Share your ideas for a fairer, more accurate evaluation! We all know that changes must be made to Louisiana’s teacher evaluation system. But what should those changes look like? How much will teacher input influence the changes? You can help determine the future of teacher evaluation in our state! The Accountability Commission is now considering ways […]
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Time magazine is about to use its cover to blame teachers for every problem in America’s schools. On Monday, Nov. 3, this cover will be in every supermarket checkout line and newsstand across the country—and it’s already online. When I saw this today, I felt sick. This Time cover isn’t trying to foster […]
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Voucher report: New lipstick on an old pig LFT President Steve Monaghan: “Imagine the outrage if fewer than one-fourth of the state’s 1,500 public schools released information about their achievement.” (Baton Rouge – November 3, 2014) A Louisiana Department of Education report boasting success for Louisiana’s controversial school voucher scheme amounts to little more than […]
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The Advocate: Louisiana public school teachers improve in job reviews, but superintendent of education notices issue with evaluations Amid less rigorous reviews, public school teachers showed gains Wednesday in their annual job evaluations. A total of 43 percent of teachers landed the top rating — “highly effective” — compared to 32 percent last year. State Superintendent of Education […]
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“What do you think about creating a policy that limited faculty meetings to once per month? Or, a policy specifying the maximum length for faculty meetings.” “What do you think about principals telling their teachers they can never score a 4? Would it be ethical if we told students they can never earn an […]
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Members only – New & Improved Dental and Vision programs Union Plus now offers NEW Dental and Vision discount programs with even better savings and larger provider networks. Save 5% to 60% on dental care at one of the largest dental networks in the nation. Plans start at just $5.95 a month or $59.95 […]
Read More COMPASS ideas keep coming in… Teachers around Louisiana are responding to the LFT’s call for ideas to improveCOMPASS’ the teacher evaluation system. Here’s a recent comment: Practically all teachers in all grade levels of all content intensive subjects are graded according to the same rubric, which requires very specific practices to be displayed during classroom […]
Read More State suspends computerized PARCC tests Superintendent of Education John White says decision is “academic,” and has nothing to do with a recent LFT survey showing that schools and students are not prepared for computer tests. The state will not use computer testing for the high-stakes PARCC tests slated to be given to students next spring, […]
Read More Teachers, Parents Deliver 100,000-plus Petition Signatures to Time Magazine NEW YORK—Yesterday, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten joined parents and teachers at the Time-Life Building in New York City to deliver more than 100,000 petition signatures to Time magazine. The petition asked Time’s editors to apologize for its recent misleading cover, which casts teachers as […]
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FREE PRAXIS TUTORING: MATH SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 10-12PM RSVP REQUIRED – SPACE LIMITED 318-424-4579 redriverunited@redriverunited.org When you RSVP please specify the area(s) on the math praxis test that you feel you need the most help. • Superior local peer instruction • FREE materials • Ability to sign up for additional individual and small group tutoring […]
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Red River United Annual PSRP Conference Paraprofessionals and Support Related Personnel SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Red River United Office: 1726 Line Avenue, Shreveport 8:30 Early Registration 9:00 – 1:00 Conference Continental Breakfast & Lunch will be served Who are PSRPs? PSRPs are our office employees, custodians, maintenance workers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, food service workers, […]
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Union veterans can earn $1,000 grant for purchase of a new home Union veterans can earn a $1,000 mortgage grant. We wanted you to be the first to know about a brand-new grant for union member veterans. The Union Plus Mortgage Veterans Grants program will provide qualified union member veterans with a $1,000 grant that never […]
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Reports on overtesting address symptoms, not causes Two reports on testing were released by major organizations this week. On the positive side, they add to growing concerns about excessive testing in our schools. But both reports—one from the Center for American Progress and the other from the Council of Chief State School Officers and the […]
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Shop for Halloween treats using this union-made list Shop from this list of union-made Halloween treats. It’s an easy way to make your trick-or-treaters happy AND support members of the Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM); United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); and United Farm Workers of America (UFW).
