Dear Colleagues,
Here is an email to have your voice heard in case you did not get an email from OFT president Melissa Cropper about the proposed changes to the K-12 Operating Standard that the state board of education may be voting on next month.
Making these operating standards vague to give districts more control may allow some districts to eliminate some important positions. What it does it rank some professionals above others based on whether or not a teacher is in a tested area. This is not acceptable. Nurses, Social Workers, music and art teachers among others on the list may be very essential to students.
To skip her email and go directly to the e-activist site to modify the pre-made letter to send, click http://action.aft.org/c/505/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9328
In Union
Ari Klein
From Melissa
How important is it that our students have access in school to physical education, fine arts, school counselors, social workers, school nurses and librarians and media specialists? These roles are critical to student learning, growth and development. But the state Board of Education is considering changes to the K-12 Operating Standards that could allow those positions to be eliminated. We think this is wrong.
The state Board is obligated to advocate in the best interests of students, not water down rules that take away classroom experiences or services that enhance learning. Tell members of the state Board of Education they must advocate to meet all student needs by providing a full and well-rounded educational experience regardless of where in Ohio students live.
The Board plans to vote on this change during its December meeting. Please contact Board members now to explain how librarians, media specialists, physical education and art teachers, and school nurses enhance learning and change lives.
Tell Board members that diluting the operating standards weakens public education for Ohio students. Board members should fight for student opportunities, not water them down with changes like this. Act now.
In Solidarity,
Melissa Cropper, President
Ohio Federation of Teachers