Please Take Action and Call on HB 5111, HB 5112, and HB 5144

There are several bills moving through the Michigan Legislature right now which could have significant impact on public school policy next year.

Please take the time to contact your Representatives and make them aware that they may be casting a vote on several important issues as soon as tomorrow (see below). The House Education Committee is set to take up HB 5112 (letter grading accountability system), HB 5111 (third grade reading retention) and HB 5144 (early assessments and interventions). If these bills pass out of committee they are poised to be taken up by the House of Representatives soon.

We should respectfully ask that if HB 5111 and HB 5144 are voted out of committee that they request additional time to thoughtfully engage and fully understand the implications of the legislation prior to voting. Encourage them to contact the local Superintendents in order to learn more about our work to improve third grade reading proficiency.

We believe the best way to improve proficiency is through early assessments and interventions (as outlined in HB 5144). However, we do not support a mandatory retention policy (as outlined in House Bill 5111) for students who do not demonstrate proficiency on the third grade state assessment. We believe that students who are behind should have an intervention plan in place where retention, among many other successful and impactful interventions, should be considered NOT MANDATED. This plan should be developed in consultation with the parent, educator and school leader. These individuals are closest to the student and can best determine the needs of the student.

Please share your thoughts with your Representatives and encourage them to learn more about this complex issue prior to casting their vote. If they must cast a vote tomorrow - we respectfully ask for them to vote "no" until the mandatory retention language is removed.



Also, feel free to share this information with others. Thank you as always for your support of public education!!

PAC Drive Time! Will you help? Help us, help you?

PAC Chair Sydney Hoeksema is leading the drive to raise funds for our Political Action Committee or PAC.
These donations are vital to fight against ridiculous legislation from Lansing that might have good intentions, but further erodes your ability to do what you do best, teach.

No we don't win all the battles, but we fight a good fight to preserve one of Michigan's strongest traditions, quality public education.
Please consider making a PAC donation. Help us help you!

STOP THE VOUCHER DRIVE!

Yes, we cannot tire.  Keep contacting your legislators.  Read the notes in your KEA emails.  Take action.  
Check out this link: http://okemosparentsforschools.blogspot.com/2013/04/vouchers-for-vendors-what-it-is-and-why.html

Have a GREAT Memorial Day Weekend.

YOU WILL EARN LESS It Is happening.

The Senate is passing 1040.

One thing you may not be aware of....Your 403B Annuity will now reduce your retirement calculation.
Remember they take your 3 highest years?

If you work 25 years for instance and  earn $60,000 and put $10,000 into an annuity, new legislation will figure your yearly compensation for the average at $50,000!

Make Sense?

The Senate is voting, perhaps even has…..

Will you be calling?

Senator Contact info is on the blog..

www.kentwoodea.blogspot.com

We Are Under Attack Again

I don't really know how to express my anger due to the latest attack that is being aimed at you, a dedicated group of people who day after day do their best to educate Michigan students. Yet day after day the Republican majority in Lansing continues to attack YOU!

Please speak up, please make the call. You don't deserve this.

http://www.mea.org/latest-attack-retirement-unveiled-senate-bill-1040

Update from Steve Cook.

Did you take the time to check your home email for the note Michelle forwarded to you about the letter from MEA President Steve Cook regarding the Governor's plan for Education. It would be well worth your time to check it out.

Spring Break Condo?

Spring Break Condos from Dave Garland
Spring break isn't far off. Have your plans yet? I have one of two condos in Florida to choose from. We are going to rent only 1, but for the same price ($1000).
Check out the websites attached to see the amenities at each condo.
The Villas at Regal Palms is just outside of the Orlando area. It has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and sleeps 10. Check it out at the website below. This one is available Friday, March 30-Friday, April 6.
http://villasatregalpalms.com/amenities.html

The other one is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo at Sheraton's Vistana Resort. You can check out the villa at the website below and go to the "home" section to see the resort's amenities. This one is available Sunday, April 1 to Sunday, April 8.
http://www.starwoodvacationownership.com/sheraton_vistana_resort/twobedroom_villa_lakes.jsp

For more information, or if you are interested, let me know at dgarls@yahoo.com or call me at 822-4786.
Thanks.
David Garland
6th grade science
Pinewood Middle School


Need Shoes?
Men's size 9.5 W, never worn/in the box, brown Hush Puppy plain, tie, casual dress shoes. $20.
janet peterson 245-6583. (off Breton)

MCHIC Cheer Gym

My sister and I own the MCHIC Cheer Gym, a gymnastics gym designed for cheerleaders. We offer gymnastics lessons for 3year olds through college aged girls. We also have birthday parties, team lessons and sleep overs.

