Representation Election Thursday, Feb. 4

Election Thursday, February 4

SPS teachers, librarians and counselors will vote next Thursday for representation in collective bargaining with the school district. The events leading up to this historic vote have played out over a three-year period, beginning with the Missouri Supreme Court decision in May 2007 which restored bargaining rights to teachers.

In September 2007, Springfield NEA sent a letter to the superintendent of schools requesting a representation election. The denial of that request was only the beginning of a long, tortuous path toward next Thursday's election - all of which is archived on this site.

Springfield NEA is encouraging all SPS teachers, librarians and counselors to let their voices be heard by voting on February 4. The largest accredited school district in the state will benefit greatly from focused educator-driven improvements, and this election is the first step to making those improvements a reality.

Vote for Springfield NEA as your representative on February 4!

Social Security Offsets - Video

Springfield and Missouri NEA support repeal of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which penalize some public employees by cutting or taking away completely Social Security benefits they or their spouse earned.

Legislation (H.R. 235/S. 484) to completely repeal the GPO/WEP has been reintroduced in the House and the Senate. Todd Aiken and Jo Ann Emerson are the only Missouri Representatives who have not signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.

Below is a link to a short NEA video that highlights the impacts of the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision on educators. The video, which runs just over six minutes, features an introduction and closing call to action by NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, along with testimonials from impacted NEA members about the unfair offsets.

To view the video, click on link below and find "Penalties for Public Service" on the right side of the page. We encourage you to forward the video link to colleagues, friends and others who can help spread the word about the need for repeal. View Video

Race to the Top Raises Questions for Teachers

Springfield Enters Race for Funds

The Obama administration's "Race to the Top" (RT3) initiative for "bold and innovative" education reform is all the buzz across the nation as states compete for federal education funding - amounting to $4.35 billion - to prop up ailing revenues. Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is applying for RT3 funds by jumping through the numerous hoops that are always associated with federal grants.

One early requirements is a compilation of agreements - Memos of Understanding (MOU) - between DESE, the State of Missouri and each school district that seeks RT3 funds. Springfield R-XII is seeking to participate in the RT3 initiative and, therefore, had to submit a signed MOU to DESE by January 8. As part of the application process, districts receive added "points" if their teacher representative(s) signs on to the Memo of Understanding.

The school board unanimously approved an RT3 Resolution (see Action Items) on December 15 that authorized Dr. Ridder and board president, Gerry Lee, the discretion to "commit to activities pursuant to the Race to the Top Program, including but not limited to the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with DESE describing Springfield R-XII District's commitment and participation . . ."

Questions Remain

There are many questions for teachers to consider regarding RT3. The following stipulations in the Missouri plan seem to encourage the use of standardized testing results as a measure for teacher evaluation:

1) The Missouri Education Reform Plan, Exhibit I (Item D-1) states that districts must "work in collaboration with the state, design and implement a revised teacher and leader evaluation system to include evidence of student learning garnered through objective measures such as standardized test results, local assessment data, student-level measures and instructional practices."

2) Item D-3 in the state plan would require RT3 districts to "Conduct annual evaluations to inform decisions around compensation, promotion, retention, remediation, removal" of teachers.

Translated, those two points potentially open the door to arbitrary evaluations and adjusted compensation based on standardized test scores - and the loss of tenure status for teachers.

In a letter delivered to Dr. Ridder on January 7, Springfield NEA asks the following questions of district leadership:

1) Why is our school district choosing to participate? Besides the funding, what are the potential benefits of our involvement?

2) Does our school district have the capacity to take on and sustain requirements in the state's RT3 plan since this is probably one-time funding?

3) Federal guidelines require more accountability and reporting than ever before. Who will be assigned that responsibility and will additional staffing be required?

4) What are the expectations for involving staff members in the design and implementation of the local plan?

5) Has district leadership discussed the mechanism by which we would withdraw from the plan?

6) Will there be requirements to meet the state plan even if we do not receive funding directly from the RT3 grant?

7) What is the highest amount of funding the district hopes to obtain? Is it enough of a financial incentive to implement and sustain the changes that may be required?

8) What portions of the state plan does our district see as "bold and innovative"?

As schools and districts continue to strive to meet the unrealistic standards of No Child Left Behind through MAP testing, the Race to the Top initiative - at this early stage at least - seems like a blind call for innovation without a concrete plan in hand. If innovation in education is what we're looking for, then teachers should be heavily involved in whatever discussions take place at the district level.

Where's the Plan?

It's interesting to note that, although districts across the state are scurrying to get their MOU's turned in on time, the actual plan from DESE has yet to be released. So, in effect, districts are signing off on a plan that they haven't even seen. Welcome to the world of education funding.

Springfield NEA has held discussions with Dr. Ridder and other district leaders and will send updates regarding our district's effort to obtain Race to the Top funding - and whatever changes that may bring. SNEA will continue to issue updates on our district's efforts to enter the race for RT3 funding. It is extremely important that teachers be involved as collaborative partners in this venture.