Virtual 2020 OEA Fall Representative Assembly Focuses on Advocacy for Educators and Students in a Time of Crisis
The work of delegates to the Virtual 2020 OEA Fall Representative Assembly held December 5 focused on legislative and political issues with a direct effect on public education and students in Ohio. The 750 registered delegates at the assembly discussed the 2020 election, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, current legislative efforts, organizing and advocacy successes, and more.
Those participating in the Zoom assembly applauded efforts by members and locals to work together to support students and schools. Delegates paused to remember those who have died, been hospitalized, suffered lasting harm, and felt the impact of COVID-19. And they acknowledged former OEA leader and 60-year West Carrollton High School teacher, Murl Huffman who died in August. In 1967 Huffman became the first classroom teacher to serve as full‑time OEA President. His presidency marked the first time OEA endorsed pro‑public education candidates for public office.
In his address, OEA President Scott DiMauro praised the work of members throughout Ohio who have persevered in the face of continuing challenges due to COVID-19 and found new and creative ways to meet the needs of students.
“Through this experience, we have learned much about ourselves, our schools, and our Association.
We have learned technology gives us opportunities to adapt to challenges, but that there is no substitute for the personal connection we have with our students and communities.
We have learned the public values the work we as teachers and education support professionals perform for our students, but that support can feel fickle in the middle of debates over how to address competing interests of equitable learning opportunities with the health and safety of students, education employees, and communities.
We have learned meaningful collaboration between school boards, administrators and local unions is essential for successful learning plans, but results are costly when educators’ voices aren’t heard.
We have learned partisan politics too often overshadow science and public health data in school opening decisions.
We have learned this pandemic is exposing and exacerbating deep inequities in our education system, our economy, and our society.
We have also learned that we can make some incredibly positive things happen when we stand in solidarity for the good of our members and students. That we can use collective bargaining to win victories for us, our kids and communities that prioritize health and safety, place essential guardrails on members’ workloads, protect the rights of educators, and provide for the working and learning conditions our students deserve.”
In the middle of this crisis, DiMauro said, members and staff stepped up to advocate for pro‑public education candidates up and down the ballot and pass many essential levies and bond issues across Ohio. “From your work in your locals to your political activism at the Statehouse, you, my fellow OEA members, never cease to inspire me,” he said.
Moving forward, DiMauro stressed the need for continued vigilance concerning the coronavirus.
“While we all have reason for optimism in anticipation of a vaccine or vaccines, the exponential increase in cases over the past month is hitting our schools and communities hard and, sadly, we have not seen the leadership we need at the state level to ensure consistent enforcement of health measures necessary to keep everyone safe,” DiMauro said.
“We all want nothing less than to have schools functioning fully in‑person everywhere, but that can only happen if the spread of the virus is under control in our communities.”
On December 3, the OEA Board of Directors voted unanimously to call on state and local leaders to follow OEA’s lead for Putting Students First in their pandemic response by following a four-point plan that reflects the latest science and best practices for ensuring Ohio’s children receive a high-quality education in a safe environment. [The complete plan is available on the OEA website,www.ohea.org]
DiMauro welcomed special guest NEA President Becky Pringle who thanked OEA members for their role in making a difference in a time of great need and in electing champions of education who will address iniquities in social systems fueled by institutional racism and chronic generational poverty.
“Educators like you continued to stand in the gap when COVID‑19 closed our schools and our nation was able to see what we see every single day,” Pringle said. “America saw the students who experienced firsthand that digital divide because they don’t have connectivity to broad band internet or digital tools at home, the students who don’t have a home to live in, the students and families who don’t have enough to eat and the faces of black and brown and indigenous students and those living in marginalized communities for whom these iniquities are a reality every day. The nation was forced to face the truth. Those iniquities are fueled by the systemic racism that lives within those social systems and has created a negative impact on the learning of far too many of our students.
