NSEA The Voice October 2011

The

Voice The Nebraska State Education Association ď ś October 2011

October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 1

Opening Bell Upcoming Assignments Oct. 21-22 Advocacy Conference n What: NSEA’s annual update on bargaining issues, skills and best practices. Given changes to bargaining law in Nebraska this past year, every local should have a team attend. Details on Page 13. n Where: Grand Island Holiday Inn. n Details: Register on the NSEA website at www.nsea.org.

Nov. 12 ‘Cowboy-Up’ Bargaining Conference, Gering n What: The NSEA Panhandle District’s Bargaining Conference, with updates on the bargaining law, best practices and otehr details. Find more information on Page 13. n Where: Gering Civic Center. n Details: Register online now at www.nsea.org.

Nov. 13-26 American Education Week n What: Observe the annual celebration of the teaching profession and public schools. n Details: A different set of public school stakeholders celebrated each day. See details on Page 16.

On the Cover: the

Breast Cancer Awareness: Talk to Your Doctor October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thus it’s important to remind educators of the serious nature of the disease and the fight to find a cure.

It’s also important to remind educators of the importance of talking to health care providers about prevention. While a still-controversial 2009 report by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force called for raising the age for regular mammograms from 40 to 50, the National Education Association Health Information Network (HIN) advises that a woman and her health care provider know best.

The task force also recommended that older women cut back to one scheduled exam every other year.

The report caused a firestorm. Cancer prevention groups like the American Cancer Society denounced the recommendations, saying that routine screenings save thousands of lives with early detection of breast cancer.

So what should women do?

“Talk to your health care provider,” said HIN Director Jerry Newberry. “A woman’s health care provider knows her history, and her risk, and can help provide her with the best course of action.”

The task force said its recommendations would reduce the number of false-positives, which occur in about 10

100 Percent Covered!

NSEA members should know that through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska health care plan, and in compliance with provisions of the new federal health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (PPACA), mammograms and pap smears for women, colonoscopies for men and women, and other preventative health care services are 100 percent covered and are not subject to a deductible or coinsurance.

That change to coverage was effective on Sept. 1, 2011. In addition, the $500 annual limit on preventative services coverage has been removed from the Educators Health Alliance (EHA) health insurance plan administered by BCBS.

percent of mammograms. It would also prevent many women from undergoing unneeded surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Also controversial: The task force recommendation that women not perform self-exams, alleging they haven’t proven to reduce breast cancer deaths.

Many survivors, however, argued that they found tumors with a self-exam.

Newberry stressed that the best course of action remains this: discuss the benefits and risks of self and clinical exams with your doctor, who knows your personal history and risk factors.

In 1970, Neil Bateman, Bob Person and Gene Martin were among leaders of the Beatrice Education Association when more than 130 teachers threatened to resign. For more, turn to

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

Volume 65, No. 2 ISSN Number: 1085-0783 USPS Number: 000-369

Great Public Schools For Every Child Page 2 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

Executive Director Assoc. Executive Director Director of Public Affairs Assistant Comm. Director

Craig R. Christiansen Neal Clayburn Karen Kilgarin Al Koontz

NSEA Board Executive Committee President Nancy Fulton, Wilber-Clatonia Vice President Leann Widhalm, Norfolk NEA Director John Heineman, Lincoln NEA Director Jenni Absalon, Lincoln

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 The Voice, NSEA, 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln,

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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.

From the President

Turning Up The Heat

NSEA President Nancy Fulton

“

Accountability extends not only to us, as teachers, but to parents, to students, to school boards, legislators and the governor, as well.

”

As with the start of many recent school years, it seems that educators have once again been asked to be more accountable, but with fewer resources — to do more with less.

Could this dichotomy lead to opportunity? One only needs to look at the recent session of the Nebraska Legislature to answer that question.

Not only did state senators not increase state aid to levels prescribed by the state aid formula, they cut state aid by $130 million from one year ago. Educators are asked to do more with much, much less.

Senators also placed a two-year moratorium on the heavily-used tuition reimbursement program – funded from lottery proceeds – that allowed teachers to meet expectations of enhancing skills and knowledge and moving toward advanced degrees.

Funds for reimbursement to new applicants from the college and university ranks of education majors also fell to the budget axe. Meanwhile, policymakers were able to find $1 million in taxpayer dollars to fund a paid internship for private companies.

Then, when it came time for the state to ante up and pay its share toward teacher retirement plan solvency, the state balked. Instead, the retirement contribution rate for school employees was raised.

Those dollars – taken from every school employee’s paycheck – will cover the share of what is legally and rightfully the state’s responsibility.

Finally, some lawmakers pushed hard to abolish your local association bargaining rights. That right to bargain was very nearly lost. Fortunately, through the efforts of NSEA members, staff, other labor unions and key state lawmakers, a compromise was reached and that right was preserved. But that compromise resulted in significant changes to Nebraska’s collective bargaining statutes – thus the importance of every local being represented at the NSEA Bargaining Conference later this month (see details on page 13).

Indeed, educators are doing more and doing it with less.

Just One More Degree Despite all of these cuts and changes, Nebraska educators are back in the classroom providing the very best educational opportunities for Nebraska

students. Educators work under tough conditions: programs have been eliminated, class sizes have been increased, teacher aides have been dismissed.

Teachers work long hours, and in some cases, work for less take home pay this year than last. They work with fewer resources, and fewer or older textbooks and materials.

And yet they face higher expectations.

In preparation for this school year, my former principal at Wilber-Clatonia shared with staff thoughts from the book 212°: The Extra Degree, by Sam Parker and Mac Anderson. The book’s premise was this: At 211 degrees, water is hot.

At 212 degrees, it boils.

And with boiling water; comes steam And with steam, you can power a locomotive.

In other words, only one degree can make all the difference in our actions, our attitudes, our focus and our perseverance.

An Opportunity This is where we can find opportunity. We’ve been asked to do more with less far too often. Too many times we’ve heard that “now is not the right time to increase teacher salaries,” or “now is not the time to increase state aid.”

Now is the time to turn up the heat just one more degree and commit to operating at 212 degrees in everything we do. One small degree, a tiny amount of extra effort and attention by each of us, can have a monumental effect. Everyone has to be accountable in order for our students to succeed. Accountability extends not only to us, as teachers, but to parents, to students, to school boards, legislators and the governor, as well.

Now is the time to help elect local, state and national leaders who understand the value of public education the way that we as educators do. It is also time to hold them accountable. Talk to policymakers. Ask them to spend time in your classroom or with students working on a special project.

We are doing well with less; with your activism, the opportunity to do even better lies ahead. I hope you’ll join me in this journey to improve the standing of Nebraska’s public schools.

NSEA is on Facebook!

Find us, “like” us, follow us and connect with colleagues.

Facebook Discussion:

What’s the best piece of advice you received from a veteran teacher?

Go online to see what others have to say!

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First-time Children’s Fund Walk-a-Thon a Success

Event Raises $8,000; Every Penny Benefits Children in Need

About 75 educators, volunteers, friends and family members laced up their tennis shoes and walked two miles in the inaugural Step Up for Kids Walka-Thon, a benefit for the NSEA Children’s Fund.

The Aug. 27 event was a success: nearly $8,000 was raised.

“As quickly as this event came together, the amount donated is astonishing,” said NSEA President Nancy Fulton. “It’s gratifying to know that there are so many friends and supporters of the Children’s Fund, including our members, the local merchants who made this a success, and the public.”

Walkers gathered pledges; shoppers at the Super Saver grocery store were able to buy lunch, with all proceeds donated to the fund; coupon books were sold to benefit the fund; and “celebrities” – local and area educators – sacked groceries for shoppers resulting in a freewill donation to the fund.

Playing a key role in the event were merchants in the area where the walk was held, near 27th and Pine Lake Road in Lincoln.

Super Saver grocery store Manager Nick Kelso played a lead role, allowing the walk to be staged from the store parking lot. Kelso and Super Saver employees recruited area merchants to participate and donate to the cause; arranged for Lincoln firefighters to be on hand with blood pressure and other screenings; and arranged for a local disc jockey to provide music. Kelso also secured a sponsorship from Pepsi that provided promotion of the event as well as a live broadcast from the site by Lincoln radio station B107.3.

