With the 2012 general election approximately five weeks away, MASSP, MASA, MASB, MAISA, and MSBO have joined forces to create a member engagement campaign and website (Stop2and5.com) that will give the education community a more prominent voice going into election day, Tuesday, November 6.

Principals typically don't get much recognition, so during the month of October, which is recognized as National Principal's Month, we are going to celebrate the great work that all of us do.

Principals are generally so concerned about everyone else's morale that we don't think about our own. Each week during the month of October MASSP will bring you a special message to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that it takes to be a building level administrator. Kudos to all of you in the field who get up early, stay up late–going above and beyond to get the job done!

MASSP has joined forces with MASA, MASB, MAISA and MSBO this week in putting out a joint statement and website (www.stop2and5.com) with information and talking points for members on Proposals 2 & 5.

The MASSP Board of Directors voted this week to oppose Proposals 2 and 5, which will appear on the November ballot, because of potential negative consequences they could have on student achievement. Even though Rosh Hashanah on Tuesday made for a shortened session week, Senate still managed to pass into law a pair of bills that mandates that schools provide an opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance each school day.

The legislature is back and they wasted no time in diving right back into school issues. The House promptly passed a pair of bills to require that, beginning in the 2013-14 school year, districts "ensure that an opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States is offered each school day" and that a flag is appropriately displayed in each classroom for this purpose.