MARCH 28-31
RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. ACT QUICKLY.
THANK EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Who voted for Substitute Bill #24
They got it right!
PROFESSIONALLY AND POLITELY
Activate local leaders and members to Email and Call Education Committee Members to thank them for voting for the modifications resulting in the Substitute Bill #24.
Please let me know which locals contacted the Education Committee Members who voted in favor of Substitute Bill #24 with an email or phone call.
Please remind members that SB 24 is a work in progress. Teachers should not become complacent.
The Education Committee “punted” in the words of one member. Teachers should not be naïve about what is ahead: the day of reckoning will come when the final details of education reform legislation will be hammered out. Literally anything can happen in the weeks ahead. Teachers need to be vigilant in keeping up to date and engaging in political advocacy.
Suggested Phone/Email Messages
Phone Message:
“ Thank you so much for your vote in the Education Committee this week. I believe Substitute Bill #24 goes a long way to getting it right for the students and teachers in Connecticut. There are portions of the bill I do not support. I would like you to continue to support teacher views in Substitute Bill #24 as it moves through the legislative process. I will keep in touch with you as the Bill moves through the process.”
Email Message:
Dear____________________:
Thank you so much for your vote in the Education Committee this week. We believe Substitute Bill #24 goes a long way to getting it right for the students and teachers in Connecticut. There are portions of the bill I do not support. I would like you to continue to support teacher views Substitute Bill #24 as it moves through the legislative process. I am especially grateful (happy, pleased, etc.) the modifications resulted in a systematic process which will utilize proven results for student achievement. I hope you will continue to assure that the bill maintains certification in the Substitute Bill #24 is de coupled from tenure, evaluation as outlined, and the salary schedules are continued as they are currently. I Your efforts go a long way in clarifying the role of the legislature in this important process. Please know I will stay in contact with you as this process moves forward.
Portions of the talking points may be used to create the message for postcards and emails.
The Education Committee bill is a big step forward for students, teachers, and public education.
Substitute SB 24, adopted by the Education Committee as an alternative to the Governor’s Education Bill #24, represents significant reforms and improvements in education. Teachers are telling their legislators that they support parts of Substitute SB 24, specifically elements that do the following:
· Create 1,000 new pre-K slots.
· Provide new funding for schools most in need.
· Maintain local control over our public schools.
· Ensure that collective bargaining will be in place to enhance teaching and learning conditions.
· Improve the teacher evaluation system by ensuring that evaluation plans will include collaboration and professional development supports to continually improve teaching.
· Base teacher dismissal decisions on a more credible evaluation system and makes the dismissal process more efficient and effective.
· Enhance teacher standards by requiring master’s degrees in disciplines that will promote better teaching and learning.
Teachers appreciate that legislators have listened to their views from the classroom; however, more can be done.
Teachers are grateful for all the hard work that went into the alternative legislation and the fact that members of the Education Committee listened to the concerns of Connecticut teachers. However, recognizing that this “Year of Education” reform may be the most important event in a generation, teachers need to remind legislators that they can improve upon Substitute Bill 24 with the following actions:
Teachers are grateful for all the hard work that went into the alternative legislation and the fact that members of the Education Committee listened to the concerns of Connecticut teachers. However, recognizing that this “Year of Education” reform may be the most important event in a generation, teachers need to remind legislators that they can improve upon Substitute Bill 24 with the following actions:
· Encourage more parental and community involvement in schools.
· Elevate the teaching profession by instituting in teacher dismissal proceedings a “just cause” hearing—one afforded other employees in the public sector.
· Eliminate any reference to “money follows the child” funding since cash-starved schools cannot afford to lose resources.
Tell your legislators: By listening to teachers, and working together, we can get it right—and improve public education for all our children.
The legislature is often called a maze, and for good reason. There are numerous committees where bills can be sent to be changed and modified. There are legislative maneuvers to stall bills. And there are the myriad amendments that can be made as an education reform bill is ultimately brought to the Senate, first, then to the House of Representatives.
