feb-march_advisor

REPRESENTING

14 CEA ADVISOR FEBRUARY–MARCH 2019

COUNTY DIRECTORS ELECTED Members elected to CEA Board The following candidates have been declared elected in their respective counties. Fairfield County

LOCALS WITH FEWER THAN 76 MEMBERS ELIGIBLE FOR NEA CLUSTER DELEGATES Nomination forms available online

The County Cluster Nomination Form must be

Local affiliates with fewer than 76 members are combined by county to form cluster membership units for the purposes of representation at the 2019 NEA Representative Assembly (RA) in Houston, TX, July 3–7. The locals within each county cluster are encouraged to share costs. County clusters are achieved by identifying locals within those counties that have fewer than 76 members and, as such, are not eligible to elect a delegate to the NEA RA. Nomination procedures and eligibility requirements All members of local affiliates identified as part of a county cluster are eligible for nomination. The online nomination form contains a list of local affiliates that have fewer than 76 members as of January 15, 2019. Active classroom teacher members or NEA Life members are eligible to be nominated, provided their local is within a county cluster where an election is being held. Members may nominate themselves or other members in accordance with the eligibility requirements.

completed and submitted online by the last business day in March— Friday, March 29, 2019. County cluster positions available • Fairfield/Hartford/New Haven County Cluster: 1 position • Litchfield County Cluster: 3 positions • New London County Cluster: 1 position • Tolland County Cluster: 2 positions • Windham County Cluster: 3 positions Election procedures If an election is required, each candidate nominated will receive equal space for his/her qualifications, experience, campaign statement, and photograph (supplied by each candidate) published in the April edition of the CEA Advisor . Ballots will be printed in the CEA Advisor in the appropriate county in which the election is held. Properly completed ballots must be postmarked no later than the last business day in April—Tuesday, April 30, 2019.

Kathleen Gale, Darien

Marilyn Della Rocco, CES

Elaine Gencarelli, Stamford

Mia Dimbo, Bridgeport

James Allen, Shelton

Hartford County

New Haven County

Glenn Spencer, Bloomfield

Dan Hart, Southington

George Flaherty, Waterbury

Tara Little, Region 16

Tax Deduction for Teacher Expenses Renewed Eligible educators can deduct up to $250 of qualified expenses paid in 2018 when they file this year’s tax returns. Eligible educators include K-12 teachers and counselors who worked at least 900 hours in a school that provides elementary or secondary education, as determined by state law. If you and your spouse are filing jointly and both of you were eligible educators, the maximum deduction is $500. Qualified expenses include ordinary and necessary costs for books, supplies, equipment (including computers, software, and services), and other classroom materials, as well as professional development related to your curriculum or the students you teach. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your educational field. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your profession as an educator. An expense doesn’t have to be required to be considered necessary. For further information, consult your tax preparer or IRS Publication 529, Miscellaneous Deductions, irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-529 .

Read the list of rules and requirements and complete your NEA County Cluster Delegate nomination form at cea.org/members/elections .

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