Ah, the Sun

It's the time of year when we see more of the sun and anticipate spending time outdoors. Days are warmer, ice is melting, and the end of the school year approaches. This is the time for us to stay focused and take advantage of learning opportunities with our students. The standardized tests are behind us and there is still time to incorporate our most creative ideas for learning. We've got to push right to the very end of the year.

I stopped on my way to Washington, D.C. for NEA Superweek to watch my daughter race in Providence, Rhode Island on April 25. The Brown women's crew team battled Ivy League competitors from Cornell and Columbia. It was exciting to be there and thrilling to see Bruno win all of the races. =)

This is a Test

At this time of the year it's a toss-up as to who will pass their tests. Will it be legislators in completing their work? Will it be Anchorage voters in their quest to pick the best candidate from a dozen on the ballot? Will it be Alaska's children struggling to survive the seemingly endless series of mandated assessments, instead of being allowed to focus on real learning related to the real world? Will it be school boards passing budgets that are reasonable?

The answers to these questions, and more, will likely be revealed in the next couple of weeks.

Stay tuned!

Juneau On The Move!

Wow are things moving in Juneau right now! As you have seen on our webpage, we are responding to the Governor's statement that she has reservations about accepting all of the stimulus package money bound for Alaska. Additionally, House Bill 30 was heard in the House Labor & Commerce Committee today. This bill would return public employees to Tier 2 TRS and Tier 3 PERS. Fantastic testimony was given by Holly Abel, Shawn Arnold and Lee Butterfield in person. Jill Showman and Ladawn Druce were both online at the LIO offices to give their testimony also. Be sure to watch for the LCS message coming out this week!

Working on Our Priorities

NEA-Alaska's top three priorities for 2009 are school funding, rural teacher housing and a return to a Defined Benefit pension plan. All three have been the focus of our work this month. If you didn't catch it, take a look at the February 22 Anchorage Daily News editorial on the Defined Benefit issue. The momentum is building to fix the problems associated with the change in our retirement systems. Public testimony was taken on Thursday on the senate side for SB 23. We anticipate it moving out of the Labor and Commerce committee in the coming week.

I had a very productive meeting on Friday with Senator Lisa Murkowski and representatives from a number of other groups on housing for public employees in rural communities. This was a preliminary meeting and the group agreed to meet monthly to address this huge need. The Denali Commission, AHFC, RuralCap, PSEA, AFL-CIO and NEA-Alaska were all in the room. We identified other groups we hope to include in future meetings. Several others were invited, but it didn't work out for them to join us. I will be setting up a schedule for upcoming meeting dates this week.

School funding is uncertain at this time. I should know more soon as I will be in Juneau all week.

Are you enjoying the sunshine coming back? This is my favorite time of year!

Barb

The New Year- Lots Happening

January 2009 has come and gone. We've seen a new President inaugurated, the opening of the 26th Legislature in Juneau, and just finished our annual NEA-Alaska Delegate Assembly. My mind is so full with all the things I've learned in the last week! This year's DA had many highlights for me. I've been at DA since the mid- 1980's and this was certainly the most unique for me yet. You get a totally different perspective when chairing the meeting instead of being a delegate. I am so thankful for the response from so many members and leaders who helped me throughout the weekend. I met new friends, greeted and visited with long-time friends, enjoyed the debate thoroughly, and learned volumes from our OUTSTANDING parliamentarian extraordinaire, Jon Ericson!

I hope those who read this and attended DA 2009 will post their opinions of this year's meeting.

I'm off to Washington, D.C. this week for meetings.

A Day of History

January 20, 2009 is a day that will live in the minds and memories of Alaskans for many years. We watched and listened today as the 44th President of the United States of America took the oath of office. President Obama shared his concerns and his hope for our country. I certainly wish him all the best as he takes on a job of unbelievable proportions.

2009 A Year for Action and Progress

Happy New Year to All!

2009 promises to be filled with exciting activity. I already met with the special assistant to our governor yesterday. My intent was to outline NEA-Alaska's priorities of returning to a Defined Benefit Pension System, Increasing School Funding, and Rural Teacher Housing. Anna Kim is now responsible for issues related to education in the governor's office. Ms. Kim was very responsive and understood the examples and explanations I gave to her. I am hopeful, still, to meet with Governor Palin soon. The governor has a real opportunity to help us recover our formerly great retirement and I am asking her to do so.

We are gearing up for this year's Delegate Assembly and Legislative Session. There is a Health Trust meeting on January 16th. Many locals are sending members to the Pacific Region Leadership Conference in Seattle during February in addition to the NEA funded members we send each year. Watch for more updates soon!

I hope you had a safe, restful and rejuvenating Holiday.

Barb