nsea the voice october 2011

October 2011 n The NSEA Voice n

The

VoiceThe Nebraska State Education Association October 2011

n The NSEA Voice n October 2011

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

the

VOICe Nebraska State Education Association

605 S. 14th StreetLincoln, NE 68508-2742 · www.nsea.org

(402) 475-7611 · (800) 742-0047

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

Great Public Schools For Every Child

Executive Director Craig R. ChristiansenAssoc. Executive Director Neal ClayburnDirector of Public Affairs Karen KilgarinAssistant Comm. Director Al Koontz

NSEA BoARd ExECUtIVE CommIttEEPresident Nancy Fulton, Wilber-ClatoniaVice President Leann Widhalm, NorfolkNEA Director John Heineman, LincolnNEA Director Jenni Absalon, Lincoln

Official publication of the Nebraska State Education As-sociation, 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,

NE 68508-2742.

Published 10 times yearly according to this schedule: September, October, November, December, January, Feb-ruary, March, April, May and August.

Payment of annual NSEA membership dues entitles Ne-braska educators to receive The Voice. Total cost of pro-ducing 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. Ap-pearance of an advertisement in The Voice does not nec-essarily imply NSEA endorsement of either the product being advertised or the views being expressed.

Opening Bell

On theCover: Page 6.

UpcomingAssignmentsOct. 21-22Advocacy Conferencen What: NSEA’s annual up-

date 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’ BargainingConference, Geringn What: The NSEA Panhan-

dle District’s Bargaining Confer-ence, with updates on the bargain-ing law, best practices and otehr details. Find more information on Page 13.n Where: Gering Civic Cen-

ter.n Details: Register online

now at www.nsea.org.

Nov. 13-26American Education Weekn What: Observe the annual

celebration of the teaching profes-sion and public schools. n Details: A different set of

public school stakeholders cel-ebrated each day. See details on Page 16.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thus it’s important to remind educators of the serious na-ture of the disease and the fight to find a cure.

It’s also important to re-mind educators of the im-portance of talking to health care providers about preven-tion. While a still-contro-versial 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) ad-vises that a woman and her health care provider know best.

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

The report caused a firestorm. Can-cer prevention groups like the Ameri-can 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 ac-tion.”

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

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 per-form 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 clini-cal exams with your doctor, who knows your personal history and risk factors.

100 Percent Covered!

NSEA members should know that through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska health care plan, and in compli-ance with provisions of the new federal health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (PPACA), mam-mograms and pap smears for women, colo-noscopies 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 admin-istered by BCBS.

Breast Cancer Awareness:Talk to Your Doctor


“Accountability

extends not only

to us, as teachers,

but to parents, to

students, to school

boards, legislators

and the governor,

as well.

”

Turning Up The Heat

NSEA PresidentNancy Fulton

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 Ne-braska 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. Ed-ucators 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 teach-ers 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, policymak-ers 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 abol-ish 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 compro-mise 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 DegreeDespite 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 for-

mer 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 steamAnd 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 OpportunityThis 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 gov-ernor, as well.

Now is the time to help elect local, state and na-tional 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 policymak-ers. 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 stand-ing of Nebraska’s public schools.

From the President

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 froma veteran teacher?Go online to see what others have to say!


Event Raises $8,000;Every Penny Benefits

Children in NeedAbout 75 educators, volunteers,

friends and family members laced up their tennis shoes and walked two miles in the inaugural Step Up for Kids Walk-a-Thon, a benefit for the NSEA Chil-dren’s Fund.

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

“As quickly as this event came to-gether, the amount donated is aston-ishing,” said NSEA President Nancy Fulton. “It’s gratifying to know that there are so many friends and support-ers 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 do-nated to the fund; coupon books were sold to benefit the fund; and “celebri-ties” – 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, allow-ing 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 de-partment kicked off the walk with a ren-dition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” The student council helped logistically.

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

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

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

Sacking and walking: At left, Joetta Jarecke of the Waverly Education Associa-tion 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 Presi-dent 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, eyeglass-es or other necessity. NSEA absorbs all administrative and overhead costs.

