April 2003
the e-publication of OCEA
Fourth Quarter Edition 2003 Volume 2, Number 4
In this issue (click on the links below):
Legislature 2003/Rally
Negotiation Update
OCEA Scholarship
Wal-Mart
National Agenda
Sick Leave Bank
Donate a Free Mammogram
NEA Member Benefits: More than Meets the Eye
Cool Idea
Web Links
GIVE LIFE! GIVE BLOOD!
As expected, the situation at the Legislature is extremely fluid and changes daily. The best way to stay informed is to be aware of the bulletins issued via email by NSEA.
There will be a rally at the Legislature on Monday, April 14, at 4:00. Approximately 500 teachers are planning to come to Carson from Washoe, as well as from other counties, to attempt to convince the Legislature that something needs to be done to adequately fund education. Cars will be parking at CHS with chartered busses taking teachers to the capitol. This rally is the same day at the CCSD Benefits Fair. If you can arrange to attend both events, all are welcome.
The initial tax plan of the Governor to create a gross receipts tax has been rejected by the Legislature. In its place are a variety of plans of differing quality. Few, however, call upon business, the most vocal critic of public education and the sector of society must dependent upon it, to pay its fair share. As a matter of political necessity, in order to have a chance of getting something passed, even the best proposals for new revenue have an emphasis on taxing elements of our community who can least afford it. For example, the proposed services tax shifts the tax burden from business directly to individuals. When anyone, regardless of income, uses a service, those individuals will pay the tax along with the cost of the service.
Of course, if a business tax were enacted, businesses would raise their prices to help defer their costs, thereby having individuals pay the tax indirectly. The difference with a service tax (and other so-called “regressive” taxes like sales tax) is that individuals pay the whole tax when they use the service. So instead of paying a penny more when they buy new sox, people will pay a higher percentage each time they use a service. There seems to be an element of fairness in this since those who use the service pay the tax. Unlike choosing to buy new sox (or choosing to wait until you’ve got the money to get new sox), however, some services, like going to see a physician, are a necessity. What happens, therefore, is everyone pays the same tax for services, even essential ones, no matter what their personal income is.
Lynn Hettrick, representing Gardnerville, has made an exceptionally bad tax proposal. If enacted it would translate into a $200 million cut in education funding. Please contact your assemblyperson and urge them not to support Hettrick’s plan.
The Legislature is also considering AB 388, which was introduced by NSEA and would allow school districts to band together as public entities to purchase insurance benefits.
Local Legislators:
Senator Mark Amodei mailto:Internet:mamodei.sen.nv.us
Assemblyman Ron Knecht mailto:Internet:rknecht@asm.state.nv.us
Assemblyman Tom Grady mailto:Internet:tgrady@asm.state.nv.us
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
Thanks to all of you who responded to the Negotiation Survey. The survey results have been tabulated and are being used by the team to create a proposal package to the district. (Reminder: if you wrote questions you’d like answered on your survey but did not include your name, the team has no way to get in touch with you.)
The Negotiation Team will be meeting with the district on Monday, April 28, as our initial meeting for the 2003-4 contract. At this meeting the ground rules covering the process will be decided.
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
Applications are now available for the OCEA Scholarship. OCEA offers up to three $1,000 scholarships to eligible seniors each year. To qualify, a student must be the child of an OCEA member, but they do not have to attend Carson High School.
Applications are available in the counseling office of CHS.
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
When considering your shopping options, please consider alternatives to giving your hard-earned money to Wal-Mart. There are several reasons for this request.
First, as a business owned in another state and since Nevada has no state business tax, Wal-Mart contributes very little financially back into the local economy. All of its profits go to Arkansas. Also our local schools do not benefit from the closest Wal-Mart at all since the sales taxes go to Douglas County.
Some of the Wal-Mart profits gleaned by the Walton family go to the Walton Family Foundation, one of the most hostile groups opposing public education in America today. This foundation supports the privatation of schools, vouchers, charter schools, and anti-labor laws designed to destroy the collective bargaining process. In direct contradiction to Wal-Mart’s public face portrayed in their advertising, their financial contributions reveal them to be real enemies of public education.
Wal-Mart also has an extremely poor public record of how they treat their employees. They avoid giving most of their “associates” full benefits, like health insurance, by keeping their hours low. In effect, the stores are made up of what amounts to full-time part-time employees. Wages are suppressed, and they have fought off (some have argued illegally) efforts of their workers to organize. They have recently been found guilty in court of preventing women in their employ equal opportunities for advancement.
This giant conglomerate’s ability to uncut competitors’ prices should not be your only consideration when choosing where to shop. Please avoid Wal-Mart and spend your money at other discount stores.
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
The two biggest national issues facing Nevada educators are HR 1 (No Child Left Behind) and the Social Security offsets. NEA is fighting both these issues for us.
HR 1 continues to have many negative implications that will adversely affect Nevada schools. The de facto voucher system created through the law potentially opens any school, regardless of population size, to any student. Funding sources for testing and remediation are unclear, although mandated. And of course, there is the labeling of all schools that will result from the law. Horror stories abound of schools rated as exemplary by states suddenly labeled as inadequate by the Federal government. This situation will become increasingly intolerable as it progresses to its logical conclusion of all schools being labeled inadequate. While NEA continues to fight at the national level, we must speak out locally when opportunity arises so people will understand why this is a bad law.
