Publication for Members of Central OEA/NEA • Adrienne M. Bowden, PresidentFall 2013

COMMUNIQUÉ

EducatePolls suggest that many Americans are supportive of educators’ rights to collec-tive bargaining. It is often said that if unions disappear so will the middle class. While many of our commu-nity members support our right to organize, some of our members question the value of their membership. It is important to remind members that collective bargaining is important not only to advance our mem-bers’ interest but also the interest of the students we serve. Collective bargain-ing is the primary vehicle through which we educate the statehouse on policies regarding pay, benefits, job security, and work condi-tions.

Our members’ working conditions are the students’ learning conditions. Local associations help set policy on important issues such as class size, discipline codes, and safety conditions.

Adrienne M. Bowden, Central OEA/NEA President

Educate, Organize, Act!

These are the issues that serve the best interest of the students. It is important for members to remember that we achieve these best practices by working as a collective group. We achieve more by working together.

OrganizeWorking as a collective group helps bring people and resources together. United as an Association, we speak with one voice for the growth of the public school systems in our community. As a district we strive to work with our locals and communities to help build and strengthen relationships so that we can show our value to the public education system and the responsibilities of our job roles.

Central organizes around our mission statement to “enhance respect for (our) members and public education by respectively shaping and supporting the

goals of (our) state and local affiliates”. We are here to provide services that will empower our locals. Central has services to help recog-nize and develop leaders, provide access to profes-sional development, pro-mote understanding of and a commitment to diversity within our membership, and training to support and in-crease local awareness and involvement in the political process.

As an Association we need to advocate for our interests and those of the students we serve. We are the ones in the trenches who under-stand the needs and con-cerns of our school districts. We are the ones who know about the best practices. Policymakers need to hear our stories. It is vital that we mobilize to express that information at the State-house. We need to use our

positions within the com-munity to let our policymak-ers know what our commu-nity schools truly need to be successful.

ActGone are the days where educators can say, “I’m not political.” With legislation such as HB 1 (OTES), HB55 (report card reporting), HB 59 (budget), SB 21 (Third grade reading guarantee), and So-called Right-to-Work, our jobs have become politi-cal. Our collective actions at the statehouse have a

This is the time of year of new beginnings: a new school year, new students, new bus routes, possible building or worksite changes, and new Central OEA/NEA leadership. With new begin-nings we have an opportunity to refocus and reenergize our membership. Each year we say that public education is under attack and this year is no different. There have been attacks on collective bargaining, talks of repudiating local contracts, changes in teacher evaluation, and privatization.

This year Central leadership is focusing our efforts and programming in three ways: membership education, organization, and action.

continued on page 2

Fall 2013

2

Volume 42, Number 1 • Fall 2013

COMMUNIQUÉPublished four times a year as a service of

CENTRAL OEA/NEA, INC.947 Goodale Blvd.Columbus, OH 43212

direct effect on our classrooms and worksites. Gone are the days of just closing our doors to teach. We must make our voices heard on issues such as privatization, class size, standardized tests, and teacher evaluations. These issues (and others) have an impact on our local contract, students, and local associations.

Our district plan is to align with the goals and objectives of the Ohio Education Association. One such example is the statewide FCPE campaign that will take place in the spring. Our FCPE coordinator will be available to assist any local that needs assistance in conducting a successful drive. OEA-FCPE is a means to political power. Political power is a means to create better working conditions for our members and learning conditions for our students. So… I ask that you stand with us as one voice fighting for public education!

