Pay Raise Finalized in the Budget Bill

On Thursday evening, the Senate finalized amendments to HB 1, the State Budget. This new version of the budget included the additional $357 million that had been recognized by the REC earlier this month. Despite an agreement with Senate leadership, the Senate Finance Committee did not put any of this additional funding towards teacher and school employee raises.  Pressure from leadership continued on the Senate floor and despite thousands of calls and emails from Louisiana teachers and school employees, they kept the raise at the same level: $800 for teachers/certified employees and $400 for support personnel.

Uninterrupted Planning Time for All Teachers

On Tuesday, May 25^th, Senate Bill 128 by Senator Jackson was approved by the full Senate. This legislation would guarantee all public-school teachers 45-minutes of unencumbered planning time each day.

While some districts do offer their teachers a planning period, it’s often interrupted with meetings or being pulled into another class. This year, more than most, teachers have lost out on valuable planning time. Not only is this necessary for lesson planning, printing materials and planning for the day, it is often the only time that teachers have to use the bathroom, drink water or eat during the entire

Bow, NH ~ May 28, 2021

We are heading to the end of the legislative session. The House will meet twice next week to finish their bills and the Senate will meet next week as well to finish their work which includes the budget (more on that in a minute). The last day of the legislative session is June 24. Once the House and Senate finish their work next week, they will begin the Committees of Conference process where they will work to figure out differences to bills that passed either the House or Senate with amendments. This will include the budget. Committee of Conference will form on June 10^th and their work will conclude on the 17^th. After that,  the House and Senate will have to vote on whether they will accept the bills as amended so they will become law. That will happen on the 24^th.

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In This Issue:

1) Giving back to the community

2) Evaluations Update

3) Employee Assistance Program

4) Discretionary Funds - LAST CALL!

5) Non Tenured Update - LAST CALL!

6) Personal Day Buy Back

AND MORE!

NEW ORLEANS, LA - Today, Bricolage Academy Educators won their union election 42-18. The election was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board at the school this morning. The teachers, collectively known as Bricolage Academy Educators United (BAE-United), voted to affiliate with United Teachers of New Orleans (UTNO). 

“We’re feeling overjoyed that after 2 years of organizing we finally have a recognized union!” said Brittany Scofield, a Bricolage Academy music teacher. “ Our union will help promote equity and democracy in the workplace. Teacher working conditions are student learning conditions, and now that we have a real voice, we will help make decisions that benefit our students.” 

NHFT Local 933 Election Notice

A secret ballot election for the office of President is being conducted by mail. Ballots for this election are being mailed to members on May 20, 2021. Any eligible member who has not received a ballot at their home address by May 24, 2021 or any member who spoils a ballot may request a new ballot by contacting MK Elections via email at nhft_election@mkelections.com.

House Bill 364 will be up for a vote this week in the Senate Education Committee. This bill is desperately needed to adjust the bus owner/operator operational pay formula that has stayed the same for over 3 decades while the cost of everything has risen. The money is used to ensure buses are well maintained and saves bus owners from having to come out of pocket to keep their buses safely on the road.

Click here to send a message to the Committee!

President Kim Kohlhaas has sent letters to the state legislative committees considering legislation that would prevent transgender students from fully participating in sports aligned with their identity: "These bills won’t make sports safer or fairer for any student—they would only stigmatize and exclude a group of students who already face high levels of discrimination... Wisconsin’s teachers, faculty, and staff oppose any bill that hurts transgender youth from passing out of the legislature." You can read the (identical) letters in full here:

Join us in asking the Senate to amend the budget and increase pay raises for teachers and school employees.