State of AEA

8/11/2019 State of AEA

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State of AEA

September 2014

AEA, directed by its Board of Directors and contractual managers, is

in a crisis of leadership that threatens the future of the

organization. By all measures, AEA is at a critical point in itshistory. AEA is beset with both external and internal threats to its

welfare and thus to its membership and to Alabama public education at

large.

The following provides data on the state of AEA in six areas

membership, finances, external standing, role of the Executive

Secretary, internal organizational standing and AEA staffing.

AEA Membership. While specific membership data are not

available, it is known that AEA membership is declining by the

thousands. It is imperative that the strongest plans possible be

developed to maintain membership and that membership projectionsbe reflected in the FY 15 AEA budget.

AEA Finances. The following data show that expenditures have

increased while revenues, membership fees, assets and savings

have all dropped since FY 11. Savings (Reserves) have dropped

from some $13 million in FY 11 to $6 million in FY 13. If a

substantial part of this reserve is used to balance the current

year or FY 15 budget, no reserve will be left.

FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14

Revenues (millions) $21.1 $19.8 $18.6 -$ 2.5 (millions)

Expenditures $21.5 $20.8 $21.9 +$ .4

Membership Fees $15.0 $14.1 $13.7 -$ 1.3

Assets $20.8 $20.2 $16.5 -$ 4.5

Current Assets $17.1 $16.7 $12.9 -$ 4.2

Savings $12.7 $ 9.9 $ 6.5 -$ 6.2

External Standing of AEA. In no area has AEA suffered more

damage than in the Alabama political arena, specifically in

relationships with the Governors Office and the Legislature.

AEA has been attacked and undermined in almost every conceivable

way including:

o

Loss of payroll deductiono Exclusion from the RSA Boards

o K-12 public school funding cut (18.7%) more than in any

other state in the nation

o Per pupil expenditures cut 21.7%

o Loss of some 8,000 public education personnel, including

teachers


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Role of the Executive Secretary. The style, personality and

performance of the Executive Secretary have created intolerable

friction between AEA and members of both parties in the

Legislature with resultant loss of respect, standing and

influence. Legislators and others complain that telephone calls

are not returned during the session. The Executive Secretarys

style has been described as a bull in a china shop who carriesthe shop with him wherever he goes. The Executive Secretary has

been advised to stay out of the Legislature. Specific comments

and questions from members of the Legislature include, How long

is AEA going to keep Mabry? to Mabry is killing AEA in the

Legislature.

Internal Organizational Standing of AEA. Any organization faced

with external threats to its role and existence is severely

handicapped in addressing those threats, if the internal

organization and operation are also threatened.

AEA employees are committed to the organization, are competentand able, work hard and are loyal. However, the morale, energy

and frustration levels of AEA employees are evident.

Currently, the work environment within AEA is not healthy.

Internal communication is absent or non-productive, an atmosphere

of intimidation exists. Specifically, the Executive Secretary is

isolated, by choice and design, non-communicative, secretive, and

relies, in large part, on external consultants rather than the

internal professional staff. Access to the Executive Secretary

is limited primarily to e-mail or telephone exchanges, most often

through his assistants. There are no staff meetings. The

Executive Secretarys office is dark, cluttered, uninviting and

essentially not usable except for the desk of the Executive

Secretary. Use of the third floor conference room is generally

prohibited.

The atmosphere of secretiveness, bullying and admonishments has

resulted in an atmosphere of intimidation and mistrust. A staff

member when recently approached about a work related topic asked,

in a whisper, that the discussion be held in the break room

because of fear of being overheard and misinterpreted to appear

to be questioning or challenging the Executive Secretary.

A staff member when asked by a colleague for job related data

replied, Sure, I will get the data. But, you know what?Frankly, I dont care anymore. An external corporate executive

made the observation that, AEA is a twilight zone.


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AEA Staffing. With retirements and non-replacement of staff, the

internal professional staff has been reduced substantially.

o The four member Governmental Relations staff is gone

o

The two-member member Member Benefits staff is goneo The four member Public Relations staff is gone

o The Student Membership staff position no longer exists

o The Education Policy and Professional Practices staff is

reduced

These programmatic functions have been distributed among

remaining staff, combined in joint units or , for the most part,

contracted out to lobbyist and consultants. The practice of

hiring highly paid contract personnel and friends while

eliminating professional and management positions threatens the

terms and conditions of staff employment duly established by the

Board. Contract lobbyists are hired to do the job that AEA staffcould do and previously did. Outside lobbyist have no stake in

AEAs operations or its future.

Documents

State of AEA