IN THIS ISSUE...

FROM THE PRESIDENT

• Thank You 
• Harvest of Books  
•  Show Your LEA Discount Card at Raising Canes!
   They will donate $1 for every box meal purchased to Harvest and LEAF. It is a great way to donate!!  

• Check out the Member Benefits Section of LEARN
• Save Money, Great Deals

Click Here for the Latest Information for the LPS Employees Credit Union  

• Future of LPSDO
• Finalist Sites 
• Plan for Jobs
• President's jobs plan to repair schools and keep educators in classrooms
• What about Nebraska?
• Extra Standard Review Dates
• Important District Dates to Remember

MEMBER RELATIONS 

• MEMBER NEEDS HELP
• Jane Munsterman 
• Janice Harry  
• LEA FOUNDATION CERTIFICATED PROFESSIONAL GRANTS  
• Let's Get Organized
• Appraisal Update
• Classroom Grants Available

COMMUNICATION

• NSEA Legislative Update    

• Harvest of Books   

SAVE WITH MEMBER BENEFITS   

• LPS Employees Credit Union
• OPEN HOUSE
• Friday, October 14^th from 4:00-6:00PM and Saturday, October 15^th from 8:00-12 noon 

• Camp Bow Wow
• Honey Baked Ham Specials
• First Nebraska Educator's Credit Union 

                               LEA President, Jenni Absalon

Harvest of Books, Inc.

Founded in 1997 by Dan Studer, former Lincoln Education Association President, the Harvest of Books Inc., is a program developed to help promote a life-long love of reading for children. The Harvest of Books is sponsored by the Lincoln Education Association. KFOR 1240 AM radio is a promotional sponsor.

The goal of the Harvest of Books, Inc. is to provide every first grader in the Lincoln Public Schools and Lincoln Parochial and Private Schools with a minimum of one new book of their own to take home, to enjoy, and to share with their family. Since its beginning, Harvest of Books has provided over 150,000 brand new books to the children of Lincoln. In 2010 7,066 first and second graders took home 10,690 books in 55 public, private, and parochial schools. In addition, the Lincoln City Libraries donate a book bag and Raising Cane's donates bookmarks to every first and second grader.

During an annual, designated period of time near the first two weeks of October, community members have the opportunity to buy a book for a first or second grade student.   Community members may go to any participating bookstore in Lincoln, choose a children's book, and purchase it at the discounted price the bookstore offers (25%) as part of the Harvest program. The bookstores then insert a nameplate within the book's cover upon which individuals can write their name or company on the nameplate as the donor of the book(s). The bookstore sets aside the Harvest books at their store and volunteers from the Lincoln Education Association collect and distribute the books to first and second graders throughout the public, parochial and private schools sometime during the week of Thanksgiving.

Individuals who prefer to send a donation for the purchase of Harvest books and leave the shopping to LEA volunteers may do so by sending a check to the "Harvest of Books" in care of the Lincoln Education Association, 4920 Normal Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68506 at any time throughout the year.

Purpose of the Contribution:

Donations to the Harvest of Books go directly toward the purchasing of books for the first and second graders of the Lincoln Public, Private and Parochial Schools.

Budget for the Organization and this Project:

The number of first and second grade Lincoln students varies from year to year and LEA relies completely on donations. The Association's goal is to always be able to provide, at a minimum, one book for each first grader. When donations allow, LEA strives to place a new book into the hands of every second grader's hands, too, as part of the annual harvest.

                             Membership--JUST ASK!!!  

JUST ASK!!!

Research shows people join the Association because someone asked them to. Please ask the nonmembers in your building to join LEA. We are running an extra $$incentives$$ reward for members who recruit new members before September 30. Also if you have recruited a member in your building since the school year began please complete the registration link below.

