No “A”on Elementary Report Cards

The elementary report card underwent major renovations. While teachers received a little training last fall, there are still many obstacles. For instance, some teachers were told to submit grades to the wrong quarter, causing them to have to resubmit all of their grades. Even when the grades are where they belong, the report card is confusing and can be misleading. There are not common standards, and parents are not gaining insight into their child at the time of the report card.

Additionally, many lower elementary teachers question why the portal would be opened for parents next year. Unlike middle and high school students who take tests, quizzes, and receive grades on homework, elementary students are developing and graded in different ways, making it less appropriate to record grades on an ongoing basis for parents to peruse.

Quarton teachers consider new career while dressing up for Halloween

New Standards Based Report Card Gets Mixed Reviews

Soliciting responses from parents regarding the new elementary report card wasn’t difficult. Some comments echoing across BPS buildings included:

• “Confused. Didn't have any idea what that report card meant.”
• “The cards were vague and impersonal.”
• “Didn't give specific area to help my child improve.”
• “How do we know about the criteria for each standard?”
• “How do you show growth for students who already mastered?”

Michigan Teacher Effectiveness Ratings Released

The Michigan Department of Education plans to release the information on teacher effectiveness ratings in November. The information will be released by district and building but in the aggregated form so it will not identify individual teachers. However, be reminded that a district may receive a Freedom of Information request for teacher ratings and would be required to release individual teacher evaluations of effectiveness for public review.

APPEALS COURT DECLARES 3% EDUCATOR TAX UNCONSTITUTIONAL

The Michigan Court of Appeals by a 2 to 1 majority has found the 3% retiree health contribution to be unconstitutional under both state and federal constitutions. The majority holds that the exaction of the 3% unconstitutionally impairs a contract between the state and MPSERS members, constitutes an unconstitutional taking of property without just compensation, and violates substantive due process of law.

The state, through the Attorney General, has until early November 2012 toappeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. In the meantime, the 3% payment perpay check tax on each public educator will continue to be placed in escrow until a final decision is reached.

KEY GOALS FOR THE NOVEMBER 6TH ELECTION

• RECLAIM THE MICHIGAN HOUSE by voting for pro- public education candidates
• PASS THE PROTECT OUR JOBS AMENDMENT to restore Collective Bargaining as a right for all working Michiganders.
• ENSURE THE RULE OF LAW in the Michigan court system by voting for MEA endorsed judges

INJUNCTION GRANTED ON DUES DEDUCTION

From the MEA

In a federal court brief rendered this afternoon, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that the Legislature violated the constitutional rights of school employees and their unions by enacting Public Act 53, which would prohibit payroll deduction of union dues for school employees only.  The Judge mandated a preliminary injunction stopping the enforcement of the prohibition on dues deduction, citing three specific violations:

1. Violation of the equal protection clause, as the dues deduction ban applies only to unions of school employees.
2. Violation of the 1^st Amendment freedom of speech provision, as dues deduction is a method to assist unions in its role as an advocate of public school employees.

Violation of the 1^st Amendment as the ban is a retaliation against the unions who, on the day prior to PA 53’s passage, announced support of a petition drive to place collective bargaining rights in the state constitution

PETITION DRIVE ENDS JUNE 15

As a partner in the Protect Our Jobs coalition, the Michigan Education Association committed to gathering at least 150,000 signatures. The response from members, their friends and families has been outstanding. The BEA set a goal of 3 to 5 signatures per member, and we delivered on this goal, with over 2,000 signatures! During the months of April and May, MEA gathered signatures at a rate of more than 36,000 per week. Other coalition partners report similar successes in their campaigns.

Now is the time to return petitions so they may be processed in advance of the July 9 filing deadline. All petitions must be returned to BEA SOMEA Office, or to Scott Warrow through inner-school mail, no later than Friday, June 15 so that they can be sent to MEA Head Quarters.

Though we have had a successful petition drive, our fight is not done.  The campaign to protect our work, our voices and our future won’t be over until a majority of Michigan citizens vote YES in November, It is clear that the middle class and Michigan workers are tired of the continued attacks by the politicians in Lansing and are speaking out to protect their wages, benefits and workplace safety.

HOUSE MAY MOVE ON RETIREMENT BILL BEFORE END OF SESSION IN JUNE

The House Appropriation Committee has recently made several changes to SB1040, and while these changes improve on the bill’s ultimate negative impact on school employees, they in no way represent a positive development for our members.  The relevant changes include: a reduction in a payment to 7% for MIP and 4% for Basic members wanting to keep their 1.5% multiplier and new school employees would receive at hybrid 401K retirement plan but no retirement health insurance.   All school employees will still pay 20% of retirement health care costs and continue to pay 3%, since 2010, of their current salaries to fund this benefit.  Overall, the total pay reduction for retirement will be 8%.

The Coalition for Secure Retirement-Michigan, which includes the MEA will likely present a lawsuit challenging the pension changes if Republican legislators pass the bill the end of the session as intended.

Please contact your House Representative and demand that he or she vote against this severe and onerous legislation!

