Maine Educator January 2014 by Maineea

Maine

January 2014

Educator

Vol. 74 • Number 5

IT’S YOUR ASSOCIATION. READ ALL ABOUT IT.

The

Push

Visit MEA Online: www.maineea.org

Privatize Locals ﬁ ght to s tay on the righ t road

“Outsourcing our school custodians threatens the quality of work and the safety of our schools,” custodian Bob Calderwood wrote in a recent online petition to try and save jobs in MSAD 28 & FiveTown CSD in the Rockport area. Calderwood and his wife who are long-time custodians in the district organized a group to explain the effects of outsourcing on the community. Currently, the district received several bids that would bring private companies into the schools while eliminating existing public school custodial jobs. The group created an online petition and is gaining media attention as well for their efforts. “We need the community to understand that outsourcing threatens the safety of the students and staff. Our custodians know who belongs in each building and who doesn’t. This is not something an outside contractor, with high turnover, would be able to identify,” said Calderwood. A similar campaign to stop custodial privatization is happening in Scarborough as well where nearly 1,000 community members, including local business owners have signed a petition to keep the jobs local with their existing custodial staff. While the push to privatize is gaining momentum in the state many districts are not successful in their efforts to actually outsource staff. Local communities, with the help of MEA, have recently stopped privatization in several communities including RSU 4 where the district wanted to outsource bus drivers. The local association was able to bring the issue to voters who overwhelmingly told the school board they wanted to keep their existing drivers. Currently, statewide, there are less than 10 districts that outsource some or all of their custodial work. Similar Cont. Page 4

New Year’s Resolution: A Challenge to All of Us

The Push to Privatize

Find Your Voice

Afﬁliate News

Health Insurance Update

Pull-out Calendar with MEA Events on page 8

MEA Awards

Top Issues In Education

Have You Asked A Non-Member To Join? We are almost halfway through the school year, we know the challenges facing us, and yet we have colleagues who have missed being asked to belong to MEA and join our advocacy work. We all know someone who hasn't become a member, and we hear frequently the reason is that no one approached them. We can each take that ﬁrst step to help our educator friends belong to our organization. There are many places to start the conversation, but honesty is always best, so why not start with the obvious, "I noticed you don't belong to our association yet, and wanted to encourage you to complete the forms that we can get from our local leaders."

it to our potential members when sharing the importance of belonging to our Association. "Our time is now. And it’s time for ACTION!

Lois Kilby-Chesley, MEA President

representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become teachers. We have a national voice through NEA.

When the question of dues arises, which it should, you can reassure them that their membership will start on the ﬁrst day of the month after completing the paperwork. The NEA and MEA dues is prorated to the month. So the deduction will be somewhere around $40 month, or $20 a pay-period, or less than $2 a day, and half that ($20 a month/$1 a day) for ESP. That's the equivalent of a cup of coffee a day for the comfort of knowing that you belong and contribute to the good work of our professional organization.

Our mission is to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulﬁll the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.

And if that isn't enough we can remind a potential member that the beneﬁts are more than savings on everything from cars to appliances, discounted courses to retirement planning, travel savings to discounted restaurant meals. (To learn more about beneﬁts you can go to: http://www.neamb.com).

Remind our non-member friends that the work of the MEA and of your local association, as well as the NEA's work in Washington, is good for all educators and that at every step of the way we all work for the beneﬁt of our students. Then ask them to join us in our vision to provide great public schools for every Maine student.

Our members have the support of 3 million colleagues around the US. The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States,

Maine

Educator

Here in Maine the MEA is the voice of educators from Fort Kent to Kittery and Eastport to Jackman. We advocate for our members and work to provide great public schools in which every Maine student will succeed from preK through our university system. We have a voice in Augusta and in our local communities.

This past summer 37 Maine delegates heard NEA president, Dennis Van Roekel speak the following words which sums up our quest for advocacy. Please show

ISSN #1069-1235 Published by Maine Education Association Periodicals rate paid at Augusta, Maine and additional mailing ofﬁces.

