ASTA Monthly Announcements

posted by: Ruthie | October 08, 2013, 08:05 PM

Health Insurance Update
ASTA staff met with Governor Beebe in a private meeting September 24, 2013. We made several points and included information from observations, ASTA member surveys, and a former health insurance industry executive ASTA hired to review the issue and give an independent perspective. We spoke to the Governor about concerns we had regarding:

The lack of processes in place to help minimize premium increases
Discrepancies in funding support for public school employee (PSE) health insurance
Observations made in EBD board meetings we had been attending
Lack of PSE representation on the EBD board
Lack of effective education programs to help PSE's understand the various plans
The exponential impact, according to our ASTA survey, the premium increases are having on noncertified staff, two-parent educator homes, PSE's employed in rural districts and single parents.
The retention, recruitment and quality of life issue this had become

While we have all heard the Governor say he would call a special session if legislators coupled a short term fix with a long term solution, he made several other key points:

He's looking for shared responsibility by all parties
Use of NSLA funds are not an option in his opinion
The short term goal is to reduce the premium increase as much as possible.
He is realizing, through meeting with stakeholders, there is a gap in education on the various plans and how to manage them.
He understands that any long term solution proposed in this short timeframe will be a starting point and more work will be required to truly fix the problem.

One question being asked by members over and over has been, "Who was suppose to be looking out for our interests?" In closing we let Governor Beebe know that at the end of this, what public school employees want is to know that there will be someone looking out for them just as someone has obviously been looking out for traditional state employees and higher education institution employees. ASTA plans to play a very active role in this and will keep you informed.

ASTA will continue communications with the Governor and our legislators as a solution to this critical issue is decided. The most current updates can be found on ASTA's Facebook page and Twitter account. Please let us know if you have any ideas, questions or concerns we can pass on to our elected officials.

What can you do?

Legislators and the Governor need to keep hearing from you, your family and friends to keep this issue front and center.

ASTA Supporting the Arkansas Curriculum Conference (ACC)
ASTA staff and several ASTA members will be presenting sessions during the ACC conference, October 31st - November 1st, in Little Rock, AR at the Statehouse Convention Center. Please visit our booth, meet your ASTA staff and sign up for some great door prizes.
Information can be found here.

Save Our Schools Pep Rally
When: 11:00am, Saturday, October 11th

Where: The Capitol building, Little Rock

Why: In support of efforts to reform health insurance plans for public school employees, and to support all education professionals
Bring your school colors, pom poms, etc. and support your local school employees.

Email sjbranscum@gmail.com for more information. This event is not an ASTA

Free Common Core Standards Math Best Practices Workshop - Saturday, Oct 26th

Bald Knob Schools will be hosting a CCSS Math Best Practices Workshop Saturday, October 26th
Texas Instruments technology will be used as the technology but pedagogy will be the key. It is free to everyone. T-Cubed Regional Instructor and ASTA member, Michelle Bonds, will be the instructor.
Click here to register on ESCWorks. The session ID is 203216.
Feel free to email Michelle Bonds at lil_bitmic@hotmail.com with any questions.

October is Connected Educator Month!
Join ASTA on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates, PD resources and encouragement!
Also, if you've had a phone number, address or workplace change, please email Margaret at info@astapro.org.

Do you know a colleague who isn't a member of ASTA?
We challenge each ASTA member to make it a goal to recruit at least one new member this year. EACH ONE REACH ONE.
We will be happy to send you ASTA applications,brochures and goodies to help your efforts.
Let us know who you recruit and we will send you an appreciation gift!
Click here for our online membership application.