From Jeanne Hewitt, KEA PAC Chair: 10:51 A.M. 2/18/2010
The Dillon proposal is sunk!!!! Yeah, thanks to all of your efforts and the number of calls to the negative, it failed to come to the floor.
I have a direct line into the ORS and they will let me know the minute any action is taken on the proposal set forth by Granholm.
If the retirement proposal should pass, members will only have from April 15 to May 15 to make up their mind and put in an application for retirement.
The state, as it stands now will vote on the House speaker Bishop plan to lower your wage for 3 years by 5 %. We don't know how this will affect schools that have already reduced wages of their employees.
KEEP UP THE BARRAGE OF CONTACTS!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Follies Time
Get your act together! Or at least organize your school to make a donation. Mary Molyneux has been working hard on the show. Remember it is for a GREAT cause, and the scholarships that we give out truly make a difference.
The Follies, March 27th! Be There or Donate!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Balancing the Budget on the Backs of Public Employees
MEA Votes E-Newsletter -- Jan. 20, 2010
Just say NO to balancing the budget on the backs of public employees -- again!
Senate Republicans and their leader, Sen. Mike Bishop (R-Rochester), want to solve the state's budget crisis on the backs of public employees -- again.
This week, Republicans unveiled a 10-point plan that includes measures to cut wages by 5 percent for all public employees and require public workers to pay 20 percent of health insurance premiums -- ignoring the fact that school employees alone have saved the state almost $1 billion during the past three years through concessions made locally.
This plan is the Senate GOP's lame entry into a broader effort to fill an estimated $1.6 billion hole in the 2010-11 budget. Legislators on both sides of the aisle are considering major reforms, and Gov. Jennifer Granholm is reportedly also working on several initiatives, including tax reform.There's no doubt that the state budget is a mess -- it has been for a decade. This year's gubernatorial and legislative elections are likely to make this year's budget process even more rancorous.
But before proposing more cuts to police and fire protection, schools, or other vital public services, lawmakers must consider how to get the revenues necessary to provide services that citizens need -- especially strong public schools to prepare students for the jobs Michigan needs. One place to look for such revenue is by examining tax breaks for businesses; currently, too little is known about how effective these incentives are and whether the promised jobs ever materialize. According to the Pew Center, last year Michigan gave away $6.3 billion more in tax exemptions, credits and deductionsthan it actually collected in taxes -- if only some of those programs are found to be ineffective, their elimination would fix part of this huge budget hole. (For more on real solutions, read the next item on "A Better Michigan Future.")
In addition to public employee wage cuts and mandatory health premium payments, the Senate Republican plan calls for up to $663 million in additional education cuts, including a proposal to require competitive bids for all K-12 non-instructional services. The other ideas include further cuts to state departments, Medicaid, and local police and fire. None of these so-called "reforms" fixes our decade-long budget mess, because Sen. Bishop and his colleagues refuse to address the real problem -- Michigan's antiquated tax structure.
Contact your state senator -- especially if they are Republican. Call or write your senator insisting that they oppose the Republican leadership's cuts-only plan because it would devastate -- not help -- tens of thousands of Michigan families and the communities where they live.
Stay tuned for more information on the 2010-11 budget -- Granholm is expected to present her budget proposal next month.
Just say NO to balancing the budget on the backs of public employees -- again!
Senate Republicans and their leader, Sen. Mike Bishop (R-Rochester), want to solve the state's budget crisis on the backs of public employees -- again.
This week, Republicans unveiled a 10-point plan that includes measures to cut wages by 5 percent for all public employees and require public workers to pay 20 percent of health insurance premiums -- ignoring the fact that school employees alone have saved the state almost $1 billion during the past three years through concessions made locally.
This plan is the Senate GOP's lame entry into a broader effort to fill an estimated $1.6 billion hole in the 2010-11 budget. Legislators on both sides of the aisle are considering major reforms, and Gov. Jennifer Granholm is reportedly also working on several initiatives, including tax reform.There's no doubt that the state budget is a mess -- it has been for a decade. This year's gubernatorial and legislative elections are likely to make this year's budget process even more rancorous.