For additional information or to do-nate, contact Sally Bodtke at NSEA at 1-800-742-0047, or at:

[email protected]


“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 re-counted a bold and, more importantly, united, effort by mem-bers 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 – at-tempting to sign teachers one at a time, outside the parameters of a collective bargaining agreement.

The year was 1970. Bargaining law and sal-ary schedules were still as new and as unexplored as the Ne-braska 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 bar-

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 teach-er 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 nego-tiator.

“We were all unified. And we were all ticked off,” said Person. “Even the (teacher) wives of some of the local business-men 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

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 TrailWhen More Than 130 Beatrice Teachers Threatened to Quit in 1970,Their Unified Action Helped Solidify the Collective Bargaining Process


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 pio-neers,” 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 TalksIn his regular column a couple of days after the board meeting, long-

time 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, Mar-vin 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 prob-lem 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 HandThat 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

The Sterling 7Out on a Limb: Contract Spat

Ended after 1966 WalkoutBeatrice 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 rea-son, 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 con-tracts, with raises.

But the issue wasn’t quite resolved. It was dis-covered 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, Bar-bara Oberg and Violet Lytle.

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


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 let-ter 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 sug-gested that the board should have offered teachers “blank con-tracts” 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 comfort-able. 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 differ-ences 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 origi-nal offer of a $6,400 base. The board also offered to raise extra-duty 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 ReachedThe BEA soon declared impasse. In a news release, Starr

said the BEA did so only after the school board negotiators “in-sisted 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 neigh-boring Pawnee City.

It took five weeks for a panel of three arbitrators to be se-lected. The board chose Lincoln Attorney Tom Davies, and the BEA selected NSEA’s Kessner, the attorney. The third, impar-tial 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 recommen-dation, and made a final effort at compromise. Poised to file for relief with the Court of Industrial Relations (now the Com-mission of Industrial Relations), BEA members unanimously approved a proposed compromise: the BEA would agree to settlement that would place eight categories of extra duty as-signments 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 ob-vious inadequacies” in the extra duty schedule.

Compromise AccordWithin 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 lev-els” 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.

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 sev-eral 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

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.”

‘Domicile Pay’ and One-on-One Negotiations


Evaluation Season is HereKnow Your Rights, Responsibilities

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 ConferenceIt’s your responsibility to show the evaluator that a learning atmosphere prevails

in your classroom. If possible:nSelect the area(s) of your teaching performance to be observed.nSelect the day, time and subject to be observed.nClarify the criteria to be used in the evaluation.nExplain any special student needs, share the purpose and format of the

lesson and give the evaluator a copy of your lesson plan.

The ObservationLead 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 ConferenceThis should occur shortly after the observation. Remember:nLet the evaluator do the talking. Take notes and respond to direct questions.nSeek clarification and elaboration of the observation; request specific examples.

For instance, ‘What did you see that makes you say my discipline is good/bad?’nBring 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.nAccept all suggestions for improvement, and request a classroom

demonstration of techniques.nDo 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.

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 ad-ministrator’s respon-sibility to follow through with evalua-tion duties.

Most teachers, says Guinan, are un-derstandably uncer-tain about what to do if they have not been evaluated by semes-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 sugges-tions on how to deal with problem ar-eas,” 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 StatuteState law governs the evaluation pro-

cess, at least for probationary teachers.At a minimum, probationary teach-

ers must be evaluated once each se-mester. If peformance is deficient, assistance in overcoming the deficien-cies is to be provided. Some districts have policies that exceed state require-ments for the evaluation of probation-ary 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 of-fers the final word on evaluations:

“(2) The purpose of the probationary period is to allow the employer an op-portunity to evaluate, assess and assist the employee’s professional skills and work performance prior to the employ-ee obtaining permanent status.

