TO: FEA Members Worldwide
FROM: Brian Chance, FEA President
RE: FEA President’s Report
DATE: February 21, 2020

DAEGU VIRUS THREAT

Classes at DoDEA schools at Daegu, South Korea, were suspended this week as a precaution following reports of coronavirus in the city of Daegu. As I’m writing this update, there have been no reported cases of the virus affecting military personnel or civilian employees. You can read about the situation at Stars and Stripes. There is a Memoranda of Understanding attached to the Negotiated Agreement for the Overseas Bargaining Unit, available here. The Association has reminded our local leaders in Daegu, TEAK and FEA Pacific, as well as DoDEA Headquarters, about this MOU in order to make sure our members’ rights and well-being are protected throughout this situation. Meanwhile, we encourage members in Daegu and everywhere to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to protect against this virus threat.

BARGAINING UNDER THREAT

As we reported to members earlier this month, and as reported by Government Executive at this site, the White House drafted a memo last month granting the Secretary of Defense authority to exempt DOD agencies from laws guaranteeing workers the right to collective bargaining. As of yet, there has been no announcement from the Pentagon regarding any action being taken as a result of the White House memo. FEA continues to monitor the situation and is working with other unions representing DOD employees to explore possible actions that could be taken if this threat to employee rights is acted upon.

We will continue to update our members as we learn more about this situation.

OVERSEAS EXCESS PLACEMENT

At this point, we are aware of three excessed employees in the Overseas Bargaining Unit who have yet to be placed. Notices have been sent to all those placed so far. DoDEA continues to work on finding placements for those remaining individuals and the Association continues to monitor the process to make sure all placements conform to the policy, which can be read here. Reconsideration, for those who have requested it, will continue until March 13.

CONGRATULATIONS TRICIA

I was very excited to attend the NEA Foundation Gala earlier this month where FEA’s Patricia Hannon was recognized as one of five winners of the Foundation’s Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. On behalf of FEA, I also wish to congratulate New York educator Alhassan Susso for winning the Foundation’s top prize, the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence. You can read about the Gala and the award presentations at the NEA Foundation site. FEA is incredibly proud of Tricia, who became the first FEA member to earn one of the top five prizes. She is truly an outstanding asset to our Association and to DoDEA. Way to go, Tricia!

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

The road to the NEA Foundation Awards Gala begins with being recognized by FEA, as your NEA State affiliate, as our nominee for the 2021 Awards for Teaching Excellence. Any Active Member of FEA may nominate herself/himself or another Active Member. To do so, download the application packet and submit your nomination materials to FEA by the April 1, 2020, deadline. Like all NEA state affiliates, FEA may submit one member’s name and information for consideration each year. If you or someone you know might make a worthy nominee, please submit the necessary information for consideration by the April 1 deadline.

AREA OFFICER BALLOTING IS ONGOING

Remember also that elections are ongoing for each of the three Area officer positions to be elected this year to the FEA Board of Directors. Those offices are:

• FEA Europe Area Director
• FEA Pacific Area Director
• FEA Director for DDESS

The winners of these elections will serve three-year terms on the FEA Board of Directors, beginning this August.

Ballots were mailed in mid January directly to all FEA Active Members. The completed ballots must be returned and RECEIVED by FEA’s Washington DC office by March 24 in order to be part of the election tally on March 25 and (if necessary) March 26.

If you are an Active Member of FEA and have not received your ballot in the mail, you may request a copy of the ballot and election information from your FRS or Local President. Election flyers from each of the candidates can be viewed by going to this page on the FEA Web site.

READ ACROSS AMERICA

We’re less than two weeks away from NEA’s Read Across America day on March 2. If you’re still looking for ideas of reading events and activities you can use or want more information about NEA’s theme of “Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers”, visit www.readacrossamerica.org