Intercepts
A listening post monitoring public education and teachers’ unions.

News of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans accompanying the teacher strike in Puerto Rico has finally reached the mainstream press.

Well, the New York Daily News, but still.

The Tacoma School District hired Gayle Elijah to be their new human resources director. Elijah is the president of the Tacoma Education Association.

Term-limited out in July, Elijah had to resign the presidency in order to take the $93,000 district position. Interesting, too, that the teacher contract runs out in August. The district and the union are about to begin negotiations on a new contract.

Oh, no! Elijah says she “will not be involved in the bargaining.” Come on, Tacoma School District! Co-opting your opponent’s leader is a time-honored tradition going back at least to the Romans. Put her on the negotiating team!

The National Education Association may find itself unable to choose between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but union officials know they can serve both candidates by preparing to hammer John McCain, the GOP’s presumptive nominee.

“We plan to be very aggressive,” said Reg Weaver.

The Hill has an excellent story by Sam Youngman about what is going on over at NEA’s Campaign and Elections Division. The union plans to spend $40-$50 million at all levels in the fall election season.

The article overflows with pungent quotes:

“I made it very clear that we cannot afford to be in the pocket of one party anymore,” Weaver said.

I love that these admissions are always made in the past tense. I don’t remember Keith Geiger or Bob Chase announcing, “We are in the pocket of one party!”

Weaver told The Hill that the overhaul of their political operation and the hiring of former Emily’s List director Karen White (see Item #2 here) added sophistication.

Meanwhile, Clinton and Obama are still making a pitch for an NEA endorsement:

Weaver said the group, which has not endorsed a candidate, met with Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) Monday and plans to meet with Sen. Barack Obama
(D-Ill.) next week.

Weaver said Clinton talked mostly issues, but she did ask about the union’s
endorsement process and told Weaver she would like to have the group’s
support.

Weaver said he is holding off before he makes a recommendation to the group
about an endorsement.

“I’m going to hold off until I have what I need,” Weaver said.

For Republican National Committee spokesman Danny Diaz, word of NEA’s plans is a yawner.

“The fact that a liberal trade organization is going to attack the Republican nominee shouldn’t be news to anyone.” Diaz said.

“We want our members to feel like they’re supported by us. But on the other hand we’re certainly not going to get involved with an ax murderer.”

- Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association Executive Director Barry Dubin, explaining the criteria used for the union’s decision to defend teacher Diana O’Neill, charged last week with abusing four of her severely handicapped students.

Click here to read:

1) Brokered Convention? Not Democrats, But NEA
2) NEA Foresees Union Battle Over Pre-School Employees
3) Utah Education Association Looking for New Executive Director
4) The Rich Get Richer
5) Last Week’s Intercepts
6) Quotes of the Week

The Albuquerque Public Schools want to take away electives from students who do poorly on state tests and give them remedial reading and math instead. A teacher at one middle school urged the kids to write letters of protest about the plan to the Albuquerque Journal.

Here’s a sample of what the paper received:

“I know I wont wont my eletive tooken away. wht about the sped kibs? Hae you thought about that!”

The local news station ran a report as well. Take a look at the video accompanying the story.

Hat tip: Ben Cunningham, subbing for Joanne Jacobs.

The United Teachers Los Angeles vote is in. The union sent out 42,952 ballots. Here are the results:

A.J. Duffy – 5,242 (12.2%)

Linda Guthrie – 2,112 (4.9%)

Becki Robinson – 1,468 (3.4%)

Barbara Eisen-Herman – 103 (0.2%)

Don’t Give a Crap – 34,027 (79.2%)