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Spring Fling Awards List

5/24/2019

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MFPE President Eric Feaver and GFEA President Bob "Griff" Griffith greet each other at the beginning of the 2019 Spring Fling. Feaver traditionally speaks and installs the new Executive Board members during the program.
   On Friday, May 17, GFEA hosted its annual Spring Fling, honoring members retiring from GFPS, as well as recognizing our outstanding teacher of the Year. GFEA's Faculty Representatives, nominated from members in their respective buildings, were also recognized. The Silver and Gold Key of Professionalism Awards were also given to two members. Silver Apple Awards honored the achievments and contributions to education of community members and groups. Stories about the honorees will follow this summer. The following lists the honorees:

 Faculty Representatives Awards:
  • Eric Bush - Whitter Elementary
  • Nathan Hicks - Chief Joseph Elementary
  • Gary Jenkins - Morning Side elementary
  • Pam Margaris - Loy Elementary
  • Elaine Nutter - Giant Springs Elementary
  • Lance Olson - East Middle School
  • Leesa Halcro - East Middle School
  • Kristen Jacobsen - North Middle School

Silver Apple Awards:
  • Andrea Barrow - Individual Award
  • Cameron Family Center, Bill Salonen, Jr. - Director - Group Award

Silver Key of Service Award
  • Cherie Stordahl - Morningside Elementary, GFEA Executive Board

Golden Key of Professionalism Award
  • Alex Rosenleaf - C.M. Russell High School, GFEA Executive Board

GFEA Outstanding Educator of the Year
  • Terri Dahl - C.M. Russell High School
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GFEA Members Ratify Contract

5/17/2019

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   Voting at Paris Gibson Altermative Education Center on Thursday, May 16, 2019, members of GFEA ratified their proposed contract with Great Falls Public Schools for the 2019-2021 school years.
   The vote was 129 members voting for the contract and seven (7) voting against. Thanks to all the members who attended to learn about the new contract and vote.
​   The contract will now go to the GFPS Board of Trustees for final approval before going into effect for next school year.

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Access YOUR Member Benefits

5/16/2019

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Contract Ratification Vote

5/16/2019

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Final Bill Status... Legislature 2019 - Endgame

5/13/2019

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https://pixabay.com/photos/ironman-iron-one-suit-film-strong-1803636/ Used under Pixabay license, free for commercial use.
MFPE 2019 Legislative Priorities (as of May 11). Bills marked with a VR will be included in MFPE's Legislator Voting Record which will be released later this year.
 
Bills we supported that passed
  • HB 159(Grubbs) - Funds k-12 schools (absent prek).   Signed by Governor. VR
  • HB 175(Dooling) - Ratifies union negotiated state and university employee base pay, health insurance, and per diem.  Signed by Governor.  VR
  • HB 351(McKamey) – Provides incentives for school districts to implement “transformational” learning.  Signed by Governor.  VR
  • HB 387(Jones) – Expands personalized opportunities for students to accelerate career and college readiness.Signed by Governor.  VR
  • HB 638(Bedey) - Inflates special education funding for the biennium.  Signed by Governor.  VR
  • HB 658(Buttrey) - Repeals Medicaid Expansion sunset with work-related requirements.  Signed by Governor.  VR
  • SB 60(Salomon) - Dedicates $2 million in lottery net revenue to MUS STEM scholarships.  Signed by Governor.  VR
  • SB 92(Salomon) - Provides greater local school district funding capacity to address school safety issues.  Signed by Governor.  VR
  • SB 338(Gauthier/Cohenour) - Montana Museums Act: Provides funding for Montana Heritage Center and museums around Montana with a 1% tax increase in accommodations tax. Signed by Governor.  VR
 
