be easily incorporated into the present CIR system to protect the economic vitality of city govern-

ments across the state.” Professor John Gradwohl reached precisely the opposite conclusion 10 years ago in his law review article, “Historical Explanation of the Nebraska Public School District Bargaining Impasse Resolution Mechanism.” Gradwohl teaches labor law at the University of Nebraska College of Law, and is a former and longtime CIR judge. His article sets forth conclusions with respect to incorporating the Iowa statutory scheme and “ability to pay” criteria. It would be a monumental undertak-

“...because it is a subjective standard, a governing body of a political subdivision, or ultimately the CIR, could easily have different perspectives on what constitutes ‘ability to pay.’” — Mark McGuire, Attorney ing to apply the Iowa standards under Nebraska’s existing formal procedural requirements and judicial precedents. For example, giving consideration to “the ability of the public employer to finance economic adjustments” would require an examination of the entire school district budget, all of the school district’s potential sources of funds, and its determinations concerning education policy and the expenditure of its available resources. To broaden Nebraska’s statutory impasse resolution yardstick would require not only substantial revision of the present procedural requirements, but also a re-examination of the constitutional basis for the existence of the Commission and the constitutional rules concerning separation of powers and delegation of authority. Ability Not a Factor The ruling establishing that ability to pay is not a factor in a wage determination case was Nebraska City Educ. Ass’n v. School Dist. of Neb. City, handed down in 1978. In that ruling, the court said Nebraska statutes outline factors which the Court of Industrial Relations should look to when establishing wage rates and conditions of employment. Statutes make “no mention of or reference to the school district’s ‘ability to pay.’” That ruling strengthened a

1975 CIR decision involving the Crete Education Association and the Crete Board of Education. Thus, for 35 years, public sector collective bargaining has been set against a backdrop of comparability, rather than ability or willingness to pay. Comparability is determined by placing the unit employees on the salary schedule of each employer included in a designated array. That process then leads a mathematical process that sets a comparable wage rate at an average figure. Opponents Goal: Lower Wages The true essence of the anti-CIR argument, however, is to seek a system in Nebraska where public servants are paid less than the average of their peers. This then is a political issue. As citizens, do we want to impose on those who perform civic jobs a wage that is less than the average of their counterparts? CIR opponents holding this extreme perspective perhaps unwittingly, but effectively, support a stronger and more intrusive CIR than now exists. As Gradwohl says, adopting an Iowa type statute is problematic. It would involve a CIR review and amendment of a school district’s budget and program and spending priorities. This is the unintended consequence of the “ability to pay” argument. In the school arena, “local control” is often cited as a tenet of faith by Nebraska school boards. Apparently, anti-CIR forces would turn local board control to the hands of a CIR commissioner. Is it better public policy to have all of a district’s income and expenses determined by the CIR? Or is it better to have employees’ wages reasonably agreed to between employees and their employer? Ability to pay cuts both ways. CIR opponents assume it would be a vehicle to decrease public servant compensation. But because it is a subjective standard, a governing body of a political subdivision, or, ultimately the CIR could easily have differing perspectives as to what constitutes “ability to pay.” NSEA Goals The NSEA goals in this battle are simple, and are based upon the philosophy that it is important to maintain the fair, effective and predictable system developed over the last 40 years. As the 2011 session of the Legislature unfolds, The Voice will cover proposed legislation targeting the CIR. Until then, be wary of the claims of CIR foes. December2010 2010nnThe TheNSEA NSEAVoice VoicennPage Page1313 December

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Change Ahead, Conferees Told Performance Pay in Nebraska; Nelson says Change will Trickle Down There’s change coming – both in Nebraska and in Washington, D.C. – and NSEA is on the leading edge of the action in both instances. That was clear for about 150 attendees at NSEA’s annual Fall Bargaining Conference in November. On one hand, conference attendees went through a crash course on new-look performance pay contract language that will change the face of compensation for Nebraska teachers in the next five years. On the other hand, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson told participants that change is at hand in Washington, D.C., but that public schools should not suffer as a result. Nelson was the keynote speaker for the conference, held in Grand Island. Nebraska’s senior senator said the changes in Congress that came about in the Nov. 2 election will affect local governments and public schools across the country – but it is not clear yet what that change will entail. Americans generally want cooperation in Washington, D.C., while Nebraskans, specifically, want job creation, Nelson said. Some in Congress will cross party lines to move the country forward, but enough need to be willing to do that to get the country’s financial house back in order, he said. In doing so, “we have to make sure that education doesn’t suffer,” Nelson said. “If we don’t take care of education, it will be the educational equivalent of eating our seed corn.” NSEA will work with the National Education Association to make certain that change at the national level does not harm education at the local level. Issues to Consider Spurred by action of the Nebraska Legislature, performance pay played a prominent role on the conference agenda. NSEA was instrumental in crafting and securing passage of LB1014 during the 2010 legislative session. LB1014 allows the state to collect and sets aside up to $10 million each year from wind and solar energy lease revenue from school lands. It then allocates that revenue for performance pay for teachers. The revenue is disbursed beginning in 2016-17, but

Soaking it up: Listening to a sectional at NSEA’s annual Advocacy Conference in Grand Island last month were Fremont teachers Gwen Smith, left, and Amy Hartman.

