the voice- september 2009

September 2009 n The NSEA Voice n

The

VoiceThe Nebraska State Education Association September 2009

n The NSEA Voice n September 2009

The NEA Foundation, building on the success of its Closing the Achieve-ment Gaps Initiative, has awarded an Omaha partnership a $50,000 planning grant.

The partnership, comprised of lead-ers from the Omaha Education Associa-tion (OEA), Omaha Public School Dis-trict, and Omaha’s Bright Futures, will use the funds to de-velop a proposal to demonstrate how they will work together to improve achievement rates for low in-come and minority students, while rais-ing performance for all students.

Based on a review of its proposal, the Omaha plan will be eligible to receive a five-year Foundation grant of up to $1.25 million to implement its strategy.

“The strong working relationships we’ve developed with OPS and with Bright Futures were key to Omaha re-ceiving this grant from the NEA Foun-dation. That relationship will be vital to ensuring our efforts are successful,” said Doreen Jankovich, president of the Omaha Education Association.

“The planning grant provides us with the financial resources necessary to de-velop a detailed, workable plan for clos-ing the achievement gap for students,” she said.

The Omaha proposal will focus on ways in which the groups will work to-gether to strengthen four areas of inter-vention in public education, including:nLocal association and school dis-

trict capacity to generate a shared un-derstanding of the problem; frequent and ongoing communication; and an agreed-upon set of strategies to address the challenges.nSystem alignment and coherence

to increase capacity at the district level to ensure school-level success.nFamily and community partner-

ships designed to generate support for

improvement efforts and to bring neces-sary resources for achieving the vision and outcomes.nQuality teaching designed to im-

prove teaching and learning as a means of closing achievement gaps by improv-ing the professional lives of teachers.

A Foundation grant program in Chat-tanooga, TN, has seen the achievement gap drop 13 percent in reading and 10.5 percent in math from 2004 to 2008.

The NEA Foundation is a nonprofit, public charity created in 1969 and sus-tained by contributions from educators, corporate sponsors and others.

OPS a Finalist withGates FoundationThe Omaha Public Schools is

one of five districts nationwide that has reached the final phase of the Intensive Partnerships for Effective Teaching grant application process.

The grants will be funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which will invest $500 million over five years to improve teaching in urban school districts.

Omaha Education Association President Doreen Jankovich told the Omaha World-Herald that Omaha’s plan for the grant application will recognize teachers as front-line advocates for students, and “could really be a great springboard to transform education in Omaha.”

The grant application could mean tens of millions of dollars for OPS to use to attract, train and mentor teachers, and to enhance salaries. The district also hopes to tie performance to base salary increases. A teacher’s effectiveness, said Jankovich, would be not be measured by test results alone.

A final decision, along with an an-nouncement by the Gates Founda-tion of how much money OPS is to receive, is expected in November.

On the Cover:Last spring, NSEA UniServ Director Marlene Wehrbein, at right, helped Louisville teacher and coach Crystal Dwerlkotte solve an issue that allowed Dwerlkotte to spend more time with son Madden.For the story, see

Page 12.

the

VOICe Nebraska State Education Association

605 S. 14th Street, Suite 200Lincoln, NE 68508-2742 · www.nsea.org

(402) 475-7611 · (800) 742-0047

Volume 63, No. 1ISSN Number: 1085-0783USPS Number: 000-369

Executive Director Craig R. ChristiansenAssoc. Executive Director Neal ClayburnCommunications Director Karen KilgarinAssistant Comm. Director Al Koontz

NSEA BoARd of dIRECtoRSPresident Jess Wolf, HartingtonVice President Nancy fulton, Wilber-ClatoniaNEA Director Mark Shively, omahaNEA Director Leann Widhalm, Norfolk

Official publication of the Nebraska State Education Association, Suite 200, 605 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to NSEA Voice, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742.

Published 10 times yearly according to this schedule: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May and August.

Payment of annual NSEA membership dues entitles Nebraska educators to receive The Voice. Total cost of producing 10 monthly issues of The Voice each year is about $4.84 per member.

Advertising rates of The Voice are available from the assistant communications director. All advertisements and advertisers are screened prior to publication. Appearance of an advertisement in The Voice does not necessarily imply NSEA endorsement of either the product being advertised or the views being expressed.

Great Public Schools For Every Child

NEA Foundation AidsOmaha in Gap Effort

Jankovich

Omaha Awarded Grant to Create Roadmapfor Effort to Improve Student Performance


‘We cannot

wait another

15 years or

more for the

opportunity

of progressive

change. And we

cannot allow

change to occur

without our

input.’

Change Needs Your Help

NSEA PresidentJess Wolf

A year ago the key word on every-one’s mind (and television set) was ‘change.’ Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama had made the word central to his campaign, and other can-didates followed suit. Obama won the election, and now, 10 months after the election, some citizens seem surprised or they object to the changes that have happened, are happening, or are being considered.

Of course, we won’t all agree wheth-er the change is right or wrong; dis-agreement and discourse is central to our democracy.

In our histories as educators, we can all recall changes in education and can cite several that made a true difference, and others which weren’t so hot. In our heart of hearts, we know that stagna-tion isn’t good for our profession, and probably isn’t good for most aspects in society. Change, in most cases, moves us forward.

A Sweet SmellA year ago, the economy could eas-

ily have been compared to a road-killed skunk. During the months that followed, the aroma worsened. The Docket of Change included the stimulus package, which has pushed the economy to shown signs of recovery, though worry about long-term national debt continue to be of concern (Note: national debt was appar-ently not a problem during the previous administration, either, as the federal debt load doubled during those eight years). So while the skunk aroma hasn’t been completely eradicated, the passage of time has dampened the smell somewhat.

The stimulus dollars that have co-erced the economy forward smelled pretty sweet to Nebraska educators last spring when — thanks to Sen. Ben Nel-

son’s support — the Legislature and the governor were able to put $234 million into the state aid formula. It appeared there were finally dollars to raise our state’s dismal 45th place ranking av-erage teacher’s salaries. Thanks to the yeoman-like work of negotiators across the state, we may see an improvement in that standing. The going hasn’t been easy for negotiators, however, as some local school districts continue to with-hold the stimulus funds from their in-tended purposes (job retention, salary enhancements and local economy im-provements).

Education in 2010The current issue on the Docket for

Change is health care reform. Polls in-dicate that most Americans see a need for changing the system. But some fears persist, and radicals seem to be able to play on those fears. NEA continues to fight for these issues: guaranteeing health care coverage for all Americans, especially those attending school; con-trol of health care costs; and no tax on health care benefits. A public health care plan is being promoted as a key component in helping to achieve these goals. It will be a battle, but a battle that must be fought. To do nothing is completely unacceptable.

More change is in the wind, with education issues on President Obama’s agenda for 2010.

Your involvement in all this is huge. We, as educators, simply cannot allow any of these issues to pass without our participation. We cannot wait another 15 years or more for the opportunity of progressive change. And we cannot al-low change to occur without our input. Please be ready to assist when called upon.

From the President


More than 7,000 NEA members, in-cluding about 100 Nebraskans, talked about education reform with newly-minted Education Secretary Arne Dun-can in San Diego in early July.

Duncan gave NEA members good news. He said educators must be at the table for any discussions about trans-forming America’s public schools.

Duncan addressed the NEA mem-bers as part of a town hall exchange during NEA’s annual Representative Assembly in San Diego. He also lis-tened and heard educators’ views on how to best ensure that every student has access to a quality public educa-tion.

“I know we won’t all agree on ev-erything, but I’m confident there will be more we agree with than not,” Duncan said. “It starts with our shared values. We believe it is our moral obligation to give children the very best education possible. We believe every child can learn and every school can succeed. We believe teaching is a profession, and good teachers and principals are essen-

tial to success.” Duncan said schools must be the

hub of communities; the federal gov-ernment must increase the number of nationally-certified teachers; and “a union of educators is a positive force that can drive the kind of change that many of our schools need.”

Real-World Implications The Representative Assembly is the

highest decision-making body within the more than 3.2 million-member NEA, and with nearly 10,000 delegates, it is also the world’s largest democratic deliberative body. The meeting marked

the Association’s 147th annual gather-ing, and 88th Representative Assembly.