Bills we opposed that failed
  • HB 303(DeVries) – Abolishes compulsory education.  Tabled House Education.
  • HB 396(M. Regier) – Prohibits public employees from supporting or opposing ballot issues and political candidates.  Tabled House State Administration.
  • HB755(Moore) - Governor's prek bill that creates taxpayer funded public and private charter pre-k schools governed by a department of early childhood independent of local school districts, board of public education, and office of public instruction.  Tabled House Education - Failed two attempts to amend into SB 352Free Conference Committee.
  • SB 234(Fitzpatrick) – Steps toward privatization of Montana State Fund. Passed Senate - Failed 2d Reading House. VR
 
Bills we watched that passed
  • HB 211(Jones) – Establishes new hire debt repayment.  Signed by Governor.
  • HB 323(Tschida) – Codifies Janus.  Vetoed.  Veto Message
  • HB 567(Skees) – Creates public school marshal program.  Vetoed. Veto Message
  • SB 139(Lang) - Incentivizes teachers to retire at 27 years, draw full retirement, and continue to teach in 2d and 3d class sized school communities.  Signed by Governor.
 
Bills we supported that failed
  • HB 27(Funk) – Inflates special education funding.  Tabled House Appropriations.
  • HB 209 (Funk) – Authorizes state employee career ladders.  Tabled House Appropriations.
  • HB 235(Fern) – Creates opportunity for school districts to create statewide school employee health care trust.  Tabled House Health and Human Services.
  • HB 298(Pope) – Provides ANB funding of certain students with disabilities up to age 21.  Passed House - Tabled Senate Education. 
  • HB 339(Moore) – Creates and funds loan repayment for Child Protective Specialists. Tabled House Appropriations.
  • HB 455(Windy Boy) – Qualifies eligible classified school employees for unemployment compensation.  Tabled House Business and Labor.
  • HB 477(Funk) – As amended in House Judiciary requires OPI to develop model firearms safety training policies and procedures. Passed House - Tabled Senate Judiciary.
  • SB 128  (Cohenour) – Repeals state employee longevity pay break in service penalty.  Tabled Senate State Administration.
  • SB 152(Barrett) – Makes 6-mill MUS levy permanent.  Tabled House Tax. VR
 
Bills we opposed that passed
  • HB 325(M. Regier) – Repeals a local government’s power to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons and authorizes a person with a concealed weapon permit to carry anywhere in public buildings including schools.  Vetoed. Veto Message  VR
  • HB 357(M. Regier) – Legislative Referendum – same intent as HB 325 but not subject to gubernatorial veto.  Passed Legislature.   VR
  • SB 304(R. Webb) – Authorizes legislators to conceal carry on state property, including the Capitol building.   Vetoed.  Veto Message  VR
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Teacher Appreciation Week Deals

5/8/2019

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Free Associates Degree - YOUR Union working for your family!

5/8/2019

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Bargaining Update

5/6/2019

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Bargaining is complete.  The ratification of the contract is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 2019, at 4:30 p.m., at Paris Gibson Alternative Education Center. The contract changes will be presented to the Executive Board on May 7, 2019. Faculty Representatives will vote on the contract on May 14.  The contract will be presented to members will vote on May 16.  After the presentation, no one will be allowed to enter until the vote is complete.
 
Please attend and vote.
Additional updates will be posted on this page!
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Spring Fling! All members welcome!

5/6/2019

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Please join us in celebrating our 2019 Outstanding Educator, Community Support Group and Individual, along with our Honored Educators, the 2019 Retirees:
  • Sandy Brown, Lewis & Clark
  • Anne Bulger, C M Russell High School *
  • Barbara Butcher, Whittier
  • Terri Dahl, C. M. Russell High School *
  • Katie Gabriel, Longfellow
  • Lori Hoff, C.M. Russell High School
  • Betsy Rogstad, C M Russell High School *
  • Tammy Huschka, Longfellow
  • Cathy Kuntz, East Middle School
  • Shelli Lavinder-Schwalk, C.M. Russell High School *
  • Rhonda Moore, C.M. Russell High School
  • Randy Remsen, Great Falls High School
  • Maureen Scott, North Middle School
  • Lyall Tesch, Great Falls High School
  • Robert Truax, Great Falls High School
  • Lorene Vogl, Lincoln
  • Mary Warner, North Middle School *
  • Dan Wilkins, Great Falls High School
*Retirees Attending the Spring Fling
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Bill Status As of Friday, May 3

5/6/2019

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As of yesterday afternoon, May 3, the governor had signed several bills we supported . . . vetoed two gun bills we opposed . . . and vetoed HB 323 that we caused to be amended to be meaningless.   You can click on the veto messages.  They are simply written and straightforward.  
 
