RA Action:

News from the NEA Annual Meeting

New Business Items

July 4, 2008

This page is updated during the Representative Assembly to reflect daily New Business Items (NBIs) exactly as they are printed in RA Today, our official convention newspaper.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM A

NEA’s basic policies on both the importance of health care coverage and the urgent need for health reform are set forth in NEA Resolutions B-7, C-1, D-23, F-52, F-62, H-7, and I-21, and in the NEA Legislative Program. These policies express NEA’s belief that all residents of the United States, its territories, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico should have access to quality, affordable, comprehensive, and secure health care coverage throughout their lifetime. While NEA believes that such goals can best be achieved through a single-payer health care system, it remains strongly supportive of reforms that move us closer to quality, affordable, comprehensive, and secure health benefits
for all.

Recognizing the importance of universal, quality health care in allowing all children to be ready and able to learn and in recruiting and retaining a quality education workforce, the Representative Assembly reaffirms its commitment to the policies set forth in these resolutions and the NEA Legislative Program, and believes that health care reform should take place consistent with several guiding principles. Health care reform must:

1. Guarantee that health benefits are universally available;
2. Result in comprehensive health care coverage that includes, but is not limited to, medical, surgical, hospital, behavioral health, prescription drug, dental, vision, hearing, and long-term care services;
3. Include preventive, wellness, and disease-management programs;
4. Incorporate provisions and standards related to medical safety and quality;
5. Make use of health information technology;
6. Control costs; 
7. Ensure that benefits are available through a current or former employer, a government-sponsored program such as Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP, and/or a new initiative that would meet the goals outlined here;
8. Maintain workers’ ability to negotiate enhancements to any basic benefits package.
9. This is not meant to diminish or replace existing health benefits that may be better.

The Representative Assembly further believes that NEA must be actively involved in the health care reform debate. As such, it directs NEA to take the following actions to move the organization forward in this effort and closer to fulfilling the goal of universal health care coverage, consistent with the principles above: compare and contrast major health reform proposals and initiatives with an emphasis on the probable impact of the proposals on meeting the health care needs of children and those who educate them; actively support proposals meeting NEA’s principles; develop legislative and political programs to enact supported programs; continue active participation in health care reform coalitions; assist state affiliates in educating members and communities on health care reform by distributing health care reform training materials to state affiliates and identifying opportunities for state affiliates to engage members in health care reform activities; and keep state affiliates and members informed about relevant health care reform developments through its regular communication vehicles, including, but not limited to, NEA Today and This Active Life. (2008-A)

Submitted by
NEA Board of Directors

Relevant Core Service
CS-1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 1

Adopted

NEA shall create a comprehensive plan with the goal of at least doubling the number of NEA and NEA-sponsored cyber lobbyists over the next five years. Using existing NEA communications resources, the plan will provide support to NEA leaders and members at the national, state and local levels in order to promote the importance and effectiveness of cyberlobbying. (2008-1)

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 2

Withdrawn

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 3

Referred to the Executive Committee

That NEA Government Relations (GR) commit sufficient resources to the federal advocacy team program, continuing support for aspects of the program proven successful in the past and expanding the program, as GR deems appropriate.  This is to be accomplished within the existing GR budget. (2008-3)

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 4

Adopted

Using existing communication vehicles (NEA Today and the NEA Web site), NEA will inform its members about exemplary school-based mental health programs that promote prevention and classroom intervention strategies for children and adolescents including, but not limited to, those students with mental illness. (2008-4)

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 5

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 6

Withdrawn

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 7

Adopted as Substituted

The NEA, through its various communications channels, will review and disseminate research and best practices for dropout prevention including, but not limited to, student retention, instructional strategies, appropriate individual academic interventions, and culturally relevant community and family involvement strategies.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 8

