ratoday - 2020 nea annual meeting · 2 • ra today sunday, july 2, 2017 amendments new ra business...

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1

TITLE: To confer automatic delegate status to the chair of the Resolutions Internal Editing Committee for all purposes except voting for officers.

Article III. Representative AssemblySection 3(b). Election of Delegates Election to the Board of Direc-tors by the Active NEA members within the state shall constitute election to the Representative As-sembly for all purposes. Election to the Board of Direc-tors by the Active NEA members elected to serve as delegates to the state representative body shall constitute election to the Repre-sentative Assembly for all purposes except voting in elections for As-sociation officers. Election to the Board of Direc-tors as an at-large director or a retired or student director shall constitute election to the Repre-sentative Assembly for all purposes except voting in elections for As-sociation officers. Election to executive office or to the Executive Committee shall

constitute election to the Repre-sentative Assembly for all purposes except voting in elections for As-sociation officers. Election to the presidency of a state affiliate by vote of members in the state who are eligible to vote in such election shall constitute elec-tion to the Representative Assembly for all purposes. Election to the presidency of a state affiliate by the state represen-tative body shall constitute election to the Representative Assembly for all purposes except voting in elec-tions for Association officers. Selection as chairperson of the Internal Editing Committee shall constitute election to the Repre-sentative Assembly for all purposes except voting in elections for As-sociation officers. Selection as chairperson of the Advisory Committee of Student Members shall constitute election to the Representative Assembly for all purposes except voting in elec-tions for Association officers. Election to the presidency of National Education Association-Retired shall constitute election to the Representative Assembly for all purposes except voting in elections for Association officers.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Standing Rule 7(C) provides that the president will appoint a chair-person of the Resolutions Commit-tee annually from among the five members of the Internal Editing Committee, each of whom is also appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors. The chairperson presides over all meetings of the Internal Editing Committee and full Reso-lutions Committee. Members of the Internal Editing Committee are appointed to three-year terms and no member may serve more than two terms. Members of the Internal Editing Committee are eligible for appointment as chairperson in any year of their term.

If the amendment were adopted, appointment of the Resolutions Committee chairperson would also constitute election as a delegate to the Representative Assembly for all purposes except voting in elections for Association officers. Should the chair wish to have voting rights for officer elections, he or she could decline the ex officio credential and seek nomination and election for any local or state delegate position for which he or she were eligible.

ratodayThe Official Newspaper for the 2017 NEA Representative Assembly

2017 RA • ISSUE 2

BOSTON, MA

JULY 2, 2017

ProPosed Amendments to the Constitution, BylAws, And stAnding rules

Proposed amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules are published in full in this issue of RA Today. Please keep this copy with you to help you follow the discussion about these proposals on the RA floor. If this discussion results in changes to the text of these amendments, RA Today will publish the revised text. Note: Pro-posed insertions of language are underscored; proposed deletions are shown in strikethrough. The RA Today also carries the text of New Business Items (NBIs) proposed before and during the Annual Meeting and RA. When first printed, each NBI will include its relevant strategic goal or core function as well

as the preliminary estimate of the cost of each item and whether the item is covered in the proposed strategic plan and budget. Delegates should also note that, per Standing Rule 6, adopting an NBI does not include approval of any appropriations. Once an NBI has been considered, RA Today will record the action taken and, if approved, will reprint the NBI text along with any amend-ment. The final edition of RA Today will include the full text of all enacted NBIs. This final is-sue will be sent to each delegate after the RA ends.

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Submitted by: 50 Delegates

Contact Person: Michael Bank, Delaware CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2

TITLE: To change the frequency of the Representative Assembly from every year to every other year begin-ning in 2022.

Article III. Representative Assem-blySection 5. Meetings The Representative Assembly shall meet at least annually. Effective 2022, the Representative Assembly shall meet in even-numbered years. This stipulation shall apply except in cases of emergency. The NEA Board of Directors shall develop and submit for Repre-sentative Assembly approval any necessary amendments to the NEA

Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules required to bring them into compliance with this provision.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Article III, Section 5 of the NEA Constitution provides for a meet-ing of the Representative Assembly (“RA”) “at least annually” except in cases of emergency. Article III, Section 9 further provides the procedure by which the RA may be postponed in the event of an emergency.

If adopted, the amendment would change the frequency of the RA from annually to every other year, meeting in even-numbered years beginning 2022. The amendment also directs the NEA Board of Directors to consider and submit for RA approval any changes to NEA governing documents required to bring them into compliance with the new schedule. Because the NEA

Constitution supersedes conflict-ing provisions in the NEA Bylaws and Standing Rules, the Board’s task would be to determine if there are governing document provisions the RA should consider amending to make other regularly scheduled business, such as officer election and adoption of the budget, consistent with a two-year cycle.

The amendment addresses only the conduct of the NEA Representative Assembly itself. Its passage would require decisions by the appropri-ate organizations or bodies about the frequency of other meetings, conferences, and events held in conjunction with the RA. Passage of the amendment could also impact activities conducted at the RA, such as PAC fundraising and charitable community events, and would again necessitate decisions by appropriate bodies as to if and how to conduct such activities in the off-years.

In terms of the financial impact of this amendment, the NEA Strate-gic Plan and Budget for 2016-18 includes approximately $6M for some, but not all, administrative expenses associated with conduct-ing the Annual Meeting. These include items related to facilities and services, staff, and other expenses associated with running the Annual Meeting. There are other expenses not included in this total, such as those related to pre-conferences and events. The impact on such expenses would depend on whether organizers continue to hold these events in the off-years.

In 2016, RA-related costs (including expenses within and outside the RA line item in the Strategic Plan and Budget) included pre-conference expenses of the Joint Conference, Retired Annual Meeting, and Stu-dent Conference (over $900,000); the Human and Civil Rights dinner

2 • RA TODAY SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2017

Amendments

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SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2017 RA TODAY • 3

($382,156); staff attendance at the RA and related events ($132,812 – lower in 2016 than in prior years because of the RA location in Wash-ington, DC); transportation such as buses and metro cards ($735,425); and convention center facilities such as food, hall labor, audio visual, stage construction, signage, child care, and registration ($3M).

Passage of this amendment would impact affiliate costs such as for delegate elections and expenses. The total cost of the annual RA for state and local affiliates is not available. NEA has agreements in place for RAs through 2024. Cities gener-ally require five years notice to change convention dates. If adopted, because of the effective date, this amendment should not result in NEA incurring any penalties for cancellation of a planned RA, as NEA could notify the impacted city (Orlando, Florida for 2023) five years in advance and re-book the convention there in a later year.


Contact Person: Sue Cahill, Iowa

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 3

TITLE: To delete language that is no longer needed now that execu-tive officer elections are on the same three-year cycle.

Article IV. Executive OfficersSection 5. Elections, Terms, and Salaries Beginning in 1993 and each third year thereafter, the The President, and the Vice President and the Sec-retary-Treasurer shall be nominated at and elected by the Representative Assembly at the Annual Meeting in accordance with this Constitution, the Bylaws, and the Standing Rules. b. Beginning in 2014 and each third year thereafter, the Secretary-Treasurer shall be nominated at and elected by the Representative Assembly at the Annual Meeting in accordance with this Constitution, the Bylaws, and the Standing Rules. c. b. In an election for President, Vice President, or Secretary-Treasur-er, if there is only one (1) candidate for the position, the Chair shall declare such candidate elected. d. c. The terms of the President, of the Vice President, and of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be three (3) years beginning September 1 following their election, except that the term of the Secretary-Treasurer elected in 2012 shall be two (2) years. Each executive officer shall remain in office through August 31 of the year in which a successor is elected, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution. An executive offi-cer shall serve no more than two (2) terms in the office to which elected.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Article IV, Section 5 of the NEA Constitution sets out the terms of the NEA president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer. Prior to 1991, the Constitution permitted executive officers to serve up to three two-year terms, with election of the president and vice president taking place in odd-numbered years and election of the secretary-treasurer in even-numbered years. In 1991, this language was amended to allow officers to serve up to two three-year terms, with election of the president and vice president taking place in 1993 and every third year thereafter, and election of the secretary-trea-surer taking place in 1992 and every third year thereafter.

