InsightWinter 2010 • Volume 15, Number 2

Illinois’ budget at

the tipping point

Without new revenue, state braces for program

cuts, layoffs at all levels

IFT 2010 primary election information, pages 8-11

Election2010

Check the IFT website at www.ift-aft.org for updates or more information.

Contents

14 UnionNews

16 HigherEducationNews

17 PSRPNews

18 Fromthesecretary-treasurer

19 Fromthepresident

BackCover•IamtheIFT

OfficialpublicationoftheIllinoisFederationofTeachers

(Foundedin1937)

Ed Geppert, Jr. President

Marilyn Stewart Secretary-Treasurer

Gail Purkey DirectorofCommunications

ManagingEditor

Amy Excell PublicationsDirector

Beth Camplain MediaDirector-DigitalCommunications

Dave Comerford MediaDirector

Sandy Herbert CommunicationsDept.Secretary

Lisa Empleo GrayCatDesign

IFT Insight(ISSN1087-982x)ispublishedquarterlybytheIllinoisFederationofTeachers.Themissionofthepublicationistoexploreissuesthatimpactunionmembers,helpingthemunderstandtheuniquenessoftheirjobresponsibilitiesaswellastheircommonalitiesasmembersofthelocalunionsthatmakeuptheIFT.

Lettersarewelcomedandencouraged.ReaderswhowishtorespondtoarticlesinIFT InsightoraddressanyunionissueareinvitedtosendtheircommentstoIFT Insight, P.O.Box390,Westmont,IL60559.

Postmaster:PleasesendaddresschangestoIFT Insight, P.O.Box390,Westmont,IL60559.

IFT InsightisaffiliatedwiththeInternationalLaborPressAssociation,theMidwestLaborPressAssociation,theIllinoisStateLaborPressAssociationandtheAmericanFederationofTeachers’CommunicatorsNetwork.

! Printedonrecycledpaper.

4-6Illinois’budgetisatthetippingpoint.Withoutnewrevenue,thestatewillsoonfalloffthecliff.StateofficialsdiscusshowthefiscalcrisisishurtingIllinoisgovernment,preK-12schoolsandhighereducationinstitutionsandwhatmayhappeniflegislatorsdon’tfindasolutiontotheproblem.

•“The day of reckoning is upon us.”byDanHynes,Illinoiscomptroller

• “…the very future of our schools hangs in the balance.”byChristopherKoch,superintendent,IllinoisStateBoardofEducation

•“…an unprecedented fiscal precipice…”byJudyErwin,executivedirector,IllinoisBoardofHigherEducation

7Pensionbenefitsreasonable,saystaskforceThePensionModernizationTaskForce(PMTF)reportedinNovember,andtheIFTagreeswithmanyofitsfindings.

8-11Primaryelection2010Inthisspecialsection,learnwhereIllinois’Democraticcandidatesforgovernorstandontheissuesandfindoutmoreaboutcandidatesinkeyfederalraces.SeewhichcandidatesearnedtheIFT’sendorsementintheFeb.2primaryelectionandlearnhowmembersplayedakeyroleintheendorsementprocess.

12Arcticchill“heatsup”teachingforLocal571memberJonPazolAnadventureintheArcticSeasgavethishighschoolbiologyteachernewenergyintheclassroomandincredibleexperiencestosharewithstudentsandcolleagues.

Election2010

Illinoisisteeteringontheedgeofabudgetcliff.Statefinances

areamess.Thecurrenteconomicrecessionhascauseda

massivedropinrevenuefromincomeandsalestaxes.State

pensionsystemsaresellingassetstopaycurrentretirees.

ThefederalAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct(ARRA)did

whatitwassupposedtodo,preventingmassivelayoffsineducation

andhealthcare–fornow.ButinFiscalYear2011,Illinoismay

encounterasmuchasa40percentshortfallinrevenuescompared

tothecurrentcostofservices.Thestate’s$26billionbudgetcould

facea$12billiondeficit.

Thereissimplynowayaroundit.Theonlysolutiontothestate’s

financialwoesismorerevenue.Withoutit,Illinoiswillbeforcedto

slashstateprogramsandservices,layoffemployees,closeschools

andhikecollegeanduniversitytuition.

InthisissueofInsight,ComptrollerDanHynes,StateSuperintendent

ofEducationChrisKochandBoardofHigherEducationExecutive

DirectorJudyErwinpencolumnstodiscusshowthefiscalcrisisis

impactingIllinoisgovernment,preK-12schoolsandhighereducation

institutionsanddescribewhatmayhappeniflegislatorsdon’tfind

asolutiontotheproblem.

Mostimportantly,onpages8-11,reviewtheinformationabout

candidateswhohaveearnedtheIFT’sprimaryelectionendorsement.

Thesearethemenandwomenwhowillbecalledupontohelppull

Illinoisbackfromtheabyss.IFTmemberinvolvementinthe2010

primaryelections,asbothvolunteersandvoters,isanessentialpart

ofputtingourstatebackontherightpath.

Winter2010 Insight 3

Currently,myofficeisholdingnearly$4.5billioninobligationsthatcannotbepaidbecausespending

continuestooutpacerevenues.Theunpaidbillsimpactsocialserviceagenciesthatprovidecriticallyneededprogramsforourmostvulnerablecitizens,aswellaslocalgovernmentsandschooldistricts,allofwhicharestrugglingtomakeendsmeet.Essentialeducation-relatedinitiatives,suchaspre-K,earlyintervention,specialeducation,transportationandhighereducationfunding,amongmanyothers,areinjeopardyduetothestate’sgrowingfinancialinstability.Thisfiscalcrisisiscompromisingourabilitytomeetthestate’sobligationstoitsschools,atalllevels.

Ascomptroller,Ihavedoneeverythinginmypowertogiveprioritytoeducation-relatedpaymentsandmaintainstability

intheeducationcommunity.Fromthwartingthepriorgovernor’sattempttoshortchangestateaidpayments,tousinginnovativecashmanagementtechniquestoensurethecontinuityofteachers’retirementpayments,Ihavealwaysworkedtoensurethatsuchcommitmentswerehonored.However,

thefailuretomeaningfullyaddressthestate’sbudgetcrisiswillmakeitincreasinglydifficulttomaintainthese

priorities.Thechallengewillbecomeevenlargerwhen

federalstimulusfundsrunoutattheendof2010.Whilesomeofourleaders

seetheseissuesasnothingmorethanrednumbersonabalance

sheet,IseethemasrealconsequencesformillionsofIllinoisans.Eachdaywefailtosolvethisproblem,anotherchildwillmissoutontheopportunitytolearn,anotherteacherwillbeforcedtoteachwithfewerresources,andanother

retireewillreceiveacollectionnoticefortheirunpaidhealthcarebills.Thisisunacceptable.Illinoiscanandmustdobetter.

Ihaveproposedathree-stepbudgetplanwithbothshort-termandlong-termcomponentsthatwillreturnourstatetofiscalprosperity,reformourtaxstructuretomakeitfairerandallowforsubstantialreinvestmentinourpriorities.Itincludeseliminatingwasteandunneededbureaucracyfromstategovernment,expandingthesalestaxtoincludenon-essentialdiscretionaryservices,restoringgamingtaxesoncasinosto70percent,andraisingthecigarettetaxby$1.Butasthesestepswillonlygetuspartofthewaytowarderasingthestate’smassivebudgetdeficit,myplanalsocallsforimplementingaprogressiveincometaxthatwillraisetaxesonlyonthosehouseholdsearningmorethan$200,000ayear.

