JCEA NEWS YOU CAN USE
A Publication of the Junction City Education Association

RECRUITMENT

The JCEA is sponsoring a winter recruitment contest.  Between January 16 and March 16, any recruiter who signs up a new member will receive a cash prize of $25.00 for each. Now is the time to sign up any teacher that started in the district after September 1^st. Dues are prorated so that new members only pay for the remaining months of this year.  Dues are as follows:

       Member joining in February----$306.28

       Members joining in March------$263.80

Dues will be divided by the number of months left in this membership year.  Remember that there are no dues collected in July and August. Because of this recruitment activity, we welcome Nanci Hardy of Custer Hill.

 CYBER BULLYING WORKSHOP

JCEA along with KNEA is sponsoring a workshop about a very current issue—Cyber-Bullying.  The workshop will explain what cyber-bullying is, who the targets are, how to protect your children and students, and what legalities are involved.  The workshop will take place on February 22, 2007, at 4:15 at the JCHS Media Center. To save your place at the workshop,

 e-mail Eileen Hackley at eileenhackley@usd475.org by Feb. 20, 2007.

 NEGOTIATIONS

The official negotiations process will soon be underway. On January 30, from 4-7 and January 31, from 8-4, members of the Association and members of the administration and Board of Education met and were trained for the Interest Based Bargaining process.  Members of the Association include President Linda Brungardt, John Triplett, Terry Heina, Mike Ritchie, Secretary Julie Stuck, Richard Kellogg, Angie Hook, Vice President Eileen Hackley, Flo Gatsche, Amanda Voth, Misty Mayden, and Renee Rook.  Members of the administration and Board Education include Ron Walker, Sarah Talley, Sam Devin, Vern Steffens, Stan Dodds, Ferrell Miller, Monty Godsey, Daphne Maxwell, Pat Anderson, Larry Dixon, Susan Kamphaus, Bernice Bullard, Larry Schmidt, Nathan Butler, and Charles Volland as recorder. Dates for the negotiations process include February 28, from 8:30 to 11:30, March 15, from 8:00 –12:00, March 16, from 9:00 to 4:00, and April 5, from 10:00 to 4:00.  All sessions will be held at the Devin Center and are open to the public. 

 FRIENDS OF EDUCATION

Each year the JCEA, in conjunction with the Board of Education, honors and awards community leaders and groups for their selfless contributions toward education.  This year we honor Rod Barnes in the Community Leader category, KONZA Prairie Community Health Care Center in the Community/Civic Organization category, and the Geary County/KSU Extension Service in the Public/Private Sector. These awards will be presented at the March Board of Education meeting hosted at Washington Elementary.

 KONZA LOBBY DAYS

February 20, and April 4, are the days set aside for the KONZA UniServ district to talk to legislators about public education issues.  There will be a briefing at 8:00 a.m. at the KNEA building where members will be given lapel stickers to be worn in the capitol.  The legislative calendar for the day will be reviewed and talking points distributed. Team members will be in the capitol by 9:00 a.m. It is the responsibility of the team to be a presence in the capital and to lobby legislators from their region.  If you are interested in participating in this very interesting process, please contact Linda Brungardt at lindabrungardt@usd475.org.

 SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS

April 3, is the date to elect or reelect four seats on the school board. Members who are up for election are Monty Godsey, Daphne Maxwell, Kay Schmidt, and Nate Butler.  Kay Schmidt and Nate Butler and have chosen not to run for re-election. Dr. Anwar Khoury, Kay Deaver, Becky Bramlage, and Tom Brungardt, along with the two incumbents, are hoping to fill the four available seats.  Between now and Election Day, there will be several opportunities to hear the candidates speak about their goals for USD 475, and public education in general. JCEA will email information about these events. Please take the time to attend these functions or read the available information so that you can make an informed decision.  In order to vote, you must be registered.  Registration is quick and simple.  Go to the Geary County Clerk’s office at 200 E.8^th Street.  The deadline to register to vote is March 19.

"You ain't got that swing if you don't read a thing."
Read Across Kansas celebrates music!

Kansas NEA is planning a musical celebration.  The Cat-in-the-Hat is 50 years old this year and this is the 10th anniversary of NEA's Read Across America.  The theme is "You ain't got that swing if you don't read a thing!"  "Music means celebration. This year we are celebrating music and how music helps kids learn to read and to learn new languages," said KNEA President Blake West.  KNEA's honorary chairman is a Winfield High School student named Chase Foster. He's a Western-Swing inspired musician and songwriter who is receiving national attention. 
"Celebrate reading with music," West said. "We encourage everyone to have a concert on March 2 featuring the musical talent in every school community -- students of all ages, school staff and area musicians."
 

Here are some starter-ideas courtesy of KNEA member music teachers.

•  Connect with music teachers at all levels to plan events.

•  Highlight your local high school musicians! Ask students, school staff and area musicians to perform and read in classrooms and at school/local concerts.

• Invite musicians in to read and sing. Help students learn about musical styles: Western Swing, jazz, blues, country, rock' n roll, classical, opera, rap, etc.

• Hold book lovers' concerts, parades or sing-a-longs.

• Invite "rock 'n roll" readers to lead students in song, poetry jams, etc. 

• Contact your local radio station. Arrange to have students be a "DJ for a Day".

•  Invite local singer/songwriters or area musicians to do family concerts based on the theme their favorite book or of a Dr. Seuss book.

• Invite singer/songwriters to class to perform and help kids put poems to music.