“All probationary certificated em-ployees employed by Class I, II, III, and VI school districts shall, during each year of the probationary employment, be evaluated at least once each semes-ter, unless the probationary certificated employee is a superintendent, in ac-cordance 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 perfor-mance of any probationary employee, the evaluator shall provide the teacher or administrator at the time of the ob-servation with a list of deficiencies, a list of suggestions for improvement and assistance in overcoming the deficien-cies, and followup evaluations and as-sistance when deficiencies remain.”

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

Guinan


When her mother dropped her off for her first day at Fremont Junior High School, Leann Widhalm broke out in tears.

“Mom said there were so many people that I didn’t know, that I cried,” said Wid-halm, who admits to being quite shy as a youngster.

She’s no longer shy, and her mother is glowing about her now-outgoing daughter, the newly-elected vice presi-dent of the Nebraska State Education Association.

“Mom was so proud when I was elected,” said Widhalm. “To go from being so shy to being a leader in this state – being active in the Asso-ciation has helped build my confidence and helped me be-come a better teacher, too.”

Her confidence grew first during 18 years teaching spe-cial education at Humphrey, and more recently the last 14 at Norfolk Junior High. Dur-ing that time, Widhalm held nearly every local association office available, from presi-dent to membership chair, treasurer to negotiator.

She’s also served as presi-dent of NSEA’s Elkhorn Dis-trict, and for the past three years, represented Nebraska on the Board of Directors of the National Education Asso-ciation. Aside from building her confidence, those experi-ences taught her that membership in NSEA should be a val-ued aspect of an educator’s career.

“I’m amazed about NSEA. There is so much more to the organization than people realize,” she said. “We’re trying to help members grow as professionals, and I don’t think that

people realize that.”

Someone Worked, Fought

Widhalm said many edu-cators don’t understand what NSEA means to its member-ship or the teaching profes-sion. “It’s so much more than ‘an organization that saves me if I get in trouble,’” she said.

“Members have to know that they’re in their classroom with plan time, with duty free lunch, with due process, with a salary schedule, because someone from NSEA worked and fought for it,” she said. “This organization fights for legislation and public policy that helps children, public schools and educators.

That gets to NSEA’s in-volvement with politics. Each of those workplace improve-ments were made by policy-makers – politicians – at the local or state level. NSEA works to inform those poli-cymakers, encouraging them to make decisions that ulti-mately have the best interests of children and public schools at heart.

Widhalm has worked with politicians at the local, state and national levels, and is

well-regarded in each of those realms.“I’ve learned that, if politics don’t go your way, you still

Lighting the way: Leann Widhalm overcame a shy child-hood to become a teacher, and now as vice president, a leader in the Nebraska State Education Association. It is ap-propriate that her Norfolk Junior High School classroom is decorated with lighthouses.

No Longer ShyAssociation Activism Builds Confidence, Says New NSEA Vice President

As vice president of the Association, Leann Widhalm is a member of the NSEA Execu-tive Committee, and is actively involved in all aspects of elected leadership in your Associa-tion. Among the duties of the vice president, Widhalm will:nServe as chair of the Budget Commit-

tees 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.

nPreside at NSEA Board meetings in the absence of the president.nWork with the president to be prepared

to assume the duties and authority of that of-fice for the remainder of term, if necessary.nManage special assignments as requested

by the president. nServe as the second alternate to the po-

sition of NEA Director for Nebraska.Widhalm was elected in April. Her three-

year term started Aug. 1.

What DoesThis Mean

to You?


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 help-

ing with our Junior High Student Interest Activities after-school program.

Favorite Movie: The Goodbye Girl.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.

Widhalm

have to work with these leaders who are elected to serve; you have to de-velop 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 com-pletely.

“You have to know what your orga-nizational goals are: to make the edu-cation profession a respected profes-sion; 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 EfficientWidhalm 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-

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.