Bytakingthisfairandcommonsenseapproachtoraisingrevenuesandbyeliminatingourdeficit,wewillfinallycreateastablefinancialenvironmentthathonorsourcurrentobligationstoeducationandallowsnewinvestmentineducationalopportunitiesforfuturegenerationsofIllinoischildren.Iamcommittedtomeetingthischallenge.Together,wecanmakeithappen.

“The day of reckoning is upon us.”By Dan Hynes, Illinois comptroller

“Essential education-related

initiatives, such as pre-K, early

intervention, special education,

transportation and higher

education funding, among many

others, are in jeopardy due to

the state’s growing financial

instability.”

As we enter 2010, our leaders in Springfield must at last address the dominant public policy issue that

affects each of us: the state’s $11 billion budget deficit. For far too long, they’ve neglected Illinois’

mounting fiscal problems, pushing them off into the future. The day of reckoning is upon us.

4 Insight Winter2010

Iamtrulyexcitedaboutthepossibilitiesthatexistforourstudentsandourteachersinthisdynamictime.Illinoisisinthe

processofdevelopingitsRacetotheTopapplication.TheRacetotheTopfundis$4.35billion,partofPresidentObama’sstimulusprogram,theAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct(ARRA).RacetotheTopismeanttodriveinnovationineducation.It’sacompetitivegrantprogramthatwillallowustostriveforreforminourprofession.Theunderlyingpurposeoftheapplicationistoimprovestudentachievementandnarrowtheachievementgapinourschools.

It’smyhopethatwearesuccessfulintheRacetotheTopcompetition,butmygoalistoaccomplishlong-termreformandnotmerelywinacompetitivegrantprocess.Weareworkingwithstakeholdergroups,includingtheIllinoisFederationofTeachers,todevelopareformpackagethatwillhavealastingimpactonIllinoisclassrooms.

RacetotheTopispartofARRA,butitisonlyonesmallpart.ThereareadditionalfundsforIDEA,TitleIandotherspecificprograms,butperhapsmostimportantforIllinoisschoolsisthemoneywereceivedundertheStateFiscalStabilizationFund(SFSF).Illinoiswillreceiveapproximately$2billioninSFSFfunding.

Earlyintheimplementationofthefederalstimulusprogram,asthemountainofunpaidbillsowedbythestatecontinuedtoclimb,itwasdecidedthattheSFSFfundswouldbeusedtopayGeneralStateAid(GSA),ratherthanallowingGSAtobecut.Essentially,Illinoisusedabout$1billioninFiscal

Year(FY)2009forGSA,utilizingstimulusfundingsolelyforthelastfiveGSApayments.Thebudgetapprovedbylawmakersearlierthisyearincludesutilizinganother$1billioninfederalstimulusfundsforGeneralStateAid.

ThefederalstimulushasbeenatremendousboostforIllinoisschools.Lastspring,beforewebeganreceivingstimulusfunding,thecomptroller’sofficehadalmost$3.5billioninbillsthatcouldnotbepaid.Ofthatbacklog,about$1billionwasowedtoschools.

InNovember,justfivemonthsintothisfiscalyear,thecomptroller’sofficehadnearly$4billioninunpaidbills,withnearly$700millionofthatowed

topreK-12education.WearecurrentlyworkingtocompletethePhaseIIapplicationsothatwecanaccessallstimulusfundssetasideforIllinois.

WhilestimulusfundshaveallowedGSAtocontinueflowinginFY2009and2010,itdisappearsinFY2011.Imaginethepossibilityofyourschoolsreceivingonlyabout80percentofGSApaymentsnextyearthattheyarescheduledtoreceivethisyear.ImagineschoolsreceivinghalfofMandatedCategoricalgrantsinFY2011thattheyaretoreceivethisyear.Iamnottalkingaboutthesefundsbeinglate;Iamtalkingaboutthembeingsignificantlyreduced.

Howmanyprogramswouldhavetobecut?Howmanyfootballgames,playsorconcertscanceled?Howmanyteachersorschoolstaffwouldbelaidoff?

Thesearenottheoreticalquestions,butanunfortunateexercisethatIllinoisschoolswillhavetotakepartinunlessadditionalrevenuesarefoundsoon.

Thepotentialforreformwithinourprofessionhastheopportunitytomakethisamongthebestoftimes.Ihopeinactiontoraiseadditionalrevenueswillnotmakeittheworst.

“Imagine the possibility of your

schools receiving only about

80 percent of GSA payments next

year that they are scheduled to

receive this year.”

“…the very future of our schools hangs in the balance.”By Christopher Koch, superintendent, Illinois State Board of Education

In the years that I have been in the classroom as a student, teacher or administrator, there has never been

greater momentum for change in our profession than there is today. It is also a time of great uncertainty,

one in which the very future of our schools hangs in the balance.

Winter2010 Insight 5

Thecurrentbudgetsituationisevenmoredismalforhighereducationsince,foralmostadecade,ithassuffered

significantreductionsinstatesupport.FiscalYear(FY)2002wasthehighwatermarkinstatehighereducationappropriations.Whilefundingfortheretirementsystemhasincreasedtoaddresschronicunderfundingofstatepensionsystems,fundingforinstitutionaloperationsandgrantsinFY2010is33.6percentbelowFY2002afteraccountingforinflation,meaningsignificantreductionsinsupportforpublicuniversities,communitycolleges,grantprogramsandneed-basedfinancialaid.

Theseshortfallsshifttheburdentostudentsandtheirfamilies.Studentsarecontributingamuchlargershareofeducationalcosts,upto49percentinFY2010comparedto27.2percentinFY1995.Communitycollegescostsarealsoincreasingforstudentsandpropertytaxpayers.

Collegemustbemademoreaffordable.Amajorlobbyingcampaigninvolvingstudents,faculty,institutionalexecutives,stateagenciesandunionshelpedrestorefundingofMonetaryAwardProgram(MAP)grantsfor

138,000studentsforthespring2010semester.Themessagewasloudandclear:collegestudentsneededstatesupporttostayinschooltoimprovetheirowneconomicfutures,aswellasIllinois’fiscalhealth.TheGeneralAssemblyandgovernorclosedtheFY2010MAPgap,butthestrugglegoes

on.PreservingMAPfundinginFY2011atthisyear’s$380millionlevelwillbeanuphillbattle.Evenachievingthatgoalwillleaveahugeunmetneed–130,000studentsreceivednoMAPfundingthisyearbecausetheprogramranoutofmoneybeforeitranoutofeligiblerecipients.Expandingfundingtocoverallwhoneedthegrantsappearsamountaintoohightoscale.AndMAPgrantsdonotgoasfarastheyoncedid.TuitionandfeeincreaseshavefarsurpassedthemaximumMAPaward,whichadecadeagocoveredtuitionandfeesatallpubliccollegesanduniversities.DuringFY2010,collegesanduniversitieswillwaive

morethan$30millionintuitionandfeesforveterans,withoutreceivingreimbursementfromthestate.

TheIllinoisBoardofHigherEducationiscommittedtoseekingaFY2011budgetthatadequatelyaddressestheneedsofstudents.ThebudgetrecommendationswillincorporatestrategiesoutlinedintheIllinoisPublicAgendaforCollegeandCareerSuccess(www.ibhe.org), ourstate’sblueprinttoguideeducationpolicyinIllinoisforthenextdecade,toincreaseeducationalattainment,improvecollegeaffordability,andmeethigh-demandworkforceneeds.

Thestakesarehigh–theprosperityofourcitizensandourstate’seconomicfuturereliesonmoreIllinoisansearningdegrees.AllIllinoisresidentsshouldhaveaffordableaccesstohigh-qualityeducationalopportunitiesthatpreparethemforthejobsnowandinthefuture.Thisistheunifiedmessagethatthehighereducationcommunitymustconvey,standingattheprecipiceoffinancialdisasterforthestateanditscitizens.