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Ebola Telephone Town Hall with AFT Date: Thursday, Oct. 23 Time: 8:15 p.m. Eastern time Register today. Ebola has been on everybody’s mind, and AFT members across the nation are doing everything they can to be ready to care for, and answer questions from, those who come through their doors—in hospitals, patients’ homes, ambulatory care […]
Read More BESE: Ebola fears prompt emergency rule Prompted by fears that the Ebola virus could invade Louisiana, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved emergency rules giving superintendents the authority to close schools or send students home if threats appear. While no cases of Ebola have been reported in Louisiana, Assistant Superintendent Erin Bendily told […]
Read More ACTION: Tell our leaders: More teaching. Less testing. End the obsession with testing! Louisiana spends hundreds of millions of dollars on tests that can unfairly and inaccurately compare and label our children, our teachers and our schools. The national tests haven’t even all been written, yet BESE and Superintendent White insist they be used to […]
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In fairness to school support staff who are called upon to act as substitute teachers, Red River United and the Louisiana Federation of Teachers worked for passage of Act 231, which requires school boards to pay employees at the substitute teacher rate if it is higher than their usual salary. Do you feel you […]
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Our obsession with testing and labeling students is sucking the joy out of teaching and learning. Take the nola.com survey on excessive testing! Click here to take the survey.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Les Landon, Director of Public Relations (Baton Rouge – October 15, 2014) Statement from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers following the State Supreme Court decision reversing a 19th Judicial District Court ruling on the constitutionality of Act 1 of 2012: Obviously the Louisiana Federation of Teachers is disappointed by the […]
Read More As a leader of teachers and school employees, you probably think this letter is about the testing ad nauseam we are forced to endure in our classrooms. And while there is considerable angst, our greatest anxiety is what this does to our students. The actual joy of school is being robbed from our boys and […]
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Call us immediately at Red River United, 318-424-4579 (we may want to consider a grievance but must weigh the particulars of each individual’s case). SLTs are too important to take lightly. Here are some basic facts on Student Learning Targets (SLTs) are a crucial part of a teacher’s COMPASS evaluation. To make sure that your […]
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NO SCHOOL EMPLOYEE IS WITHOUT RISK. THERE HAVE BEEN 5 CASES JUST THIS WEEK. What to do if an accusation is made against you? Immediately contact Red River United at 318-424-4579. Do nothing (say nothing) else until you have been presented the actual written statement from the child or the parent/guardian. Do not respond or engage in […]
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Share My Lesson’s free Ideas & Innovations Conference is back by popular demand! Our spring 2014 online sessions were so popular, we’ve designed an all new line-up of webinars with featured experts! Participants will enjoy engaging webinars on everything from arts education and economics to using technology in the classroom. What: Ideas & Innovations Professional Learning […]
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WASHINGTON—Statement by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on Nobel Peace Prize recipients: “There are no two people more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai and India’s Kailash Satyarthi. Their courageous efforts in fighting for universal education and protecting children from exploitation and abuse […]
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Caddo Parish wants to know what you think about their plan: “Re-Imagine Caddo: The Plan for Excellence.” We get lots of calls at Red River United, and here are just a few sentiments we’d like to share about the real Caddo experience: Robbed of the joy of teaching Head under water Beaten down Tearful […]
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October 7, 2014 To: All Affiliated and Unaffiliated Local Unions, Officers and Delegates Remind your family and friends that we need their support and encourage them to vote Tuesday, November 4, 2014. Reminder: Take your photo identification with you to the polls. Please vote early. Early Voting for the Tuesday, November 4, […]
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Update on the Office of Group Benefits Are you recieving healthcare from the Office of Group Benefits? The Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees is fighting hard to kee us updated on possible 47% increase in the cost of your healthcare benefits. Read more here. This pertains to employees in Red River Parish.
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Taking a Baby Break? Have you had a difficult time receiving maternity leave? Are you about to give birth to your second child within the last six years? If so, email Red River United at redriverunited@redriverunited.org or call 318-424-4579.
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Observation and conferencing. The evaluator or evaluators of each teacher or administrator shall conduct a pre-observation conference during which the teacher or administrator shall provide the evaluator or evaluators with relevant information. A teacher shall provide information concerning the planning of the lesson to be observed as well as any other information the teacher […]
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SLT STRATEGIES: Realistic Goals, Accurate Outcomes Join us for a FREE webinar You may join us at the Red River United office (1726 Line Avenue, Shreveport) or view the webinar from a personal computer. October 9, 2014 5:00 PM Register now! https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1367765338665767682 Dear educator, As you may know, Student Learning […]
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HOUSTON—The nation’s first anti-bullying policy for school employees was announced today in Houston, an effort initiated by Houston educational support workers, developed collaboratively with school administration and now part of the district’s standards of conduct for all employees. The groundbreaking policy was announced at an event in which American Federation of Teachers President […]
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AFT on the PDK/Gallup Poll on Investing in TeachersWASHINGTON—Statement by Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, on the 2014 PDK/Gallup Poll on teacher preparation and training: “This poll should be yet another wake-up call to policymakers, who for too long have ignored the sentiments of parents and teachers on what it takes […]
Read More Supreme Court to rule on Jindal’s education law Oral arguments in the September 5 hearing will be streamed online from the Supreme Court’s Web site. Go to www.lasc.org and click a link to Oral Arguments on the right side of the page. The session begins at 9:30 A.M. (Baton Rouge – August 29, 2014) […]