President Executive Director/ Managing Editor Comm. Director/ Editor Layout/Ad Manager Questions/comments:

Lois Kilby-Chesley Rob Walker Giovanna Bechard Allison Coombs gbechard@maineea.org

Subscription $10 per year. The Maine Educator is published 9 times annually, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April & May. POSTMASTER: send address changes to: Maine Educator, 35 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330-8005

January 2014

It is time for us to transform public education—by taking charge of our professions, and that means taking responsibility for our professions—and not allowing others to deﬁne it for us. We have laid the foundation throughout our history—this is not new work, but it is time for a bold step forward. We have three million members, and we have proved beyond a doubt that we are a powerful force for social justice, and for our members' rights. Now we must use our power, individually and collectively, to do what is important to every single one of us—do what binds us together more than anything else: Fulﬁll the promise of public education—prepare EVERY student to succeed.”

MEA Seeking Presenters for Spring Conference Do you have educational programs, curriculum, strategies and activities you use in your school that you would like to share with others?

Conference Date: Sat., April 5 Where: University of Maine Augusta Session Length: 1.5 hours Send session descriptions to Becky Fernald at rfernald@maineea.org

Deadline: Jan. 31 www.maineea.org

Top Issues in Education

My New Year’s Resolution: A Challenge TO All Of Us Happy 2014! Just like many of you, I spent the last week or so of 2013 reflecting on the year gone by, looking ahead to what the next year may have in store for me and then compiling a list of resolutions. It was of no great surprise to me to discover that most of my resolutions for the upcoming year included the perennial favorites to lose weight, to exercise regularly and to be more organized. In addition to my usual mundane resolutions, I decided to brush up on my knitting skills and relearn how to play the French horn. As I reflected on my list, it didn’t take long for me to realize that all my resolutions revolved around me. Don’t get me wrong, becoming a better person is always a good thing, but there should also be a resolution or two that address the needs of other people. One way I know I can make a difference in the lives of others is by helping to fulfill the vision of the Maine Education Association that “every child has the right to receive an excellent education at a great public school.” I know that I can make a difference by committing to do more but imagine how much more

Just imagine the voice your Association would have if every member became involved in the annual Representative Assembly where local Associations meet to review the Constitution, elect ofﬁcers, adopt policies, and enact a program budget.

Denise Simoneau, MEA Treasurer

could be accomplished if every one of you, the members of the MEA, made the same resolution! Just think about the impact the MEA would have if every member wrote at least one letter to their elected ofﬁcials about issues concerning public education like teacher evaluation, charter schools, implementation of the Common Core, or the subcontracting of bus drivers and custodians. Just picture how much more effective we could be in our classrooms if we pledged to attend at least one of the Association’s conferences or seminars where teachers and support professionals can collaborate on professional practices.

Becoming a more involved member in our Association is something that I will absolutely add to my list of resolutions for 2014 and I challenge all of you to do the same. By resolving to become more active and involved members of our Association, we can all take pride in knowing that we will be playing an integral part in achieving our Association’s vision — Leading the Way to Great Public Schools for Every Maine Student.

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www.maineea.org

Main Office 15 University Drive Augusta, ME 04330 207-623-3857

January 2014

Chestnut Branch 60 South Chestnut St Augusta, ME 04330 207-623-8396

CATC Branch 40 Pierce Drive Augusta, ME 04330 207-430-0788

Federally Insured by NCUA

The Push To Privatize Cont. From Cover community rejections to outsourcing for custodial work happened in both RSU 23 (Saco/Dayton) and South Portland. In fact, while school boards claim the effort saves money for taxpayers what many fail to realize, in the initial stages, are the implications of what privatization means for those workers who may be forced out, for the community and state as a whole. A recent report revealed that privatization would impoverish custodians. The report, conducted by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, looked at a recent case of a proposal to privatize custodial work in New Haven, CT. The study found that privatizing school custodial services would cut janitor salaries in half and could force families onto food stamps and state-funded health care and “have disastrous consequences for New Haven’s custodians and their families.” The PERI report was done at the request of the custodians union by Assistant Research Professor Dr. Jeannette Wicks-Lim who told a local Connecticut paper that while the union funded the report “…the research I did was all my own. I did it as an independent researcher.” Local custodians in both MSAD 28 and Scarborough argue safety at schools will not only suffer, but cleanliness will as well due to private companies hiring part-time staff who are likely not invested in the schools and the community. Debby Bean, a custodian in Scarborough, also questions the cost savings. “If I lose my job you can bet I won’t be able to pay my bills. Even if I continue to work as a custodian in the district for the private company I will make less money and getting a second part-time job just won’t be enough—I won’t be able to make ends meet. That means I will end up costing taxpayers more because I will have to rely on state and federal services just to survive. All of that can be avoided if the district doesn’t outsource,” says Bean. Bean’s frustration is echoed in the Connecticut study which concluded

