15-B Insider -- November 2003

Cyndi Austin caustin@mea.org Uniserv Director
Judy A. Pullen jpullen@mea.org Uniserv Secretary

Celebrate all staff during American Education Week!

NEA and the American Legion were distressed that 25 percent of the country's World War I draftees were illiterate and 29 percent were physically unfit. Both groups in met 1919 to generate public support for education.

The conventions of both organizations subsequently adopted resolutions of support for a national effort to raise public awareness of the importance of education. In 1921, the NEA Representative Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa, called for designation of one week each year to spotlight education.

In its resolution, NEA called for: "An educational week . . . observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs."

Earliest observances featured a different theme for each day of AEW. This changed in 1929 as the cosponsors decided to select a single theme that reflected the current national concern. American Education Week is always celebrated the first full week before Thanksgiving.

Education Support Professionals Day was first celebrated in 1987 after NEA's Representative Assembly called for the creation of a way to honor contributions of school support staff. National ESP Day is a time to strengthen support and respect for these colleagues.

In 2003, Karen Mahurin, then president of NEA's National Council of Education Support Professional (NCESP) members, led a successful campaign at the NEA Reprsentative Assembly to change ESP's formal name from "Education Support Personnel" to "Education Support Professionals."

The new name reflects a growing pride in the valuable role ESPs play throughout America's public schools. Today's support professionals provide invaluable services that enable students to learn in positive, supportive environments. ESPs are equal and essential partners in the education process.

National ESP Day is observed on Wednesday, Nov. 19th during American Education Week.

"Driving a bus is like having to keep track of 65 students in a classroom with nothing but a rear-view mirror."

--Nancy Toombs, PresidentKentucky Education Support Professionals Association

BARGAINING UPDATE

Settled: Cadillac EA; Manton EA & ESP; Pine River EA; Pine River ESP

Bargaining 2003-04: TAS of Cadillac; Evart EA, ESP and Transportation; Marion EA & Transportation; Wexford-Missaukee ISD

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Nov 27-28	MEA office closed – Thanksgiving holiday
Dec 1	Region 15 meeting – T.C.
Dec 4-6	IPD Conference
Dec 10-12	MEA office closed – Northern Zone Staff Meeting
Dec 15	Coordinating Council meeting – MEA office; 7:07 p.m.
Dec 17	ABC (Area Bargaining Council) meeting – Restaurant

Big Budget Cuts or Not? MEA proposes plan to help shortfall

"The clock is ticking" on state legislators to plug a nearly $350 million shortfall in the state school aid budget or school districts will see their state foundation allowances cut by $196 per student MEA President, Lu Battaglieri, told MEA Fall RA delegates on November 8th Lawmakers have 30 days (from Nov. 6 when the state sent notice of the per pupil funding cut) to find other ways to patch the deficit.

On November 6, 2003 MEA proposed a school-funding plan that would use some school districts’ rainy day funds to cover most of the $350 million shortfall in the School Aid Fund. The plan would reduce state aid to the 337 school districts with fund balances greater than 15 percent and compel them to spend some of that money on their local programs. The other 345 school districts would not lose any state aid.

"School districts weren’t chartered to be savings and loans," said MEA President, Lu Battaglieri. "They have stockpiled $1.8 billion of the taxpayers’ dollars. Taxpayers expect that money to be spent educating children."

The funding plan: Reduce state aid to the 334 school districts with fund balances greater than 15%. This plan generates $335 million and protects the districts that most need protecting. Here are some points to consider:

School districts should be educating our children, not stockpiling money.

Schools district are not banks. State aid is to be used to educate children, not to collect interest.

School districts are increasing class sizes and charging fees for sports while hoarding money in their bank accounts. This money should be spent on children.

For years districts have been saving for a rainy day. It is raining, and some of that money is needed this year.

Without this funding plan, all school districts would face another year of prorated cuts in the foundation allowance. While many districts have high fund balances, some school districts are already broke and additional cuts could force them to close. Some of these districts are Jackson, Taylor, Madison Heights, Ironwood, Redford Union, Inkster, Westwood Heights, and Durand.

Of the districts facing state aid cuts under this plan, a fifth of them would lose less than the $196 across-the-board cut expected from the Legislature.

Under this plan, 345 districts (51% of all the districts) would see no reduction in their foundation allowance. Most of the state’s students (61%) reside in these districts. The additional 337 districts (49% of all districts) would face pro-ration, but 72 of these would lose less than $196 per pupil.

This is a one-time fix. We will continue working with the governor and lawmakers on a long-term solution. Ultimately, this state must solve the structural deficit in the state aid budget that occurred from 12 years of tax cutting.

The federal government has a deficit. The state has a deficit. Schools are the only ones with money. It is time to spend it on the children.

Thirteen districts on the critical list have more than 15% fund equity.