THE BIG DAY COMES FOR ED SUPPORT!

On Tuesday, Santa Rosa EA delivered signed Showing of Interest cards to petition the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) to conduct a representation election to obtain collective bargaining rights for our 700-plus Ed Support employees. An election victory will unseat the current bargaining agent allowing Santa Rosa EA to take the reins, providing advocacy and leadership which is professional and responsive to member needs.

Rachel Archangel, Personnel Assistant in the Human Resources Department, explained, “Ed Support employees are excited about today’s filing and our new organization – the Santa Rosa Education Association – has been working hard to help us have a much stronger voice to address the needs and concerns of our support staff. While we are very proud of this moment, we recognize that this is only the beginning of the work to create an organization which truly cares about its Ed Support employees who are critical to our school district’s success.”

PERC is expected to order a representation election in the coming weeks in which Ed Support employees will be provided the opportunity to vote for Santa Rosa EA, affiliated with the Florida Education Association (FEA) representing public education employees throughout Florida with over 140,000 members state wide.

Congratulations, Ed Support Employees!
You wanted an election and you’re going to get one – once and for all.
It’s time for change!

Regional Bargaining Roundup

It is painfully clear what’s happening at the bargaining table here at home, but what about the rest of the region?

Earlier this week, negotiations for the newly-formed Association of Calhoun Educators concluded as teachers and School Board members voted overwhelmingly to ratify a brand new contract including salary increases of $1,000 to $1,223 as well as a $100 per month Board increase to health insurance contributions.

Along with Calhoun, negotiations for 2016-17 are now complete in Escambia, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Bay, Gulf, Liberty, Gadsden, Franklin, Wakulla, and Leon counties.

Put another way, bargaining in every district except Santa Rosa is over for this school year which ends in a few weeks.

Upcoming Legislative Debrief for Santa Rosa employees

Later this month, Santa Rosa EA will be hosting Legislative Session debriefing meetings at several locations across the District. FEA Public Policy and Advocacy staff member Cathy Boehme will be present to help answer questions about new legislation affecting district operations and what can be done to reverse the negative impact from these decisions!

Save the date for May 24th at Navarre High, May 30th at Gulf Breeze High, or May 31st at Milton High. More details to come!

Exclusive Member Benefits ALL thru May!

With NEA Member Benefits, May is Member Appreciation MONTH! Click HERE for great deals and discounts throughout all of May!

 

State News

Legislative Session ends on a sour note – WE NEED YOUR HELP!

This past Monday, the Legislature concluded the 2017 session by passing the HB 2500, the State budget, and HB 7069, the conforming education bill. Neither is going to be helpful to public education, and it’s important to know the facts and what stands to happen if the Governor approves them.

HB 7069 — negotiated in secret behind closed doors — cynically ties popular changes like more recess, elimination of some tests and optional use of the VAM to yet another sketchy teacher bonus scheme and an education budget that won’t even come close to meeting the needs of our students. The bill:

• Strips local school districts of spending flexibility, reducing their ability to address student needs effectively.
• Creates yet another hollow teacher bonus scheme tied to the faulty evaluation system — instead of funding pay raises for all education employees.
• Allows charter schools to take Title I funds from traditional public schools — that could lead to program cuts at the schools that can least afford them.

HB 2500 – the State budget — will:

• Reduce the base funding for each student (BSA) by $27.07 (or minus 0.65 percent). In fact, the proposed 2017-2018 BSA is lower than the 2007-2008 BSA — a decade ago.
• Offer the lowest increase in overall funding since 2011-2012, providing just $241.4 million statewide or 1.2 percent.
• Fail to reach per student funding levels seen almost a decade ago. In 2007-2008, per student funding was $7,305. This proposed budget would be less at $7,220.72. And that doesn’t take into account that inflation has risen since that $7,305 mark a decade ago.
• Take away the funding our schools should be getting because of the growth in property values.

The only way to stop either bill is for Governor Scott to use his power of veto. Educators across Florida are reaching out to him now in a last minute effort to stop these bad changes once and for all. Please email the Governor and tell him to VETO HB 7069 and the State Budget. It only takes a few minutes to make your voice heard!

 

National News

How Many Public School Students Are Taught by Certified and Experienced Teachers?
Data shows that the vast majority of classrooms across the country are still led by qualified educators but, with the challenges facing the teaching profession, can it hold?