The Federal Resources for Educa-tional 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, sci-ences, history and other subjects, from the Library of Congress, National Ar-chives, 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:nConstitution Resources: Re-

sources for teaching and learning about the U.S. Constitution. View high-reso-lution images of the Constitution from the National Archives, read the biogra-phies of the founding fathers and much more.nBorn in Slavery: 2,300 first-

person accounts of slavery, with 500 photos of former slaves.nOur Documents: 100 milestone

documents in U.S. history, including speeches; treaties; Supreme Court cas-es; patent designs; and Constitutional Amendments.nExplore Themes in American

Art: 10 genres of American art: land-scapes, portraits and more.nMathematics Across the Curricu-

lum: Materials for teaching math in art,

history, literature and music, as well as science, engineering and other dis-ciplines traditionally associated with math.

Free Web Site Links to Federal Resources


Gering Selectedfor 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.nThe conference will feature many of the

same topics as the Oct. 21-22 sessions in Grand Island, including:nEffects of the new bargaining law, and how

it will affect members.nHow to read a comparability study.nAn update on expected 2012 legislation.nA 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

The letter that has been sent to local association officers is clear: NSEA’s Fall Bargaining Confer-ence “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 Ful-ton, was mailed in mid-September. The confer-ence 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 Ne-braska’s collective bargaining law by the 2011 Legislature in LB397, it’s essential that your lo-cal association send its negotiations leaders to this conference,” said Fulton.

The Legislature’s balanced solution to per-ceived problems with the Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR) affect every NSEA affiliate and member. Those reforms to the collec-tive bargaining process in-clude significant changes in the rules for school districts, educational service units, community colleges, state colleges, and the university. They include:nA bargaining calendar

that begins next fall (on or before Sept. 1, 2012), with very specific dates for begin-ning and completing negotiations.nRules that require both unions and boards to

reject or approve the final offer of the other side before the CIR becomes an option.nA new mediation/fact finding dispute reso-

lution process for K-12 and community colleges if bargaining is not completed by Feb. 8 for the coming contract year.nA rule that all orders of the CIR be within a

98 percent to 102 percent range of mid-point.nFor 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 Leg-islature’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 practi-cal guidance from our Iowa neighbors about how they have handled a bargaining calendar, media-tion and arbitration.

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

A Brave New Worldof Bargaining

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

Free Guide Covers Title IX Issues, Details

Scan this QR code on your

smart phone to link directly to the Bargaining

Conference registration.


Editor’s Note: Schuyler Central High School teacher and NSEA mem-ber Larry McGowan lost his teacher-sister, Mary Kay Redman, to cancer on April 19. He submitted the following

preface to a story that appeared in The Kearney Hub. An abbrevi-ated version of The Hub’s story follows.

My name is Larry McGowan. I have taught and coached at Schuyler Central High School for nearly 30 years, and have been a member of NSEA that long as well. I am not writing about myself; I am writing about my sister, Mary Kay (Kath-leen) Redman.

Mary Kay has taught at Kearney High School since 1988. We both teach social studies. She was my kid sister. Whenev-er we met or talked I always said “Hey Kid!” and she would smile her big smile, and say “Hey Big Brother!”

But Mary Kay was the one who is “big” – a huge per-son, a larger than life teacher. A teacher so dedicated that even though extremely ill, would go to school and help kids. So dedicated that on the eve of her death, she insisted on being sure she had les-son plans ready for her classes.

My kid sister died Tuesday. The loss and grief is overwhelm-ing for many, many people, and our large family.

I’m writing to you in the hope that Mary Kay’s story might make it into a future is-sue of The Voice. Her story needs to be told. There is a nice story in the Kearney Hub today, and available at kearneyhub.com. I want her story told so that when you hear someone complain about teachers, you can tell them about the great people we have teaching in Nebraska, and tell them from me that, for proof, all they need to know is Mary Kay’s story.

I am just one of her six big brothers. I could not protect her

from cancer. I can’t let her story, or her memory, die.Thank you for your time,

Larry McGowanSocial Science TeacherSchuyler Central High School

KHS’ Redman ‘A Fighter;’Social Studies Teacher

Loses Battle with CancerBy Sara Giboney, Kearney Hub

KEARNEY — Mary Kay Redman was an inspiration to her students, fellow teachers and many others.