“But the nation also saw you,” she continued. “It saw you rising up doing everything they could to create virtual learning environments that allowed our students to continue to learn, opening food kitchens so hungry students and their families could eat, working with communities or taking money out of your own pockets to get students the technology they needed.”
In his report on legislative and political issues facing OEA members, OEA Vice President Jeff Wensing discussed results of 2020 election and provided an update on education‑related legislation making its way through the general assembly, including the Ohio Fair School Funding Plan, testing, evaluations, and vouchers.
Wensing discussed House Bill 305 and Senate Bill 376—companion bills regarding the Fair School Funding Plan that seek to address the inequities of Ohio’s school funding system. House Bill 305 passed through the House on December 3 by a vote of 84‑8. OEA is urging Senators to take action to pass Senate Bill 376.
Wensing invited delegates to take immediate action by visiting www.ohea.org to send a letter to their senators during his presentation.
Among other key legislation, Wensing detailed Senate Bill 89, legislation that locks in an expansion of private school vouchers that will cause untold harm to the 90% of Ohio’s children who attend local public schools. OEA will do everything in its power to fight back against this direct frontal assault on public education.
[Detailed information on current legislation is available at www.ohea.org/legislative-watch-20201204/]
Wensing followed his legislative report with an introduction of the proposed 2020-2021 Legislative Policies for Achieving Excellence in Education. Delegates adopted the proposed 2020-2021 Legislative Policies.
Presenting the Association’s financial report for Fiscal Year 2020, OEA Secretary‑Treasurer Mark Hill noted that membership is stable and engaged, and OEA’s financial standing is strong.
“The most significant factors affecting the Association’s financial results for the fiscal year that ended August 31 were a strong investment environment, increased average teacher salary, less than expected membership decreases, a moderate decrease in expenses, and decreased retirement benefit liabilities,” Hill said. “OEA remains in a strong financial position poised for the challenges facing our members in public education.”
As of the end of November, the OEA has 119,462 members, a number that includes 3,145 first‑time members. Overall, OEA membership is relatively stable in the second year after the Janus Supreme Court decision in which the Association lost fair share fees. Due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, OEA expects state budget challenges to reduce the number of educator positions in the state in the near term
Hill reminded delegates that dues are determined in OEA bylaws as a multiple of the average teacher salary two years prior as reported by the Ohio Department of Education. In fiscal year 2020, full‑time membership dues increased overall by $21 to $557 due to a 4.2% increase in the average teacher salary. For the current fiscal year, full‑time educator dues have decreased by $29 to $518 as a result of a 1.8% decrease in the average teacher salary as well as a $20 abatement of the Uniserv service charge.
In his introduction of Patricia Collins Murdock, who became OEA Executive Director effective December 1, President DiMauro said, “At this pivotal moment in OEA history, as we work to strengthen local affiliates, organize and engage members in advocating for strong public schools, support the professional needs of our members, and advocate for social, racial, and economic justice, I cannot think of anyone more qualified as a partner in advancing our strategic goals.
Addressing the delegates, Collins Murdock, who has worked at OEA for 15 years as assistant executive director for field operations and as a regional director, said, “Throughout 2020, OEA members have demonstrated how much they value each other and their students through collective action. OEA members have shown how much they respect and value diversity and inclusion by attempting to address the economic racial and social iniquities that COVID has laid bare be it through access to internet that was critical to remote learning or finding ways to talk to their students about the protests that arose over the summer related to racial injustices. OEA members have shown their commitment to the communities they live and teach in by coming up with creative ways to ensure students receive the healthy nutritious meals they needed during the pandemic, by organizing remote graduation celebrations, and by learning to teach remotely with little or no training or advanced notice.”
She told delegates, “You demonstrated time and again what it means to be an advocate for students and for each other. COVID may have challenged all of us, but it has also brought out the best in us. The lessons we have learned will help us understand what we must do to face the future—build an even stronger OEA.”
Those assembled honored OEA Executive Director Sheryl Mathis who is set to retire at the end of 2020.