Adrienne M. Bowden, President

Kevin Griffin, Vice President

Barry Alcock, OEA Board of Directors

Jamel Ammons, Area 1 Representative

Joy Bock, OEA Board of Directors

Sue Christian, Retired Representative

Michael Covey, Area 5 Representative

Scott DiMauro, OEA Vice President

Sandra Duckworth, OEA Board of Directors

Jackie Hastilow, ESP Representative

David Jardot, Area 4 Representative

Mary Kennedy, Area 5 Representative

Tammy Koontz, OEA Board of Directors

Dominic Marsano, SCOPE Representative

Tim Skamfer, OEA Board of Directors

Matt Stein, Area 5 Representative

Jim Templeton, Area 3 Representative

Randy Turner, Area 2 Representative

Janice Vaughan, OEA Board of Directors

Wil Vickery, OEA Board of Directors

Amber Wadas, Student Representative

Central’s 2013/14 Executive Board

Adrienne M. Bowden, PresidentKevin Griffin, Vice PresidentRussell Hughlock, Communications & Organizing Coordinator

Editors Ann Eblin, Judy Furnas & Carla Noll Fiscal Manager Mark Meuser Production Russell Hughlock Design Pam McClung

Phone 614-222-8228 E-mail aa@centraloeanea.org

Grant Programsfor 2013-2014Central OEA/NEA will again offer three grant programs to local associations: Growth and Development Grants, Emer-gency Local Grants, and the Local Participation Award.

Growth and Development Grants are designed to help a local improve its effectiveness; therefore, grant activities should be related to one or more of the Characteristics of an Effective Local. The Central budget earmarks $50,000 for the grants, with grant awards ranging from $2,000 (for locals with up to 100 members) to $5,000 (for locals with more than 800 members). Grant awards may come with some conditions; for example, conducting a Fund for Children and Public Education (FCPE) drive. The application is available on the Central website. Application deadline is October 15, 2013.

Emergency Local Grants are designed to assist locals with an immediate need; often this need is help with a levy or bond issue. While there is no application deadline, locals are encouraged to apply as soon as the need arises. The application is on the Central website.

No application is needed for the Participation Award. Just attend Central OEA/NEA events (Area Meetings, OEA RA’s, Central RA, and others during the year) to earn $50 per event for your local. If a local achieves a 21% rate of partici-pation for FCPE (or the local rate set by OEA FCPE Council), each event earns $100. The maximum award for a local is $1,000. Registration for these events is available on the Central website. Locals received more than $41,000 during 2012-2013.

Visit the Central OEA/NEA website for more details about each grant. Questions should be directed to Andre Prenove-au, Central OEA/NEA Project Manager at pm@centraloeanea.org

continued from page 1

Fall 2013

3

Summer 2013

OEA and NEA Member Benefits are acutely aware of the personal and financial challenges faced by members expe-riencing non-renewal, RIF, salary cuts, and other difficult cir-cumstances and have developed multiple avenues of sup-port including personal assistance, online resources, and provisions for temporary financial relief for NEA program participants. To find out more, visit neamb.com/assistance or call us toll-free at 800-637-4636.

Member Assistance Program: Helpful Resources for Members

During the last week of July, seventy-five Central members representing support staff and teachers from fourteen local associations participated in Central’s Building Dynamic Leader-ship Teams conference. The beautiful Mohican State Park was the backdrop for the relaxing retreat-style workshop.

Local association leaders received information and individual support from their Labor Relations Consultants and OEA staff to help set goals and plan association activities for the upcom-ing year. Some locals focused on bargaining topics such as OTES, while other locals worked on writing grants to support Association activities or talked with vendors for ideas to get the most benefit from their OEA/NEA membership.

Every local received a general fund analysis (GFA) to help members better understand their own school district financial picture. Also, all participants attended an important session focusing on legislative updates.

It was impressive to observe the locals that took advantage of the unstructured time and worked late into the evening to plan their year. Members also enjoyed the beautiful weather and peaceful surroundings, gathering outside on the patio for an evening of hospitality and networking.

The one consistent evaluation comment listed each year is how valuable the team planning time is for local leaders and their LRC’s. Because time is a valuable resource for our mem-bers, Central is happy to be able to plan a conference to offer that essential time and support. Members are encouraged to continue to communicate ideas for future conferences to the Leadership Development Committee by contacting Carla Fultz.Carla_fultz@plsd.us

Central Members Mix It Up at MohicanCarla Fultz,

Central OEA/NEA Leadership Development Coordinator

NEARA

photos

Fall 2013

4

From July 1 – 6, elected delegates from Central OEA/NEA gathered in Atlanta, joining 8,000 other delegates from around the nation for the 151st annual meeting and the 92nd Representative Assembly of the National Education Association.