Even on her worst days during her nearly 15-year battle with cancer, Redman would still get up and go to work at Kearney High School where she taught social studies.

Redman, 46, be-gan working at KPS in 1988. She died this week.

“When I think about Mary Kay, I think about all the lives that she touched — not just at the high school, but well out-side the walls of the high school,” said friend Dana Welsh.

“She taught all of us about courage and perseverance. As I watched her battle this horrible disease, battle her cancer, her faith and her courage just never ceased to amaze

me and everybody around her.“She’s just an amazing, amazing woman.”Her perseverance also inspired many at KHS.“She was a fighter. I think that wears off on her kids,” said

KHS Principal Jay Dostal.“She was stubborn to the point where she wanted to show

My ‘Kid Sister’Mary Kay Redman’s Career was a Testament

to the Dedication of Nebraska Teachers

The McGowan siblings: In happier times, seated, from left, are Sr. Mary Margaret McGowan, Steve McGowan, Mary Kay (Redman) McGowan, and Larry McGowan. Standing, from left, are John McGowan, Jim McGowan, Matt McGowan and Mark McGowan.

Page 14 n The NSEA Voice n October 2011


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

Senior Courtney Coslor said Red-man 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 mat-ter 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 individ-ual 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 Kear-ney Youths Tackle Cancer, a campaign started in part by Redman.

Redman and Welsh, the oncology outreach nurse coordinator at Good Sa-maritan 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 transpor-tation 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 pa-tients.”

“It just meant so much to us kids to think that she’s helping other cancer pa-tients 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 suc-cess,” Welsh said.

“Tackle Cancer was especially mo-tivated 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 ad-vocate for them even through the adver-sity. 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.

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

It has been prov-en time and again: a strong local associa-tion adds to the strength of the state association, and a strong state asso-ciation, in turn, benefits the local association.

But what traits make for a strong local as-sociation? This series will review the traits of what the NSEA and the NEA call a “Full Capacity Local Asso-ciation.” The series will allow current leaders, future leaders and members to measure the current strengths, as well as opportunities for gaining full capac-ity, 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 for-mer Seward negotiator and leader. “Ad-vocacy requires a clear understanding of bargaining, school board policy and

procedure, and past practices.”Wergin said that advocacy traits ex-

hibited by a full capacity local include:nThe local is recognized as an ex-

clusive representative by the district’s board of education.nLocal leaders or contact teams at-

tend school board meetings.nLocal leaders meet on a regular

basis with the district administration.nThe local has a member rights

committee or building representatives trained in representing members at ini-tial meetings for grievances or member rights issues.nThe local represents members un-

til the NSEA UniServ director assigned to that local is necessary and training is held to help meet more benchmarks.nThe local represents members un-

til NSEA legal assistance is authorized under the NSEA legal assistance policy.nThe local communicates advo-

cacy successes – bargaining, grievance processes, etc., – to the membership.

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

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

Reaching Full CapacityNot All Locals Serve Members Well; Does Yours?

Wergin


SEAN Officers: The 2011-12 officers for the Student Education As-sociation 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 Nebraska-Kearney, Western Region representative; Ryan Evans, Peru State Col-lege, Underclass representative; Devin Garcia, Peru State College, Southeast Region representative; and Matt Meyer, Wayne State Col-lege, Northeast Region representative.

A Metro Region rep will be appointed.

Outreach to TeachWill Give Faceliftat Grand Island

Howard Elementary is FocusSEAN 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 1-800-742-0047.

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:nMonday, Nov. 14: Kick-Off Day.nTuesday, Nov. 15: Parent’s Day.nWednesday, Nov. 16: Education Support Professionals Day.nThursday, Nov. 17: Educator for a Day.nFriday, 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

Celebrate AmericanEducation Week!

Cheryl McWaters

Cheryl L. McWaters, 71, of Kear-ney, 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 Ke-arney State College and taught for 33 years, mostly at Nelson and Minden.

