Our COVID-19 Transparency Bill Wins Unanimous Approval

VEA-Initiated Bill Will Allow Citizens to Check School Health and Safety Plans

Every school division in Virginia will now have to make public its plan for controlling the spread of COVID-19 and its strategies for protecting students and educators, thanks to a new law initiated by the Virginia Education Association. The bill, SB 5083, was approved unanimously by the Virginia Senate today after previously passing unanimously in the House of Delegates. It requires that each school division’s COVID plans be posted on its website “in a publicly accessible and conspicuous location” and mandates that the plan be consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Virginia Department of Health recommendations.

“In these times, we need as much transparency as possible,” said VEA President James J. Fedderman, “because difficult decisions are

being made across Virginia on how instruction should be happening and how we’re ensuring that it’s done safely. This law will make sure the public is informed and will help keep public officials focused on the health and safety of those who learn and work in our schools.” The law will become effective as soon as Governor Northam signs the bill, which is expected quickly.

Members of the VEA, which includes teachers and school support professionals, raised the issue of the need for maximum transparency in how school divisions were approaching the health and safety of students and employees. Senator Jennifer McClellan and Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy stepped forward to sponsor legislation in the Senate and House, respectively.

“We’re grateful to Senator McClellan and to Delegate Carroll Foy for standing up for the health and safety of students, their families and communities, and local educators,” said Fedderman. “Because of their leadership, and the commitment of fellow legislators, Virginians will be better informed and safer.”

Until now, Virginia required all school divisions to develop and submit a COVID health and safety plan before returning to instruction, but there was no requirement for the plans to be made public so parents and employees could read them.

Special Session Update: Victory on Sales Tax Issue, Keep the Pressure On

VEA members sent more than a thousand email messages and made numerous phone calls — and we succeeded in averting the loss of more than $95 million to public schools that could have resulted from declining sales tax revenues. But we still need to push the Senate to agree to budget language that will hold school divisions harmless for student enrollment losses they are temporarily experiencing. We must bombard legislators with emails demanding a fix to the budget. It only takes a minute! Please send your email and encourage all those you interact with to send theirs. Here’s the link: www.vea.link/sales-tax. Please take action now (if you have not already) and continue to promote this Action Alert locally. Layoffs or furloughs are almost inevitable if the final budget does not include the House enrollment/ADM provision.

Summer Organizing Pays Off

On Thursday, September 17, Dr. James Fedderman, VEA President was asked to provide a brief report during a call of the National Council of State Education Associations (NCSEA) on Virginia’s win on collective bargaining and summer organizing efforts. Virginia is being recognized within the NEA family for a tremendous achievement in overturning the ban on public sector collective bargaining. During the briefing, Dr. Fedderman noted:

 NEA was a great partner with VEA’s summer organizing efforts, helping to provide three full time organizers and 60 member-organizers to complement field staff.

 The blitz in 10 target locals resulted in 700 new members — the best of any affiliate. Stafford Education Association was the #1 growth local in NEA during that period.

 We have begun local collective bargaining outreach in some Local Unions and will be conducting training to capitalize on this opportunity.

 Despite the many adverse consequences of COVID-19, our members are more active, and our Union stronger, than in many years.

2021 Martha Wood Distinguished Service Award

VEA-Retired is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Martha Wood Distinguished Service Award. This annual award, recently renamed in honor of its first recipient, is meant to recognize retired members who have made significant contributions to the growth of the active and retired Association, promotion of public education, and the welfare of public educators.

Please see the included information regarding eligibility and the nomination process. Nominations for the 2021 award must be received at VEA by the close of business on December 18, 2020, and the award will be made during the 2021 VEA Delegate Assembly to be held March 11-13 in Abingdon.

If you know of a deserving retired member, please don’t hesitate to nominate them today!

Virginia Education Association-Retired

Martha Wood Distinguished Service Award

Purpose: The Martha Wood Distinguished Service Award is meant to recognize those retired members who have made significant contributions to the growth of the active and retired Association, promotion of public education, and the welfare of public educators.

Eligibility: The nominee must have been a member of VEA/NEA-Retired for at least five

consecutive years as of January 15 of the award year. The award may be given posthumously.

Nomination Procedure:

 Nominations may be submitted by any VEA member, active or retired.

 Nominations should be submitted in a portfolio which consists of:

 the completed nomination cover sheet,

 a brief narrative of the nominee’s activities on behalf of the Association (no more than two pages typed), and

 a letter of support from one other Association leader, active or retired (no more than two pages typed).

Nominations for the 2021 award must be received at VEA by the close of business on or before December 18, 2020.

 An independent committee of 3-5 retired members will review the nominations and make a recommendation to the VEA-Retired Council for its approval.

 The award will be made during the 2021 VEA Convention to be held March 11-13 in Abingdon.

Evaluation Committee:

 The committee shall be composed of 3-5 retired members selected by the VEA-Retired president.

 The committee should develop a matrix for evaluating the submissions based on the criteria stated in the Purpose Statement.

 Each person on the committee should read and rate each submission independently.

 The committee should compile its ratings in order to reach a consensus on its recommendation to the VEA-Retired Council.

NEA PD Opportunities

Mastering Distance Learning Webinars

Join NEA Teacher Quality in webinar designed to help you master the ins and outs of distance learning.

November 2, 2020

Social Emotional Learning in a Virtual Space

Register here:

https://www.mobilize.us/nea/event/314697/

December 7, 2020

Assessments: Formative and Summative from a Distance

Register here:

https://www.mobilize.us/nea/event/314701/

Regional Pre-Legislative Workshops

The VEA Office of Government Relations is conducting regional pre-legislative workshops through November via Zoom.

In the half hour prior to each Pre-Leg Workshop there will be a hearing on possible amendments to VEA Resolutions and on suggestions and concerns regarding the VEA Budget. These hearings are intended to guide your leaders as they develop resolution amendments and the next VEA Budget.

Please note that the budget hearing will not be an explanation of the proposed budget, as your ideas will assist in the development of that document in the months ahead. 

The following items will be discussed:

 Overview of November’s Elections

 Fiscal Condition of Commonwealth and Educational Funding Demands

 Profile of Legislators and Committee Composition

 VEA’s Legislative Agenda

 Legislative Issues/Lobbying Strategy

Monday, October 19 – ABINGDON

5:00pm Budget / 5:30pm Pre-Leg

OR

Tuesday, October 20 - ROANOKE

5:00pm Budget / 5:30pm Pre-Leg

OR

Wednesday, October 21 - STAUNTON

4:30pm Budget / 5:00pm Pre-Leg

Let Alice or Jessica know which session you plan to attend.