I am delighted the governor vetoed SB 304 and HB 325.  Both bad gun bills.  Unfortunately, the governor cannot veto HB 357.  HB 357 does the same thing as HB 325.  It is, however, a legislative referendum.  So it will go to a vote of the people in the November 2020 general election.  We are right now working with public school and local government organizations to consider our legal and ballot campaign options.  In short, we will do what it takes to defeat the intent of HB 357.
 
I am disappointed the governor vetoed HB 323.  As introduced HB 323 was nasty, provocative extension of the Janus decision.  But as we carefully amended it, HB 323 did nothing more than state the obvious:  public employee unions may no longer bargain and enforce non-member agency fee payments.  Janus ruled agency fee payments unconstitutional.  End of story.  The governor’s veto has no legal effect but it does permit unconstitutional language to linger around in Montana law inviting future legislative proposals to strike what is unconstitutional and while at it craft further nasty, provocative extensions.  Please know, I asked the governor NOT to veto the bill. 
 
The governor has signed and vetoed and will yet sign and veto other bills of consequence (see the papers) that we lobbied for and against that are not on this priority list.  Further the bills I have marked with VR are the bills that will likely constitute our voting record for this legislature.  Stay tuned.  And hope that spring has finally sprung.
 
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MFPE 2019 Legislative Priorities (as of May 3)
 
Bills we supported that passed
  • HB 159 (Grubbs) - Funds k-12 schools (absent prek).   Signed by Governor.  VRR
  • HB 175 (Dooling) - Ratifies union negotiated state and university employee base pay, health insurance, and per diem.  Signed by Governor.   VR
  • HB 351 (McKamey) – Provides incentives for school districts to implement “transformational” learning.  Passed Legislature.   VR
  • HB 387 (Jones) – Expands personalized opportunities for students to accelerate career and college readiness. Signed by Governor.  VR
  • HB 638 (Bedey) - Inflates special education funding for the biennium.  Passed Legislature.   VR
  • HB 658 (Buttrey) - Repeals Medicaid Expansion sunset with work-related requirements.  Passed Legislature.  VR
  • SB 60 (Salomon) - Dedicates $2 million in lottery net revenue to MUS STEM scholarships.  Passed Legislature.  VR
  • SB 92 (Salomon) - Provides greater local school district funding capacity to address school safety issues.  Signed by Governor.  VR
  • SB 338 (Gauthier/Cohenour) - Montana Museums Act:  Provides funding for Montana Heritage Center and museums around Montana with a 1% tax increase in accommodations tax.  Passed Legislature.  VR
 
Bills we opposed that failed
  • HB 303 (DeVries) – Abolishes compulsory education.  Tabled House Education.
  • HB 396 (M. Regier) – Prohibits public employees from supporting or opposing ballot issues and political candidates.  Tabled House State Administration.
  • HB 755 (Moore) - Governor's prek bill that creates taxpayer funded public and private charter pre-k schools governed by a department of early childhood independent of local school districts, board of public education, and office of public instruction.  Tabled House Education - Failed two attempts to amend into SB 352 Free Conference Committee.
  • SB 234 (Fitzpatrick) – Steps toward privatization of Montana State Fund.  Passed Senate - Failed 2d Reading House.   VR
 
Bills we watched that passed
  • HB 211 (Jones) – Establishes new hire debt repayment.  Passed Legislature.
  • HB 323 (Tschida) – Codifies Janus.  Vetoed.  Veto Message
  • HB 567 (Skees) – Creates public school marshal program.  Passed Legislature.
  • SB 139 (Lang) - Incentivizes teachers to retire at 27 years, draw full retirement, and continue to teach in 2d and 3d class sized school communities.  Passed Legislature.
 
