Reform Alert

REFORM ALERT

It is essential that you not let your advocacy guard down through next Wednesday when the legislature adjourns.

Today unofficial word from the State Capitol is that negotiations between top legislative leaders and the Malloy administration are strained and nearing a breaking point.

The governor’s representatives are still unwilling to put students’ needs before the interests of third-party school operators. That alarms teachers since it takes the “public” out of public schools and hangs teachers’ collective bargaining rights out to dry.

You can email Governor Malloy at Governor.Malloy@ct.gov

Governor Malloy’s Communications Director, Andrew Doba, has been taking calls this weekend. You can reach him at 860-524-7308 or on his cell at 860-770-8090.

Please know that events are in flux during this critical weekend before the close of the legislative session. Stay tuned every day to our “reform alerts” so that you can have the most timely information as you contact the governor.

The governor’s office is not staffed this weekend, but we need you to call Monday and tell Governor Malloy to get reform done right.  Call Governor Malloy at 860-566-4840 or toll free at (800) 406-1527. 

Closing note

Public schools are fundamental to democracy, and we can’t put educational opportunity at risk with unproven and untested ideas such as those in the governor’s reform proposal. It will impose impediments to progress by turning over public schools to third parties, thereby minimizing the voices of parents, teachers, and communities¬—all with a genuine stake in reform done right. 

Thousands of teachers turned out last week at State Capitol rallies urging Governor Malloy to put quality education first and not give unprecedented power to the Commissioner of Education so he can:?

• take control of Network Schools,    

• make teachers reapply for their jobs,

• ban collective bargaining, and

• turn public schools over to third parties, including for-profit companies.

PLEASE ACT WITH THE CLOCK TICKING ON OUR RIGHTS AND TOWARD ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

As always, thank you for all you do for children, your profession, and public schools.