 Click to Register for Incentives for Recruiting a New Member

About the American Jobs Act & Teachers: As many as 280,000 education jobs are on the chopping block in the upcoming school year due to continued state budget constraints. These cuts could have a significant impact on children's education, through the reduction of school days, increased class size, and the elimination of key classes and services. The President's plan will support state and local efforts to retain, rehire, and hire early childhood, elementary, and secondary educators (including teachers, guidance counselors, classroom assistants, afterschool personnel, tutors, and literacy and math coaches).  These efforts will help ensure that schools are able to keep teachers in the classroom, preserve or extend the regular school day and school year, and also support important after-school activities.   

Click Here for NEA's Updates 

Click Here for NEA Education Votes Info on the Jobs Act

THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT: IMPACT FOR Nebraska

The American people understand that the economic crisis and the deep recession weren't created overnight and won't be solved overnight. The economic security of the middle class has been under attack for decades. That's why President Obama believes we need to do more than just recover from this economic crisis - we need to rebuild the economy the American way, based on balance, fairness, and the same set of rules for everyone from Wall Street to Main Street.  We can work together to create the jobs of the future by helping small business entrepreneurs, by investing in education, and by making things the world buys. The President understands that to restore an American economy that's built to last we cannot afford to outsource American jobs and encourage reckless financial deals that put middle class security at risk.

To create jobs, the President unveiled the American Jobs Act - nearly all of which is made up of ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and that Congress should pass right away to get the economy moving now. The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. And it would do so without adding a dime to the deficit. The American Jobs Act has five components:

1. Tax Cuts to Help America's Small Businesses Hire and Grow

• The President's plan will cut the payroll tax in half to 3.1% for employers on the first $5 million in wages, providing broad tax relief to all businesses but targeting it to the 98 percent of firms with wages below this level. In Nebraska, 40,000 firms will receive a payroll tax cut under the American Jobs Act.

2. Putting Workers Back on the Job While Rebuilding and Modernizing America

• The President's plan includes $50 billion in immediate investments for highways, transit, rail and aviation, helping to modernize an infrastructure that now receives a grade of "D" from the American Society of Civil Engineers and putting hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job. Of the investments for highway and transit modernization projects, the President's plan will make immediate investments of at least $247,700,000in Nebraska that could support a minimum of approximately 3,200 localjobs.
• The President is proposing to invest $35 billion to prevent layoffs of up to 280,000 teachers, while supporting the hiring of tens of thousands more and keeping cops and firefighters on the job. These funds would help states and localities avoid and reverse layoffs now, and will provide $176,100,000 in funds to Nebraska to support up to 2,800 educator and first responder jobs.
• The President is proposing a $25 billion investment in school infrastructure that will modernize at least 35,000 public schools - investments that will create jobs, while improving classrooms and upgrading our schools to meet 21^st century needs.  Nebraska will receive $106,700,000 in funding to support as many as 1,400 jobs.
• The President is proposing to invest $15 billion in a national effort to put construction workers on the job rehabilitating and refurbishing hundreds of thousands of vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses. Nebraska could receive about $20,000,000 to revitalize and refurbish local communities, in addition to funds that would be available through a competitive application.
• The President's plan proposes $5 billion of investments for facilities modernization needs at community colleges. Investment in modernizing community colleges fills a key resource gap, and ensures these local, bedrock education institutions have the facilities and equipment to address current workforce demands in today's highly technical and growing fields. Nebraska could receive $21,400,000 in funding in the next fiscal year for its community colleges.

3. Pathways Back to Work for Americans Looking for Jobs.

• Drawing on the best ideas of both parties and the most innovative states, the President is proposing the most sweeping reforms to the unemployment insurance (UI) system in 40 years help those without jobs transition to the workplace. This could help put the 15,000 long-term unemployed workers in Nebraska back to work.
• Alongside these reforms, the President is reiterating his call to extend unemployment insurance, preventing 4,000 people looking for work in Nebraska from losing their benefits in just the first 6 weeks.  And, across the country, the number saved from losing benefits would triple by the end of the year.
• The President is proposing a new Pathways Back to Work Fund to provide hundreds of thousands of low-income youth and adults with opportunities to work and to achieve needed training in growth industries. Pathways Back to Work could place 300 adults and 1,200 youths in jobs in Nebraska.

