Latest news with #WorkKeys
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Union calls on Española School Board to intervene in student immigration data dispute
The Española Valley High School football picture in an undated photo. A teachers union is calling on the Española School Board to intervene after an effort last month at the high school to collect student immigration data. (Photo courtesy EVHS) The National Education Association of New Mexico sent a letter Tuesday to the Española School Board asking for a 'full and detailed explanation' of who authorized Española Valley High School's directive to teachers last month, ostensibly as part of a standardized test, to collect students' immigration statuses. The union also accused the district of deleting the information it collected, which leaders said amounted to 'destruction of evidence during an open union investigation.' That prompted the union to file a Prohibited Practice Complaint with the Public Employee Labor Relations Board of New Mexico. 'We fear not only the impact these actions have on our membership but the students as a whole,' the union wrote in the letter. 'We are writing to seek your help to rectify these matters. The district and staff deserve to have a school district that is lawful and free of fear and intimidation.' A teacher posted on Reddit on April 21 that they had reached out to the union after teachers were asked to collect the data as part of the WorkKeys standardized test, an assessment that the ACT created to measure job readiness. An ACT spokesperson told Source New Mexico last month that it never seeks that information, saying its collection is 'not a requirement for taking our exams and is not information we collect or use in any way.' Española high school sought students' immigration status as part of standardized test The letter calls on the school board to, by June 2, provide copies of all internal communications and documents regarding the directive; an 'explanation of the rationale' for later deleting the collected data; and confirmation about whether the data was ever transmitted to ACT, Inc. In an interview Tuesday with Source New Mexico, NEA-NM spokesperson Edward Webster said the district needs to 'stop playing the game' with the union and teachers about what happened and be transparent about what happened and why. Eric Spencer, the Española superintendent, did not respond to an email Tuesday afternoon from Source New Mexico. The school board meets this evening at 6 p.m., but the matter is not on the agenda. School board president Javin Coriz did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon. The effort to collect the data occurred amid fears that that information could be turned over to federal immigration authorities, and a few months after border patrol agents boarded a Las Cruces swim team's school bus. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently said in an interview with Source that the state is continually beating back efforts by the federal government to collect private data about New Mexicans, including immigration data. The Legislature also passed several bills aiming to keep immigration data out of federal hands. The state Health Care Authority also recently denied a request from the federal Agriculture Department for cardholder data of those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program assistance.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Union calls on Española School Board to intervene in student immigration data dispute
The Española Valley High School football picture in an undated photo. A teachers union is calling on the Española School Board to intervene after an effort last month at the high school to collect student immigration data. (Photo courtesy EVHS) The National Education Association of New Mexico sent a letter Tuesday to the Española School Board asking for a 'full and detailed explanation' of who authorized Española Valley High School's directive to teachers last month, ostensibly as part of a standardized test, to collect students' immigration statuses. The union also accused the district of deleting the information it collected, which leaders said amounted to 'destruction of evidence during an open union investigation.' That prompted the union to file a Prohibited Practice Complaint with the Public Employee Labor Relations Board of New Mexico. 'We fear not only the impact these actions have on our membership but the students as a whole,' the union wrote in the letter. 'We are writing to seek your help to rectify these matters. The district and staff deserve to have a school district that is lawful and free of fear and intimidation.' A teacher posted on Reddit on April 21 that they had reached out to the union after teachers were asked to collect the data as part of the WorkKeys standardized test, an assessment that the ACT created to measure job readiness. An ACT spokesperson told Source New Mexico last month that it never seeks that information, saying its collection is 'not a requirement for taking our exams and is not information we collect or use in any way.' Española high school sought students' immigration status as part of standardized test The letter calls on the school board to, by June 2, provide copies of all internal communications and documents regarding the directive; an 'explanation of the rationale' for later deleting the collected data; and confirmation about whether the data was ever transmitted to ACT, Inc. In an interview Tuesday with Source New Mexico, NEA-NM spokesperson Edward Webster said the district needs to 'stop playing the game' with the union and teachers about what happened and be transparent about what happened and why. Eric Spencer, the Española superintendent, did not respond to an email Tuesday afternoon from Source New Mexico. The school board meets this evening at 6 p.m., but the matter is not on the agenda. School board president Javin Coriz did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon. The effort to collect the data occurred amid fears that that information could be turned over to federal immigration authorities, and a few months after border patrol agents boarded a Las Cruces swim team's school bus. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently said in an interview with Source that the state is continually beating back efforts by the federal government to collect private data about New Mexicans, including immigration data. The Legislature also passed several bills aiming to keep immigration data out of federal hands. The state Health Care Authority also recently denied a request from the federal Agriculture Department for cardholder data of those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program assistance.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Española high school sought students' immigration status as part of standardized test
