Santa Fe, NM - Today the New Mexico Interim Legislative Education Study Committee will hear testimony from the scandal-plagued Public Education Department about their seriously flawed, ill conceived Debit Card program for teachers.
NEA-New Mexico President Betty Patterson issued this advice to teacher member statewide via an email September 18, 2015.
"Dear Member:
After careful reading of the entire document NEA-NM leadership has decided that this is a very discouraging document. The agreement makes failure to meet all fifteen demands very serious and includes meticulous record keeping. If a teacher gives very careful consideration to meeting all 15 requirements and can honestly sign the bottom of the agreement then they should accept the card. I also understand the need to get 100 dollars into your classroom but, if I were teaching this year, I would not sign this agreement.
Ideas:
- I would go together to use the card so you have a witness and only buy things that would be used in the classroom.
- Maybe you could go as a group and one teacher use it to buy a case of paper, one to buy a case of tissues, that kind of thing so you have witnesses.
- I would also find a way to keep copies of the receipts on my computer for the 5 years required.
These are just suggestions."
I am sharing our concerns with our legislators and the media.
Betty Patterson
President, NEA-New Mexico"
[President Patterson contact information: (575) 571-8882 bpatterson@neanm.org