The House of Representatives is considering a law (HR 743) that will actually make the Social Security situation worse for teachers. Please contact Congress and ask that they oppose it.
The budget passed by the House cuts Federal money for education. The Senate budget is much better for public schools. Please let Congress know you support the Senate version and that you want the education provisions left in the budget by the conference committee.
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
The Sick Leave Bank Committee is concerned about some members not understanding the function of the sick leave bank. The bank exists to help teachers who suffer a catastrophic illness or injury. It is not there to cover anything less. Medical procedures that can wait should be scheduled when school is not in session.
OCEA wishes to remind members to use their sick leave judiciously. It is wise to maintain a significant balance of sick leave and not use it up unnecessarily in case an unfortunate event should occur. Obviously, you should not come to work sick (it could prove dangerous to you and your students); however, you should use your sick time only when you are actually too sick to work. Using all your allotted sick and personal days each year can come back to haunt you when you least expect it.
One reason teachers are tempted to “burn” their sick leave is that we are not paid for all our remaining days when we leave the district. This issue has been and will continue to be raised at the bargaining table. The negotiation team is exploring a variety of incentives for teachers not to waste sick leave.
It is also wise to consider a supplemental insurance, like AFLAC. These programs can prove quite cost effective in the long term and can go a long way to helping cover expenses if tragedy strikes.
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
The Breast Cancer Site needs people to visit in order to get corporate sponsors/advertisers to donate free mammograms to underprivileged women.
Go to the site and click on “Donating a Mammogram” (pink window in the middle). It takes less than a minute and doesn’t cost you anything. The sponsors count the number of daily visits in exchange for advertising on the site.
Address: http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
More than Meets the Eye
If you’re like most members, you toss out material from NEA Member Benefits as junk mail without even considering the offer contained in the envelope. In fact you probably consider such offers more of a nuisance than an opportunity. If so, you may not know the whole story behind NEA Member Benefits.
First, these offers come in envelopes directly from NEA-MB in order to protect your personal information. Even those vendors approved through NEA-MB’s thorough screening process are not allowed access to your information. NEA-MB does not and will not sell your name to any company. Also, no dues dollars are used to operate NEA-MB.
On credit card offers, most people don’t look beyond the APR. There are other elements, such as no annual fees, no balance transfer fees, automatic insurance on purchases, which may be as important the interest rate.
Insurance offers through NEA-MB are specifically structured to meet the needs of teachers. For example, if you have auto insurance from Horace Mann and your car is vandalized on school grounds, you pay only a $25 deductible. What does your current policy require you to pay?
Finally, NEA-MB does not simply offer credit cards and insurance. They offer a myriad of products for educators. The buying power of 2.7 million members allows them to negotiate outstanding deals on all sorts of things. Visit their web site to see the types of services available. (See Web Links in Quest.)
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
Sign-Up to Make-Up
From Lyd Bouk (bouk@salisbury.net), an English teacher at West Rowan High School in Mt. Ulla, North Carolina.
In the past, I have had trouble keeping track of students and their make-up tests or quizzes. This semester, I created a "Sign-Up to Make-Up" clipboard. My students must sign the clipboard with their name, class period, test or quiz to make up, and date they will make up the assignment. There is a column that requires my initials/signature when they come to make up the assignment which helps me remember when to wait for a student (or make sure I'm there early). The sign-up sheet also makes them responsible for their work. Then, if a student does not come to make up the test/quiz, I have a record that can show the parent where they signed up and where I did not sign for completion. So far, it's worked very well. The students have learned quickly to go to the make-up clipboard as soon as they return from an absence.
Contact Quest: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
The first person to e-mail Quest with the correct answer will win a $10 gift certificate. Also, if you’d like to submit a possible contest question, you could be eligible for the same prize.
Contest rules:
¨ Only OCEA members are eligible.
¨ Current OCEA officers are not eligible.
¨ Answers must be submitted by e-mail to the address below. On the subject line type “Contest.”
¨ The winner will be the first e-mail received by the editor with the correct answer. (E-mails are automatically date and time stamped upon receipt by the computer.)
¨ The editor shall be the sole arbiter of what constitutes a correct answer.
Last issue’s question:
How much money are you eligible to win for each new member you sign up during any school year month?
Cheryl Macy of CHS was the first person to correctly answer $25.
This issue’s question:
What is the name of the anti-education foundation mentioned in this edition of Quest?
Send your answers to: JGREB@carson.k12.nv.us
Web Links
¨ OCEA – local information; e-mail officers; education links http://home.pyramid.net/ocea/index.html
¨ NSEA – statewide information; legislative updates; member benefits http://www.nsea-nv.org
¨ NEA – national information; numerous links to many education sites http://www.nea.org
¨ NEA Member Benefits – lots of connections to other sites and free stuff http://www.neamb.com
¨ Works4me – an online source, created by NEA, for educators to share
http://www.nea.org/helpfrom/growing/works4me/library.html
¨ OWL – national site, created by NEA, for educators to share ideas