NSEA President Jess Wolf led Ne-braska’s contingent of just over 100 delegates. A highlight was the awarding of the Leo Reano Memorial Award to NSEA member Vida Sue Stabler (see related story).

“We had a great meeting, and our NSEA members represented us quite well,” said Wolf.

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel noted that he visited schools in New York and Connecticut. There he saw what change is possible when there is a strong collaborative relationship

An Open LineDuncan Hears FromMembers on Reform,Welcomes Dialogue

Debate and discussion: In line to speak at a regular morning caucus by NSEA members during the NEA Representative Assembly were, from right, Jenni Absalon, Lincoln Education Association president; Deb Gnuse, Grand Island Education Association president; Doreen Jankovich, Omaha Education Association president; and Rich Wergin, Seward.

Hot seat: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (in white shirt) fields a question from NEA members on the stage at the annual NEA Representative Assembly in San Diego in July.


Vida Sue Stabler, the Title VII Indian Education Program director at the Umonhon Nation Public School, has received a National Education Association Human and Civil Rights Award. She was recognized for her work to save and revitalize the culture and language of the Umonhon (Omaha) tribe.

Stabler received the NEA Leo Reano Memorial Award at NEA’s 43rd annual Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner held in San Diego on July 3.

“Preserving the culture and language of First Americans is an outstanding gift to the nation,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “It is very difficult to understand another culture unless you understand the subtle nuances and deep meanings of its language. Once the language is lost, part of the culture is lost and can never be recovered.”

Stabler believes that nothing is more important to the Umonhon children’s success in the wider world than to learn their own culture and language. Everything she does as a teacher is grounded in her community.

The learning begins with the classroom, which the Umonhon call huthuga, or tribal circle. Stabler teams

with tribal elders who help teach students in grades K–12 the words and ways of their people.

When not teaching, Stabler works with University of Nebraska Language Professor Mark Awakuni-Swetland to document the Umonhon language, and develop specific curriculum materials for teaching the Umonhon language and culture. To date, the duo has completed revisions of an expanded Umonhon dictionary, and completed a cookbook of traditional Umo “ho” recipes written entirely in the Umonhon language.

Stabler consistently encourages “active listeners,” mostly middle-age people who grew up with parents who spoke Umonhon and understand the language, to come forward and learn how to speak the language.

The NEA Leo Reano Memorial Award honors Reano, a teacher, artist and interpreter. A member of the Santo Domingo Indian Pueblo, he served on the All Indian Pueblo Council and the NEA Council on Human Relations. He dedicated his life to securing educational opportunities for American Indian/Alaska Native children.

To see NEA’s video on Stabler, search for ‘Vida Sue Stabler’ at:

www.youtube.com

National recognition: Vida Sue Stabler, center, was one of several educators and others from across the country honored at NEA’s annual Human and Civil Rights Awards dinner in San Diego in July.

NEA Salutes Stablerfor Cultural Works

between the teachers’ association, the school district and community partners.

“The best way to achieve results is for local unions and other partners to collaborate locally, while thinking glob-ally about what students need to suc-ceed,” Van Roekel said. “I believe that most teachers do an outstanding job, but that shouldn’t stop us from working to-gether to find out what works best.”

During Duncan’s Q&A, many NEA members noted how educators are on the front lines dealing with the real-world implications of education poli-cy, and know better than anyone what works best in the classroom.

“We need to have educators at the table, helping all teachers become as good as they can be,” said Van Roekel. “Secretary Duncan should be applauded for seeking the input of NEA members. Educators know what their students and schools need, and we look forward to working with him.”

Action Items

Delegates also approved several New Business Items, including these that called for:nNEA to develop and implement

an action plan in collaboration with tar-geted state and local affiliates, to inform and influence President Obama’s pro-posal to turn around 5,000 schools with $5 billion in five years.nNEA to urge Congress and the

Obama Administration to enact new federal educational policy with a new name. The NEA will support a plan that moves beyond a “one-size-fits-all” model of accountability, and provides support to schools serving our most at-risk students.nNEA to develop an online tool kit

which will outline procedures, strate-gies, materials and resources to support the creation of middle and high school teacher recruitment programs that en-courage students to think seriously about a career in teaching.nNEA, through its programs, pub-

lications and affiliates, to promote and publicize the impact of achievement gaps on state and national economies.nNEA, through existing commu-

nications vehicles, to work to end the serious and growing problem of sexting in schools. The NEA will help local af-filiates inform and implement strategies to educate all stakeholders about the ir-revocable damage sexting causes to all involved, especially the subject(s) of the sexting.


The Educators Health Alliance Board of Di-rectors, which manages the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska health care plan used by nearly every Nebraska school district, has announced creation of a wellness program. Now, the board is seeking groups to volunteer to pilot the wellness plan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ne-braska (BCBSNE) and the Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM) have been selected to implement and administer the pilot program.

While it is the intent of the EHA Board to eventually expand eligibility for the wellness program to all EHA subgroups in all participating school districts, the wellness program will start slowly, said NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen, who chairs the EHA Board of Directors.

“In order to have an orderly im-plementation, the rollout will be lim-ited initially to about 2,500 eligible employees in the pilot subgroups,” he said. “It’s anticipated that experi-ences in the pilot program will pro-vide for plan improvements as it is later made available to additional subgroups.”

The pilot program will begin on or about Jan. 1, 2010.

The pilot will be comprehensive, with several of the components pro-vided without additional cost by BCB-SNE. For the program components re-quiring additional cost, the EHA will pay 50 percent of the expenses and the participating subgroups will pay the remaining 50 percent.

Key components of the wellness program are as follows:nHealth risk assessment.nConsultative services and tar-

geted promotion plans.nEngaging Consumers @ Work

toolkit.nA comprehensive Web site.nHealth promotion programs.nA medical self-care guide.nPedometers.nA participant incentive program

for wellness component participation.nParticipant health and wellness

behavior modification programs.The pilot program will include a

diverse cross-section of EHA subgroups, rep-resenting size, geography and employment cat-egory. Within

each of the categories, selection into the pilot program will be made on a first come basis.

EHA subgroups interested in par-

ticipating in the Wellness Pilot Pro-gram may obtain an application form from the EHA Web site at:

EHAplan.orgCompleted applications are to be

returned to Kent Trelford-Thompson, BCBSNE and EHA account execu-tive. He may be contacted with ques-tions at:kent.trelford-thompson@bcbsne.

com

EHA to Offer Wellness Plan


In June, Gov. Dave Heineman wrote a letter to all NSEA members.

His message was simple: he asked teachers to work with their school districts to make sure that $234 million in ad-ditional state aid to education went “where we know it matters most — the classroom.”

H e i n e m a n ’s letter was a bold move, criticized in some corners, but praised by those

who understand the link between quali-ty teaching and competitive teacher pay. First, quality teaching is of paramount importance to our children. Second, competitive teacher pay attracts and retains quality teachers in Nebraska’s classrooms.

Nearly three months after the let-ter, early numbers indicate that lo-cal association negotiators have had some success at moving Nebraska’s dismal average starting salary of $27,147 higher. Of the 93 school districts reporting by Aug. 21 to NSEA that they have settled con-tracts, 39 – nearly 42 percent – have reported settlements of $1,000 or more on base. Another half dozen have settled for be-tween $900 and $1,000 on base. The average settlement through mid-August increased the base by more than $870.

“To see this many settle-ments at that level is certainly pleasing,” said NSEA President Jess Wolf.

“While the federal stimulus dollars and the governor’s letter surely helped, we hope that school boards are realizing that their districts have to pay teachers a com-petitive salary – based not only on what the school district down the road pays, but on what school districts in Wyoming, and

Iowa and Missouri and Texas are paying.”

Historic LetterHeineman penned the letter, and NSEA

mailed it to all members under a cover let-ter from Wolf, who called Heineman’s re-marks “important and historic.

“Given the governor’s support, as well as the significant increase in state aid for the next two years, local associations should seek an increase of no less than

$1,500 on base for the

2009-10 school year,” wrote Wolf.

The Lyons-Decatur Education Associ-ation realized a $1,475 increase on base. McCool Junction bargained for $1,300. Others did as well, or nearly as well (see list on this page).

The governor’s letter arrived as most

Gold Star Settlements

More than 40 percent of con-tract settlements reported to NSEA through mid-August in-cluded increases in base salaries of $1,000 or more.

