Monday, January 09, 2006

Team ISEA Gathers to Kickoff the 2006 Legislative Session

Nearly 200 ISEA members and staff gathered January 6th and 7th in Des Moines to become informed on education issues for the upcoming Legislative session. Legislative leaders from both politicial parties were invited to address Team ISEA on Friday evening. Making their schedule available to address Team ISEA were Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs and House Democratic Leader Pat Murphy of Dubuque. On Saturday, the highlight for those gathered was the luncheon address by The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Governor.

Team ISEA members headed to their homes prepared to share at the legislative forums in their communities the need to invest $60 million each of the next three years to bring Iowa teaching salaries from an all time low of 41st in the nation to the 25th ranking. We know that Iowa's teachers are clearly paying the price for the chronic underfunding of our public schools. Teaching may be a calling, but it shouldn't be a sacrifice.

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