Adopted

Move that NEA affirms its long-standing commitment to Resolution B-20, the Education of Refugee and Undocumented Children and Children of Undocumented Immigrants, and will engage in a campaign to highlight and improve the plight of students who have graduated from U.S. high schools but have no paths to citizenship because their parents are undocumented.  NEA will: (1) engage in member education on the plight of these students, including the publication of an article in NEA Today and other appropriate venues of communication, discussing their situation; (2) continue to promote legislative solutions that will, among other things, put high school graduates on paths to legalization, with a focus on coalition work and grass roots mobilization when appropriate; and (3) take steps to educate the public on the importance of ensuring that all high school graduates, regardless of immigration status, should have access to post-secondary educational opportunities, obtain in-state tuition where they reside, and become full citizens of our society.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 9

The NEA include, as part of its regularly budgeted media campaign for 2008-09, a component that advertises the plight of our members and potential members regarding the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) of Social Security .

Rationale/Background
States continue to have difficulty recruiting teachers, especially those contemplating second careers.  Portability of pensions are jeopardized.  We need to educate the general public to put pressure on Congress to pass the Social Security Fairness Act.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Karen Russell, California

Relevant Core Service
CS–3
Communications

Cost Implications
This activity was not included in the proposed 2008-09 regular budgeted media campaign. Assuming this component incorporates earned media, and print and radio media in targeted markets, the estimated additional cost of this NBI is $100,000.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 10

In an effort to strengthen the movement for repeal of the Social Security Offsets (Windfall Elimination Provision/Government  Pension Offset), NEA will continue and supplement ongoing grassroots strategies by increasing member, policymaker, and public awareness of the issue, and enhancing data to support arguments for repeal.

    Specifically, NEA shall:

• Secure outside expert assistance to analyze data and develop data-driven policy arguments for use in working with lawmakers.

• Implement a media campaign utilizing proven avenues of effective communication to educate the public about the offsets and increase pressure on lawmakers to act.

• Host at least one national lobby day at the appropriate legislative time.

Rationale/Background
The Social Security Offsets are oppressive laws that must be repealed.  The repeal of these laws will ensure a better quality of life for all members and individuals impacted by these laws.  This NBI will assist NEA in moving this issue forward with lawmakers.

Submitted by
Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in connection with the annual meeting.

Contact
Tom Wellman, Nevada

Relevant Strategic Goal
SG–4
Political Action and Member Communications

Cost Implications
Assuming the media campaign is limited to earned media, and print and radio ads in targeted markets, the estimated cost of this NBI is $175,000.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 11

NEA will compare the historical rates of return of selected small public sector defined benefit pension plans to those of selected larger public defined benefit pension plans. NEA will also compare the administrative costs of the smaller and larger plans. Based on the quality of the data available, NEA will draw upon existing data series from multiple sources (particularly those that furnish risk-adjusted results) as well as utilizing direct analysis of specific plans’ investment returns and administrative cost. NEA will then analyze the results to see if conclusions can be drawn about the relationship between the size of the investment pool and rates of return and administrative costs.

Rationale/Background
The purpose of this project is to determine whether NEA members are better served from a net financial returns perspective—by participating in larger (typically consolidated) retirement systems or in smaller (typically more localized or homogenous) plans, and if so, to what degree?

Submitted by
Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in connection with the annual meeting.

Contact
Jay Kaplan, Vermont

Relevant Core Service
CS–1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished at the additional cost of $20,000.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 12

The NEA will make the benefits of chess available to teachers through available methods of communication like: NEA Today, Website and association mailings.

Rationale/Background
The benefits of chess to the developing brain has been catalogued. Increase test scores, academic improvement and positive interpersonal skills make chess an important tool for teachers. Awareness through NEA communications will improve greater participation in this skill building activity.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Carmen Childress, California

Relevant Core Service
CS–1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 13

Using existing communication vehicles (including NEA Today, This Active Life and the NEA website), the NEA will publish information regarding the student privacy option on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). This information will be directed to high school teachers, administrators, counselors and Career Advisors so that prior to the administration of the exam, they will be informed regarding the privacy option (Option 8).

