August 2013 nb

NEWS BULLETINNorth Caro l ina Assoc ia t ion o f EducatorsAugust 2013 Vol. 44, No. 1

together, we keep the “voice” ofthe public in public education!

News Bulletin • August 20132

Anger, Frustration and Lack of Respect Draws Huge Crowds of NCAE Members to Moral MondayThey came by the carload and the busload. Some were in wheelchairs, brought their children, spouses, friends, and even their pets. They had one thing on their mind…standing up and lifting their voices in support of public education. NCAE members turned out in mass for the July 29 Moral Monday protest to show the General Assembly that together, they can and will take the lead and meet the challenge to save the profession they love.

NCAE President Rodney Ellis was one of many Moral Monday protestors who was arrested. “The first thing that came to my mind was a sense of pride. The handcuffs were uncomfortable, but to know that I was taking a stand for the wrongs that are happening in our state and that I had the support of my colleagues was huge for me.” Visit http://bit.ly/13peo42 to read the speech that Ellis delivered at the July 22 Moral Monday event.

The slogan on this t-shirt sums up what educators do every day!

A long-time member from Anson County proudly displays his sign.

Chanting as they walk, Vice President Mark Jewell leads a group of members into Halifax Mall.

NEA Executive Committee member Christy Levings came from Kansas

to join NCAE members in their protest efforts.

Many members brought their children along to participate in the demonstration.

News Bulletin • August 2013 3

“Getting arrested on July 22 was a no-brainer. President Ellis said ‘I’m getting arrested today! Who’s with me?’ I didn’t even hesitate. We didn’t know what to expect, but we knew that we had to do it for the 100,000 school employees and the 1.5 million students of this state,” said Vice President Mark Jewell.

This protester is proud to be a member of NCAE.

Members, donned in their red, board the R-Line for the ride to Halifax Mall.

< Wake NCAE Vice President Paulette Jones Leaven fills out paperwork needed prior to her arrest on July 22.

Dr. June Atkinson, state superintendent of public instruction, came out to show her support for educators like Chris Tuft of Randolph County.

Homemade signs expressed the sentiments felt by educators.


According to news reports, the July 29 Moral Monday demonstration was the largest one to date. Thanks to thousands of NCAE members, who helped push the numbers over the top.

Marti Hatcher of the Guilford County Association of Educators.

A group of leaders from the Virginia Education Association, including Executive Director Philip Forgit and Vice President Dominic Melito, traveled to Raleigh to stand in solidarity with NCAE members.

Cumberland County member Tara Bradsher, right, and her daughter.

Why Were You Compelled to Participate in Moral Monday? “These kinds of attacks must stop. We [educators] must stick together against these unprecedented attacks on public education. Some of the same bills that have been passed in North Carolina are being proposed in Virginia.” – Dominic Melito, vice president of the Virginia Education Association

“I had to be here. I sacrificed to be here because of so many bad decisions that have been made in regards to public education. I’m looking at it from two standpoints – as a mother and as a teacher. My daughters have flourished because of the teacher assistants in their classrooms, and I could not have been as successful as I have been without them. I also came on behalf on the General Assembly’s move to eliminate tenure. Most people think tenure is job security but it’s not. It’s about the process to ensure that any educator is released from his/her job in an appropriate manner.” – Nashonda Cooke, Durham Association of Educators

“We [educators] needed to be here to show children that we still stand behind them. I’m a registered Republican and I am totally disappointed with this vote.” – Dallas Brown, local affiliate president, New Hanover County Association of Educators

“I had to be at Moral Monday because as an educator I see the importance of how things are not looking good for our children’s future and I wanted my voice to be heard.” – Tara Bradsher, Cumberland County Association of Educators

“I continued to participate week after week because I had to show my support in any way possible, being that I’m directly impacted by the General Assembly’s agreed upon budget. I’ve been coming to show solidarity for those colleagues and others – my students – who can’t speak up for themselves.” – Leo Williams, Durham Association of Educators, attended each of the Moral Monday demonstrations. Durham Association of Educators’ members Leo Williams

and Nashonda Cooke.


