March President's Message

Dear VTA Members,

It’s hard to believe that Spring Break is almost upon us, and if it’s Spring Break that means the end of the year is just around the corner. I hope you will take this time to recharge your batteries and get yourselves set up for the sprint that the end of the year can be.  

Your organizing team is shifting gear from the crisis mode of the last fall and is planning some events for the end of the year. Our strength comes from our solidarity and we are hoping to provide some social opportunities to show that we can have fun too. More information will be coming in April.

It’s also the time of year when we need to run our own LOCAL ELECTIONS. Notices have gone out with your Site Reps and I would like to encourage all interested members to think about running for any of the open positions. VTA is holding its election for the following offices of the Executive Board: Secretary, Elementary Representative, Middle School Representative, High School Representative, and (newly created position) Special Ed Representative. Also State Council Representative, NEA/RA delegate and individual Sites Representative. Declarations of candidacy should already have been placed in your box and are due April 7th by 4pm to the VTA Office. Online versions can be found by visiting our website's "Election" page.

Speaking of Elections - This is an election year and I am going to call on you to support our schools: The Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act.  State economic projections show a $5 billion hole for public education in just two years. We need to be part of the process if we want to prevent a return to the days of COLA only increases to school funding. Your reps should have brought petitions to your schools and we are asking just that you take a sheet home and get easy signatures. Spouses, Adult Children, Parents, Friendly Neighbors. Here’s a link to a video about how to do it and some other links if you want to find out more about this important issue. Just be sure to get the petitions, even with only 1 signature to us by April 6.

How to gather signatures like a 5th grader
Message From Eric Heins
Talking Points 
Fact Sheet 
Frequently Asked Questions

PETITIONS DUE TO VTA OFFICE BY APRIL 6, 2016.

Thank you for all you do,
Your VTA President,

Tod Critchlow