Rationale/Background
The ASVAB is promoted as a career exploration program for high school juniors and seniors. According to the U.S. Army, its primary purpose is to provide military recruiters with “leads for enlistment into the active Army and Army Reserves.” In 2006, 250 schools in 34 states made this exam mandatory.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Arlene Inouye, California

Relevant Core Service
CS-3
Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 14

NEA support high priority allocations of disaster assistance from state and federal sources to preserve governmental structures and services.

Rationale/Background
As post-Katrina events show, an anti-government administration uses disasters to disparage government services and exploits social distress to advance privatization, while impeding government functions. Public education provides the framework for social recovery and development. Education employees need early and substantial assistance to help restore social stability.

Submitted by
Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in connection with the annual meeting.

Contact
Frank Olbris, Massachusetts

Relevant Strategic Goal
SG–4
Political Action and Member Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 15

School Land Trusts are an important part of our history and the development and funding of our educational system. As an association, we believe that any funding derived from these school land trusts should always be used to supplement already existing state revenue sources, never supplanting the funds. NEA will utilize existing media resources to educate our members of the history and value of these land trusts. We as an Association need to support those states with existing school land trusts and help them to maintain their funds.

Rationale/Background
It is important that members of this Association understand why these trust lands were established and how they became a funding source for public education.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact 
Tom Wellman, Nevada

Relevant Strategic Goal
SG-5
Tax and Economic Policies and School Funding

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 16

NEA and its affiliates will disseminate existing data and analysis demonstrating the relationship of socioeconomic status to standardized test scores. Further, NEA, using existing publications, will strive to counter the myth that teachers and the educational establishment alone can overcome social, economic, health and other barriers to equal educational opportunity in our society.

Rationale/Background
It is a myth that we can “fix” our schools without addressing problems of poverty. The so-called achievement gap is really an opportunity gap based on socioeconomic status, accounting for ¾ of the variation in student performance in U.S. schools.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Betty Olson-Jones, California

Relevant Core Service
CS-1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 17

I move that NEA, through its publications, lobbying, and affiliates, inform the public of the facts behind “CHIP” (the Children’s Health Insurance Program).

Rationale/Background
The Bush Administration opposes this program, yet it is successful, cost-effective, and enjoys bipartisan support. It is designed to protect the working poor, yet is underfunded, and children suffer and die because they do not get preventative care or care for chronic illness. Opposition from big insurance companies and cries of “socialized medicine” are unnecessarily denying health care to needy children.

Submitted by
Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in connection with the annual meeting.

Contact
John Coulter, New Jersey

Relevant Strategic Goal
SG-4
Political Action and Member Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 18

I move that NEA, through its affiliates, programs, and publications, report on the extent to which children who are eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch fail to take advantage of this program; provide information and support through the public schools to low-income families to underscore the importance of good nutrition and provide information associated with this program to encourage participation.

Rationale/Background
Today $8.3 billion per year is dedicated to providing Free and Reduced lunch to 30.6 million disadvantaged children. Yet only 37% of eligible high school students participate. This program was designed to safeguard the health and well-being of America’s children and full participation should be encouraged and facilitated.

Submitted by
Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in connection with the annual meeting.

Contact
John Coulter, New Jersey

Relevant Core Service
CS-1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
Assuming the Health Information Network provides research and writing support, the cost is estimated to be $4,500.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 19

I move that the NEA make passage of the Social Security Fairness Act in the 111th Congress a top priority.  Additionally, that the NEA work to get Senator Obama (a current co-sponsor) and Senator McCain to make this a part of their presidential platforms.

Rationale/Background
For over eight years we have supported the removal of the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision.  This is the time to make it law.  A large number of our members have suffered too long.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Dorothy Moser, California

Relevant Strategic Goal
SG–4
Political Action and Member Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 20

NEA enthusiastically endorses the Chicago 2016 bid to host the Summer Olympic Games.

Rationale/Background
Chicago is the official candidate city of the United States competing to host the 2016 Olympic Games. As Chicago welcomes the world, NEA recognizes the unparalleled educational opportunities that will result from this experience.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Jerome Hoynes, Illinois

Relevant Core Service
CS-1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 21

SmartCards will be given to all NEA members attending the NEA annual meeting regardless of delegate status.

