Summer Leadership Registration Available

This year’s ISTA Summer Leadership Conference will be at the Indianapolis Sheraton Hotel & Suites, July 27-29. We encourage local leaders and potential leaders to attend. It’s a good chance to make and renew friendships from across the state and to get updated on what’s happening with ISTA and NEA as well as learn how to be more effective leaders back home. We will pay double occupancy rate for local treasurers and local presidents. Contact this office if you have questions. You are to register through ISTA instead of with the hotel directly. Register by June 29th. To register, go to our website www.ista-in.org.

AR Membership Training Set for July 30th

Mark your calendars. The AR Membership Training will be at the Central Christian Church in Huntington (where the Investment 101 workshop was held), Monday, July 30th, from noon to 4:00. This is for all ARs (building reps), presidents, vice presidents, treasurers, membership chairs, and DisCo reps. We will begin with lunch and a time to catch up with your colleagues; the program will feature information about the Association you may not know, techniques on how to recruit members, inspirational speakers, an opportunity to finalize your local’s membership recruitment plans, and prizes for participation and attendance. It is critical that every local be represented. This year’s theme is The ISTA Experience. Our statistics show that those buildings whose ARs attend have a higher percentage of members. Look for your invitation in the mail in a couple of weeks and respond promptly, so we can have the right amount of food.

1-M Locals Send Delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly

This year’s NEA Representative Assembly will be in Philadelphia. There are a number of delegates from 1-M locals who are planning to attend. Those from 1-M who are registered as delegates are Jodie Norwood and Cynthia Crist from Huntington, Beverly Doughty from Madison-Grant, Jim Henderson from Marion, and Rick and Nancy Wright from Eastbrook.

Negotiations Continue

Marion and Eastbrook are still in mediation for the current year’s contract. Both of them have met with mediators and are in the process of getting the best deal possible for their members. With the close of the legislative session, we have a better idea of how much money will be available for the next two years. Generally in the past, schools have gotten at least 2% more regardless of whether they were having declining enrollment or not. The theory behind that is fixed costs continue and rarely does the loss of students come from one grade level. Without a minimum guaranteed basic grant from the state, Marion will have 2.5% less money to work with for next year than this year. The other 1-M schools will get some increase albeit not necessarily 2%. As the other locals gear up for the next round of bargaining, they may be surveying their membership about contract improvements. Be sure to take this opportunity for input seriously. When money is short is a good time to improve the language of your contract.

Child Abuse Reminder

With the school year winding up, students can get more rambunctious and teachers’ emotions and tempers can get more of a hair trigger. That’s when teachers can be accused—falsely or not—of child abuse. Keep that in mind and be extra careful these days. The November 1-M Monitor had an article on what to do if accused of child abuse. The short answer is SAY NOTHING, ADMIT NOTHING, DON’T RESIGN, CALL VAL (800-434-1175 or 664-1244) IMMEDIATELY!

School Finance Workshop Being Planned

Sometime in June, 1-M will sponsor a school finance workshop for local negotiators. ISTA staffers Gail Zeheralis and Terry Troxell will provide information on the new funding formula and bargaining strategies. Local leaders will be told date and time.

Conner’s Corner

As the school year draws to a close, you can look back to what you and your students have accomplished this year. We at ISTA are already looking forward to what with your help we can accomplish next year. As we plan, we seek to build on this year’s gains. The Summer Leadership Conference and the AR Membership Meeting are meant to jump start your Association year. With more knowledgeable and skilled leaders, you members get more for your dues dollars. Just as you are more effective in the classroom with well-developed lesson plans, your local is more effective with a plan built on knowledge and skill. I’m here to help with that.
Have a calm end of the year and a refreshing summer,
Val