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ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT
CERTIFICATION/REQUIREMENTSProfessional Development Tracking Form
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CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE VOTE-COPE is money used for lobbying to protect all that we think is important in education. We desperately need people in Albany who support funding for public schools, who will stand up to preserve pension and tenure laws, and who will not allow our right to collectively bargain disappear. Very few realize that Tier III (1976) and Tier IV (1983), as originally enacted, called for NYSUT members to pay 3% of their salaries for their entire careers, and did not allow us to collect even a penny of our pensions until we turned 62. How did that change? Through hard-fought battles over the past twenty-eight years...battles that required money for our relentless lobbying efforts. (BY LAW, OUR UNION DUES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE USED FOR POLITICAL LOBBYING). With 10,000 NYSUT members having lost their jobs recently, those of us lucky enough to be working or collecting pensions are being called upon to help make up the loss of their VOTE-COPE contributions. Your union leaders are so incredibly grateful for those on payroll deduction. We thank you for making life easier by not having to solicit you every year for a VOTE-COPE check. We recognize that our Teaching Assistants earn far less than teachers and ask that you please, please consider a donation located on the form. |
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Membership Cards
Please contact Robin Jones if you have any questions about membership cards. casasjones@aol.com
NYSUT Member Benefits
As a new member of NYSUT, you are entitled to participate in NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed programs and services.
BOCES - Employee Benefits
Dental/Health/ Life Insurance - Flexible Benefit Plan - Workers' Compensation - COBRA - BOCES - Employee Benefits
NYS Teachers Retirement System
Are you a member of the New York State Teachers Retirement System. If not, contact Building #4 (627-4713) to ask for information about joining the retirement system.
Health and Safety
Protocol for reporting a Health and Safety issue. First let the supervisor know about the situation. If it is not resolved, let Eric Kurz know via email - ekurz76@hotmail.com
Membership Discounts
2010-2011 AFT+ Member Benefits
The IRS has increased the standard mileage rate for the final six months of 2011. The rate will increase to 55.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven from July 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2011. This is an increase of 4.5 cents from the 51-cent rate in effect for the first six months of 2011.
All staff members are entitled to 4 hours each year for a mammogram or prostate screening. Choose ‘Health Screening’ on AESOP. After your apt. fill out a personal leave form, fill in health screening as the reason, attach the receipt or Dr. note, give to your supervisor.
NYSUT Member Benefits
Please contact Robin Jones if you have any questions about membership cards. casasjones@aol.com
As a new member of NYSUT, you are entitled to participate in
NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed programs and services.
An avalanche of advocacy by NYSUT leaders, activists and staff carried the day in the closing hours of the legislative session as both houses passed a powerful privacy bill that protects individual teachers' evaluations from release to the media and public.
"This is a tremendous victory for NYSUT and its members," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "Along with the 2010 legislation that established collective bargaining as the tool for shaping the evaluation process, it represents a hugely significant win -- one that rightly defends the privacy of our members, who deserve respect for the important work they do and protection against the media's shameless focus on sensationalizing a process dedicated to advancing student learning."
The bill accomplishes two important goals: It stops the despicable media exploitation and distortion of evaluation information, and it appropriately keeps teacher personnel records confidential. The governor's bill also permits parents -- and parents only -- to request limited composite information concerning their child's current teachers.
Here's NYSUT's news release and here's the text of the bill as passed. NYSUT Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta said: "Credit goes to our dedicated leaders, activists, legislative staff and the whole NYSUT team, who tirelessly and successfully conveyed to lawmakers the reasons why teacher accountability is not the same as media sensationalism."
- April 20th – Represented a member in a meeting with Peter Blechman
- April 20th- Attended a summer school meeting with Jason Kahn, Patti Trout, Shirley Clay, Karen Michelson and Amy Albers,
- Staff must be certain to follow summer school application procedure to the end, submit and print out a receipt to be reassured they have completed the application process correctly.
- April 23rd- Attended the Retirement/Tenure Reorganization meeting with Bill Toussaint, Ana Reluzco, Kathy Triola and Tim Adams.
- Staff that received tenure or retired between August 31, 2011 and August 2012 will be honored on May 30th prior to the Board Meeting.
- April 25th-28th – Attended the local President Conference and RA in Buffalo N.Y. Tim Brown attended the RA as a BSA Delegate.