But before proposing more cuts to police and fire protection, schools, or other vital public services, lawmakers must consider how to get the revenues necessary to provide services that citizens need -- especially strong public schools to prepare students for the jobs Michigan needs. One place to look for such revenue is by examining tax breaks for businesses; currently, too little is known about how effective these incentives are and whether the promised jobs ever materialize. According to the Pew Center, last year Michigan gave away $6.3 billion more in tax exemptions, credits and deductionsthan it actually collected in taxes -- if only some of those programs are found to be ineffective, their elimination would fix part of this huge budget hole. (For more on real solutions, read the next item on "A Better Michigan Future.")
In addition to public employee wage cuts and mandatory health premium payments, the Senate Republican plan calls for up to $663 million in additional education cuts, including a proposal to require competitive bids for all K-12 non-instructional services. The other ideas include further cuts to state departments, Medicaid, and local police and fire. None of these so-called "reforms" fixes our decade-long budget mess, because Sen. Bishop and his colleagues refuse to address the real problem -- Michigan's antiquated tax structure.
Contact your state senator -- especially if they are Republican. Call or write your senator insisting that they oppose the Republican leadership's cuts-only plan because it would devastate -- not help -- tens of thousands of Michigan families and the communities where they live.
Stay tuned for more information on the 2010-11 budget -- Granholm is expected to present her budget proposal next month.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The MEA Scholarship
If you have a student heading to a Michigan college or is currently enrolled in one, take time during winter break to check out this scholarship opportunity.
Go to www.mea.org/.
Select Grants & Awards, then MEA Scholarship.
A description of the scholarship is available as well as the scholarship application. The scholarship deadline is February 12, 2010.
Go to www.mea.org/.
Select Grants & Awards, then MEA Scholarship.
A description of the scholarship is available as well as the scholarship application. The scholarship deadline is February 12, 2010.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Race to the Top??
Members,
Many of us are alarmed by the recent "Race to the Top" push by our state and national governments. Take a moment to check out the following websites:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html
www.michigan.gov/mde-recovery
One of the forms districts are being asked to sign has a letter attached from Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. One portion of the letter reads "Because the USED had accelerated the application process for states, we cannot provide you all the details of the state's plan at this time . . . We understand that you will be taking a leap of faith with this agreement . . . " They're asking districts to sign a "contract" before knowing the details. Do you know a single lawyer on the planet that would encourage his client to do such a thing? Visit the websites. Be an informed educator!
Many of us are alarmed by the recent "Race to the Top" push by our state and national governments. Take a moment to check out the following websites:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html
www.michigan.gov/mde-recovery
One of the forms districts are being asked to sign has a letter attached from Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. One portion of the letter reads "Because the USED had accelerated the application process for states, we cannot provide you all the details of the state's plan at this time . . . We understand that you will be taking a leap of faith with this agreement . . . " They're asking districts to sign a "contract" before knowing the details. Do you know a single lawyer on the planet that would encourage his client to do such a thing? Visit the websites. Be an informed educator!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Homecoming Parade Friday 4:45, Come On Out, KEA!
Once again we would love to have you come out and join us for the walk in the Homecoming Parade. Parade starts at 4:45 in Pinewood's Bus Lot. Bring a bag of candy to throw if you can, and join the fun. Kentwood parents and kids love to see us out there.
Pinewood Teacher Gets the Facts. Are You Outraged?
Carl Morris, 8th Grade Science Teacher at Pinewood, talked to State Senator Wayne Kuiper's office about the budget. He was was told that the State of Michigan spent $47.9 billion dollars in fiscal 2009, compared to $43.9 billion in 2008. the state budget went up 9.1%. the state spent 3% less on k-12 education.
Reviewing the facts:
2008 State Budget $43.9 Billion
2009 State Budget $47.9 Billion
Increase in State Budget +9.1%
Decrease in K-12 Spending - 3%
Call the Governor, Call your Rep and Senator! This DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!
Reviewing the facts:
2008 State Budget $43.9 Billion
2009 State Budget $47.9 Billion
Increase in State Budget +9.1%
Decrease in K-12 Spending - 3%
Call the Governor, Call your Rep and Senator! This DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!
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