The Lincoln Southwest High School pep band entertained and the vocal department kicked off the walk with a rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The student council helped logistically.

Merchants that donated time, talent, products or cash included All American DJ, Coca-Cola, Frito Lay, Osage Marketing, Pepsi, Walgreen’s, Kohl’s,

He ain’t heavy...one young walker gets a lift during the Children’s Fund Walk-aThon, while other walkers follow behind.

Sacking and walking: At left, Joetta Jarecke of the Waverly Education Association helps a Super Saver customer by sacking groceries for a freewill donation to the Children’s Fund. At right, NSEA President Nancy Fulton and NSEA Vice President Leann Widhalm lead walkers.

Chili’s, McDonald’s, Walmart, Runza, Whitehead Oil, Madonna Rehabilitation Center and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Neal and Shelley Clayburn contributed two tickets to a Nebraska football game as a drawing prize.

Founded in 1994, the Children’s Fund has given thousands of Nebraska children in every corner of the state the opportunity to succeed. The mission of

the Fund is to ensure that personal need does not interfere with a student’s ability to learn. Every penny donated benefits a child in need of a winter coat, eyeglasses or other necessity. NSEA absorbs all administrative and overhead costs.

For additional information or to donate, contact Sally Bodtke at NSEA at 1-800-742-0047, or at: sally.bodtke@nsea.org October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 5

They were there: Among the local association leaders during a tense four months in Beatrice in 1970 were these three long-time NSEA members. From left are Gene Martin, Bob Person and Neal Bateman.

Blazing the Trail

When More Than 130 Beatrice Teachers Threatened to Quit in 1970, Their Unified Action Helped Solidify the Collective Bargaining Process “At a stormy confrontation with the School Board last night, Bob Starr, new president of the Beatrice Education Assn., held up a manila envelope which he said contained the resignations of 133 Beatrice teachers.”

So began a Page 1 story in the Beatrice Daily Sun that recounted a bold and, more importantly, united, effort by members of the Beatrice Education Association.

A team of BEA negotiators had met with Beatrice Board of Education negotiators nearly a dozen times over the previous two months, and the board had not budged from its initial offer. And on the side, BEA leaders alleged that the board was falling back into old habits – attempting to sign teachers one at a time, outside the parameters of a collective bargaining agreement.

The year was 1970.

Bargaining law and salary schedules were still as new and as unexplored as the Nebraska prairie had been 100 years earlier. While a continuing contract law had been in effect for some time, legislation that allowed local associations to bargain on behalf of all teachers in a school district had just been approved by the Legislature in 1967. School districts and local associations were still defining the process, roles and boundaries of face-to-face collective barPage 6 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

gaining. That made the stand by every member of the Beatrice Education Association – minus a few administrators, and a few educators who were moving on – more brazen and bold.

Gene Martin was at the end of his first year as a math teacher in Beatrice. He watched as colleagues with families handed their resignations to BEA officers at an Association meeting late on the afternoon of April 6, 1970. The Beatrice Board of Education meeting was set for that night.

“I thought that if they can do it, I can do it,” he said.

Bob Person taught instrumental music at Beatrice for 37 years, starting in 1965. He was the BEA’s chief negotiator.

“We were all unified.

And we were all ticked off,” said Person. “Even the (teacher) wives of some of the local businessmen were going against their husbands’ wishes.”

Neil Bateman returned from Vietnam and taught math at Beatrice for 12 years, and then in Lincoln for 26 years.

He was on the BEA negotiations team: “We had some very long-time teachers on board. It cut across the community.”

The confrontation at the school board meeting happened on the day Bob Starr was sworn in as BEA’s new president.

The fateful school board meeting was followed by another two months of uncertainty, arbitration and, ultimately, contract

The Sterling 7 Out on a Limb: Contract Spat Ended after 1966 Walkout settlement. In the end, the BEA made gains in salary, benefits and extra duty pay.

The dispute undoubtedly paved the path and set the tone for other local associations, as collective bargaining gained traction in Nebraska. NSEA – particularly Attorney Ted Kessner and NSEA Staff Consultant Dick Halama, a predecessor to today’s UniServ director, played key roles.

“There was no intention or thought that we were standing up as pioneers,” said Bateman. “‘Our first offer is our last offer’ was their stance,” said Person. “We just needed to get them to negotiate.”

32 Hours of Talks In his regular column a couple of days after the board meeting, longtime Daily Sun Editor Robert Marvin summed up the situation.

Marvin noted that 1967 action by the Legislature allowed teachers to bargain their salaries and conditions of employment. In doing so, Marvin wrote, the Legislature did not foresee that circumstances might arise under which provisions of that law might conflict with the continuing contract law which had been on the books for years.

Marvin said there was no problem if teachers and the board were to reach agreement by the end of March each year. But it turns into a problem if the two sides disagree into April, when, at the time, the continuing contract provision went into effect each year.

“Should the Beatrice Board follow the continuing contract statute?” asked Marvin. “It believes it should. Would the teachers, if they accept it, forfeit their right to negotiate? They think they would.”

Thus, stalemate was the result when on Saturday, April 4, 1970, the two sides met for the 11th time in eight weeks. That session concluded 32 hours of talks, with no agreement. On Sunday afternoon, BEA officers and the negotiations team met to discuss their next step. They decided to stand up to the board, and began calling members to urge attendance at an all-member meeting on Monday afternoon.

Person recalled that every member was in attendance at the Beatrice Middle School Auditorium. The “resignations” – characterized in the Daily Sun as letters of intent sent out by the district – asked teachers of their intent to return for employment the next year. None were signed.

Members of the negotiations team, including Person, Bateman, Dennis Hynek, John Bartels and Hazel Arpke, spoke to members.

“There were those who were not sure about turning the letters back in unsigned,” said Person. “But everyone did.”

Letters in Hand That night, Starr stood before the board, 133 unsigned letters of intent in hand. The Daily Sun reported on Starr’s written statement, submitted to the board.

“In the opinion of our legal counsel,” said Starr’s statement in part, “the letter of March 31, 1970, from the Board of Education is an attempt

Beatrice teachers were not the only Nebraska teachers to band together and risk their jobs for what they felt was fair and just.

In 1966, before the advent of bargaining laws in Nebraska, before the introduction of modern-day salary schedules, 14 teachers in Sterling refused to sign contracts, a move that ultimately led to change. It was an era when male teachers – as “head of household” – earned much more than their female counterparts, sometimes thousands of dollars more each year. It was also a time when teachers could be fired for little or no reason, without any due process recourse.

Their efforts, little noticed at the time, were recounted in a story in the October 2002 issue of The Voice. In that story, Ted Kessner, the attorney for NSEA in 1966, said the Sterling teachers were out on a limb.

“Had it failed, this was a case of ‘no place else to go,’” he said.

Here’s what happened: In the spring of 1966, new contracts were offered for the 1966-67 school year. No salary increase was proposed. A group of teachers said “we can’t do this,” Mary Beth Kernes recalled in The Voice in 2002. Many of the teachers were young men, fathers, trying to start careers and families, she said. In a bold move, 14 of 17 teachers on staff returned the contracts unsigned. Kernes’ late husband, Ben, was the school principal and math teacher.

“He was such an advocate for fairness – and an outstanding math teacher,” said his wife.

Their action, besides protesting the salary freeze, had larger meaning: it gave notice that teachers would no longer meekly accept what was offered: collective action was the new plan.

Kessner said the solidarity was amazing.

“One of the things we marveled at was that they could get everybody to support this action,” Kessner said.

They got results: the board issued new contracts, with raises.

But the issue wasn’t quite resolved. It was discovered that the board had not offered a contract to one elementary teacher. Seven teachers staged a brief walkout. They failed to get that teacher reinstated, but their action emphasized again that change was in the air.

Along with Kernes, those seven were Hiram Austin, Jim Ossian,Truman Lytle, Alvin Haack, Barbara Oberg and Violet Lytle.