“…an unprecedented fiscal precipice…”By Judy Erwin, executive director, Illinois Board of Higher Education

“The stakes are high – the

prosperity of our citizens and our

state’s economic future relies on

more Illinoisans earning degrees.”

Illinois faces an unprecedented fiscal precipice as the state confronts a multibillion dollar deficit. Without an

infusion of additional revenue, Illinois’ college students will face higher tuition and fees, faculty and staff

will experience further erosion of salary competitiveness, and colleges and universities will strain to maintain

quality programs with shrinking resources. Worse, this crisis occurs at a time when the state is divided

by an ever-widening “prosperity gap,” leaving many Illinoisans underserved educationally and struggling

economically. These disparities in educational attainment by race/ethnicity, income and region can be

ignored only at Illinois’ economic peril.

6 Insight Winter2010

Pension benefits reasonable, says task force Cost is less than private sector plans

PensionbenefitsforIllinoispublicemployeesarestillunderattackinSpringfield.

“We’refacingahugebattletomaintainourdefinedbenefitplans,andwemustbepreparedtolobbyagainstdrasticcutsduringthe2010sessionoftheIllinoisGeneralAssembly,”saidIFTDirectorofPoliticalActivitiesStevePreckwinkle.“ThistaskforcereportshouldbeacalltoarmsforeveryIFTmember.”

ThereportPreckwinklereferstowasdraftedbythePensionModernizationTaskForce(PMTF).PMTFwascreatedin2009byHouseJointResolution65.IFTLegislativeDirectorNickYelvertonservedonthetaskforce,whichmetthroughoutthesummerandfall.ThePMTFreportwassenttotheGeneralAssemblyinNovember,butwithoutarecommendationfromthetaskforce.ThereportstatesthatthereasonIllinoisisfacedwitha“pensioncrisis”isnotbecauseofbenefits,butduetoalackofcommitmenttoasoundfundingplan.ThePMTFreportwassenttotheGeneralAssemblywiththenotationthatthereportcontains“valuablefactualdata.”

Thetaskforcefoundthat,accordingtotheWisconsinLegislativeCouncil’s2006ComparativeStudyofMajorPublicEmployeeRetirementSystems,pensionbenefitsinIllinoisareinthestatisticalmedianwhencomparedtootherstates.Whencomparingemployercostwithneighboringstates,Illinoisranksatornearthebottom.

TheprivatesectorpaysmorethanwhatIllinoispaysforpublicemployeepensionbenefits,accordingtoresearchconductedforPMTF.Privateemployerspaya6.2percentSocialSecuritytaxandanaverage3percentemployermatchona401(k)planforatotalaverageretirementbenefitcostof9.2percentofsalary.Incomparison,Illinois’costforbenefitsbeingearnedtodayby

membersoftheTeachersRetirementSystemis6.63percentofsalary.

ThePMTFalsoexaminedtheamountofsavingsthatcouldbeattainedbyadoptingGov.Quinn’stwo-tierproposal.Whilereducingbenefitsforfutureemployeeswouldeventuallyreducecosts,thosesavingswouldnotberealizeduntilthelower-tieremployeesbegintoretirein25to30years.Thetaskforceconcludedthatloweringbenefitsnowwouldnotimpactthecurrentfundedstatusofthesesystems,wouldnotreducethesystem’sunfundedliabilityandwouldnotreduceanyrequiredpensionpayments.Inotherwords,thecurrentbenefitstructureisnottoblameforthefiscalcrisisofthesesystems;itisthe“state’sinabilitytofunditspensionsystemsaccordingtoactuarialprincipals,”accordingtothePMTFreport.

Thetaskforcerecommendedthatthestateshouldcontinuethecurrentfundingplan.ThereportstatedtheGeneralAssemblyandgovernorshouldconsiderassettransfers,suchasthesaleorleaseoftheIllinoisLottery,aswellasexaminetheissuanceofanotherseriesofpensionobligationbondstobeusedexclusivelyforrefinancingthecurrentunfundedliability,notfornormalpaymentstothesystems.

UnderscoringtheneedforIllinoistomeetitspensionobligations,thePMTFletterthataccompaniedtoreporttotheGeneralAssemblynotedthatthetaskforcereport“…clearlyunderscoresthefactthatfullactuarialcalculatedpaymentstothesystemsbasedonbothactualcostandunfundedliabilitymustbemade.”

Formoreinformationandupdatesontheongoingefforttoprotectpensions,checktheIFTwebsiteatwww.ift-aft.org.LegislativeupdatesandotherinformationwillbepostedduringtheupcomingGeneralAssemblysession.

“Overall, the information presented demonstrated that current state pension system benefits were not overly generous when compared to other state public benefit systems.”

– Rep. Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville), letter in PMTF minority report

“We only need to look at past failures of other states, such as Alaska, Michigan, and West Virginia, to understand that shifting state employees from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution system is not the panacea we are hoping for the State pension systems.”

– Rep. Raymond Poe (R-Springfield), letter in PMTF minority report

“A second tier of benefits for new hires does not solve the immediate problem of paying for the existing unfunded liability.”

– David Vaught, senior advisor to the governor, currently director of the governor’s Office of Management and Budget, letter, Oct. 13, 2009

“Illinois does not have overly generous benefits.”

– AON Consulting Pension Modernization Task Force presentation, Aug. 12, 2009

Winter2010 Insight 7

Election2010

Dan Hynes Pat Quinn

Revenue and taxes

•Proposesagraduatedincometaxonindividuals,salestaxonluxuryservices,gamingexpansion,andconsolidatingsomestatedebt.

•Supportsaconstitutionalamendmentraisingtaxesonincomesstartingat$200,000,witha4.5percentincreaseon$1millionannualincome.

•Estimatesupto$5billioninnewrevenue;someanalystssuggestnearly$4billioninnetrevenue.(www.friendsofdan.com)

Pensions

•Pledgestostrengthenlawsthatdictatethestate’sannualpensionpaymentandendthedecades-longpracticeof“pensionholidays.” (Leading Illinois Forward: The Hynes Plan for Tax Fairness and Fiscal Prosperity)

•Whenaskedhowhewouldaddressthe“powerofteachers’unions,”DanHynesresponded,“…weneedteachers’unions…teacherswanttohaveasecureretirementandyes,Ibelieveinthat.”(UnionLeagueClubofChicago,Nov.18,2009)

State employee issues

•Afterbeingelectedcomptroller,DanHynescancelledaprivatecontractfordataentryservices;theworkisnowdonebyIFTmembers.

•Inthetoughestbudgettimes,DanHyneshashonoredtheunioncontractwithIFTmemberswhoworkinhisoffice;theyhavenotbeensubjecttolayoffsoraskedtotakefurloughdays.

•Asgovernor,DanHyneshaspledgedthathewillprotecttheranksoffront-linestateworkers.

•Raisestheincometaxrateonallindividualsfrom3to4.5percentandthecorporateratefrom4.85to7.2percent.

•Expandsthepersonalexemptionandlowincometaxcredits,plusapropertytaxcreditcappedat$500perhomeowner.

•Reducesdeficitbycuttingstatespendingandimplementingatwo-tierpensionsystem.

