ROCK THE VOTE!

Don't forget to vote here:  www.mymea.org/on-linevoting/

Saginaw PRIDE Pepsi Grant Opportunity- WE NEED YOU!

Calling all SEA members to action!  We need to vote to get to the top ten to receive $50,000 in grant money for PX2 implementation in our community.  This money will fund a transformation for Saginaw, with the opportunity for our teachers, students, and community to become transformed through positive thought and action.  

See below for a overview of the grant, and click on the link below to vote for this money to come to OUR COMMUNITY!  Many of our teachers and students went through this training over the past three days, and we can't wait to implement our positive goals and ideas here in Saginaw!  Get involved!  You want change, and we can make it happen. 

Goals

• Get Saginaw off of the FBI violent communities list by improving PRIDE
• Have a positive impact on internal beliefs and ability to dream
• Create a self sustaining culture of youth and adults in Saginaw
• Utilize proven success of materials to help create new reality
• Increase teen confidence and moral decision making

Overview

This project engages untapped potential of the youth and young adults in our community. By increasing P.R.I.D.E. in Saginaw youth and the adult systems we develop a safe, flourishing community, eliminating our FBI distinction as the most violent city per capita in America (since 2003). The Pacific Institute curriculum PX2 is proven successful in increasing hope worldwide and reducing violence dramatically in U.S. cities: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York. L.A. reduced homicides in city parks by 87% their first summer. The project targets at risk youth while concurrently training adult support systems. We solve issues at the ROOT cause thereby increasing hope and curbing violence and crime. We are making Saginaw a "Sagin-awesome" community where people thrive, are safe & feel valued. Our community agencies, business, education and churches are energized and fully engaged in a partnership, committed to the success of this program.  Grant will fund training delivery.

How will the 50K be Used? $ 50,000 Will be used to fund high school aged youth and facilitator training
Budget Notes: Budget will not cover student or volunteer facilitator time, student transportation

Saginaw PRIDE Pepsi Grant

General Membership Meeting

Come and discuss!

On the agenda:  Race To The Top, Current SEA business.

Refreshments Provided!!

Thursday, Jan 21st at 4pm 
Saginaw High Auditorium

Race To The Top?

Do you think we should sign a blank contract?  See what the fuss is really about:

MEA President Iris Salters Speaks Up

Read here to see what the current reform bill will do.

ed.gov's explanation of Race to the Top

From Michigan.gov website- The 6 goals of Race to the Top here in Michigan...  (eta: Bold Print- shouldn't it be there?)

Michigan’s Race to the Top
In order to successfully compete for Race to the Top funds, Michigan must first commit to reform and enact legislation that positions us to take full advantage of this important opportunity. Over the next three weeks, the Michigan legislature must take up and pass bills to accomplish the following:
1. Require school principals to be certified. (Today, Michigan is alone among the states in not requiring this certification, a distinction that can only hold us back in the Race to the Top.)
2. Create high-quality alternative routes to certification for both teachers and administrators to help bring more of our best and brightest into education.
3. Give our state superintendent clear authority to intervene in low-performing schools.
4. When failing schools are clustered in a few school districts, we must have the power to bring about the systemic changes needed to make individual school turnaround possible.
5. Find ways to increase the number of high-quality charter schools in the state.
6. Require an annual evaluation of teachers, principals, and other leaders that uses student growth data along with other factors.

And, last but not least- some very dreary and lengthy reading, but worth it to know exactly what we're debating:  THE Funding Opportunity Announcement

Happy Thinking!

PAC Training Workshop

Try to make it to the Political Action Conference and Training Workshop in Bay City on November 19th!

5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Local 362 UAW Hall

4427 Wilder Road ~ Bay City

[Located .3 miles east of Bay City Mall on north side of road.]

As most of you are aware, education has reached a crisis stage in Michigan. School funding is unstable which is affecting all school districts.  The ball is in our hands wherein all school employees need to become involved by talking with Legislators in Lansing and Washington, D.C. to help resolve this dilemma.

The MEA Region 11 & 12 Workshop will give you the knowledge and tools to facilitate the task at-hand.  Therefore, we would like participation from every MEA Local in these Regions.  There is no cost to attend; a catered meal will be provided for all participants.

• Who are our Legislators and how do we elect “Friends of Education?
• Once elected, how do we lobby to ensure they remain our “friends”?
• How do we make our educational agenda known to Lawmakers?
• How do we conduct PAC drives and why is this important to education?

Plan to join us for an insightful and educational evening that will give you the tools and confidence you need to keep our Legislators “on track”!!!

Registration deadline is Friday, November 13 by 5:00 p.m. Call the

12-D MEA Office to register for this conference:  1-800-914-6444

IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING AND ARE INTERESTED IN CARPOOLING, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT rmeister@spsd.net

Rep Council Meeting

Don't forget about the meeting tomorrow! All are encouraged to attend.

Where: Saginaw High Media Center
When: Thursday, October 15th @ 4 p.m.

Check your school email for a full agenda of the meeting!

Capital Chaos Update

To download the word document released on October 12th regarding the $165 cut per student, please click on the link found on here: SEA Website.