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Caddo Parish School Board Amends Sick-Leave Policy Well, the CPSB heard your concerns loud and clear, but the fight is not yet over! The board voted to delay passage of the policy until September. They discussed, but did not vote on an amendment that removed the requirement that an employee produce a doctor’s note after […]
Read More When Should You Be A Whistleblower? Red River United’s in-house attorney recommends prior to getting caught in an investigation, it is to your professional advantage to come forward and speak (privately) with legal counsel at Red Rive United. Too often we have seen professional reputations tarnished and jobs threatened when a person lacks representation, or […]
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Tell our leaders: Put teaching and learning first! “Gotcha” assessments have got to go! Teachers and their students return to school this year under a cloud, with lawsuits and counter-lawsuits over testing and standards. There is plenty of blame to go around about the confusion facing our schools this year. But one thing is certain: it’s […]
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CPSB Puts Permanent 2% Raise For All School Employees on Consent Agenda To calculate your salary: Find the step you are on in the salary schedule for this 2014-2015 school year Add 2% of your salary to your current step Add $500 to include Christmas bonus *Remember the $200 materials and supplies monies for classroom […]
Read More Reminder to All Parishes About Evaluations and SLTs On Evaluations: Every observation is formal Every observation must have a pre and post observation meeting Learn More about Evaluations here. On SLTs: Set realistic SLTs There is no such thing as district wide SLTs SLTs should be a collaborative effort between the teacher and the adminstration, […]
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There will be a revised sick leave policy for approval before the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. This new policy would require ALL employees to provide a doctor’s excuse any time they are absent for three or more consecutive days, or when they are absent only one day immediately prior to or […]
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August 5, 2014: Dear Caddo Parish School Board Members, It has come to the attention of the Red River United that the Caddo Parish School District Transportation Commission intends to submit a revised sick leave policy for approval before the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. This new policy would […]
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Thursday, August 28th from 5:00-6:00 PM RRU Office 1726 Line Ave Shreveport, LA 71101 There is always a great deal to discuss at RRU Meetings: Local and State Policy Evaluations and SLTs Know Your Rights Member Benefits and Discounts Opportunities for Activism (local and legislative) Not a member of RRU? Come to […]
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RED RIVER UNITED’S FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM A mentoring program for new and transferred teachers and school employees. Sign up for the Red River United Fellowship Program, and we will pair you with a veteran RRU member according to your needs. Are you a interested in mentoring a new or transferred teacher? Sign up to […]
Read More Everybody Loves Apples, but not all Apples are the Same Monaghan responds to Roemer: “Let’s talk about the inherent unfairness of comparing Louisiana children with children in other states, given the current chaos and the documented failure to prepare students, parents, and teachers for these changes.” “It is extraordinarily important that we have an assessment […]
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Welcome to the family of fine products built by NSD. We are especially pleased that your local chapter #4995 placed their confidence in us to help make your driving experience a better one. Your plan is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to you and your […]
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Complete Identity Protection Did you know that last year identity theft was a $21 billion crime that impacted over 13 million Americans? It is an expensive and time consuming problem to face. Luckily, we have a solution. We are proud to announce the launch of a new identity theft protection benefit from InfoArmor. InfoArmor’s industry-leading technology detects fraud […]
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TODAY ONLY—Watch this summer’s blockbusters on us! By spreading the news about the 15% Union Plus AT&T discount via the Member Refer A Member contest, you have the chance to win-win-win. How does the Union Plus Member Refer a Member Contest work? Refer other members weekly for a chance to win monthly prizes of smartphones And the grand prize […]
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Come volunteer, visit our office on 1726 Line Ave. in Shreveport, and help strengthen your union. Red River United is looking for volunteers to help us build momentum and share our vision of Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education. Our strength is in our membership. We will have power in the education landscape around us […]
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Tragic and unnecessary Politics and Policy: Irreconcilable differences? (Baton Rouge – July 18, 2014) The political feud between Gov. Bobby Jindal and Superintendent of Education John White must be resolved quickly so that teachers and their students can get down to the work of education, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today. “The […]
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As part of our After Hours program, our free professional development program, Red River United is offering a free group math Praxis tutoring class. It is absolutely free to all members, and a fun way to pass the test. The first class will be held on Monday, July 28 at 4:00 PM in the […]
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Mark Your Calendars! The Louisiana Supreme Court will be hearing Oral Arguments in the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT) et al. vs. LA case around Act 1 on September 5, 2014. Act 1 was found unconstitutional in two lower courts in 2013 and 2014.
Read More LFT Leadership = Legislative Success! Fiercely determined. Strongly protective of public education. After years of attacks on our teachers and our schools, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers brought the fight to reclaim the promise of public education to the Louisiana Legislature. This year, LFT began to turn the tide against those who would damage […]
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Make good choices. That was the message I delivered to some 2,800 AFT delegates at AFT’s recent convention in Los Angeles. “Nobody would pick an adversary over an advocate—and none of us would miss an opportunity to have someone actually fighting for our best interests … So I am asking you to make a good […]
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Join the American Federation of Teachers in Taking Action Against Attacks on Public Education by Signing This Pledge! Our enemy is organized. This is no accident. Corporations and billionaires blame educators, public employees and workers for the broken economy. They sell austerity as the answer, while they buy elections, push radical legislation and fund court […]
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Caddo will be reimbursing teachers $200 for classroom supplies and materials for the 2014-15 school year Bossier will be reimbursing teachers $100 for classroom supplies and materials for the 2014-15 school year.