Montana educators reviewing the Helena Consensus Negotiations Approach. Also on the panel was Nebraska Sen. Ken Haar, who sponsored LB1014; Lincoln Education Association President Jenni Absalon; and David Schlein, an NEA labor economist. A committee of NSEA members is working on draft performance pay language for local associations to consider during upcomKeynote: Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson told ing contract talks. NSEA attendees at the NSEA Advocacy Conference that bi-partisanship is needed in Washington, D.C., to get President Jess Wolf is adathe country’s financial house in order. At left is State mant that performance pay Sen. Ken Haar, Malcolm. Haar introduced the legisla- provisions not be linked to student test scores, nor altion that placed performance pay in state law. low for arbitrary salary decisions by administrators. only if 75 percent of Nebraska school Performance pay provisions could districts have included a teacher perreward graduate hours, new endorseformance pay system in their local ments, added job duties, mentorships, collective bargaining agreements by National Board Certification or other Jan. 1, 2016. aspects that improve a teacher’s skills The conference focused on, among or knowledge. other things, issues to consider in barThe committee’s work should be gaining alternative compensation; and completed in time for local associathe nuts and bolts of performance pay. tions to consider proposed language A 90-minute panel discussion looked at for the 2011-12 Association year. performance pay models, and featured

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News You Can Use Resources for Teachers, Students, at ‘FirstGov’ Are you looking for information about the White House, Congress, Supreme Court or federal agencies? The U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative wants educators to know about FirstGov.gov, a federal Web portal with links to these resources and more. The site includes links to state, local and tribal government Web sites — and provides a ready-reference library on many topics. The site provides easy access to all the federal government’s online information, in English and Spanish, that you can use in your classroom. Yahoo!, Inc., has listed it among its 50 most incredibly useful Web sites. The site also has links to financial aid information, internship opportunities, and federal jobs. The site is at: http://www.firstgov.gov

Study in Ireland, Earn Graduate Credit Among the offerings for 2011 by the College Consortium for International Studies is a three-week session at the National University of Ireland. The topic will be a comparative study of the Irish and American educational systems. The university is at Galway, Ireland, and the program offers six graduate credit units for the June 30-July 23, 2011, course. The Ireland offering is one of many promoted by the CCIS. For more details, go to: http://www.ccisabroad.org/index. htm

Grants Available at Fund for Teachers Teachers seeking inspiration, education and adventure look no further. The Fund for Teachers invites educators to propose a summer project that pursues their passions and will subsequently affect student learning. Those awarded $5,000 individual grants or $10,000 team grants will embark on their global odysseys throughout the summer. Fund for Teachers grants place virtually no limitations on teachers’ aspi-

Wanted: Teachers in China

The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) Office of International Education is seeking individuals or couples with a background in education — and a desire for adventure! — to teach conversational English and American culture to Chinese high school students near Beijing, China. There are two opportunities: n Jan. 17 to March 25, 2011; n June 15 to Aug. 16, 2011. Teachers will be provided room and board at UNK’s partner university campus in China; airfare; transportation to and from the airport in China; and a pre-departure training workshop. If interested, submit a letter of application and resume to: Office of International Education, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2504 19th Ave., Kearney, NE 68849. UNK is AAEO/ADA. rations, facilitating unlimited learning set in conferences, cultural centers and coral reefs. Requirements, varying slightly by program location, include: n Employed by a school/district in an eligible geographic area; n Teach in a Pre-K through 12th grade classroom; n Achieved a minimum of three years classroom teaching experience; n Spend at least 50 percent of a full-time position in the classroom or a classroom-like setting; and n Intend to return to teaching in their school/district in the consecutive school year. Applications are due by Jan. 28, 2011. Teachers apply through an online application at: fundforteachers.org/apply.html