4. Tax Relief for Every American Worker and Family

•  The President's plan will expand the payroll tax cut passed last December by cutting workers payroll taxes in half next year. A typical household in Nebraska, with a median income of around $50,000, will receive a tax cut of around $1,550.

5. Fully Paid for as Part of the President's Long-Term Deficit Reduction Plan.

To ensure that the American Jobs Act is fully paid for, the President will call on the Joint Committee to come up with additional deficit reduction necessary to pay for the Act and still meet its deficit target. The President will, in the coming days, release a detailed plan that will show how we can do that while achieving the additional deficit reduction necessary to meet the President's broader goal of stabilizing our debt as a share of the economy.

 Important Dates to Remember  

Member Needs Help

An LEA Member needs help from colleagues in the form of donated annual leave. As per the provision in the negotiated agreement pertaining to the voluntary transfer of leave for catastrophic illness, I am forwarding this appeal on to LEA Members.   

Individuals may voluntarily transfer any amount of their annual leave (not accumulated leave-- IRS regulations won't allow that) to a colleague in need within the bargaining unit. Leave that is not used by the individual this school year will be returned to the donors.

Please contact LPS Human Resources directly by calling Kyla Jensby at 436-1593 to request a Voluntary Leave Transfer Donor Application or e-mail her at kjensby@lps.org.

*** When you contact Kyla, be sure to let her know what site you are at so she can send you the form.

My name is Janice Harry and I have been teaching at Calvert School for several years and currently am a part-time RTI teacher. On August 11 my husband, Lynn, was diagnosed with an aggressive, fast growing brain tumor. He has had 2 surgeries to try to remove most of the tumor. Within four weeks he will begin radiation therapy and chemotherapy every day for 6-7 weeks.   Before this experience, I never realized how a day of donated annual leave would so greatly impact and help the family involved.   If you can donate annual leave, I would be very thankful.  I know that my priority right now is by Lynn's side.   Thank you for your support, thoughts, and prayers.

"My name is Jane Munsterman and I am a Special Education Teacher at East High School.  I have been on medical leave since January 2011 and I have been experiencing severe fatigue, muscle/joint pain, and weakness in my arms and legs which make it difficult for me to walk.  After many visits to specialists and Mayo Clinic, I have been diagnosed with a form of Spondylitis Arthritis.  I have started treatment and will be off work through December.  I have exhausted all of my leave and am requesting donated sick leave, so that I may receive a paycheck or at least have my insurance paid for.  If you are willing to donate any of your leave, my family and I would appreciate it so much!  I believe you can get the form to fill out from your school's office.  Thank you for taking the time to consider doing this!"  

Classroom Grants Available                     

LEA Foundation Classroom Grants  

Click Here for LEA Grant Information 

======================= 

Opportunities for Educators, Students, Schools, & Communities

GRANTS AVAILABLE---Click Here

Happening Now   

NSEA Legislative Update 

NEA Education Votes

Keep Up to Date on education Issues----Click Here

****If you are receiving this message at a public school email account, or on a computer connected to a public school server, do not save, forward, print or reply to this message.  ****

Retirement Hearings

The Legislature's Retirement Committee is holding public hearings on three important interim studies that deal with pension plans for public employees.

        November 22, 9:00 AM - State Capitol, Room 1525

o   Retirement Committee hearing on LR210.

o   LR210 calls for a review of the funding needs, benefits, contributions, and administration of the retirement plans managed by the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement System - school employees, state patrol, judges, and counties.  The Omaha School Employees Retirement plan may also be included.

Senator Lavon Heidemann's LB680 would close the defined benefit plan for school employees and open a new cash balance plan for new school employees.  Further, there are discussions in Omaha about closing the fire fighters defined benefit plan and opening a defined contribution plan for new hires.