•Nets$3.3billioninnewrevenue.(www.quinnforillinois.com)

•Proposedthemostsweepingpensionbenefitcutsinthehistoryofthestate,includingincreasingactivemembercontributions,increasingtheretirementageandreducingthecostoflivingadjustmentforretirees.(Governor’sbudgetaddress,March18,2009)

•SupportedplantoshortchangethefundingofthestatepensionsystemsforFiscalYears2010and2011,eventuallycostingthestateanadditional$95billionininterest.(Associated Press,May19,2009)

•Whenaskedhowhewouldaddressthe“powerofteachers’unions,”Gov.Quinnresponded,“I’mforatwo-tieredpensionsystem.”(UnionLeagueClubofChicago,Nov.18,2009)

•Aspartofhistaxreformplan,PatQuinncallsfor2,600stateemployeelayoffsand12furloughdaysforeverystateworker.(www.quinnforillinois.com)

•InhisfirstaddressbeforetheGeneralAssembly,PatQuinncalledfora2percentincreaseinthepensioncontributionofcurrentpublicemployees—withoutanybenefitincrease.(Governor’sbudgetaddress,March18,2009)

Where the Democratic Illinois governor candidates stand

8 Insight Winter2010

Election2010

AlexiGiannouliasDemocrat for U.S. Senate

OnhisfirstdayasIllinoisstatetreasurer,AlexiGiannouliasendedpay-to-playpolitics,issuinganexecutiveorderthatbannedcontributionstohiscampaignfromofficeemployees,contractorsandbanks.HetookIllinois’BrightStartcollegesavingsprogramfromoneoftheworstinthenationtooneofthebest,withMoney MagazineandConsumer Reportshighlightingitasoneofthetopprogramsinthecountryin2009.AlexiGiannouliashascommittedhimselftotacklinginefficiencyandcorruptioninstategovernment.

AsU.S.senator,hewillsupporthealthcarereformthatincludesaviablepublicoptionandtheEmployeeFreeChoiceAct,positionsthatclearlyidentifyhimasasupporterofworkingfamiliesandlaborunions.

TheIFTjoinswithmanyIllinoislaborunionsandtheIllinoisAFL-CIOinsupportingAlexiGiannouliasintheDemocraticprimaryfortheU.S.Senate.

DanSealsDemocrat for U.S. House of Representatives, 10th District

MuchofDanSeals’nationalattentioncomesfromhiscommon-sensemessageofchange,includinghisthoughtfulapproachtoeducationissues.DanSealsbeganhiscareerasateacherinJapanandcontinuestoteachatNorthwesternUniversitybecauseeducationisimportanttohim.Heknowsthateverystudentdeservesahigh-qualityeducation,everyteacherdeservessupport,respect,andresources,andeveryschoolmustbeabletoprepareitsstudentsfortoday’seconomy.

DanSealswantsWashingtontoboostearlychildhoodeducationfunding,fullyfundandoverhaulNoChildLeftBehind,makecollegemoreaffordableandstrengthenadulteducationprograms.HebelievesthatinvestinginourpublicschoolsandinourinstitutionsofhighereducationwillensurethatAmericasucceedsintheglobalmarketplace.

SealsisalsoastrongsupporterofhealthcarereformandtheEmployeeFreeChoiceAct.AstheIFT-endorsedcandidate,DanSealsisatruefriendofworkingfamilies.

Spotlight on key races

Winter2010 Insight 9

Illinois Federation of Teachers2010 primary election endorsements

Election2010

U.S. SenateAlexiGiannoulias(D)

Secretary of StateJesseWhite(D)

GovernorDanHynes(D)

ComptrollerDavidMiller(D)

Lt. GovernorTerryLink*(D)ArtTurner*(D)

TreasurerRobinKelly(D)

Attorney GeneralLisaMadigan(D)

United States House of Representatives

1BobbyRush(D)

2JesseJackson,Jr.(D)

3DanLipinski(D)

4LuisGutierrez(D)

5MikeQuigley(D)

7DannyDavis(D)

8MelissaBean(D)

9JanSchakowsky(D)

10DanSeals(D)

11DebbieHalvorson(D)

12JerryCostello(D)

14BillFoster(D)

17PhilHare(D)

18DeirdreHirner(D)

Judicial – Appellate Court 1st District

JimRyan(D)-McNulty vacancy

ThomasHogan(D)-O’Malley vacancy

SebastianPatti(D)-South vacancy

Illinois Senate

1AntonioMunoz(D)

7HeatherSteans(D)

10JohnMulroe(D)

13KwameRaoul(D)

19M.MaggieCrotty(D)

43ArthurWilhelmi(D)

46DavidKoehler(D)

49DeannaDemuzio(D)

51TimDudley(D)

Illinois House of Representatives

6EstherGolar(D)

7KarenYarbrough(D)

9ArthurTurner(D)

10AnnazetteCollins(D)

11AnnWilliams(D)

13GregoryHarris(D)

16LouLang(D)

17DanielBiss(D)

18EamonKelly(D)

20MichaelMcAuliffe(R)

25BarbaraFlynnCurrie(D)

26WillBurns(D)

27MoniqueDavis(D)

29ThaddeusJones(D)

38AlRiley(D)

40DeborahMell(D)

59ElliottHartstein(D)

60EddieWashington(D)

62SandyCole(R)

68PaulWilliams(D)

70RobertPritchard(R)

71JerryLack(D)

98ChrisSherer(D)

100RichBrauer(R)

103NaomiJakobsson(D)

107JohnCavaletto(R)

109RogerEddy(R)

111DanielBeiser(D)

114EddieJackson(D)

Early voting is Jan. 11, 2010 through Jan. 28, 2010 • Primary election day is Feb. 2, 2010

* both candidates found to be

“Friends of the IFT”

Go to www.ift-aft.org for the

most up-to-date candidate and

election information. To view

information about federal

candidates, enter the username

“iftmember” and the password

“gotv2010.”

Election2010

10 Insight Winter2010

TheIFTtakesveryseriouslyitscommitmenttoadvocatingforthebestinterestsofyouandyourcolleagues.Acriticalpart

ofeffectiverepresentationisworkingtoelectlegislatorsinSpringfieldandWashington,D.C.whoarededicatedtolookingoutfortheinterestsofIFTmembersandallworkers.ToensurethattheunionissupportingindividualswhodeservetheIFT’ssupport,candidatesmustprovetheirmerits.TheIFThasworkeddiligentlyovertheyearstodevelopandrefineaPoliticalActionCommittee(PAC)processthatensuresmembersplayakeyroleintheunion’sendorsements.

TopreparefortheFeb.2,2010primaryelection,IFTmembersparticipatedinregionalPoliticalActionCommittee(PAC)meetingsduringNovemberandDecembertodeterminewherecandidatesstandontheissuesandwhetherornottheydeservetobeendorsedbytheIFT.

Usingvotingrecords,questionnairessubmittedbycandidatesandincumbents,interviewsandotherinformation,theregionalPACsmaderecommendationsforendorsementsintheirarea.ThoserecommendationsareforwardedthestatewidePAC,whichismadeupof23regionalPACchairsrepresentingallgeographicareasofthestate.

ThestatewidePACmetonDec.5tomakeafinalreviewofthecandidatesandtodevelopanendorsementlistfortheIFTexecutiveboardtoconsiderforapproval.(Seethelistofendorsedcandidatesonp.10ofthisInsight.)Aftertheprimary,thePACcommitteeswillmeetagaintoreviewthecandidatesandmakerecommendationstotheexecutiveboardforendorsementsintheNov.2,2010generalelection.

Take advantage of early votingIllinois’voterscancastaballot

priortoElectionDaywithouthavingtoprovideareasonforwantingtovoteearly.TheearlyvotingperiodfortheFeb.2,2010primaryelectionbeginsMonday, Jan. 11, 2010andendsThursday, Jan. 28, 2010.

