Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/998957
The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 eliminated the individual income tax deduction for lobbying expenses paid or incurred as a part of membership dues on or after December 31, 1993. This change affects only those members who itemize deductions and meet the 2% requirement for additional miscellaneous deductions. For 2018-2019 those members will not be able to deduct as union dues the 15% of WEA dues attributable to lobbying. This is a total of $76.95. This amount is effective for income tax year 2019, i.e. your tax return due April 15, 2020. WEA Allowable Dues Deductions The hallways at Powell High School look similar to many of the halls of high schools across the state. Students are studying at tables, cramming books into lockers, and high fiving friends and teachers in the hall. And thanks to Wendy Smith, who teaches biology, environmental science, and natural resource science, a portion of that hallway will look a little greener in the future. Smith worked with WEA grants coordinator and North- west UniServe Director Elise Roubilard to secure a grant from NEA Foundation that is only awarded to its members. With the grant money, Smith plans to cre- ate a vertical garden to explore agriculture at the high school level. She will then offer some of the herbs and growth to the test kitchen for use in class. When asked how she was inspired to write the grant, Smith says, "There are so many things I like to do and I like to have my kids involved in hands on activities. I went to see a presentation at a conference called 'Ed- ible Labs' that showed plants and crops you could use in the classroom. I was inspired to do the same." This is only one of the many accomplishments Wendy Smith has made at Powell High School. She was also awarded through the National Science Teachers Asso- ciation and received the DuPont Pioneer Excellence in Agricultural Science Award in March of 2018. Congrat- ulations! If you have an inspirational story about an educator or professional staff person doing amazing things in your school, contact WEA Communications and Organizing Director, Andrea Shipley at ashipley@wyoea.org. NW Region President John Fabela congratu- lates Wendy Smith on her successful year at Powell High School. Growing a Strong Classroom and Career 23