This week is American Education week November 13-17 2023 ( https://www.nea.org/resource-library/american-education-week-november-13-17-2023 ) and NEA has designated November 15th as Education Support Professionals Day and we would like to join the celebration!
GFEA members know just how important paraprofessionals, aids, food service, custodial, trades professionals, transportation, healthcare workers, and of course our clerical workers who we all know connect all of the parts of the educational teams to ensure schools run smoothly! Tonight at 8 pm EST NEA President Becky Pringle will highlight the celebration of ESPs all over this nation! Read more about the vital role ESPs play everyday: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/our-members/education-support-professionals Take a moment today and everyday to tell the ESPs you work with how much they are valued and how much we appreciate all they do for us and our schools! The Municipal General Election will be held on November 7th as a Mail Ballot Election. Ballots can be dropped at the Cascade County Elections Office, 325 2nd Ave. N, Great Falls from 8am-5pm through November 6th, and 7am-8pm on Election Day, November 7th, in the drop box inside the front doors on 2nd Avenue or in the office (Suite 100). They can also be mailed in, however remember to get them in the mail prior to November 6th to ensure they will arrive and be counted. The November 7th ballot will include elections for mayor, candidates are ABBY BROWN, JOE MCKENNEY, CORY REEVES, & CASEY SCHREINER. GFEA has chosen not to endorse any candidates in the November Municipal Election, however Casey Schreiner is a former member of GFEA and current retired MFPE member. City Commission candidates are, KENDALL G. COX, ERIC J. HINEBAUCH, MICAELA STROOP, RICK TRYON, & SHANNON WILSON and you will be able to vote for two open seats for the commission. Municipal judges candidates are: for Department A is STEVEN BOLSTAD, and Department B are MARK A. DUNN & CAYLE HALBERG (vote for one). Neighborhood Council Districts are also on the ballot, and both the city safety levy and safety bond being voted on. More information at this website: https://greatfallsmt.net/citycommission/municipal-elections A sample ballot with the details of the safety levy and bond is available at this website: https://www.cascadecountymt.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4376/Sample-Ballots-Municipal-General-2023 Great Falls Public Safety Levy website: https://safetyinthefalls.com/ Please take a few minutes to find out about these important voting opportunities, and be sure you fill our your ballot and mail or return it to the elections office prior to the deadline.
If you would like to learn more about the proposal, please plan to attend the Monday October 9 school board meeting at 5:30 pm or the Monday October 23rd school board meeting also at 5:30 pm both meetings at the District Office Building. The GFPS School Board of Trustees voted to authorize the application for public charter proposal on the October 23 meeting. For more information please check out the CORE school information page at: https://www.gfps.k12.mt.us/Page/1988
The GFEA Executive Board held interviews for 4 of the 5 candidates for GFPS Board of Trustees Tuesday April 11. The GFEA endorsed candidates are incumbents; Bill Bronson, Kim Skornogoski, and Aime Thompson.
The election will be May 2nd with individuals who have requested receiving absentee ballots voting by mail (ballots are scheduled to be mailed out on April 17th), and those who have not requested an absentee ballot voting at the polls in person on May 2nd. The inperson voting will take place at the Montana ExpoPark 400 3rd Street NW. If you are unsure if you have registered for an absentee ballot you can check by going to https://www.voteinmt.org/check-your-status . You may request an absentee ballot prior to the election, but remember it will take time to receive your ballot and also to ensure it is received by the elections office prior to the May 2nd deadline. Please make your voice heard and vote in the GFPS School Board of Trustees Election May 2nd, 2023. We hope you have received your invitation to the MFPE Spring Meeting (all held vitually on Zoom). GFEA will be hosting a watch party at the GFEA office May 20th at 5:30 PM. Come join the fun and enjoy some snacks with fellow MFPE and GFEA members. Please register for the event and your are welcome to join from home on your personal device, or you can come to the GFEA office 511 13th Ave S. and join the party here! Register at the link below: https://www.mfpe.org/mfpe-events/ The Annual Meeting of MFPE Membership is April 14-15, 2023 at the Delta Hotel in Helena. If you would like to be considered as a delegate for GFEA. Email us and get all the details. Hotel, food, and gas to get there provided!
The week of Feburary 28-March 4, 2023 is designated Montana Organizing and Legislative Blitz and it will take place in several locations around the state including here in Great Falls. Get involved in the events by signing up for a shift or day, or all week, with events culminating in a Block Party on Saturday March 4th (details and location coming soon). There will be lots of activities to get involved in all week and you can even choose the paid option for the day. For more information and/or sign up to get involved click the button below.
The Montana legislature is in session for 90 days every 2 years and there are important issues being decided at the Capitol in Helena. If you are a member of GFEA and/or MFPE you can join the Rapid Response Team to find out important legislation that is being discussed and decided that may effect your life and work. The Rapid Response Team is composed of union members around the state who are dedicated to ensuring our representatives hear how we as Montanans would like them to vote on the issues and represent our interests. If you would like to get involved and/or would like to hear what legislation is being discussed and how it could effect public employees and those of us who work in schools go to this web page and sign up for updates and invitations to get involved. Click here Get involved in the legislative process even if you are not a member of GFEA or MFPE Join the Protect Montana Team.
After a local team of union members interviewed candidates, MFPE PAC has chosen to endorse the candidates for various offices and positions around the state. GFEA members were part of the team of interviewers who met with candidates and recommended who to endorse for the local state legislative candidates. If you have questions about who to vote for and would like to know who has been endorsed by MFPE PAC please go to the link below for the complete list of endorsements.
Please be sure to register to vote if you have not done so but also be sure to make time to fill out your ballot and send it in if you are voting absentee, or go to the polls and vote in person on November 8th. |
GFEA's 2023
EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTION RESULTS OFFICERS President *Tom Cubbage 2nd Vice President *Cherie Stordahl REPRESENTATIVES Elementary * Sharon Kelley * Amy Hollenback Middle School *Kurt Shephard High School * Jolyn Johnson Member-At-Large * Arienne Konesky * Asterik indicates unopposed position elected by acclamation. Terms run June 2023 – June 2025. MEMBERSHIP EVENTSWHEN:
Thurs., Dec. 9, 2021 from 6- 6:30 p.m. MT The registration link: https://secure.ngpvan.com/KJvCz8522UGo6BnGEzIFMQ2 WHO: Presenter: Sarah Piper WHAT: Contract rights and workplace protection are critical reasons to be an MFPE member – but your union membership comes with lots of other benefits too. Learn more about free college for your family, life insurance, trauma counseling, home/auto insurance, discounts, and more. Find out how your membership can help you have more freedom in ALL areas of your life. Archives
October 2023
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