Earlyvotingsiteswillbeannouncedpriortothestartoftheearlyvotingperiod.VisittheIllinoisStateBoardofElectionswebsiteatwww.elections.il.gov tofindtheearlyvotingsiteinyourarea.

Inmostcases,theearlyvotingsitewillnotbeyourElectionDaypollingplace.

Youmustshowvalidphotoidentifica-tiontoanelectionofficialbeforevotingearly.Therearenoexceptions.Acceptableformsofphotoidentificationincludeacurrentdriver’slicense,astate-issuedIDcardoranothergovernment-issuedIDwithaphotograph.

Ifyouvoteduringtheearlyvotingperiod,youcannotvoteagainonElectionDay.VotescastduringearlyvotingwillnotbecounteduntilafterthepollscloseonElectionDay.

AnewIllinoislawpermitsapersontorequestandvoteanabsenteeballotwithoutspecifyingareasonfortheabsencefromthepollingplaceonElectionDay.Contactyourlocalelectionauthoritytorequestanabsenteeballot.

IFT PAC process ensures candidates merit members’ support

Election2010

IFT PAC committee members Karen Kendall, Southwest Suburban Federation of Teachers, Local 943; Steve Grossman, North Suburban Teachers Union, Local 1274; Anita Burks, Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1; and Sharon Crockett, East St. Louis Federation of Teachers, Local 1220 during the debate on candidate endorsements at the Dec. 5 statewide PAC meeting. The recommendations of the regional PAC meetings are reviewed by the statewide PAC committee, which is made up of regional PAC chairs. Their recommendations are sent to the IFT Executive Board for final action on candidate endorsements.

John Murphy, chair of the IFT PAC committee, briefs committee members on endorsement procedures before deliberation and review of the candidates for U.S. House of Representatives and Illinois General Assembly.

Winter2010 Insight 11

Arcticchill“heatsup”teachingforLocal571memberJonPazol

“GrowingupintheMidwestdoesn’tlenditselftotoomanyopportunitiestospendtimeintheoceanorstudyoceanography,”admittedJonPazol,withasmile.Sowhenthe21-yearbiologyteacheratWestLeydenHighSchoolintheChicagosuburbs,appliedtotheUniversityofRhodeIsland’s“TeachersatSea,”anoceanographyresearchprogramforeducatorsfundedbytheNationalScienceFoundation,hewasn’texpectingmuchtocomeofit.

“Theywerelookingforteacherswithabackgroundinoceanographyandexperiencewithtechnologyandmentoring,”hesaid.“Honestly,Ihadnoneofthosethings.IwaslookingforanadventureandIhadastrongdesiretolearn.Ibelievedtheexperiencecouldbenefitmyteaching.”

Theprogramselectioncommitteeagreed.Aftermakingthe“shortlist”andbeinginterviewed,PazolwaschosenfromhundredsofapplicantstobeoneofonlynineteachersnationwidetoparticipateintheARMADAProject.

TheprojectisdesignedtogiveK-12teachersanopportunitytoactivelyparticipateinocean,polarandenvironmentalscienceresearchandpeermentoring.Pazol,thepresidentoftheLeydenCounciloftheWestSuburbanTeachersUnion,Local571,wasassignedtoasix-weekresearchexpeditionontheHealy,aU.S.CoastGuardicebreakershipintheArcticseas.

InAugust,Pazoljoinedthe100-personcrewandthe34scientistsonboard

theHealyinAlaska,andtheysetofffortheArcticBasin.Workingwithexpertoceanographersandresearchers,aswellaswithCoastGuardandsomeNavypersonnel,PazolmappedpartsoftheArcticOcean.Hegothands-onexperienceineverythingfromdrivingthemassivevesseltodredgingthecontinentalshelf.

“Itwasadeparturefromtheclassroomineveryway.Fromdayoneuntilthedaywereturned,weneversawland,”Pazolnoted.Windchillsreached-5degreesFarenheit,andforfiveofthesixweeksitwaslight24hoursaday,hesaid.Theshiptravelled350milessouthoftheNorthPole.“IconsideredmyselfluckyIdidn’tgetseasick,”hejoked.

SincePazolcouldnotbeinschoolwhentheyearbegan,hegotagrantfromtheschooldistrict,WestLeyden’ssciencedepartmentandcommunitysponsorstorentasatellitephone.Pazolusedthephonetoregularlyconnectwithhisstudents.

“ThefirstdayofschoolIintroducedmyselftomystudentsviaaPowerPointpresentationIputtogetheraboutwhere

Jon Pazol, member of Local 571, was one of nine teachers nationwide selected to take part in the ARMADA Project on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy to map parts of the Arctic Seas.

“I tie my Arctic experiences into

everything I can in the classroom.

I can relate to my students in a

whole new way now with new

information and new personal

experiences.”

12 Insight Winter2010

IwasandwhatIwasdoing,”hesaid.“MyfirstlessonwasgivenfromthedeckoftheHealyonthesatellitephone.”

Pazol’sstudentsfollowedhisjourneyontheARMADAproject’swebsite,www.armadaproject.com,wherehepostedadailyjournalwithphotographs.Hetalkedtohisclassesafewhoursaweekonthesatellitephone,describingwhathewasseeingandlearningandtakingstudents’questions.

“TheyusuallyaskedaboutwhattypeofwildlifeIwasseeingorwhatthescientistshaddiscoveredintheirresearchorhowmuchareawehadmappedsofar.Globalwarmingwasacommontopic,”hesaid.“Butofcoursetheyalsoaskedaboutwhatlifeontheshipwaslike,howthefoodwasorhowcolditwas.Themoreinterestingstuff,”helaughed.

BeforeheleftfortheArctic,PazolcontactedfivedifferentschoolsandarrangedtospeaktostudentsatallgradelevelsinclassroomsfromtheChicagoareatoCalifornia.“Iwassoexcitedtosharemyexperiencesandinformation,Ireachedouttoasmanystudentsaspossible,”hesaid.

Sincereturninginmid-September,hehasmadepresentationstoearthscienceclassesandplanstomakeapresentationonoceanographyandglobalwarmingatWestLeydenHighSchool.AsanARMADAProjectparticipant,PazolhastheopportunitytopresenthisresultsattheNationalScienceTeachersAssociationconventioninMarch,wherehecandiscusstheexperiencewithcolleagues.

ParticipantsintheARMADAprojectareaskedtomentorlessexperiencedcolleaguessothattheycanbenefitfromwhattheveteraneducatorhaslearned.Pazoliscurrentlymentoringasecond-yearscienceteacherathisschool,whichhesaysisagreatexperience.

Mostimportantly,PazolbelievesthathissixweeksmappingandresearchinginArcticwatershasbroughtarenewedenergyanddimensiontohisteachingthatbenefitsbothhimandhisstudents.

“TheARMADAProjecthasgivenmeawholenewperspective,alenstofiltermyteachingthrough,”heinsisted.

“SomeofmystudentshaveneverbeentoSheddAquarium,letaloneseentheocean,”headded.“ItiemyArcticexperiencesintoeverythingIcanintheclassroom.Icanrelatetomystudentsinawholenewwaynowwithnewinformationandnewpersonalexperiences.”

Asaprofessional,hefeelsenergizedbytheexperienceandencouragesothereducatorstolookforopportunities

outsidetheclassroom.“Toooftenasteachers,wegetsoinvolvedinourday-to-dayclassroomroutinesthatwedon’trealizetherearesomanyopportunitiestohelpusexpandourprofessionalskills,”hesaid.“Iwaslookingforanadventure,andwiththeARMADAProjectIgotexactlywhatIhadinmind.Thoseopportunitiesareoutthereforallofusifwejusttakethetimetofindthem.”