In 2010, the Constitution was amended to eliminate the staggered terms for officers starting in 2014. To accomplish this, language was added providing for a one-time two year-term for the secretary-treasurer elected in 2012. In 2014, all three officers were then elected for con-current three-year terms.

The proposed amendment would clean up Article IV by striking the outdated references to 1993, 2012 and 2014, leaving intact the language setting forth the current officer election rules. The amend-ment would have no impact on the conduct of elections or the terms of officers.

Submitted by: Committee on Consti-tution, Bylaws, and Rules

Contact Person: Tim Graham, Pennsylvania [email protected]

STANDING RULE AMENDMENT 1

TITLE: To extend the minimum time required for consideration of new business items at each business session.

Rule 3. Order of Business and DebateD. Scheduling of new business items Items of new business submitted in accordance with these Stand-ing Rules shall be the first business items at all business meetings except the first business meeting of the Representative Assembly. These new business items shall be considered for at least one hour 90 minutes at the second business meeting and for at least 90 minutes two hours at each subsequent meeting.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Standing Rule 3(D) provides for consideration of new business items as the first order of business at all business sessions other than the opening session. Under this rule, the body must consider NBIs for at

least one hour at the second business meeting and for at least 90 minutes at each subsequent business meeting.

The proposed amendment would increase the time required for con-sideration of new business to at least 90 minutes in the second business session and at least two hours at each business session thereafter. If the amendment is adopted, the chair will set the RA agenda to reflect the increased time allotted for new business consideration during each session.


Contact Person: Seth Rich, Maryland


TITLE: To strike language allowing delegates to yield the unused portion of their allocated speaking time.

Rule 3. Order of Business and DebateG. Yielding Speaking Time A member may yield the micro-phone or speaking time to another delegate only for the unused portion of his/her allotted time, and only for the purpose for which the member was recognized.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Standing Rule 3(G) permits a delegate to yield a portion of his or her unused allotted speaking time to another delegate for the purpose for which the original delegate was recognized.

The proposed amendment would strike Standing Rule 3(G) in its entirety, leaving the Standing Rules silent on the question of yielding speaking time. NEA Standing Rule 3(B) states that “the annual session of the Representative Assembly shall be conducted in accordance with provisions of the NEA Constitution, Bylaws, and these Standing Rules. Matters not specifically governed in these documents shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.”

If the amendment were to be adopted, Robert’s Rules would then govern on the question of yielding time. Robert’s Rules states, “Unless the organization has a special rule on the subject, a member cannot yield any unexpired portion of his time to another member, or reserve any portion of his time for a later time.” (Robert’s Rules, p. 376). Thus, delegates would not be permitted to yield any portion of their unused speaking time.


Contact Person: Seth Rich, Maryland

NotesAmendments



TITLE: To amend the speaking order process to take one request for information at a time in rotation with speakers for and against a mo-tion.

Rule 3. Order of Business and DebateH. Speaking Order/Closing De-bate Requests for information shall be taken in turn: one speaker for; one against; one request for information. No member speaking on a ques-tion may move to close debate. A motion to close debate shall apply to no more than the single question immediately before the Representative Assembly. Before a motion to close debate will be considered, the chair will recognize at least one speaker in support and one speaker in opposi-tion if speakers have called in on the motion on the floor.

IMPACT STATEMENT:NEA Standing Rule 3(B) states that “the annual session of the Represen-tative Assembly shall be conducted in accordance with provisions of the NEA Constitution, Bylaws, and these Standing Rules. Matters not specifically governed in these docu-ments shall be governed by Robert’s Rules.” As the NEA governing docu-ments do not address consideration of requests for information, Robert’s Rules governs current practice.

Under Roberts Rules, a request for information is a request directed to the chair, or through the chair to another person, for information relevant to the business at hand. The request takes precedence and must be addressed before the chair recognizes speakers in favor or in opposition to the motion at hand. (Robert’s Rules, p. 376). Requests for information called in during debate immediately move to the front of the speaking order. Once all requests for information and parliamentary inquiries are addressed, the chair turns to speakers for and against, rotating one speaker in favor and one in opposition.

In 2016, the chair recognized 181 re-quests for information. The number of requests for information in previ-ous recent years was: 219 in 2013, 223 in 2014, and 219 in 2015.

Should the proposed amendment pass, it would supersede Robert’s Rules. Under the amendment, re-quests for information would be tak-en in rotation along with speakers for and against the motion. Thus, such requests would no longer take precedence in the speaking order. Speakers would be called in rota-tion – one speaker for the motion, one speaker against the motion, and one request for information.

This rotation would continue until all speakers for and against and all requests for information were ad-dressed, or until the body moved to close debate.


Contact Person: Tim Graham, Pennsylvania [email protected] STANDING RULE AMENDMENT 3A

TITLE: To amend the speaking order process to take requests for information in the order in which they are received by the presiding officer, rather than moving them to the front of the speaking order.

Rule 3. Order of Business and DebateH. Speaking Order/Closing Debate Requests for information shall be considered in the order in which they are received by the presiding officer. They will not take prece-dence over motions or debate. No member speaking on a ques-tion may move to close debate. A motion to close debate shall apply to no more than the single question immediately before the Representative Assembly. Before a motion to close debate will be considered, the chair will recognize at least one speaker in support and one speaker in opposi-tion if speakers have called in on the motion on the floor.

IMPACT STATEMENT:NEA Standing Rule 3(B) states that “The annual session of the Repre-sentative Assembly shall be conduct-ed in accordance with provisions of the NEA Constitution, Bylaws, and these Standing Rules. Matters not specifically governed in these docu-ments shall be governed by Robert’s Rules.” As the NEA governing docu-ments do not address consideration of requests for information, Robert’s Rules governs current practice.

Under Roberts Rules, a request for information is a request directed to the chair, or through the chair to another person, for information relevant to the business at hand. The request takes precedence and must be addressed before the chair recognizes speakers in favor or in opposition to the motion at hand. (Robert’s Rules, p. 376). Requests for information called in during debate immediately move to the front of the speaking order. Once all requests for information and par-liamentary inquiries are addressed, the chair turns to speakers for and against, rotating one speaker in favor and one in opposition.

In 2016, the chair recognized 181 requests for information. The

number of requests for information in previous recent years was: 219 in 2013, 223 in 2014 and 219 in 2015.

Should the proposed amendment pass, it would supersede Robert’s Rules. Under the amendment, requests for information would be taken in the order in which they are received, along with speakers for and against the motion. Thus, if a re-quest for information were received, the chair would continue to call on all speakers for and against already in the queue prior to the request for information. The chair would then take the request for information followed by any other speakers or requests called in after the request for information.


Contact: Arlene Pavey, California, [email protected]


TITLE: To require the chair to ask delegates if they wish to close debate after five speakers for and five against any motion.

Rule 3. Order of Business and DebateH. Closing Debate No member speaking on a ques-tion may move to close debate. A motion to close debate shall apply to no more than the single question immediately before the Representative Assembly. Before a motion to close debate will be considered, the chair will recognize at least one speaker in support and one speaker in opposi-tion if speakers have called in on the motion on the floor. Upon hearing five speakers for and five speakers against any item under discussion, the chair shall ask the delegates if they wish to close debate.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Standing Rule 3(H) requires the chair to recognize at least one speaker in support and one speaker in opposition to a motion before closing debate, if such speakers have called in. After at least one speaker in support and one in opposition, any delegate may move to close de-bate or “call the question.” Closing debate requires a two-thirds vote, although the chair may ask the body if it wishes to close debate without objection.

The proposed amendment would require the chair to call the question after the body has heard five speak-ers for and five in opposition to a motion. If the amendment were ad-opted, the chair would ask the body if it wishes to close debate after five speakers for and five against the motion, even if no delegate moved to call the question. Closing debate

would still require a two-thirds vote.


