Endorse HB 1410/SB 5444

Here is John Stokes response:

From: ggstokes@msn.com
To: smillerred@aol.com; mmiller@washingtonea.org; kheiman@washingtonea.org
Subject: RE: Shame on You
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 18:04:04 -0800

Stephen,

It appeared to me that "we all" had not left the room before the discussion and vote. You left the front of the room (remember I was sitting at the very front seat by the isle on the left, and you personally may have left the room), but the BEA President and two teachers remained in the room until the end, about 9:30. Since you are no longer the BEA President, your presence was not critical, especially since Michelle was still there, and she and the teachers were very vocal and gave their side of the issue to the group.

Yes, I thought Connie was going to move the we endorse HB 1410 and SB 5444, but after she talked she said that she was not prepared to do that, and Janet said directly to you at one point that the time for debate would be under New Business. I realize that the agenda had the endorsement included under the legislative report, but that is not unusual for a subject to be brought up in a committee report and then voted on if needed later under new business.

Connie did not whisper anything to me. Dennis, however, leaned over and asked if I was going to move for endorsement, and I said yes. That was the sum total of all that was said.

I did not specifically know why the teachers were there last night, but since they don't come otherwise, I suspected it was about the endorsement. I did not know they were there to interrupt the speaker and try to debate specifics during her presentation.

I don't think it was a hollow vote at all, and certainly is on a par with BEA votes or better. PTA members, the parent consumers of your services, are barred from any of your meetings, and the discussions are all one sided. So please don't lecture me on "informed debate." As a matter of fact, the union president and the teachers were given voice in the discussion before and during the debate on the motion to endorse. And I remember the way any attempt to present the other side of the issue on the curriculum web was conducted in the meeting at International, even though the Bellevue PTSA Council Board had voted to co-sponsor the event in the interest of getting the discussion out in the open. As you know, I supported the board co-sponsoring the event even though I was criticized.

The accusation that you were "lied" to and that I "blatantly deceive[d]" the group of teachers and union members is dishonest and beneath you. Teachers were not shut out. You may have left too early for the actual motion and debate, but unless you are saying that Michelle is less able than you to handle these things, and that unless you personally are present the union is shut out, then you need to back off and apologize.

I personally would have no problem entertaining a motion to reconsider the vote to endorse next month, but I cannot speak for the council or the board. I believe the end result will likely be the same, because the Task Force bills are more closely aligned with the WSPTA's goals and priority issues than the coalition bill. I also think there is a lot of misinformation and outright distortion of the language and intent of the Task Force bills being given out, some of it voiced in the meeting, and I think the members see through that. I would be delighted to debate you over these bills at any time and any place.

Another point, it would be helpful to have the allegations the BEA officers and teachers are making about the effect of the Task Force bills written down, including the notion that the bills will cost one teacher "$10,000." Wild statements are being made without fact, or so it seems, and if we are to ever come to some agreement and understanding on this important legislation, we need to deal with the facts and the truth and not distortions. Until I see it in black and while and can check it out, I find many of the statements made last night to be pure fiction and scare tactics.

I have been a member in good standing of the National Treasury Employees Union since 1992, and until my recent retirement, I was the Regional Vice President and Chief Steward of our nationwide chapter, and for several years served as a National Steward and served on several task forces and committees with management as the union representative. I represented dozens of our union members in grievances, MSPB actions and EEOC actions, NLRB matters, as well as countless informal resolution efforts, and worked on several large nation wide grievances and contract bargaining efforts. I am still a dues paying member and also contribute to our PAC, and have attended several national NTEU training conferences. So union runs in my blood. I was not easily bullied and pushed by a recalcitrant management at the agency, and I will not be bullied by anyone in this matter.

I have seen a lot of bad management actions, and some bad union actions, and what I am seeing in this situation is as bad as any of these. I firmly believe that with some necessary amendments SB 5444 is by far the best legislative vehicle for advancing the level and success of our public school system, and that is will end up greatly benefiting teachers, the taxpayers and voters, parents, but most importantly, and the only real guide, the children. Working together we could make great things happen, continuing the guerrilla warfare will just defeat what is best for kids.

If you are willing to sit down and talk rationally, I would be delighted. If you want to have an open debate, count me in. But please quit trying to intimidate and bully us, and stick to the facts.

Frankly, I am glad you sent me your message, it has been good to say all this so you can see where I am coming from. We were friends, and I hope that was not just a situational thing.

Thanks,

John