Bob Calderwood wipes down tables at Camden-Rockport Elementary School

“federal and state taxpayers would be subsidizing the low pay of the (private company’s) contract bid by covering the cost of the basic necessities that are currently paid for through the workers’ salaries. Low-paying jobs can also create new costs for the local economy due to increased poverty.” In addition to pushing families into poverty, there is a concern among teachers and support staff surrounding the quality of work performed by a private company. Whether it is food service, bus drivers or custodians, private companies tend to save more money by hiring part-time employees, offering less pay and little or no health insurance. Studies show these types of jobs typically attract less experienced employees, have a higher turnover rate which could affect things like the cleanliness of buildings, classrooms and cafeterias. Custodial staff in Scarborough, for example, have a combined 311 years of experience working in the district, most have specialized training in things like blood-borne pathogens, and many not only live in the community where they work but they also volunteer in the district as well.

to keep our schools clean and safe. They always go the extra mile to support the students and staff without being asked. They are so nice to the kids and staff. It would be a huge mistake to outsource their jobs! Let's keep them in our school community where they belong!” wrote Karen Lindholm from Scarborough when she signed the petition to save the custodians’ jobs. Both MSAD 28 and Scarborough associations are still negotiating with their respective school boards. In the meantime, the MEA created an ESP Ad Hoc Committee that includes members from across the state, to take a closer look at the issue of privatization and ways to combat it at the local level.

For more resources about ESP issues, NEA has a virtual library which can be found at: www.neaespresources.net.

“Our custodians are a big part of our school "family.” They take great pride in their work and they work hard

January 2014

www.maineea.org

Find Your Voice

Voice — a. wish, choice, or opinion openly or formally expressed

<the voice of the people> b: right of expression; also: influential power (Merriam-Webster)

So many times we say we want a voice. A voice in education policy. A voice in our work load. A voice at the bargaining table. A voice in our evaluation. Our voice is powerful, if we use it correctly. But having a voice and being the voice are two distinctly different things. It’s a lesson Doug Hodum, a Science teacher from Mt. Blue High School learned as a teacher fellow with the Hope Street Group. Hodum was one of only twelve teachers chosen in the country to participate in the group that focuses on improving the nation’s educational system so future generations can compete in an increasingly competitive global economy. Hodum (Mt. Blue RSU EA) spent several days learning how to shape his voice to create a greater impact on his school, his district and public education as a whole. The lesson is something Hodum admits was something most educators would view as a foreign concept. “We epitomize public servants—that’s how a lot of us view ourselves. When people say ‘this is wrong we shouldn‘t be doing that,’ a lot of people have the concern that if I say something then I am grandstanding for my position. But, most educators will say what they really want is to be in their classroom and left alone with their students; so being in the public spot light is very uncomfortable to us. But that is my responsibility for both my students and my profession,” said Hodum after returning from the fellowship program. The fellowship provides educators with training in the form of public relationships to strengthen their voice—things like teaching people how to write opinion editorials, how to write letters to the editor and how to conduct an on camera interview. All stress the importance of sharing what is important in public education, in your school and district. Over the course of the year, Hodum says fellows are asked to develop a policy project surrounding an issue they care about and figure out a way to get educator voices involved and in turn empowering them to act.