Contact Person: Dean Beckett, Pennsylvania STANDING RULE AMENDMENT 5

TITLE: To change the language used to indicate opposition to a mo-tion from “no” to “aye.”

Rule 3. Order of Business and DebateNew Section I. Voting on the Question When taking the vote on any question before the Representative Assembly, the presiding officer shall ask those who are in support of the question to say “aye” followed by asking those who oppose the ques-tion to say “aye.”

IMPACT STATEMENT:Under current practice, the chair asks delegates to signal their posi-tion on a motion before the body by voice vote, with delegates in favor saying “aye” and delegates opposed saying “no.” If the chair is in doubt as to the outcome, a second voice vote is called, followed by a standing vote if the chair remains in doubt.

The proposed amendment would change the language for indicating opposition to a motion from “no” to “aye.” Thus, the chair would ask delegates in favor to say “aye” and would then ask those opposed also to say “aye.”


Contact Person: Donald Traxler, Ohio STANDING RULE AMENDMENT 6

TITLE: To provide the maker of a motion to bundle and refer new business items one minute to ex-plain the rationale for bundling.

Rule 3. Order of Business and DebateM. Motion to ReferThe vote on a motion to refer shall be in order only after the maker of the original motion has been given the opportunity to speak to the referral. When a motion is made to com-bine or bundle new business items for referral to committees, the chair shall give the maker one (1) minute to explain the rationale to bundle. The chair will then ask the makers of each NBI if they support referral. The makers of each NBI shall be given one minute to explain whether they support or oppose referral.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Standing Rule 3(M) states that a vote on a motion to refer any item

Amendments


of business before the body is in order only after the maker of the original motion has been given the opportunity to speak to the refer-ral. Standing Rule 3(N) allows that any standing rule may be suspended without notice by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting.

The RA currently may vote to suspend the rules to group multiple new business items together for the purpose of referral to an appropri-ate committee. In 2016, the RA adopted an amendment to Stand-ing Rule 3(M) allotting the maker of each NBI proposed for grouped referral one minute to speak in favor or against the referral.

The proposed amendment would provide the maker of a motion to bundle and refer a group of NBIs one minute to explain the rationale for bundling. If the amendment were adopted, the chair would give the maker of a motion to bundle one minute to explain his or her ra-tionale before calling on the makers of the items proposed for bundling to speak in favor or against referral.


Contact Person: Sonia Galaviz, Idaho, [email protected] STANDING RULE AMENDMENT 7

TITLE: To allow one minute of speaking time to each maker of new business items proposed for bun-dling and approval by the body, as well as one minute of speaking time to a delegate in opposition to each item proposed for bundling.

Rule 3. Order of Business and DebateNew Section N. Motion to Bundle for Approval Whenever there is a motion to suspend the rules for the purpose of bundling new business items for approval, the chair will allow the maker of the new business items one minute to speak for, and recognize a speaker for one minute against, each new business item.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Under current practice, a delegate may move to suspend the rules for the purpose of bundling new business items, either for referral to committee or for adoption by the body. Any such motion requires a two-thirds vote. Under Standing Rule 3(M), if a motion is made to bundle and refer new business items, the makers of each item proposed for referral are allotted one minute to speak in favor or against referral. A motion to bundle and approve a group of new business items is not subject to this requirement.

The proposed amendment would allot one minute of speaking time to

the maker of each new business item proposed for bundling and adop-tion. In addition, it would allot one minute of speaking time to a del-egate in opposition to each item. If the amendment were adopted, once a motion were made to suspend the rules for the purpose of grouping and adopting several new business items, the chair would call on the maker of the first item to speak, followed by a speaker in opposition to the item, if there were any such delegate. The chair would pro-ceed in this manner for each item proposed for bundling. Once each maker and a delegate in opposition to each item had spoken for up to one minute, the chair would call for a vote on the motion to suspend the rules. If the motion passed, the NBIs in question would be adopted. If the motion were defeated, the NBIs would remain in the queue for individual consideration.


Contact Person: Ross Hickman, Georgia STANDING RULE AMENDMENT 7A

TITLE: To strike language requiring that a vote on the budget occur after consideration of all new business items.

Rule 4. ReportsD. Report of the Committee on Program and Budget Appropriation requests shall be considered by the Representative As-sembly at the time of the adoption of the budget. The adoption of the budget shall be by vote of the Repre-sentative Assembly after consider-ation of all new business items.

IMPACT STATEMENT: NEA Bylaw 4-1 gives authority to the president to set the program for the Annual Meeting and RA. Stand-ing Rule 4(D) addresses consider-ation by the RA of the Association’s Strategic Plan and Budget, requiring that a vote on the budget occur only after all new business items have been considered. Under the current rule, debate and vote on the budget take place toward the end of the final day of the RA.

If adopted, the amendment would strike language requiring completion of all debate on new business items prior to the vote on the budget. The amendment would provide flexibility to the president to place consideration of the budget at an appropriate time in the RA pro-gram, under the general authority set forth in Bylaw 4-1. As always, the full program schedule, includ-ing consideration of the budget, would be printed in the RA program booklet.

Submitted by: NEA Board of Directors

Contact Person: Eric Brown, Illinois [email protected]

STANDING RULE AMENDMENT 7B

TITLE: To change from 25 to 50 the number of signatures required for submission of an amendment to the NEA Standing Rules by petition of delegates.

Rule 5. Amendments to the NEA Constitution, Bylaws, and Stand-ing RulesC (1)(a). Amendments to Stand-ing Rules. Proposal of Standing Rule Amendments; Petition of Delegates Amendments to the Standing Rules may be proposed to the Rep-resentative Assembly by one or more of the following methods:(a) Petition of Delegates – peti-

tion signed by at least twenty-five (25) fifty (50) certified delegates and submitted to the Committee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules for presen-tation to the Representative Assembly.

(b) State Delegation – a state delegation in the Representative Assembly whose concurrence in the proposed amendment is evidenced either by a majority vote of those delegates present and voting in such delegation at a regularly called meeting of the delegation held in connection with the Annual Meeting or by petition signed by a majority of the members of such delega-tion. Proposals shall then be submitted to the Committee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules for presentation to the Representative Assembly.

(c) NEA Board of Directors – ma-jority vote of the NEA Board of Directors and submitted to the Committee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules for presen-tation to the Representative Assembly.

(d) Committee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules – a majority vote of the Committee on Con-stitution, Bylaws, and Rules.

IMPACT STATEMENT: The NEA Standing Rules set forth requirements for submission of all RA business, including new business items as well as amendments to the Legislative Program, resolutions, policy statements, and the NEA Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules. Delegates may submit busi-ness to the Committee on Constitu-tion, Bylaws, and Rules via petition as follows: • Amendments to the NEA Stand-

ing Rules by petition signed by at least 25 delegates (Standing Rule 5(C))

• New business items by petition

signed by at least 50 delegates (Standing Rule 6(A))

• Amendments to the NEA Legis-lative Program by petition signed by at least 50 delegates (Standing Rule 8(A))

• Amendments to NEA Policy Statements by petition signed by at least 50 delegates (Standing Rule 9(D))

• Amendments to the NEA Con-stitution and Bylaws by petition signed by at least 50 delegates or by petition signed by at least one hundred (100) Active members from two (2) or more states (Con-stitution Article IX, Section 1)

If adopted, the amendment would increase from 25 to 50 the required number of petition signatures for submission of amendments to the NEA Standing Rules. The Com-mittee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules would provide updated signa-ture forms for submission of amend-ments, starting with those submitted at the 2017 RA for consideration by the 2018 RA.

Submitted by: NEA Board of Directors

Contact Person: Maury Koffman, Michigan, [email protected]


WITHDRAWN


TITLE: To allow deferral of consid-eration of a new business item if a majority of the maker’s state delega-tion is not present due to voting.

Rule 6. New Business ItemsNew Section I. Deferral of Consideration The maker of a new business item shall be able to defer consideration of their new business item if a ma-jority of their state delegation is not present due to voting.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Election dates and times are gov-erned by the NEA Standing Rules:• Standing Rule 11(B)(7)(b)

states that first ballot elections for NEA office “shall be on the second day of the Representa-tive Assembly. Polls for voting on the first ballot shall be open from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon on election day at such place or places as the President may des-ignate.”

