Everyone loves the Fayetteville Education Association’s “I Love Public Schools,” and now the shirt is available for all AEA members! Thanks to Cameron Simpkins, VP of Fayetteville Education Association, for arranging this opportunity.
If you would like to pick up your shirt at AEA Headquarters in Little Rock, you may choose “Group Pass Out” as the shipping option so you are not charged individual shipping. Order your shirt here by Wednesday, June 5TH at 11:59pm.
The Senate failed to pass SB668 by Sen. Kim Hammer which would allow the state to keep a school district under state control for up to nine years. The current law only allows the state to retain control of a school district for five years. AEA opposes this bill. The Senate immediately voted to expunge the failed vote, and the bill is expected to be heard again tomorrow (4/9). The legislature is expected to recess in just a few days, and bills are moving very quickly. We recommend contacting both the full Senate, as well as the members of the House Education Committee, where the bill will likely head if it ultimately passes the Senate.
Please contact the members of the Senate and House Education Committee and say that NINE years of taxation without representation is wrong.
School Districts Currently Under State Control:
WE NEED YOU TO CONTACT THE SENATE AND HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON SB539
| Chair | Representative Bruce Cozart | |
| Vice-Chair | Representative Reginald Murdock | |
| Representative Fred Allen | ||
| Representative Rick Beck | ||
| Representative LeAnne Burch | ||
| Representative Frances Cavenaugh | ||
| Representative Gary Deffenbaugh | ||
| Representative Jana Della Rosa | ||
| Representative Jim Dotson | ||
| Representative Jon S. Eubanks | ||
| Representative Brian S. Evans | ||
| Representative Denise Garner | ||
| Representative Mickey Gates | ||
| Representative Grant Hodges | ||
| Representative Mark Lowery | ||
| Representative Stephen Meeks | ||
| Representative Nelda Speaks | ||
| Representative Dan Sullivan | ||
| Representative DeAnn Vaught | ||
| Representative John W. Walker |
The House Education Committee will soon consider a voucher scheme that cleared the full Senate this week. SB539 by Sen. Blake Johnson is moving quickly, clearing the Senate just one day after it was heard in a surprise switch with almost no notice in the Revenue and Tax Committee.
WE NEED YOU TO CONTACT THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON SB539
| Chair | Representative Bruce Cozart | |
| Vice-Chair | Representative Reginald Murdock | |
| Representative Fred Allen | ||
| Representative Rick Beck | ||
| Representative LeAnne Burch | ||
| Representative Frances Cavenaugh | ||
| Representative Gary Deffenbaugh | ||
| Representative Jana Della Rosa | ||
| Representative Jim Dotson | ||
| Representative Jon S. Eubanks | ||
| Representative Brian S. Evans | ||
| Representative Denise Garner | ||
| Representative Mickey Gates | ||
| Representative Grant Hodges | ||
| Representative Mark Lowery | ||
| Representative Stephen Meeks | ||
| Representative Nelda Speaks | ||
| Representative Dan Sullivan | ||
| Representative DeAnn Vaught | ||
| Representative John W. Walker |
Votes for the following candidates will be cast during the AEA Final Election that will be held beginning at 8:00 a.m. March 25, 2019 and ending April 15, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
Voting for active members will be online at www.aeaonline.org. Look for the “Vote Here” Icon on the AEA website beginning March 24. Members can access the voting site seven days a week, 24 hours a day during the voting period. You must enter your voter ID that is printed on your AEA membership card. Contact the AEA Office if you need any assistance with your voter ID, (501) 375-4611, Ext. 100. Retired members will receive a ballot by regular mail to vote for NEA Retired Delegates. Election 19 races.
| Rep. Doug House’s stress testing bill, HB1173 will be considered by the Joint Retirement Committee Monday, 3/25. |
HB1173 would require public retirement systems to perform a “stress test” using worst case scenarios. The results of the tests could then be used to justify cuts to benefits. This bill is part of a troubling blueprint that other states have used to diminish retirement security for educators. This one of several bills recommended by a group of anti-public retirement activists invited by Rep. House to testify before the committee last year.
All members are encouraged to attend the meeting MONDAY (3/25) at 9 am in the Big MAC building located immediately behind the State Capitol. AEA strongly opposes HB1173.
If you are unable to attend Monday’s meeting, we encourage all members to contact the members of the Retirement Committee and let them know you oppose HB1173, the stress test bill.
| Sen | Sample | bill.sample@senate.ar.gov |
| Rep | Warren | les.warren@arkansashouse.org |
| Sen | Ingram | friendsforkeith@gmail.com |
| Rep | Deffenbaugh | gary.deffenbaugh@arkansashouse.org |
| Sen | Bledsoe | cecile.bledsoe@senate.ar.gov |
| Sen | Cheatham | eddie.cheatham@senate.ar.gov |
| Sen | Elliott | joyce.elliott@senate.ar.gov |
| Sen | Hammer | hammerk@senate.ar.gov |
| Sen | Johnson | blake.johnson@senate.ar.gov |
| Sen | Leding | ledingg@senate.ar.gov |
| Sen | Rapert | jason.rapert@senate.ar.gov |
| Sen | Teague | larry.teague@senate.ar.gov |
| Rep | Coleman | bruce.coleman@arkansashouse.org |
| Rep | Gray | michelle.gray@arkansashouse.org |
| Rep | Hodges | grant.hodges@arkansashouse.org |
| Rep | Hodges | monte.hodges@arkansashouse.org |
| Rep | Maddox | john.maddox@arkansashouse.org |
| Rep | Perry | mperry@windstream.net |
| Rep | Smith | stu22200@yahoo.com |