McWaters was quite active in the Nebraska State Education Associa-tion, and held several offices, includ-ing 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. Me-morials are suggested to AseraCare Hospice.

Every Day Celebrates a Public Education Stakeholder


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

You Have Colleagues Who Do Great Work.

Recognize Their Talent: Nominate Them

for an NSEA AwardEvery 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 win-ners work in your building?

Any NSEA member may nominate an individual or group for the awards, listed below. In all cases, send nomi-nations by Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, to: NSEA Awards, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Nomi-nations 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.orgNSEA members are eligible for

these awards:nNSEA Rookie of the Year. This

award goes to a teacher who sparkled in his or her first year of teaching dur-ing the 2010-11 school year.nAward for Teaching Excel-

lence. This award goes to a teacher who has excelled in the classroom over a long period of time.nEducation Support Profession-

al 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 win-ners in each category announced at the Delegate Assembly in LaVista on April 20-21, 2012. Each winner re-ceives 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:nThe Great Plains Milestone

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).nCommunity Service: Recog-

nizes individual NSEA members and/or local associations who are actively involved in non-paid volunteer work outside of classroom duty hours.nLocal Public Relations: Recog-

nizes local associations for outstand-ing communication within the asso-ciation, and promotion of educational excellence within the community.

These awards will also be present-ed at Delegate Assembly:nFriend of Education: NSEA’s

highest honor. Local associations are encouraged to nominate either an in-dividual or organization that has made a statewide contribution to education/educators.nMedia: Recognizes a news-

paper, television or radio station for outstanding work in covering educa-tion issues and promoting community involvement in education. An essay of no more than 200 words explain-ing 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

Who are Your Deserving Notables?


Snookie’sSnippets

The NEA Group Term Life Insur-ance Plan is a flexible plan with lower rates for members!

This plan is an eco-nomical way to help safeguard you and your loved ones with high coverage amounts. The NEA Group Term Life Insurance Plan is is-sued by the Prudential Insurance Company of America, and provides basic coverage that is easy to apply for. In most cases, no medical exam is required, and the plan provides for optional coverage for dependent children, spouses, and domestic part-ners. Coverage can be increased or decreased at any time. Call 1-800-637-4636 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 state-ment. Sign it, and – presto! – the bank will deposit cash into your account.

But such ‘convenience checks’ are not a good deal, according to Consum-er Action. By cashing such checks, you agree to a loan with exorbitant interest rates and no grace period; the inter-est 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’ WebsiteLearn how to become financially sta-

ble, 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/debtadviceSnookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s

NEA Member Benefits representative.

NEA Member Benefits

Krumbiegel

Many homeowners consider refi-nancing when interest rates suddenly fall or there’s a change in financial cir-cumstances. 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: nReduce your monthly payments

by taking advantage of lower interest rates or extending the repayment period. nReduce your interest rate risk by

switching from an adjustable-rate to a fixed-rate loan or from a balloon mort-gage to a fixed-rate loan.

nReduce your interest cost over the life of your mortgage by taking ad-vantage of lower rates or shortening the term of your loan. nPay off your mortgage faster (ac-

celerating the build-up of equity) by shortening the term of your loan. nProvide funds for major expenses

or to consolidate debts.

Rate-Term Refinancevs. 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 re-duce 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 op-tions, call the NEA Home Financing Program at 1-866-327-6385 and speak with a Home Mortgage Consultant. Re-member, the benefits of the NEA Home Financing Program are extended to par-ents and adult children of NEA mem-bers.

The Right Timeto Refinance

Win a School Lounge MakeoverCalifornia 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 in-crease 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:nThe Kodak Store: Save 15 percent.nRestaurant.com: Get $25 gift certificates for $2!nBlue 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


By Linda KenedyEHA Wellness Coordinator

Do you ever ask yourself that ques-tion? If so, the Educator’s Health Alli-ance Wellness Program would like to help you with the answers!

We’re off to a great start with Oc-tober’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, veg-etables, 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

one more thing to the ‘to do’ list. But eating healthy and getting physical ac-tivity can go a long way towards mak-ing us feel better and getting more out of each day. Participating in the well-ness 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 Febru-ary. Look for promotional posters at your school. Your wellness representa-tive will have details on how to sign up.