Below, in no particular order, is a sampling. For a complete list, go to the NSEA home page at:

www.nsea.org

West PointBase increase: $2,500 or 9.09%New base: $30,000**Base will remain at $30,000 for

2010-11, as well.

McCool JunctionBase increase: $1,300 or 4.76%New base: $28,600

Cross CountyBase increase: $1,200 or 4.36%New base: $28,700

LincolnBase increase: $1,100 or 3.15%New base: $36,008

Lyons-DecaturBase increase: $1,475 or 5.42%New base: $28,675

Falls CityBase increase: $1,500 or 5.31%New base:$29,750

Giltner(Two-tear Agreement)

09-10 increase: $2,000, 7.69% New base: $28,00010-11 increase: $1,500, 5.36% New base: $29,500

HowellsBase increase: $1,500 or 5.08%New base: $31,000

ArapahoeBase increase: $1,200 or 4.4%New base: $28,450

WalthillBase increase: $1,272 or 4%New base: $33,070

Wilber-ClatoniaBase increase: $1,225 or 4.11%New base: $31,025

LouisvilleBase increase: $1,140 or 3.90%New base: $30,380

AuburnBase increase: $1,156 or 4%New base: $30,056

Salary Success

Heineman

Contracts Settled Since Legislature’s AdjournmentShow Promising Results. Governor’s Letter,Stimulus Funding, Awareness are Factors.


local associations and school districts were beginning serious contract talks. It came shortly after the Nebraska Leg-islature approved a two-year state aid to education plan that funneled $234 mil-lion in federal education stimulus mon-ies through the state aid formula and into school district coffers.

Before it was apparent that federal stimulus dollars would be available, state policymakers had proposed a much smaller $100 million increase in state aid for 2009-10 and 2010-11. The federal dollars, supported by Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, gave the state added budget flexibility when tax revenues were down, and helped preserve a healthy state emergency reserve fund.

Further, federal directives dictated that the stimulus dollars be used to prevent teacher layoffs; and to hire new teachers to reduce class size. The theory: federal stimulus dollars flow-ing through education salaries would be spent on every Main Street in America, stimulating the economy at the grass-roots level.

‘Increasingly Concerned’In his letter, Gov. Heineman said he

supports local control, but has “grown increasingly concerned that the substan-tial increases in state aid have not been reflected in teacher pay.”

He noted that superintendent salaries seem to be increasing at a significant rate, while teacher salaries are not.

“That needs to change,” Heineman wrote. “It is absolutely essential to en-sure that education budgets are focused on the classroom.”

And he took school districts to task for saying that there aren’t enough dol-lars to provide competitive salaries.

“I disagree,” Heineman wrote. “Dur-ing the past four years that I have been governor, we have significantly in-creased state aid to education, and we need school districts to provide teachers with competitive salaries.”

Heineman’s letter drew some criti-

cism, notably from the Nebraska School Boards Association and from a couple of newspaper editorials. But NSEA members were quick to respond.

In a response to the North Platte Telegraph’s editorial that claimed Hei-neman to be “meddling,” North Platte Education Association President Mi-chelle Moore defended the governor in a letter to the Telegraph.

“Public school funding is best spent where it does the most good: in the classroom,” wrote Moore. “The gov-ernor has shown true leadership on this issue – leadership that benefits all Ne-braskans.”

Arnold teacher Margaret Ann Mills also wrote the Telegraph.

“Teachers typically do not expect to be in the upper tax bracket, but the profession should pay them enough to feed, clothe, and house a small family; enough that they could live above what is today considered poverty level,” Mills wrote.

With Heineman’s letter, the bargain-ing efforts of local negotiators, and slowly-changing attitudes, competitive teacher pay may become a reality in Nebraska.

‘It is absolutely essential that education budgets are focused on the classroom.’

— Gov. Dave Heineman


NSEA President Jess Wolf has sent a letter to state policymakers voicing strong opposition to the growing use of one-size-fits-all direct reading instruc-tion programs in Nebraska.

During NSEA’s Delegate Assem-bly on April 24–25, nearly 400 NSEA delegates, elected by their local as-sociations, voted unanimously to op-pose such reading programs. The New Business Item approved by delegates also asked Wolf to send a letter to Gov. Dave Heineman, Commissioner of Ed-ucation Roger Breed, Nebraska state senators and members of the State Board of Education.

In the letter, Wolf noted that mem-bers from across the state were in-volved in the discussion, and that a number of them said that such direct, scripted instructional programs do not allow teachers to address individual student’s needs.

“NSEA members believe it is criti-cal that students become independent readers in order to be successful in school and life,” wrote Wolf. “Reading instruction, with appropriate interven-tion, especially in the early grades, is essential for learning in all content ar-eas and for achieving high standards.”

Teachers at all levels should be pro-vided adequate resources, and should be encouraged to use their expertise to

address the diverse needs of students, said Wolf.

“Imposing a reading program man-dating direct (scripted) instruction is counterproductive. It severely limits a teacher’s ability to address each indi-vidual student’s needs,” he said.

Such programs may claim to be research-based, but the testing of such

programs has been limited, and the programs tend to disregard socio-eco-nomic and geographically diverse pop-ulations. And a number of researchers and educators – both in the state of Ne-braska and nationally – disagree with the validity of the direct instruction reading program’s results, said Wolf.

The letter was sent on May 4.

Direct Instruction Letter SentNSEA Opposition to One-Size-Fits-All Plans Voiced to Policymakers

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The most popular merchants: Ve-rizon; Office Depot; Domino’s Pizza; Famous Footwear; Subway; and Tar-get.

To find the savings in your area, go to the NSEA Web home page and click on the Access Card icon in the upper right corner of the page. En-ter your 10-digit NSEA identification number and get ready to save. The site is at:

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Are You Saving with Access?Your NSEA Membership Card Can Save You Cash Everyday!


It’s 7:15 a.m., and NSEA UniServ Director Marlene Wehrbein is parked in a shady spot on the south side of the Weeping Water Public Schools, making final notes for a 7:30 a.m. meeting.

Her day, this day – Monday, May 11, 2009 – is well under way. It’s going to be a long one.

Knowledge of teaching and learn-ing and an ability to be flexible are traits that make a good UniServ direc-tor. Knowledge of school law, bargain-ing principles and State Department of Education rules are just as important.

Passion is also a prerequisite.“The reason UniServ directors do

their job, for the most part, is because they have a passion for making things better for teachers,” said Wehrbein. “Sometimes I think we want it even more than the teachers themselves.”

NSEA has 16 UniServ directors – perhaps better described as field agents – on the road across the state nearly every day of the week. They work with

NSEA members to resolve problems large and small, to answer questions, to serve as counselors and friends. They provide the bulk of NSEA services, meeting with members one-on-one in their classrooms, in small groups or at large gatherings.

Most NSEA members may not know the full range of services UniServ di-rectors provide. This is a snapshot of those services. Wehrbein lives near Plattsmouth and serves 29 southeast Nebraska school districts.

6:30 a.m., Home OfficeAn e-mail check shows

five overnight messages need responses. Two pose ques-tions about negotiations, an-other is from a suspended teacher being investigated for the alleged as-sault of a student. Wehrbein will meet that teacher at noon. Another e-mail of-fers a “thank you” for a job lead, and a fifth is a membership question from an

education support professional.

7:30 a.m., Weeping WaterPublic Schools

In social sciences teacher Jeff Keze-or’s classroom, Wehrbein updates Keze-or and fellow Weeping Water Education Association negotiator Mary Moser on state aid, health insurance, retirement and other bargaining issues. Contract talks at Weeping Water have not started because state aid – being discussed by the Nebraska Legislature that morning – has not been set. Wehrbein says that with federal stimulus dollars, the state aid increase will be among the largest in history. Increasing the base by $1,000 is NSEA’s goal. That is not out of line, she says. “The biggest hurdle we have is convincing teachers to ask for it.”

8:10 a.m.Wehrbein stops at the office of High

School Principal Gary Wockenfuss. He alerts Wehrbein that a teacher has been

Bright and early: At a 7:30 a.m. meeting, NSEA UniServ Director Marlene Wehrbein talks bargaining strategy with Weeping Water Education Association negotiators Jeff Kezeor and Mary Moser.

in theA Day

LifeUniServ Directors Deliver Service

to NSEA Members Daily. This Account Typifiesan Average Day for One of NSEA’s 18 Field Reps.