- April 30th – Attended a meeting with Ana Reluzco
- May 1st – Attended a meeting with Ana Reluzco and Bill Toussaint
- May 2nd- Attended NYSUT SLO training in Tarrytown.
Questions regarding the APPR process.
How many times are we being observed a year?
Twice a year
Observations will count as 60% of the score
There are members who are currently going through training and will inform the teachers with up to date information.
The APPR is only for the teachers, the other instructional staffs such as speech are still in question.
- PT, OT, VI and HI therapist will not be evaluated by the APPR
The negotiation team will begin to hash out how to monitor scoring, language and how the rubric is scored.
- Congratulations to Kevin Connell and ALL of the members of the BSA that increased their Vote Cope contribution. Rockland BOCES received the Abel Blattman Award at the RA for their contributions. As a result we received a Vote Cope check in the amount of $1,3637.70 this year.
- Kevin Connell, our Political Action Chairperson has registered to attend the Committee of 100 on May 21 and 22nd in my place because of the scheduling conflict with our participation in the Collaborative Conference.
BOCES STAFF ASSOCIATION VOTE on the budget and addition of Amendments
BSA BUDGET:
231 Yes, I accept the BSA Budget
60 No, I do not accept the BSA Budget
AMENDMENTS TO THE BSA CONSTITUTION:
A) Amend article VIII, section B (Procedures for Nominations and Elections of Building Representatives), number 5 to read: "For units with more than twenty (20) staff members, the representatives will be determined by a ration of 1:20, Units with twenty (20) or fewer staff members will be entitled to one (1) representative."
Currently reads: "For units with more than fifteen (15) staff members, the representatives will be determined by a ration of 1:15, Units with fifteen (15) or fewer staff members will be entitled to one (1) representative."
222 YES 73 NO
B) Amend article IX, section C (UNION REPRESENTATIVE), to add number 4: "A union representative cannot collect an honoraria as a building representative and a union representative simultaneously."
261 YES 34 NOThe APPR will have to be negotiated and approved by January 17, 2013.
Professional Development Tracking Form
Instructions For Everyone Who Needs To Complete Professional Development Hours:
1. Download HR form from our website
2. Complete the form as staff development occurs and have your supervisor initial each entry
3. Once all professional development has occurred (usually late in June), have your supervisor sign your form and hand it in to Ana Reluzco
4. Ana will input the information onto your TEACH site
The professional development requirements for individuals holding professional certification in a teaching title or level III teaching assistant certification. Holders of these certificates are required to complete and report professional development in order to maintain those credentials. Specifically:
- Professional certificate holders must complete 175 clock hours of professional development every five years, and
- Level III teaching assistants must complete 75 clock hours of professional development every five years.
It is important to note that these are the only certificates that require continuing professional development for certification purposes. All other teaching and teaching assistant certificate types (such as provisional certificates, permanent certificates, initial certificates, transitional certificates, continuing certificates, etc.) do not require completion of professional development in order to maintain a valid certificate.
There is an Information Bulletin that provides additional information to assist NYSUT members in meeting the requirements set forth in Section 80-3.6 of the Commissioner's Regulations:
The form below is provided for use by individuals holding either a Professional certificate or a Teaching Assistant Level III certificate. Complete this form to report all approved Professional Development Activities. Certificate holders will submit the signed form to the Office of Human Resources for submission to SED.
PDHours.doc
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BOCES Attendance Monitoring - An Abbreviated Guide
(From the BOCES Attendance Monitoring Handbook, Revised October 2008)In September 1989 BOCES developed an Attendance Monitoring Handbook. The purpose of the handbook was to improve attendance for all staff and to recognize the impact poor staff attendance has on quality programs delivered to your students.
BOCES considers absences in excess of 5% rule to be excessive. Personal sick and family illness days will be used to calculate an individual’s absences.
BOCES will review absences and look for patterns in attendances: Mondays, Fridays, Wednesday (staff dev) and days adjacent to school recesses/holidays. “Poor attendance will have a negative impact on a probationary employee’s chance of tenure or permanent employee”Guidelines were developed and targeted dated for conferences established: September 1-November 30th, December 1- ______. These dates are only recommendations. Conferences can be held at anytime based upon an individual’s attendance. BOCES has also developed an improved attendance form which can be given to an individual based upon his/her attendance.
Please note that this is the most current document available but the BOCES has the right to revise this document anytime in the future.
