WHEREAS, the American Federation of School Administrators acknowledges that safety is a fundamental right of all students, families, staff and community members across the United States, especially at their schools; and

WHEREAS, school shootings have become a far-too-common occurrence, jeopardizing the physical and emotional safety of all stakeholders at schools; and

WHEREAS, the American Federation of School Administrators supports legislation protecting federal and state immigration and sanctuary policies for students; and

WHEREAS, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a federal government program created in 2012 under then-President Obama to allow undocumented children brought to the United States the temporary right to live, study and work in America; and

WHEREAS, the prospects for a decent retirement for most Americans is shrinking, including many working families that are not saving at all and are woefully unprepared for retirement; and

WHEREAS, it is time for our country to commit to moving from retirement security for just a lucky few to retirement security for all; and

WHEREAS, many Americans lack access to a retirement savings plan through an employer; and

WHEREAS, AFSA and its members are committed to the highest-quality public education for all students; and

WHEREAS, public education is the foundation of our democracy, and where our students come to be educated in the fullest sense of the word, as citizens of this great country; and

WHEREAS, AFSA members strive on a daily basis to make every public school a place where we prepare the nations young people to contribute to our society, economy, and citizenry; and

WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO is the labor center for American workers and fights tirelessly for economic justice and civil, labor and human rights for workers across the world; and

WHEREAS, it is more important than ever in the current environment for labor to stand strong with all members of our community in the continuing fight for economic, social and racial justice; and

WHEREAS, when educators and all working people join together in a union, we all win better wages, health care, benefits and retirement protections; and

WHEREAS, AFSA understands that attacks on unions, including the Janus v. AFSCMEU.S. Supreme Court case, as well as schemes to prohibit payroll deduction, require annual union recertification and the elimination of collective bargaining rights, are constant threats to our ability to negotiate for these basic rights; and

WHEREAS, the American Federation of School Administrators is both outraged and deeply saddened by the rash of school shootings that have devastated our nation for the past two decades; and

WHEREAS, AFSA asserts that the appropriate response to school gun violence is legislation that supports the provision of appropriate mental health services to help identify and treat students who are at risk for perpetrating acts of school gun violence; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that the voice of school administrators be heard at the local, state and national political levels; and

WHEREAS, each member of the American Federation of School Administrators should be encouraged to become actively involved in speaking out, speaking up and helping to make a positive change in the local, state and national political venues; and

WHEREAS, active involvement by AFSA members will result in positive outcomes for our profession;

WHEREAS,the American Federation of School Administrators has, during the past several years, developed action partnerships with other prominent national organizations representing school leaders, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), to represent a united front when speaking in front of Congress, and

WHEREAS, when working people have a seat at the table, we have a voice in the agenda; and

WHEREAS, over the past four years, the AFL-CIO, along with the AFL-CIO state federations and affiliated unions, have focused on recruiting labor candidates and winning elections across the country;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that AFSA encourages more of our members to run for public office by creating state-level programs to train and support labor candidates.