BSEA leaders present union role, membership data and local programs to board

Lauren Hedrickk, president of the Big Spring Education Association (BSEA), and Mallerie Fren, president-elect, presented to the committee of the whole on Oct. 6, describing the local union's role, membership and community supports.

Hedrickk said BSEA represents professional staff in the collective-bargaining unit — including classroom teachers, school counselors, nurses, instructional coaches, psychologists, speech/language pathologists, career and transition coordinators and athletic trainers — and that the collective-bargaining agreement governs pay scales, benefits and working conditions. She emphasized the local association is nonpartisan and said dues are not used to endorse political candidates.

The leaders highlighted local engagement: a 2024 staff survey showed 41% of responding professional staff live inside the district and more than 30% had children enrolled in district schools. They described extracurricular volunteerism, scholarship fundraising (noting that staff donated $4,800 in senior scholarships last year) and a new kindergarten registration book project that will let families pick a book for entering kindergartners.

Board members asked about connections to state and national organizations. Hedrickk and Fren said the local affiliates are the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the National Education Association (NEA). They explained PSEA and NEA provide support; political-donation mechanisms are separate at the state and national level (for example, PSEA's voluntary PACE fund). Hedrickk offered to provide additional information on state/national dues and political-activity rules by request.

The board thanked the presenters and said it looks forward to building-level reports from building representatives during the school year.