NYSUT MEMBER BENEFITS
Teachers, Public Employees: Are You Being Hit by Budget Cuts? Money Magazine Wants to Know
Money magazine is seeking possible subjects for an article on the effects of government budget-cutting on public employees. This would include teachers and anyone else who works for a public entity. The magazine is looking for people whose long-made plans and assumptions about working and retirement have been upset by budget cuts and other actions driven by government revenue shortfalls. The deadline is January 23.
In exchange for participating in the story, employees who are selected would receive a free financial review and "makeover" by a financial planner. The magazine is looking for particular household demographics (see below). ANYONE CHOSEN TO BE IN THE STORY WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO THE PUBLICATION OF PERSONAL, HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
If you're interested in participating, the magazine's deadline for potential subjects to interview is JANUARY 23. Contact AFT public affairs staffer Tom Lansworth at 202-393-6351 or e-mail him at Tom.Lansworth@aft.org
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BOCES Family Annual Food Drive for People to People
BOCES Staff Association President Debra Kydon and members Kevin Connell, Eric Kurz, Rich Siddi and Breda Purdy Brave the 13 degree weather on Sunday to Kick off the BOCES Family Annual Food Drive for People to People (Sponsored by BSA) at Shop Rite in Garnerville. 474 lbs of food was collected in 3 1/2 hours.
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Member Benefits has new program endorsements
NYSUT Member Benefits has endorsed two new programs and has enhanced an existing endorsed program.
- A new Level Term Life insurance program is offered by The United States Life Insurance Company.
- A new pet insurance program offered by VPI Pet Insurance -- part of Nationwide -- offers a variety of coverage options for dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets.
- The endorsed Dental Plan (formerly known as the Retiree Dental Plan) is now open to both in-service members and retirees.
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Mobilize voters now for special elections and budget votes
This is an important year to mobilize voters among your membership, their families and supporters of labor and NYSUT issues. Plan ahead!
March -- Special elections will be held in a number of Assembly and Senate districts. Dates have not been set, nor has the NYSUT Board of Directors decided whether to endorse in any of these races.
April 24 -- Republican and Democratic presidential primaries.
Also -- Election for delegates, by congressional district, to both Republican and Democratic national conventions.
May 15 -- School budget votes.
June, August or September -- The primary election day for Assembly and Senate races is currently under debate. All 150 seats in the Assembly and all 62 seats in the Senate are up for election. We will update.
Nov. 6 -- General election nationwide for President and a variety of state Assembly and Senate races and one U.S. Senate seat.
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Union protests SED's shocking move to yank SIG funds
NYSUT strongly condemned the "dictatorial" behavior by SED following Commissioner John King's suspension of all School Improvement Grant funding to 10 districts statewide.
King said he was not satisfied with their progress on teacher evaluation plans. This decision jeopardizes much needed funds for student services. Given that the evaluation is a small component of school improvement plans for what are some of the state's neediest districts, it is also unconscionable and illogical. President Iannuzzi and VP Maria Neira observed this is just the latest in a series of epic failures by SED that have prevented effective implementation of the APPR law it developed in 2010 and distribution of federal Race to the Top funds.
It is "shocking," Iannuzzi said. "SED and Commissioner King have demonstrated that they have totally lost their way in shepherding real, meaningful reform — reform aimed at helping New York's most vulnerable students with support and encouragement, not NCLB-styled sanctions ... SED is obviously more interested in being a bully than providing leadership."
NYSUT is pressing this issue through a blitz of media appearances by President Iannuzzi, which will include a press event planned for Monday on the steps of SED. Watch for an email alert Monday telling you how you can join in and speak out against these bullying tactics.
Here's NYSUT's statement in reaction to the SIG decision, and here's SED's announcement.
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An aggressive NYSUT media blitz addresses the State of the State
In the wake of Gov. Cuomo's State of the State speech this week — which called for a new "commission on education" and creation of a Tier 6 -- NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi spoke to more than a dozen media outlets to hammer home key points on behalf of our members and students. With the governor vague on what a commission's eventual "blueprint for education" could mean, Iannuzzi said NYSUT at this point welcomes working with a commission to advocate for what students and educators need to advance learning. "As long-time advocates for our students, we invite the governor to work shoulder to shoulder with us in ensuring all children receive a quality public education," Iannuzzi said.