What were NSEA’s 15 other UniServ directors doing on Monday,

May 11? Here’s a sampling of what some of them experienced.

8–10 a.m., UniServ Director Ellen Yates, driving to a meeting with a super-intendent, takes a call from a member who had been hit by a student the pre-vious week. They reviewed the steps the member had taken upon Yates’ advice. Yates advised the member that the local

association president should attend a Wednesday meeting with the principal, and provided a strategy for the meeting. The local president also called, and Yates made suggestions as to her role in the meeting.

The 9 a.m. meeting with the super-intendent is to question why the school district docked the member’s pay for the time she took to get medical attention needed as the result of the student’s at-tack.

Meeting with the superintendent briefly, Yates points out that the medical appointment was necessary due to the student attack, and docking wages was not appropriate. She also asserts that the situation should not require the use of sick leave.

4–5 p.m., UniServ Director Tom Martin met with the Cross County Edu-cation Association negotiations team, and offered negotiations information to

Page 12 n The NSEA Voice n September 2009


given a letter of reprimand for failure to adhere to district policy.

9 a.m. LouisvillePublic Schools

After the drive to Louis-ville and a stop for a diet cola, Wehrbein checks in at the LHS office. Headed to the elementary wing for a 9:20 meeting, she stops to chat with two teachers. Wehrbein had helped one with a retirement decision, and wants to see whether he’s OK with that decision. He’s looking forward to retirement. The other was assaulted by a student earlier in the year. Wehr-bein helped her address the issue, and worked with the principal on the matter. The teacher wonders: will the student return in September?

9:14 a.m. Wehrbein stops at the office of Ele-

mentary Principal Cory Holl who notes that he enjoys a good working relation-

ship with Wehrbein. The reason for her stop: first grade teacher and volleyball Coach Crystal Dwerlkotte would like to give up the volleyball assignment. Her husband’s new job has him traveling, and their two-year-old would barely see a parent during volleyball season. Administration has been slow to grant Dwerlkotte’s request.

“You can’t create a situation where a teacher can’t do what you want parents in the district to do: be active in their child’s life,” says Wehrbein.

Bottom line, she says, is that Dwer-lkotte may be asked to be let out of her contract. Holl says Dwerlkotte is a good teacher and he would hate to lose her.

9:20 a.m.Wehrbein updates Dwer-

lkotte. Appreciative, Dwer-lkotte notes that she informed the district of her request to be relieved of head coaching duties well before the deadline to do so. She

might be willing to take a lesser coach-ing role, but she may be forced out of the district. She has an interview sched-uled at Millard. “I like it here – it’s just so stressful in this situation,” says Dw-erlkotte. Wehrbein says she’ll watch the situation closely.

9:36 a.m.Leaving the parking lot, Wehrbein is

hailed by high school Principal Cynthia Osterloh, who offers a quick update on a conflict between a student and teacher.

9:40 a.m.On the road, Wehrbein calls the of-

fice. Associate Staffer Kathy Hutchin-son says Wehrbein needs to provide documentation on the services to a member when she returns to the office.

9:56 a.m.On the way to Lincoln, Wehrbein

stops for gas at the Ashland exit on I-80. “You have to plan for stops for gas at places where the gas is cheap.”

10:40 a.m., Fifth Floor,State Office Building, Lincoln

The Commission of Indus-trial Relations is set to hear arguments on the state’s ap-peal of a ruling on the State Code Agency Teachers Asso-ciation (SCATA) vs. the State of Nebraska. A Special Master gave the 72 SCATA members salary increases of 4.2 percent and 3.9 percent, respective-ly, over the next two years. Werhbein represents several SCATA members and had hoped to catch part of the 9:30 a.m. hearing. It went more quickly than anticipated. UniServ colleague Jerry Hoffman reports it went well.

11:15 a.m., NSEA Headquarters

E-mails to answer, messages to re-turn, and time to print out the documen-tation of services requested by Hutchin-

Bright and early: At a 7:30 a.m. meeting, NSEA UniServ Director Marlene Wehrbein talks bargaining strategy with Weeping Water Education Association negotiators Jeff Kezeor and Mary Moser.

help them with their bargaining. He of-fered suggested language for proposals the team hoped to make on issues iden-tified by their membership. Martin also met with a teacher in the same building about retiring and/or taking disability, and met with another teacher about her personnel file and a parent complaint.

9-10 a.m., UniServ Director Ron Goldenstein spent an hour visiting with attorneys in an attempt to settle a teach-

er termination issue.

11a.m. to noon, UniServ Direc-tor Duane Obermier worked on salary comparability studies for the Wausa Ed-ucation Association and the Ponca Edu-cation Association.

6:30-7:30 p.m., UniServ Director Bill Nowak, after a day on the road, had phone messages to return. The first came from a local association

president who wanted to discuss a “Union Vote of No Confidence” regard-ing a school principal. An ag teacher called to discuss concerns about the installation of security cameras in the industrial arts area. Another teacher called to ask about her getting a re-lease from her contract to accept a job with another district.

10 a.m. to noon, UniServ Director Midge Dublinske met for two hours

September 2009 n The NSEA Voice n Page 13


son. A meeting with Associate Execu-tive Director Neal Clayburn about the services takes less than 10 minutes.

Noon, Lincoln RestaurantWehrbein meets with the teacher

who is on leave for the alleged assault of a student on Friday. He has typed his version of the incident for the county attorney. Wehrbein suggests minor ed-its and assures him that his colleagues are concerned about him. She offers tips for handling questions from students and staff when he returns. “Redirect students to classwork,” she says. “Ap-preciate the concern of colleagues, but you can’t talk about it. Talking about it keeps the story alive.”

1:10 p.m.,NSEA Headquarters

More e-mails to answer, then prepa-ration for a meeting with UniServ Di-rector Gary Osborn to finalize details of a 6:30 p.m. meeting in Elkhorn with Learning Community negotiators.

1:25 p.m.The teacher Wehrbein met at noon

stops by with an updated version of his incident report. She gives it an OK and has the member sign it. She’ll fax it to

the county attorney on his behalf.

1:30 p.m.Wehrbein meets Osborn to discuss

the Elkhorn meeting. He says the goal is to change expectations. “I don’t feel they ever ask for enough, so we hope this will help encourage everyone to ask for more – at least $1,000 on the base.”

2:04 p.m.A draft of a letter to the county at-

torney concerning the teacher she met at noon is prepared. The deputy who interviewed students following the alleged assault is the parent of a stu-dent who was in the classroom at the time of the incident. Wehrbein suggests a conflict of interest on the part of the deputy – would the county attor-ney pass that on to the county sheriff? The letter will be sent later, long after the case has been resolved.

2:30 p.m.The principal from the school where

the assault allegedly took place calls and wonders: should an e-mail be sent to staff? Wehrbein shares the text of an e-mail she has already sent to NSEA members at the school: the accused is

upbeat; calls or notes of support are ap-propriate. Also, it “is not a good idea to quiz him about what happened or will happen. The best way to quell rumors and misinformation is to not respond.”

4:05 p.m., On the roadHeaded to Elkhorn for the Learning

Community Roundtable.

4:20 p.m.A call from a member interviewing

for a counseling job in another district. Wehrbein knows the administrator who will conduct the interview. She offers advice that might be helpful.

4:25 p.m.A call from a member who will meet

with administrators Thursday to talk about skills improvement. Wehrbein checks her calendar. She’ll attend to protect the member’s interests.

5:45 p.m., ElkhornAt a local restaurant, the table ar-

rangement is not right. Tugging and lugging chairs and tables, Wehrbein has the room re-set before anyone arrives.

5:58 p.m..A member arrives. Wehrbein coached

Teamwork: Wehrbein, left, with fellow Uniserv Director Gary Osborn, starts a meeting with local association negotiators from the Elkhorn area. Among the topics: state aid, health care premiums and stimulus dollars.

with a community college member facing termination of his teaching con-tract. The meeting was followed by a conversation to update NSEA Director of Member Rights Trish Guinan, and two follow-up phone calls to schedule a meeting with the member and a college human resources officer.

9:30—10:30 a.m., UniServ Director Jerry Hoffman was in a Commission of

Industrial Relations hearing. The State of Nebraska appealed a Special Mas-ter ruling that favored the State Code Agency Teachers Association (SCATA). The ruling set two precedents. First, it brought Lincoln and Omaha into the SCATA array; and second, it provides a $2,200 increase in base salary for two years.