PROFESSIONALLY AND POLITELY
Emails and Calls to those on the Education Committee who did not vote in favor of the Substitute Bill #24. Each UniServ Representative was creating a message tailored to the specific Legislator. Please update me by the end of the week with an overview of the locals who made calls and/or wrote emails.
BEYOND THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE . . . THE CAMPAIGN BROADENS TO ALL LEGISLATORS
APRIL
The critical goal during April is to keep Substitute Bill #24 intact for a vote by the legislature. This will take close monitoring and communication by staff, leaders, and members with the legislators. The campaign message was refined. You received Talking Points and will receive a Power Point for building/association meetings. Everything done before needs to be done again with the Substitute Bill #24. If you met in small groups last time, you may want to have an all member meeting with light snacks and drawings. Or the reverse may be true. It will be too easy to sit back so we really have to step up the engagement and interest of the members with creative ideas to maintain the motivation. I will be contacting the LPC’s for input and suggestions on how to assist you. If you have ideas for the LPC’s, please feel free to contact them directly. Please be reminded that there will be times when this outline will change quickly. Thank you in advance for your patience and timely follow through on requests.
If you have additional ideas, please let me know so that if possible, they can be incorporated into the plan.
1. April 4, 2012: Presidents Plus Two. Please make every effort to get your LP’s+ to register and attend yourself.
2. Texting Campaign. Please work with your locals to sign on more teachers for text messages. This is be promoted at the April 4 Presidents Plus Two meeting.
3. Rapid Response Teams. If you have not done so, a structure RRT should be created in every local. The purpose of the infrastructure is to allow for rapid two-way communication with members. Whether it’s an email or text message structure, it needs to have the capacity to respond to messages quickly. Work with your leadership in the locals to get a structure in place that is announced to all members and can be accessed by the local leadership and UniServ Representative.
4. Back Home Meetings—ALL LEGISLATORS SHOULD HAVE A BACK HOME MEETING WITH MEMBERS. PLEASE ASSIST YOUR LP’S IN SCHEDULING A BACK HOME MEETING. THESE MEETINGS ARE ABOUT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING SO ANY # ATTENDING IS APPROPRIATE. OUR EARLIER SUCCESS SETS THE BAR HIGH FOR BROADENING THE SCOPE OF THE LEGISLATIVE CONTACT. USE THE TALKING POINTS YOU RECEIVED YESTERDAY TO CONTINUE MONITORING AND THE DIALOGUE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUBMIT REPORTS FOLLOWING THE BACK HOME MEETING. Start arranging meetings on April 6th forward through the month.
5. ETown Hall Meeting—TBA
6. Solidarity Day—Wear One Color as decided by the local. TBA
7. Rolling Lobby Days. All Locals should make every effort to schedule a meeting at the Capitol with their legislators. Substitute pay will continue for those teachers needing to take a day from work. Start forming teams to schedule appointments the week of April 6th forward through the month.
8. Coalitions. Work with teams in your locals to meet with the Superintendent and Board regarding Substitute Bill #24. Try to get them to contact their legislators to endorse the Bill. Also try to get Boards to sign resolutions which could be sent to the appropriate legislators. You have a handout for the communication. If there are other groups, such as labor unions, form a team to meet with them for the same purpose. If there are established Ethnic/Minority groups plan to make a connection with them about the elements in the Bill they may be able to endorse. Also focus on Parent organizations, such as the PTO. Again try to persuade them to write to their legislators and take positions in favor of Substitute Bill #24.
9. Mass Lobby Days—April 23-24-25. Mass Demonstrations are still in place if needed. If not needed, the demonstration will not be held. We must, however, proceed to put everything in place to respond rapidly to the changing landscape with a massive response. There should be approximately 4000 teachers per day at the Capitol for the demonstrations. Please work with your leaders to respond regarding bus availability.
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