Pazol got hands on research experience on board the Healy. Here, he works with geologists during a dredge to bring up rocks and mud from the continental shelf.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy in the Arctic Seas.

Ph

otos

by

Pet

ty O

ffice

r P

atri

ck K

elle

y, U

.S. C

oast

Gu

ard

Pazol stayed in contact with students during his journey via satellite phone from the top deck of the ship.

Winter2010 Insight 13

UnionNews

T imesarechangingsotheneedsoftheIFTarechanging,too.That’swhymorethan100localandcouncilpresidentsfromaroundthestategatheredin

SpringfieldfortheIFTPresidents’ConferenceonOct.23-24todiscussthefuturestructureanddirectionoftheunion.

ThelocalleadersheardapresentationabouttheproposedrestructuringofthestatewideorganizationfromIFTPresidentEdGeppert,Jr.GeppertledtheparticipantsthroughabriefhistoryofthestructureoftheIFTandexplainedhowtheunionisworkingtodevelopaneworganizationalmodelthatwillpositiontheuniontomeetfuturechallenges.

TheproposalrecommendedbytheIFTexecutiveboardwouldcreateathree-officerstructurewithapresident,secretary-treasurerandanewgoverningofficer,anexecutivevicepresident.Theproposalwouldalsoestablishathree-divisionstaffstructure.

AftertheIFTpresident’spresentation,localandcouncilpresidentsconvenedinsmallgroupsessionstodiscusstheproposalandprovidefeedback.

Thenextstepintheprocesswillbetoholdaseriesofregionalmeetingsaroundthestatetopresenttheproposedrestructuringplan.TheIFTexecutiveboardwilluseinputfromlocalleadersandmemberstoassistthemastheyfurtheranalyzewaystorestructuretheunion.TheultimategoalistoensuretheIFTwillcontinuetobeeffective,efficientandfinanciallysoundintheyearstocome.ThefinaldecisiononchangestothestaffandgovernancestructurewillbemadebydelegatesfromIFTlocalsatthe2010conventioninSt.Louis.

Local leaders address IFT needs at presidents’ conference

President Ed Geppert, Jr. lays out the IFT executive board’s recommen-dations for changes to the structure of the statewide organization to more than 100 local and council presidents during the IFT Presidents’ Conference on Oct. 23-24.

Dan Montgomery, chair of the IFT Presidents’ Conference planning committee and IFT vice president, stresses to the local leaders at the conference how important it is to hear their feedback as the statewide organization considers a change in staff structure.

AFT Local 604 member named American Culinary Federation National Chef Educator

ChefTimBucci,anassociateculinaryartsinstructoratJolietJuniorCollege(JJC)andmemberoftheJJCCouncilofAFTLocal604,wasnamedAmericanCulinaryFederationNationalChefEducatoroftheYearattheACFannualconferenceinJuly.

Theawardrecognizesteacherswiththeknowledge,skillsandexpertisetogiveculinarystudentsthe

educationthey’llneedfortheircareers.Nomineescompeteinregionaleventswhichleaduptothenationalcompetitionatthefederation’sconference.

Eachfinalistmustpresentalectureanddemonstrationforapanelofjudges.Buccishowedhowtocreateabalanceoffiveflavorsonaplatewithamealoffennelandorangerisottowithbrazedescaroleandgarliccapers.

14 Insight Winter2010

InDecember,Gov.PatQuinnappointedPerryBuckley,IFTvicepresidentandpresidentoftheCook

CountyCollegeTeachersUnion,Local1600,totheP-20Council,akeyadvisorypanelthatwillmakerecommendationstothegovernorabouteducationalreforms.TheP-20(pre-schoolthroughgraduateschool)CouncilwillrecommendeducationalreformsthatmayenabletheStateofIllinoistowinapproximately$400millioninfederalRacetotheTopdiscretionaryfunds.

RacetotheTopisa$4.35billioncompetitivegrantprocessfromtheU.S.DepartmentofEducationfocusedoninnovativeapproachestoeducation.ThediscretionaryfundsaremadeavailablethroughtheAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct(ARRA).IllinoisStateBoardofEducationSuperintendentChris

KochnotedthatthefirstapplicationwillgototheRacetotheTopprograminJanuary2010.ThesecondphaseoftheapplicationwillbeinJune2010.

Atapressbriefing,Quinnnotedthattheappointmentof25top-notchmemberstotheP-20CouncilwillsendastrongsignaltoWashingtonthateducationisapriorityinIllinois.Quinn’sappointmentsincludebusinessleaders,teachers,parents,civicgroups,university,communitycollegeandschoolofficials.

BuckleyisoneoffourP-20membersaffiliatedwithlaborunions.Whenheintroducedhimselfduringthepressconferencehesaid,“IamthepresidentoftheCookCountyCollegeTeachersUnionandavice-presidentoftheIllinoisFederationofTeachers,butmoreimportantly,IamateacherofEnglishandliteraturefromWilburWrightCollege.”

IFT leader to play key role in Illinois educational reformsGovernor names Perry Buckley to the P-20 Council

Ph

oto

by B

ob B

lack

woo

d

Cook County College Teachers Union President Perry Buckley, an IFT vice president, speaks at the press event naming the governor’s 25 appointees to the P-20 Council. As a council member, Buckley will make recommendations for educational reform in Illinois which may help the state receive up to $400 million for education through the federal Race to the Top program.

StateapplicationsforRacetotheTop(RttT)fundsfromthefederalgovernmentaredueJan.19,2010,

andIFTstaffareworkingtomakesurelocalunionleadershaveinformationonwhatthiswillmeantolocalschooldistricts.TheIFTisworkingcloselywithIllinoisStateBoardofEducationstaff,stakeholdersandlegislatorstocomeupwithanacceptableRttTapplication.

TheIFTDepartmentofPoliticalActivitieswillalsocloselymonitorandlobbyanylegislationthatmightbe“fast-tracked”whentheGeneralAssemblyreconvenesonJan.12,2010.

“Wewanttomakesurethatanyproposedlegislationdoesnotimposefurtherunfundedmandatesonschooldistrictsandthatwholesalechangesarenotmadetostatelawinanattempttocapturelimitedfederalfundsforafewschooldistricts,”saidIFTPresidentEdGeppert,Jr.

TheIFThasworkedhardoverthelasteightmonthstoweighinonRttTand

otherfederalstimulusprogramsfocusedoneducationinacarefulandconsideredway.TheIFTbelievesthatthestate’sapplicationforRttTdollarsmustbewrittenwithafocusonfourkeyelements:

•timetoimplementchangesthoughtfullyandeffectively;

•technicalassistancefromStateBoardstaffwithadequatestafftomeetthoseneeds;

•appropriateprofessionaldevelopment;and

•plansforadequateandsustainablefunding.

CollaborationandcooperationamongIFTlocalunions,districtboardsandadministrationwillbeacriticalcomponentiftheRttTgrantsaretobesuccessfulintheprogram’sgoalofboostingstudentachievement.

DistrictsapplyingforRttTfundsmustsubmitaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MOU)signedbythesuperintendent.

ManylocalunionpresidentshavebeenaskedbytheirdistrictstosigntheMOU.TheIFThasraisedconcernsaboutthevaguelanguageoftheMOU,andIFTstaffareworkingcloselywithlocalleaderstoadvisethemonhowtoproceed.