• Standing Rule 11(B)(7)(i) states that “polls for voting on amend-ments shall be open from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon on the third day of the Representative Assembly at such place or places as the President shall designate.”

Amendments


• Standing Rule 11(B)(7)(m) states that “the Representative Assem-bly shall not recess until the re-sults of the election are certified and presented to the Assembly on the day of an election.”

Timing of the consideration of new business items is also governed by NEA Standing Rules. Specifically Standing Rule 3(D) requires that "items of new business submitted in accordance with these Stand-ing Rules shall be the first business item at all business meetings except the first business meeting of the Representative Assembly. These new business items shall be considered for at least one hour at the second business meeting and for at least 90 minutes at each subsequent meet-ing.” Under this Standing Rule, new business is considered for at least 90 minutes on the mornings of the second and third days, at the same time elections are conducted pursuant to Standing Rule 11.

The proposed amendment would allow a maker to defer consideration of a new business item if a major-ity of the maker’s state delegation is not present due to voting. If the amendment were approved, a maker could make a request to defer upon being called to move the item. If the conditions for deferral were met (the absence of a majority of the maker’s delegation due to voting), the chair would move to the next business item. The specific time for returning to consideration of the deferred item would be at the chair’s discretion.


Contact Person: Denise Butler, Washington


TITLE: To require that any vacancy on the Resolutions Committee in a slot held by an elected ethnic-minority member be filled by an elected ethnic minority alternate member if available.

Rule 7. Resolutions Committee and ProcedureB (7). Resolutions Committee - Vacancies Between Representative Assemblies The procedure for filling vacan-cies on the Resolutions Committee between meetings of the Representa-tive Assembly shall be as follows: If the number of vacancies exceeds the number of alternates elected to fill vacancies, additional alternates shall be appointed by the govern-ing board of the state affiliate or by the NEA Advisory Committee of Student Members, if feasible, or appointed by the president of the state affiliate or the chairperson of the NEA Advisory Committee of

Student Members. Retired member vacancies shall be filled as provided in the bylaws of NEA-Retired.

In the event that a vacancy oc-curs by an elected ethnic minority member from an ethnic minority group, that vacancy shall be filled when available by an elected minor-ity alternate member from an ethnic minority group.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Standing Rule 7(B)(7) sets forth the procedure by which govern-ing boards and/or officers may fill vacancies in elected positions on the Resolutions Committee between meetings of the RA. Elected positions on the Resolutions Committee include members and alternates from among:• Each state delegation to the RA• Retired delegates to the RA• Student members of the Associa-

tion

Determination of the order of alternates is the prerogative respec-tively of state associations, NEA-Retired, and the Student Program. Alternates may be ranked by order of votes, assigned as alternates for specific members, or assigned in another order determined by the state association, NEA-Retired, or the Student Program. If the amendment were adopted, state associations, NEA-Retired, and the Student Program would be required to fill any vacancy in a position held by an elected ethnic-minority Resolutions committee member with an elected ethnic-minority alternate, when available. NEA would deem such an alternate to be available if an ethnic minority member had already been elected as an alternate. If no ethnic minor-ity had been elected as an alternate, state associations, NEA-Retired, or the Student Program could then fill the vacancy in accordance with their own procedures and practices.

The requirement would not apply to vacancies arising among at-large committee members in the catego-ries of education support profes-sional, classroom teacher in higher education, administrator, or ethnic minority. These at-large seats are appointed as necessary by the presi-dent, rather than elected, to ensure proportional representation in each employment category, and to ensure that ethnic minority members com-prise at least twenty (20) percent of the committee.


Contact Person: Penny Lee-Cox, Illinois, [email protected]


TITLE: To strike language provid-ing that NEA policy statements supersede NEA resolutions and that resolutions must be changed editorially to conform to positions addressed in policy statements.

Rule 9. Policy StatementsC. Effect of Adopted Policy State-ments If a policy statement is adopted by the Representative Assembly, any resolution, new business item, or provision in the Legislative Program that deals with the subject addressed in the policy statement shall be editorially changed to accommodate the positions taken in the policy statement. Any resolution, new business item, or provision in the Legislative Program that deals with a subject addressed in an adopted policy statement shall be accom-panied by a notation indicating that NEA’s position with regard to the subject in question is set forth in full in the policy statement and that the policy statement is control-ling and supersedes all other NEA pronouncements dealing with that subject except resolutions. An adopted policy statement shall continue in force unless and until further action is taken with regard to that policy statement by a subse-quent Representative Assembly.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Prior to 2003, the RA maintained three primary areas of formally adopted NEA policies and actions: resolutions, new business items, and the Legislative Program. None of these three were considered to control or supersede the other two. Through deliberations of the RA, the will of the body was determined by giving precedence to the posi-tion taken the last time the RA gave substantive consideration to (i.e., debated) the point at issue. For example, if the RA adopted an amendment to the Legislative Pro-gram that changed a position taken in an existing resolution, passage of the legislative amendment would ef-fectively represent the last time that the RA gave substantive consider-ation and, as such, precedence to the point at issue.

To allow NEA to act compre-hensively on a particular issue of significance, rather than in a piece-meal fashion through separate and potentially conflicting new business items and amendments to resolu-tions and the Legislative Program, the RA adopted a standing rule in 2003 to establish the definition of, and process for, consideration of policy statements. Under Standing Rule 9 today, a policy statement will often operate as a single statement of NEA policy and actions on an issue of significance incorporating

provisions that otherwise would have been dealt with separately in resolutions, new business, and the Legislative Program. By definition, a policy statement sets forth NEA’s positions with regard to a particular subject and may include expressions of opinion, intent, or belief (reflect-ing, in part, NEA’s definition of a resolution); may call for actions that are specific in nature and termi-nal in application (reflecting the purpose and scope of a new business item); and may indicate support for or opposition to federal legislation (reflecting the intent of the Legis-lative Program). Standing Rule 9 further establishes that policy state-ments are controlling and supersede resolutions, new business items, and the Legislative Program, and sets forth procedures by which these policies must be aligned editorially to accommodate positions taken in an existing or newly adopted policy statement.

If this amendment were adopted, policy statements would continue to control and supersede new business items and the Legislative Program, requiring any new business item or provision in the Legislative Program that addresses a subject contained in a policy statement to be editorially changed to accommodate the posi-tions taken in the policy statement. However, this would not apply to resolutions. As such, neither policy statements nor resolutions would control or supersede one another, and proposed amendments to resolutions or proposed new resolu-tions could be recommended by the Resolutions Committee to and adopted by the RA that effectively would change a position taken in a policy statement.

Through deliberations of the RA, the will of the body would con-tinue to be determined by giving precedence to the position taken the last time the RA gave substan-tive consideration to (i.e., debated) the point at issue. For example, if the RA adopted a policy statement that changed a position taken in an existing resolution, passage of the policy statement effectively would represent the last time that the RA gave substantive consideration and, as such, precedence to the point at issue. The converse of this would also be true, whereby if the RA adopted a resolution that changed a position taken in an existing policy statement, passage of the resolution effectively would represent the last time that the RA gave substantive consideration and, as such, prece-dence to the point at issue.

If adopted, the amendment would not impact Standing Rule 9(D), which would remain in effect. That provision states that, at the RA, the Committee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules shall treat as a policy statement amendment any

Amendments


proposed resolutions amendment that would have the effect of chang-ing a position taken in an adopted or a proposed policy statement, and that any such amendment shall be acted upon when policy statements are being considered by the RA.


Contact Person: Geoff Mize, Ohio [email protected] STANDING RULE AMENDMENT 12

TITLE: To prohibit the distribu-tion, display, or posting of any materials promoting passage or defeat of a Constitutional or Bylaw amendment at polling places or in locations visible from polling places on election day.