Other NYSUT points: There's no need to redo the law on teacher evaluations -- as Cuomo suggested in his remarks -- because it is a sound law that appropriately relies on collective bargaining to develop local plans. The concern is a potential to strip collective bargaining. Nonetheless, the union shares the growing frustration with SED's inertia and would welcome the governor's leadership in getting SED to support districts and locals in developing their plans. Encouragingly, Cuomo's proposal for a Tier 6, which the union adamantly opposes, generated no response from the legislators or from journalists in questions after the speech.
Here are links to:
A summary of Iannuzzi's responses to the speech.
A synthesis of what Cuomo said (and didn't say) on education and labor topics with relevant excerpts from the State of the State.Top
Districts can't enact special ed mandate relief
The recent action of the Board of Regents regarding special education mandate relief was an endorsement of proposals, but not a change in special education requirements. SED must now pursue a change in state law in order for those mandate relief proposals to become reality.
However, some districts have begun to act as if those changes have already occurred. As a result, SED sent out a field memo this week to school districts noting that "none of the mandate relief proposals that were discussed are in effect and the state's current rules relating to Committee on Special Education and Committee on Preschool Special Education membership, evaluations, and planning and reporting requirements must be followed."
The complete SED memo can be found at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/mandaterelief-dec2011.htm
In the meantime, NYSUT is moving forward with its advocacy partners to coordinate activities and make sure the Legislature clearly hears our concerns regarding these proposed special education changes.Top
These Republican presidential candidates do not stand with us on the issues that are important to AFT members and our families.
The 2012 presidential nominating process is officially under way with yesterday's Iowa caucuses. At various times over the past several months, at least seven different Republican candidates led in the pre-caucus polls, but last night Mitt Romney narrowly defeated former Sen. Rick Santorum, with both candidates receiving approximately 25 percent of the vote. Ron Paul finished third with 21.5 percent, and Newt Gingrich finished fourth with 13 percent. This race continues with the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Despite the fluidity of the Republican race, one thing has remained constant: These Republican presidential candidates do not stand with us on the issues that are important to AFT members and our families. Here's a sampling of what Romney, Santorum, Paul and Gingrich have been saying on critical issues, including the recent fight in Ohio:
Mitt Romney: "My friends in Ohio are fighting to defend crucial reforms that the state has put in place to limit the power of union bosses and keep taxes low. I stand with John R. Kasich and Ohio's leaders as they take on this important fight to get control of government spending." (Facebook; Politico.com, Oct. 25, 2011)
Rick Santorum: "I do not believe that state, federal or local workers … should be involved in unions. And I would actually support a bill that says that we should not have public employee unions for the purposes of wages and benefits to be negotiated." (Fox News/Google debate, Sept. 22, 2011)
Ron Paul: In an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace, Paul reiterated his belief that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are all unconstitutional, saying, "Technically they are [unconstitutional]. … There's no authority in the Constitution. Article I, Section 8, doesn't say I can set up an insurance program for people. What part of the Constitution are you getting it from?" (Fox News interview, May 15, 2011)
Newt Gingrich: "You say to somebody, you shouldn't go to work before you're, what, 14, 16 years of age—fine. You're totally poor. You're in a school that is failing with a teacher that is failing. I've tried for years to have a very simple model. Most of these schools ought to get rid of the unionized janitors, have one master janitor and pay local students to take care of the school. The kids would actually do work, they would have cash, they would have pride in the schools, they'd begin the process of rising." (Remarks, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Nov. 19, 2011)
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Regents budget plan nowhere near enough
The Regents approved a 2012-13 budget proposal calling for an $805 million (4 percent) increase in state aid. This would include $755 million in increased school aid, plus $50 million for the first year of implementation of performance improvement and management efficiency grants authorized in the 2011 budget.
To ease the expected budget pain, the plan recommends expanded use of BOCES, multi-district reorganizations, regional high schools, mandate relief and support for options addressing health insurance costs for school district employees.
The Regents recommended 73 percent of the $755 million increase would be targeted to high-need schools. Click here for the Regents plan. The governor is expected to present his proposed budget Jan. 17. Lawmakers have until March 31 to approve a new budget. NYSUT will continue to strongly advocate for more than the 4 percent increase. Schools and higher education are still reeling from $1.7 billion in cuts in this year's state budget.