It is critical that NSEA and NSEA-Retired leaders and members actively participate in these ongoing discussions to protect the current defined benefit plan for school employees.

NSEA-Retired will organize retired teachers to participate in these committee hearings on behalf of their active teacher colleagues whom will be in the classroom teaching.

For more information contact: 

NSEA Government Relations:  Cathy Schapmann (402) 475-7611 or (800) 742-0047 or

Jerry Hoffman (402) 560-0722, Karen Kilgarin (402) 432-7776, Brian Mikkelsen (402) 432-3397.

Stand up and act to protect your retirement egg!

Harvest of Books, Inc.

Founded in 1997 by Dan Studer, former Lincoln Education Association President, the Harvest of Books Inc., is a program developed to help promote a life-long love of reading for children. The Harvest of Books is sponsored by the Lincoln Education Association. KFOR 1240 AM radio is a promotional sponsor.

The goal of the Harvest of Books, Inc. is to provide every first grader in the Lincoln Public Schools and Lincoln Parochial and Private Schools with a minimum of one new book of their own to take home, to enjoy, and to share with their family. Since its beginning, Harvest of Books has provided over 150,000 brand new books to the children of Lincoln. In 2010 7,066 first and second graders took home 10,690 books in 55 public, private, and parochial schools. In addition, the Lincoln City Libraries donate a book bag and Raising Cane's donates bookmarks to every first and second grader.

During an annual, designated period of time near the first two weeks of October, community members have the opportunity to buy a book for a first or second grade student.   Community members may go to any participating bookstore in Lincoln, choose a children's book, and purchase it at the discounted price the bookstore offers (25%) as part of the Harvest program. The bookstores then insert a nameplate within the book's cover upon which individuals can write their name or company on the nameplate as the donor of the book(s). The bookstore sets aside the Harvest books at their store and volunteers from the Lincoln Education Association collect and distribute the books to first and second graders throughout the public, parochial and private schools sometime during the week of Thanksgiving.

Individuals who prefer to send a donation for the purchase of Harvest books and leave the shopping to LEA volunteers may do so by sending a check to the "Harvest of Books" in care of the Lincoln Education Association, 4920 Normal Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68506 at any time throughout the year.

Purpose of the Contribution:

Donations to the Harvest of Books go directly toward the purchasing of books for the first and second graders of the Lincoln Public, Private and Parochial Schools.

Budget for the Organization and this Project:

The number of first and second grade Lincoln students varies from year to year and LEA relies completely on donations. The Association's goal is to always be able to provide, at a minimum, one book for each first grader. When donations allow, LEA strives to place a new book into the hands of every second grader's hands, too, as part of the annual harvest.

Come See Our New Facilities   

Click Here for the Latest Information for the LPS Employees Credit Union 

After months of using folding tables and chairs we finally have our permanent furniture and are so excited for all of you to check out our new space!! Along with having a great teller area, we now have two separate offices for loan business, an on-site storage room, enough space for board meetings, and a waiting area almost as big as the entire size of our former location!! To celebrate our new wonderful office we are having an  

OPEN HOUSE

on Friday, October 14^th from 4:00-6:00PM and on Saturday, October 15^th from 8:00-12noon...

please stop by and enjoy some refreshments on us!!! Any new member who also takes out a loan will have their membership fee waived and receive a free gift and any current member who refers someone will also receive a free gift!

We offer savings and checking accounts, 6-month and 12-month CD's, as well as personal, vehicle, and home equity loans. Our loans come with absolutely no fees and our share account rates are among the best in town!! We hope you'll be able to come out and meet the staff and some of our board members...we know we look forward to meeting all of you!!   

https://lpscu.com//

Since 1938, the LPS Employees Federal Credit Union purpose has been to promote thrift among its members by affording them an opportunity to accumulate their savings and to create for them a source of credit for provident or productive purposes.

CONTACT: 

Bruce Healey, Manager 

Cathy Maestas Graham, Asst Mgr.

custaff@lpscu.com

486.3644       486.3646 FAX

486-3644

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