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Dear David,
Thank you for taking the time to look over our emails and for your continued support of our organization. We are member volunteers who do our best to inform you. If you have suggestions or information you would like to be shared with our members, emailstaff@mea-retired.org. Be sure to VISIT OUR WEBSITE for a wealth of information about your pension, health care options, and more, and if you are on Facebook, "like" our page to see us in your newsfeed. Finally, please forward this email to your friends using the button at the bottom of the page and encourage them to sign up to receive them. Thank you! MEA-Retired Leadership Team
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Mid-Jan. 2016 News from MEA-Retired 1/16/16
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Gov. Snyder's State of the State Address Coming Tuesday
The governor's annual State of the State message is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. Gov. Snyder will address members of the State House and Senate, as well as invited guests. The address, as well as the Democratic Response, will be broadcast by many Michigan PBS outlets and streamed live online via House TV.
The ongoing Flint water crisis, which has resulted in lead poisoning in countless students and families in the city, will likely be a focal point of the evening. A rally highlighting this tragedy - and the Snyder administration's role in it - will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. across from the state Capitol building in Lansing City Hall Courtyard (124 W. Michigan Ave). CLICK HERE to see the rally invitation and details on Facebook. |
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Retired teachers can return to the classroom without loss of pension benefits
HB 4059--the bill that would allow certain retired teachers to return to the classroom without risking their pension--is on its way to Gov. Snyder for his signature. The bill continues until 2018 the provisions of a similar 2012 law that expired last year.
Under the bill, retirees hired in critical shortage areas could work three years without affecting their retirement benefits. However, retirees can't use the time or money earned to recalculate their retirement benefits.
HB 4059 also applies to those who retired between June 30, 2010 and Sept. 1, 2015 and wish to return to work as substitutes, instructional coaches, or school improvement facilitators. They could receive full benefits as long as they don't earn more than one-third of their final average compensation in a year. READ MORE AT OUR WEBSITE - CLICK HERE.
Michigan Republicans developing legislation to shut down teacher protests
"Republican state lawmakers are looking into legislation meant to prevent teacher "sickouts" like the ones that closed about 60 Detroit schools on Monday. Teachers in the state's largest district say it's their only way to protest problems in the district - from state control to overcrowded classrooms - because teacher strikes are banned under state law." - Michigan Radio CLICK HERE to read the full article.
U.S. Supreme Court Seems Poised to Deal Unions a Major Setback
"The Supreme Court seemed poised on Monday to deliver a severe blow to organized labor.
In a closely watched case brought by 10 California teachers, the court's conservative majority seemed ready to say that forcing public workers to support unions they have declined to join violates the First Amendment. A ruling in the teachers' favor would affect millions of government workers and culminate a political and legal campaign by a group of prominent conservative foundations aimed at weakening public-sector unions. Those unions stand to lose fees from both workers who object to the positions the unions take and those who simply choose not to join while benefiting from the unions' efforts on their behalf." - New York Times CLICK HERE to read the full article
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| Issue #226 | January 15, 2016 |
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ED provides Every Student Succeeds Act resources
The Department of Education (ED) launched a new resource page on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as the new law begins to take effect. Although ESSA limits ED's influence in areas where it was viewed by lawmakers as overreaching, the agency still has important responsibilities in implementing the law and ensuring a smooth transition period. Among the preliminary resources on the new web page:
- A December 18 Dear Colleague letter aimed at those facing short-term deadlines impacted by the reauthorization.
- A related December 21 and 22 ESSA PowerPoint with audio.
- A request for stakeholder input by January 21 on any needed implementing regulations and a notice of public hearings on January 11 (DC) and January 19 (Los Angeles).
- A mailbox for questions about ESSA, essa.questions@ed.gov.
NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcÃa spoke at the January 11 hearing, urging ED to focus on deep engagement of stakeholders during the transition process, and to not rush its part of the process at the expense of stakeholder involvement. For NEA materials on the new law, visithttp://www.nea.org/essabegins.
ED warns states on test participation
On December 22, ED wrote a warning letter to Chief State School Officers reminding them of NCLB's test participation requirements, which it said are similar to those in the new Every Student Succeeds Act. ED complained that state 2014-2015 assessment data released over the last several months showed that:
...a few States did not assess at least 95 percent of students in the "all students" group or individual ESEA subgroup(s) statewide. Additionally, in some states, LEAs within some States did not assess at least 95 percent of their students.
ED said that it responded to the data by writing to these states demanding action to ensure that "all students will participate in assessments during the 2015-2016 school year and each year thereafter" and describing methods states can use to enforce ESEA in the face of "noncompliance by an LEA." ED added that additional letters may go out as more states report their participation data and that "if a State's response does not adequately address this problem and meet the State's assessment obligations under the ESEA, ED may take enforcement action."
According to an EdWeek story, ED sent letters on test participation in recent months to California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Final teacher equity plans approved
ED approved the final nine state educational agency plans to ensure equitable access to excellent educators. The approvals went to Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Puerto Rico. ED asked all states for such plans in November 2014. The state plans and approval letters can be found on ED's resource page.
The new ESSA continues to focus on equitable access. For example, ESSA says that state plans must describe "how low-income and minority children...are not served at disproportionate rates by ineffective, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers, and the measures the State educational agency will use to evaluate and publicly report the progress of the State educational agency with respect to such description."