In 1967, at NSEA’s behest, the Legislature made Nebraska the sixth state to enact a collective bargaining law. In December 1967, Falls City became the first Nebraska school district to report a bargained contract.

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to disregard these negotiations by individually contacting our members and offering them contractual terms that were not reached through negotiation. If the teachers respond to this letter they would be bound to work for the 1970-71 school year under the same contractual conditions as stated in their 1969-70 contracts.”

Earlier in the meeting, the Daily Sun reported, Starr suggested that the board should have offered teachers “blank contracts” with salary details left open. The board’s legal counsel agreed that the course the board chose might not be the only one open to it, “but we think it is the best.”

Bateman was at the board meeting: “We felt pretty comfortable. We had everybody. I think it was a turning point for the board.”

That standoff set off a flurry of meetings and headlines.

Within the same week, negotiations resumed. An April 12 headline proclaimed that ‘School Board, teachers trim differences to about $100,000’ – the two sides had been an estimated $361,000 apart a week earlier.

Five days later, they were at impasse again, and headed to arbitration. At a session on April 15, the board restated its original offer of a $6,400 base. The board also offered to raise extraduty pay and give $5 per month toward a health insurance plan.

The BEA sought a $6,600 base, broader increases in extra duty pay and full health plan coverage, among other items.

Impasse Reached The BEA soon declared impasse. In a news release, Starr said the BEA did so only after the school board negotiators “insisted that no further meetings would be useful.” He noted that the board’s final offer would leave the Beatrice base at 26th among 32 Class A schools – and $100 lower than even neighboring Pawnee City.

It took five weeks for a panel of three arbitrators to be selected. The board chose Lincoln Attorney Tom Davies, and the BEA selected NSEA’s Kessner, the attorney. The third, impartial panel member was Paul Young, a Nebraska City personnel

manager with experience in labor negotiations.

After a fact-finding session, that trio recommended, on a 2-1 vote, the board’s final offer. The BEA rejected that recommendation, and made a final effort at compromise. Poised to file for relief with the Court of Industrial Relations (now the Commission of Industrial Relations), BEA members unanimously approved a proposed compromise: the BEA would agree to settlement that would place eight categories of extra duty assignments at a higher pay level; and the district would fund single medical insurance.

The board, however, rejected the counter offer. Starr, who said a majority of teachers had placed their contracts in his hands, asked NSEA to file the petition with the CIR. Starr told the Daily Sun that the petition would be withdrawn if the board were to accept the insurance proposal, and correct “certain obvious inadequacies” in the extra duty schedule.

Compromise Accord Within a week, a compromise had been reached. The board raised pay for six extra duty assignments, and agreed to pay $7.50 toward health insurance for single coverage. The board reported that several new hires at “less than contemplated levels” enabled the budget flexibility.

The base was set at $6,400, up $400 from the previous year.

The contract also instituted a “new type of (salary) schedule” that raised the top-end salary from $10,560 to $11,968 – an increase of more than 13 percent.

Bateman said administrators, some of whom were BEA members, were sympathetic. They also understood the reality of the situation.

“I think some principals may have told the board ‘you’re insane!’ and reminded them that hiring 130 new teachers for the coming year would be next to impossible,” he said.

For some, it was personal: “I felt I was standing up for my rights,” said Martin.

Either way, the Beatrice ‘confrontation’ demonstrated the power of collective action.

‘Domicile Pay’ and One-on-One Negotiations In the early days of the negotiations process, Nebraska educators were trying to overcome decades of tradition that favored males in the salary arena.

When he first arrived in Beatrice in 1965, Bob Person said male, married teachers earned an extra $500 each year. “They called it ‘domicile pay,’” said Person.

Gene Martin joined the Beatrice staff in 1969, after several years at Mitchell.

“At Mitchell, every year they’d come in and say ‘we’ll give you an extra $100 or $200 next year.’ Then a coach would resign, and two weeks later, he’d be back. We never knew what the coach got, in salary, that kept him in the Page 8 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

district,” said Martin.

On his return from his interview for the Beatrice job, Martin said Mitchell administrators asked how much more per year it would take to keep him in that district.

“I told them it would take $500 each for my wife and I – and for everyone else on staff,” he said. “I wasn’t going to do that to the other teachers there.”

As for domicile pay, the Beatrice Education Association worked to phase that out.

“We went to bat for the female teachers,” said Person.

“We had a couple who were divorced, with a family, so they phased the domicile pay out.”

Evaluation Season is Here Know Your Rights, Responsibilities Consider this hypothetical situation: the semester is nearing an end, and your administrator has not yet scheduled your evaluation. What should you do?

NSEA Director of Member Rights Trish Guinan offers this advice: do nothing. It is the administrator’s responsibility to follow through with evaluation duties.

Most teachers, says Guinan, are understandably uncertain about what to do if they have not been evaluated by semesGuinan ter’s end. Mentioning the evaluation to the administrator is akin to telling the boss how to do his or her job. Do not do this.

Probationary teachers, in particular, may feel uneasy in such circumstances.

On the other hand, they may want to know how their teaching skills stack up.

“My suggestion is that they ask a more experienced teacher for suggestions on how to deal with problem areas,” said Guinan. “Or the probationary teacher can sit in on the veteran teacher’s class. Teachers can learn a great deal from modeling their own colleagues.”

Provisions in Statute State law governs the evaluation process, at least for probationary teachers.

At a minimum, probationary teachers must be evaluated once each semester. If peformance is deficient, assistance in overcoming the deficiencies is to be provided. Some districts have policies that exceed state requirements for the evaluation of probationary teachers, which is permissible.

The evaluation of permanent teachers is not outlined in state statute, but is typically found in the board policy of each school district.

Nebraska Revised Statute 79-828 offers the final word on evaluations: “(2) The purpose of the probationary period is to allow the employer an opportunity to evaluate, assess and assist the employee’s professional skills and work performance prior to the employee obtaining permanent status.

Getting Ready for Your Evaluation

Evaluation procedures vary from district to district, so it’s a good idea to secure a copy of your district’s policy, as well as copies of the forms to be used for evaluation. Review them, and structure your teaching strategies to meet their requirements.

In all cases, at the first sign of difficulty, or if you are in disagreement with your evaluation, contact your NSEA UniServ director immediately at 1-800-742-0047.

Pre-Observation Conference It’s your responsibility to show the evaluator that a learning atmosphere prevails in your classroom. If possible: n Select the area(s) of your teaching performance to be observed. n Select the day, time and subject to be observed. n Clarify the criteria to be used in the evaluation. n Explain any special student needs, share the purpose and format of the lesson and give the evaluator a copy of your lesson plan.

The Observation Lead the class as you usually do. Have the lesson plan so well prepared that you don’t have to stop and read notes, which creates awkward pauses students may fill with an unusual restlessness. Put students at ease. Work to make them forget an observer is there.

Post-Observation Conference This should occur shortly after the observation. Remember: n Let the evaluator do the talking. Take notes and respond to direct questions. n Seek clarification and elaboration of the observation; request specific examples.

For instance, ‘What did you see that makes you say my discipline is good/bad?’ n Bring your personal summary of the observation. This is helpful if your view of the facts differs from the evaluator’s. If inaccuracies have occurred, be sure they are corrected and initialed by both of you. n Accept all suggestions for improvement, and request a classroom demonstration of techniques. n Do not allow yourself to be put in the position of agreeing to an interpretation of poor performance. Agree only to the fact that you are open to concrete suggestions to improve performance. Don’t be drawn into a self-incriminating stance.

When the conference is completed, be sure you have received any written materials to which you are entitled, and that your signature merely indicates that you have reviewed the written material – not that you agree to it. Contact your NSEA UniServ director at 1-800-742-0047 if you have concerns.

“All probationary certificated employees employed by Class I, II, III, and VI school districts shall, during each year of the probationary employment, be evaluated at least once each semester, unless the probationary certificated employee is a superintendent, in accordance with the procedures outlined below: “The probationary employee shall be observed and evaluation shall be based upon actual classroom observations for an entire instructional period. If defi-

ciencies are noted in the work performance of any probationary employee, the evaluator shall provide the teacher or administrator at the time of the observation with a list of deficiencies, a list of suggestions for improvement and assistance in overcoming the deficiencies, and followup evaluations and assistance when deficiencies remain.”

