Decades of state budget cuts have chipped away at California's community colleges, but now Gov. Jerry Brown seems determined to restore some of the luster....  See the whole article here.

"If you had to put a face on the tech industry in Olympia, perhaps it should be that of Dudley Dursley, the pudgy, spoiled cousin of Harry Potter...."  Read the rest of Brier Dudley's Seattle Times Technology Column here.

(for full article, visit BaltimoreSun.com.)

You wouldn't know it from our nation's debate over Obamacare, but the U.S. has had government-supported health care for nearly 80 years. Not only that, but our nation bolsters a retirement level well beyond the thin safety net provided by Social Security, and it even ensures Americans a path to a family-supporting wage. And, no, I have not mistaken the U.S. for a socialist European nation.

Happy Valentines Day! 

They’re many opportunities for Chapter 48 members coming up.

To be involved:

Our chapter meeting Feb 9^th/Negotiation committee letters of interest due Feb 15^th

OSEA legislative Education Day March 3^rd & 4^th

The Districts Listening and Learning session Feb 12/ School Board meeting Feb 25^th

To receive:

WTA Appraisal Process

The Appraisal Process outlined in the section was agreed upon to help teachers improve their instructional practices, to enhance communication about effective teaching between and among teachers, and to positively affect student achievement. It is also meant to be a collaborative process between teachers and administrators with the final professional performance rating representing everything that an administrator knows about the teacher as a professional.

Headlines across the state declared: "Corbett to play hardball on pension reform;" after state Budget Secretary Charles Zogby told the Pennsylvania Press Club that the administration plans to cut the pensions of current school employees. AFTPA President Ted Kirsch accused the governor of  "using public schools, students and teachers as pawns to advance an privatization agenda." Read Ted's statement...

“It is universally known there are huge problems with this system, and the system is currently being tweaked,” (LFT President Steve) Monaghan said. “Nonetheless, there is still an unrelenting persistence to defend the system by any means necessary, including the use of suspect data to impugn the quality of teachers who are fed up and are voting with their feet.”

It with great sadness that we announce that Brenda Clayburn, President of the City Union of Baltimore (CUB) and member of the AFT Public Employees Program and Policy Council passed away over the weekend.
 
Brenda was a founding member of CUB and...

Staying Informed

By Maxine Knisley – Membership Chair

It is essential that we, as Educators & Retirees, continue to stay aware of the actions of our Legislators. This vigilance includes monitoring Legislators both in Florida & New York as well as in Washington.

Click here to view: Senate Majority Leader of State Legislature offers alternative view of New Mexico.

Sen. Michael Sanchez expresses his concerns regarding the Governor's 2013 legislative proposals to give even more public tax revenues to special private interests, as well as the richest 2-percent of New Mexicans and corporations.