Dear MEA Members –
This week I want to highlight a few key bills the MEA is advocating for. And we need your help.
More Mental Health Supports for Students, LD 829:
On Tuesday March 28th, the Education Committee will hold a public hearing on LD 829, An Act to Improve Behavioral Health Support for Students in Public Schools. This bill, sponsored by Representative Lydia Crafts, proposes to adjust the state’s school funding formula to provide more supports for students. The bill would reduce the student to counselor ratio and add social workers into the school funding formula. We know many students are struggling with mental health concerns and educators need more help to better support these issues. The bill also proposes a statewide expansion of supports for behavioral analysis and professional development for educators.
You can show up and testify in person or you can testify via Zoom. To sign up for the Zoom testimony, first click here: Online Testimony Submission (mainelegislature.org)
Public hearing > Education and Cultural Affairs Committee > Tuesday March 28th > LD 829, in support.
Complete the info at the bottom and a zoom link will be sent to you – it is very easy. Sometimes the Committee chairs keep a 3-minute clock, so it is always good to have written testimony to make sure you hit your main points.
If you need help with testimony, just reach out and I can help.
Teachers Need a Raise:
This year, the MEA is working with Senator Pierce on a bill to lift the minimum teacher salary and that bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday April 6th at 1pm in the Education Committee. Come testify!
LD 1064, An Act to Increase the Minimum Teacher Salary proposes to lift the statewide minimum teacher salary to $50,000. It took 16 years for the state to lift the minimum teacher salary from $30,000 to $40,000, but with the workforce shortages we are facing in schools, we can’t wait 16 years for the state to lift the minimum salary to $50,000. If we want to recruit and retain teachers and other professional staff, we must lift salaries across the board.
Again, you can show up and testify in person or you can testify via Zoom.
To sign up for the Zoom testimony, first click here: Online Testimony Submission (mainelegislature.org)
Public hearing > Education and Cultural Affairs Committee > Thursday April 6th > LD 1064, in support.
If you can’t make it, please consider emailing members of the Education Committee to express your support for LD 1064. You can find more about the MEA’s efforts to lift wages and salaries for educators and you can contact all of the members of the Education Committee with one click found here: You Deserve a Raise! (ngpvan.com)
Please let them know that we need to raise salaries for teachers if we are going to recruit and retain highly qualified educators in our classrooms.
f you want to learn more about testifying before the Legislature, check out this new resource on the MEA website: MEA Guide to Testimony – Maine Education Association (maineea.org) And, as always, reach out me if I can help.
Voices for Education Days:
REMINDER – The MEA is planning activities in the State House during Spring Break week. Sign up to participate here: MEA Voices for Education Day – Save the Date! (ngpvan.com)
The Voices for Education Days will be a perfect opportunity to meet with fellow members, policymakers and legislators, and make our case for improvements for public schools.
Please join us if you can.
In Unity,
John Kosinski
Government Relations Director
Maine Education Association
