News & Information
by Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director GOVERNOR VETOES TAX CUT BILL AND ANNOUNCES SPECIAL SESSION Following extensive action in signing bills this week, Governor Parson announced that he would veto...
Notes from June 14, 2022 meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Update on Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director Trustees present: Jason Steliga, Chair; Dr. Kyle Collins; Sharon Kissinger; Dr. Melinda Moss; Dr. D. Eric Park Trustees absent: Beth Knes, Vice-Chair...
Notes from May 17, 2022 meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 2023 Budget Report Kari Monsees, Deputy Commissioner, and Pam...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA Legislative Director REGULAR SESSION ENDS! The 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly ended on May 13. The House convened on the final day of session and approved a number of...
Two MNEA members were surprised by California Casualty in April with BIG checks of $1,000 each. Giuseppe Bommarito, Hazelwood NEA, and Cailin Collins, Jefferson City NEA were awarded the California...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director CAPITOL ACTION DAYS Capitol Action Days concluded for the 2022 session on May 4, when MNEA-R members and members from Governance District 6 came the Capitol...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director Trustees present: Jason Steliga, Chair; Dr. Kyle Collins; Beth Knes, Vice-Chair; Sharon Kissinger; Dr. Melinda Moss; Dr. D. Eric Park The Board met on April 11...
by Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director BUDGET BILLS IN CONFERENCE The House and Senate agreed to meet in conference to resolve differences in next year's budget bills. Both chambers must complete...
The average national teacher salary is lower today than ten years ago, contributing to the national educator shortage. On Tuesday, April 26, the National Education Association unveiled findings from...
Enter for a chance to win! Teachers make a difference in the lives of their students and the communities they serve every single day, and Teacher Appreciation Week is just one chance to celebrate all...
"Fulfilling Dr. King's Dream: Reading to Lead and Transform" was the theme for the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay-Poster Contest sponsored by the Missouri NEA Human Rights Committee, JoWanda...
by Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director CAPITOL ACTION DAYS Capitol Action Days continued April 20, when MNEA members from Governance Districts 7 & 10 came to the Capitol. Capitol Action Days take...
Update on St. Louis Public Schools In April 2019, the Board approved the termination of the Transitional School District of St. Louis and returned district governance to the elected board of education...
CAPITOL ACTION DAYS Capitol Action Days continued April 13, when MNEA-R members came to the Capitol. Capitol Action Days take place on most Wednesdays during session, beginning in February. Members...
CAPITOL ACTION DAYS Capitol Action Days continued April 6, when MNEA members came to the Capitol. Capitol Action Days take place on most Wednesdays during session, beginning in February. Members...
Missouri Advisory Council of Certification for Educators, established within the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is composed of 25 members to be appointed by the State Board...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director Trustees present: Jason Steliga, Chair; Dr. Kyle Collins; Beth Knes, Vice-Chair; and Dr. D. Eric Park Trustees absent: Sharon Kissinger; Dr. Melinda Moss...
ACTION STALLED ON CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAP Conservative caucus Senators filibustered on March 30 and indicated their intent to block action on a motion to go to conference on HB 2117 (Shaul)...
CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING BILL The Senate Education Committee heard HCS/HB 1552 (Richey) on March 22. The bill would revise the law specifying payments to charter schools and shift more local school...
Notes from March 8, 2022 meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Find archived reports at www.mnea.org/stateboard . Board approves...
LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS FOR SPRING BREAK The House and Senate adjourned on March 10 for a one-week spring break and will reconvene on March 21. When the legislature returns, there will be eight-session...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director CAPITOL ACTION DAYS Capitol Action Days continued March 2, when members from Governance Districts 1, 7 & 8 are scheduled to come to the Capitol. Capitol Action...
Notes from Feb. 8, 2022 meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education-Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Board hears Riverview Gardens quarterly report Acting Superintendent...
LEGISLATURE COMPLETES ACTION ON SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET BILL The House agreed to the Senate position on SS/SCS/HCS/HB 3014 (Smith), the supplemental budget bill, on February 24. The bill is finally passed...
LEGISLATURE CANCELS SESSION DUE TO WINTER STORM, WILL RETURN AFTER PRESIDENTS' DAY The House and Senate canceled hearings and session on February 17 to allow legislators to leave and go home prior to...