Rationale/Background
Team NEA should reinstate the practice of giving SmartCards to all members attending the NEA annual meeting. SmartCards allow access to email, exhibit hall, drawings, and other giveaways. Many NEA member non-delegates attend the annual meeting as presenters, caucus leaders, as well as family and friends of delegates. These NEA members qualify for a SmartCard by their attendance at the annual meeting.

Submitted by
Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in connection with the annual meeting.

Contact
Gretchen Hale, Indiana

Relevant Core Service
CS-4
Leadership Development/Governance

Cost Implications:
The estimated cost of this NBI is $5,000. The implementation of this NBI will be done pursuant to standing rule 6.W.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 22

Move that the NEA encourage all state organizations to support or initiate state legislation which would enable military personnel and their dependents to obtain in-state tuition where they reside.

Rationale/Background
This NBI will recognize the reality that military dependents cannot always choose their place of residence.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Tim Mennuti, Maryland

Relevant Strategic Goal
SG-4
Political Action and Member Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished at the additional cost of $15,000.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 23

NEA help NYSUT submit legislation to eliminate residency requirement during military service in order to receive 3 years credit in state retirement systems of New York.

Rationale/Background
Former out-of-state veterans have valuable experience. When they retire earlier, jobs for new educators & military veterans’ salaries would be higher and pensions would be higher.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Mike Shanteler, California

Relevant Core Service
CS-1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished at the additional cost of $15,000.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 24

NEA reads the Declaration of Independence is a video featuring NEA Pres. Reg Weaver and VP Dennis Van Roekel and members of the NEA from around the country reading the words from the Declaration of Independence. We request that this film by MTA-NEA member Bill Coleman be played at the RA on July 4th.

Rationale/Background
This film is a patriotic mosaic of our members in celebration of the Fourth of July, our nation’s birthday.

Submitted by
50 Delegates
Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in connection with the annual meeting.

Contact
William S. Coleman, III, Massachusetts

Relevant Core Service
CS-3
Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 25

NEA will inform its members of the provisions and passage of California Senate Bill 1655 (Scott) and the role played by The New Teacher Project (TNTP) in this effort. Furthermore, NEA will work with state affiliates in combating similar efforts wherever they arise.

Rationale/Background
The passage of SB 1655 has made it such that a school district’s superintendent may not transfer a teacher who requests to be transferred to a school (K-12 inclusive) that is ranked in deciles 1-3 inclusive on California’s Academic Performance Index if the school’s principal refuses to accept the transfer. TNTP’s efforts increasingly influence decisions that negatively affect our members. It is imperative that our members know of them and that NEA lend support to its state affiliates when confronting them.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Manny Lopez, California

Relevant Core Service
CS-1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 26

The NEA will publicly oppose Ward Connerly’s campaign to place on the ballot and pass anti-affirmative action ballot measures in Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska and the NEA will investigate supporting court challenges to fraudulent petition gathering and racially targeted voter fraud by Connerly’s anti-affirmative action supporters in these states.

Rationale/Background
The NEA should support all efforts to defend the historic gains of Brown v Board of Education and the civil rights movement. The fraudulent methods used by anti-affirmative action signature gatherers is well documented and the subject of court challenges. Connerly’s attempts to place affirmative action bans on the ballot in Oklahoma and Missouri have already been defeated. Now we must stop these attacks entirely.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Tania Kappner, California

Relevant Strategic Goal
SG-4
Political Action and Member Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 27

The NEA will send a letter urging Congress to block attempts by the Bush administration to commit the U.S. to a permanent military presence in Iraq.