Thanks,

Stephanie Stephenson

www.m-chiccheer.com

616-634-5644

Okay How About?

KEA LOCAL MEMBERS FIRST?

Revised Title: KEA Member Shop Local Services

Hey, how's that for a new and improved name for our links?

We have a new addition and link!

I am a consultant for Thirty One Gifts and my website is:
www.mythirtyone.com/88851 I sell handbags, wallets, purses, thermals and much more. I would love for you to check it out...and even better if you buy!

Thanks!
Lindsey Szczepanek

KEA Self Sell Service

Hey Staff,
Do you have something you or your family has to sell? Carolyn Schaner is a photographer that has some stunning nature pictures to sell at www.absoluteclarityphotography.com. She is the daughter of Chas Schaner, 7th grade teacher at Pinewood. Her website has been added to a new spot on the blog called KEA Self Sell Service. Now that is a goofy name, and may need to be changed, but if you would like your services added to the list, send Chas an email with the URL and it can be done! Shop online with Kentwood staff members and it's a win-win!

ARE THERE ANY DOUBTS? What will you do?

If they can take away your bargaining rights, why would they not want to take away your livelihood so that a corporation can make a profit in the name of "lower cost". Your neighbor the bus driver, your neighbor the custodian, your neighbor the food service worker have taken the hits. Who is next? What action will you take?

http://michiganmessenger.com/52187/republicans-plan-to-privatize-teaching#disqus_thread

Performers at the Rally for Democracy

Don't Forget about the Rally for Democracy on July 31 from 6-11 p.m. at the Orbit Room!

Rachael & Dominic John Davis
In the time of her 10 year solo career Rachael has released 4 albums including one live record with long-time musical partner Brett Hartenbach and Shout Sister Shout!, a collaboration with the Lansing, Michigan-based American roots band Steppin’ In It. Davis has lent her voice to countless other recordings including tracks for film, television and guest vocals on other records.

Together with her husband, accomplished Steppin' In It bassist Dominic John, she has immersed herself in her latest project…. Three-year-old Virgil Ryman Davis.

Karisa Wilson
Karisa Wilson is an award-winning singer-songwriter based in West Michigan. Her music is an eclectic blend of folk, blues and jazz, or Americana for short. Moving away from a rock-based four piece, her new ensemble is a tribute to the folk tradition: banjo, mandolin, and upright bass featuring musicians Joey Schultz, Jason Wheeler and Max Lockwood (and Karisa on acoustic guitar and violin).

"I was a public school teacher in Grand Rapids for four years. I and my colleagues worked very hard year round (despite the myth of summers off!) to serve the students in our community. We spent hours outside of class one on one with students, preparing lessons, volunteering for sporting events, buying supplies with our own money, communicating with parents, not to mention adding to our own education with summer classes. Cutting money to our schools handicaps both teachers and students. We need to INVEST in them!"

Casey Stratton
Born and raised in Michigan, Casey Stratton trained at Interlochen Arts Academy, released records with major label Sony Records, and now records and releases albums on his independent Sleeping Pill Music imprint. He's scheduled to perform "A Tribute to Tori Amos" as part of the Wealthy Theatre Centennial Concert Series, August 25.

The New Midwest
The New Midwest, winner of this year's “Local Spin of the Year” by the Grand Rapids Press, has worked diligently over the last year to promote social justice in Grand Rapids. Proceeds from their recent record ”Commonwealth” have been supporting Access Food Pantry, a local organization fighting hunger in our town. The band includes teachers, local professionals, and families, all of which are being affected by current political decisions in Lansing. They are pleased to be a part of this exciting event, and look forward to contributing to the conversation.

Big Dudee Roo
Big Dudee Roo believes that music can be more than mere entertainment—it can be inspiration for people to think about the world and their place in it, and to work for something better. The songs often center around themes such as resisting the dominant culture’s ideologies and structures, deeper connection with other humans and the natural world, feminism, social justice, and the many emotions that arise when confronting these issues.

