Tracey-Ann Nelson, executive director of the Arkansas Education Association, says that the state's schools are nowhere near ready to reopen safely. Also, a nationally recognized Little Rock debate teacher tells it straight.
Carol Fleming, a speech-language pathologist at Pulaski Heights Middle School in the Little Rock School District, officially begins her two-year term as president of the Arkansas Education Association today. Fleming was elected to the position in May. She succeeds Cathy Koehler, who will return to the Little Rock School District.
Speaking of politics and education: The Arkansas Public Policy Panel sent word of a public school rally Saturday at the Capitol backed by the Arkansas Education Association. It's a warmup for the 2019 legislative session.
Trouble is brewing in the Little Rock School District over the Hutchinson administration's apparent unwillingness to deal with the Little Rock Education Association and fears that the governor's education commissioner, Johnny Key, is also bent on enabling more charter school development in the city, including a high school in Northwest Little Rock. Multiple sources tell me a meeting of teachers will be called this afternoon to discuss developments.
Oklahoma teachers, who walked out of their classrooms nine days ago, have declared "victory" in their demand for higher pay and their union is calling for them to get back to work.The New York Times notes, however, that the concessions won from the Oklahoma legislature came before the walkout. Republicans in the Senate refused to find additional sources of dollars for education.
Education Commissioner Johnny Key told a legislative committee that his department is backing off the proposed rule change to National Board Certified Teachers' stipends.
The Arkansas Education Association said it wasn't opposed to the investment, but added "we do have concerns." The AEA specifically mentioned National Board Certification, an advanced professional distinction that earns teachers an additional $5,000 stipend from the state every year. But now, the Education Department wants to scale back those bonuses.