Rationale/Background
President Bush is negotiating with Iraq for the creation of 60 permanent military bases in a blatant attempt to tie the hands of his successor and sidestep Congressional approval. This makes it difficult for the next president to withdraw troops from Iraq and to reprioritize the budget to address education.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Rhonda Hanson, Maryland

Relevant Strategic Goal
SG-4
Political Action and Member Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 28

NEA will encourage its local chapters to collaborate with their local governing boards to produce a proclamation denouncing the provision of ESEA so called “No Child Left Behind.” This proclamation would be developed collaborately between the local union and governing board. This proclamation along with a joint letter of support should be sent to the President of NEA to be used in our lobbying efforts for 2008-2009.

Rationale/Background
Accountability were already in place.  NCLB’s provisions are inflexible and unrealistic. There’s insufficient funding to implement its requirements.  It’s unworkable and it’s negative effects include whole sections of education being ignored. Well rounded programs for our children have been compromised. This activity will clearly demonstrate the universal agreement that “NCLB” is detrimental to public education. NEA support would lend national leadership in this effort.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Mrs. Joan K. Gaut, California

Relevant Core Service
CS-1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
This NBI is estimated to cost an additional $1,000.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 29

NEA will develop a proactive, cross-unit plan during the NEA’s Fiscal Year 2009 targeted at alleviating budget pressures on local school systems caused by unfunded mandates. In particular, the plan will focus on developing grassroots activities to be conducted in conjunction with the upcoming reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA. It will focus on informing and mobilizing educators from all areas of education, as well as parents and communities, with specific regard to the impact on general education as a result of years of under-funding IDEA and the need for the implementation of an appropriations schedule that achieves full funding for IDEA as soon as possible.

This effort will intensify and expand NEA’s efforts beyond lobbying to secure that all future appropriations meet the objective of the federal government’s promise of providing 40% of the excess cost above the national average per pupil expenditure (APPE), which is generally referred to as fully funding IDEA.

The plan will include an informational component to provide NEA members with useful knowledge such as how the federal government manages to continually under fund IDEA, and that illuminates the detrimental impact that under funded mandated programs have on our schools by siphoning funds away from our mainstream programs.

The plan should also include specific strategies to obtain major membership or grassroots engagement via the use of NEA print, website and online publications, presentations at NEA and state conferences, paid media, mailings and other means of communication with the ultimate goal of providing the membership with the resources and knowledge needed to mobilize their communities to effectively influence the U.S. Congress to fulfill its promise to fully fund IDEA.

Rationale/Background
Politician after politician swear undying support for Education, then turn their backs on funding it. Since 1975 IDEA has been underfunded by $300,000,000. Forcing Congress to fully fund IDEA is the first step toward ending un-funded Federal mandates.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
John Farrington, California

Relevant Stategic Goal
SG-4
Political Action and Member Communications

Cost Implications
The planning can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 30

NEA Today will publish a series of articles on the effects on and impediments to education and human services created by conditions of war, occupation, natural disaster, and civil strife. These articles will cover these conditions in the US, as well as in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere in the world.

Rationale/Background
Children lose opportunities for education and health care through military occupation, natural disaster, civil strife, and war. From the Middle East to Africa, the Gulf Coast to South America, throughout the world these conditions exist. Members should know about these barriers to
education.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Andy Griggs, California

Relevant Core Service
CS-1
Learning and Working Conditions

Cost Implications
The estimated cost of this NBI is $3,000.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 31

Utilizing existing communication vehicles, the NEA will encourage schools to create the category of “Middle Eastern” as part of their regular data collection for students.

Rationale/Background
Most public schools use the US Census’ categories for student data collection. These categories do not give schools the educational information necessary to best serve the learning needs of our Middle Eastern students.

At this time, Middle Eastern students are being included in the “White” classification. Having no specific classification, there isn’t a method of tracking the educational progress of Middle Eastern students to see how well our schools are serving their educational needs. Without this category, schools cannot disaggregate information on Middle Eastern students; thus, schools do not know what curricular improvements are necessary to develop alternative educational practices to improve student learning.

Submitted by
50 Delegates

Contact
Chelli Olsen, Nebraska

Relevant Core Service
CS-3
Communications

Cost Implications
This NBI can be accomplished within the proposed 2008-10 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.