Read More Studying to become a teacher? Need to Pass the Math Praxis? Join a Math Praxis Study Group for Free! As part of our After Hours program, our free professional development program, Red River United is offering a free group praxis tutoring class. It is absolutely free to all members, and a fun way to pass […]
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Both the House and Senate unanimously voted on the floor to urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to adopt a rule that would give students 20 minutes of seated lunch time that would not include time spent traveling to and from the lunch room or the time spent waiting […]
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Reminder: State Law Requires a Minimum of 225 Minutes of Planning Time Per Week and 30 Minutes of Duty Free Lunch Last school year, five high schools in Caddo signed onto a class action grievance citing the lack of planning time and the resulting injury to classroom instruction. The Caddo Parish School Board answered by […]
Read More AFT 2014 Convention Update AFT President Randi Weingarten kicked off the AFT convention July 11 by outlining a bold plan to both fight back and fight forward to reclaim the promise of America and create economic and educational opportunity for all. In her keynote to more than 3,500 delegates, Weingarten outlined the coordinated attack facing working […]
Read More Two civil rights leaders spoke Friday at the American Federation of Teachers’ national convention taking place July 11-14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Rev. William Barber, leader of the Moral Mondays movement, and 10-year-old student activist Asean Johnson, outlined a vision of how engaging the community, creating new coalitions and fighting for voting rights are […]
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Tell the Caddo Parish School Board to Approve Permanent Salary Increases for ALL Employees Email your school board member and ask them to vote “YES” on Agenda Item 8.08 – “Permanent Salary Adjustment to Certified and Classified Employees” at the July 15th school board meeting. This Agenda Item was proposed by District 12 Caddo Parish School Board Member Dottie […]
Read More LFT responds to Gov. Jindal’s PARCC announcement (Baton Rouge – June 18, 2014) Sticking to a vow he’s made for weeks. Gov. Bobby Jindal today announced that he has signed an executive order withdrawing Louisiana from the test consortium associated with Common Core State Standards. The governor said that his action also removes Louisiana from […]
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Mack Evans, Red River United member and activist was featured in a Shreveport Times Article. Evans, who teaches high school and college math, drilled the students in math formulas to prepare them for a rocket launch. The teams calculated the rockets’ height and velocity as part of the exercise. This summer program has 55 participantsthat […]
Read More AFT convention will focus on Reclaiming the Promise July 2, 2014 View the Agenda Here The 2014 AFT convention, set for July 11-14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will focus on fighting back and fighting forward on key domestic issues to reclaim the promise of America, including the Common Core State Standards, due process and tenure […]
Read More Louisiana education officials propose to drop national Common Core test, PARCC, for 2014-15 By Danielle Dreilinger, NOLA.com. Originally published in The Times-Picayune, link here. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Superintendent John White has seemingly backed down in a high-profile fight with Gov. Bobby Jindal over testing and the new Common Core academic […]
Read More Contact: Janet Bass Until 7/10: 202-879-4554 AFT press office in L.A.: 213-743-6405 jbass@aft.org www.aft.org Updated Agenda for AFT Convention in Los Angeles- July 11-14 2014. WASHINGTON—Public education, educators and parents have been taking it on the chin, with controversies and frustrations swirling around the Common Core State Standards, due process and tenure, the pervasive fixation […]
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The House and Senate both passed HB 717, a bill that corrects a flaw in the state’s extended sick leave law during the legislative session. Red River United member Yvonne Barrier and her family were present for Jindal’s signing of the bill. HB 717 by Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill (D-Dry Creek) removes a stipulation in […]
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On Thursday, July 26th, Red River Parish teachers and support personnel gathered at Kayla’s Cafe to elect their Red River United Executive Board Members. The Red River United Executive Board welcomes Evelyn Longino of Red River High School and Intha Fields of Red River Elementary School to the Red River United Executive Board. Red River […]
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Originally Published in US News and World Report, July 1, 2014. There’s a teacher who used the hit movie “Mean Girls” to engage his students in the themes of power in “Julius Caesar.” There’s a special education teacher who advocated for her students’ inclusion in physical education and music. Another teacher went to child protective […]
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Celebrate back to school with free school supplies and a party! How often have you spent your own money for general classroom supplies, math & science labs, reading & language projects and more? What would you do with $1,000 to spend on school supplies for the 2014-2015 school year? And what if you kicked that off […]
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Let’s Talk Money First, the back story: Last year, the LA Legislature passed an MFP formula which included a one-time supplement for all classroom teachers. Most local districts made the decision to include all other employees in a one-time supplement allocation. For Caddo and Bossier, both boards decided to give this at the same time […]
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Press Release FOR RELEASE: June 30, 2014 CONTACT: Marcus Mrowka 202-879-4447 202-531-0689 (cell) mmrowka@aft.org AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Harris v. Quinn Decision WASHINGTON—Statement from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the Harris v. Quinn decision. Today’s Harris v. Quinn decision upholds the right of public sector unions to represent public employees, including […]
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You are the Union! Volunteer Your Time! Summer is a great time to spread the word about Red River United, build momentum, and share our vision of Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education. We are looking for RRU members and leaders to volunteer in our outreach and organizing efforts. We will be talking to people […]