Rule 11. Elections Conducted at the Representative AssemblyB (3). Procedures – Campaign Materials No campaign materials may be distributed, posted, or displayed within the seating area of the au-ditorium or where they are visible from the seating area while the Rep-resentative Assembly is in session, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to the wearing of T-shirts,

hats, pins, buttons, and the like. No campaign materials or materi-als promoting passage or defeat of any Constitutional or Bylaw amend-ment, including T-shirts, hats, pins, buttons, and the like, shall be distributed, posted, or displayed at the polling places or where they are visible from the polling places on election day.

IMPACT STATEMENT:Standing Rule 11(B)(3) addresses the display of campaign materials at polling places on election day, spe-cifically prohibiting the distribution, posting, or display of campaign ma-terials, including T-shirts, hats, pins, buttons, and the like, at the polling places or where they are visible from the polling places on election day. Campaign materials are defined under Standing Rule 13(G) as items that have the purpose or effect of promoting the candidacy of an indi-vidual for NEA office.

The proposed amendment would extend the prohibition on materials at polling places to those promot-ing passage or defeat of any consti-tutional or bylaw amendment. If the amendment were adopted, any materials in support of or opposi-tion to a constitutional or bylaw amendment – including hats, pins,

buttons, and the like – would be prohibited at or near polling places on election day. The amendment would not impact display or distri-bution of materials on the RA floor.


Contact Person: Tim Graham, Pennsylvaina [email protected]

Notes

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Amendments


new Business items

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 1

That NEA will make available through the NEA website an ongoing updated list of companies and orga-nizations that the NEA is boycotting with a brief explanation as to why they are being boycotted.

Rationale/BackgRoundOften affiliates are left without the resources to know what is on our do not buy or use list. This would not only be a valuable aid but also allows the list to be current and updated regularly.

Submitted By: Governance body of affiliates

Contact: Roger Kavigan, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-4 CommunicationsCF-6 Governance

coSt implicationSActivities to fulfill the require-ments of this NBI can be under-taken within the proposed Modi-fied 2017-2018 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 2

The NEA will conduct qualitative research of Online Credit Recovery Programs (OCRP) that were recently being used in various school districts across the nation, noting those using research-based blended or hybrid instruction.

Rationale/BackgRoundA 2015 meta-analysis shows that OCRP have withdrawal rates of 50-60%. Schools define a 60% score as "mastery." Others argue that at-risk students need this option. NEA needs to research the spread of OCRP.

Submitted By: Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in con-nection with the annual meeting.

Contact: Tammy Smith, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-1 Research Policy and Practice

coSt implicationSThis NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $60,000.

______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 3

The NEA will continue to advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LG-BTQ) students and educators by taking the following actions to counter the continuing backlash against LGBTQ individuals:

1. Call upon our members and society to promote a culture of safety, support, and affirmation that ensures civil rights and advocacy for LGBTQ members and students including, adopt-ing policies that respect the civil rights of all educators and students, inclusive of transgen-der students and educators.

2. Provide tools for affiliates and members to use at the state and local level to gain or secure pro-tections for LGBTQ individuals at work and in schools.

3. Convene periodic webinars for state and local affiliates and members (in the fall, winter, and spring) to provide updates as to the current status of state and local protections as well as models for actions that can be taken at the state and local level to increase protections.

4. Provide legislative support and resources to state affiliates and tools for local affiliates to use in advocating for increased LGBTQ protections.

5. Continue to actively participate in the legal efforts to secure full civil rights for LGBTQ individuals by filing amicus curiae briefs in support of chal-lenges to anti-LGBTQ legisla-tive and policy initiatives and in support of ensuring full civil rights protections for LGBTQ individuals.

6. Evaluate eliminating states and cities as acceptable locations for future NEA meetings if the state or city adopts a law or ordinance that licenses discrim-ination against students and educators based on their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Rationale/BackgRoundThe LGBTQ community is under attack. NEA's actions must reflect its vision of great public schools for all students and educators by ensur-ing the safety, respect, affirmation, and success of every student and educator in a diverse and interde-pendent world.


Contact: Emilly Osterling, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-3 Advocacy and Outreach


______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 4

NEA-Retired requests that NEA legal counsel draft templates that can be used in every state to address current concerns such as eliminating gerrymandering, reversing right to work, or preserving pensions.

Rationale/BackgRoundThis will help make drafting legisla-tion more efficient and allow our supporters to keep issues important to us constantly on the floor of the house and senate in every state.


Contact: Judy Gail Armstrong-Hall, Michigan [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-3 Advocacy and OutreachCF-5 Business Operations


______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 5

We call upon the NEA, as a power-ful member of the labor community, to explore how we could use existing funds to promote solidarity amongst all labor communities through ac-tions such as

• Declaring that an attack on one of our labor groups is an attack on ALL of our labor groups.

• Working together with other organized labor unions, includ-ing, but not limited to United Steelworkers (USW), United Automobile Workers (UAW), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Teach-ers (AFT), International Broth-erhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Em-ployees (AFSCME), Nurses, Firefighters, Peace Officers and many others.

• Standing united against any action that would diminish our rights or the rights of any of our brothers and sisters in the greater labor community.

• Providing support, including

Notes


new Business items

but not limited to: walking picket lines, providing crisis funds, and other assistance as needed with all labor unions who are faced with uncertainty based off of the whims of local, state, and federal governments.

Rationale/BackgRoundAs a result of the actions undertaken in Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, most recently Iowa, and many oth-ers, the NEA should look at how we can build relationships and coopera-tion with all organized labor.


Contact: Mark Duffy, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-3 Advocacy and OutreachCF-6 Governance

coSt implicationSActivities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed Modified 2017-2018 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.

______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 6

I move that NEA investigate the feasibility of using otherwise empty charter buses that are being con-tracted for RA use from outside of the host city to transport local and state delegates along the buses' routes to the RA site.

Rationale/BackgRoundCharter buses are contracted from across the region for NEA RA. Instead of sending empty buses to the host city, NEA should work with local and state associations on those bus routes to provide free transpor-tation for RA delegates.


Contact: Paul Schulte, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-5 Business OperationsCF-6 Governance

coSt implicationSThis NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $1,000. If this NBI passes, it will be referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee.

______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 7

The NEA shall, using existing re-search and available sources, publish an article in the NEA Today provid-ing the best available information on connections between the school-

to-prison pipeline and the govern-ment's practice of privatization of prisons, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention centers. This article will also share examples of efforts that have successfully reduced, reversed, or ended these privatization schemes.

Rationale/BackgRoundStakeholders benefiting from prison privatization are also found in the school privatization movement. These groups prey on our most vulnerable students and families, turning them into profit streams for corporations. Members need information to successfully fight this insidious trend.


Contact: Sandra Hunt, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-3 Advocacy and OutreachCF-4 Communications


______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 8

The NEA President will communi-cate to Booking.com that its kinder-garten advertisement was offensive to and demeaning of educators and our students. Further, utilizing existing communication resources, the NEA will urge its state and local affiliates to also let Booking.com know that its advertisement was demeaning of and offensive to educators and students.

Rationale/BackgRoundBooking.com needs to hear from us in order to prevent advertisements similar to its kindergarten advertise-ment (Booking.com: Kindergarten on Youtube, 1-888-850-3958) from appearing in the future.

Submitted by: Majority vote at regularly called meeting of the state delegation in con-nection with the annual meeting.

Contact: Len Paolillo, Massachusetts

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-4 CommunicationsCF-6 Governance


______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 9

I move that NEA create a train-ing module on trauma-informed instruction that can be accessed by state and local affiliates.

Rationale/BackgRoundHaving resources and trainings that specifically deal with trauma-informed instruction is vital to our current educational climate. Many educators do not have access to these resources, making building a student supported classroom envi-ronment difficult.


Contact: Erika Jones, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)G-2 Empowered Educators for Suc-cessful StudentsCF-1 Research Policy and Practice


______

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 10

I move that NEA will create articles using existing digital resources to inform members of the detrimental effects of student random searches.

Rationale/BackgRoundRandom search policies dispropor-tionately affect students of color and help to continue the school-to-pris-on pipeline. The random searches are many times not random. Students of color are profiled and subjected to public reprimand and embarrassment.


