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Send an Email about the Emergency Financial Manager Bills

There are bills quickly making their way through the Legislature that would drastically increase the powers of Emergency Financial Managers. In addition to wiping out elected school boards and city councils, voiding all contracts including collective bargaining agreements, and having complete academic control, this legislation provides the Emergency Financial Manager with the power to take “any other actions considered necessary … to achieve the objectives of [their] plan.” These actions must remain in place for three years after the EFM leaves and, by the way, the EFM cannot be challenged in court for anything s/he does. Please click here to send a letter to your State Senator and Representative asking them to vote NO on HB 4214 and related EFM bills.

Welcome to our web site

Welcome to our web site. Hope you have find it useful. Check back often.

Images of Democracy

Photos from the protest rally at the Wisconsin Capitol.

Thank the legislators who support you

Thank the fourteen democratic senators who took the bold action to walk out of the senate chambers to prevent a vote on Walker's heinous bill.

Governor O'Malley signs MOU with MPEC on Valentine's Day

The governor signed the three year agreement that was ratified earlier this month for employees of bargaining unit G. He recognizes that state employees have made large sacifices over the last four years and it is time that we start seeing our benefits returned.

Back row: Jim Dooley, Virginia Walsh, Front row: Maria Mathias, Governor O'Malley and President George Myers

Front row: Michael Spiller, Maryland Governor, Martin O'Malley, and President, Debra Perry Back row: Vice-President, Steve Forstenzer

Governor O'Malley sends Valentine wishes and signals of changing times with the swipe of the pen.

BTU 2010-2013 TEACHERS CONTRACT

Collective Bargaining Agreement between the BTU and Baltimore City School System

Wisconsin Crisis

Teachers and other public employees are under attack in Wisconsin and other states. Pubic sector employees are facing bills in a variety of states that would severely limit collective bargaining rights and silence the political voice of American wokers. It is critical for labor to prevail in these battles since labor provides a baseline for wages and workers' rights. If these efforts to undermine workers succeed, the very middle class will be threatened and similar movements will expand to other states. Stay tuned.

Another Analysis of Value-Added Evaluations

John Rogers, the director of UCLA's Institute for Democracy Education, has offered a counter to the recent LA Times articles on value-added evaluations. Clearly, the value-added process of evaluating teachers based on student test results needs quite a bit more research.

Devastating Cuts To Head Start Are Proposed

We all know Head Start is program that helps many children and families who may slip through the cracks otherwise. These families are low-income and, in most cases, have little to no other oppurtunities available to them. With the change in Congress, in order to help balance the budget, they are debating about cutting funds to the Head Start program. This may mean our children and families who we serve today may not get the opportunity to benefit from such a great program in the future. It could also mean many of us may find ourselves searching for new careers. Please read the article and sign the petition below!