Please Continue to Advocate for Health Insurance Bill
Speaker of the House of Rep. Robbie Wills (D-Conway), his leadership team and staff continue to work tirelessly to find additional funding for the Public School Employee Health Insurance Program.
It is vitally important that Arkansas Education Association members and other educators keep contacting Gov. Beebe and members of the House and Senate to work with Speaker Wills and others to make health insurance for school employees more affordable.
You may contact your representatives and senators online. Go to www.capwiz.com/nea/ar/state/main/?state=AR&view=myofficials
You may also contact representatives and senators at the House message center at 501-682-6211, and the Senate message center at 501-682-2902. These phone numbers are only in operation when the House and Senate are in session.
You may contact Gov. Mike Beebe by e-mail at governor.arkansas.gov/contact/index.php or by telephone at 501-682-2345.
PSE Fair Hearing Act Is Amended
Rep. Barbara Nix (D-Benton) amended the Public School Employee Fair Hearing Act to include provisions that require automatic renewal of Educational Support Professionals' contracts, cause for contract termination and non-renewal, and a requirement for written annual evaluations.
Although there were not enough members of the House education committee to gain a "Do Pass" recommendation, Rep. Nix and the AEA are committed to continue efforts during the period between legislative sessions that will result in both procedural and substantive due process improvements for all classified employees.
Code of Ethics Bills Get "Do Pass"
The bills dealing with the Code of Ethics for Arkansas educators received "Do Pass" recommendations in the Senate Education Committee yesterday. HB 1859 that provides an exemption from the Freedom of Information Act, and HB 1372 that gives the Professional Licensure Standards Board and the State Board of Education, should pass the Senate with little or no opposition.
SB 998 and SB 999, sponsored by Senator Jimmy Jeffress (D-Crossett), that clarify the roles and responsibilities of the personnel policies committees, school boards and superintendents, also received "Do Pass" recommendations by the Senate Education Committee.
We Need Your Help: FY2010 Congressional Budget Resolution
Please contact Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor TODAY. Urge them to support the FY2010 Congressional Budget Resolution and to oppose any amendments that would add private school vouchers or cut proposed education funding. Please report any feedback from these offices to Richard Hutchinson at ar-rhutchinson@nea.org
You may contact Sen. Lincoln at www.lincoln.senate.gov
You may contact Senator Pryor at www.pryor.senate.gov Talking Points:
- Please support the Budget Resolution and vote against any amendments to add private school vouchers or cut funding.
- The Budget Resolution should reflect the priorities of our nation, and ensuring that all of our children have access to a quality education should be a top priority.
- Investing in education makes both good fiscal sense and good public policy. Funding targeted to quality public schools will see the greatest return on taxpayer money and will strengthen the entire economy.
- The Budget Resolution under consideration builds on the historic increases for education included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, from early childhood through post-secondary education and training.
- The Budget Resolution expands access to college by continuing to raise the maximum Pell grant award.
- The Budget Resolution supports the Administration's commitment to providing access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health care coverage for all residents of the United States.
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