Contact: Cecily Myart-Cruz, [email protected]



______


The NEA will publish, through its digital media properties, its strong opposition to forced migration and deportations. In order to educate NEA and community members about the detrimental effects forced migration and deportations have on

Notes


new Business itemspeople, this publication should in-clude, but not be limited to, stories about and histories of

• Forced migrations and deporta-tions, both past and present.

• How children's lives are detrimentally affected directly and indirectly through forced migration and deportations.

• U.S. military veterans deported after serving in the U.S. mili-tary.

• Why people flee their home countries, including war, famine, and imbalanced treaties such as NAFTA.

And, statistics on

• Numbers and ethnicities of deportees over time.

• Crime statistics, including types of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants vs. citizens.

• Numbers of refugees and mi-grant patterns worldwide.

• Who is affected by immigration laws and policies and how they are affected.

Rationale/BackgRoundStrong correlations exist among the physical safety, emotional and social health, economic stability of com-munities, and successful students. Forced migration and deportations violate every aspect of this inter-relationship. We support human rights worldwide and believe that no human is illegal.


Contact: Angela Wolf, [email protected]



______


I move that NEA will have an ongoing series in the NEA Today and existing digital resources high-lighting examples of community schools across the nation and will create a training module for locals to use with parent and community partners around creating community schools.

Rationale/BackgRoundAll students deserve community schools. They are the answer to the well-funded privatization at-tacks. We need to support positive examples and inspire our communi-ties to help push back against these

attacks and push forward a vision of community schools.


Contact: Cecily Myart-Cruz, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)G-S Goals' Shared TacticsCF-4 Communications


______


I move that NEA Board of Direc-tors consider a new policy statement on public community schools to be presented at the 2018 NEA RA for adoption.

Rationale/BackgRoundCommunity schools have promoted a positive way forward, especially for our neediest schools. This policy statement allows us to lead our profession as the voice for public community schools. Who better than NEA to be the voice for our profession?


Contact: Abby Beytin, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)G-S Goals' Shared TacticsCF-6 Governance


______


That the NEA use existing resources to identify and distribute best prac-tices in developing trauma-informed educational efforts being utilized by NEA affiliated educational institu-tions.

Rationale/BackgRoundThere has been successful research that trauma-informed educational efforts have led to reductions in educational challenges and improved educational outcomes for all stu-dents. Many state and local affili-ates have developed these efforts but they are not generally available.


Contact: Robert Hull, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-1 Research Policy and Practice


______


NEA will support the implemen-tation of restorative practices by sharing with the members through existing NEA communication chan-nels the best practices and guidelines to implement restorative practices in states and locals.

Rationale/BackgRoundThe implementation of restorative practices is a means to curtail the school-to-prison pipeline. Students who are suspended have a higher likelihood of not graduating.

Submitted by: 50 delegates

Contact: Theresa Mitchell Dudley, Maryland [email protected]



______


NEA will review the demographic data of high-stakes assessments, like PRAXIS, and other state and national assessments, to ensure that candidates of color are not adversely impacted when they take the assess-ments required to become educators. The results of this review should be shared through existing NEA com-munication channels.

Rationale/BackgRoundAccountability and assessments are important. However, we need to ad-dress potential testing inequities as we attempt to recruit new teachers. Complete transparency in score re-porting is needed to ensure bias-free test reporting.

Notes


new Business itemsSubmitted by: 50 Delegates

Contact: Kumar Rashad, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)G-S Goals' Shared TacticsCF-4 Communications


______


The NEA stands for all students including immigrant students, stu-dents from religious minorities, stu-dents of color, and LGBTQ students and will act to ensure that their civil rights are fully protected by:

1. Calling upon our members and society to take action to promote a culture of safety, support, and affirmation that ensures civil rights for all stu-dents by adopting policies that respect the civil rights of all students.

2. Providing tools for affiliates and members to use at the state and local level to gain or secure protections for students' civil rights.

3. Issuing legal guidance and mod-el school district policies that spell out the legal rights and provide best practices designed to ensure that students' rights are protected.

4. Continuing to actively par-ticipate in the legal efforts to secure full civil rights by join-ing with other legal advocacy organizations and filing amicus curiae briefs in courts to argue in support of those rights high-lighting the commitment of NEA members to the equal and fair treatment of all students.

5. Joining with the civil rights and advocacy community to ensure that the federal civil rights of students continue to be enforced.

6. Pursuing information regarding the extent to which the current U.S. Department of Education has cut back enforcement of federal civil rights.

7. Joining with other allies to challenge where appropriate the U.S. Department of Educa-tion's rollback of civil rights protections for students.

8. Highlighting through NEA communication properties the efforts of NEA members to advocate for their students for these core civil rights issues.

Rationale/BackgRoundThe choices of the current adminis-tration have placed our students in harm's way by cutting back on the enforcement of students' civil rights. This NBI allows the NEA to take the lead in the support and defense of our students.


Contact: Amber Gould , [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-3 Advocacy and Outreach



The NEA will oppose deportations and reiterate that public school staff should refuse cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforce-ment (ICE) officials or any official seeking immigration information due to the detrimental effects ICE actions have on documented, citi-zen, and undocumented community members alike.

The NEA will issue a press release stating its support for the physical, social, and emotional well-being all members of school-communities need in order to learn. This press release will also reiterate that school staff should not be encouraged or coerced to provide information about the immigration status of any community member in order to safeguard students' privacy and well-being.

Rationale/BackgRoundFirst, safe communities are neces-sary for student learning. Sec-ond, military involvement in 135 countries contributes to instability overseas and often results in forced migration. Therefore, education staff should protect students from deportation.


Contact: Angela Wolf, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)G-2 Empowered Educators for Suc-cessful StudentsCF-3 Advocacy and Outreach


______


NEA will reissue the call to action urging members and the public to join the effort to demand that U.S. Secretary of Education DeVos answer NEA President Lily Eskelsen García questons posed in her letter of February 14, 2017.

Rationale/BackgRoundIt is important that we understand DeVos' position on the critical issues we care about for our students. We need to support our NEA President and remind Secretary DeVos that we're still waiting for substantive answers to her questions.

Submitted by: 50 delegates

Contact: Becca Ritchie, [email protected]

Relevant StRategic goal (g) oR coRe Function (cF)CF-3 Advocacy and OutreachCF-6 Governance


______

Notes


new Business items

New Business Item ChecklistSubmitting a New Business Item (NBI)? Please start with these two initial questions:

1. Is your proposal “new?” NEA has a Strategic Plan and Budget and ongoing programs to move our mission forward and achieve our goals. The Association also has Policy Statements, Resolutions and a Legislative Program approved by the RA. NBIs call on NEA to do new things not covered in our existing programs and policies. If you need assistance to determine if your idea is covered in NEA’s policies or if NEA is already doing work on the issue, talk with your state leaders and NEA Direc-tors and/or review the NEA Resolutions, Legislative Program, and Policy Statements in your delegate packet.

2. Is your proposal an NBI? NEA’s Standing Rules define NBIs as “spe-cific in nature and terminal in application.” Any item related to federal legislation, whether or not it references a specific bill or law, must be submitted as a legislative amendment, not an NBI. Items stating general beliefs, rather than actions to be undertaken by the Association, must be submitted as amendments to NEA Resolutions. Items that would change NEA policy on issues covered by NEA Policy Statements must be submit-ted as amendments to those Policy Statements.

If your answer to these first two questions is “yes,” please consult the fol-lowing checklist before submitting your form to ensure smooth processing and consideration of your NBI:

r Do you have the correct form? The NBI form was amended in 2016, as noted on the bottom of the form. The Committee on Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules cannot accept previous versions.

r Is your NBI clear and understandable for delegates? Please refrain from using acronyms or terms of art that may not be understood by all delegates. Please also make sure you clearly state the specific actions NEA should take to implement the item.

r Have you removed any rationale language from the text of the mo-tion? Language (up to 40 words) related to rationale for the motion should be included only in the “rationale” box. The text of the motion itself cannot include any rationale language.

rIs your rationale 40 words or less? Longer rationales must be edited down by the maker or will be automatically cut off after the 40th word.

r Do you authorize publication of your e-mail address? Doing so will assist delegates who wish to contact you with questions. If so, please sign the authorization line.

r Is everything on your form legible? Please make sure that everything, including your name, contact information, and the name of your sec-onder, is legible. Please keep all information within the provided boxes, as information in the margins may not copy well.

