NEA-NH Legislative Dashboard

“We have an opportunity on this, National Teacher Appreciation Day, to show the most important people we serve as educators, our students, that we support a strong public education for all by funding our schools and striving to be a more inclusive and just community.“ Today, NEA-NH President Megan Tuttle offered the following testimony to the Senate Finance Committee during their hearing on the state budget bills. Dear Chairman Daniels and Honorable members of the Senate Finance Committee, While the state budget bills contain numerous provisions in them, my testimony

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CONCORD – We’re hoping to get some answers from the Governor at today’s press conference regarding his new order that circumvents the carefully crafted plans of many school districts in the state. Well before the Governor decided to insert himself into this process, school districts had developed safe re-opening plans and were on track to return to full-time classes by early May. Those plans were created with the input of educators, administrators, parents, and health officials to address the unique needs of each school and bring students back AS QUICKLY

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We’re asking all members and supporters to wear red to show our outrage over the Governor’s order that puts us and our students in danger. Without consultation or reason, Governor Sununu announced that all New Hampshire schools must offer a full-time five-day-a-week in-person learning option by April 19. Right now, many school districts are already on track to return to full-time classes by early May. Vaccines are a large part of the solution to keep our educators and kids safe. But they do not reach their maximum effectiveness until 2 weeks

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Today, Governor Sununu announced that all New Hampshire schools must return to full-time five-day-a-week in-person learning by April 19. To be clear, there has never been a question about whether educators want to go back into the classroom. We want nothing more than to be back to in-person learning, to be with our students to ensure they have what they need to succeed to end this period of interrupted learning. “Vaccines are a large part of the solution to keep our educators and kids safe. But they do not reach

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New Hampshire educators joined Congresswoman Ann Kuster today for a roundtable discussion on the effect COVID has had on our school year and the impact the newly passed American Rescue Plan can have on helping our recovery. NEA-NH members Dan Brodien from Littleton High School, Jennifer Aiken from Vilas Middle School, Christopher Gagnon, from Chichester Central High School, and Larry Ballard from Amherst Middle School, joined Congresswoman Kuster in a wide ranging discussion on how COVID has impacted their personal and professional lives. Congress passed a historic economic relief package,

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CONCORD – Today, NEA-NH President Megan Tuttle submitted testimony in opposition to Senate Bill 61, a bill to make New Hampshire a Right to Work state. Dear Mr. Chairman and Members of the House Labor Committee, On behalf of NEA-NH and the 17,000 educators we represent in collective bargaining I write to you once again to say, so-called “right to work” is wrong for New Hampshire. Time and time again this legislation has been rejected under Republican and Democrat controlled legislatures and governors. Some of you may be wondering why

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The recently passed American Rescue Plan contains $122 Billion in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that may be used to address the many impacts of COVID-19 on pre-K through 12 education, including: Investing in resources to implement CDC’s K-12 operational strategy for in-person learning to keep educators, staff, and students safe; improving ventilation; purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE); and obtaining additional space to ensure social distancing in classrooms. Avoiding devastating layoffs and hiring additional educators to address learning loss, providing support to students and existing staff, and providing

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CONCORD – In unpacking the new CDC guidance on social distancing in schools it is important to keep in mind the context in which the recommendations can be implemented. “The CDC guidance clearly states that three-foot distancing can be implemented, as long as other mitigation factors remain in place and are enforced,” said Megan Tuttle, NEA-NH President. “Schools can operate with shorter distances between students, if they maintain precautions such as wearing masks.” The revised CDC guidance states that students should remain at least six feet from each another while

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CONCORD – Today, the NH Senate voted to take funds away from our public schools and raise local property taxes to compensate for that loss in funding. “Ignoring the voices of the thousands of taxpayers who opposed this bill, they voted to send your tax dollars to private and religious schools,” said Megan Tuttle, NEA-NH President. The absence of real public accountability for voucher funds has contributed to rampant fraud, waste, and abuse in voucher programs across the country. “Their vote on SB130 today opens the door to that type

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