2:30 – 3:30 p.m., UniServ Director

Dan Studer left the LEA office for the Lincoln Public Schools District Office to meet with a member and a represen-tative of Human Resources in regards to a job security situation – the second meeting on the issue in five days. At 3:25 p.m. a third meeting was set.

At 3:30 p.m., Studer met with another member and Human Resources person-nel regarding allegations made against the member.



her son for a scholarship interview earlier in the year – and talk turns to job open-ings. The member’s district is hiring at every level. Wehrbein excuses herself to make a call to the member who called at 4:20 – this district has a counseling job!

6:30 p.m.Dinner – a buffet – is ready.

6:50 p.m.Wehrbein and Osborn begin intro-

ductions. Educator’s Health Alliance Plan Advocate Kurt Genrich opens with health care plan changes for 2009-10.

7:36 p.m.Wehrbein and Osborn explain bar-

gaining goals. Locals indicate a com-mon theme from administrators is “there is no money,” even from a district that anticipates a $1.2 million state aid in-crease. The retirement contribution rate will go up next year, costing teachers an average of $350. Add increased health care deductible and co-pay costs, and $1,000 on base will be a break-even in-crease for most, says Wehrbein.

7:51 p.m.State aid is on the table. The state has

pledged that there will be no “cliff ef-fect” in two years when federal stimu-lus dollars disappear, says Wehrbein.

8:47 p.m.Meeting wrapped, last question an-

swered. Wehrbein is homeward bound.

10:10 p.m., Home OfficeA last check of e-mail. A member

needs directions to a job inter-view, plus apparel advice. A negotiator asks for an inter-pretation of state aid. A third member asks for help with an evaluation. The last is from an education support professional – an at-will employee – with questions about when he should expect to know whether or not he will have a job next fall.

PostscriptCrystal Dwerlkotte’s request to step

down as volleyball coach was granted. Charges against the teacher accused of as-saulting a student were dismissed. The CIR affirmed the Special Master ruling in the SCATA case, but the state has appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court.

The teacher in search of a counseling job did not get the job in the Learning Commu-nity school, but has moved to the metro area and is substitute teaching. By August 21, none of the schools at the evening round-table had reported contract settlements.

Barely 17 months after moving out of the 46-year-old NSEA Headquarters building, NSEA staff re-turned in mid-July.

In the interim, the building was gutted down to concrete, steel and outer walls, and then re-modeled, refitted and re-roofed.

Staff returned about two weeks ahead of the scheduled completion date. The $4.6 million renovation was approved by NSEA members at the 2007 Delegate Assembly.

In giving their blessing for the remodeling, NSEA members indicated a strong preference for con-tinuing the Association’s now 78-year presence across the street west of the State Capitol. The original proposal would have moved NSEA from the site it has occupied since 1931 to a new location elsewhere in Lincoln.

Among some of the reasons for the remodel: the mechanical systems were failing; the building was not energy efficient; and wiring for technology needs was inadequate. A substantial

amount of asbestos was also removed.

The building now has more meeting space; is heated and cooled using a geo-thermal well field drilled on the site; and has space and wiring for technology that should serve the Association well into the future. The handicapped accessibil-ity has been enhanced, as has building security. An unused underground heat-ing oil tank on the prop-erty was removed and the grounds were landscaped.

Many of the materials taken from the building during the de-molition process were recycled.

After the building was completed during the summer of 1962, the build-ing design won national praise and honors for its unique design.

An open house at the building, at 605 S. 14th St., in Lincoln, will be held at a later date.

For videos and photos documenting the process, check the home page of the NSEA Web site at:

www.nsea.org

NSEA HeadquartersRemodeling Complete

New look: The NSEA re-modeling added a new glass look to the east side of the building.


Science Teachersto Meet at Fremont

Nebraska science educators will meet Oct. 8-10 at Fremont’s famed Camp Calvin Crest for the 48th Ne-braska Association of Teachers of Sci-ence conference.

This year’s theme is Milestones in Science. The conference will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species. A highlight will be a presentation by Brian “Fox” Ellis, who will portray a middle-aged Charles Darwin on Thursday evening.

A variety of sessions and presenta-tions from all K-12 disciplines, as well as field trips, are available for profes-sional development.

Early bird registration must be postmarked by Sept. 11 to qualify for a reduced rate. Late registrations may be mailed, and participants may also register on-site. A Saturday-only rate is new this year for those who cannot attend during the week.

Pre-service teachers, and teachers in their first three years of teaching, are eligible for the New Teacher Scholar-ships, which cover registration, meals and lodging (a $170 value). Recipi-ents are responsible for paying mem-bership dues ($35) and any extra fees. Instructions and registration forms for the New Teacher Scholarships are also available at the NATS web site at:

http://www.neacadsci.org/nats/Conferences/index.htm

Target Will Help Payfor Your Field TripGet on board and get inspired! Tar-

get will award 5,000 grants of up to $800 each in 2010 to send students on exciting, enriching field trips. That means that students will be able to get hands-on with sculpture or go back-stage at a theater! The Target Web site includes a “Field Trip Idea Genera-tor” to help teachers research field trip ideas in their area.

In 2008-09, 25 Nebraska class-rooms received the Target grants.

How can your classroom get in on the fun? Mark your calendar and visit the Target Web site to complete the easy online application before the Nov. 3 deadline. The Web site is at:

Target.com/fieldtrips

Dyslexia Assn. Hosts RtI Conference

The Nebraska Branch of The In-ternational Dyslexia Association and the Friends of the Nebraska Dyslex-ia Association will host a statewide conference on Saturday, Sept. 19, in Omaha. The conference will focus on Response-to-Intervention’s (RtI) un-derlying, evidence-based foundations and provide an overview of what im-plementing RtI looks like in schools.

Featured will be W. David Tilly III, Ph.D., whose keynote address will be “Diagnosing the Learning Enabled.” Tilly’s interactive presentation pro-vides practical solutions to success-fully deploy RtI. Tilly is Director of Innovation & Accountability for Heartland Area Education Agency 11, which serves 90 schools in central Iowa.

The conference will also offer a variety of sessions on evidence-based approaches for teaching spelling, de-coding, fluency, vocabulary, compre-hension and writing.

Registration is $95 for non-mem-bers, $75 each for 10 or more from the same school district and $60 for stu-dents and International Dyslexia As-sociation members. To receive con-ference announcements, send your

name, organization, mailing address in an email to:

[email protected] conference will begin at 8:30

a.m. at the Omaha Home for Boys, 4343 N. 52nd St, Omaha. Full confer-ence and registration details can be found at:

www.ne-ida.com

Reading Assn. SeeksProgram Proposals“Light the Torch for Literacy” is

accepting program proposals for the Feb. 25-27, 2010, conference. Spon-sored by the Nebraska State Reading Association, the annual conference is Nebraska’s foremost professional de-velopment event for reading and lan-guage arts.

For program proposal forms and to read the highlights of the featured speakers, go to the Web site at:

www.nereads.orgProgram formats include 60-min-

ute sessions, 90-minute workshops, and 20-minute poster sessions. Pro-posals should be sent to Dennis Du-bry, Bayard Elementary School, P.O. Box 605, Bayard NE 69334, and must be received by Oct. 1. Proposals may also be e-mailed to Dubry at:

[email protected]

Apply for NEA Foundation Grants!The Foundation Recently Awarded $113,000;Deadlines for New Grant Applications are Near

The NEA Foundation recently awarded 28 grants to public school educators totaling $113,000. The grants will fund work to improve education for students nationwide — the kind of work that Nebraska teachers do every day!

You can also be the recipient of such a grant. The next in a series of rolling grant deadlines for NEA Foundation monies is fast approaching! Deadlines for the next review periods are Oct. 15, 2009; Feb. 1, 2010; and June 1, 2010.

The recent grants, of $2,000 or $5,000, were awarded to educators in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Brief descriptions of the proposals submitted by the award recipients can be found on the grants page of the NEA Foundation’s Web site, at:

neafoundation.orgThe Foundation’s grant applications are now completed online. To guide

educators through the new online process, the Foundation has also created an instructional video that walks prospective grantees through each step. Both the application and the instructional video can also be found on the Foundation Web site grants page.