The entrance to Española Valley High School in an undated photo. Local teachers' union officials said administrators at this high school asked teachers to collect information about students' immigration data. (Photo courtesy EVHS) A teacher at an Española high school recently sounded the alarm after a principal requested teachers fill out a database of student information, including citizenship status, as part of an abruptly announced standardized test. The 11th grade teacher called a representative with the National Education Association teachers' union, which sent a cease-and-desist notice to the district superintendent and also told its members not to comply with the information collection, a union spokesperson told Source New Mexico. The spokesperson also said the school where this occurred is Española Valley High School. 'It came to our attention that a request was made to our educators in Española to determine the immigration status of students in order to, supposedly, register them for a standardized test,' National Education of New Mexico President Mary Parr-Sanchez said in an email. 'The request fell outside the scope of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, and our members were informed that they need not to comply.' The teacher, who declined to comment to Source New Mexico, posted April 21 on an educators' forum on Reddit that administrators were seeking student citizenship status as part of the rollout of WorkKeys, a job skills assessment run by the same company that does the annual ACT exam for high schoolers preparing for college. 'It is a test that no one at the school has ever administered before and from the way admin explained it, it sound[s] like our new superintendent kind of just sprung it on us out of the blue,' the teacher posted. '(It's worth noting that we have only 5 weeks of school left, so to introduce an entirely new assessment so late in the year seems highly odd.)' The request for citizenship status in the Española school occurs amid widespread fears among Hispanic and immigrant communities about federal raids and how citizenship status databases could be used to aid in mass deportation. The Legislature this session passed legislation, which the governor signed, aiming to prevent citizenship status data collected locally from being sent to federal immigration authorities. NM advocates call for statewide immigrant data protections amid fear of mass deportation 'Especially given the political climate, this seems like data that is highly improper to request from students,' the teacher wrote. Española Superintendent Eric Spencer told Source in an email Friday that he got an email from the NEA 'regarding their concern related to testing.' He said his staff has made contact with union leadership and is working with them on the issue. 'The district takes all matters of student confidentiality seriously,' he said. Spencer did not return emails and calls seeking further comment this week. Members of the Española School Board also did not return phone calls seeking comment. According to the union, the emailed letter from the union cited the 1982 Plyler v. Doe U.S. Supreme Court case that guarantees the right to a free, public education for all children, regardless of their immigration status. 'Children, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status, should be free from worry that the educators and administrators tasked with their instruction, safety and well-being would ever seek to cause them harm,' Parr-Sanchez said in a statement to Source NM. NM immigration, civil rights groups back enhanced digital privacy protections Following the back-and-forth with the union, the superintendent has 'responded to our cease and desist letter and informed us that the behavior has stopped,' NEA-NM spokesperson Adell Medovoy told Source. The union declined to provide the letter, calling it 'internal communications,' she said. The union is unaware whether the request for citizenship status went to other schools in the district, 'although we are on the alert,' Medovoy said. A lawyer for the union involved in the cease-and-desist actions, Todd Wertheim, told Source in a brief phone conversation Monday that it was possible a second letter would be necessary soon, though he did not elaborate and did not respond to follow-up phone calls. Also unclear is why administrators would have tied the ACT's WorkKeys standardized assessment to a request for student immigration status. The company describes the assessment as a way to determine job-readiness for certain industries, evaluating students' on 'a range of hard and soft skills relevant to any occupation, at any level, and across industries.' Juan Elizondo, a spokesperson for the ACT, told Source in an email Tuesday that his company has no clue why anyone taking the exam would be asked for immigration status. 'We cannot speak to why any examinee would be asked about immigration status in connection with an ACT exam,' he said. 'This is not a requirement for taking our exams and is not information we collect or use in any way.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Textron Aviation Raises the Bar for Workforce Development With State-of-the-Art Career & Learning Center
WICHITA, Kan., April 23, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Textron Aviation Inc. a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced its new Career & Learning Center is complete and fully operational serving prospective, current and future Textron Aviation employees. Strategically located on the company's East Wichita Campus, this state-of-the-art facility expands the training footprint to more than 75,000 square feet and provides a world-class employee experience during the application, hiring, onboarding and training processes. "The Textron Aviation Career & Learning Center is an important investment in building the next generation of aviation manufacturing, support and professional talent," said Ron Draper, president and CEO. "Recruiting, hiring and training a world-class workforce is vital to our ability to provide the best aviation experience for our customers." The Career & Learning Center is divided into four different zones to support applicants and employees in their hiring and training journeys. Career Zone Textron Aviation is actively hiring and welcomes walk-in applicants at the Career & Learning Center Career Zone lobby. Dedicated recruiters provide prospective employees with personalized support at every step, from resume assistance to role matching