Amending a submitted NBI? Please use the following standards for clarity and consistency:

r Identify the specific sentence(s) you wish to amend, or if you are pro-posing a complete substitute.

r Clearly note which words you wish to delete and/or add by specifying the location (paragraph and sentence) and providing the exact language. Do not use line numbers.

r [Bracket] all proposed deletions; underline all proposed additions.

r Examples: • Amend NBI 2: In the 4th sentence, insert using existing vehicles of

communication after “NEA shall educate members”

• Amend NBI 3: In the 3rd sentence, delete [send to all members] and replace with publish on NEA media properties

New Business Item CostFrequently Asked Questions

What is the process for costing out NBIs at the RA?NEA Standing Rule 6H establishes a five-member committee to review NBIs prior to and during the RA. The committee consists of the NEA secretary-treasurer, one member of the Board of Directors elected by and from the Board, and three delegates to the RA appointed by the president. The com-mittee, along with the chief financial officer, reviews each NBI and consults with the directors of relevant NEA departments. The NBI Committee then makes a preliminary estimate of the cost of each item and determines whether the item is already covered in the program budget.

Why do items seeming to have little or no cost (such as writing a letter or including an article in existing publications) have cost implications? The first question the NBI Committee considers when determining the cost of an NBI is whether the proposed work is contemplated under the NEA Strategic Plan and Budget or if it is outside of the scope of planned work. Any activities outside of planned work will have a cost, as staff time and resources will need to be reassigned to complete the work. Department directors assist the NBI Committee in determining how many staff hours will be required to complete work and a cost is assigned based on a pre-determined daily rate for staff time.

Requiring communication of an item using only existing NEA vehicles does not eliminate cost. Staff time to complete the project must be calculated. In addition, if an item is not already on a publication production schedule, addi-tional pages may have to be added to accommodate the requirement, thereby increasing the cost of producing, printing, and mailing the publication.

How do we cost out?• Printing, photocopying, and mailing tasks? Pre-set modules establish

costs per unit based on the type of publication (booklet, newsletter, single sheets, brochure, poster, etc.), number of pages, whether the item will be in color or black and white, and how many copies will be required. Mail-ing costs are assigned based on the first class postage cost per unit. Staff cost is calculated based on the number of hours estimated to complete the project.

• Travel? Pre-set modules establish costs for air, hotel, meals, and miscel-laneous expenses (car rental, taxi, tips, phone, etc.) depending on the estimated number of days.

• Surveys and other research? Pre-set modules establish costs based on the minimum recommended sample size for the required respondent popula-tion. Modules include costs for surveys of NEA members, likely voters, state and local affiliates, and UniServ staff. Staff cost is calculated based on the number of hours estimated to complete the project. Consulting costs are based on hourly rates and the level of effort typically incurred for the work requested.

• Rallies and similar events? Costs for NBIs requiring rallies and marches include travel, housing, food, transportation at the site, staff time, public-ity, permits, and other expenses associated with planning and executing a large-scale event.

• Items that call for notification to or participation by state and local affiliates? NEA has 51 state affiliates, 14,000 local affiliates, and three million members. The cost of NBIs requiring notification of members or affiliates is determined using modules for mailing using first class post-age as well as the cost of producing (including staff time) and printing required items. NBIs calling for electronic notification require staff time to produce the required items. NBIs calling for participation by members or affiliates (such as a contest) take into account the staff time required to organize and evaluate responses from a large number of affiliates or mem-bers.

You know what your students need to succeed — the tools, the resources and, most importantly, the opportunity. This is your chance to speak up and tell politicians what your students deserve.

&

Your Voice Matters! Help Shape Education Policy.

Ensure the voice of educators is included in education policy.

Visit: myschoolmyvoice.nea.org

CAndidAtes for neA BoArd of direCtors

Candidates for at-Large direCtor representing eduCation support professionaLs

(Three-year term/7 positions)

Name: Donna WestEmployment Position: Child Nutrition Program ManagerCommunity and State of Residence: Scottsboro, Alabama Current and Previous Employment: Scottsboro City Board of Education – CNP Manager; Alabama Papermakers Federal Credit Union – Operations ManagerAssociation Experience:

Local: Scottsboro City ESP – Current President, past Vice PresidentState: AEA Board of Directors, AEA ESP Board of Directors, AEA Emerging LeadersNational: NEA At-Large Director, Anti-Privatization Working Group, NEA Lead-ers for Tomorrow

What do you consider the overriding issues in education? The attempt to starve our public schools into failure is unacceptable. We the people must stand united and say enough, no more. Our students, our future are dependent on our coming together with one voice. Now is the time. WE CAN MAKE A DIF-FERENCE!

Name: Margaret PowellEmployment Position: Secondary Schools Data ManagerCommunity and State of Residence: Jackson, North CarolinaCurrent and Previous Employment: Northampton County Schools Secondary Schools Data Manager, Behavior Support Assistant, In-School Suspension CoordinatorAssociation Experience:

Local: Local Affiliate President, Secretary, Building Repre-sentativeState: District Secretary, State Election Committee, ESP Board of Directors, Membership and Organizing CommitteeNational: ESP Emerging Leader, RA Delegate

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?I believe inadequate funding on the local, state, and federal levels is the most overrid-ing issue in public education. Without adequate funding, it becomes almost impos-sible to meet the needs of the whole student, retain educators in schools, as well as provide the necessary support of ESPs in schools.

Name: Sequanna TaylorEmployment Position: Parent Engagement Specialist at Golda Meir SchoolCommunity and State of Residence: Milwaukee, WisconsinCurrent and Previous Employment:2014 - Present Parent Engagement Specialist; 2016 - Present Milwaukee County Board Supervisor; 2009-2014 Special Edu-cation ParaeducatorAssociation Experience:

Local: President, Milwaukee Education Assistant Associa-tion (MEEA); MTEA Executive Board; Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA) PAC Committee; MTEA Retiree’s Community Involvement CommitteeState: Wisconsin Education Association Council ESP Committee, Wisconsin Education Association Council RA DelegateNational: Alternate NEA Director ESP At-Large, National ESP Certification work, Wisconsin Delegate to NEA RA

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?Funding; class size; educational, racial, and social justice; achievement gap; school-to-prison pipeline; living wage; voucher schemes; toxic testing

Name: Karen BarnesEmployment Position: Driver CoordinatorCommunity and State of Residence: Leander, TexasCurrent and Previous Employment: Current: 23 years in transportation; previous: 8½ years at a residential setting, 7 years in the U.S. Army.

Association Experience: 21 yearsLocal: Local Treasurer 7 years, Executive Board, worksite Association RepresentativeState: TSTA Board of Directors; TSTA CB&E Committee (chair), TSTA House of Delegates; TSTA’s ESP of the Year 2012; TSTA Budget Committee; TSTA ESP Committee National: RA Delegate 2003 – 2012; 2014 -2017 NEA Board of Directors ESP At-Large 2014 - present; GLBT Western Region Co-chair 2008 -2011

What do you consider the overriding issues in education? Funding for education on the national and state level, vouchers, charter schools, priva-tization of jobs, and the school-to-prison pipeline.

Name: Tracy PhillipsEmployment Position: In-House Suspension Teacher AssistantCommunity and State of Residence: Clark County, Las Vegas, NevadaCurrent and Previous Employment: Clark County School District - Employed from August 1996 to presentAssociation Experience:

Local: Education Support Employees Association – Secre-tary/TreasurerState: Nevada State Education Association – Board of Direc-tors by way of NEA At-Large Board MemberNational: NEA Board of Directors, At-Large

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?Institutional racism/school-to-prison pipeline, a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Our students who are victimized by the status quo should be educated and not incarcerated. Betsy DeVos taking funding from public schools to give to private schools.

