Why Santa Rosa EA?

Each week Santa Rosa EA sends out information, provides updates, and announces events and meetings to keep everyone up to date about what’s happening around the district. This week, however, we would like to have the employees do the talking. Here are just a few remarks from teachers and Ed support about which organization they want to support in the upcoming representation elections and why:

Jackie Brown, Woodlawn Beach Middle:

“I don’t feel that the current union (SRPE) is representing us well. We don’t have a connection to our state affiliate as we once did. I also want people who are enthusiastic and excited to bargain for us, which is why I want SREA.”

Dawn Stone, District Office:

“For too long, Ed Support employees have been ignored by the current bargaining agent. I’m looking forward to a new opportunity with SREA so that our specific needs can be addressed once and for all.”

Laura Jackson, Avalon Middle:

“SREA will give us access to a team which brings professional expertise to our contract negotiations.”

Lori Bane, Gulf Breeze Middle

“Everything that affects students comes out of Tallahassee and right now we are not being represented in the Capitol with the current bargaining agent. That’s why I’m voting for SREA!”

Elections for both teachers and Ed Support employees will be scheduled. Stay tuned for more information.

IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE.

Upcoming Legislative Debriefings

Starting this week, Santa Rosa EA will be hosting Legislative debriefing meetings at several locations. FEA Public Policy and Advocacy staff member (and former Escambia County teacher!) Cathy Boehme will be present to answer questions about new legislation affecting district operations and what can be done to reverse the negative impact from these decisions!

• May 25th at Navarre High – 3:35 pm (Room 151)
• May 30th at Gulf Breeze High – 3:35 pm (Room TBD)
• May 31st at Milton High – 3:35 pm (Room TBD)

Lunch and Listening Tour continues

Santa Rosa EA continues to reach out to all employees to hear about issues, answer questions, and discuss the upcoming representation elections for teachers and Ed Support employees. The response so far has been wonderful, as many have taken the opportunity to be part of the CHANGE that is coming! This week, Santa Rosa EA hosted lunches at Avalon Middle, Hobbs Middle, Pea Ridge Elementary, Holley-Navarre Intermediate, Oriole Beach Elementary, SRAS, and Rhodes Elementary. The lunch tour continues next week, so look for an email invitation to see if your worksite is next!

State News

Tell the Governor to VETO HB 7069 and the budget!

Last week the Legislature concluded its 2017 session by passing the HB 2500, the State budget, and HB 7069, the conforming education bill. Both will be very harmful to public education, and it’s important to know the facts and what stands to happen if the Governor approves them.

HB 7069 will:

• Strip local school districts of spending flexibility, reducing their ability to address student needs effectively.
• Create yet another hollow teacher bonus scheme tied to the faulty evaluation system — instead of funding pay raises for all education employees.
• Allow 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.

Educators are reaching out to the Governor to ask him to stop these bad changes once and for all by stopping these awful pieces of legislation! 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

Five Ways to Use ‘Your School Checklist’
NEA has unveiled ‘Your School Checklist,’ a tool that can help you begin to think through what your school needs to inspire students’ natural curiosity, imagination, and desire to learn.