We are appalled by the actions of Rick Snyder and company (and other governments throughout the Midwest) to take away some of the most basic freedoms of Michiganders, particularly in the appointment of all-powerful Emergency Financial Managers in towns such as Benton Harbor. But something larger is happening here as well. A capitalistic and corporatist culture based on domination and exploitation is beginning to heave its last dying breaths, and those at the top, who benefit from the misery of those at the bottom, can sense that things are changing, and are trying desperately to preserve this system at any cost. So it is up to us, the living and loving, to actively create the cultures we want to replace this one, and prevent fascists from creating the culture they want!

Josh Rose
Soul for the now and after. A public school teacher/writer/singer-songwriter who believes in what he does, the lives he impacts, and the importance of his role in society.

Recall Rick Petition Locations

KCEA/GREA/MEA Building
3205 Eaglecrest (just off the East Beltline, north of Leonard, first side street on the right)
Thursday 11:00-7:00
Friday 11:00-7:00

Taste of GR at John Ball Zoo
Friday 6:00-9:00


Farmer's Market Saturday
8:00-11:00
possibly 11:00-2:00


Blockbuster at 28th and Michael
Saturday 10:00-12:00


Recall Rides the Rapid
Monday at main bus stops around the city beginning around noon.

Protesting Cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security

SUPPORT SENIORS, CHILDREN, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES PROTESTING CUTS IN MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

What: Protest cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security

Who: Michigan Citizen Action, Health Care for America Now, senior organizations, consumer groups, labor partners, and other community members

When: Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Rally from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Press Conference to begin at 4:30 p.m.

Where: Gerald R. Ford Federal Building (Ottawa side of the building)
110 Michigan St. N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

For more information, contact Erin Knott at 616.901.9649 or email at eknott@michcitizenaction.org

SUPPORT SENIORS, CHILDREN, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES PROTESTING CUTS IN MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

Right now lawmakers in Washington, DC are busy negotiating an agreement to pay our country’s debts and avert economic disaster by raising the national debt ceiling before the August 2nd deadline. We must firmly oppose any deal that includes cuts in Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security while billionaires and corporate CEOs continue to get tax breaks that drain money from the budget.

We can’t run away from our responsibility to seniors, children, people with disabilities and middle-class families. Join Michigan Citizen Action on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 from 4 – 6 for a rally and press conference to let Congressman Amash know that seniors, children, and struggling families should not bear the brunt of reducing the deficit when millionaires and billionaires get a free ride.

We need a reasonable plan for deficit reduction that reflects our values, that protects our families and neighbors, and that doesn’t shift more burdens onto middle class families and states. We must demand a budget plan that reduces the deficit responsibly and works for all Americans – not just millionaires and big business.

Rally for Democracy

Rally for Democracy

Time:
Sunday, July 31 · 6:00pm - 11:00pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location:
The Orbit Room
2525 Lake Eastbrook Dr SE
Grand Rapids, MI

Fight Against:
*financial cuts to the middle class to fund tax cuts for business
*raid on K - 12 school aid fund
*placement of Emergency Financial Managers (resulting in the displacement of elected officials)
*attacks on unions, public employees, collective bargaining, binding arbitration
*attacks on teachers: tenure, pensions, insurance

Join with hundreds of like-minded people to celebrate and protect our precious democracy! Recall Rick Snyder petitions available to sign!

Confirmed Speakers:
Father C. Peter Dougherty - 2009 Winner of Ghandi International Peace Award ("Capitalism: A Love Story")
Bill Freeman - Interfaith Congregation of Holland
Dr. Mike Shibler - Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools
Jeff Smith - The Bloom Collective
Drew Stoppels - The LGBT Network of West Michigan
Poet Randy Smit

Confirmed Performers:
The New Midwest
Casey Stratton

Family friendly. Cash bar available.
Donations encouraged!

Unemployment Workshop

The Unemployment Workshops

Monday, July 11, 2011
11:00 a.m.
Snacks

KCEA Assembly Room
3205 Eaglecrest Drive NE – Suite 100
Grand Rapids

RSVP by
Thursday, July 7th
To:
Michelle Woznicki
Phone: 616/957-1944
Or
Email: mwoznicki@mea.org

IMPORTANT!! JUNE 30

UPDATE: Tenure votes may come TODAY! Call senators NOW!