Dick Iannuzzi Discusses Education Funding
Education funding has traditionally caused big battles in Albany. After New York City schools successfully challenged the way cash is distributed, small city districts filed a lawsuit of their own. That's now before the state's highest court. The teachers union is supportive of that suit, and is mulling taking it one step further. NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi sat down with Liz Benjamin to discuss. Click on image below to view the video.
Common Core Standards: Getting it right!
The Regents approved the New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards in January, with introductory phase-in to begin this school year.
According to the State Education Department, this is a transitional year, with school districts providing support and professional development on how to incorporate the new standards into instruction. SED has posted a handful of exemplary lessons and Commissioner John King has urged teachers to try aligning at least one unit per semester with the common core standards.
While a recent NYSUT survey shows members are aware of the Common Core State Standards, too many districts are not providing members with the professional development that is needed. We're hearing reports from the field that some principals and superintendents are trying to require teachers to submit lesson plans aligned with the new common core standards. This is NOT a state requirement this year. Nothing is mandated until 2012-13. (In fact, this spring's state assessments in ELA and math will continue to be based on the 2005 learning standards.) It's also important to keep in mind that many collective bargaining agreements include provisions about lesson plans. The introductory phase-in does not supersede collective bargaining agreements. Local leaders are encouraged to bring to their labor relations specialists any concerns about contract violations or unilateral changes in working conditions in connection with the common core standards.
"Our position is very clear. We support the common core standards because they are deeper, clearer and, if implemented appropriately, can improve student learning," said NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira. "However, in order to make this sea change in planning for instruction, we need quality professional development, adequate time and collaborative teams working on capacity-building."
Once again, Neira noted, SED is rushing the transition and not getting the sequence right. SED is planning to leapfrog to new assessments on the common core standards in 2012-13, before all of the curriculum modules are ready. "We are continuing to advocate for a meaningful transition so this effort can be successful," Neira said.
Neira urged local leaders to ensure practitioners are involved with district and school-level committees working on realigning instruction. For background information, SED has set up a new Web page, EngageNY.org, with exemplar lesson plans, a video and an overview of the 12 major shifts in instruction. In addition, the union's Education & Learning Trust and the state's Teacher Center network are partnering to offer professional development opportunities to help educators with the transition.
Rockland BOCES Family Giving Back To Our Community
Up-Coming events:
Food drive:
January 9-Feb 3 2012 Did you know: in the month of Oct. People to People’s food pantry serviced 1229 families in Rockland County. Out of that number 134 were emergency cases and 139 were senior citizens. With the holidays coming they predict all of their numbers will be at an all time high. Members of BSA will be collecting non-perishable foods from our BOCES Family Members as well as outside local grocery stores during this drive.NYSUT rolls out the TED system during American Education Week
The union this week announced the release of "TED," the new Teacher Evaluation and Development system that aims to advance student learning and professional development by establishing teachers as participants in -- not merely recipients of -- their own evaluations. The TED handbook and workbook are available for school districts statewide, posted at www.nysut.org/ted.
As leaders, you've already heard about this. The public launch is intended to spread the word that this innovative tool is available to help local unions and school districts meet the requirements of the state's APPR law. TED is covered extensively in the December issue of NYSUT United, due in mailboxes early next week.
"A comprehensive, integrated Teacher Evaluation and Development system, driven by practitioner knowledge and experience, is critical to advancing student achievement and professional teacher development," said NYSUT VP Maria Neira. "The TED system breaks new ground in accomplishing that mission."HELP PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS: TELL CONGRESS TO REJECT CUTS TO EDUCATION IN WAKE OF SUPER COMMITTEE FAILURE!
The "Super Committee" failed to reach a deficit reduction deal by their November 23 deadline. With your help, NEA fought hard to prevent the Super Committee from crafting an unbalanced deal that would have cut Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and education funding without including significant revenue from the wealthiest in our nation. However, the failure to reach an acceptable deal has triggered "sequestration" or automatic cuts scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2013.
These cuts, if unchanged and implemented, could slash billions from education and cause additional loss of jobs across America. The 2013 cuts could total at least $3.54 billion for education, including:
A cut of $1.1 billion to Title I that would impact almost 1.5 million disadvantaged students,
A cut of $896 million to IDEA that would impact more than a half a million students with disabilities, and
A cut of $590 million to Head Start that would impact more than 75,000 young children.