Another PHA On the WayThe 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 com-pleting 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:

[email protected]@ehawellnessprogram.orgThe EHA Wellness website is at:

www.ehawellness.orgThe Educators Health Alliance has named Kurt

Genrich to serve as the EHA Plan advocate. Genrich will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebras-

ka plan participants to answer questions and promote the plan. The EHA Board is comprised of six NSEA representa-tives and three each from the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Adminis-trators. NSEA Associate Executive Di-rector 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:

[email protected]

Why Did I Eat That?BCBS Q&A


We care for our pets: Who cares for our nation’s children? NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen with his adopted dog, Buster.

From the Executive Director

Who Cares?When I decided to adopt a dog, I was surprised at the

process. It included a legal document that provided for the return of the dog if I later decided I did not want it, a signed affidavit that I would maintain certain living standards, and a thorough home inspection. The inside of the house was inspected to see where the dog would sleep, whether there were any structural conditions in the house that would pose a danger, and whether there were exposed household chemicals or poison-ous house plants. The inspector walked through the yard with a clipboard to note whether the yard was safely fenced, was big enough for the dog to exercise, and whether the yard was “inter-esting and stimulating.” Luck-ily, I was approved to adopt a wonderful dog named Buster.

As a teacher, I cannot help but wonder how the lives of so many of our nation’s children would be improved if there were a similar exercise for ev-ery child. Yes, I know there would be cries of intrusion into the rights of parents and the home. But I also know that there are simply too many chil-dren in this county who do not have the level of routine medi-cal care, nutrition, quality time, exercise, social environment, or just plain attention that my dog gets. I can’t help but wonder who cares for those chil-dren.

‘Disposable’ ChildrenA recent news story highlighted the fact that some com-

munities now provide special housing for those who raise their children’s children. Incarcerated or “drugged out” parents must often rely on grandparents or great-grand-parents to raise their children. Too many times, children are simply shunted from one custodian to another. One hundred years ago, there were about 110,000 children in orphanages in the U.S. Today, nearly one half million American children are in foster or institutional care. Are things really getting better for our children?

The not-so-secret fact is that more and more children are considered disposable. As a society, we are outraged and saddened when we hear news of animal neglect or abuse. Yet, it is not news to anyone that thousands of chil-dren go to school every day with no breakfast, no warm clothing in winter, no help with homework, no encour-

agement or intellectual stimula-tion, and too often, without their dental, medical, or vision needs met. It matters. Young children who do not have proper nutri-tion are twice as likely to need special education or to be sig-nificantly behind other students in their later grades.

Ironic ChallengeSchools and teachers are at-

tacked every day for failing to ensure high achievement for all students. Some criticism is le-gitimate. Our education system needs to continually improve. But the problems of significant low achievement may be sim-ply too late to address for those students who show up at school with so little parental attention that they do not know the col-ors, the alphabet, how to count to ten, simple nursery rhymes or songs, or sometimes, even their own names. They have been raised by television or electron-ic games.

Yes, student achievement matters. Good schools and teachers matter. And, not surprisingly, good parent-ing. The prospect of high student achievement begins long before the student ever sets foot in school. It be-gins with the decision by our society… and by the par-ent of every new-born child…that no child in America should ever get more love, more care, more attention, more time, more food, or a warmer bed by trading places with somebody’s pet. We all know people who treat their pets like children. The ironic challenge for America is to make sure that our children are treated at least as well as our pets. But until that is a reality in every community in America, we will continue to fail miserably at ensuring high achievement for every child.


NSEA-Retired Corner

It isn’t too late to join: The NSEA-Retired’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 well-recognized across the country for its innovative approach to mentoring col-lege students about to enter the world of teaching. It pairs retirees with pre-service 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-ser-vice/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:

[email protected]

NSEA-Retired Local Affiliates for 2011-12

Your NSEA-Retired organization has local affiliates across the state. By join-ing one of these local affiliates, you’ll stay in touch with education issues, and will also enjoy regular meetings and ad-ventures with other retired educators.

