RALLY FOR RAISES AND RESPECT!

Dear NEA-SF Members and friends,

We had a great show of support for increased wages at the last School Board Meeting. It was an invigorating night of passionate voices united in support of all union members and the students of this community. Our dedication and professionalism is undeniable. Our personal and professional concerns illuminated the many challenges and reality of working in education for the SFPS district.

OUR WORK IS FAR FROM OVER
WE MUST RALLY FOR RAISES AND RESPECT!

We need leadership that is willing to take a hard look at what we are up against. Leadership that will honor their commitments and increase Teachers and staff salaries. The School Board is elected to represent its constituents, the community of Santa Fe, that is everyone of us. We are calling for full financial disclosure from this district. We need an independent audit to find out how public funds are being spent.

This current SFPS district Administration characterizes our teachers as "complainers" they show no support for the tremendous work we do. They threaten and intimidate NEA-SF leaders and all our members from using district e-mail to communicate, they put out erroneous information weekly and deceive employees and the public for their own purposes.

WE NEED TO RALLY FOR OUR RAISES OUR RIGHTS AND THE RESPECT WE ALL DESERVE!
Groups of employees need to organize now and get themselves, their families, students and the community involved in supporting adequate pay raises for educators and staff at SFPS.
Level II teachers all 450 of you need to take action now!

ATTEND THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6TH
4:30 610 ALTA VISTA
RALLY TOGETHER BEFORE THE MEETING

Write letters to the School Board tell them to honor their commitments.
Write letters to the newspaper, the community deserves to know the truth about how the district spends public money and our students deserve qualified teachers and staff .

letters@sfnewmexican.com
jnorth@abqjournal.com
editor@sfreporter.com

Unite for change! Our future and our students future depends on it!

Grace Mayer NEA-SF President

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CALL FOR 5% RAISES AT BOARD MEETING

Abigail Fox, a math teacher at Santa Fe High School, cheers in response to a call for a 5 percent raise during a Santa Fe school board meeting at E.J. Martinez Elementary School on Tuesday. Photo from the New Mexican

CLICK HERE FOR NEW MEXICAN ARTICLE

BOARD MEETING THIS WEEK: October 16th

The regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, October 16th starting at 4:30 p.m. at E.J. Martinez Elementary School.

As always, it is important for employees of SFPS to attend and make your views known.

THE WORD IS OUT ABOUT SOMETHING WE EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY

Finally, we're seeing in the news media what is a fact of life every day in Santa Fe Public Schools. The lack of subs is a serious problem. NEA reps were at Capital High Tuesday of this week in the lounge during A and B lunch. We heard this everywhere we turned. Staff members at Capital are meeting together on the building level to take action. When will you do the same in your building?

What Does NEA Do for ME?

Subject: A day of professional workshops & exhibits sponsored by NEA-New Mexico and Los Lunas Schools

Professional Development is one thing - See Below - What a list of workshops!

REGISTER ONLINE - SOON - Classes are filling up fast!

Go to our web site : www,nea-nm.org to register for the Fall Professional Conference in Albuquerque. This is an opportunity to take classes in fulfillment of PDP's and to add to your portfolios. In some districts, the locals have arrangements so members can take a professional leave day to attend this conference. In others, individuals either work out an arrangement with their administrators, or folks take personal days to attend. It's worth it!

Friday, October 19, 2007 At the Albuquerque Convention Center
401 2nd Street, NW Albuquerque, NM Light Lunch will be Provided
Registration: 7:30 am - 8:30 am Sessions: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Registration Fee: Early: $25 (by October 11, 2007) Regular: $30 (after October 11, 2007)

Attention Education Assistants: Working with UNM Valencia College, we offer education assistants the opportunity to apply for one credit hour of continuing education. Specific workshops will qualify for the credit hour along with an additional requirement defined by UNM Valencia College. College staff will be on site with registration forms and details. New Mexico's Educational Support Professionals will get new ideas, trends, and techniques to take back to their classrooms.

Conference Topics Include:

Revitalizing High Schools & Middle Schools
Enhancing Elementary Teaching Strategies
Closing Achievement Gaps Among New Mexico Students
Fostering Wellness

BEST WISHES TO FRANK MONTANO

Editorial,- Get well soon, Frank!

By THE NEW MEXICAN
October 2, 2007

If anyone personifies the Santa Fe community servant, it’s Frank Montaño. Today he’s president of the school board. Before that, he was a dedicated, conscientious and hard-working member of the City Council.

Many who’ve served where he has have done so less energetically — or more concerned about converting public office into private gain.

Not Frank Montaño. As long as we’ve known him, he’s scrambled at several jobs to make a living, then put in the long, sometimes tedious hours it takes to be an effective elected local official.

Is that what led to the heart attack he suffered Monday morning? Who knows?

We hear he’s making a good recovery. We join the many Santa Feans who’ve witnessed his thoughtful service in wishing him a rapid return to good health

ATTEND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY

It is crucial that concerned NEA members attend Tuesday's School Board meeting at 4:30 at 610 Alta Vista and bring supporters and your families.

The District's salary proposal is unacceptable. We need to unite as a community of educators and workers and assert ourselves.

POSITIVE CHANGE IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE ALL UNITE TOGETHER!

Sincerely,
NEA-SF Executive Team
Grace Mayer, NEA-SF President