If you have questions about the process, or about your evaluation, call NSEA and ask for your UniServ director: 1-800-742-0047.

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No Longer Shy

Association Activism Builds Confidence, Says New NSEA Vice President When her mother dropped her off for her first day at “I’m amazed about NSEA. There is so much more to the Fremont Junior High School, Leann Widhalm broke out in organization than people realize,” she said. “We’re trying to tears. help members grow as professionals, and I don’t think that “Mom said there were people realize that.” so many people that I didn’t know, that I cried,” said WidSomeone Worked, halm, who admits to being Fought quite shy as a youngster.

Widhalm said many eduShe’s no longer shy, and cators don’t understand what her mother is glowing about NSEA means to its memberher now-outgoing daughter, ship or the teaching profesthe newly-elected vice presision. “It’s so much more than dent of the Nebraska State ‘an organization that saves me Education Association. if I get in trouble,’” she said.

“Mom was so proud when “Members have to know I was elected,” said Widhalm. that they’re in their classroom “To go from being so shy to with plan time, with duty free being a leader in this state lunch, with due process, with – being active in the Assoa salary schedule, because ciation has helped build my someone from NSEA worked confidence and helped me beand fought for it,” she said. come a better teacher, too.”

“This organization fights for Her confidence grew first legislation and public policy during 18 years teaching spethat helps children, public cial education at Humphrey, schools and educators. and more recently the last 14 That gets to NSEA’s inat Norfolk Junior High. Durvolvement with politics. Each ing that time, Widhalm held of those workplace improvenearly every local association ments were made by policyoffice available, from presimakers – politicians – at the dent to membership chair, local or state level. NSEA treasurer to negotiator. works to inform those poliShe’s also served as presicymakers, encouraging them dent of NSEA’s Elkhorn Disto make decisions that ultitrict, and for the past three Lighting the way: Leann Widhalm overcame a shy child- mately have the best interests years, represented Nebraska hood to become a teacher, and now as vice president, a of children and public schools on the Board of Directors of leader in the Nebraska State Education Association. It is ap- at heart. the National Education Asso- propriate that her Norfolk Junior High School classroom is Widhalm has worked with ciation. Aside from building decorated with lighthouses. politicians at the local, state her confidence, those experiand national levels, and is ences taught her that membership in NSEA should be a valwell-regarded in each of those realms. ued aspect of an educator’s career.

“I’ve learned that, if politics don’t go your way, you still

What Does This Mean to You?

As vice president of the Association, Leann Widhalm is a member of the NSEA Executive Committee, and is actively involved in all aspects of elected leadership in your Association. Among the duties of the vice president, Widhalm will: n Serve as chair of the Budget Committees of the NSEA Board of Directors, and serve as chair, member or ex-officio member of other Board committees, subject to the direction of the president.

n Preside at NSEA Board meetings in the absence of the president. n Work with the president to be prepared to assume the duties and authority of that office for the remainder of term, if necessary. n Manage special assignments as requested by the president. n Serve as the second alternate to the position of NEA Director for Nebraska.

Widhalm was elected in April. Her threeyear term started Aug. 1.

October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 11

have to work with these leaders who are elected to serve; you have to develop a working relationship with them,” she said.

“That’s true in any organization, whether it’s a church, or service club, whatever. You’ll never agree completely.

“You have to know what your organizational goals are: to make the education profession a respected profession; and to help kids. And you have to work to make these things happen.

You can’t do it alone, so if you can’t work with other groups or politicians, you’re in trouble.

“Joining NSEA is absolutely the right thing to do,” she said.

More Efficient Widhalm certainly isn’t shy about her goals as vice president. She’d like to keep communication between NSEA’s seven governance districts flowing. She’d like the Association to be more proactive, rather than reac-

Leann’s Likes

Favorite Class Period: First – the kids are fresh and ready to start a new day.

Favorite Extra Duty: Working in our Junior High Achievement Center.

Favorite Book: Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther.

Best School Day Task: Organizing, setting up, and helping with our Junior High Student Interest Activities afterschool program.

Favorite Movie: The Goodbye Girl.

Widhalm Favorite TV Show: NCIS. Best School Lunch: Chili and cinnamon rolls.

Favorite Musician: Jim Croce (Time In A Bottle).

Best Between-Class Snack: Special K Strawberry Breakfast Bars.

Favorite Subject to Teach: Learning Strategies-Writing Strands I, II, and III. tive. And she thinks NSEA has to do business more efficiently.

“We can still do the business of the Association,” she said. “We need to look at different ways to meet the

needs of members and the children that, ultimately, we serve.”

You can bet on one thing: Widhalm won’t be shy about addressing those issues.

Free Web Site Links to Federal Resources The Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) Web site makes it easy to find teaching resources on federal government Web sites. The site was developed with the cooperation of more than 35 federal agencies, and is updated weekly with new materials.

FREE offers quick access to more than 1,500 resources in the arts, sciences, history and other subjects, from the Library of Congress, National Archives, Smithsonian, NASA and the National Science Foundation, among other federal agencies. The site can be found at: http://www.free.ed.gov/ A sample of what you’ll find: n Constitution Resources: Resources for teaching and learning about the U.S. Constitution. View high-resolution images of the Constitution from the National Archives, read the biographies of the founding fathers and much more. n Born in Slavery: 2,300 firstperson accounts of slavery, with 500 photos of former slaves. n Our Documents: 100 milestone documents in U.S. history, including speeches; treaties; Supreme Court cases; patent designs; and Constitutional Amendments. n Explore Themes in American Page 12 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

Art: 10 genres of American art: landscapes, portraits and more. n Mathematics Across the Curriculum: Materials for teaching math in art,

history, literature and music, as well as science, engineering and other disciplines traditionally associated with math.

A Brave New World of Bargaining The letter that has been sent to local association officers is clear: NSEA’s Fall Bargaining Conference “will provide crucial information on the new bargaining law for all NSEA local affiliates, teachers, college faculty, professional staff and education support professionals.”

The letter, from NSEA President Nancy Fulton, was mailed in mid-September. The conference is set for Grand Island on Friday evening and Saturday, Oct. 21-22. It’s not too late to register; given the changes to the bargaining landscape, it’s important that local associations are represented.

“Given the significant changes made to Nebraska’s collective bargaining law by the 2011 Legislature in LB397, it’s essential that your local association send its negotiations leaders to this conference,” said Fulton.

The Legislature’s balanced solution to perceived problems with the Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR) affect every NSEA affiliate and member.

Those reforms to the collective bargaining process include significant changes in the rules for school districts, educational service units, Scan this QR community colleges, state code on your colleges, and the university. smart phone to link directly to They include: the Bargaining n A bargaining calendar Conference that begins next fall (on or before Sept. 1, 2012), with registration. very specific dates for beginning and completing negotiations. n Rules that require both unions and boards to reject or approve the final offer of the other side before the CIR becomes an option. n A new mediation/fact finding dispute resolution process for K-12 and community colleges if bargaining is not completed by Feb. 8 for the coming contract year. n A rule that all orders of the CIR be within a

Gering Selected for Panhandle Conference

For those locals in far western Nebraska, there is another NSEA Bargaining Conference option: The 2011 NSEA Panhandle District’s Cowboy-Up Bargaining Conference in Gering on Saturday, Nov. 12. n The conference will feature many of the same topics as the Oct. 21-22 sessions in Grand Island, including: n Effects of the new bargaining law, and how it will affect members. n How to read a comparability study. n An update on expected 2012 legislation. n A review of local negotiated agreements.

The conference will be held at the Gering Civic Center. There will be a one-car-per-local travel reimbursement for those traveling 30 miles or more.

To register, go to the NSEA website at: www.nsea.org

98 percent to 102 percent range of mid-point. n For state colleges and the university system, the Special Master for all disputes unfinished by Jan. 15 has been eliminated.

In addition, Sen. Lathrop, chair of the Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee, will speak about the history and rationale for the bill (LB397) that changed Nebraska’s bargaining law.

