This week was full of activities for PGCEA. At Representative Council meeting on Monday our go team representatives Michelle Clark and Annette Jones gave a presentation on how to engage members in contacting our elected officials on the Kirwin Commissions recommendations, the Blue Print for Maryland's Future and funding education with longterm solutions. If you were unable to attend the rep council meeting, you missed the announcement that on February 24th PGCEA Rep Council will be heading to Annapolis for our lobby night. It is critical that our elected state officials see us in Annapolis on not only February 24th but on other nights engaged in the legislative process.
We will be providing buses from 4 locations for the February 24th Education Day at the capitol.
On Tuesday
, our president Theresa Dudley Testified in front of the Maryland state Department of Education regarding the serious issues with our conditional teachers. In her presentation Dudley spoke about the need for conditional teachers to have more time, that the praxis score needs to be a composite score, and that new teachers need support financially to be able to take the coursework that they need to become certified. We will continue to work on this issue because it greatly impacts the children.
On Wednesday
, the Prince George's county senate delegation led by senator Joan Benson of the 24th district held their 1st senate delegation meeting in many years. It is clear from that meetin g that our efforts and energy Must include all levels of government working together to make sure that Kerwin and the blue print are funded on the state level and that would ever matching monies the county needs to come with are fair and reasonable.
The PG House Delegation Education Sub Committee met and discussed local Bill's. The education committee is chaired by Del. Proctor of the 27th District.
On Friday
, the Prince George's county delegation heard from K through community college on education issues. Doctor Charlene Dukes President of Prince George's Community College, Share the needs for the promise program to continue to assist our young people in attending Prince George's community college and also spoke about the University high school program where our students graduate from Prince George's county community college with an Associates degree and a high school diploma.
Also at the delegation meeting presenting were PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson and Dr. Alvin Thornton chair of the PGCPS Board of Education. It was a great display of unity as all 4 of the labor unions were represented ASASP, AFSCME Local 2250, SEIU LOCAL 400, and PGCEA were present. Dr. Gholson stressed the importance of HB1 The Built to Learn at which will provide P3 Public Private Partnerships That will allow Prince George's county to move forward with 18 schools over the next 7 years. This will assist in alleviating some of the overcrowding and upgrading facilities. She also stressed the importance the blue print will have on Prince George's county with the high concentrations of poverty. She explained the importance of continuing the community schools work that has begun and making sure that those resources continued to come to Prince George's county. She also addressed the need to make sure that all employees receive fair compensation enhancements over the coming years.
It is critical that we have as many people as possible attend the February 24th lobby night in Annapolis. Our elected officials must see us supporting them in pushing for equitable funding for Prince George's county Our children are Maryland's children.
