The NEA is in town

Brother Fred checks in from the union's Representative Assembly in Chicago

Hey bro,

I'm reporting live from here at the Palmer House where the Illinois Caucus is meeting.

Tomorrow is the first session of the NEA RA at McCormick place. So far we have mainly been dealing with convention logistics.

But tomorrow the debates will begin in earnest: The early no strings endorsement of Obama, a proposed policy statement on teacher evaluation and accountability and a resolution on NEA support for merit pay.

This morning our state caucus gave a warm reception to Mary Bell of the Wisconsin state union. She movingly thanked those of us from Illinois who came to Wisconsin to demonstrate our support.  And to the IEA, which provided material and staff.

We also voted caucus support for New Business Item C, proposed by the leadership which essentially calls on Obama to dump Duncan. When I went to the mic and asked how the leadership reconciled NBI C with their call for an early no strings endorsement of Obama, I basically got a shrug.

More tomorrow,

Fred

You can follow Fred's blog over at http://preaprez.wordpress.com/