NIXON'S WEEK 5 GRADE: BThe Governor continued to keep his eye on economics this week, holding a bipartisan jobs event in St. Joseph with Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields and then later announcing he found more funding to drastically reduce planned cuts for MU-Extension programs. The contrast with the G.O.P-dominated House was stark, with Republicans spending time on an anti-abortion resolution condemning a federal law that doesn't even exist yet. Red meat anyone? Nixon wasn't having any, staying out of the FOCA debate. Nixon's staff said the restoration of Extension funding didn't have to do with public opinion. But in speaking to members of Greene County's office, it's clear that those who use the gardening, 4-H, nutrition and other programs were making their voices heard in Jefferson City. Nixon's team was feeling the backlash on this from all corners of the state -- and from GOP leadership (Speaker Ron Richard said: "Fat Chance"). So, they backtracked. But a politician doesn't suffer when he changes his mind, as long as that change involves adding funding back. It's another area of higher education that might cause the prolonged ideological fight. At the Coordinating Board of Higher Ed meeting, Nixon got an earful from private schools that are set to lose scholarship funding under the Governor's plan. These private schools have powerful lobbyists working for them in Jefferson City and Republicans will fight for them. This has all the makings for the private vs. public showdown. But going into Week 6, the Nixon camp has to be happy about two things: Mizzou beat Kansas with the Gov. in attendance, and Linda Martinez is unlikely to fill as many headlines.
3 comments:
Below is a note I sent to my legislators and the Governor based on his budget: "I recognize that the recession and funding at the national level are jeopardizing jobs, health care, and public services in all states. Education, however, is an area in which funding cuts have a long-term impact beyond the current generation.
As recently released research funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MetLife Foundation, and The Wallace Foundation is showing, teachers who continue to learn not only improve their practice of teaching but also their students’ learning (see http://www.nsdc.org/stateproflearning.cfm ). According to this study, the availability of high-quality professional development for teachers is the difference between the United States’ and other high-achieving nations around the world! In other words, if U.S. teachers learn more, then STUDENTS LEARN MORE AT HIGHER LEVELS!
The Missouri system of Regional Professional Development Centers was designed as an infrastructure of support for teachers and school districts on which to rely for high-quality professional learning – so that the capacity of teachers within schools might grow and sustain. By accepting Governor Nixon’s proposed $10 million for state-level professional development, the budget for state-level professional development and learning will have been cut by 50% in as little as 2 years. Cutting state-level professional development funds and replacing them with district-level funds will cause the internal infrastructure of support to crumble: districts will be forced to use their local funds to support out-of-state consultants because there will be fewer in-state experts in which to invest.
In the quickly changing world, I want my doctor to be up-to-date with the latest research; my children also deserve teachers who are up-to-date with their learning as well, so I strongly urge you to consider restoring state-level funding for teachers’ professional development and learning."
As you may know, or may not know, the House Appropriations Committee did *not* include funding for any state-level professional development in its budget (this is not the appropriation each school district receives). It is now time to contact your Missouri senators for support in including this funding in the Senate version of the budget. They will be going on spring break next week, so contacting their local office might be greatly influential. You may look up your STATE senator through the website below (you'll need your 9-digit zip code)
http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx
By the way, below is a message to a local STATE senator. Feel free to use parts of it for your message. However, *personal stories* from you about how you have used the RPDC and the other services and programs which the PD state grant funds (MAP, Professional Learning Communities, RPDC, Parents As Teachers, eMINTS, Success Link, STARR, Practical Parenting Partnerships Centers, Missouri Fine Arts Academy, etc.. the list is attached) are important!
Please forward to everyone who might help!
---message begins---
I am calling for your help. I am very upset with the State House of Representatives Budget bill (HB 2) sponsored by the chair of that committee Allen Icet from St. Louis. This bill, in its current form, ELIMINATES all professional development grant funding in the state of Missouri. Yes, that is right, the entire $15 million has been omitted from this bill. This bill was approved this week and ALL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STATE GRANT INITIATIVES WERE OMITTED. Regional Professional Development Centers, eMINTS, MAP support, Successlink, STARR are only a few of the 42 state grant programs provided to school districts across the state of Missouri that will no longer exist.
I'm sure you can see how devastating this would be to schools across the state of Missouri. Are you aware that as a state there are federal guidelines and responsibilities a state has in providing professional development and assistance to schools, especially schools that in school improvement? In my current position, I am assisting such a school.
That help would no longer be there.
When the senate appropriation committee begins to create their version of the budget, I would ask that these dollars for the Professional Development State Level Grants are maintained. There are over 40 projects funded through this money--the Regional Professional Development Centers across the state are but one of these. We provide training and services to all schools across the state. Please continue to fund the Professional Development State Level Grants.
Thank you for taking the time to read my plea!
---message ends---
As you may know, or may not know, the House Appropriations Committee did *not* include funding for any state-level professional development in its budget (this is not the appropriation each school district receives). It is now time to contact your Missouri senators for support in including this funding in the Senate version of the budget. They will be going on spring break next week, so contacting their local office might be greatly influential. You may look up your STATE senator through the website below (you'll need your 9-digit zip code)
http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx
By the way, below is a message to a local STATE senator. Feel free to use parts of it for your message. However, *personal stories* from you about how you have used the RPDC and the other services and programs which the PD state grant funds (MAP, Professional Learning Communities, RPDC, Parents As Teachers, eMINTS, Success Link, STARR, Practical Parenting Partnerships Centers, Missouri Fine Arts Academy, etc.. the list is attached) are important!
Please forward to everyone who might help!
---message begins---
I am calling for your help. I am very upset with the State House of Representatives Budget bill (HB 2) sponsored by the chair of that committee Allen Icet from St. Louis. This bill, in its current form, ELIMINATES all professional development grant funding in the state of Missouri. Yes, that is right, the entire $15 million has been omitted from this bill. This bill was approved this week and ALL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STATE GRANT INITIATIVES WERE OMITTED. Regional Professional Development Centers, eMINTS, MAP support, Successlink, STARR are only a few of the 42 state grant programs provided to school districts across the state of Missouri that will no longer exist.
I'm sure you can see how devastating this would be to schools across the state of Missouri. Are you aware that as a state there are federal guidelines and responsibilities a state has in providing professional development and assistance to schools, especially schools that in school improvement? In my current position, I am assisting such a school.
That help would no longer be there.
When the senate appropriation committee begins to create their version of the budget, I would ask that these dollars for the Professional Development State Level Grants are maintained. There are over 40 projects funded through this money--the Regional Professional Development Centers across the state are but one of these. We provide training and services to all schools across the state. Please continue to fund the Professional Development State Level Grants.
Thank you for taking the time to read my plea!
---message ends---
Post a Comment