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Rhonda Boston, Secretary at Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle School and RRU worksite leader, won the 2013-2014 new member recruiting contest by recruiting thirteen of her coworkers, both teachers and support personnel, to join Red River United. When asked why Ms. Boston was such a strong, passionate, and dynamic recruiter and leader, Ms. Boston cited how Red […]
Read More Take Advantage of Your Member Discounts this Summer! Whether you need up to 25% off of car rentals, help booking a flight, want to travel the world, save onbooking hotels, or take the kids and grandkids toDisney World or Six Flags, there is a wealth of discounts to take advantage of this summer as a member of Red River […]
Read More Local Benefits Coming to You Soon! RRU is the largest professional organization in Northern Louisiana. As such, we are in a position to use our economy of scale to negotiate additional benefits for our members (in addition to the numerous benefits already provided by AFT). We have asked our members to take this survey so that […]
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MFP Funding – The State Education Budget After a short derailment by the Senate Education Committee, a rewritten Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula zipped through the legislative process, winning approval by the House Education Committee and House of Representatives in just a couple of days. Senate Education Committee Chairman Sen. Conrad Appel (R-Metairie) had objected to […]
Read MoreJoin Red River United Today, Pay No Dues until September! Join Red River United, the largest and most activeorganzation in northern Louisiana and don’t pay dues until September!! Join Red River United and become an advocate for yourself, your students, and public education! Call318-424-4579 or email us atRedriverunited@redriverunited.org for any questions about what we do and can do with […]
Read More HB 1277 – Teacher Tenure and Due Process HB 1277 by Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Shreveport) is a bill that improves the state law governing the discipline and dismissal of teachers has passed both houses of the legislature and awaits Governor Bobby Jindal’s signature. The bill is limited to those sections of Act 1 of 2012 that deal […]
Read More Red River United Successfully Gets Local Bill and House Concurrent Resolution to the Governor’s Desk The Louisiana Legislature’s 2014 Regular Legislative Session ended at 6:00 P.M. Monday, June 2. That was not before HCR 114 and HB 717, which originated from RRU, got to the Governor’s desk! HB 717 – Extended Sick Leave The House and […]
Read More Louisiana Federation of Teachers Weekly Legislative Digest June 3, 2014: FINAL EDITION Steve Monaghan, President * Les Landon, Editor 2014 Regular Legislative Session Now available on the Web at http://la.aft.org The Louisiana Legislature’s 2014 Regular Legislative Session ended sine die at 6:00 P.M. Monday, June 2. Lawmakers approve due process compromise A bill that improves the state law governing […]
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You probably didn’t know it, but tuition increases, growing student loan debt and tax dollars for public higher education are funding Wall Street profits. In 2012, Wall Street raked in $44 billion in profits from college students, colleges and taxpayers. That’s nearly 10 percent of the total amount spent on higher education in America. Watch […]
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Solidarity wins the day for public employees Thanks in large part to a strong show of unity among public sector employees, an effort to silence the voices of teachers, school employees and other public servants was stopped in its tracks on Wednesday. HB 451 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh (R-Shreveport) was aimed straight at organizations like the […]
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Read More Planning Time: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly The Good – Planning time is in law. §434. Planning time and lunch periods for teachers; required A.(1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt necessary rules and regulations requiring, beginning with the 2000-2001 school year, each city and parish school board to provide […]
Read More URGENT teleconference about our future Issues that could change our future will be discussed on a Tele-townhall conferenceMonday, April 28 at 5:30 P.M. LFT President Steve Monaghan and Legislative Director Mary-Patricia Wray will be there to discuss some bills that could silence the voices of teachers and school employees, and other bills that will have […]
Read More Common Core bills rejected by committee Last-minute push by Jindal doesn’t sway members Two bills aimed at halting the imposition of Common Core standards and the tests than measure them in Louisiana were deferred by the House Education Committee after grueling, hours-long testimony on Wednesday. HB 381 by Rep. Brett Geymann (R-Lake Charles) would have replaced […]
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Monday night, at the Caddo Parish School Board meeting, there was an agenda item called, Request for Level IV Grievance Hearing, Re: Planning Period. The process is for the board to decide if they will hear the grievance (typically at the next meeting), to move to uphold the lower decision or to move to uphold […]
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Red River Parish is deeply grateful to the Caddo Parish School Board for taking a stand in support of payroll deduction. This resolution was a join resolution of all the professional associations in the Parish. Here is the text from the resolution: Resolution Opposing Elimination of Payroll Deduction of Professional Dues WHEREAS: Employees […]
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AFT President Randi Weingarten and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) spoke March 6 at the Washington, D.C., launch of “Higher Ed, Not Debt,” a new multiyear campaign advocating for affordable access to higher education for all without the burden of debt or financial hardship. The AFT is one of more than 60 national and state-based organizations […]
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At last week’s Bossier Parish School Board meeting, Superintendent D.C. Machen confirmed that employees will be receiving a survey exploring the OPTION of two-times monthly pay in the spring. The OPTION of two-times monthly pay is something that Red River United pushed the Bossier Parish School Board to consider at the request of its members. […]
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Listen to Jackie Lansdale speak on the importance of protecting public education during this legislative session.