Bill Raabe, NEA Collective Bargaining director, will compare the national picture of collective bargaining to Nebraska. Plus, we will have practical guidance from our Iowa neighbors about how they have handled a bargaining calendar, mediation and arbitration.

On-line registration is available at: www.nsea.org

Free Guide Covers Title IX Issues, Details The National Women’s Law Center has produced a new resource called It’s Your Education: How Title IX Protections Can Help You. Title IX is the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, and It’s Your Education is a simple guide to the law that can help ensure that all students have equal opportunities to succeed.

The document covers the ins and outs of Title IX,

providing information about the protections in place, as well as means to identify discriminatory practices. It serves as a guide to addressing such issues as athletics, sexual harassment, pregnancy and parenting, career and technical education, single-sex education, and how to stand up for your education.

Download It’s Your Education at: http://www.nwlc.org/itsyoureducation October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 13

My ‘Kid Sister’ Mary Kay Redman’s Career was a Testament to the Dedication of Nebraska Teachers

Editor’s Note: Schuyler Central High School teacher and NSEA member Larry McGowan lost his teachersister, Mary Kay Redman, to cancer on April 19. He submitted the following preface to a story that appeared in The Kearney Hub. An abbreviated version of The Hub’s story follows.

from cancer. I can’t let her story, or her memory, die.

Thank you for your time, Larry McGowan Social Science Teacher Schuyler Central High School

My name is Larry McGowan. I have taught and coached at KHS’ Redman ‘A Fighter;’ Schuyler Central High School for nearly 30 years, and have been a member of NSEA that long as well. I am not writing Social Studies Teacher about myself; I am writing about my sister, Mary Kay (KathLoses Battle with Cancer leen) Redman.

Mary Kay has taught at Kearney High School since 1988.

By Sara Giboney, Kearney Hub We both teach social studies. She was my kid sister. WhenevKEARNEY — Mary Kay Redman was an inspiration to her er we met or talked I always said “Hey Kid!” and she would students, fellow teachers and many others. smile her big smile, and say “Hey Big Brother!”

Even on her worst days during her nearly 15-year battle with But Mary Kay was the one who is “big” – a huge percancer, Redman would son, a larger than life still get up and go to teacher. A teacher so work at Kearney High dedicated that even School where she though extremely ill, taught social studies. would go to school and Redman, 46, behelp kids. So dedicated gan working at KPS that on the eve of her in 1988. She died this death, she insisted on week. being sure she had les“When I think son plans ready for her about Mary Kay, I classes. think about all the My kid sister died lives that she touched Tuesday. The loss and — not just at the high grief is overwhelmschool, but well outing for many, many side the walls of the people, and our large high school,” said family. friend Dana Welsh.

I’m writing to you “She taught all of in the hope that Mary us about courage and Kay’s story might make it into a future isThe McGowan siblings: In happier times, seated, from left, are Sr. Mary perseverance. As I sue of The Voice. Her Margaret McGowan, Steve McGowan, Mary Kay (Redman) McGowan, and watched her battle this story needs to be told. Larry McGowan. Standing, from left, are John McGowan, Jim McGowan, horrible disease, battle There is a nice story Matt McGowan and Mark McGowan. her cancer, her faith in the Kearney Hub and her courage just today, and available at never ceased to amaze kearneyhub.com. I want her story told so that when you hear me and everybody around her. someone complain about teachers, you can tell them about “She’s just an amazing, amazing woman.” the great people we have teaching in Nebraska, and tell them Her perseverance also inspired many at KHS. from me that, for proof, all they need to know is Mary Kay’s “She was a fighter. I think that wears off on her kids,” said story.

KHS Principal Jay Dostal.

I am just one of her six big brothers. I could not protect her “She was stubborn to the point where she wanted to show Page14 14nnThe TheNSEA NSEAVoice VoicennOctober October2011 2011 Page

up to work even when she was sick. She just really cared about her students.”

Senior Courtney Coslor said Redman always told students to put others before themselves. “Get over yourself,” was a statement often made by Redman to her students.

“That quote just shows that no matter what the situation or how much pain Mrs. Redman was in, she always put others before herself,” Coslor said. “She was the most selfless and strong individual I’ve ever met. She’s an inspiration to all of us students and all the people she’s touched.”

Coslor was a student chair for Kearney Youths Tackle Cancer, a campaign started in part by Redman.

Redman and Welsh, the oncology outreach nurse coordinator at Good Samaritan Hospital’s Cancer Center, were the adult advisers for Tackle Cancer, a student organization that worked to provide finances for cancer patients to purchase medications, gas for transportation and other necessities.

The Tackle Cancer Campaign, which started in 2009, has raised $45,000.

“It created great memories for the students,” Redman said in March. “But the focus always came back to the patients.”

“It just meant so much to us kids to think that she’s helping other cancer patients when she is suffering from one of the deadliest cancers herself,” Coslor said.

Welsh said Redman was receiving chemotherapy treatments as she helped the students organize fundraising events for Tackle Cancer.

“She was so determined to make the Tackle Cancer campaign a huge success,” Welsh said.

“Tackle Cancer was especially motivated this year because we saw the condition Mrs. Redman was in, and we knew how much it meant to her,” Coslor said.

“She’s the epitome of what you can ask for in an educator. She never gives up on her kids. She would fight and advocate for them even through the adversity. I applaud her and I’m amazed by her,” Dostal said.

Redman had three children — Josh, a sophomore in college, Jake, junior at KHS, and Maggie, a freshman at KHS.

Reaching Full Capacity Not All Locals Serve Members Well; Does Yours?

It has been proven time and again: a strong local association adds to the strength of the state association, and a strong state association, in turn, benefits the local association.

But what traits make for a strong local association? This series Wergin will review the traits of what the NSEA and the NEA call a “Full Capacity Local Association.” The series will allow current leaders, future leaders and members to measure the current strengths, as well as opportunities for gaining full capacity, with the local association.

This month we review advocacy.

Rich Wergin is NSEA’s UniServ director for the Platte/Elkhorn Unit, which includes Boyd, Holt, Antelope, Wheeler, Boone, Madison, Stanton and Platte counties.

“Members should understand the role of advocacy, and be aware of the history of the advocacy process locally, district wide and statewide,” said Wergin, a former Seward negotiator and leader. “Advocacy requires a clear understanding of bargaining, school board policy and

procedure, and past practices.”

Wergin said that advocacy traits exhibited by a full capacity local include: n The local is recognized as an exclusive representative by the district’s board of education. n Local leaders or contact teams attend school board meetings. n Local leaders meet on a regular basis with the district administration. n The local has a member rights committee or building representatives trained in representing members at initial meetings for grievances or member rights issues. n The local represents members until the NSEA UniServ director assigned to that local is necessary and training is held to help meet more benchmarks. n The local represents members until NSEA legal assistance is authorized under the NSEA legal assistance policy. n The local communicates advocacy successes – bargaining, grievance processes, etc., – to the membership.

Does your local meet these recommendations? NSEA has available for use by local associations a complete assessment survey that will help determine whether a local meets these and other ‘full capacity local’ benchmarks.

Have questions? Contact your NSEA UniServ director at 1-800-742-0047.

An August event by the Kearney Tackles Cancer group that Redman helped to found raised more than $14,000 to fight cancer.

October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 15

Outreach to Teach Will Give Facelift at Grand Island Howard Elementary is Focus SEAN Project Will Aid in Move The date has been changed, but the result will be the same for the Student Education Association of Nebraska’s yearly Outreach to Teach program: a Nebraska school building will get a facelift.

SEAN’s good work this year will benefit Grand Island’s Howard Elementary. The project will be held on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19, a week later than stated in NSEA calendar materials.

This is the fifth Outreach to Teach volunteer project organized by SEAN, an NSEA affiliate.

The project is patterned after a project hosted by the National Education Association at NEA’s annual meeting site every summer. Students, active NSEA members, members of NSEA-Retired and other volunteers will meet at Howard Elementary to clean, paint, organize, trim, rake and otherwise improve the school environment. Work will begin in earnest on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

The project is held each year in conjunction with SEAN’s Fall Conference. For details, or to volunteer, contact NSEA’s Tamra Mick at 1-800742-0047.