See the projected impact of these cuts on education.The cuts to education programs would also result in a projected loss of more than 71,000 jobs in communities across America.
Take Action Today: Tell Congress to protect education from further cuts.
Don't sign on to the principals' letter on APPR
Look before you leap! NYSUT is telling leaders and members not to sign on to the "Principals' letter" on Annual Professional Performance Reviews because it calls for changes that would undermine APPR protections now guaranteed to our members under state law.
The letter recommends that every teacher be assigned one APPR score based on an entire building's performance. That would mean, for instance, using state math and ELA test scores in evaluations of art, music and physical education teachers -- a widely discredited practice that NYSUT has long opposed. If that were to happen, it would undermine the essential protections NYSUT secured in law that require teacher evaluations to be based on multiple, objective and valid measures of effectiveness. Also objectionable: the letter's implication that the evaluation system would cause our members to act unprofessionally and opt out of meeting the needs of special ed students and students who are English Language Learners. What's surprising is that the letter does not speak to principals' own APPR evaluations but focuses exclusively on trying to shape teachers' evaluations.
We are all frustrated with SED's misinterpretations on APPR -- but our members should understand what signing on to this position letter would mean. As NYSUT continues holding SED accountable through the court system, tell your members: Bottom line, don't sign.
Michael Krutchick
Michael is a graduate of ours. He was with us for 4 years. He is currently battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia (see story).
We organized a fundraiser here at SHS, have sent a card to the family and are planning to donate money to him in lieu of doing a "Secret Santa" this year.
We are asking for our extended BOCES family to do spread the word and donate, as well. This can be done by linking to his website to the right. We thank you for your support.
The road ahead is long and Michael is going to need a few passengers. Are you ready to ride with us? Gloves Up & Ready to Fight!
Recently diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Michael Krutchick, begins his fight to become a cancer survivor and to raise awareness of this disease.
So what is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)? AML is a quick developing cancer which starts inside bone marrow.
This type of cancer is typically found in adults around 60, making Michael's diagnosis rare. The abnormal cells in his bone marrow are growing rapidly; therefore healthy blood cells are decreasing and bone marrow function is diminishing. Thankfully Michael's healthcare team is aggressive and are hopeful of a remission period after his initial rounds of chemotherapy.
Michael was admitted to NY Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center on October 3, 2011. He is a patient on the 10th floor, where he has just finished a 10 day (24 hours each day!) chemotherapy treatment. I told you he's brave!! Michael has also undergone several platelet and blood transfusions to help get his AML under control. Vincent (big bro) has been swabbed to see if his stem cells are a match. These stem cells will eventually play a valuable role in Michael's continued treatment. We will know more about this when Michael enters part two of the treatment process. Tomorrow (10/19) Michael is having his third bone marrow biopsy to see if there are abnormal cells left after this round of chemotherapy. It's an uncomfortable procedure for him & we need you to help us keep him on the up & up.
From the Office of the Governor
Click below to learn more about the innovative economic plan.
Watch live streaming video from newyorkstateofficeofthegovernor at livestream.com
The Union of Clerical, Administrative and Technical Staff (UCATS), representing 1,400 employees at New York University has been in contract negotiations with NYU since September 14, 2011. Over nine bargaining sessions NYU put just one proposal on the table - to restrict UCATS members to the greivance and arbitration procedures in cases of discrimination - thus denying us access to the EEOC. Then, on October 26, the university presented proposals on wages and health insurance givebacks that amount to six years of pay cuts. NYU had a $114 MILLION profit in the last fiscal year. They have not said that they cannot afford to pay living wages or provide affordable health insurance. They have said that they no longer want to. The proposals UCATS has made at the bargaining table are modest and universal: living wages, affordable health insurance and respectful working conditions. Please sign our petition to support the 1,400 UCATS workers at NYU.
That's why I signed a petition to New York University, which says:
"We the undersigned demand:
1. A fair contract for UCATS with living wages for the NYC metro area;
2. That NYU preserve affordable health insurance for ALL NYU employees;
3. That the UCATS bargaining team be treated with respect at the bargaining table."Will you sign this petition? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/support-union-workers?source=s.em.cp&r_by=1720498
Thanks!
Union Workers at NYU
From the NYSED Commissioner
There's a great new SED website for educators, EngageNY.org, with great teaching and learning tools including;
If you haven't checked it out yet, you should. 100,000 educators already have. It's really worth a look.