Delegates heard speeches by NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, NEA Executive Director John Stocks, National Teacher of the Year Jeff Charbonneau, and California’s Governor Jerry Brown -- who received “America’s Great-est Education Governor Award” from NEA. Also, Central’s Past President and new OEA Vice President Scott DiMauro addressed the delegates as chair of NEA’s Committee on Legislation.

Each morning throughout the assembly delegates cau-cused in state meetings before participating in the RA’s full business at Atlanta’s convention center. Much time was spent on the 94 new business items that were proposed by the delegates. Each item was introduced, debated, pos-sibly amended, and then adopted, defeated, or referred to committee. Delegates also acted upon proposed amend-ments to the NEA constitution, bylaws, standing rules, resolutions, and legislative agenda.

Delegates voted to pass a $3 dues increase to fund NEA’s Great Public Schools amendment, which will go to the “Raise Your Hand” campaign. Those funds will help cre-ate programs and provide training for members to create union-led, student-centered change in their schools.President Van Roekel urged delegates to raise their hands, step up and speak up, as “it is time for us to transform public education by taking charge of our own profession. Now we must use all of our power, individually and collec-tively, to do the thing that is most important to every single one of us: help our students succeed.”

This year, the top two topics of discussion during new busi-ness item debates included successful implementation of the common core standards and high stakes testing. The delegates were in agreement that the states need addi-tional professional development to successfully implement the new common core standards. There is a huge national concern about continuing high stakes testing before educa-tors are still getting “up to speed” on the new common core standards.

Please visit www.nea.org/ra for a complete summary of the NEA RA -- including text of speeches, amendments, resolutions, and new business items, along with many pho-tos. Also, be sure to speak with the delegates from your own locals or areas regarding their individual experiences!

The 2013 NEA RA Tim Skamfer, OEA Board of Directors

Raise Your Hand NEARA

photos

Fall 2013

5

Summer 2013

With the start of a new school year, we are launching a newly designed website for Join the Future, Central OEA/NEA’s go-to website for education policy analysis, news and insight.

The new site is cleaner, faster and ready to read on your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. You can check it out at www.jointhefuture.org.

If you would like to contribute to Join the Future by writing an article, whether it’s 100 words, or 1,000, a one-off con-tribution or a regular column, let us know. We’d love to add more voices to the discussion. Articles on Join the Future are regularly read by thousands of educators, politicians, reporters, journalists, and policy think tanks.You can email Russell: aa@centraloeanea.org.

Our goal is to continue to offer the educators’ perspective, especially in light of the many ill-conceived “reforms” being proposed by politicians in Columbus.

Follow JTF:

On Twitter www.twitter.com/jointhefutureOH

On Facebook www.Facebook.com/Jointhefuture

Educational Support Personal Training Leads To ActionJackie Hastilow, Central OEA/NEA ESP Board Representative

This summer, several Education Support Personal mem-bers were invited to attend a special organizing training in Las Vegas, Nevada. This training provided information on how to organize ESPs, the power of organizing members, and ways to make ESP locals become more effective.

Using the skills gained during the training, we helped Clark County organize membership enrollment. Clark County is the largest ESP local in the National Education Association with about 10,000 members. To keep their contract and bargaining rights, Clark County must maintain 50 +1 ratios. Due to changes in their health insurance, membership has dropped, and it was our goal to go out and do field work to try to sign up those who had left the local to become a member again.

This training and experience has given me the tools to help our own state, district, and local ESPs fight against priva-tization and So-called Right to Work. We need to organize and work smarter with the right tools to accomplish what we stand for.

If you are interested in becoming more active in helping ESP locals, please contact me at Jackie.Hastilow@centraloeanea.org.

NEARA

photos

Rural Education National ForumThe Rural Education National Forum is a unique opportunity to advance conversations around rural education and prosperity through collaborative action.

