|
| The difference is the service. |
| Great Public schools are a basic right for every child |
Mehlville NEA
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Special offers for Mehlville NEA members Access Savings!!! |
| Mehlville NEA Leading the way for the Mehlville School District |
| Make sure that you check out the latest "District News" |
You’re frequently asked the question “What’s the Difference?” between MNEA and other professional/union
groups in the state. The passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, AKA the “Stimulus
Package) is a good example of the difference.
First, I want to thank all of you who took the time to contact your Senators and Representatives about getting the
package passed. The legislation represents the most ambitious effort to stimulate the economy in our nation’s
history. Our members across the state and nation made thousands of contacts, and we believe that we made a
difference. Preliminary indications show that Missouri will receive over $1.5 billion in federal education-related
programs.
Information on the impact of the funding and support for Missouri will be regularly updated on our web site (www.
mnea.org) and I encourage you to check that site often.
I want to point out two parts of the ARRA legislation for which NEA can be given credit:
First is the fact that the “State Fiscal Stabilization” portion of the funding for Missouri ($920,700) will be funneled
through our existing Foundation Formula. No new “hoops” or paperwork were created for us to access this
funding. This was an idea straight from NEA’s Council for State Education Associations, a board on which our
Executive Director Ben Simmons sits. NEA lobbied to get the funding channeled directly and efficiently to states
– using a formula that states (rather than the federal government) have created. Score one for NEA.
The second direct impact is the $250 one-time 2009 payment for retirees. Thanks to NEA’s lobbying efforts, this
includes state and local employees who are not eligible for Social Security – Missouri’s retired PSRS members!
Score two for NEA.
No other educational organization had the impact that NEA did. Thanks to our efforts, we have another HUGE
opportunity to make our public schools great for every child.
Chris Guinther
President
Missouri NEA
groups in the state. The passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, AKA the “Stimulus
Package) is a good example of the difference.
First, I want to thank all of you who took the time to contact your Senators and Representatives about getting the
package passed. The legislation represents the most ambitious effort to stimulate the economy in our nation’s
history. Our members across the state and nation made thousands of contacts, and we believe that we made a
difference. Preliminary indications show that Missouri will receive over $1.5 billion in federal education-related
programs.
Information on the impact of the funding and support for Missouri will be regularly updated on our web site (www.
mnea.org) and I encourage you to check that site often.
I want to point out two parts of the ARRA legislation for which NEA can be given credit:
First is the fact that the “State Fiscal Stabilization” portion of the funding for Missouri ($920,700) will be funneled
through our existing Foundation Formula. No new “hoops” or paperwork were created for us to access this
funding. This was an idea straight from NEA’s Council for State Education Associations, a board on which our
Executive Director Ben Simmons sits. NEA lobbied to get the funding channeled directly and efficiently to states
– using a formula that states (rather than the federal government) have created. Score one for NEA.
The second direct impact is the $250 one-time 2009 payment for retirees. Thanks to NEA’s lobbying efforts, this
includes state and local employees who are not eligible for Social Security – Missouri’s retired PSRS members!
Score two for NEA.
No other educational organization had the impact that NEA did. Thanks to our efforts, we have another HUGE
opportunity to make our public schools great for every child.
Chris Guinther
President
Missouri NEA