meeting

ATTENTION ALL EA MEMBERS...

There is a ratification vote scheduled for FRIDAY JUNE 29th at 11AM in the High School Media Center. PLEASE ATTEND THIS MEETING so that we can ratify our calendar (3 year) and the insurance premium. I will bring the consortium letter of agreement to the ratification meeting for anyone that would like to see it. We must have a quorum to ratify. 

Meeting Wednesday

Please attend an urgent membership meeting on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 1:00 in the high school media center. We will discuss MEA dues, insurance, and contract updates.  IMPORTANT:  Remember to bring your iPads!

 

Cheryl & Your Bargaining Team

Union Dues

Late last week before leaving for Europe, Gov. Snyder signed HB 4929, making it illegal for school districts to bargain with their employees' contract language allowing for payroll deduction of dues. The legislation, which passed both chambers of the Legislature the day after the announcement of the Protect Our Jobs campaign to preserve collective bargaining rights in the state constitution, only applies to K-12 public school employees. It has immediate effect, but allows for the practice to continue where there are existing contracts. This is a blatant example of political retribution, with lawmakers shoving through a bill as retaliation for people standing up for their rights. MEA, along with other school employee unions, is looking at potential legal challenges to this law (now known as Public Act 53 of 2012).

Message from Steven Cook

Classroom spending tax break

A recent article on annarbor.com features a story about a tax credit proposal for teachers in the state of Michigan. The idea is simply that teachers should be given up to a $2,000 dollar tax credit for items that they have voluntary decided to purchase for their classroom. State rep. Jeff Irwin says that this is the least we can do for our teachers who are being forced to work with less supplies, and materials for their classrooms. I do agree that this sounds like a great idea to help teachers that use their hard earned money to buy supplies for the kids in their class. The real issue is that we need to stop taking money away from public education. I have a $100 dollar classroom budget for my 2 blocks of 51 fifth grade students. That equals out to $1.96 per kid for the whole school year!

How much money are you spending in your classroom? What types of things are you buying for your class that students need?

Michigan House passes school union dues proposal

Michigan House passes school union dues proposal that could impact MEA members.  If you have not heard about this recent proposed bill then please read the AnnArbor.com article.  Contact your rep. and tell them to stop attacking the working middle class.  We as a group need to stay strong and stay together to fight for our rights as teachers.

Social Media in Schools

A current hot topic around the state of Michigan and around the country is what type of polices should schools and states have in regarding social media in schools.  Check out this local article from AnnArbor.com website for a local perspective of what educators in Washtenaw county are saying.  With our schools progress in educational technology these are types of issues we are going to have to think about on a continuing basis. Should we as a district embrace the use of social media more in our classes or is it something we should shy away from?  I know many of our teachers already have a "class" facebook, or twitter account to connect with our students. What is the line that we draw between proper and improper use of social media in the classroom?  Is it a distraction or is it a teachable moment that can be capitalized to further a discussion?  Should it be something that is included in an upcoming PD session or Tech academy session?

The issue of technology is an ever changing dynamic and is something that we should all be in tune with.