SEAN Officers: The 2011-12 officers for the Student Education Association of Nebraska are, seated, from left: Megan Brown, Peru State College, vice president; Patrick White, Hastings College, president; Jill Kimbrough, University of Nebraska-Kearney, secretary.

Standing, from left, are: Breanna Wolfe, University of NebraskaKearney, Western Region representative; Ryan Evans, Peru State College, Underclass representative; Devin Garcia, Peru State College, Southeast Region representative; and Matt Meyer, Wayne State College, Northeast Region representative.

A Metro Region rep will be appointed.

Celebrate American Education Week!

Every Day Celebrates a Public Education Stakeholder American Education Week — Nov. 13-19, 2011 — offers all Americans an opportunity to celebrate public education and honor the individuals who make certain that every child receives a quality education.

The weeklong celebration features a special observance each day of the week.

They include: n Monday, Nov. 14: Kick-Off Day. n Tuesday, Nov. 15: Parent’s Day. n Wednesday, Nov. 16: Education Support Professionals Day. n Thursday, Nov. 17: Educator for a Day. n Friday, Nov. 18: Substitute Educators Day. To help plan these celebration days, the National Education Association has developed an online toolkit with background information, activity ideas and tips for working with the media, as well as downloadable resources, templates, and promotional materials.

Join in the American Education Week efforts across the country – use the online toolkit to create unforgettable events and activities that will highlight the importance of bringing together everyone in the community – educators, parents, students and public figures in an effort to build great public schools. Together, we can make a difference. Learn more at: http://www.nea.org/grants/19823.htm Page 16 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

Cheryl McWaters

Cheryl L. McWaters, 71, of Kearney, died June 20, 2011, in Kearney.

McWaters grew up in Edgar and Deweese, and received her bachelor’s degree at West Texas State University.

She earned a master’s degree at Kearney State College and taught for 33 years, mostly at Nelson and Minden.

McWaters was quite active in the Nebraska State Education Association, and held several offices, including that of president of what is now the Association’s Tri-Valley District.

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church and various civic organizations. She was very active in her church until her health decline made it impossible to participate.

She also volunteered at Northeast Elementary School in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to AseraCare Hospice.

Who are Your Deserving Notables?

You Have Colleagues Who Do Great Work.

Recognize Their Talent: Nominate Them for an NSEA Award Every school building in Nebraska is staffed with skilled and talented educators, school employees and NSEA members. A small handful of those members will be recognized at NSEA’s annual Delegate Assembly in April. Could one of those award winners work in your building?

Any NSEA member may nominate an individual or group for the awards, listed below. In all cases, send nominations by Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, 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 2010-11 school year. n Award for Teaching Excellence. This award 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 LaVista on April 20-21, 2012. 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 recognition in these award areas: n The Great Plains Milestone

Nominations Open for Inaugural H&CR Honor

With approval of the 2011 NSEA Delegate Assembly, the Association’s Ethnic and Minority Affairs Committee has established an annual Human and Civil Rights Award.

The goal: to promote the development, advancement and protection of human and civil rights.

The award, named the Great Plains Milestone Award, will be presented each year at Delegate Assembly. Along with other Delegate Assembly Awards, the deadline for nominations is Feb. 3, 2012.

For details on the award, and an official nomination form, go to the NSEA website at: www.nsea.org

Award: New this year, this award recognizes an individual or group that has promoted human and civil rights within their community or the state (see related story). 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. n Local Public Relations: Recognizes local associations for outstanding communication within the association, and promotion of educational excellence within the community.

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.

More details about the awards are now available on the NSEA website homepage at: www.nsea.org

October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 17

Page 18 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

Snookie’s Snippets The NEA Group Term Life Insurance Plan is a flexible plan with lower rates for members!

This plan is an economical way to help safeguard you and your loved ones with high coverage amounts. The NEA Group Term Life Insurance Plan is issued by the Prudential Insurance Company of America, and provides basic coverage that is easy to apply for. In Krumbiegel most cases, no medical exam is required, and the plan provides for optional coverage for dependent children, spouses, and domestic partners. Coverage can be increased or decreased at any time. Call 1-800-6374636 for specific qualification details.

Did You Know?

Whether pursuing higher education for yourself or your child, the NEA Smart Option Student Loan by Sallie Mae can help families save on the cost of college when there is a gap paying for educational expenses.

Don’t Cash That Check!

It’s so tempting. A check comes in the mail with your credit card statement. Sign it, and – presto! – the bank will deposit cash into your account.

But such ‘convenience checks’ are not a good deal, according to Consumer Action. By cashing such checks, you agree to a loan with exorbitant interest rates and no grace period; the interest starts accumulating immediately.

If you do want to cash the check, first learn the fees and interest rates and above all, make sure you can pay it back quickly.

NEA ‘Click & Save’ Website Learn how to become financially stable, and the steps to take to get there, by reaching out to a trained, certified credit counselor associated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Call the toll-free, dedicated NEA member line at 1-866-479-6322, or go to: www.neamb.com/debtadvice Snookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s NEA Member Benefits representative.

NEA Member Benefits

The Right Time to Refinance Many homeowners consider refinancing when interest rates suddenly fall or there’s a change in financial circumstances. But even though a large decline in rates or an opportunity to pay off debts might make refinancing seem like an easy decision, you shouldn’t consider any single variable on its own.

Think about how long you plan to stay in your home, how you plan to use your equity, and how a refinance can support your overall financial goals. A good rule of thumb is, if interest rates are 1/2 to 5/8 percent lower than your current interest rate, it may be a good time to consider a refinance.

When you refinance your mortgage, you’re actually replacing it with a brand new loan. In doing this, expect to go through a mortgage application process similar to what you experienced with your original mortgage.

Refinancing can be a financial choice that lets you meet a variety of needs: n Reduce your monthly payments by taking advantage of lower interest rates or extending the repayment period. n Reduce your interest rate risk by switching from an adjustable-rate to a fixed-rate loan or from a balloon mortgage to a fixed-rate loan.

n Reduce your interest cost over the life of your mortgage by taking advantage of lower rates or shortening the term of your loan. n Pay off your mortgage faster (accelerating the build-up of equity) by shortening the term of your loan. n Provide funds for major expenses or to consolidate debts.

Rate-Term Refinance vs. Cash-Out Refinance A rate-term refinance has a loan amount that is just enough to repay the balance of the existing mortgage. The purpose of the loan could be either to reduce your interest rate, adjust your loan term, or both. A cash-out refinance, on the other hand, has a loan amount that exceeds the current mortgage balance.

The higher loan amount converts some of your home equity into cash proceeds, which you receive at loan closing.

To learn more about refinancing options, call the NEA Home Financing Program at 1-866-327-6385 and speak with a Home Mortgage Consultant. Remember, the benefits of the NEA Home Financing Program are extended to parents and adult children of NEA members.

Win a School Lounge Makeover California Casualty, provider of the NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program, is recognizing the dedication of educators by giving four lucky schools $7,500 to transform their school lounges from ordinary to extraordinaire! Encourage your colleagues to enter, as well, and increase your school’s chance of winning. Get the details and enter online now at: www.schoolloungemakeover.com

Save Up to 50 Percent with SmileMakers!

Create the coolest classroom while minimizing out-of-pocket expenditures! Through Dec. 31, 2011, SmileMakers offers free shipping on all orders (no minimum) and up to 50 percent off classroom décor, student rewards and more! Look under ‘Discounts’ under the Professional Resources tab at: www.neamb.com

NEA Click & Save ‘Buy-lights’ NEA Click & Save, the online discount buying service for NEA members, highlights select retailers and merchants each month. Check out these featured ‘Buy-lights’ for October: n The Kodak Store: Save 15 percent. n Restaurant.com: Get $25 gift certificates for $2! n Blue Nile Jewelry: Save 10 percent and get free FedEx shipping.

Join the 204,000 NEA members already registered for NEA Click & Save. Go to: www.neamb.com/clickandsave October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 19

BCBS Q&A

Why Did I Eat That?