Resources You Can Use


Commissioner Breed Will be Featured

Luncheon SpeakerLocal association leaders will want

to mark Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3, on their calendars. Those are the dates set for NSEA’s 2009 Fall Bargaining and Advocacy Conference.

Commissioner of Education Roger Breed will be the keynote speaker at noon on Saturday.

The conference theme is “Tool Time for Teachers.” It will feature sessions on federal stimulus funding; roundtable and caucus discussions; 2010 legisla-tive issues; salary schedules; and use of NSEA research tools. Also on the agenda in Saturday sectionals:nBargaining strategies, tactics and

table behavior.nOrganizing and community sup-

port.nUnfair labor practices.nFinancing: budgets, state aid,

spending and lids.nBargaining health insurance.nMember rights concerns.Also back by popular demand: Con-

tract Doctor sessions will be held Fri-day evening and Saturday.

The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn at Kearney. Friday night registration begins at 5:30 p.m., with sessions set to start at 7 p.m. Saturday’s

schedule opens with registration at 7:30 a.m., and sessions at 8:30 a.m.

To make a reservation at the Holiday Inn, call 1-308-237-5971 or 1-800-465-4329. Rooms are also available at the Wingate Inn (1-308-237-4400). Rates at both hotels are $70, plus tax, for one to four persons. The room block will be

released on Sept. 11.There are limited scholarship dollars

available for those locals in need.For details, contact your UniServ di-

rector or Jan Anderson at at 1-800-742-0047. A conference Web site is at:http://nsea.org/members/bargaining/

advocacy09.htm

Building Skills: These local association negotiators added to their negotiations skills and knowledge by attending a three day “bargaining boot camp” in June. Seated, from left, are: Quention Zeller, Central City; Josh Asche, Loup City; Amy Hostetler, Loup City; Teresa Rinehart, ESU No. 15, Trenton; and Carolyn Campbell, Bayard. Standing, from left, are: Siobhana McEwen, Central City; Mike Shafer, Grand Island Northwest; Cindy Bahler, ESU No. 15, Trenton; Ray Girard, Nebraska City; Kevin Pettigrew, Valentine; David Cisler, Gering; and Burke Brown, Palmyra.

Bargaining Meet Will Build Skills


NSEA/BluE CroSS BluE ShiEld SCholArShip AppliCAtioN FormI’m an NSEA member, enrolled with single or family membership in Blue Cross/Blue Shield. This application is for fall semester college course work and should

be postmarked no later than Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. All blanks must be completed for application to be considered. Applications may also be completed and submitted online at www.nsea.org.

1. Applicant Name:______________________________________________________________BC/BS No:__ __ __ __ __ __-__ __-__ __ __ __ (First) (Last) (Complete, with full ID number from BC/BS card)

Home Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Street) (City) (State) (Zip)

Home Phone: (____)_________________ E-mail Address:____________________________________________________________________

Local Education Association: _______________________________________________________________Years of Work in Education Field:____ (Full local Association name; no acronyms accepted)

College Offering Course:__________________________________________________________________No. of Credit Hours:____________ (Only eligible for 3 hrs. per semester)

Course Title:_____________________________________________________________________________Course Dates: ___/___to___/___ (Mo/Yr to Mo/Yr) (Class must end within Fall time frame) 2. Coursework will apply toward (check all that apply): ___Salary Advancement ___Professional Growth ___Additional Endorsement ___Master’s Degree ___Specialist Degree ___Ph.D. ___Other (please list):__________________________________________________________________

3. The following four criteria MUST be completed and attached and should not exceed one typewritten page. Please be specific: 1. My local/NSEA/NEA association involvement. Be specific. 3. A summary of my work experience in education. Be specific. 2. A summary of my education. Be specific. 4. A description of the class — must be a graduate-level class.

Application postmark deadline: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009

Complete application online at www.nsea.org, or mail this form to:Blue Cross/Blue Shield Professional Development Fund

c/o NSEASuite 200

605 S. 14th St. Lincoln, NE 68508-2742

You won’t get a scholarship if you don’t apply – and application time has arrived.

The next application deadline for the thrice-yearly Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Professional Development Fund scholarship awards is Saturday, Oct. 3.

Over the past 24 years, since 1986, 4,270 NSEA members have shared $535,500 in scholarship dollars, courtesy of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

To be eligible, Association members must complete the application form on this page, or the similar form found on the NSEA Web site. The online form may also be printed, completed and mailed to NSEA. The form will be posted on the NSEA Web site through the Oct. 3 deadline. Completed application forms must be postmarked by Oct. 3.

Scholarship winners will be notified in October. As always, the goal is to

award stipends to the largest possible number of members from each of NSEA’s seven governance districts. To be eligible, NSEA members must be covered by either single or family Blue Cross/Blue Shield health care.

Scholarships may be used to pursue an advanced degree, seek additional teaching endorsements or to take course work for certification requirements.

Previous scholarship applicants, successful or not, are always eligible to re-apply. Applicants may be scholarship recipients in only two of the three scholarship cycles during a school year.

Applicants must carefully follow the instructions on the form, and complete it thoroughly. A one-page, typewritten outline, described on the application form, must accompany the scholarship request. (To review the criteria the committee follows in awarding scholarships, please log on to the NSEA Web site and look for BC/BS

Scholarships.)Stipends may cover up to 50 percent

of the cost of a three-hour college course. Each applicant may apply for scholarship dollars for no more than three hours of course work. Books and other supplies are not covered.

Winners must provide evidence of successful completion of course work at an accredited post-secondary institution before they receive the scholarship. All courses must be taken for credit.

The scholarship program does not affect Blue Cross and Blue Shield premiums. Funds for the scholarships come entirely from the corporate contributions budget, and are not charged against the NSEA account.

To find the form, or to apply online, go to the NSEA Web site at:

www.nsea.orgFor details, contact Sally Bodtke at

1-800-742-0047 or via e-mail at:[email protected]

BCBS Application Date: Oct. 3



Snookie’sSnippets

Because we understand how im-portant it is to be able to save money as you prepare for a new school year, NEA Member Benefits has negotiated several special offers and dis-counts to help you get what you need with-out overloading your budget.

We’ve made it easier for you to ac-cess these great deals in one place – just visit the ‘Welcome Back’ page in the Professional Resources Channel at neamb.com. These promotions are good until Oct. 15:nBarnes & Noble: Get 10 per-

cent discount.nuBoost.com: Get 60 percent off

of membership to this online student rewards program.nInstructor Magazine: Get a

free one year subscription.nKmart: Receive special savings

on clothing & school supplies.nSmileMakers: Get 10 percent

off school supplies.nRapid Resources: Receive a

free, 30-day trial for individualized lesson plans.

Did You Know?Fully 86 percent of NEA members

are underinsured.September is “Life Insurance

Awareness Month.” Check out the special interest article “The Seven Wonders of Life Insurance” provided by the non-profit LIFE Foundation – a partner of NEA Member Benefits.

Go to neamb.com to test your in-surance IQ and become eligible to win one of one hundred $100 gift cards.

SeptemberSweepstakes Prizes

Check the NEA Member Benefits web site to learn more about your chances to win a $500 gift card to Macy’s, or a Dell laptop computer.

Register to win at:www.neamb.com

Snookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s NEA Member Benefits representative

Krumbiegel

‘Welcome Back’from NEA MB!

Members Deserve All the Savingsand Support Member Benefits can Provide

NEA Member Benefits

The staff at NEA Member Benefits know how vital it is for NSEA members to save money in these times. They’ve negotiated several new money-saving offers for the new school year (see Snookie Krumbiegel’s notes on this page) to help members do just that. Add this option to the list:nBank of America’s Special

Back to School Offer: Receive a $50 statement credit when you apply and use your new NEA Credit Card with WorldPoints rewards to make transactions totaling at least $75 within 45 days of opening your account. For details, visit the “Welcome Back” section on neamb.com.

More Resources and SupportManaging time between family,

school and everything else isn’t easy. That’s why, on neamb.com, members will find resources like lesson plans and activities ; grants for funding; and articles with tips on everything from planning meals to fitting an exercise routine into

your schedule. Also available:nWeekly newsletters like The Dish

and Kitchen Timesavers give pointers on how to prepare easy, delicious recipes in no time.nMembers can learn about

available grant opportunities, or how to write a compelling grant proposal – NEA Member Benefits did the research to save members precious time. Just look in the Professional Resources tab.nIn the Health & Wellness Channel,

members will find a wealth of articles and tools to not only make exercise more fun, but time-efficient, too.