“Most educators will say what they really want is to be in their classroom and left alone with their students; so being in the public spot light is very uncomfortable to us. But that is my responsibility for both my students and my profession.” “I think it is a great professional development opportunity. Participating in a conversation that is national—when you have an opportunity to interact with teachers from Arkansas and Alaska—those are few and far between. It is an opportunity for teachers to figure out how to have their voices heard. A lot of educators are very reluctant to put their name out there to blog or write op eds because it seems like we are self-aggrandizing. But I learned not only is it okay for me to take a stand on something but I learned the format and the tone that you should take. If we have more teacher-leaders who are willing to look at a topic and have their voices heard it is a great opportunity for the profession,” said Hodum. With the knowledge Hodum learned at the workshop in San Diego he is now in the process of developing a teacher evaluation system in his school district. Hodum exercised his voice and organized meetings, which he co-facilitates with the assistant superintendent, about the process. Hodum also got other teachers involved in order to give them a collective voice in how they are evaluated, which directly affects their jobs. Instead of letting the evaluation process happen to him and his co-workers, Hodum used his voice to take charge of his profession, all because he used his voice and spoke up which is a direct teaching lesson from the program. In addition to using his voice in the district, Hodum stressed the importance of his students seeing their teacher being vocal in the community, showing them they too can speak up and make a difference. “I think it is really important for people to take ownership of their profession like it is a profession and not just a job—because it is a profession. Teachers know teaching best.” said Hodum. Hodum is no stranger to speaking to media, seen here during a weather balloon launch last May. Credit: dailybulldog.com

www.maineea.org

January 2014

And that makes your voice the most powerful one in the room, always.

Leading the way to great public schools for every Maine student Fundraiser for Member and Her Sick Child

Way to Go Coach Crepeau!

Staff and students in SAD 64 raised more than $700 to help a member (SAD 64 TA) pay medical bills and expenses as she cared for her seriously ill infant. The MEA, along with the Central High School Student Council organized a fundraiser breakfast for the member who was out on medical leave. Other schools in the district also contributed to the fund. In addition, the local applied and Central High School Math teacher received an MEA Partnership and SAD 64 TA Vice President John for Caring matching grant which Tabor and CHS Student Council is intended to help members member Cody Webster attended the breakfast. facing a hardship. The grant provided the member an additional $1,371 to help during the difﬁcult time. MEA is proud of all those who pitched in to help one of our own.

The True Spirit of the SeasonAugusta/Auburn

For the past 19 years the MEA headquarters ofﬁce and the MEABT employees have adopted a needy family from the Augusta Education Association’s $ense for Kids program. This year the family received MEA staff members wrapped presents for this year’s families in need. not only the basics, like warm winter boots and pajamas, but staff generously donated some of the items on the family’s “want” list as well, including toys for two children in the family. Inspired by the tradition in the Augusta Ofﬁce—MEA staff in Auburn and local leaders in the Auburn area chose to help a family in need as well and reached out to Safe Voices (formerly the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project). MEA would like to thank all those members and staff who gave to help others this holiday season!

Congratulations to Mark Crepeau (Massabesic EA) who received the 2013 Southwestern Maine Activities Association Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year award. Crepeau is a member and chief negotiator for the Massabesic EA in RSU 57. As coach during the Class A state meet, Crepeau led Massabesic to a second-place ﬁnish in the overall team standings. It is the sixth-straight year the Mustangs have ﬁnished in the top three in the state. Crepeau is also a former Maine state teacher of the year. Way to go Coach Crepeau!

Peru Educators Receive $5,000 Grant Nick Waugh (Western Foothills EA), a technology specialist, and co-applicant, Rachel Buck (Western Foothills EA), of Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10 in Peru, ME, have received a $5,000 Learning & Leadership Grant from the NEA Foundation to support the school’s Mass Customized Learning (MCL) initiative. Waugh and colleagues will develop MCL-compliant projects, lessons, techniques, assessments, and rubrics. Ultimately, the materials developed will help teachers throughout the district design assessments that accurately demonstrate student learning and comprehension.

Bangor Food and Fuel Drive The Bangor Education Association continues to support its community, this time by organizing a food and fuel drive in partnership with several local restaurants. The ﬁrst event took place in late December at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. The BEA worked with the restaurant to donate 10% of all sales during the peak dinner hours to support the efforts of the City of Bangor and the Bangor School Department. The money will go toward helping the teachers’ and support staffs’ neighbors in need. BEA will also hold another drive in January.