Reports are coming in that the state Senate may vote THIS AFTERNOON on the House package that dismantles teacher tenure and attacks the collective bargaining and due process rights of all school employees.

PLEASE ACT NOW! Call your state Senator and urge them to vote against House Bills 4625-4628. Ask them not to strip good teachers of their rights in order to get the very few bad apples out of classrooms. Tell them we need common-sense tenure reform – which MEA supports through Senate Bill 503.

Contact your Senator right away – before it is too late.
Read more about these bills and what else is happening in Lansing today.


Doug Pratt
Director of Public Affairs
Michigan Education Association


Because we anticipate that the Legislature will try to push through insurance caps and tenure bills tomorrow [June 30], they need to see hundreds of MEA members watching them and encouraging them to do the right thing. Please take time to travel to Lansing to hold your legislators accountable.

MEA will provide briefings at 8:30 a.m. in Room A of MEA HQ (East Lansing), 10:00 a.m. in Room 428 of the Capitol, and 1 p.m. in Room 428 of the Capitol.
Your presence will make a difference!

Thanks – Tom
Tom Ferris
Southern Zone Field Services Director
Director of Organizing
Michigan Education Association

Disclaimer: Michiganvotes.org website is “a free public service of the Mackinac Center of Public Policy”. Please read any legislation descriptions with this in mind. The links to who voted “yes” and who voted “no” are valuable.

From the website: About MichiganVotes.org descriptions: The descriptions on this site are assembled by the editor from a variety of sources. Bill sponsors, legislative analysts, and policy specialists from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and from many other organizations are often consulted to provide background and context for particular bills or votes. Many descriptions contain verbatim passages from bill analyses created by the House Legislative Analysis Section, House Fiscal Agency, Senate Fiscal Agency, and other non-copyrighted public sources.

Update received from michiganvotes.org
House Bill 4625: Make it easier to fire ineffective teachers
Reported in the Senate on June 28, 2011, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=137751

House Bill 4626: Make it easier to fire ineffective teachers
Reported in the Senate on June 28, 2011, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=137752

House Bill 4627: Ban laying off more effective but less senior teachers first (“LIFO”)
Reported in the Senate on June 28, 2011, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=137753

House Bill 4628: Ban school unions bargaining over staffing decisions
Reported in the Senate on June 28, 2011, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=137754

Recent Attacks

Listed below are recent attacks on MESSA and on the rights of our fellow union members.

Senate Bill 446: Increase MESSA and other government insurance disclosures
Introduced by Sen. Phil Pavlov (R) on June 15, 2011, to increase the amount of detail required in the insurance claims information that schools and local governments are required to report under a 2006 law that among other things required MESSA, the MEA teacher union's insurance affiliate, to release individual school district claims history data.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=138439

Senate Bill 446
Reported in the Senate on June 16, 2011, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=138439

House Bill 4752: Increase MESSA and other government insurance disclosure
Introduced by Rep. Deb Shaughnessy (R) on June 14, 2011, to increase the amount of detail required in the insurance claims information that schools and local governments are required to report under a 2006 law that among other things required MESSA, the MEA teacher union's insurance affiliate, to release individual school district claims history data.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=138520

Senate Bill 165: Ban project labor agreements
Introduced by Sen. John Moolenaar (R) on February 17, 2011.
Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate on June 16, 2011, to prohibit project labor agreements in state, school and local public construction, road projects, etc., or as a condition of selective tax breaks granted for private projects. Project labor agreements require a contractor to mandate that each employee must join a union as a condition of working on a project. Note: Projects using any state money would still be subject to the “prevailing wage” law, which prohibits awarding government contracts to the lowest bidder unless the contractor pays so-called "prevailing wages" based on union pay scales, which are generally above actual market rates. Senate Bill 95 and House Bill 4224 would repeal “prevailing wage”.
See [Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"] at http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=574424

Upcoming Events

Don't forget the Whitecaps baseball game at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 18. Wear red and bring the flyer sent to you on Groupwise for a deal on your ticket. This is a fun way to support unions!

Also remember to picket the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce (111 Pearl Street) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, June 20. The key issues are attacks on pensions, the poor, and the working poor. This is a great opportunity to support all the unions that are supporting us!