Bills we supported that failed
  • HB 27 (Funk) – Inflates special education funding.  Tabled House Appropriations.
  • HB 209  (Funk) – Authorizes state employee career ladders.  Tabled House Appropriations.
  • HB 235 (Fern) – Creates opportunity for school districts to create statewide school employee health care trust.  Tabled House Health and Human Services.
  • HB 298 (Pope) – Provides ANB funding of certain students with disabilities up to age 21.  Passed House - Tabled Senate Education.
  • HB 339 (Moore) – Creates and funds loan repayment for Child Protective Specialists. Tabled House Appropriations.
  • HB 455 (Windy Boy) – Qualifies eligible classified school employees for unemployment compensation.  Tabled House Business and Labor.
  • HB 477 (Funk) – As amended in House Judiciary requires OPI to develop model firearms safety training policies and procedures. Passed House - Tabled Senate Judiciary.
  • SB 128  (Cohenour) – Repeals state employee longevity pay break in service penalty.  Tabled Senate State Administration.
  • SB 152 (Barrett) – Makes 6-mill MUS levy permanent.  Tabled House Tax.  VR
 
Bills we opposed that passed
  • HB 325 (M. Regier) – Repeals a local government’s power to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons and authorizes a person with a concealed weapon permit to carry anywhere in public buildings including schools.  Vetoed.  Veto Message  VR
  • HB 357 (M. Regier) – Legislative Referendum – same intent as HB 325 but not subject to gubernatorial veto.  Passed Legislature.   VR
  • SB 304 (R. Webb) – Authorizes legislators to conceal carry on state property, including the Capitol building.   Vetoed.  Veto Message  VR
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    UPCOMING 
    ​EVENTS

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       The corona virus has definitely created a novel reality.  If you check our our website, you will find links to resources for remote learning, and, of course, there is a plethora of information on the website  FaceBook has  great interest groups, too.  

    Youth Art Month

       We have the virtual platform ready for you to upload images for the 2021 Virtual Youth Art Exhibition. 
       Please follow the link to the 2021 MAEA Virtual Youth Art Month Exhibit HERE.  It is in a Google Slide format. 
       We ask that everyone participate, but only upload 2-3 works per specialist. 
       There are a few slides at the beginning giving format guidance. Please inquire if you have questions. The closer you adhere to the requested format the easier it will be for YAM Chair Victor Daniel of Helena and I to prepare for presentation. 
       The deadline for uploading will be next Wednesday, March 3, 2021. 
       After that deadline, Victor and I will refine the presentation, convert it to a movie file, and upload it to YouTube. 
       We will post the virtual show on the MAEA website and send out a link via email so you can use it on your school and district websites, for promotion in local businesses and board meetings or anywhere there is a screen connected to the internet. 
       If you need it in another format, just let us know. We will be happy to share it as a slide presentation as well.      

    ​
    ​MFPE-MAEA 2021
    Teacher
    Conference      Needs YOU!

       Please submit your proposal to present no later than April 30.     
       The next conference is in Great Falls on October 21 and 22, 2021.  It will be hosted at CM Russell High School. 


    2021 
    Montana
    Educators' Conference

    Where:  GREAT FALLS
    C.M.RUSSELL HIGH SCHOOL
    When:  OCT. 21-22, 2021             Helping our members succeed in their careers is a top priority for MFPE. That’s why, each year, we sponsor the Educator Conference -- the best professional development of its kind anywhere.
       MFPE teams up with 18 Montana curriculum groups to bring you the best in teacher-led professional learning. More than 500 workshops, keynotes, & institutes are available. No matter what or where you teach. You’ll find a wealth of events perfect for you. And you can earn renewal units!
      To find more information and to submit a proposal to present, please visit the following: 
    https://www.mfpe.org/edconference/

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