Road Running Club Offers Coaching Tools Building on an acclaimed youth running program, the New York Road Runners running club has released a series of ground-breaking teaching videos to inspire coaches and shape a new generation of runners. A Running Start: The Video Resource for Coaching Youth Runners is a free, online collection of 83 coaching videos developed by New York Road Runners to teach the fundamentals of running. Created in collaboration with a team of expert youth coaches and exercise physiologists, the videos offer a wealth of instruction for coaches and physical education teachers who want to teach kids how to run. Coaches and educators will find real-world activity demonstrations combined with guidelines, advice and best practices to teach run-

ning skills. Kids will love the games and drills, and veteran and novice coaches alike will appreciate the activities and knowledge that helps them teach fundamental topics, particularly pacing and good form, so kids learn to run enjoyably, effectively and safely. For details, go to: www.nyrr.org/arunningstart

You’re Covered By NEA Liability Policy! Every member of NSEA is covered by the Educator’s Liability (EEL) Insurance policy purchased by the National Education Association. In general, the EEL policy provides coverage for members arising out of their educational employment activities. Those activities are generally defined as duties performed pursuant to the express or implied terms of their employment or at the express request of the member’s supervisor acting within the supervisor’s school employment. In addition to defending civil matters, the EEL insurance provides reimbursement for bail bonds in employment-related criminal matters and reimbursement for personal property damages caused by an assault at school or while performing school duties. Further, the EEL insurance provides reimbursement in criminal matters arising out of educational employment activities if the member is found not guilty. The specific terms and coverage provided by the EEL insurance policy are governed by the insurance company. For additional information, contact your NSEA UniServ director, who will be happy to provide you with additional details. Reach your UniServ director at 1-800-742-0047.

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e Matching Funds Benefit Six Locals NSEA Dollars Aid Bond, Board Elections Prior to the Nov. 2 General Election, the NSEA Board of Directors approved matching funds requests from six locals for local elections: n The board said ‘yes’ to a request from the Omaha Education Association. The OEA requested $1,000 to be used to elect pro-education candidates to the Omaha Board of Education. n The board also approved a request for $500 in matching funds for the Hitchcock County Education Association, to help with a school bond election for the Hitchcock County Public Schools. n A $250 matching fund request was approved for the Gretna Education Association was approved to help with passage of a school bond that included construction of a new elementary school and the expansion of the high school. n A $200 request was approved to help the Plattsmouth Education Association elect education-friendly candidates to the local school board. n A $250 request was approved to help the Bennington Education Association support a proposed school bond issue. n A request by the Gering Education Association for $700 in matching funds was also approved. The grant will be used to campaign in favor of a bond issue that will replace an aging elementary school building. In each case, funds approved by the NSEA Board of Directors must be matched by contributions of local association members in advance of the request for funding. In addition, the local association must have endorsed the levy election, school board candidate or bond election. Such applications must be submitted to NSEA President Jess Wolf and approved by the NSEA Board of Directors. For more details, contact NSEA’s Brian Mikkelsen at 1-800742-0047.

Dealing with Illness NEA Health Information Network Publications Will Prepare, Educate You for Flu Season It’s flu season. Just think of what you may have to deal with – or maybe you’re already dealing with. To help you, NEA’s Health Information Network has created great materials to help you prevent, prepare for and deal with whatever you or your students may get. To order, or download, any of these booklets or brochures, go to the NEA Health Information Network website and click on the ‘Resources’ link. That site is at: http://www.neahin.org The Stomach Bug Book educates school personnel on the spread and prevention of norovirus. It provides helpful resources for the school community. It’s important that students and school personnel, such as custodians, food service workers, bus drivers and school nurses, understand the importance of hand washing and cleaning during a norovirus outbreak. Also available in Spanish. Also available are these titles: n Red Book. Exposure to Blood on the Job: What School Employees Need to Know. This popular booklet (available in both English and Spanish) addresses how to manage blood on the job, the steps to take to protect yourself and provides information on HIV and hepatitis. n Take a Deep Breath and Thank Your Custodian. This guide provides tools, tips and resources on how custodial staff can play a role in maintaining a healthy indoor environment, as well as simple strategies for developing a local association indoor air quality action plan. n Talking About Adult Vaccination. This booklet broadens awareness among education professionals about adult vaccinations, helping them to protect themselves, their schools and their communities from vaccine-preventable illnesses. n Talking About Shingles. Shingles affects at least one million people in the U.S. each year. This brochure was developed to enhance the awareness of NEA members and the school community about shingles, and offers preventive tips. n Talking About Pneumococcal Disease. Pneumococcal Disease is often confused with pneumonia, but that is only one type of illness the disease may cause. This brochure provides information on the vaccine that may protect those within the school community from severe illness.