President Ellis Pens Letter to General Assembly About Education DebacleJuly 22, 2013

Dear North Carolina General Assembly Members:

I am writing today to inform you that support of the current budget agreement will mean that this General Assembly has chosen to abandon our public school system and to further place a tar-get on the backs of the hard working men and women that are entrusted with the care and educa-tion of our children. The elimination of class size caps, the firing of thousands of teacher assistants, investment in a private school voucher scheme that will only enrich those who seek to profit off of public schools, and the devaluing of education as a career will station our state as a model in what not to do in education. For generations the compact for North Carolina educators was that in exchange for modest salaries, the state would ensure due process protection from arbitrary dismissal as well as excellent benefits. Now, with this budget, we shatter the compact with teachers in an attempt to silence edu-cators who wish to speak out on critical issues affecting the classroom and the students we serve. Today, we are behind South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia in per-pupil funding. We are behind our neighbors in salaries and have dropped from 26th in the nation in teacher pay to 46th in five short years. This budget will ensure that we will rank at the very bottom in our commitment to public education and professional educators. This is not the North Carolina that we have come to know and love. For a generation our state has been known as a leader in public education with forward thinking leadership that helped us to lead the nation in National Board Certified teachers, become a national model for high standards of accountability, a strong commitment to class sizes that are manageable so that teachers can teach, and the reduction of high school drop outs. Today, you are placing a sign on each school’s door that says, “quality educators need not apply.” The North Carolina Association of Educators will immediately pursue legal challenges on all of the following issues: • The constitutionality of taxpayer dollars to be used for private and for-profit schools. • Taking away employment rights already granted to veteran, proven educators. • The retrenchment from the state’s plan to live up to its constitutional obligation in Leandro to provide a quality teacher in every classroom. What is painfully clear is that the North Carolina General Assembly is not a venue for educators to find leadership. While it pains us to see the devaluation of education by our elected officials, we will now shift our focus on the judiciary where we are confident that we will find yet another victory in our struggle to provide quality public schools for every child.

Sincerely,

Rodney N. EllisNCAE President

“This budget will

ensure that we

will rank at the

very bottom in our

commitment to

public education

and professional

educators.”


“Take the Lead, Meet the Challenge Together,” is the new membership theme adopted by the Association as it works to engage educators, recruit members, facilitate their empowerment, and assist them in becoming education advocates. “Being a member of NCAE is an investment in your career and your future,” said Bettye Brown, manager of Membership and Organizing. “So is being part of a united team of educators who are working to make a difference for students and educators in North Carolina. Engaging and recruiting members is how we gain the power necessary to take action on the issues that are important to public school educators.” During the 2013-14 Membership Program, the Association will conduct locally driven one-on-one conversations, issue-based membership campaigns and state-sponsored activities. The activities will include three-day engagement and recruitment campaigns in targeted areas; special activities such as a coffee klatch, picnics, luncheons, etc.; professional development sessions; or community outreach and organizing events. More information will be available soon. Brown wants you to know that you have a strong voice within the community and that your continued efforts to share your stories is an effective tool in helping to curb some of the challenges the profession faces. “Whether you’re an administrator, teacher, education support professional, student or retired member, or a college faculty member, there is a place for you in this Association – a place where you can contribute to the goals of yourself and your students, a place where you can collaborate with your colleagues and share your creative talents, a place where you can grow professionally, and a place where you can join together to defeat the foes that we cannot face alone in public education.” There is also a place for potential members, Brown said, and she encourages you to share with colleagues why you belong to the Association and how they can become actively involved. “Extend an invitation to all of your colleagues who are not members to join us in taking the lead. Tell them that we welcome their inspiration, involvement and investment in our Association and that it’s going to take all of us working together to keep public education from being destroyed. Through our commitment and collective action, together we can keep the ‘voice’ of the public in public education.” New multi-media membership materials –- bearing the “Take the Lead Meet the Challenge Together” theme -- are supporting this year’s efforts, as well as the AR Academy, a revamped program for Association Representatives. The materials, which include a poster, a brochure and an informational card, are available for download by visiting http://bit.ly/1bKRltC.

There’s a Place for You in YOUR Association!

North Carolina Association of Educators National Education Association NCAE/NEA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Please print clearly and press firmly to make legible copies

2013-2014 Membership Year

Name: First Middle Last Preferred Name/Nickname

Street Address/Apt Number City State Zip

Date of Birth Social Security Number

Used only for initial identification Employee ID Number Local Association (Spell out)

Home Phone Work Phone Cell Phone

( ) ( ) ( ) E-mail (home) Email (work) Date of Hire

_____/_____/_____ Work Location Position (Look on back of form) Subject (Look on back of form)

Membership Type (Please Check ) NEA Dues

Dues payments are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Dues payments (or a portion) may be deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction. *Credit Card members may write a separate check payable to NCAE-PAC.