CAPITOL ACTION DAYS BEGIN! Capitol Action Days are part of the Association's plan to promote positive policy for public education. MNEA's Capitol Action Days began on February 9th, when members from...
In most states, the American Rescue Plan funds were distributed in the fall to address COVID-19 challenges throughout this school year. In early August, our local school districts submitted their ARP plans to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. However, because the Missouri legislature has not appropriated ARP funds, they still have not seen the money to fund those plans.
Kansas City Public School District regains full accreditation The board voted to classify KCPS as fully accredited. DESE staff outlined the district’s growth in academics, leadership stability, and...
LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS FOR THE WEEK TO AVOID WINTER STORM The House and Senate both adjourned on February 1 until Monday, February 7 and canceled the remaining committee hearings for the week in order...
HOUSE-ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION The committee heard four bills on January 25: HB 1585 (Murphy) requires public schools to teach students the responsible use of social media. HB 1903...
School advocates, legal experts push back against Missouri AG's attempt to sue schools over mask mandates ST. CHARLES COUNTY (KMOV.com) – School district advocates and local attorneys are calling...
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS Governor Mike Parson delivered the State of the State Address to a joint session of the House and Senate in the House Chamber on January 19. The State of the State address...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director Trustees present: Jason Steliga, Chair; Dr. Kyle Collins; Sharon Kissinger; Beth Knes, Vice-Chair; Dr. Melinda Moss, and Dr. D. Eric Park BUDGET AND AUDIT...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director HONESTY IN EDUCATION The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee met on January 11 and heard bills reflecting issues about school boards and...
MNEA Legislative Director Otto Fajen summarizes floor debate and the latest information on the action in the Missouri legislature relating to MNEA's Resolutions and other bills of particular interest...
Workers’ compensation protections are some of the most important laws for helping people who are injured or have contracted an occupational illness at work. If an injury or illness is covered by...
In the Loop, MNEA’s award-winning electronic newsletter is sent monthly during the school year keeping members “in the loop” about upcoming conferences and events, news, member benefits, and other...
The Missouri Advisory Council of Certification for Educators met Dec. 6, 2021. MNEA Vice Pres. Rebeka McIntosh and MNEA Teaching & Learning Director Ann Jarrett attend the meetings. At the last...
The Missouri State Board of Education met Dec. 7, 2021. MNEA Vice Pres. Rebeka McIntosh and MNEA Teaching & Learning Director Ann Jarrett attend the meetings. At the last meeting, the SBOE discussed...
Did you receive the winter issue of Something Better magazine? The publication is published quarterly, and all members of Missouri NEA receive a printed copy. If you have not received your copy, give...
Yesterday Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced his office is instructing school districts and local public health departments to stop enforcing COVID-19 mitigation orders such as mandatory...
Thanks to the Biden Tax Plan, educators will be able to deduct up to $250 on classroom and COVID-19 protective items for the 2021 tax year. And, YES, if you are married and both of you are educators...
In the Loop, MNEA’s award-winning electronic newsletter is sent monthly during the school year keeping members “in the loop” about upcoming conferences and events, news, member benefits, and other...
On Nov. 16, 2022, school resource officers and dispatches in Springfield, MO voted to unionize. The union victory was carried by 86 percent of the vote. They will unite with the 32,000-member-strong...
By Otto Fajen, MNEA legislative director Trustees present: Jason Steliga, Chair; Dr. Kyle Collins; Sharon Kissinger; Beth Knes, Vice-Chair; Dr. Melinda Moss, and Dr. D. Eric Park SYSTEM OPERATIONS The...
Commissioner Vandeven’s statement on the breach of educator information data on the DESE website. “The Department was made aware Tuesday of a vulnerability within the data in our educator...
The Public School Retirement System / Public Education Employee Retirement System (PSRS/PEERS) informed us that a PSRS/PEERS employee’s email account was fraudulently accessed. PSRS/PEERS security...
Last night Missouri NEA learned personally identifiable information of Missouri educators was potentially compromised via the educator certification search tool on the Department of Elementary and...
Did you receive the fall issue of Something Better magazine? The publication is published quarterly, and all members of Missouri NEA receive a printed copy. If you have not received your copy, give us...