The Forum is designed to:• Connect and strengthen collaborative rural education and prosperity efforts across the country;• Highlight powerful instructional and leadership practices in rural districts;• Focus strategic conversations around rural opportunities and challenges with national and local experts; and• Build a network for collaborative action.

Thursday, October 31, 8 a.m. - Friday, November 1, 2 p.m. Greater Columbus Convention Center. For more informa-tion, and to register, visit: http://www.battelleforkids.org/events/rural-education-forum

Fall 2013

6

Governor Kasich’s Budget Bill was a massive overhaul concerning many political hot topics. Educationally, the budget covered every-thing from school funding to (additional) modifications in teacher evaluations, more money for charter school owners, and statewide pri-vate school vouchers.

The budget failed to restore school funding to the levels of the 2010-2011 school year. While some school funding was restored, it is still $515 million less than school districts received from the state three years ago. Supporters of the bud-get will claim it’s the largest school funding increase ever; while in reality, the Governor’s previous budget bill cut education funding by 1.8 billion.

A last-minute addition to the budget that eliminates the state’s 12.5% rollback con-tribution to locally passed levies has a long-term im-pact on every district’s levy

The State Budget (HB59) SummaryKevin Griffin, Central OEA/NEA Vice President

planning. Currently, when districts discuss levies with residents, the districts publish a dollar amount the yearly taxes will raise per $100,000 of home valua-tion. Since the state will no longer pay this 12.5% rollback, the amount being asked of the homeowner will be 12.5% higher for the same millage amount.Included in the budget is the expansion of school vouchers and funding for failing charter schools, which continue to be a financial burden to school districts. A good chunk of the “increase” for education is for charter schools and private school vouchers, not funding for school districts.The school voucher ex-pansion now means that students in any school, even in the highest-performing school districts, are eligible for vouchers to attend a pri-vate school. Under the new requirements a household earning $94,000 will remain eligible for a voucher for a private school. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 80% of Ohio’s children fall into this category while

50% of Ohio’s school age children live below 200% of the poverty level ($46,100 for a family of four), which now makes them eligible for the vouchers. (This last highlighted part is confus-ingly worded, and I’m hav-ing a hard time determining which stats are the old ones vs. the expanded new stats.)

Also, HB59 marks the fourth time the general assembly has modified the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES). While the Senate proposed chang-ing the amount student growth measures account for on OTES from 50% to 35%, the House and Governor wouldn’t budge. The percentage of Value Added utilized in teacher evaluations is proportionate to a teacher’s schedule of courses/subjects that are Value Added applicable. If a teacher only teaches Value-Added courses, then the majority of the student growth factors should be based on Value-Added. Af-ter July 1, 2014, the Student Growth Measures part of OTES will be 100% Value-Added for those teachers.Additionally, beginning in the 2014-15 school year, a school year will be de-

termined by the number of hours students receive instruction rather than the number of days they attend school. For all-day Kindergarten-6th grade, the minimum number of hours totals 910 per year while the amount for grades 7-12 is 1,001. This part of the bill also eliminated calam-ity days, but retained the definition of a school week as five days.

What’s equally important when analyzing HB59 is what’s not included: Gover-nor Kasich’s original version of the bill eliminated the provision requiring that school districts have a salary schedule, a component of current Ohio law for which OEA tenaciously lobbied to remain intact.

Another provision eliminat-ed from the original bill was the definition of a five-day school week. OEA believes that students benefit from a five-day week and lob-bied to keep this definition as law. Removal of this definition, coupled with the days-to-hours school year as mentioned above, would have allowed school boards to have longer school days Monday-Thursday for students with no school on Fridays to save money in operating costs.The mammoth budget bill will have many long-term ef-fects for students, teachers, school districts, and home-owners. A full analysis of HB59 can be found on the OEA website.