If you haven’t already – register online at neamb.com to take advantage of all the great deals, and to enter for your chance to win some valuable back-to-school sweepstakes prizes.

Check back often, as Member Benefits will give away a different prize every two weeks! Look for the Welcome Back banner or go to the Professional Resources tab on the Web site at:

neamb.com


By Kurt GenrichEHA Plan Advocate

Sept. 1 has passed, and many Ne-braska school districts have reviewed their Educator’s Health Alliance health and dental plans, as adminis-tered through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Some school dis-tricts have moved to higher deduct-ibles. Common questions associated with this change:

My school moves to a higher deductible on Sept. 1. Am I re-sponsible for my previous deduct-ible amount or the new deductible amount for the remainder of this calendar year?

Your annual deductible is in effect per calendar year, January through December. If there were a new, higher deductible on Sept. 1, then the full amount up to the new deductible limit is your responsibility through Dec. 31, 2009. On Jan. 1, 2010, your contribu-tion toward another annual deductible starts over at $0.

For example: Your deductible was $200 until it was changed to $350 on Sept. 1. If you have spent $150 in eligi-ble medical claims from January 2009 through August 2009, then the remain-

ing deductible of $200 will be your re-sponsibility through Dec. 31, 2009.

My school is moving to a higher deductible on Jan. 1, 2010. How will this affect my deductible and pre-mium this year?

This year there will be an across-the-board increase of $50 to all cur-rent deductibles in place as of Sept. 1, 2009.

If your school is going to increase your deductible, many will wait until January to make this change because it can be confusing. If your school is planning to increase the deductible on Jan. 1, 2010, the premium payments for this new deductible take effect at that time.

What is a “Deductible Carry-Over,” and how does it affect me?

Your plan through EHA contains a “Deductible Carry-Over.” What this

means is that if you did not meet your 2009 deductible, but had some medi-cal claims in the last three months of the year (October, November, De-cember), those claims will be credited toward your new 2010 year calendar deductible.

For example: You did not use any services throughout 2009 but then had to go to Urgent Care in November. Urgent Care billed you $200 toward your deductible. The $200 you pay in November would be subtracted from your total deductible for 2010.

If you have questions about your plan, please call Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Member Services at 1-800-642-6004.

The Educators Health Alliance has contracted with Kurt Genrich to serve as the EHA plan advocate. As such, Gen-rich will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska plan par-ticipants to answer questions and promote the plan. The EHA Board of Directors is composed of six NSEA representatives, and three each from the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. NSEA

Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen chairs the EHA Board of Directors.

To reach Genrich, e-mail him at:[email protected]

Genrich

Will Your Deductible Change?BCBS Q&A

SurveyingChangeState Sen. Tom White

of Omaha, right, spent time on Aug. 7 thanking many of the hundreds of volunteers who helped with a one day makeover of the playground at Ben-son West Elementary School, which is in White’s legislative district.

The makeover was part of a Mutual of Omaha cel-ebration of the company’s centennial. Scores of Mu-tual of Omaha employees were among the volun-teers who rolled out new sod, repainted playground markings, erected new equipment added new plantings.


One of the great stories of American history is the life of Daniel Boone. He remains a subject of curiosity, scholarly research, controversy, debate and historical interest. Authors, scholars, and fifth grade American History students all seek to understand the meaning of Daniel Boone to America.

In Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky, sits a beautiful monument marking the grave of Daniel and Rebecca Boone. My friend Jana Sturm, a resident of Frankfort, acted as my guide when I recently visited that site. When I mentioned the idea that Boone might actually be buried in Missouri, Jana passionately discounted the idea. I’m smart enough to always support my friends, so I agreed with my Kentucky friend Jana. But who knows for sure? And why is it so important?

Alive and IneffectiveThe fact is that we often try

to establish the validity of our institutions, ideas, or practices by trying to trace a kind of genealogy back to their origins — and then cementing them in place.

We try to preserve the views of the “Founding Fathers.” When interpretations of the Constitution are made, the question always involves the intent of the authors in 1787. In debates on some public issues, history alone determines the outcome.

It is ironic that a culture that is characterized by continual innovation and development is also a culture that always validates the present in terms of connection to its past. Since the release of A Nation at Risk in 1983, the school reform movement has been alive and…almost totally ineffective in America. Today, there are more than 20 major coalitions and initiatives with a national focus on school restructuring, with seemingly endless discussion of the recognized problems. But, as yet, they’ve arrived at no effective strategy that substantively changes the current structure.

Schools I visit across the nation are predictably the same: how teachers are paid, the length of the school day, the months that school is in session, the structural aspects of age-grouped classes, and the

method of content delivery.

Latest AttemptMany educators have suffered through retooling,

restructuring and realigning. Now the current buzzword is transformation. It’s the latest in a long series of attempts to address the problem of change in American schools.

Is change needed? Absolutely. The inherited school structure of the past is still being used to address problems

for which it was never designed. Society has changed; students have changed; expectations have changed; basic school structure has not. What was an acceptable level of failure 30 to 40 years ago is simply no longer an option. The average dropout rate in America has remained unchanged for the last 30 years. It is a failure of our system that is unacceptable — and yet the system itself has not significantly changed. We are attempting to get different results from the same basic structural approach.

Bones of the PastIt is ironic as educators to

watch the current debate on health care. Proposals to change an admittedly failing health care system elicit angry responses and denials of the obvious. Will public education suffer the same fate?

The solution is not easy. As educators, we must acknowledge

that part of the legitimate frustration with public education is the inability of the system to substantively change to meet new conditions. Never shy away from telling your story and educating those around you about the realities of the job you face. We will not succeed by continuing to only talk about change while protecting the structural relics of a historical system. Public educators are overworked, underpaid, and often wasted as talented professionals. Demand to join as an active participant in the discussions about transforming public education. As teachers, we value the past. We also know that a radically different present demands radically different solutions. Do we work towards new solutions or just keep protecting the bones of the past?

Boone’s Bones

Is Daniel Boone really there? NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen and friend Jana Sturm visiting the Frankfort, KY, gravesite of Daniel Boone.

From the Executive Director


If you do nothing else, read this. As one of the retired senior citizens

living on a teacher’s pension and So-cial Security, in one of the few states that fully taxes both of your pension incomes, you already know that your insurance premiums, hospital bills and drug costs increase faster than your in-come. Every day you worry about being able to afford to stay healthy.

You need help, as do millions of other seniors, families with children, and the uninsured. Perhaps you feel your plight is ignored by opponents of health care reform and that special-interest lobby-ists resist legislation that threatens their corporate profits.

Perhaps you’ve read or heard some of the distortions coming from oppo-nents who say “kill the bills at any cost” or “obstruct the President.” They send people to the town meetings to prevent you from hearing honest debate.

The opposition tries to frighten citi-zens with talk that the health care re-forms encourage euthanasia and abor-tion; provide free health care to non-cit-izens; force you to change your doctor or insurance provider and go into a gov-ernment plan; create a rationing system in which the government will determine which life-saving procedures you may have; reduce senior citizens’ Medicare benefits; will bankrupt America; and so on and on and on. None of this is true. It’s a scare tactic to convince you to work against any health care reform.

Take Action If you do nothing else, write three

letters: one each to your two U.S. Sena-tors and to your member of the House of Representatives. Tell them, through your story, that we need action against the serious effect of spiraling health costs on our limited incomes.

Here are addresses and phone num-bers of those elected representatives:

U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson720 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510-2706Phone: 1-202-224-6551

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns404 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510-2705Phone: 1-202-224-4224

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry1535 Longworth House Office

BuildingWashington, DC 20515-2701Phone: 1-202-225-4806

Rep. Lee Terry2331 Rayburn House Office Build-

ingWashington, DC 20515-2702Phone: 1-202-225-4155

Rep. Adrian Smith503 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515-2703Phone: 1-202-225-6435

The Lincoln Education Association-Retired 2009-10The president of the LEA-Retired is

Jan Stamper. She can be reached at 402-

483-1672 or via e-mail at:[email protected]

Other officers are Janice Rowe, vice president; Linda Brown, secretary; and Billie Bussmann, treasurer.