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Deserving & Talented! Your Colleagues Do Great Work. Why Not Recognize Their Talents With an Award from NSEA? There will be awards distributed to a handful of deserving notables at NSEA’s annual Delegate Assembly in April. You work with talented teachers and education support professionals – don’t they deserve consideration? Any NSEA member may nominate an individual or group for the awards, listed below. In all cases, send nominations by Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, to: NSEA Awards, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Nominations may also be submitted online, with any required supporting material mailed to the NSEA. The online forms for the awards may be found under the ‘Call for Nominations’ link on the NSEA website at: www.nsea.org NSEA members are eligible for these awards: n NSEA Rookie of the Year. This award goes to a teacher who sparkled in his or her first year of teaching during the 2009-10 school year. n Award for Teaching Excellence. This goes to a teacher who has excelled in the classroom over a long period of time. n Education Support Professional of the Year. This prize is awarded to an ESP who has excelled in his or her job. Finalists for these three awards will be notified in March, and the winners in each category announced at the Delegate Assembly in Lincoln April 15-16, 2011. Each winner receives a $250 cash award. In addition, the winner of the Award for Teaching Excellence will compete for the NEA Teaching Excellence Award and a $25,000 prize. Though there are no cash awards for these honors, NSEA members are also eligible for these awards: n Community Service: Recognizes individual NSEA members and/or local associations who are actively involved in non-paid volunteer work outside of classroom duty hours. An essay of no more than 200 words explaining the nominee’s

All smiles: Winners of awards at NSEA’s 2010 Delegate Assembly were, from left, Rookie of the Year Katie Herbold, South Sioux City;Teaching Excellence Award winner Matt Dykstra, Millard; and Education Support Professional of the Year Ann Peterson, South Sioux City.

qualifications must accompany the entry. Photos and videotapes are helpful. n Local Public Relations: Recognizes local associations for outstanding communication within the association, and promotion of educational excellence within the community. Sufficient examples of dated material should be included. These awards will also be presented at Delegate Assembly: n Friend of Education: NSEA’s highest honor. Local associations are encouraged to nominate either an individual or organization that has made a statewide contribution to education/educators. n Media: Recognizes a newspaper, television or radio station for outstanding work in covering education issues and promoting community involvement in education. An essay of no more than 200 words explaining the nominee’s qualifications must accompany each entry. Examples of dated material may be included. For details, contact the NSEA at 1-800-742-0047.

Stuff Those Stockings with Holiday Savings! Houses are lit with colorful lights. The weather is crisp and cold. And you have a long list of gifts to purchase. It must be the holiday season. This year, your NSEA membership card, through the Access program, gives members an extra reason for celebration — big savings on popular holiday gifts: n Toys: Discover baby toys, educational toys and big boy toys galore. You can save on them all when you shop through Access. Log in and discover savings at popular brands like Target. com (10 percent off), The Scholastic Store (20 percent off). n Books, music and movies:

From the latest new releases to classic favorites, books, movies and music have never been more affordable. Barnes&Noble.com offers Access shoppers an additional 5 percent off and FYE offers $3 off your purchase. n Electronics: Electronics make up some of the hottest and most desirable gifts. They’re often some of the priciest gifts, too. Luckily for Access members, we offer savings on a wide range of brands like HP ($25 off), Phillips Electronics (up to 40 percent off) and more. n Apparel: Dress up the holidays with stylish gifts. For the women in your life, try brands like LOFT (20 per-

cent off) and Coldwater Creek (10 percent off). For kids and teens, perhaps the perfect gift lies at Hot Topic (10 percent online) or Kid to Kid ($5 off). Still looking? The Access savings website will guide you to places just waiting to save you money. After you log in through NSEA’s website, try browsing the shopping category for even more popular brands. Or, search your ZIP code to find local shops, boutiques and more near you. For details, go to the NSEA website and click on the membership card icon at the upper right corner of the home page. The site is at: www.nsea.org

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Snookie’s Snippets There are deals every single day on the NEA Member Benefits Click & Save website. Among other savings, NEA members can find free access to great deals in travel, electronics, apparel, restaurants, theme parks, movie tickets, appliances and automobiles. And, members can sign up to receive advance notice Krumbiegel of upcoming sales from favorite stores. In addition, up to four family members can join – at no charge! How much is it worth to you? Consider that, since Click & Save launched, NEA members have saved more than $4.38 million on products and services purchased through the program. Look for the Click & Save link under the ‘Most Popular’ listing on the right side of the NEA Member Benefits home page at: www.neamb.com Consumer Information Also at the Member Benefits website are a multitude of consumer articles and other information on these topics – and more: n How Much Retirement Savings Do You Really Need? n The Right Time to Refinance. n Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards. n The ‘Money Talks’ blog by Elizabeth Schruefer. Professional Resources And there’s even more at the NEA Member Benefits website. Members can find teaching aides, books, lesson plans, professional development options and more. Did you know that the NEA Academy can provide busy K-12 educators with practical online courses to meet professional development and continuing education needs? Check it out! Call NEA Member Benefits at 1-800-637-4636, or visit this site for details: www.neamb.com Snookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s NEA Member Benefits representative.