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On February 27, 2014, Red River United participated in a press conference organized by the National Public Pension Coalition around the need to preserve public employees’ pensions. View the video here. Read the KTBS News Story on the press conference here.
Read More In the past month, there have been several incidents in Caddo and Bossier schools where a student has committed an assault or battery against a teacher. While these events are certainly disturbing, what is even more disturbing is that, in many cases, the school administration has allowed the student to return to the campus. This […]
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Bossier Parish to Gut Dismissal Policy – BPSB Meeting this Thursday! Actions speak louder than words. On two separate occasions, you have expressed a willingness to take action and change policy/procedure to the benefit of your employees, but no action has been taken. We want to take you at your word. We want you to […]
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Superintendent John White and Louisiana Federation of Teachers state president Steve Monaghan engaged in a lively debate over Common Core State Standards. LISTEN HERE Superintendent of Education John White and Steve Monaghan, head of one of the state’s largest teachers unions, went head-to-head at a panel discussion on Common Core in Baton Rouge on Friday (Feb. 21). While both […]
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Be a part of the AFT’s First Book February and Bookmark March to promote literacy as a building block to educational equity! We are reclaiming the promise by giving away more than 250,000 free books across the country, encouraging others to register with First Book so they can have access to free and low-cost books […]
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The Myth Behind Public School Failure, by Dean Paton Published on Saturday, February 22, 2014 by YES! Magazine In the rush to privatize the country’s schools, corporations and politicians have decimated school budgets, replaced teaching with standardized testing, and placed the blame on teachers and students. Until about 1980, America’s public schoolteachers were iconic everyday […]
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A number of outrageous voucher bills were introduced over the past few weeks that could privatize the majority of our K-12 funds. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN.) and Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN.) introduced a bill, the Scholarships for Kids Act, that could turn 63 percent of federal education funding into private school vouchers. That’s all education […]
Read More Last week, in partnership with In the Public Interest, the AFT launched the website Cashing in on Kids—a one-stop shop for the facts about for-profit education in America. While we are working to reclaim the promise of public education, these for-profit charters are cashing in on kids. Help us call them out. The site profiles […]
Read More There are the modified constitutions for Red River United, the Caddo Federation of Teachers, and the Bossier Federation of Teachers. In order to allow for our brothers and sisters in Red River Parish, and other interested Parishes, to join Red River United, the following constitutions needed to be amended. Red River United (AFT Local 4995) […]
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Dear Bossier Parish School Board, Actions speak louder than words. On two separate occasions, you have expressed a willingness to take action and change policy/procedure to the benefit of your employees, but no action has been taken. We want to take you at your word. We want you to take action. Red River United is […]
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Personalized (FREE) one-on-one tutoring — The Red River United ER&D (Educational Research & Dissemination) team is proud to announce a new type of professional development for all teachers in Caddo & Bossier Parishes. We are giving you, the teacher, an opportunity to seek help for problems in the classroom by working with you one on […]
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If you are currently employed at Atkins, Woodlawn, Midway, Fair Park, Mooretown, Caddo Heights, Sunset Aces, Caddo Middle Career & Tech, Cherokee Park, JS Clark, Westwood, Pinegrove, or Queensborough, you NEED to read this. Dearest Educational Professional, As you may be aware, at the close of this school year your school will undergo one of […]
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Own YOUR profession! Take Action Now! Silence Your Voice Bill Filed for Upcoming Legislative Session- Representative Talbot is first out of the gate with a bill to eliminate payroll deduct. HB172 will be heard in the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. Payroll deduction helps us support our professional union and advocate for the needs […]
Read More A hand up is not a handout February 18, 2014 In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT President Randi Weingarten urges lawmakers to strengthen the rungs on America’s ladder of opportunity. She lays out an array of programs that many elected officials love to hate—including unemployment insurance, food stamps, Medicaid, pre-K education, […]
Read More TAKE ACTION NOW! LFT Legislative agenda: Reclaim the promise! An Excellent public education for all children is an economic necessity, an anchor of democracy, a moral imperative and a fundamental civil right. The LFT’s value-based vision of the promise of public education includes a commitment to fairness, equal opportunity to achieve, accountability at all levels, […]
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TAKE ACTION TO DEFEND EDUCATION THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION! More than 100 AFT members from New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, East Baton Rouge and other Louisiana cities and parishes turned out for an AFT town hall meeting at a downtown New Orleans hotel on Feb. 12. The town hall gave the members, as well as parents, community activists […]