Name: Dan KivettEmployment Position: Safety OfficerCommunity and State of Residence: Beaumont, CaliforniaCurrent And Previous Employment: Redlands USD, Cougar InvestigationsAssociation Experience:

Local: President Redlands ESP, President UniServ Council-Citrus Belt UniServState: Chair-CTA ESP Advisory Committee; Delegate CTA-State Council; ESP Director At-Large; San Gorgonio Service Center Trainer; CTA ESP Leadership AcademyNational: RA Delegate 5 years; Member-NCESP; NCUSE; NEA Workgroup-Elevating ESP Careers

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?Adequate funding for public schools; safe and secure learning environments; for-profit education; outsourcing of ESP careers; schools should be places of acceptance and diversity

Name: Lisa JenningsEmployment Position: Lead Elementary ClericalCommunity and State of Residence: Sioux Falls, South DakotaCurrent and Previous Employment: 2000-Present, Sioux Falls School DistrictAssociation Experience:

Local: Current President, Sioux Falls Association of Educa-tion Secretaries. Served in many capacities since joining the Association. State: Served many years as ESP At-Large on Board of Directors; Chair, SDEA HCR/Friend of Education Committee; Served on many committees through the years. National: Current ESP At-Large Director; NEA HCR Diversity and Social Justice Cadre Trainer; member of ESP Careers Committee; formerly on NEA Friend of Education Committee

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?Equal opportunity for ALL students. I believe that all children should be offered the same opportunities to learn and grow, regardless of where they live.

Name: Vallerie FisherEmployment Position: ParaCommunity and State of Residence: Seattle, WashingtonCurrent and Previous Employment: Seattle SchoolsAssociation Experience:

Local: SEA Board of Directors; RA Zone Captain; Para Executive Board; Treasurer; Parliamentarian; Educators for Public Education Committee; Seattle Classified Organizing Chair; and Para MentorState: WEA/WEASO Diversity Committee; Black Caucus Chair; Human and Civil Rights Committee; Documents and Resolution; and ESP Action Coordinating TeamNational: 3yr. ESP At-Large; Human & Civil Rights Committee; Higher Educa-tion Committee; and NEA Black Caucus

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?1. Fully funding education2. School-to-prison pipeline3. A living wage


Name: Gerry FrenchEmployment Position: Bus DriverCommunity and State of Residence: Searsport, MaineCurrent and Previous Employment: Bus Driver; Bus Moni-tor; School Maintenance; Food Service; Custodial, Education Technician; and Substitute Classroom TeacherAssociation Experience:

Local: Vice President, Chief Negotiator, Grievance Chair State: Board of Directors; RA Delegate; Committees – State-wide Bargaining, Leadership Development, ESP, Organizing National: RA Delegate, Leaders for Tomorrow Class of 2018

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?The need for an emphasis on social justice issues and organizing; privatization of jobs/schools; right-to-work; childhood poverty; standardized testing/school labeling and shaming; socioeconomic division; discrimination by race/gender/orientation/national-ity/sex or preference; bullying; food insecurity; underfunding; Trump/DeVos ignorance and for-profit education in any form.

Name: Brenda JohnsonEmployment Position: Transition SpecialistCommunity and State of Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Current and Previous Employment: MPSAssociation Experience:

Local: MFT 59 - Executive Board Member; Contract Negotiations; Social Justice Committee; Member Outreach; StewardState: MRLF / POCUM; State Assembly Delegate; MPD First Responder TeamNational: NEA School-to-Prison Pipeline Taskforce; NEA Black Caucus; NEA – RA, ESP Leadership conferences

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?As a servant-leader, I am running for the position of ESP Director, representing students, educators, families and communities to address the issues of: racial justice; present day trauma; cradle-to-prison pipeline; over representation of African American males in special education; educators-of-color shortage; and defending public educa-tion. I am Brenda Johnson asking for your vote.

Name: Frank Green Employment Position: Technology SpecialistCommunity and State of Residence: Bellefontaine Neighbors, MissouriCurrent and Previous Employment: Ferguson-Florissant School District/Mount Vernon Unified School District Association Experience:

Local: FFNEA President; 1st Vice-President; Vice-Treasurer; Executive Board; Professional Negotiations Team; Local Representative; Minority Affairs Chair; PAC Chair; ESP DelegateState: MNEA Board of Directors; ESP President; Black Caucus Vice-President; State Delegate; various committee membershipsNational: ESP Leaders for Tomorrow Graduate (2013); Trainer (Future Leaders Academy)

What do you consider the overriding issues in education? Institutionalized Racism, which begot the dearth of legitimate and equitable education-al services to children in underprivileged areas, which ultimately begot the “school-to-prison pipeline” and Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, whose mission is to destroy public education.

Name: Jeanette Griffin-KimberEmployment Position: Substitute Teacher CoordinatorCommunity and State of Residence: Suwanee, GeorgiaCurrent and Previous Employment: Gwinnett County Public Schools - Substitute Teacher Coordinator/Founder of NIAAssociation Experience:

Local: President and Co-President State: ESP At-Large Director/ ESP of the Year 2015 National: Candidate - NEA/ESP of the year - 2016

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?Concerns for affordable health care and non-union privatization of jobs; having no benefits; cutting hours and excessive standardized testing are critical issues for certified and classified educational employees.

Name: Terri ShumanEmployment Position: Itinerant TesterCommunity and State of Residence: Las Vegas, NevadaCurrent and Previous Employment: Itinerant Tester, Clark County School District 2010-present; Substitute teacher, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2004-2008; Substitute Teacher, Biloxi/Gulfport, Mississippi, 2002-2004; Letter Carrier for Sunnyvale Post Office, 1991-1999; Public Service Officer (Patrol), City of Miami, 1985-1991; Clerk for State Attorney’s Office, 1982-1985Association Experience:

Local: Association Representative, Steward, Organizer, Government Relations, Membership Committee, Delegate Assembly – 10 out of 10 past years. State: NSEA Board of Directors – 3 yearsNational: Representative Assembly, 9 out of 10 past years

What do you consider the overriding issues in education?Bullying; transgenders; classroom size; lack of financial support from city and state

Candidate for at-Large direCtor representing eduCation support professionaLs

(One-year term/1 positions)

Name: Julie WickershamEmployment Position: ParaeducatorCommunity and State of Residence: Clarkston, WashingtonCurrent and Previous Employment: Clarkston School DistrictAssociation Experience:

Local: Building Representative; Secretary; Vice President; PresidentState: Board of Directors; Action Coordinating Team; Small and Rural Task Force National: NEA Board of Directors, ESP At-Large Alternate; NEA Board of Directors, ESP At-Large Interim

What do you consider the overriding issues in education? Betsy DeVos and the cuts to public education. Also the loss of Fair Share. Both issues will affect children across the nation. I believe we need to continue to unite across the nation. Organize by continuing to increase communication from urban cities to small and rural communities.

CAndidAtes for neA BoArd of direCtors


Be a part of making your local a welcoming place for new educators.

(Alicia Conerly, iCARE Early Career Educator member, Mississippi)

“It is important to reach out to early career educators! Often times, the support they get from others is the push they need to continue.”

“Initially, I was nervous to get involved in my union because I was a new young teacher. Immediately, I felt sup-ported by other educators who were passionate about meeting students’ needs like I am. Now I am dedicated to connecting early career educators together through the association. Together, we are one!”

(Megan Flowers, Chair, Young Professionals Caucus, Member of O.N.E, Ohio)

Be the first to connect them to resources and support.

• Speak with recent graduates of education in your state to welcome them to the profession.

• Talk to new educators at New Employee Orienta-tion or at your local’s back to school events.

• Reach out to new colleagues in your worksite

Join Alicia, Megan and, NEA members all over the country in welcoming first year educators into our union and supporting their start in our profession.

It only takes a minute to make a new educator feel welcome! Sign up at: https://ra.nea.org/NewEdCommit