HONEY CASCIO SCHOLARSHIP

And

BILLY DONOVAN SCHOLARSHIP

AFT-NH, AFT, AFL-CIO

(Deadline: Postmarked by May 31, 2020)

AFT-NH is proud to award two $1,000 scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year. The Cascio scholarship will be offered to one graduating senior who has been accepted at an institution of higher learning, while the Donovan scholarship will go to one continuing student at an accredited institution of higher learning for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Prior scholarship winners are ineligible. 

Applicant’s parent or guardian must be a current member of AFT-NH.  Winners will need to provide proof of enrollment (continuing or as a new student) for the 2020-2021 academic year in order to receive their scholarship check.  All applications must be postmarked by May31, 2020.

Please mail the completed application and supporting documentation to:

AFT-NH

ATTN: SCHOLARSHIP

785 Route 3A, Unit 102

Bow, NH  03304

Click HERE for the application.  Please feel free to photocopy this application for distribution.

The NH Legislature is in a momentary lull, having just survived “crossover,” the deadline date by which bills must be acted on in order to move across to the other branch of the legislature.  On Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, the House considered over 150 bills.  Approximately one-half were on the Consent Calendar with unanimous or almost unanimous bipartisan committee recommendations to pass or defeat.  Unless a bill is removed from the Consent Calendar, the House then takes one vote to “approve the Consent Calendar,” after which all the bills still on it are passed or defeated as recommended.  So, it is a short-cut, avoiding unnecessary delay in considering what are often minor or duplicative bills.

AFT-NH TOWN MEETING GUIDE

Please support your AFT-NH colleagues by voting to approve their contracts. Mark your calendar.

February 25, 2019 ~ Bow, NH

How many times have you heard the comment “Elections have consequences.”?  That comment was often made in NH over the past four years as part of a warning about harmful legislation or other hostile actions taken by our State government.  It might be another attempt to pass so-called right to work legislation, it might be an attempt to fund private schools with public education dollars, but whatever the reason, “elections have consequences” was always a warning and a call to action. 

Our situation is a little different this year.  “Elections have consequences”-yes.  But this time, the consequences are much more positive for AFT-NH members and for all the citizens of NH.  With friendly majorities in the NH House and Senate, the outlook for positive legislation is much brighter than in previous years. Of course, one consequence from 2018 was the re-election of Governor Sununu, meaning not all obstacles to progress have been removed.  But at least this year we anticipate fewer emergency calls asking you to contact legislators, and when we do ask, it will be to help stiffen their backbone and make clear to them that we have a positive agenda and we aim to see steps taken to enact it.  It won’t all happen this year or next but it is now time to begin moving NH in the right direction, to restore support for public education, to care for our retirees, and to establish programs to help working families across the Granite State.

Please accept this written statement from the American Federation of Teachers-New Hampshire (AFT-NH) regarding the proposed rules establishing the Learn Everywhere program.  As staunch advocates of public education, AFT-NH is firmly opposed to the creation of the Learn Everywhere program. 

As currently outlined, the Learn Everywhere program removes from local control the decisions regarding standards for credit-bearing activities and courses, thereby reversing longstanding New Hampshire tradition.  As an organization representing educators who work closely with local administrators and school boards, AFT-NH rejects the centralization of authority over graduation standards and supports keeping it at the level closest to students, teachers, and citizens—the local level. 

February 11, 2019 ~ Bow, NH

Guns, guns, guns.  Do you think guns ought to be permitted in schools?  Do you believe school districts should be permitted to set policies on the carrying of firearms on school properties?  Or do you believe the State should simply bar firearms from school properties in NH?  These are questions that matter, and the House Education Committee will be holding hearings on two bills concerning firearms in school this coming Wednesday morning, February 13, starting at 9am.  If you would like to testify regarding this issue, you can simply come to the Legislative Office Building in Concord, Rooms 210-211, for hearings at 9am (HB 101) and/or 10am (HB 564).  You can also email the committee members and express your views regarding regulation of firearms in NH schools—simply write them at HouseEducationCommittee@leg.state.nh.us.  Let your voice be heard!