ED urges precautions against student harassment in light of international events
Responding to the public debate over how to address complex international events, including the plight of millions of families fleeing violence in Syria, ED sent a letter to education leaders asking them to ensure that schools and institutions of higher education are free from discrimination and harassment based on race, religion, or national origin. ED urged the school leaders "to anticipate the potential challenges that may be faced by students who are especially at risk of harassment, including those who are, or are perceived to be, Syrian, Muslim, Middle Eastern, or Arab, as well as those who are Sikh, Jewish, or students of color." The letter included links to a number of ED and Department of Justice supported web resources including:
ECS publishes 50-state comparison of summative assessments
The Education Commission of the States (ECS) published an update of its 50-state survey of summative assessments. The high-level survey of the rapidly changing testing landscape covers the 2015-2016 school year, and is based on data that was available as of October 23, 2015. Where possible, ECS provides the name of assessment vendors and state-specific assessments. The fluidity of the testing landscape is likely to increase as states have more flexibility on assessments under ESSA.
Take action
Visit Education Votes to get up-to-date information on ways that you can advance the fight for public education, higher education, and strengthening the middle class.
Questions or comments?
Contact the Education Policy and Practice Department at ESEAinfo@nea.org.
 | January 2016 | |
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In this issue:
- Rx savings - Money-saving tips for your prescription drugs
- Let's get real - How to avoid breaking your wellness resolutions
- 'Now I have hope' - MESSA helps Ferris secretary with fertility treatment
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Rx tips
Save money on prescription medications
 Websites like www.goodrx.com allow you to compare local pharmacies' prices on your prescription drugs.
Prescription medications can be pricey---even with good insurance. Here are three things you can do help save money:
- Bring a written list of your current medications and talk to your doctor about them at your annual physical. Are there any you should stop taking because of an improvement in your health? Are there any that might be creating risk of a dangerous drug interaction? If you are taking a brand name drug, ask your doctor if a less expensive and equally effective and safe generic is available.
- Ask your doctor if he or she will write a 90-day prescription for maintenance medications. You can fill the prescription for just two copayments instead of three.
- Compare prices using tools such as www.goodrx.com. You can also call local pharmacies to compare costs.
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Releasing pressure
Program provides support for members with high blood pressure
 Sue Silvernail, MESSA's hypertension nurse educator, can provide one-on-one support to members and dependents with high blood pressure. Call her at 800.336.0022 and select prompt 3.
MESSA's Cardiovascular Member Education and Support Program is here to help members and their dependents who want to take control of their blood pressure and reduce their risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and other serious health problems.
Members who sign up for the free program will be contacted by Sue Silvernail, MESSA's hypertension nurse educator. Silvernail will provide you with personal assistance, materials and resources to help you manage your blood pressure and improve your heart health.
Silvernail can also help you partner with your physician to develop an effective blood pressure management strategy.
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Check your mailbox soon
New 1095 tax forms headed to MESSA members
MESSA will be mailing a new tax form, Form 1095-B, to all members who had a MESSA medical plan for all or part of 2015. MESSA will also submit copies directly to the IRS.
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Realistic solutions
Set attainable wellness goals for 2016
 An interior shot of the typical fitness center come February, after many people have cast aside their overly ambitious New Year's resolutions.
Try this experiment: Visit the fitness center closest to your home in the middle of January and count how many people you see. Do the same thing in the middle of February. Chances are good you'll have a lot more room to move around, thanks to all of the people who set---and broke---unrealistic New Year's resolutions.
If you want to make sustained lifestyle changes, then set modest, attainable goals. That's especially true for school employees, who, by the very nature of their work, are usually too busy to spend 15-20 hours per week at the gym.
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New hope
MESSA covers portion of IVF treatment for Ferris State secretary
 "I never thought we would be able to have a child and now I have hope. MESSA helped us go on and I am thankful."
--- Sara Rasmussen, secretary
at Ferris State University
Ask Sara Rasmussen about her MESSA health plan, and she will tell you it's "absolutely wonderful." Rasmussen is a secretary in the criminal justice department at Ferris State University. She's worked at the college about a year and says she loves the quality coverage and excellent service she gets from MESSA.
It's that coverage, in fact, that's given Rasmussen and her husband new hope of having a baby. Years after her son was born, Rasmussen dreamed of having another child. When she didn't get pregnant, she consulted her doctor and underwent a series of medical tests. Rasmussen was told she had a health condition preventing pregnancy and would need in vitro fertilization (IVF) if she wanted to get pregnant again. IVF is a complex series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child.
Rasmussen, who had other health insurance before she joined the Ferris staff, looked into IVF and was alarmed at the out-of-pocket costs for the procedure.
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Winter fitness
Safety tips for exercising outdoors
Cold weather can discourage even the most motivated exercisers. And if you're not as motivated, it's all too easy to pack away your workout gear along with your warm-weather clothing. But you don't have to let cold weather spell the end of your exercise. With these tips for exercising during cold weather, you can stay fit, motivated and warm when the weather turns chilly.
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MESSA staff profile
Andrew Lavendusky
MESSA provides the kind of attentive service Andrew Lavendusky says he would want as a consumer, and that's why he's so proud to work for MESSA as a field representative, serving education employees in Wayne County.
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Italian chicken with green beans and potatoes
- 2 cups green beans, washed and sliced
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 3 large chicken breasts, thawed and halved
- 1 packet Italian dressing mix
- 1 stick of butter, cut into 1 tablespoon squares
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line one side of a 9"x13" baking dish with green beans and the other with potato cubes. Place chicken in middle.
- Place butter squares evenly over green beans, chicken and potatoes.
- Sprinkle entire dish with Italian dressing mix, salt and pepper.
- Cover with foil and bake one hour.
Serves three. Nutrition information per serving: 691 calories, 36 grams fat, 54 grams protein, 7 grams fiber, 39 grams carbohydrates.
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MESSA DiscoverYou is an official publication of MESSA 1475 Kendale Blvd., P.O. Box 2560, East Lansing, MI 48826-2560 Contact the editor at MESSADiscoverYou@MESSA.org. | |
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