January 2014

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U T L A A T R I G O N NS O C to the Following MEA Members on Achieving National Board Certiﬁcation

Lake Region TA

Merrymeeting TA (SAD 75)

SAD 51 EA

Jeffrey Brundage

Emily Vail

Lewiston EA

MSAD 60 EA (Berwick)

Leslie Gallant Johna King Mary Train

Hilary Barber Ashley Cloutier Marcella Lessard Patricia Mackinnon Diane Rodrigue

Elizabeth Laine

Maranacook Area Schools Assoc. Jill Watson

Sheepscot Valley EA

SAD 54 EA (Skowhegan) Heidi Goodwin

Debra Demos Christina Gardner

Oxford Hills EA (SAD 17)

Tri-County TA (SAD 55)

Jennifer Felt Melissa Guerrette Justin Stygles

Kelley Goodﬁeld Jaci Ritter Amy Vacchiano Ashley Bryant

plug into what matters Choose an electric company that

gives back to your Professional Association

National Board Certification Workshops

You hAve A choice in electricity suppliers. Choose a company that cares about helping your profession while charging you a guaranteed low rate. Locally owned, Union Atlantic Electricity partnered with the Maine Education Association to give a portion of its earnings back to the Association to better serve you, the member. www.unionatlanticelectricity.com/mea

Remember to use code “MEA” when signing up

www.maineea.org

Scholarships and CEU credits are available for attending the workshops. Be sure to register early. FMI and to register, contact Cindy Fabbricatore at cfabbricatore@maineea.org and visit: www.maineea.org/nationalboard

Candidate Support Workshops:

Location: MEA Headquarters, Augusta - 8:30am-2:30pm - Morning coffee, snacks, and lunch will be provided

2014 Feb. 8 March 22

Renewal Candidates (2004-05) Workshops: Location: MEA Headquarters, Augusta - 9am-11am

2014 Feb. 8 March 22

“Believe you CAn And you’re

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Spring Conference 12 Higher Ed Del. Assembly

Board of Dir. Meeting

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ELL/ESP Training

4 MEA All Committee Day

February Break

February

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Leading the Way to great PubLic SchooLS for every Maine Student

February Break

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Committee Meetings 8 MEA All Committee Day 15 PreRetirement Seminar

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Retirement Seminar 26 Pre- 27 Retirement Seminar

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Read Across Read Across America America

March

Affiliate News Medomak Valley EA Members in the Medomak Valley Education Association, after working without a contract more than a year, recently ratified a contract. The MVEA went to fact finding over the Board's "incentive pay" proposal. The team settled on increases to the pay scale of 1.5% in 2012-2013, 2% in 2013-2014 and 2% in 2014-2015. The agreement incorporates a smaller incentive that can be earned in addition to the increases on the pay scale.

Bath Counselor Teaches Anti-Bully Lesson During PSA Bath Middle School Counselor Matthew Hamilton (Sagadahoc EA) participated in an antibully public service announcement produced by WMTWTV in partnership with the MEA. Hamilton and students from Bath Middle School Hamilton coaches a student through worked together to the video shoot talk about how to help others who may be the victim of a bully and provided resources during the PSA to educate the public about the issue. The PSA is part of a series currently running on Channel 8 throughout the day that aims to raise awareness about bullying and teach others how to stop it on the spot.

Health Insurance and Wages Stall Contracts in Several Districts Lake Region Non-Teaching Association (RSU 61) members are awaiting a decision from the Interest Arbitration panel that heard their arguments and those of the Board. Negotiations began in August with both wages and health insurance being the two main issues. The Board’s proposal, if enacted, would result in individual employees actually losing income. The Board, with the help of law ﬁrm Drummond Woodsum, developed a health insurance proposal that places a “cap” of 4% on the Board’s costs. The 4% is based upon the Boards’ previous year’s contribution not the previous year’s premium. This results in a lowering of the Board’s percentage of contribution/costs, reducing their current level of 80% to 73% in 13-14 the last year of the proposed contract. If left in place, with the districts’ expected premiums, the Board’s share of costs would drop to less than 50% within 5 years. The same health insurance proposal is on the table in RSU 57 where the teacher unit of Massabesic EA is negotiating a contract. The issue is now in fact ﬁnding because the Board rejected the Association’s proposal concerning wages unless it accepts the 4% cap.