In her remarks, Mathis said,” OEA members should feel confident in who you are as an organization and the leaders that you have.
“This team is not surpassed by any other state affiliate—not one. This membership is not surpassed by any other state affiliate—not one. You all care about each other. You care about public education. You care about your colleagues, and you care about your students and that’s what will continue to take OEA quite far in challenges and in opportunities.”
This fall, OEA members of the Gahanna Jefferson Education Association (GJEA) and Youngstown State University Ohio Education Association (YSU-OEA) went on strike simultaneously in the interest of ensuring the learning and working conditions that their students and they needed and deserved. GJEA member Betsy Baker and YSU-OEA member Susan Clutter shared their local’s stories with delegates.
President DiMauro introduced 2020 Education Support Professional of the Year Barb Armour, a bus driver in Brunswick and OEA member for more than 26 years, and Ohio 2020 Teacher of the Year Leila Kubesch, a 26-year veteran teacher of Spanish and English to English Language Learners in the Norwood City Schools. Kubesch was also honored with a 2021 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence and recognized as 2020 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year. Armour and Kubesch spoke via Zoom of their experiences during the past year.
“COVID has pushed us to our limits, but has also brought out the best in us,” Armour said. “So many stepped up to deliver needed food, learning packets, deep clean schools by learning new protocols to protect us when we came back, and contacted students on a daily basis to assist teachers to check on students’ social and emotional health. The power of our support staff members in the schools is what helps us run these schools every day. All of our educators have a vested interest in the success of our students from a Ph.D. teacher to a part-time crossing guard. We all play a part in the success of our students who started in preschool and ended up graduating. Our ESPs are proud of the connections they make to each student’s growth along the way and the personal interactions they have with many students.”
Kubesch told delegates that this year she is teaching in person for both students at the middle school in addition to students at the high school. In an effort to make things better during a difficult year, she recently created a student award to recognize kindness, or coming to school in a positive, upbeat mood, or being willing to help others. Kubesch presents personalized water bottles and notes to the recipients.
“You may find yourself wondering if you can do everything you were once able to do before COVID,” she told delegates. “We can—we just need to consider other ways in which we can do the special things we did before. Know that your work matters.”
In other RA action, delegates approved the appointment of Sam Radel to the OEA Appeals Board for a seven-year term ending August 31, 2027. Delegates also adopted the proposed 2020-2021 Resolutions Report.
At the Fall RA, delegates contributed $20,967.00 to the OEA Fund for Children and Public Education. Winners of the FCPE giveaway were $500—Phil Hayes (Columbus EA); $300—John Bartos (Pickerington EA); and $100—Loni Goodballet-Ross (East Liverpool EA).
The following Constitution articles were read by title for amendment at the May 2021 RA: Article V— Board of Directors; Article VI—Officers; Article IX—Affiliates; Article X—Amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws; Article XI—Indemnification.
- President’s address – https://vimeo.com/gowithlive/download/488568972/da997cd395
- NEA President’s Keynote – https://vimeo.com/gowithlive/download/488568887/da9b28dbc3
- Executive Director’s address and recognition of Sheryl – https://vimeo.com/gowithlive/download/488568804/958713fb3d
- ESP of the Year – https://vimeo.com/gowithlive/download/488568697/c1d994433a
- Teacher of the Year – https://vimeo.com/gowithlive/download/488569031/496d402d8f
- Locals videos
- Powerpoint presentation of NEA Directors (pdf file)
- FCPE slides (pdf file)
- Action Alert on HB 305/SB 376
- FCPE final report and link for additional contributions – https://youtu.be/QWHAGMcU9oo
Don’t Quit by Edgar Albert Guest
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow – you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor’s cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst, you must not quit.
The Pope Francis Op-Ed from the New York Times (“A Crisis Reveals What is In Our Hearts” 11.26.2020):
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/26/opinion/pope-francis-covid.html