NEA Member Benefits

More Help for Homeowners

Federal Programs Will Stabilize Market, Keep Mortgage Customers in Their Homes The housing market continues to be integral to the nation’s overall economic recovery, as evidenced by the Obama Administration’s efforts to provide additional relief to struggling homeowners. In March 2010, the Treasury Department announced multifaceted changes to the federal programs intended to stabilize the housing market and enable more mortgage customers to remain in their homes. These enhancements became available in the fall of this year. Highlights of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) refinance program enhancements include, among other things: n Temporary assistance through short-term mortgage payment reductions of up to six months for unemployed homeowners while they seek a new job. n Principal forgiveness for

HAMP-eligible borrowers who owe more than 115 percent of the value of their homes. Borrowers may be able to “earn” the principal reduction over three years by remaining current on their home mortgage payments. n A new voluntary FHA refinancing option for underwater homeowners – those owing more on their mortgage than the home is worth because of price depreciation in some local markets. This option may be available to borrowers who are current on their loans and includes a write-down of the first mortgage principal of at least 10 percent to reduce the borrower’s debt burden. n Guidance that all mortgage servicers not foreclose on customers being considered for a HAMP. To learn more, call the NEA Home Financing Program at 1-800-6324968, and speak with a home mortgage consultant, or go to: www.neamb.com

Get Substantial Savings on Appliances Through NEA Plan $29.95 Delivery and Free Hauling of Old Appliances NSEA members can treat themselves to the new premium laundry Duet pair by Whirlpool, America’s best-selling laundry brand, and maybe a KitchenAid standmixer or coffee maker. Or, just in time for the holidays, cook with ease on the new KitchenAid double oven freestanding range! As an NEA member you are eligible to receive substantial savings on these appliances and more through the VIPLINK Program by Whirlpool Corporation. Program benefits include:

n Special member pricing on familiar brands like Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana and Gladiator. n Appliances delivered for one low price of $29.95. And, your new appliance will be unpacked, set in your desired location, and any old appliances will be hauled away for free, through Dec. 31. n Convenient shopping on a secure website. Log on to the NEA Member Benefits website and create a VIPLINK member account to take advantage of these great savings and more! Enjoy the VIPLINK program from Whirlpool Corporation — the leading appliance manufacturer! Learn more at: www.neamb.com December 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 19

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BCBS Q&A

Benefit Changes Coming to 125 Plans By Kurt Genrich EHA Plan Advocate Under the Health Care Reform Act (HCR) that was put into law earlier this year, there will be changes that may have an effect on your benefits as they are offered through your school district. At the beginning of the New Year, the cost for your over-the-counter (OTC) drugs will not be able to be reimbursed with pre-tax dollars through your Flexible Spending Account. There can be an exception if your physician prescribes the drug on your behalf. As with all Flex plans, you cannot change your monthly deduction after your annual election. If you had put money into your plan for this purpose, please find other expenses to utilize that money.

is not already covered under another health insurance plan. This will allow any dependent, up to age 26, to be covered under their parent’s health insurance plan. Other changes that will take effect over the next year due to HCR include an expanded wellness benefit that will be put in place upon the renewal, beginning on Sept. 1, 2011. Under the new Wellness option, there will no longer be dollar limits or copays for any of the services covered under the new law. The last item that takes effect with the renewal next Sept. 1 allows dependents of covered employees to come under their parents’ plan, if the dependent

The Educators Health Alliance has contracted with Kurt Genrich to serve as the EHA Plan advocate. Genrich will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska plan participants to answer questions and promote the plan. The EHA Board is comprised of six NSEA representatives and three each from the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. NSEA Associate Executive Director NealClayburn is vice chair of the EHA Board of Directors. Call Genrich at 1-866-465-1342; on his cell phone at 402-217-2042; or e-mail him at: kurt@ehaplan.org

Omaha South Teacher Dies in Car-Pedestrian Accident An Omaha South High School teacher died after she was struck by a vehicle while walking to a parking lot near the school on Nov. 3. Stacey Klinger, 45, was widely respected and had taught American government, psychology and sociology at South for 13 years. Klinger was also an NSEA member. Police said Klinger was crossing a street when a sport utility vehicle turned the corner and struck her. The driver attempted to

stop, and after the impact left his vehicle and performed CPR. Klinger died later at a local hospital. Police said the impact knocked Klinger to the pavement, and she suffered a severe head injury. Speed and alcohol were not factors, said police. Klinger was a University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate, and had a master’s degree from UNO. She is survived by her husband, Scott; son, Devon; and daughter, Autumn.