NCAE Dues Active Professional Full Time AC-1-100 NCAE Local Dues Active Professional Part Time AC-1-50 NCAE-PAC *$50.00 Active Professional Administrator Full Time AC-1-600 NCAE Division Active Professional Administrator Part Time AC-1-650 TOTAL Dues Active Professional Student Services Full Time AC-1-300 Method of Payment

Check EFT (If Selecting EFT, Please Attach A Voided Check. See Back of Form)

MasterCard Visa Discover Payroll Deduction Credit Card Number:

Active Professional Student Services Part Time AC-1-350 Active ESP Full Time AC-2-100 Active ESP Part Time AC-2-50 Associate AS-0-0 NCAE Staff SF-0-0 Substitute SB-0-0

First Date of Teaching: _____/_____/_____ MM DD YEAR Credit Card Expiration Date: Card Security Code: NCAE or NEA Member Last Year? Yes No DEDUCTION DATE - 2ND 15TH *(EFT ONLY -Please check one)

Gender: Male Female Ethnicity** PAYROLL DEDUCTION, EFT & CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION

I hereby authorize NCAE/NEA to deduct from my payroll check, checking account, savings account or credit card, in accordance with the agreed upon EFT or Credit Card procedure, my membership dues as revised annually and as revised each membership year thereafter, provided that I may revoke this authorization within 15 days from the first payroll deduction or 30 days from the first EFT or RCC deduction in each membership year by contacting NCAE Membership Department in writing. If for any reason, excepting death, my employment is terminated, or I am on leave of absence, amounts still owing under this authorization shall be deducted. MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT SHALL CONTINUE EACH YEAR UNTIL I NOTIFY NCAE IN WRITING OTHERWISE. NO REFUNDS OF DUES WILL BE ISSUED. By my signature, I indicate that I have read and understand the terms of this agreement. Payroll deductions will occur based on the determination of the school district. EFT/RCC Deductions will occur 10 months of the year (September through June) one time per month.

Signature:

American Indian/Alaska Native 01 Black 03 Hispanic 04 White 05 Asian 06 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 07 Multi-Ethnic 08 Other 09 Unknown UK **Ethnic Minority information is used in the allocation of delegates and leadership in accordance with the NCAE Constitution and Bylaws and failure to provide it will in no way affect your membership status, rights, or benefits in NEA, SEA or any of their affiliates. This information will be kept confidential. Date:

NEA Fund, NCAE-PAC & LEA-PAC Authorization The North Carolina Association of Educators, the NCAE-PAC and the National Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education (NEA Fund) collects voluntary contributions from Association members and uses these contributions for political purposes including, but not limited to, making contributions to and expenditures on behalf of friends of public education who are candidates for federal office, or in the case of the NCAE-PAC and the local PAC, state and local office. Only U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents may contribute to the NEA Fund or NCAE PAC. Contributions to the NCAE-PAC, the local PAC, and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education are voluntary; making a contribution is neither a condition of employment nor membership in the Association, and members have the right to refuse to contribute without suffering any reprisal. Although the NCAE-PAC, the local PAC and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education request an annual joint contribution of $50.00 this is only a suggestion. A member may contribute more or less than the suggested amount, or may contribute nothing at all, without it affecting his or her membership status, rights, or benefits in the NEA or the North Carolina Association of Educators.

*Members who do not wish to contribute the suggested amount of $50.00 but do wish to make a contribution of a different amount should make their contributions to the PAC, the local PAC and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education by personal check or credit card.

Contributions or gifts to the NCAE-PAC, the local PAC, and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of employer of individuals whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in calendar year. Federal law prohibits the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education from receiving donations from persons other than members of the NEA and its affiliates, and their immediate families. All donations from persons other than members of NEA and its affiliates and their immediate families will be returned forthwith.