TheIFTisalsoworkingwithlocalunionsthatrepresentteachersandstaffworkinginschoolsthathavebeenidentifiedasbeinginthebottom5percentoflow-performingschools.ThoseschoolsmayreceivefederalSchoolImprovementGrant,andpossiblyRttTmonies,butstipulationsongrantrequirementsforlocalunionsandschooldistrictswerenottransparentasthisissueofInsight wenttopress.

“TheIFTwantsaRacetotheTopproposalthatwilltrulyhaveapositiveimpactoneducationacrossIllinois,”saidGeppert.“WeareworkingwithourlocalunionleadersandmembersandtheIllinoisStateBoardofEducationtohelpshapethereformsthatcanmakeasustainabledifferenceinourschools.”

Illinois racing to submit Race to the Top application

UnionNews

Winter2010 Insight 15

UnionNews

HigherEducationNews

Dave Beck beganworkasanIFTfieldservicedirectorinAugustintheunion’sSpringfieldregionaloffice.PriortojoiningtheIFTstaff,heworkedasalocalstafforganizerwiththeGraduateEmployees’Organization(GEO),Local6300,theIFTlocalrepresentinggraduateemployeesandgraduateassistantsattheUniversityofIllinoisUrbana-Champaign(UIUC).

Inhisnewrole,BeckwillprovidesupportservicestonumerouslocalsinCentralIllinois.Hesaid,“Icomebymyunionisttendenciesnaturally,havinggrownupinaworking-classfamilywithmembershipinunionsasfarbackastheKnightsofLabor.IbelieveinunionsandamproudtobeapartoftheIFT.”

Amy Johnson beganhernewroleasamemberoftheIFTprofessionalsupportstaffinJulyintheWestFrankfortregionaloffice.Shebringsanunderstandingoftheissuesfacedbytheunion’sparaprofessionalandschool-relatedpersonnel(PSRP)memberstohernewposition.ShepreviouslyearnedparaprofessionalcertificationfromJohnA.LoganCollegeandworkedfortwoyearsasateacheraideinWestFrankfortSchoolDist.168.Johnsonalsohasmorethan15yearsofclericalexperienceinthemedicalbillingfieldatcompanieslikeBlueCross/BlueShield.“IFTregionalofficesprovideimportantservicesforourmembers,”Johnsonsaid.“I’mexcitedtobeapartoftheIFTandtobeabletoassistourmemberswhentheyneedus.”

Debra TakeharajoinedtheIFTstaffinNovemberasanorganizingspecialistintheunion’sWestmontoffice.TakeharawasoneofthefoundersoftheDistrict69PSRPCounciloftheNorthSuburbanTeachersUnion,Local1274.Takeharadisplayedherdedicationtotheunionwhenshechosetoacceptalesserpaying,temporarypositioninthedistrictinordertoremainaunionmemberafterherjobwasexcludedfromthebargainingunitinJan.2009.Alongwithdedication,shebringsexperience.Takeharapreviouslyservedascouncilpresident,vicepresidentofLocal1274andleadnegotiatoronhercouncil’sfirstcontract.“AfterseeingthebenefitofhavingtheIFTstandwithusinmydistrict,IknewthatIwantedtohelpotherworkersformaunion,”shesaid.

Themorethan2,600membersoftheGraduateEmployeesOrganization(GEO),Local6300,wentbacktotheir

classroomsonNov.18afterasuccessfultwo-daystrikeattheUniversityofIllinois-Urbana-Champaign(UIUC).TeachingassistantsandgraduateassistantsatUIUCdeterminedlywalkedthepicketlinesinthecoldandraintoprotectthetuitionwaiverprovisionintheircontract,whichtheuniversityhadrefusedtoguarantee.Thetuitionwaiversareessentialtomanygraduateassistantsandteachingassistants,whootherwisecouldnotaffordtoattendandworkattheuniversity.

Inadditiontosecuringtuitionwaivers,theGEOsuccessfullynegotiatedanadditionaltwoweeksofunpaidparentalleave,increasestotheuniversity’shealthcarepremiumcontributions(reaching75percentinthethirdand

finalyearofthecontract),andraisesontheminimumsalary,totaling10percentoverthreeyears.TheGEOwasalsoabletoremoveseveralregressiveproposalsfromthenewcontract.

GEOmembersvotedtoratifytheagreementonNov.23.MoredetailsandphotosoftheirsuccessfulactioncanbefoundontheGEOwebsite,www.uigeo.org.

Welcome new staff to the IFT

Solidarity leads to victory for graduate employees at UIUC

Dave Beck Debra TakeharaAmy Johnson

GEO members on the march during their November strike.

16 Insight Winter2010

PSRPNews

PSRPs celebrate “U” in union at annual IFT conference

Morethan200paraprofes-sionalsandschool-relatedpersonnel(PSRPs)fromIFT

localsaroundthestatecelebratedtheimportanceoftheirrolesineducationandpublicservicesandthestrengthoftheunionatthetwo-day2009IFTPSRPConferenceinOakBrook,Ill.inOctober.

Undertheconferencethemeof“Celebratingthe‘U’inUnion,”AFTExecutiveVicePresidentLorrettaJohnson,thefirstparaprofessionalelectedasanofficeroftheAmericanFederationofTeachersandtheformerlongtimepresidentoftheparaprofessionalchapteroftheBaltimoreTeachersUnion,gavethekeynoteaddresstokickofftheevent.

“Asparas,weneedtomakeourvoicesheardonourownissues,”shesaid,“butourmessageismoreclearwhenwestayintunewithalltheotherconstituenciesinourunionsothatwearesingingthesamesong.”

JohnsonstressedtheimportanceofPSRPinvolvementinpoliticalactionasapartofacreatingastrongunionwith

aloudvoiceinWashington,D.C.andSpringfield.

Attendeesgotdowntobusinessondaytwoandparticipatedinworkshopsontopicsfrombargainingtoindoorairqualitytopoliticalaction.Conference-goersalsohadthechancetoaddressconcernsspecifictotheirjobsinspecialinterestgroupmeetingsheldforeachconstituencygroup–clericalandmedical,custodial,lunchroom,securityandtransportation,highereducationandtechnical,specialeducationteacherassistantsandclassroomteacherassistants.

DavidGray,AFTvicepresidentandpresidentoftheOklahomaCityFederationofClassifiedEmployees,concludedtheconferencebyencourag-ingparticipantstoproudlymaketheirvoicesheardandto“…standuptothosewhoputusdownandpresentouragendaloudandclear.Therealcreditwillalwaysgotothosewhoareinthearenaandfightthefight,”hesaid.

AFT Vice President David Gray, president of the Oklahoma City Federation of Classified Employees, closed the conference on a high note with proud, inspirational remarks.

“As paras, we need to make our voices heard on our own issues...but our message is more clear when we stay in tune with all the other constituencies in our union so that we are singing the same song.”

— Lorretta Johnson AFT executive vice president

AFT Executive Vice President Lorretta Johnson, the first paraprofessional elected as an officer of the American Federation of Teachers, told IFT PSRP Conference participants to “make their voices heard” in the conference keynote address.

PSRPs participated in a variety of workshops during the conference, including “Bargaining In Tough Economic Times,” instructed by Lynne Mingarelli, AFT associate director, research and information services.

Winter2010 Insight 17

Will life in Illinois be just like in the movies, or can we get real?

Fromthesecretary-treasurer

GeorgeClooney’smostrecentmovie,“UpintheAir,”maybeagrimglimpseatwhereIllinoisis

headedifwedon’tgetourstate’sfiscalhouseinorder.

Clooneyplaystheroleofabusinessconsultantwhosejobitistoflyfromcitytocitytohandleemployeelayoffsfordownsizingorclosingcompanies.Hejetsinand,withcoldefficiency,setsuptheassemblylineprocesstotellemployeesthattheyarebeingletgo.HandlingstaffreductionsforcorporationsistheonlythingClooney’scharacterdoes,andheishavingaverybusyyear.