HELP SELECT THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT

There are still time slots open for Superintendent Search Meetings.

This is an opportunity for teachers, secretaries, and paraprofessionals staff members to meet directly and privately with the search firm team to provide suggestions about the qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent. The Board of Education and the Birmingham Education Association have arranged the following date and times for staff (teachers, secretaries, and paraprofessionals) input in the selection process for superintendent candidates:

Please let Scott Warrow know if you would like to attend one of these focus group meetings. Monday, April 23rd at the Administration Building

• 3:30 - 4:30pm
• 4:30 - 5:30pm
• 7:00 - 8:00pm

SB 1040-FIGHTING BACK AGAINST IRRATIONALITY

From the MEA

After hours of testimony and many phone calls from teachers, administrators, and parents, the senate committee responsible for the bill is considering moving the retirement date to avoid any penalty until after the school year ends. It appears that legislators, in part because many send their kids to private schools, were not aware the public schools ended in mid-June. This is good news for those that put in for retirement this year.  It looks like school employees won't have to leave two weeks early.  See attached document for a complete analysis of the bill.  And keep informed with this MEA Link: http://www.mea.org/changes-coming-proposed-retirement-legislation

THOUSANDS PROTEST IN TROY AGAINST GOVERNORS

Over a dozen BEA members from various schools joined thousands of protesters on Tuesday to rally against Governors Walker and Snyder. Birmingham was also represented by Rick Maldonado, Beverly Elementary teacher, who was interviewed by Channel 7 News.  Thanks for all those who came out to stand up for their right to collectively bargain fair wages and benefits for the middle class. Click on this link to see more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4NtJyVPxgQ

Protect our Jobs

The politically motivated legislation of the last year has not been to create jobs for Michigan, but rather to punish teachers and their unions. In response to such unjust attacks,the BEA will join a coalition of public and private unions to Protect our Jobs and put the right to collective bargaining as a constitutional amendment on the November 2012 ballot. Over 300,000 petition signatures are needed. If voters approve thea mendment, we will have rescinded all past anti-collective bargaining laws and preclude new ones from being enacted. No doubt, it will take all of our efforts accomplish this important task.

Now more than ever, the BEA will need your help. There is little doubt that if we fail, the existence of teachers unions and public education will be gravely threatened. The dramatic action we are undertaking will mirror that of our predecessors, who fought in the 1960s to earn the rights, pay, pension, and insurance we have today and must protect for our future.

MAJORITY SUPPORT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

In what is encouraging news for the Protect Our Jobs campaign, a Bloomberg News national poll shows 64 percent of Americans believe that public sector workers should have the right to collectively bargain. That number includes 55 percent of Republicans. In that same poll, 63 percent believe that states should not be able to break pension agreements they have made with public workers.

The poll comes after a number of Republican governors, including Michigan’s, used budget problems to rationalize removing collective bargaining rights. Most poll respondents believed that those budget deficits were a result of years of corporate tax cuts–not the actions of public employees.

Concurring with that opinion, Bloomberg’s poll shows that 72 percent have a favorable view of public employees and see corporations as wielding more political power than unions.

To find out more about the Project Our Jobs campaign go: to Protect Our Jobs and protect your collective bargaining rights and strengthen the middle class.

We need all BEA members to stand together in protection of their jobs.  Spread the word to friends and family!

BEA RESOLVES “PAY TO PLUG” DISPUTE WITH DISTRICT

In the February BEALERT, I wrote that the BEA had good reason to believe that members were being significantly overcharged for small appliances in their classrooms, as part of the district “Pay to Plug” program.  Since that time, the BEA leadership has engaged in dialogue with central administrators and principals regarding this practice.

We are happy to announce that the BEA and BPS have reached a satisfactory resolution that will save members money and still uphold the district’s energy conservation initiative.

We have agreed that teachers who can, “demonstrate that the use of a small appliance will help to serve and educate students” will receive an exemption for that appliance.  Therefore, teachers who have already paid the district fee or resisted asking for an exemption to avoid paying the fee may now submit a written request to his or her principal explaining how the appliance helps students to obtain full reimbursement and/or receive a small appliance exemption sticker. The administration has confirmed that such requests will be “liberally” granted.

Thanks to your willingness to fight for what is right for kids, we were able to get this done!

DEMOCRAT PROPOSAL WOULD PAY FOR COLLEGE

From the MEA

Senate Democrats have introduced legislation that will pay for a Michigan high school graduates' college education. The ultimate goal of the "Michigan 2020 Plan" is to increase the number of college graduates needed to bring job-providers to the state.

The legislation proposes providing high school graduates with a grant equal to the median tuition level of all of Michigan's public universities–or $9,575 a year–regardless of whether graduates attend a public or private school. Students could use the money toward tuition, books or other eligible expenses.

To pay the estimated $1.8 billion price tag for the proposal, Democrats suggest eliminating the part of the $35 billion in corporate tax loopholes.

The plan has the support of education officials, business leaders and economists who see education as the key to Michigan’s economic recovery.