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Professional development hours. Great new ideas for your classroom. Lesson plans that actually work with kids. Evening entertainment almost as good as Scandal. If you’re looking for any of these things, then join the AFT’s Share My Lesson in their first virtual conference. Teaching & Learning: Ideas & Innovations 2014 is an online festival […]
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Diane Ravitch describes herself as a 75-year-old reformed reformer. For her grandchildren and others, she is sounding the alarm about public education and its undoing through testing, accountability, choice and competition. A one-time believer in market forces to achieve reform, the former education official from the first Bush administration now sees that it hasn’t […]
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For more information, Click Here What is the Hilton Teacher Treks Program? Sponsored by Hilton Worldwide, the Hilton Teacher Treks Program is meant to bring people together and foster greater understanding between the U.S. and other countries. This program allows U.S. primary and secondary level teachers to go abroad for 2-3 weeks to travel, […]
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On February 6, 2014, the Bossier Parish School Board approved across-the-board pay raises for all Bossier Parish teachers and support personnel. 1) Performance Evaluation Stipends for Teachers (Highly Effective $1000; Effective Proficient $400; Effective Emerging $100) and Educational Leaders (Highly Effective $100; Effective Proficient $100), as well as TAP Stipends (as identified by the TAP […]
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[Show thumbnails] Mission statement for the event: “We gather here today, as educational professionals and elected leaders, to break bread while discussing the working, teaching, and learning realities of our public school system. We hope to find common ground and a shared purpose of reclaiming the promise of public education in the upcoming legislative session.” […]
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Red River United is At the Table! Princess Hill and Nikki Doughty represent RRU at PARCC. The American Federation of Teachers, in conjunction with Red River President Jackie Lansdale and Caddo Parish School Board Chief Academic Officer Keith Burton, have nominated Princess Hill (Summer Grove Elementary) and Nikki Doughty (Keithville Elementary) for a rare opportunity […]
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Red River United Adds an In-House Attorney! A Shreveport native, Patrick Woolbert, Esq. is the newest addition to the Red River United team. Mr. Woolbert earned his J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU, and his B.A. in Psychology from Centenary College of Louisiana. While representing members of Red River United in […]
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Breaking News: Louisiana Federation of Teachers Agrees to Principles of Unity The Louisiana Federation of Teachers has endorsed a set of general principles that a number of public education stakeholders have pledged to honor in the upcoming legislative session. “For the past six years, education reform has been defined by politicians, corporate profiteers and […]
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Red River United congratulates Pine Grove Elementary teacher and RRU Executive Board member Orlisa Johnson for her grant! Article from KTBS, Quoted Below: An elementary school teacher hopes to give her students a jump start on Common Core standards. Our latest One Class At a Time Winner comes to us from Caddo schools. Pine Grove […]
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Are you working to help your union find ways for its members to join in reclaiming the promise of a more just society for all? Or do you have a child who is a senior in high school with plans to attend college? We can help! As part of the Robert G. Porter Scholars Program, […]
Read More Educators, complete this survey and receive a FREE Bullying Prevention Toolkit. Bullying is a community issue that extends beyond the school campus and is prevalent online. The American Federation of Teachers is partnering with educators, school leaders, community and advocacy groups to recognize, prevent and combat bullying. The purpose of the AFT’s campaign, “See a […]
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Bullying Prevention Bullying is a widespread problem with harmful—sometimes tragic—consequences. As the school year gets into full swing, now is the perfect time to focus on reclaiming the promise of public education for all children by creating safe and welcoming learning environments. There are many ways to engage in bullying prevention and intervention; each approach […]
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TAKE SURVEY HERE. Dear Educator If you are a regular education teacher in grades 1-12 in a public school and have taught for at least one year, you are invited to participate in a survey that explores your experiences in working with children who have a chronic condition. Children with chronic conditions make up more […]
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New MFP won’t require teacher raises LFT President Steve Monaghan: “There is no real negotiation over the use of funds. Those who have the authority will make the choice.” This week the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved an MFP Task Force report that recommends a 2.75 percent increase in the $3.5 billion formula, […]
Read More Appeal court vindicates 7,000 fired educators To read the Court of Appeal ruling on the case, called Oliver et al v OPSB et al, please click here. (Baton Rouge – January 16, 2014) Some 7,000 teachers and school employees who were wrongfully terminated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were vindicated Wednesday by a five-judge […]
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Thank a Million Teachers Help Farmers’ Insurance Thank A Million Teachers and Give A Million Dollars to Teachers Farmers’ Insurance is giving away $2,500 grants to America’s teachers and you can help! Take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to an educator that’s made a difference in your life and your community. Everyone has […]
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Chad Garland, CPA is offering a 20% discount for ALL RRU members on Tax Preparation.