The LEA-Retired Board meets the second Thursday of the month at the LEA Building, 48th and Normal, and holds general meetings on the third Wednesday of the month at Union Bank, 48th and Calvert streets.

LEA-Retired members have set a full agenda for the year, and hope to raise funds for the scholarships they award at a luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion in May (see related photo).

They also make a trip to the Joslyn Sculpture Gardens in Omaha, tour the city of Lincoln, and hold informative meetings with several speakers. For details contact Jan.

— Tom Black, Editor

[email protected]

The Time to Take Action is NowContact Your Congressman About the Need to Address Health Care Reform

NSEA-Retired Corner

And the winners are: A scholarship award luncheon was held at the Governor’s Mansion recently to award four $1,000 scholarships to students preparing to enter the teaching profession. The scholarships were presented by the Lincoln Education Association-Retired and Union Bank and Trust.

Front row, from left, are scholarship winners Amanda Wiemer and Christy Firestone; First Lady Sally Ganem; and LEA-Retired Scholarship Committee member Jo Wolff.

In the back row, from left, are Union Bank and Trust representative Tammy Gebers; scholarship winners Elizabeth Smith and Rebecca Neff; and LEA-Retired Scholarship Committee member Mary Lou Sandell.


Editorial honors: The State Education Editors honored Al Koontz, NSEA’s assistant director of communications, with the organization’s highest honor, Editor of the Year. The award was given at SEE’s annual conference, held this year in San Diego. At left is NSEA Graphic Arts Director and Webmaster Kristi Capek. At right is NSEA Director of Communications and Assistant Director of Govern-ment Relations Karen Kilgarin.

Nurses who teach or supervise in the medical arts area don’t want to work without the NEA Educators Employment Liability Program Insurance.

For the very low fee of $13, NEA has made arrangements for nurses and other health educators and athletic trainers to purchase additional liability insurance coverage for teaching and supervisory responsibilities.

The policy for active and active part-time NSEA mem-bers, covers school nurses for:

Rendering first-aid and regular nursing services as a part of the member’s educational employment.

Administering oral prescription medicine to students, if advance written authorization has been provided.

In addition to nurses, eligible school employees include dental hygienists, occupational therapists or physical thera-pists. NSEA members who are athletic trainers may also re-ceive the additional coverage for $13.

NSEA members wishing to purchase this extended cover-age should mail a letter requesting the coverage, along with a check for $13, payable to NSEA, to: Trish Guinan, NSEA, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Be sure to include your Social Security number and indicate your oc-cupation (school nurse). Also include your home and work telephone numbers.

Checks for the 2009-10 school year must be received by Oct. 1, 2009. Checks received after that date will provide coverage for the remaining months of the employment year.

For more details, call NSEA at 1-800-742-0047.

Added Liabilityfor Nurses AvailablePlan Also Covers Athletic Trainers

Louis (Lou) Basilico, 61, retired from the Omaha Public Schools, died in Clarkston, WA, on Aug. 7, 2009.

Active in the Omaha Education Association and the NSEA, and a member of NSEA-Retired, Basilico taught at the middle school and high school level for many years. He taught English, social studies, computer literacy and drama, and coached debate and stagecraft.

A Central High School graduate, he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He began substitute teaching and earned a full-time job with the Omaha Public Schools in 1977.

In 2008, Basilico and his wife, Linda, retired to Lewiston, ID, where they built their dream home.

Basilico was Middle School Teacher

Spurred by changes for service requested by the Omaha Educa-tion Association, there has been a shuffling of assignments in NSEA’s UniServ director staff.

Earlier this year, the OEA Board of Directors opted to depart from the executive director form of management and re-place that position with a full-time UniServ director, giving OEA two UniServ directors. The OEA Board also asked NSEA to manage those positions.

Long-time NSEA UniServ Director Ellen Yates was tabbed to fill the new OEA UniServ post. She most recently served southwest Nebraska and has 18 years of experience as a UniServ director in Nebraska.

“This change will give our Omaha members something they’ve not had in the past – two full-time UniServ directors,” said NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen. “In terms of pure service to members, we believe this will be a much bet-ter arrangement for Omaha members.”

Yates, who claims she was “born in a union t-shirt,” has worked out of Scottsbluff, serving western and southwestern Nebraska since she joined NSEA in 1991. She is well-versed in member rights issues, contract language and negotiations. She taught middle school reading and language arts, and has a master’s degree from Southwest Missouri State University.

Selected to take Yates’ former position in southwest Ne-braska is North Platte native Kristen Sedlacek. She earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2001 and completed her student teach-ing with the York Public Schools.

After graduation, she worked in then-State Sen. Kermit Brashear’s office for three years before taking a job with a lobbying firm. She joined NSEA’s Lincoln office three years ago, and worked with NSEA’s Member Rights department. Sedlacek, her husband Jeremy and their daughter Faith plan to relocate to North Platte in the near future.

UniServ Shuffleto Improve ServiceOEA Gets Second UniServ Director

SedlacekYates


Mailed By: The Nebraska State Education Association Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742

Speakingof Teaching

“No society that loved children would consign nearly one in five to poverty. No society that loved its children would put them in front of television for four hours each day. No society that loved its children would lace their food, air, water, and soil with thousands of chemicals whose total effect cannot be known. No society that loved its children would build so many prisons and so few parks and schools. No society that loved its children would teach them to recognize over 1000 corporate logos but fewer than a dozen plants and animals native to their home places. No society that loved its children would divorce them so completely from contact with soils, forests, streams, and wildlife... No society that loved its children would knowingly run even a small risk of future climatic disaster.”

— David Orr, author.Oberlin College professor

Family of Teachers

A long reach: The Windeshausen family has spread far and wide in the teach-ing profession. The family of teachers H. Nicholas and Joyce Windeshausen in-cludes 17 members with ties to Wayne State College and time spent teaching.

Seated, from left, are: sister-in-law Patricia Tubbs Windeshausen, retired after 24 years teaching in Nebraska and Iowa; sister Catherine Windeshausen Kear, who taught in a Pierce County rural school; H. Nicholas Windeshausen, retired after teaching at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Sacramento (CA) State University; aunt Alice Korth, retired from Knox and Pierce County rural schools; and niece by marriage Beth Manzer, Osmond Community Schools.

Second row, from left, are: cousin Carol Bremer, retired from classrooms in Nebraska and California; niece Kristin Henkenius, who has taught for 20 years at Fremont; sister Theresa Rice, who is retired from Osmond Public Schools; sister-in-law Carolyn Windeshausen, who is retired from Fremont; niece by marriage Karla Rice, who teaches at Osmond; and niece Jean Condon, who teaches at North Platte Community College.

Third row, from left, are: cousin by marriage Donald Bremer, retired from California schools; brother Eugene Windeshausen, retired from Sioux City, IA, schools; brother Jim Windeshausen, retired from Fremont; great niece Jenni-fer VonRentzell, Plainview Public Schools; cousin Dennis Korth, who taught at Council Bluffs; and cousin by marriage Gale Theo Korth, who taught in Iowa and Minnesota.

Not pictured are cousin Glenn Blezek, retired from California schools; cousin Holly Korth, Seward Public Schools; niece by marriage Sue Morfeld, Osmond Public Schools; cousin Patricia Sedivy, Newcastle Public Schools; nephew Chad Windeshausen, Omaha Public Schools; and niece by marriage Julie Winde-shausen, Fremont Public Schools.

If you have a family of teachers, send your photo and information to Family of Teachers, c/o NSEA, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742.

Mercy MomentExtra Credit

From Ronda Jackson, Roseboro, N.C.:

“I don’t give true extra credit. I give each student two Mercy Mo-ments at the beginning of the semes-ter. These gifts can be used as a pass to turn in an assignment one day late with no penalty, or as a pass to retake a test or quiz. If students never need to use them, they trade them in at the end of the semester for points on low test grades or as a pass to not complete exam review (only if exempt from final exam). Students love the Mercy Moments; they have a little cushion if they need it, but they also have an incentive to try not to use them. This program is also good leverage with parents. When they ask if I give extra credit, I explain the concept of the Mercy Moment.”

Sign up for Works4Me at this link:http://www.nea.org/tools/Works4Me.html

the voice- september 2009

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