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From the Executive Director

Page 2 I remember the essays my English teacher, Mrs. Bean, assigned. Writing and giving my opinion was not a problem. The difficult part of her writing assignments was the requirement for “authoritative” sources for the arguments or information I presented in the paper. It was a time when intellectual authority, informed judgment, and recognized expertise mattered. We don’t have to look far to understand that these things count for much less today. The internet is a convenient source for quick information — quick, but how informed? And how reliable? Researchers report that a significant number of people who do internet searches never move to the second page of the search results. Internet sales experts and other marketers understand that less than 10 percent of internet searchers ever go to Page 2 of the results. Often, it is only 1 percent. The astounding finding is the number of people who stop at the first result on Page 1. Research done; fact found. There is simply no time to read Page 2.

the veracity of the facts or analysis in the writing. That never happens with the instant “knowledge” of social media.

Intellectual Ignorance a Threat The question is why anyone should care that increasing numbers of people get their information from anonymous sources, or that these sources present little or no verification or basis of expertise for their claims. Dr. Marjorie Kostelnik, the Dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says that one of the most troublesome aspects of the flood of information in the digital age is that many beginning college students find it difficult to discern opinion from verified information. Her description of the problem: “Many students today view much of the information they find on the internet as equal and true: they fail to see much difference between hyperbole, unsubstantiated supposition, opinion, informed analysis, and Looking for Page 2: NSEA Executive Director Craig R. verified fact. Intellectual Christiansen at the Love Memorial Library on the campus authority and expertise are Understanding of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Objectivity not the primary criteria Does it make a differused to judge the veracity ence? Listen carefully. Are of information.” we hearing more informed and reasoned discussions, This is not a fight among stuffy academic types or is what we hear less informed than at any other time about the use of footnotes. It is a concern about our in our memory? At what point will media newscasts collective ability to recognize the difference between completely lose objectivity? More importantly, the fact and fiction. Intellectual ignorance threatens our fear is that we are losing the ability to understand the civic quality of life. Political ignorance threatens deconcept of objectivity. Fox News is fast becoming a mocracy itself. The increasing reliance on unverified, generic term for subjective, purposive opining, rather anonymous opinion has its results in who sits in Conthan objective reporting or analysis. gress, who lives in the White House, and who sets Some say that “print is dead.” The number of newspublic policy for education, health care and national papers that have simply gone out of business is staggerdefense. ing. Nearly 20 percent of the largest newspapers in the Doctors, police officers, airline pilots and teachers U.S. are described as failing. Whether book sales have all deal with real problems that real people encounter slumped as a result of digital media is arguable. What is — the knowledge about problems and issues with a not contested is the increase in the reliance on quick incomplexity that deserves more than a ranting blog or formation, and its unquestioned reliability. Books take 140 letters and spaces. For them, there is always a Page months to be researched, written, reviewed and edited. 2. None of us should settle for less. Or ever let anyone This ‘filtering’ process, although imperfect, does allow believe that an anonymous Page 1 internet opinion is the opportunity for many eyes to critique and improve real knowledge. It isn’t. December 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 21

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NSEA-Retired Corner

Consider This How About a Run for NSEA-Retired Office?

Six Positions On NSEA-Retired Board Open in 2011 While the local, state and national elections have passed, there’s another chance for those who would consider giving back to their profession to offer time and talents! There are several openings on the NSEA-Retired Board of Directors, and the filing deadline is near. Voting takes place in February and March, and the deadline for filing for office is Saturday, Feb 5. These board positions are open: president, vice president and director seats from the Capitol, Elkhorn and Sandhills districts. To file for these offices, watch for the nomination forms in the January 2011 issue of The Voice. Also to be decided in the Spring election cycle will be the NSEARetired delegation to NSEA’s 150th Delegate Assembly, scheduled for April 15-16 in LaVista; and the delegation to the summer NEARetired annual meeting and NEA Representative Assembly, both scheduled for Chicago. Dates to Remember In your NSEA pocket calendar and desk calendar, please change the NSEA-Retired Lobby Day from Tuesday, Feb. 8, to Tuesday, Feb. 15. And while your datebook is open, don’t forget to jot down the NSEARetired annual meeting and conference on Thursday, April 14, 2011. The event is tentatively scheduled to be held at the Institute for Culinary Arts on the Metro Community College Campus at Fort Omaha. Now that’s food for thought! Programs Well-Attended Each fall, NSEA-Retired and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska present information on Medicare changes, and promote participation in the NSEA-Retired BlueSenior Classic Medicare Supplement Insurance