District Reimburses Members for Health Insurance The Windham/Raymond School Board and the Sebago East Shore Education Association reached agreement to resolve a grievance filed by the Association concerning health insurance benefits for teachers hired since August 22, 2011. The grievance resulted from a disagreement concerning the intent of the contract regarding the benefits to which newly hired teachers were entitled under the three-year collective bargaining agreement that became effective at the start of the 2011-2012 school year. Under the agreement, teachers hired since 2011 will be reimbursed for premium payments they made for their spouses, domestic partners and children at the same level that former Windham teachers are compensated for such coverage, and they will be entitled to the same coverage as former Windham teachers for the balance of the contract year. The agreement does not bind either party with respect to premium payments for employees beyond the expiration date of the current collective bargaining agreement, which shall be subject to negotiation by the parties in bargaining for a successor collective bargaining agreement.

Westbrook EA Petitions Superintendent Calling for Action More than 60% of the teachers and support staff at Westbrook High School signed a petition calling for an independent investigation into a disciplinary action against several students in the school. Members are concerned about the discussion surrounding the school’s Code of Conduct and its utilization after several football players were reinstated following an alleged incident involving drinking, while other accused students remained suspended. The Association expressed its concerns at a recent school committee hearing and called, through the petition, to “refocus on the mission of the Westbrook School Department of providing, the best education for all, for life.”

District Chooses to Offer Some, but Not All Health Insurance Members in MSAD 58 Education Support Personnel Association (Kingﬁeld, Strong, Phillips and Avon) are currently working with MEA legal counsel to change how the district is trying to offer health insurance to members. The district is currently only offering health insurance to ed techs who teach children with “severe and profound” disabilities and refusing to offer any kind of coverage to any other classiﬁcation of ed tech, even if they choose to pay for that insurance themselves. When voters in the district approved a budget for the schools they agreed to pay for health insurance coverage for all educators in the unit so the refusal, MEA argues, goes directly against the will of the voter. The issue is currently under investigation.

January 2014

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Affiliate News Maranacook Fights Refusal to Pay Step Increases Maranacook Area Teachers Association filed a grievance on behalf of its members who are working without a contract. When the contract expired, the school district refused to pay educators their steps. The case is going to arbitration under the argument that educators are paid based on their experience and even though they are working without a contract they are continuing to gain experience while they are working and therefore should be paid their steps even while the contract is expired. The grievance is based on specific language in the contract. In the past this issue was based on the salary schedule. This is a first ever type of grievance and therefore a test case. It is commonly known that under “static status quo” step increases in the salary schedule are not given/granted. What makes this grievance unique is the language in the body of the contract in Article 16 – Payment of Staff Salaries, Stipends and fringe Benefits, Section G. The Board has filed a Petition for Determination with the MLRB requesting a stay of arbitration. The local is moving on with the arbitration having filed already with the AAA.

Do you have interesting events going on in your local? We want to know! Send your story to meaweb@maineea.org “My Hero Works at School” Essay Contest

The Portland Sea Dogs and the Maine Education Association are jointly sponsoring an essay contest for all students in Maine’s public schools. The topic of the essay is: “My Hero Works at School.”

Want the latest education news and inspiration? Log on to MEA’s Facebook page and give it a “Like.”: www.facebook.com/maineea.

Plan a Read Across America event without spending a dime! MEA’s Read Across America Incentive Grants applications are now being accepted from local associations that plan events/activities for March 3rd.

Please encourage your students to write an essay, no more than 250 words, to explain how a school employee has had a positive impact on their life. Two winners will be selected. Prize package includes: Sea Dogs tickets for student and school employee and their family and friends. Winning students will be Junior PA for one inning, announcing the players. On ﬁeld award ceremony and more!

Requests must be made by the local association president for funding of activities within the local association. The grant may be used for a local association sponsored event or an event in conjunction with the district.

