Delegates elect the NEA Director, pass the MNEA Budget, and amend the MNEA Resolutions, Constitution, and Bylaws.
President Phil Murray welcomed delegates and leaders to the MNEA Representative Assembly on Saturday, April 21, 2024, at the Lodge of the Four Seasons. Delegates from across the state gathered to conduct the Association's business.
During the two-day meeting, delegates elected an NEA Director, approved the budget, updated the Resolutions, and adopted significant amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.
President Murray’s message to delegates focused on the perseverance and power of MNEA to overcome challenges and continue to grow in strength and support for members. He emphasized the importance of local involvement in school board elections and how MNEA can support that work. Eighty-three percent of MNEA locals who participated in their board races were successful in electing their recommended candidates. Anita Kuehner, Francis Howell NEA, described how FHEA mobilized and engaged members to make change on their school board.
MNEA Executive Director Dr. Patrick Layden shared the progress made across the Association toward the Strategic Plan goals: increased membership, expanded support from NEA, the addition of Regional Organizers to the MNEA staff, and continued improvements to operations and member support. Otto Fajen, Legislative Director, and Liz Zerr, Political Director, updated the RA on legislative actions at the Capitol. DeNaé Bush, Park Hill NEA, was elected to represent MNEA on the NEA Board of Directors. Joe DeLuca, MNEA-Retired, received the Lorna Bottger Award for Excellence in Political Action.
Use your educator voice by supporting the MNEA PAC Fund
It is critical that members are actively involved in their local elections. Donations to the Missouri NEA political action committee (PAC) can be made here and help support your local’s recommended candidates.
MNEA HOPE Fund - Continuing to help our students and members.
Delegates and MNEA locals donated to the HOPE Fund at the RA. HOPE volunteers collected more than 500 pairs of socks and undergarments for students. MNEA’s HOPE Fund provides financial assistance to help students, members, and schools impacted by natural disasters or other hardships. Your tax-deductible contribution can be made here.
Women’s Issues Committee – Do your students need supplies?
The Women’s Issues Committee continued their period supply and toiletry drives to help educators supplement their student bathrooms and nurses' offices. At the Fall and Spring RAs this year, WIC has collected and distributed more than 100 bags of supplies. Contact your UniServ director if your students or nurses’ offices need feminine hygiene products or toiletries. RA delegates contributed $727 to the Women’s Issues Committee this year.
Missouri NEA’s voice on the NEA Board
NEA Director Andy Slaughter has been working at the national level, representing Missouri NEA members on the NEA Board of Directors. He, along with Vice President McIntosh and Dennis Tabb, NEA ESP Director At-Large, met with the Missouri congressional delegation in February to discuss funding for rural schools, expanding Child Tax Credits, and the ESP Bill of Rights. Andy updated the RA about the NEA’s developing work around Artificial Intelligence and the NEA’s AI Task Force. NEA’s AI in Education resources can be found here.
Debate on Documents:
Delegates approved significant changes to MNEA’s Constitution & Bylaws:
- Adopting a single RA structure.
The Fall RA will become a Professional Practice Conference.
- New Standing Committee structure.
The new Human Rights Council will guide the work of four new standing committees: EMAC (Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee), SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee), SEAM (Special Education and Mental Health Committee), and WIC (Women’s Issues Committee).
- Created the Presidents’ Council.
A statewide network of local leaders to provide support, training, and resources.
- Incorporated the MNEA Strategic Plan throughout the document.
Delegates also adopted revisions to the MNEA Resolutions:
- Artificial Intelligence – a new article addressing the implementation of AI in public education.
- School Accountability – updated language for fair and effective school accountability systems.
- Educational Opportunity – updated language for equitable and inclusive educational access.
- Mandated Assessments – strong language addressing educator-driven assessments that are developmentally appropriate and implemented correctly.
- Administrative Leave – new language regarding due process and the implications of administrative leave for educators.
The complete MNEA Resolutions can be found here.
MNEA Committees:
The new MNEA Committees will need member voice and participation. New committee volunteer forms are due July 31. You can complete the form online to choose an area of interest.
MNEA Summer Leadership Conference:
Join MNEA leaders and colleagues for three days of learning and networking focused on building strong local leaders and unions. Leaders and staff will present on a variety of topics and participants will have time to work and plan together.
- Each local will be provided up to two hotel rooms per night, provided they register four leaders/emerging leaders.
- All meals – except Monday dinner – are provided to all participants.
- Relax with your team at social events each night.
Registration for the Summer Leadership Conference opens in May. Watch your email and the MNEA website for details.
