It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of a long time MNEA member and public education and community advocate. Here is the message from MNEA President Charles Smith:
It is with sadness that I must report that Ken Curtis, MNEA-R, died in his sleep Sunday night. As you know, he was an outstanding advocate for public education serving on the MNEA Legislative/Resolutions Committee. Ken often championed the NEA/MNEA causes with a letter to the editor. One was published in the St. Louis Post just this past Saturday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Please check the Post and the listserv for an update.
If you have attended the MNEA RA over the last 15-20 years, you would have met Ken. He was a tall man with a distinctive deep voice who spoke at the mic at least once at each RA. He also attended the National RA each year, however he did skip last year's conference.
Ken was passionate about education and the welfare of others. He strongly believed that advocacy not only brought about change, but it raised the consciousness of the public. With this belief, Ken wrote often to the Post Dispatch to raise awareness and his voice through the power of the pen. One can honestly say that Ken practiced what he preached to the very end. Last Sunday, The Post printed what may have been Ken's final letter. Below is the letter:
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015
REPUBLICANS' DE FACTO VETO OF MEDICAID EXPANSION
The editorial "Truth or dare" (Feb. 22) correctly suggests we should be following the example of Kentucky and 27 other states with Medicaid expansion bringing improved health care, more jobs and less budget tightening. It suggests our leaders fear emulating Kentucky because it would prove bad-mouthing of Medicaid expansion wrong. That‘s true. But there is another fear.
In our ALEC General Assembly, too many are fearful of losing perks provided by ALEC. For those not familiar with the American Legislative Exchange Council, it consists of corporate memberships and holds meetings to which lawmakers are invited to resort-style wining and dining meetings and “model legislation” is designed for lawmakers to carry home.
ALEC claims it has no lobbyists. Not so. Their lobbyists are the lawmakers who agree to promote the anti-public service agenda of ALEC. Medicaid expansion would expand public service in a direction opposed by ALEC.
State Sen. Ryan Silvey, a Republican from Kansas City, couldn't get a hearing on his proposal to expand. Rep. Jay Barnes, Republican from Columbia, found his colleagues unwilling to listen to his expansion proposal and the benefits it would bring. House Speaker John Diehl holds a prominent position in ALEC, and many of his colleagues are members. He and Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey continue to exercise a pre-emptive, de facto veto of Medicaid expansion by refusing to even allow its introduction and debate.
Ken Curtis • Valley Park I had the honor of serving with Ken on the MNEA Legislative and Resolutions State Committee. I learned so much from Ken and he was still the outstanding teacher. I will miss his voice, his love of dancing (He never missed a dance at the state and national RA!) and his knowledge.
Well done my friend. Well done.
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