SLP Consultant Forums

Does anyone know the status of the supposed stipend that certified SLP's have supposedly been approved to receive?   I understood that it was approved, but state levels have not designated it to local schools districts.  This is to counteract the nationally certified teacher status since we have to be nationally certified along with a masters degree, correct?

 Your understanding of the stipend is the same as mine.  I haven't heard anything since the bill was passed. 

The bill was passed but not funded. Therefore, no money. What a surprise-not.

Does anyone know if status of getting the bill funded will be discussed at ARKSHA?  I know that the '09 budget is already being planned and it would seem that now would be the time for school SLPs to join together to get this bill funded in '09.  I have found out more about this bill from my daughter who works for a lobbyist for another group of health care providers than I have from SLPs. 

The last I heard was, yes, the bill passed, but there is no money .

Surpised ?

I sincerely apologize for not updating this site but in the past Shelly was not allowed to respond to information about our bill.  Now that I know this is okay to use this site, I will try to update periodically.  I have been interviewing lobbyists.  One thing I have learned after working on this bill for the past 5 years is that we need a lobbyist who has been a legislator and rubs elbows with the big boys.  Currently, our bill passed the first year which is a precendent in the nation.  Our bill was not appropriated.  It really should have been appropriated during the last session, but once again our lobbyist and sponsor waited too late in the session.  I have interviewed several lobbyist and will be making a recommendation for my pick to the ArkSHA board at the ArkSHA convention.  I am impressed with these two gentlemen, both of whom have been legislators themselves.  We get two for the price of one.  They are aggressive and will work for us.  They have given me great ideas not only for our bill but for helping us get better reimbursement for medicaid as well.  The committees do not meet until next May.  We need to have a lobbyist hired and in place by February.  They need to make contacts and we need to have a voice prior to the May committee meetings.  The legwork and paper work will start again, as we will have many new legislators in the next session. The lobbyist I interviewed said we need more sponsors and they already have some who they know will back us.   In addition, we will be making contact with the ADE and attempting to get their full support since our bill mandates them to pay our stipend.  We are working on a public awareness video that can be shown at superintendent conventions, AEA conventions, principal conventions etc.  The task force is fully committed to continue this fight.  We need every public school speech therapist in this STATE writing their own legislators and we need your parent groups writing as well.  The lobbyists with whom I would like to see ArkSHA hire has personal ties with many legislators and with our current Governor's office.  Please do not think we have dropped the ball.  We are working diligently on this bill.  Some positives did occur because of our legislation.  Some districts did elect to pay the local stipend supplement to their speech therapists.  This was a huge victory, but we want equality.  We want this stipend for ALL public school speech therapists.  We would love to see you at the board meeting at 4:30 on Wed., Oct. 3rd where I will be making some bullet points and recommendations to the ArkSHA board.  I would welcome your support and feedback.  If any of you would be interested in serving on the task force, please contact me at kmhall03@sbcglobal.net.

Sincerely,

Kay Hall

ArkSHA Salary Initiative Task Force Chair

The ArkSHA board met at the ArkSHA convention.  They have applications they are reviewing for the lobbyist position.  We had a great session on Tell Where ArkSHA to go that generated some ideas.  The one key issue is that there will be a huge turnover at the next session.  We need each speech therapist to write THEIR legislators as well as members of the budget committee.  We also need letters sent to Ken James,Director of the ADE to insure that the ADE fight for the mandate that by law they are required to place in their budget.  We need their support.  The next key issue is funding.  We need increased membership in ArkSHA to provide funds to continue to pay a lobbyist.  Key issues facing our profession is:  1.  salary initiative getting funded  2.  improve funding of medicaid for consumers with communication disorders and to help increase pay when audited.  3.  explore AUD and how this will impact students in Audiology. I have sample letters that you can personalize to your legislators.  E-mail me at kmhall03@sbcglobal.net to get a sample.

Kay Hall, Salary Initiative Task Force Chair

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