LPAE President Joycelyn Olivier Highlights LPAE’s Efforts and Issues

Welcome back!!

LPAE ended the ’06-’07 school year requesting that the members of the School Board add teachers to the Blue Ribbon Committee. The committee was re-established to determine the allocation of 2002 Teacher Sales Tax excess funds. LPAE members on the committee worked to guarantee a distribution of the 2002 Tax excess funds. LPAE reached its goal when teachers received a check in June. LPAE’s representatives on this committee will work to see that the district follows the intent of the 2002 tax.

LPAE has attended every LPSS budget meeting to ensure that local step increases for all employees are included in the budget. We are now working to ensure that the MFP funds will be distributed equally among certificated personnel in Lafayette Parish. LPAE is encouraging the School Board to adopt a salary schedule before the beginning of the school year!

See President’s Report, Page 2

President’s Report

Continued from Page 1

Good News! NEA has agreed to pay the salary of the LPAE President for another year to provide a release time president in Lafayette Parish. I plan to visit all schools during the day and after school. I hope to have grade level meetings this year to learn what the concerns of each grade level are. One of my goals will be to get members actively involved. If you have any concerns, please feel free to call the LPAE office (231-0010).

Each Executive Board member selected one or more schools with which to become better acquainted and will provide assistance or information when needed. The LPAE Executive Board is dedicated to raising awareness of issues that impact the students and/or employees in the Lafayette Parish School System.

LPAE thanks Governor Blanco for her support. We appreciate her role as the “Education Governor.” Educators will never forget that the Governor kept her promise and made education a top priority. The Governor addressed education issues from PreK to higher education. The Governor and the Legislature worked together to raise the salaries of teachers to the SREB average as well as to provide a $1,000 raise for support professionals.

Elections for local and state offices and legislative positions will be here soon. Please take time to study the issues and become involved in the election process. Be willing to work a phone bank or walk door to door or send postcards encouraging the support of a candidate. The candidates we elect have a direct impact on our profession. Let your voice be heard…and let our voices be heard together working to create great public schools for every child.

Joycelyn Olivier, President, LPAE

ULL Scholarship

Winner

Anna Laura Edmiston is the recipient of the 2007-08 LPAE ULL Scholarship. Anna Laura is a French Education Major with emphasis on Special Education. Both of her parents are teachers and both are LPAE members. France Trepanier works at Myrtle Place Elementary while Steve Edmiston works at Prairie Elementary.

Anna Laura was introduced to the LPAE Association Representatives at their training on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at A La Carte Restaurant. She enjoyed lunch and was able to meet many of our LPAE members.

The scholarship is awarded each year to a ULL education major who is the child or spouse of an LPAE member.

Board of Directors Positions

Due to the election of Joycelyn Olivier as NEA Director and Debbie Meaux as LAE Vice President, two of the LAE Board of Director positions for District 5 are now open. District 5 is comprised of Calcasieu, Cameron, Lafayette and Vermilion Parishes, McNeeseStateUniversity, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The LAE Board of Directors will appoint someone to these vacancies until the next regularly scheduled election in March, 2008. The appointed members will serve along with Joycelyn Olivier and LPAE member Delisa Washington, newly elected District 5 Director.

Any LAE member in District 5 interested in applying for one of these positions should contact LAE President Joyce Haynes at the LAE office in Baton Rouge, 225-343-9243 or1-800-256-4523.

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These high quality investment, insurance, credit, discount products and consumer services offer members an additional reason to be a part of the nation’s largest education association.

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