Please send entries to: MEA-Sea Dogs Essay Contest Attn.: Giovanna Bechard 35 Community Drive Augusta, ME 04330 or E-mail gbechard@maineea.org

Deadline for entry submission is March 21, 2014

Entries must include the student’s name, home address, phone number, school name and address and grade level.

www.maineea.org

Grants of $50 each will be awarded on a ﬁrst-come, ﬁrst-served basis.

More information can be found at www.maineea.org/readacrossamerica

Deadline: February 7, 2014

January 2014

NEWS & NOTES

MEA Seeking Presenters for Spring Conference Do you have educational programs, curriculum, strategies and activities you use in your school that you would like to share with others?

Conference Date: Sat., April 5 Where: University of Maine - Augusta Session Length: 1.5 hours Send session descriptions to Becky Fernald at rfernald@maineea.org

Deadline: Jan. 31

Health Insurance Rule Changes, Again

As you may recall from an earlier article in the Maine Educator, when parts of the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, took effect it came with some questions about how small groups in the MEABT plan would be impacted. Obamacare defines small groups as those with fewer than 50 Full-Time Equivalents. Currently, within the MEABT there are 100 small groups that fit the definition. In addition, those small groups include the retirees who formerly worked in that specified district. As originally written, under Obamacare, small groups would have been required to move from coverage under MEABT to a small group plan. This small group provision has now been put on hold until 2015, as announced by the President in November. That means, any district with a group of 50 or fewer, will not lose their coverage through MEABT. MEABT continues to work with the White House Office on Health Care Reform and the federal delegation to clarify whether the small group migration clause of this part of the ACA was intended to apply to those who receive coverage through MEABT.

Would you like to have more voice in your Association?

Would you like to participate in creating the beliefs of your Association? Get involved - be elected to represent your Association and have a say! The MEA Representative Assembly (RA) is made up of elected local association delegates from across the state and serves as the Association’s highest governing body. At its annual meeting in May, the RA will determine MEA’s policies, programs, and budget for the following year. NEA’s RA, which is held in July, determines policies also by elected delegates from across the country.

Want to run for a position? Open positions include: •

MEA Board of Director

•

MEA Representative Assembly

•

NEA Representative Assembly

•

NEA Director

•

MEA MePERS Trustee

Log on to www.maineea.org and go to MEA Elections in the Members Only section. Contact Linda Heaney at lheaney@maineea.org if you need assistance.

January 2014

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www.nea.org/readacross

AWARDS

Would you like to honor a colleague who goes the extra mile for their students and fellow educators? Do you know someone who really helps support your school? MEA offers several awards. Please, consider nominating your colleagues for one of the following awards: Award for Teaching Excellence - To recognize, reward, and promote excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession. MEA believes that all students deserve a quality education and that teaching is the single most important component of quality education. It is appropriate, therefore, that MEA recognize one of its members for teaching excellence. In selecting and celebrating a state winner of this award each year, we honor teaching excellence, public education, and our dedicated members.

Joan McGovern ESP Award - To emphasize outstanding accomplishments and reflect the contributions of Education Support Professionals to public education.

Anne Sheehan Political Action Award - To recognize an MEA member or governance affiliate who has demonstrated a strong commitment to political action for public education issues.

Corporate Award - To recognize a for profit, non-profit, or not-for-profit company/corporation that has made a significant contribution to public education in Maine.

Friend of Education Award - To recognize an individual currently holding an elected or appointed public position and currently making a significant contribution to public education.

Golden Apple Award - To recognize an individual or group who has demonstrated a strong commitment to the local school(s) and/or to the children of a community.

Honor Medal Award - To recognize an MEA member who has demonstrated outstanding courage in defending academic freedom or in upholding the right of educators to adhere to the principles of their profession free from harassment and coercion. Also, to recognize a member who has faced a difficult period and risked personal welfare because of professional commitment.

Human and Civil Rights Award - To recognize individual members, local affiliates, individual students, or student organizations who have demonstrated outstanding dedication in promoting human and civil rights for students and citizens of the State of Maine. John H. Marvin Local Association Award - To recognize a local association for effective bargaining and protecting member rights by: 1. being a strong advocate for members; 2. being a leader in effective bargaining practices; and 3. organizing wall to wall units.

For information on how to nominate someone, log on to http://www.maineea.org/awards or e-mail lheaney@maineea.org.