I hereby authorize NCAE/NEA to deduct from my payroll check, checking account, savings account or credit card, in accordance with the agreed upon EFT or Credit card procedure, as a voluntary contribution to the PAC, my local association’s PAC and the NEA Fund the guideline amount for such contributions proposed annually. The amount deducted for such voluntary contributions will be divided between the NCAE-PAC, the local association PAC, and the NEA PAC on a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 basis. This authorization shall remain in effect unless revoked in writing to NCAE.

Signature: Date:

NCAE Copy/White Local Copy/Canary Payroll Copy/Pink Member Copy/Goldenrod


1. Eliminates 9,306.5 education positions -- 5,184.5 teachers, 3,850 teacher assistants, and 272 support personnel (guidance counselors, psychologist, etc.).

2. Provides NO pay increases for educators, continuing North Carolina’s race to the bottom of national salaries. In 2007-08 North Carolina was ranked 25th in the nation in teacher pay, last year our state was 46th. With no additional pay, next year North Carolina undoubtedly will be at the bottom.

3. While gutting public schools and educators, the Legislature adopted a $50 million school voucher program ($10 million 2013-14, $40 million in 2014-15).

4. The North Carolina Budget eliminates career status for all teachers. Senate legislation, that received no public hearings in the House, was placed in the budget to eliminate career status for teachers. The new standard requires each school district to identify the top 25 percent of effective teachers without providing any criteria on how to accomplish this ranking of professionals. Teachers will be placed on a 1-, 2-, or 4-year contract. The top 25 percent will be given the option of receiving $500 to compensate them for the loss of due process rights. NOTE: the new system will be phased in over the course of the next five years.

5. North Carolina no longer values educators who work on their continuing education through master’s degrees. Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, educators will receive no additional pay for a master’s degree unless their job requires it, such as counselors, school psychologists, etc. Those currently paid for their master’s degrees (or will be paid for a master’s degree in 2013-14) will be grandfathered in, according to the way the bill is currently written.

6. Grades Schools (A-F), 80 percent based on standardized test scores, 20 percent based on growth. No other variables will be considered in this grading.

7. Eliminates the Teaching Fellows Program, once viewed as a national model for recruiting teachers into the classroom, the program is no longer funded.

8. Reduces targeted education funding:• Cuts Textbook funding by $77.4 million dollars;• Cuts Classroom supply funding by $45.7 million dollars;• Cuts Limited English Proficiency funding by $6 million dollars.

9. Retired educators will receive NO Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA).

10. The General Assembly will be back next year.

Top 10 Things Every Educator Should Know About the Budget

I Can No Longer Afford to TeachLindsay Furst, a young Buncombe County teacher who spoke on behalf of educators at the July 29 Moral Monday demonstration, recently wrote a letter to the General Assembly to share reasons why she can no longer afford to teach. In an excerpt from the letter, she said, “I realize that no one in Raleigh will care or feel the impact when this one teacher out of 80,000 leaves the classroom. I understand. However, my 160 students will feel the impact. And 160 the next year. And the next. My professional learning commu-nity, teachers around the county with whom I collaborate, will be impacted, and their students as well. Young teachers become great when they are mentored by experienced, effective educators, and all their students are impacted as well. When quality teachers leave the classroom, the loss of mentors is yet another effect. This is how quiet and exponential decline in education happens.” To read more of Furst’s letter, visit http://goo.gl/mxrHaR.

PO Box 27347Raleigh, NC 27611-7347

PRESORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDROCKY MOUNT, NC

PERMIT NO. 39


Did You Know? }You should double check your NC State Retirement credits yearly. We are seeing several cases where the school system or the state has made an error. If you let an error go on too long, it may be costly to correct. While you’re thinking of retirement, be sure to periodically check your beneficiary designation. Information and forms can be obtained at https://www.nctreasurer.com/Retirement-and-Savings/Managing-My-Retirement/Pages/default.aspx.

}You are allowed to view your personnel file. You should call Human Resources and make an appointment. An HR administrator will sit with you while you go through it and provide you with copies of any document in your file that you request.

}The beginning of the school year is a good time to spread the word that NCAE has an Advocacy Center staffed with three attorneys and a Human Resources specialist for its members. Those who wait until they have problems before they join NCAE, risk getting no legal service or limited legal services.

Positions stated in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of NCAE unless so identified. The NCAE News Bulletin, a journal of the Association, is published by the

North Carolina Association of Educators, 700 S.Salisbury St., Post Office Box Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611, 1-800-662-7924.

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August 2013 nb

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