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The winners are: At the SEAN Delegate Assembly in April, NSEA-Retired Vice President Jim McDermott presented four $750 scholarships to SEAN students for use during their student teaching semesters. Pictured, from left, are Mark Wollesen, Chadron State College; Michelle Pietzyk, College of St. Mary; Heather Sullivan, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Emilee Svec,Wayne State College; and McDermott.

NSEA-Retired to Give SEAN Stipends College juniors or seniors preparing to teach during the 2011-12 academic year may want to consider applying for a SEAN-NSEA Retired Scholarship. Four $750 scholarships will be awarded, based on both financial need and essay question answers. Applicants shall be juniors or seniors who will student teach in 2011-12, and who have been a member of the Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN) for at least two years, including the current academic year. Three letters of recommendation shall accompany the completed application form: one letter from a faculty or staff member; one letter from a local SEAN chapter officer; and the third, a recommendation from the chapter advisor. Completed applications and letters must be postmarked by March 1, 2011. Download the current application from this Web site: http://www.nsea.org/members/sean/awards/index.htm For more details, contact Tamra Mick at 1-800-742-0047 or via e-mail at: tamra.mick@nsea.org plan. This is done through a series of seminars across the state. In the past four years, more than 600 members have attended these seminars. In addition, since 2004, NSEARetired has presented retirement seminars for NSEA active members. Each seminar contains valuable information designed to assist members in planning for a financially comfortable retirement. Over the years, NSEA-Retired has conducted

154 sessions in 67 locals across Nebraska, with a total attendance of 5,625. Though most of the attendees are within 5-10 years of retirement, financial planning for retirement should be of greater interest to NSEA members in their 20s, providing them as many as 40 years in which to accumulate resources for the many years of actual retirement. — Tom Black, Editor wpc6296@cableone.net

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Stuff You Should Know

Falls City Members ‘Blue’ Members of the Falls City Education Association know how to raise money for a cause. Each month since November 2007, interested members of the FCEA, as well as other school employees, have paid $5 twice a month to wear blue jeans to work. The proceeds are donated to local non-profits that benefit students of all ages. The ‘Join Educators and eNjoy Serving’ (JEANS) program has raised $8,800 since its inception, said FCEA President Robin Ankrom. “All of the organizations that we contribute to benefit kids,” she said. Among the causes supported by JEANS are Falls City Recreation, Richardson County Cancer Society, Richardson County Heart Association, Falls City Trap Shooters, Falls City Wrestling Club, Red Cross Swimming, TeamMates, the local food pantry and a drive to gather Christmas presents for underprivileged children. Ankrom sends an article and photo to the local newspaper each month, documenting the latest donation. “We want the community to see the positive things that the association does for Falls City and surrounding towns. It’s great PR for us,” she said.

Week, and used the event as a fundraiser. In some buildings, there was incentive to give to the cause: the chance to wear blue jeans on Friday. In other cases, school buildings were in a competition, with the ‘losing’ school to wear the colors of the ‘winning’ school on Friday. Every member – and even nonmembers – were given donation envelopes. Said PPLEA’s Melissa Hansen: “I think our district just really sees the value of this fund, and they know that 100 percent of the money goes right back to helping kids.” Learn more about the Children’s Fund at: http://nsea.org/members/ NSEAchildfund.htm