and job applications. Public operating hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Pre-Employment Zone Pre-employment processes are housed onsite for a one-stop location for new employees to conveniently complete onboarding, WorkKeys testing and new hire training. Learning Zone Professional and technical training rooms are fully equipped to develop employees' skills. In addition to classroom learning, the west bay hangar features a simulated manufacturing floor, preparing newly hired mechanics with unparalleled hands-on experience. With eight weeks of training and support, this industry-leading model is designed to equip employees new to aviation manufacturing with the technical knowledge needed to move seamlessly into permanent roles with increased confidence and productivity. Design. Build. Fly. Zone The dedicated K-12 space, intended to develop early interest in aviation as a career, accommodates age-appropriate, hands-on activities to engage students and educators alike, sparking curiosity and passion for the aviation industry. Students can explore the joy of flying by interacting with an iconic Cessna Skyhawk 172 simulator, the world's leading trainer aircraft. "We are passionate about creating environments where future and current employees can be inspired and thrive," said Maggie Topping, senior vice president, Human Resources & Communications. "The Career & Learning Center is equipped with the latest technology to provide realistic environments for training scenarios that mimic the reality of our manufacturing operations, setting our employees up for success from day one." This more than $40 million project is part of Textron Aviation's multifaceted approach for developing the company's world-class workforce, by focusing on ongoing skill development, certification and talent development activities. In recognition of the importance of aviation to the state, Kansas awarded Textron Aviation $3,325,000 for a portion of the facility construction as part of the Aviation Learning Opportunities & Funded Training (ALOFT) grant. The project was supported by Wichita-based vendors and contractors, including SPT Architecture, Conco Construction and Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC). Applicants are encouraged to join the Textron Aviation team by exploring current job openings at or visiting the Career & Learning Center at Suite 400, 293 S. Greenwich Rd, Wichita, Kansas 67206. About Textron Aviation We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight. For more information, visit | | About Textron Inc. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Kelsi Hinshaw316.665.0680khinshaw@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Textron Aviation Raises the Bar for Workforce Development With State-of-the-Art Career & Learning Center
WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Textron Aviation Inc. a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced its new Career & Learning Center is complete and fully operational serving prospective, current and future Textron Aviation employees. Strategically located on the company's East Wichita Campus, this state-of-the-art facility expands the training footprint to more than 75,000 square feet and provides a world-class employee experience during the application, hiring, onboarding and training processes. 'The Textron Aviation Career & Learning Center is an important investment in building the next generation of aviation manufacturing, support and professional talent,' said Ron Draper, president and CEO. 'Recruiting, hiring and training a world-class workforce is vital to our ability to provide the best aviation experience for our customers.' The Career & Learning Center is divided into four different zones to support applicants and employees in their hiring and training journeys. Career Zone Textron Aviation is actively hiring and welcomes walk-in applicants at the Career & Learning Center Career Zone lobby. Dedicated recruiters provide prospective employees with personalized support at every step, from resume assistance to role matching and job applications. Public operating hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Pre-Employment Zone Pre-employment processes are housed onsite for a one-stop location for new employees to conveniently complete onboarding, WorkKeys testing and new hire training. Learning Zone Professional and technical training rooms are fully equipped to develop employees' skills. In addition to classroom learning, the west bay hangar features a simulated manufacturing floor, preparing newly hired mechanics with unparalleled hands-on experience. With eight weeks of training and support, this industry-leading model is designed to equip employees new to aviation manufacturing with the technical knowledge needed to move seamlessly into permanent roles with increased confidence and productivity. Design. Build. Fly. Zone The dedicated K-12 space, intended to develop early interest in aviation as a career, accommodates age-appropriate, hands-on activities to engage students and educators alike, sparking curiosity and passion for the aviation industry. Students can explore the joy of flying by interacting with an iconic Cessna Skyhawk 172 simulator, the world's leading trainer aircraft. 'We are passionate about creating environments where future and current employees can be inspired and thrive,' said Maggie Topping, senior vice president, Human Resources & Communications. 'The Career & Learning Center is equipped with the latest technology to provide realistic environments for training scenarios that mimic the reality of our manufacturing operations, setting our employees up for success from day one.' This more than $40 million project is part of Textron Aviation's multifaceted approach for developing the company's world-class workforce, by focusing on ongoing skill development, certification and talent development activities. In recognition of the importance of aviation to the state, Kansas awarded Textron Aviation $3,325,000 for a portion of the facility construction as part of the Aviation Learning Opportunities & Funded Training (ALOFT) grant. The project was supported by Wichita-based vendors and contractors, including SPT Architecture, Conco Construction and Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC). Applicants are encouraged to join the Textron Aviation team by exploring current job openings at or visiting the Career & Learning Center at Suite 400, 293 S. Greenwich Rd, Wichita, Kansas 67206. About Textron Aviation We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight. For more information, visit | | About Textron Inc. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