Read More This Week’s Teacher Tip Use “seconds” as a way of getting students to clean up. At the end of the period tell the students that each item left on the floor counts as 30 seconds off their recess. After the first day of 3 minutes off recess we rarely have to stay […]
Read More Bogus reform group touts vouchers again (Baton Rouge – January 14, 2014) To no one’s surprise, an organization dedicated to promoting school vouchers for private and religious schools is heaping praise on Louisiana’s voucher scheme. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute today released a review of vouchers across the United States, and lauded Louisiana as a […]
Read More What Does the PISA Report tell us about US Education? When the OECD releases the PISA report every three years, many people use the ranking to claim public education in the U.S. is failing and push their corporate education reform agenda. But looking at the data, lessons that can be learned from the highest […]
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Tell Jindal and White they are wrong about teachers! For the second time, a state court has struck down Act 1 of 2012, the so-called “talent act,” because it violates a prohibition on bundling too many objectives in a single law. Act 1 is a reflection of the governor’s very wrong opinions about teachers. We […]
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(Baton Rouge – January 8, 2014) For the second time in less than a year, a Baton Rouge district court judge has ruled Act 1 of 2012, the so-called “talent act,” unconstitutional. Judge Michael Caldwell first ruled the act unconstitutional last March, agreeing with a lawsuit brought by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. The judge […]
Read More Audit slamming voucher schools is no surprise, LFT president says (Baton Rouge – December 17, 2013) A legislative auditor’s report criticizing state oversight of the controversial school voucher scheme was foreseen by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers more than a year ago, Federation President Steve Monaghan said today. “I do not hate to say we […]
Read More AFT’s First Book Program All teachers can sign up for the AFT First Book program. If you work in a school, community program, library, or city or county program in an under-resourced community, sign up with First Book to get free and low-cost new books for children in your area. You can also register with Share […]
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USA Today Article A poverty, not education, crisis in U.S.: Column Oliver Thomas 4:57 p.m. EST December 10, 2013 New studies show that the number of poor children is rising and the impact it has on learning. The latest results of the Program for International Student Assessment — which measures […]
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Parents, teachers, students and community members in 100 different locations across the United States held a large coordinated action to reclaim the promise of public education, as part of the December 9 Day of Action to Reclaim Public Education.
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People who are looking for information/apply for insurance through the federal marketplace can go online and find assistance by inputting their zip code. The results will vary depending on where you live. AFT has empowered the AFT ACA Liaisons to assist members in their states. We have gone through the informational seminar AFT provided and […]
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Bossier people, while Teach for America is not a documented threat right now, it could very much be so in the near future. Educate yourself and get involved! Teach for America was founded in 1990 by Wendy Kopp as a program that strives to “eliminate educational inequity by enlisting high-achieving recent college graduates and professionals […]
Read More AFT’s Weingarten: “The crucial question we face now is whether we have the political will to move away from the failed policies and embrace what works in high-performing countries so that we can reclaim the promise of public education.” WASHINGTON—Statement by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the Program for International Student Assessment […]
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Numerous studies show that early childhood education has positive effects on children long after they finish their education. From their first day of kindergarten, children who attended prekindergarten perform better academically in a classroom setting and do better socially with their peers. But it doesn’t stop there—in long-term studies, children who had high-quality early childhood […]
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Bus Drivers are responsible for the critical task of making sure that our students get to school and back home safely. That being said, there are laws and policies in place in order to ensure student safety on buses. There is no set maximum number of students who can be transported on a single bus, […]
Read More Paula’s Educational Supplies http://shop.paulased.com/ 302 Ockley Drive Shreveport, LA 71105 Paula’s Educational Supplies is offering 15% discount for all Red River United Across the Pond and Beyond – Tours to Ireland This business was founded by a former teacher and RRU member. $100 off tours to Ireland for all Caddo and Bossier school employees. […]
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UStream Video Link What you need to know about Student Learning Targets (from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers) Student Learning Targets (SLTs) are a crucial part of a teacher’s COMPASS evaluation. To make sure that your evaluation is an appropriate, accurate and fair representation of your professional abilities, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers offers the […]
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There are two ways to “Report It!” 1. Take the Louisiana Federation of Teachers’ survey about COMPASS. We want to know what you think about COMPASS! Whether you’re having a problem, or just want to report an issue, please click here and take the all-new LFT COMPASS survey. 2. Email us locally. “Report It!“ is a […]
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(or click here to print the fax-friendly form.) Our fax number is 318-424-4503.
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Recurring Payment Authorization Form for Charter, Private, Recovery School District, Students, Substitutes, Contract Workers, etc.
If you prefer, click on the image for the bank draft and credit card options. Print and complete the form. After completely filling out the form, fax it to (318) 424-4503 or mail the form to: Red River United, 1726 Line Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101
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