Following is a listing of those locals:

Bellevue EducationAssociation-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 BEA-R 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 Oma-ha World-Herald Good Fellows project; meet Ben Justman, the director of the Sarpy County Historical Museum; lis-ten to the Lewis and Clark Jazz Band; attend programs on TeamMates and gardening; and guide the annual chil-dren’s tours of historic sites in Bellevue.

Members are concerned about at-tacks on Social Security, Medicare and

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:[email protected]

Contact Gibson at 402-292-3749, or:[email protected]

Lincoln EducationAssociation-Retired

Janice Rowe is president. Other of-ficers are Arlene Rea, vice president; Linda Brown, secretary; and Billie Bussmann, treasurer.

Highlights of monthly meetings in-clude Ed Zimmer on the History of Lin-coln Public School Buildings; Shella Palmquist on Yoga at the Lincoln Yoga Center; Leta Powell Drake on the His-tory of the Salvation Army; Sylvana Airaí on My Life Growing Up in Paki-stan; 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 LEA-Retired scholarship program.

Contact Rowe at 402-423-0267, or:[email protected]

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 hous-ing for low income residents, and dis-cussions on recent AARP and NSEA-Retired 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:[email protected]

Omaha EducationAssociation-Retired

President is John Jensen. Other of-ficers are Virgie Louis, vice president; Dee Rankin, secretary-treasurer; Cheryl Richardson and Walta Sue Dodd, mem-bers-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. Con-tact Jensen at 402-493-7546 or at:

[email protected]— Tom Black, Editor

[email protected]

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 pro-

grams like insurance, credit card programs, loan and mortgage programs, investment pro-grams; 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 organiza-tions (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 an-nual 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

Take Part in InterGen 8


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.

$13,633,000n State lottery and general

fund dollars allocated to financial aid for needy students attending Nebraska higher education insti-tutions in 2009-10 through the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Program (Nebraska Coordinat-ing Commission for Post-Sec-ondary Education).

15,175n The number of Nebraska

students in need who qualified for such financial aid, but did not receive aid because of insuffi-cient funding.

A Clamor for Cutsand a True Disconnect

Cornell University’s Suzanne Met-tler has coined the phrase ‘the sub-merged 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 Cor-nell University Chronicle Online. For instance, 64 percent of those who re-ported they had not used a govern-ment 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 sub-merged 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 De-duction have remained strong over the past few decades, but those for working-age 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 NoteWas in Error

A September note detailing the pass-ing 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, FirmEarn Accolades

The law firm of McGuire and Norby is the only firm in Nebraska to be listed as “Best Law Firm” for individual em-ployment law by the Best Lawyers or-ganization. In addition, attorney Scott Norby was selected by peers for inclu-sion 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 re-ferral list of attorneys in practice.”

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

Rytych’s 51 YearsCome 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 ca-reer in May, he had completed 51 years in the same school system, believed to be a record in Nebraska.

Firms Pay CEO’sMore Than Uncle Sam

A study by the Institute of Policy Studies sounded the alarm for federal tax policy: of last year’s 100 highest-paid corporate executives in the U.S., 25 earned more in salary than their com-pany 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 ser-vices – our entire public infrastructure.

“They spin off products created from a foundation of Uncle Sam’s invest-ments, such as the Internet, drug re-search 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 CreditLandscape Changing?

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

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

A ‘Submerged State’

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 Republi-can 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 doz-en 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. Louisi-ana Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law several expanded tax breaks but vetoed several others passed by lawmakers.


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 cen-tered 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 Elemen-tary 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 TeachersJoann 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

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

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

NEA ProgramPromotes

Smart OnlineBehavior

Health InformationNetwork 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

nsea the voice october 2011

Documents

n details

nsea voice n page

nsea endorsement

nsea website

otehr details

beatrice education association

nebraska educators

childexecutive director