Thelayoff,cutbackandshutdownscenarioswillbewhatIllinoisschools,colleges,universitiesandstategovern-mentwillfacein2010ifthereisnosolutiontothestate’sdireneedformorerevenue.

ComptrollerDanHynes(whowasunanimouslyendorsedbytheIFTlastDecemberinhisraceforgovernorintheFeb.2,2010Illinoisprimary),IllinoisBoardofHigherEducationExecutiveDirectorJudyErwinandStateSuperintendentofEducationChrisKochallsaythesamethingintheirguestcolumnsinthisissueof IFT Insight: thestateofIllinoisdoesnothaveenoughmoneytooperate,andthegimmicksthatallowedelectedleaderstosidesteptheissueofataxincreasehaveallbeenplayed.Thebagoftricksisempty.

AtthemostrecentIBHEmeeting,thepresidentofIllinoisStateUniversitytoldtheboardthathisinstitutionhadenoughmoneytooperatethroughMarch,butafterthathemightneedtoclosethecampus’doors.Southern

IllinoisUniversityPresidentGlennPoshardisdeliveringasimilarmessage.Communitycollegesareinthesameboat.

Illinois’elementaryandsecondaryschoolswereabletousestimulusfundsfromthefederalAmericanReinvestmentandRecoveryAct(ARRA)tomakenearlyhalfofthestate’sGeneralStateAid(GSA)paymentsforthe2009-10schoolyear.The2010-11schoolyearwillseemassivelayoffsiffederalmoniesthatweretemporarystopgapfundsarenotreplacedbystaterevenuetosupportschools.

ThehumancostifthestateisunabletofunditsschoolsandservicesforallIllinoiscitizenswillbestaggering.In“UpintheAir,”vignettesofmenandwomentalkingaboutlosingtheirjobswerenotactors,butrealworkersfromDetroitandSt.Louiswhohadbeenlaidoffintheeconomicdownturn.Theycouldbeanyoneofus,andwewillbejustlikethemifwecannotsolvethisproblem.

Thinkoftheteachersacrossthehall,thecafeteriaworker,professorsandgraduateemployees,stateworkerswhoinspecttruckstoensurehighwaysafetyandprovideessentialservices.Theseareourunionbrothersandsisters,ourco-workers,familyandfriends.They

willlosetheirjobs,andthestudentsandcitizenstheyservewillsuffer.

Ourproblemsarereal,andtheyaredifficult.Buttheyarenotimpossibletosolve.Here’swherewestart.Wevolunteerforgoodcandidates,andwevoteintheFeb.2primaryelectionforDanHynesandotherswhomeritoursupport.WemusttalktoourlegislatorsandtellthemataxincreaseisessentialifIllinoisistogetontherighttrackforthefuture.

BecauseifIllinois’fiscalproblemsaren’tsolved,wewon’tbeabletosay“It’sonlyamovie.”

IFT Secretary-Treasurer Marilyn Stewart

“The layoff, cutback and

shutdown scenarios will be

what Illinois schools, colleges,

universities and state government

will face in 2010 if there is no

solution to the state’s dire need

for more revenue.”

18 Insight Winter2010

T heIFTexecutiveboardhasendorsedDanHynesfortheDemocraticpartynomination

forgovernorofIllinois.Thedecisionfollowedathoroughexaminationoftheplatformofeachcandidate,includingwrittenresponsestoalengthyquestionnaireandin-personinterviewsofseveraloftheleadingcandidates.WhyDanHynes?Theanswerisasstraightforwardasthemanhimself.

TheIFThasknownDansinceheenteredpoliticsinthelate1990’s.Heisknownforhisintegrityandhonestyatatimewhenthoseattributesseemalltoorareinpubliclife.Hehasearnedhighmarksforhiscompetencyinrunningtheofficeofstatecomptroller,andsuccessfullynegotiatedseveralcontractswiththeIFTlocalunionthatrepresentsthefrontlinestaffofthatoffice.Eveninthefaceofdeepcutstohisbudget,henotonlyhonoredourcontracts,heavoidedlayoffs,furloughdaysanddemandsforcontractreopenersthathavetoooftenbeenthepracticeofotherstateofficials.

InstarkcontrasttoDan’sstatedpositionsontheissuesandhisques-tionnaireresponsesaretheRepublicancandidates’completedquestionnairesandpublicstatementsontheneedfornewrevenue,supportforeducationatalllevelsandtheprotectionofourpensions.Theycallfortaxcuts,vouch-ers,reducingpensionbenefitsoreveneliminatingdefinedbenefitpensionplansIFTmembersearn.WecannotsupportthosewhoopposeeverythingIFTmembersbelieveinandfightfor.

Danwon’tbetheflashiestcandidatewehaveseen,andthat’sjustfine.Ibelieveitistimeforcompetency,notpizzazz.Danisanexpertonstatefinanceatatimewhenthatskillisuniquelydemandedinourstate’shistory.

Illinoisissufferingfromyearsoffinancialneglect.Ourpensiondebtisthehighestinthenationandhasledtocallsfortwo-tierpensionplansandstiffincreasesinemployeecontributions.Theprojected$12billiondeficitinnextyear’sstatebudgetthreatensdeepcutsinpubliceducationandmanyotherservicesprovidedbyIFTmembers.Simplyput,itistheworstfiscalcrisisthisstatehasfacedsincetheGreatDepression.

DanHyneshasthebestplantoleadusoutofit.HewillmakeourtaxsystemfairerforallIllinoistaxpayers.Hewillnotrelyoncutstoourpublicpensionplans.HeunderstandsourbenefitsaremodestandthatIllinois’enormouspensiondebthasbeencausedbystateunderfunding,notoverlygenerousbenefits.

Dansupportsmodernizingourtaxsystemandistheonlycandidatetopubliclysupportagraduatedincometax

amendmenttotheIllinoisconstitutionasthemeanstodoit.Inaddition,hehasashorttermfiscalplanthatoughttobefavorablyconsideredbytheGeneralAssemblyintheupcomingsession.

AsasonofaChicagoTeachersUnionmemberandfatherofthree,Danisastrongsupporterofpubliceducationatalllevels.Heunderstandstheimportanceoftheservicesprovidedbyallpublicemployees.Andhehasdemonstratedhiscommitmenttoworkersthroughouthispubliclife.

OnFeb.2,orduringearlyvotinginJanuary,Ihopeyouwillconsidersupportingamanwhohasearnedourtrust,DanHynes.

Dan Hynes is the right choice for governor

IFT President Ed Geppert, Jr.

Fromthepresident

“Dan won’t be the flashiest

candidate we have seen, and

that’s just fine. I believe it is time

for competency, not pizzazz. Dan

is an expert on state finance at a

time when that skill is uniquely

demanded in our state’s history.”

Winter2010 Insight 19

Non-Profit

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit no. 40

OAK BROOK, IL

InsightIllinoisFederationofTeachersP.O.Box390Westmont,IL60559

IamtheIFT

Verda RobertsFarmington Federation of Integrated Support

Staff and Teachers (FFISST), Local 3764

Local treasurer, former local secretary

Region N Political Action Committee (PAC) chair

and member of IFT statewide PAC committee

“The IFT’s Political Action Committee (PAC)

process represents the best of the IFT. There is

total member involvement; anyone can come to

a meeting to listen and see the political process

first-hand. We talk about the issues, we talk to

the candidates and we learn so much. The PAC

system is transparent. It is democracy in action,

which is what the IFT is all about.”