2009 DSEA Representative Assembly (RA) Information Page
Last updated Tuesday, March 9, 2009
Are you a delegate to the RA? Please remember to bring non-perishable food with you either Friday evening or Saturday for our annual RA donation to the Food Bank of Delaware. Thank you!
At the annual Representative Assembly, delegates conduct the business of the Association. The Representative Assembly is akin to an annual business meeting.
Delegates are elected in their local associations and then registered with DSEA by their presidents. Only duly registered local association delegates may vote on the business before the RA, but any DSEA member may attend.
Delegates will receive in the mail a packet of information, including the agenda and supporting documents, following a DSEA Exec. Board meeting Wednesday, March 11.
Celebration Dinner to feature Lt. Gov. Matt Denn
Lt. Governor Matt Denn will keynote the annual DSEA Celebration Dinner which is held to honor and celebrate the work and accomplishments of our organization and members. If you are interested in attending, please contact Tammy Wagner for the details.
We expect that the Lt. Governor will speak about his two young sons, as well as the Governor's Education Priorities and the series of "Back to School" briefings which he and Sec. of Education Lillian Lowery are hosting to include the public in crafting the details of legislation that focuses on their agenda:
- Replacing the flawed student testing system
- Rewarding teachers who excel in the classroom, especially those working in high-risk schools (Read DSEA's resolution on Compensation here. And read a new policy statement adopted in 2008 by the Representative Assembly which specifically addresses Alternative Compensation systems.)
- Allowing local schools and school districts far more discretion about how to best teach their kids, and
- Encouraging more efficient use of state education dollars.
They are holding ten public meetings during the weeks of March 9 and March 16. You can read about the proposals, the public meetings, and the entire effort at the Lieutenant Governor's home page.
Also offering greetings and remarks to the delegates will be the new Secretary of Education Dr. Lillian 
Lowery and our 2009 Teacher of the Year, Mark Teesdale, an elementary music teacher at Lake Forest Central E.S.
We will also recognize two outstanding members, winners of the DSEA Susan C. Roushey Advocacy Award and our ESP of the Year Award. You can read more about the DSEA awards here.
In addition, members who are "high donors" to DSEA Children's Advocacy Fund (the DSEA PAC) will be recognized and receive special gifts.
As is customary, each local association is asked to donate a themed basket of goodies for a Silent Auction. Always lively, this auction benefits the NEA Advocacy Fund for Children and Public Education.
Exec. Board Member Diana Farrell (a teacher at the Kent County Community School) will entertain with piano selections during the pre-dinner reception. And Mike and Rebecca Stecher of the Stecher Financial Group (one of DSEA's endorsed financial organizations) will sponsor a pre-dinner reception/social.
Both Friday evening and Saturday morning, various educational and financial vendors will set up displays at which attendees can often receive free gifts and register to win even bigger ones!
The DSEA Celebration Dinner is open to the public with reservations and payment.
Questions? Contact Tammy Wagner by email or phone at 1-866-734-5834.
RA to feature information sessions, elections and vote on DSEA budget, legislation and state budget updates/discussions8:00-8:45 Ballroom
7:45am Registration opens; continental breakfast available
8:00-8:45am Before the RA is called to order, DSEA leaders and staff will hold hearings/updates on the following. These sessions give delegates more information, often on areas where they will be voting later in the day:
- DSEA Budget
- Information/discussion on Response to Intervention (RtI) and DPASII
- Changes to DSEA's Resolutions being proposed
- Information session for members approaching retirement about DSEA-Retired
9:00am President Diane Donohue will call the meeting to order
The agenda for the day will include:
Electing members to fill governance vacancies:
- One two-year seat for a Kent County representative on the DSEA Executive Board
- One two-year seat for a New Castle County representative on the DSEA Executive Board
- Two two-year seats for DSEA delegates to the NEA Representative Assemblies in San Diego (July 1-July 6, 2009) and New Orleans (2010)
- One one-year seat for an NEA RA delegate (San Diego)
Consideration and vote on proposed changes to DSEA Resolutions, By-Laws and any New Business Items (We will post these here on March 12, following Board approval.)
Presentation, discussion and vote on the proposed DSEA budget for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011
Legislative updates and conversations, especially on the state's budget situation, including the opportunity for conversations and recording your thoughts, especially as they regard the state's education priorities and health care benefits.
Documents spelling out changes to DSEA's governing documents, positions, and programs that need RA delegate consideration will be posted here shortly.
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