Steve Colahan: Teacher, Student, Community Volunteer, Advocate, and Board Member Announces Candidacy For NEA Director #1

Steve Colahan, a Columbus, OH resident and teacher at Upper Arlington High School, who brings more than two decades of experience to the education field, has announced his candidacy for NEA Director #1. “I am most interested in helping to shape the direction of public education and lobbying to form policy at the federal level,” said Colahan.

For more than a decade, Colahan has been a teacher at Upper Arlington High School, working with stu-dents who have academic and social barriers to over-come. Colahan is currently a full-time student study-ing to earn his master’s degree in school counseling.

As a former member of the Board of Directors for OEA, Central OEA/NEA and the Upper Arlington Edu-cation Association (UAEA), Colahan has provided has provided leadership as president, treasurer, and as a member of the negotiations and resolutions commit-tees of UAEA.

Colahan is passionate about making a difference. He was active in helping to successfully defeat Ohio Sen-ate Bill 5/Issue 2, he is a member of Charity Newsies (a nonprofit helping to provide clothing for school children), and he led a successful fund drive which significantly increased the FCPE contributions of UAEA Members.

For more information about Steve Colahan, visit www.electsteve.net

Election DeadlinesIt is that time of year again where you start to settle into your classrooms or worksites to begin a new year. It is also time to start thinking about electing delegates to the OEA Representative Assembly (RA). The RA is the highest decision-making body for the Association. Elected representatives help establish policies, elect officers, adopt the Associa-tion budget, act on new business items and much more.

It is important that the voice of Central be heard on issues facing the Association. You ARE that voice! It is essential that each local conducts an election and sends all eligible delegates to the RA. In addition to electing delegates, locals should elect three or four alternates. Alternate delegates are important in case the original delegate cannot attend. If you are a member interested in running for a delegate posi-tion, please contact your local president.

Delegate information will be mailed to either the local president or officer designee. If materials have not been received, please contact Carol Price at OEA Headquarters. Please review the OEA elec-tion regulations (www.ohea.org) and your local’s Constitution and By-laws for holding an election to ensure all rules have been followed. Elections should be conducted by October 10, 2013, and all voting results should be sent to OEA no later than October 15, 2013.

Save the Dates

Fall 2013 OEA Representative Assembly December 7, 2013 Veterans Memorial Central OEA/NEA Representative Assembly April 26, 2014- Worthington Kilbourne H.S. Spring 2014 OEA Representative Assembly May 9-10, 2014 Veteran’s Memorial

Fall 2013

8In this issue2 Grant Programs for 2013-2014

2 2013-14 Executive Board

3 Member Assistance Program

3 Central Members Mix it Up at Mohican

4 Raise Your Hand

5 Join the Future

5 Rural Education National Forum

5 Educational Support Personal Training Leads to Action

6 State Budget (HB 59) Summany

7 Election Deadline

7 Steve Colahan: Candidate for NEA Director #1

Join the FutureRaise Your Hand

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCOLUMBUS, OHPERMIT No. 204

CE NT RA L O EA/NEA, Inc.947 Goodale BoulevardColumbus, OH 43212

COMMUNIQUÉ

4

NEA RA Photos

3 6

State Budget (HB 59) Summary

5

Central OEA/NEA up Coming Events

Central Area 2 Meeting Sep. 12 at Tavern 42, Delaware

Central Area 3 Meeting Sep. 13 at Robert’s on Miami, Urbana

Central Area 4 Meeting Sep. 17 at J.R. Hooks, Circleville

Central Area 5 Meeting Sep. 25 at OSU Golf Course, Columbus

Central Area 1 Meeting Sep. 26 at Granville Inn, Granville

Central In-service Day Oct. 18 at various locations

Central All-Area Meeting & Delegate BriefingNov. 8 at Columbus Marriot North, Hilliard

Fall 2013 OEA Representative AssemblyDec. 7 at Veterans Memorial Central OEA/NEA Representative AssemblyApril 26 at Worthington Kilbourne H.S. Spring 2014 OEA Representative AssemblyMay 9 -10 at Veterans Memorial

Registration for Central events can be found on our website at www.centraloeanea.org