The Key to Password Security

Eight-letter passwords on your computer just don’t cut it. A report issued by the Georgia Institute of Technology revealed that anyone using a cluster of cheap graphics cards can break an eight-character password in about two hours. Using the same processing power on a 12-character password would take more than 17,100 years. The key is to use characters, The Deficit: not just letters. There are only 26 letters in the English alphaNot Doomsday On duty: Two members of NSEA’s Ethnic Minority Affairs bet, but 95 letters and symbols From the Economic Policy Committee were on duty at a Native American Symposium on a standard keyboard. The Institute’s electronic newsletat Wayne State College in October, hosting an EMAC book recommendation is to mix letter: “It has become popular to giveaway. EMAC President Tracy Hartman-Bradley, left, and ters, numbers and characters discuss the national deficit as a Judy Beveridge, both of Omaha, handled the booth duties. to create the longest and most ticking time bomb moving the complex password a website country toward a doomsday allows. And it’s a good idea to follow these common tips: scenario. But such popular narratives are not accurate and may n Use different passwords everywhere. leave the mistaken impression that severe fiscal austerity is the n Change your passwords frequently. only way to achieve fiscal health. EPI, with The Century Founn Make your passwords mysterious to others – don’t use dation and Demos, has launched the Our Fiscal Security webyour mother’s maiden name for every password, and avoid site to present a new framework for understanding the deficit. common passwords like ‘Huskers.’ “The site outlines a ‘responsible path to recovery and prosperity,’ in which creating jobs must be the first priority. The site features extensive commentary on topics including tax policy, Poverty on the Upswing public investment, healthcare spending, and Social Security Poverty in America has hit a new high: 43.6 million Ameribenefits, all discussed in accessible terms.” Learn more at: cans are in need, according to a Census Bureau report, Income, http://www.ourfiscalsecurity.org/ Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States, issued in mid-September. That number is the highest in 51 Papillion-LaVista Also Goes ‘Blue’ years of record-keeping. According to the Federal Office of Management and BudMembers of the Papillion-LaVista Education raised $4,676 get, the poverty threshold level is defined as income of less than last spring for the NSEA Children’s Fund with a ‘Blue Ribbon $21,954 for a family of four in 2009. The poverty rate increased Fundraiser.’ for all racial groups except Asians. PLEA members designated April 14-18 as Blue Ribbon December 2010 n The NSEA Voice n Page 23

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NSEA Leadership Posts Open There are changes ahead in the NSEA leadership ranks. Three of the top four positions in NSEA are up for election in April, when more than 300 members will meet at the Association’s 150th Delegate Assembly. Those positions include president, vice president and one of NSEA’s two seats on the National Education Association Board of Directors. The term of office is three years for each position. Any NSEA member in good standing is eligible to file for one of these positions. To have a candidate’s name placed on the ballot, the candidate must be nominated from the floor of the Delegate Assembly during the Assembly’s opening session on Friday evening, April 15, 2011. Any member who wishes to seek election to any of these positions, and who wishes to have campaign material included in a mailing to all delegates in advance of Delegate Assembly, must submit that information to NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen not less than 45 days prior to April 15. The actual deadline is 11:59 p.m. CST on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. The 2011 Delegate Assembly will be held at the Embassy Suites in LaVista. For more details on the guidelines for NSEA elections, go to this website: nsea.org/delegate_assembly/DA.htm

Speaking of Teaching “The most significant word in ‘teacher’ is ‘each.’” — Anonymous

Mailed By: The Nebraska State Education Association Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742

Family of Teachers

More than a century:The Rogge family has more than a century of service in the teaching profession. In front, from left, are: Sandy (Rogge) Behrends, who taught at Dawson-Verdon and now teaches first grade at Johnson-Brock; Phil Rogge, who taught music at Arapahoe and Fairbury, and also served on the Fairbury Board of Education; and Phil’s wife, Trena Rogge, retired, who taught music at Oxford and at Fairbury’s Jefferson Intermediate School. In back, from left, are Irene (Rogge) Seeba, who teaches kindergarten at Johnson-Brock; Mark Rogge, son of Phil and Trena, who teaches and coaches at Diller-Odell; Clayton Seeba, son of Irene, who taught at Elmwood-Murdock, in Colorado, and is now at Meadowlark Elementary School in Kearney; and Amy (Rogge) Ebeler, a para-professional at Johnson-Brock. If you have a family of teachers, snap a photo and send it to: Family of Teachers, c/o NSEA, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE, 68508-2742.

Talkative Classrooms From Kate Ortiz, a teacher from Chariton, IA:

“If the class as a whole talks too much, I’ve had good results talking to them as a group and explaining that other class sections are able to accomplish more in the same amount of time, and that talking is interfering with their learning. I create a plan with them. It’s helpful if they know at the beginning of class what needs to be accomplished during that period. I post it on the board and try to always include time in which they work with others on a task. “Then when they talk and I have to wait for their attention, I mark a tally on the board. I don’t say anything because they are aware of the plan and know what the tallies mean. I watch the

clock and mark another tally every 30 seconds that I have to wait. Each tally equals a minute that is subtracted from their partner time, meaning they will work alone or not have class time to do the task at all if they continue talking and use up the task time. “Students generally begin to remind each other, especially if they end up having homework or missing fun activities because of the time lost. I also make a point of complimenting their progress at the end of the class period or the beginning of the next class. They will usually need several experiences with this before progress is seen, so don’t give up!” Sign up for Works4Me at this link: http://www.nea.org/tools/Works4Me.html

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