By Linda Kenedy EHA Wellness Coordinator Do you ever ask yourself that question? If so, the Educator’s Health Alliance Wellness Program would like to help you with the answers!

We’re off to a great start with October’s launch of the Healthy Dinner Club. The first of six online programs, the Healthy Dinner Club focuses on eating correct portions and a variety of healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat and low-fat dairy products. These programs are easy to do and fun – everyone who registers will receive The Portion Plate to help visualize correct portion sizes.

Those who complete the program have the chance to win a $25 gift card.

When you sign up, you’ll receive a daily e-mail during the program month with health tips, a healthy recipe and a reminder to eat a healthy dinner that day.

Participants tell us they love the recipes!

At the end of the program, you’ll be able to download the entire recipe book.

We know it can be difficult to add in

Page 20 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

one more thing to the ‘to do’ list. But eating healthy and getting physical activity can go a long way towards making us feel better and getting more out of each day. Participating in the wellness program can help you make lasting changes in your health.

The Healthy Dinner Club runs through October. Upcoming programs include Flab on Fire in December, and Laughter, the Best Medicine in February. Look for promotional posters at your school. Your wellness representative will have details on how to sign up.

Another PHA On the Way The Personal Health Assessment will be offered again in late November for those groups that didn’t participate in

the spring. The PHA provides you with the opportunity to receive a personal report on your current health status and receive a $25 Visa gift card just for completing it – again, all part of the EHA Wellness Program.

Not sure if your school is involved?

Need more details to get your school to participate? Contact Linda Kenedy, EHA Wellness coordinator, or Howie Halperin, EHA Wellness administrator, at these e-mail addresses: linda@ehawellnessprogram.org howie@ehawellnessprogram.org The EHA Wellness website is at: www.ehawellness.org The Educators Health Alliance has named 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; or at 402-217-2042; or e-mail him at: kurt@ehaplan.org

From the Executive Director

Who Cares?

When I decided to adopt a dog, I was surprised at the The not-so-secret fact is that more and more children process. It included a legal document that provided for are considered disposable. As a society, we are outraged the return of the dog if I later decided I did not want it, and saddened when we hear news of animal neglect or a signed affidavit that I would maintain certain living abuse. Yet, it is not news to anyone that thousands of chilstandards, and a thorough home inspection. The inside dren go to school every day with no breakfast, no warm of the house was inspected to see where the dog would clothing in winter, no help with homework, no encoursleep, whether there were any agement or intellectual stimulastructural conditions in the tion, and too often, without their house that would pose a danger, dental, medical, or vision needs and whether there were exposed met. It matters. Young children household chemicals or poisonwho do not have proper nutrious house plants. The inspector tion are twice as likely to need walked through the yard with a special education or to be sigclipboard to note whether the nificantly behind other students yard was safely fenced, was big in their later grades. enough for the dog to exercise, and whether the yard was “interIronic Challenge esting and stimulating.” LuckSchools and teachers are atily, I was approved to adopt a tacked every day for failing to wonderful dog named Buster. ensure high achievement for all As a teacher, I cannot help students. Some criticism is lebut wonder how the lives of so gitimate. Our education system many of our nation’s children needs to continually improve. would be improved if there But the problems of significant were a similar exercise for evlow achievement may be simery child. Yes, I know there ply too late to address for those would be cries of intrusion into students who show up at school the rights of parents and the with so little parental attention home. But I also know that that they do not know the colthere are simply too many chilors, the alphabet, how to count dren in this county who do not to ten, simple nursery rhymes or have the level of routine medisongs, or sometimes, even their We care for our pets: Who cares for our nation’s cal care, nutrition, quality time, children? NSEA Executive Director Craig R. own names. They have been exercise, social environment, or Christiansen with his adopted dog, Buster. raised by television or electronjust plain attention that my dog ic games. gets. I can’t help but wonder who cares for those chilYes, student achievement matters. Good schools and dren. teachers matter. And, not surprisingly, good parenting. The prospect of high student achievement begins ‘Disposable’ Children long before the student ever sets foot in school. It beA recent news story highlighted the fact that some comgins with the decision by our society… and by the parmunities now provide special housing for those who raise ent of every new-born child…that no child in America their children’s children. Incarcerated or “drugged out” should ever get more love, more care, more attention, parents must often rely on grandparents or great-grandmore time, more food, or a warmer bed by trading places parents to raise their children. Too many times, children with somebody’s pet. We all know people who treat their are simply shunted from one custodian to another. One pets like children. The ironic challenge for America is to hundred years ago, there were about 110,000 children in make sure that our children are treated at least as well as orphanages in the U.S. Today, nearly one half million our pets. But until that is a reality in every community in American children are in foster or institutional care. Are America, we will continue to fail miserably at ensuring things really getting better for our children? high achievement for every child.

October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 21

NSEA-Retired Corner

Take Part in InterGen 8 It isn’t too late to join: The NSEARetired’s Intergenerational Mentoring Program opens after the first of the year, and the skill and expertise of retired teachers is still needed.

The NSEA-Retired program is wellrecognized across the country for its innovative approach to mentoring college students about to enter the world of teaching. It pairs retirees with preservice teachers in a mentor-mentee relationship for a year or more. The retiree/mentors are rewarded with the opportunity to share years of experience and teaching wisdom, while the pre-service/mentees have someone other than a supervisor or professor with which to discuss classroom issues and techniques – a win-win situation.

The pairing of mentors and mentees will take place at a yet-to-be-determined site in February or March. For details, or to register, contact Maureen Nickels at: maureen.nickels@nsea.org NSEA-Retired Local Affiliates for 2011-12 Your NSEA-Retired organization has local affiliates across the state. By joining one of these local affiliates, you’ll stay in touch with education issues, and will also enjoy regular meetings and adventures with other retired educators.

Following is a listing of those locals: Bellevue Education Association-Retired Co-presidents are Darlene Allen and Mary Kay Gibson.

Other officers are Steve Lebedz, vice president; Barb Vaughn, secretary; Mike Purdy, treasurer; and Phil Kaldahl, legislation. Through the year, the BEAR members will greet new Bellevue Superintendent Frank Harwood; meet Gary Thrasher, author of Phantom Love Letters; collect food for the Bellevue Food Pantry; raise money for the Omaha World-Herald Good Fellows project; meet Ben Justman, the director of the Sarpy County Historical Museum; listen to the Lewis and Clark Jazz Band; attend programs on TeamMates and gardening; and guide the annual children’s tours of historic sites in Bellevue.

Members are concerned about attacks on Social Security, Medicare and Page 22 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

Beat the Life Membership Dues Hike

Beat the Dues Increase – Become a Life Member Now! NEA-Retired has announced that the cost of a lifetime membership will increase on Sept. 1, 2012, so now might be a good time to join and beat the dues increase.

Membership advantages include a regular publication; the use of member benefits programs like insurance, credit card programs, loan and mortgage programs, investment programs; the opportunity to participate in national and regional conferences and seminars; and opportunities to share your expertise through volunteering and mentoring.

Current lifetime dues are $400 for the combined state and national retired organizations (your local association local lifetime dues vary, and are in addition to that amount).

Effective on Sept. 1, 2012, the lifetime dues for the state and national organizations will increase to $450.

Also effective Sept. 1, 2012, the annual dues rate will increase. Current, combined annual dues are $50 for NSEA-Retired and NEA-Retired. Annual dues will be $55 for the combined organizations in 2012.

Beat the dues increase by becoming a lifetime member at the current $400 dues level.

Life members pay dues once, and never have to pay dues to NEA-Retired or NSEA-Retired again. Click on the ‘Join Now!’ link at the top of the page at this website: www.nsea.org/members/retired

collective bargaining. The national debt and economic issues are worrisome, as well. A goal is to concentrate on the election of pro-education candidates.

Contact Allen at 402-293-1660, or: allend70@aol.com Contact Gibson at 402-292-3749, or: auntk.gibson@gmail.com Lincoln Education Association-Retired Janice Rowe is president. Other officers are Arlene Rea, vice president; Linda Brown, secretary; and Billie Bussmann, treasurer.

Highlights of monthly meetings include Ed Zimmer on the History of Lincoln Public School Buildings; Shella Palmquist on Yoga at the Lincoln Yoga Center; Leta Powell Drake on the History of the Salvation Army; Sylvana Airaí on My Life Growing Up in Pakistan; Eunice Levisay on The History of Valentine’s Day; Margo Riekes on Keeping Seniors Safe from Spam; and John Chapo on Behind the Scenes at the Zoo. Also on tap: activities on the LEARetired scholarship program.

Contact Rowe at 402-423-0267, or: jrowe@lps.org Central Panhandle Chapter of Nebraska State Education Association-Retired Jeanie Williams is president. Other

officers: Karon Harvey, vice president; and Janet Gardner, secretary/treasurer.

Starting the fall season with a picnic for the newly retired, the members will follow with an update on remodeling downtown buildings to provide housing for low income residents, and discussions on recent AARP and NSEARetired issues. Of constant concern are the threats to Nebraska’s Direct Benefit Retirement System, and to health issues in general and Medicare in particular.

Reach Williams at 308-635-0759, or: jwilliams6759@embarqmail.com Omaha Education Association-Retired President is John Jensen. Other officers are Virgie Louis, vice president; Dee Rankin, secretary-treasurer; Cheryl Richardson and Walta Sue Dodd, members-at-large; Roger Rea, bookkeeper.

Membership meetings through the year will include a tour of the Omaha Community Playhouse; an update on federal income tax changes for 2012; an update on the Omaha Public Schools pension plan; and an update on the state taxation of Social Security and public pension benefits. The annual business meeting is at Lauritzen Gardens. Contact Jensen at 402-493-7546 or at: jensen.omaha@gmail.com — Tom Black, Editor wpc6296@cableone.net

A ‘Submerged State’ A Clamor for Cuts and a True Disconnect

Cornell University’s Suzanne Mettler has coined the phrase ‘the submerged state’ to describe the disconnect between what government actually does and the desire by some to see the federal government downsized.

A survey of 1,400 Americans by Mettler revealed a large gap between perception and reality, reports the Cornell University Chronicle Online. For instance, 64 percent of those who reported they had not used a government social program had used a 529 or Coverdell plan; 60 percent had used a home mortgage interest deduction; 59 percent had used a Hope or Lifetime Learning tax Credit, and 53 percent had used a federal student loan program.

The Chronicle said “many submerged state programs redistribute wealth upward, and these programs have expanded while visible programs have atrophied. Mettler said tax breaks such as the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction have remained strong over the past few decades, but those for workingage Americans have withered.”

Said Mettler: “These policies of the submerged state have grown in terms of their costs to government, and most of them give the biggest benefits to the wealthiest people.”

Baumert Note Was in Error A September note detailing the passing of long-time Schuyler teacher Linda Baumert may have confused readers.

Baumert lived in North Bend, but taught at Schuyler for 28 years.

NSEA Attorney, Firm Earn Accolades The law firm of McGuire and Norby is the only firm in Nebraska to be listed as “Best Law Firm” for individual employment law by the Best Lawyers organization. In addition, attorney Scott Norby was selected by peers for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Selection is based on a rigorous peer-review survey and evaluation. The American Lawyer calls

the publication “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

NSEA contracts with McGuire and Norby to provide legal services. Also on the legal team are attorneys Mark McGuire and Rick Wade.

Rytych’s 51 Years Come to a Close Don Rytych, featured on the cover of the February 2010 issue of The Voice, has retired. Rytych taught for 50 years – all at Shickley. When he ended his career in May, he had completed 51 years in the same school system, believed to be a record in Nebraska.

Firms Pay CEO’s More Than Uncle Sam A study by the Institute of Policy Studies sounded the alarm for federal tax policy: of last year’s 100 highestpaid corporate executives in the U.S., 25 earned more in salary than their company recorded as a tax expense in 2010.

The Washington Post said those 25 firms reported average global profits of $1.9 billion. They included Verizon, General Electric, Boeing and eBay. Twenty paid no federal taxes in 2010.

As Chuck Collins, a senior scholar at the Institute and co-author of the report, The Moral Measure of the Economy, noted, “These companies utilize roads, ports, Internet broadband, weather services – our entire public infrastructure.

“They spin off products created from a foundation of Uncle Sam’s investments, such as the Internet, drug research and innovation in aviation and science. They hire educated workers from our schools – and complain when they don’t have adequate skills.”

Find the entire report at: http://www.ips-dc.org/

Business Tax Credit Landscape Changing?

A Sept. 10 story by The Associated Press said some state leaders are rethinking whether jobs promised from tax credits are worth the drain on state funds that support schools and services.

In Missouri, a plan to broaden jobcreation efforts faces stiff opposition by lawmakers who see it as further give-

Extra Credit Math Work

40.6%

n 1961: Percentage of profits American corporations paid in taxes, according to the Institute for Policy Studies, as cited in Harper’s Magazine.

10.5%

n 2011: Percentage of profits American corporations pay in taxes, according to the same source.

$13,633,000

n State lottery and general fund dollars allocated to financial aid for needy students attending Nebraska higher education institutions in 2009-10 through the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Program (Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education).

15,175

n The number of Nebraska students in need who qualified for such financial aid, but did not receive aid because of insufficient funding. away at the expense of public schools, the disabled and senior citizens.

Oklahoma lawmakers are studying whether $5 billion in annual tax cuts, exemptions and deductions really serve the public good. New Mexico Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has ordered agencies to analyze whether tax credits cost the state revenue or create jobs.

In Wisconsin, a new tax credit for manufacturers could eventually cost the state $128 million in revenue -- this after cuts to public education and other areas.

Oregon lawmakers abolished a dozen tax credits and cut others to save more than $125 million over four years.

Hawaii lawmakers decided not to enact a new incentive for filmmakers. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law several expanded tax breaks but vetoed several others passed by lawmakers.

October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 23

NEA Program Promotes Smart Online Behavior Health Information Network Offers Tools, Resources, on Risks, Benefits of Internet For those who may not be familiar with it, the NEA Health Information Network hosts the bNetS@vvy website – an online program with resources, tools and insights that can be used to promote safe and smart Internet behaviors.

The goal of the program is to help tweens, parents, guardians, educators and other adults better understand the risks and benefits associated with Internet use. The site works to be a trusted one-stop shop for information, tools and links to high-quality resources that can help teens stay safe online!

The site explores issues including cyberbullying, sexting, consumer privacy, and social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

Visitors can sign up for bi-monthly e-newsletters and stay abreast of the latest Internet safety topics. To learn more, go to the site at: www.bnetsavvy.org

Speaking of Teaching “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely.

The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”

—President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Mailed By: The Nebraska State Education Association

Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742

Family of Teachers

North Platte-based: The Pete and Sue Johnson family of teachers are centered in North Platte – with one exception. Son Aaron Callaway, not pictured, is a Spring graduate of Doane College and a first-year sixth grade math teacher for the Beatrice Public Schools.

From left are son-in-law Josh Bruck, a history teacher at North Platte High School; daughter Nicole Bruck, a third grade teacher at Washington Elementary School in North Platte; Sue Johnson, a second grade teacher at North Platte’s Cody Elementary School; and Pete Johnson, a social studies teacher at Madison Middle School in North Platte.

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.

Supporting New Teachers Joann Benson, a music teacher at Sandymount Elementary School in Finksburg, MD:

“I’ve been the new teacher several times in my career. I remember the feelings of isolation and being overwhelmed!

During the initial week of school, I leave new staff a little present in their mailboxes, such as cute note pads or chocolate with a note welcoming them. During the first week or two, I stop by after school to see if they Page 24 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

have any questions. It’s surprising how many times they need somebody to talk to or cry to, but don’t want to burden their own teammates. As a special area teacher, I work with all the kids and all the staff and can be a good sounding board for their concerns. The biggest thing is to not assume all is well if they’re still standing. Be available to support them throughout the year. It’s everybody’s responsibility to help those new to our profession.”

Sign up for Works4Me at this link: http://www.nea.org/tools/Works4Me.html