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Thanks to an all-out mobilization by NYSUT, bringing together members, parents and other advocates to voice opposition, the Regents backed off on an ill-advised special education mandate relief proposal: Rather than eliminating the school psychologist role on the Committee on Special Education (CSE) as proposed, the Regents agreed to maintain the psychologist on the CSE for meetings to determine a student's eligibility for special education services.
Regrettably, the Board of Regents this week endorsed some other problematic special education mandate relief proposals that would limit special education services. NYSUT will now raise our concerns with the state Assembly and Senate where almost all of these proposals will need legislative action in order to be implemented.
Among the proposals endorsed by the Regents:
- Eliminating the student's parent and the school physician roles on the CSE;
- Limiting the required participation of the school psychologist to the initial meeting to determine a student's eligibility;
- Eliminating subcommittees on special education;
- Repealing the required components for an initial evaluation
- No longer allowing a school psychologist to determine whether there is a need for an individual psychological evaluation
Bullying victim Jamie Nabozny shared his moving story with some 250 people at AFT & NYSUT's "See a Bully, Stop A Bully: Make a Difference" conference this week in Albany. Nabozny's survival story is the basis of the documentary film "Bullied." He also shared specific advice on what educators can do to stop the tacit approval and toleration of bullying. Here's a report and links to more resources.
In the very near future, Rockland BOCES staff will be able to register for courses with Moodle university through My learning Plan to earn professional development hours. Stay tuned!
Marisa will stay after work on Wednesday from 3:30 - 5:00 pm to orientate new members with information such as their building reps, communication, website, contracts, etc. If you would like to meet with Marisa please email her at Marisa73@optonline.net.
Some affiliates have received calls from Juan Williams and Kyle Olsen. These should be classified as hostile media looking to depict us in a negative light.
Recently, the Chicago Teachers Union received a call from Fox Network anchor Juan Williams who asked for an interview with the local president. While Williams said the interview was about school reform issues, it became clear, after much questioning, that he was seeking more than a standard news interview and revealed that his request was for a documentary, although he couldn't identify the producer.
Another phone call from Williams revealed that the interview was not for Fox but for a foundation that he also could not identify. The CTU then received a call from a man identifying himself as Kyle Olsen who said he just wanted to interview the CTU president about some local issues such as longer school day. When CTU researched the name of his group, per the e-mail address assigned to his name, it was clear his group was an anti-labor, anti-public school, neoconservative propaganda group. The CTU respectfully declined the interview, although they offered to make a statement.
Says CTU communications director Stephanie Gadlin, "Kyle wrote back saying how unfortunate it was that our president would not talk to him." Olsen's message included follow-up questions about charter schools, to which the CTU did not respond. Four days later, says Gadlin, "We were hit with a heavily edited, viral video distributed to mainstream media, via Andrew Breitbart's website." Breitbart is the conservative blogger who posted a highly edited video clip that cost Shirley Sherrod her job last year. Sherrod was the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural development office in Georgia whose speech to a Douglas, Ga., N.A.A.C.P. event was edited, taken out of context and distributed widely by Breitbart. He had also promoted videos that emerged in 2009 that ultimately brought down Acorn, the community organizing group.
Additionally, several CTU members have gotten phone calls from "students" requesting information about CTU finances and staffing. The phone numbers they left have been traced to consulting firms in New York.
Know there are hostile forces willing to twist and edit out of context and know your interviewer and who he or she represents before agreeing to interviews, videos or appearances. The AFT public affairs department and communications department stand ready to assist in identifying interviewers about whom you have doubts. Contact Kris Havens at Khavens@aft.org, or Janet Bass at JBass@aft.org for assistance.
NYSUT expects that the Board of Regents will be asked at their meeting on Monday, Nov. 14, to support a number of special education mandate relief proposals recommended by SED.
The majority of the mandate relief proposals would, if adopted, impact the ability of families of students with disabilities to obtain and receive appropriate special education programs. As educators across the state work to close gaps in achievement and prepare students for college and careers, these mandate relief efforts would only create additional challenges for students with disabilities and their families.
NYSUT is urging members to contact the Board of Regents right now and let them know your position on these proposals. Here's more information with a link to help you send email messages to the Regents.
Seeking comment
SED is seeking public comments on proposed regulations that would phase out the Individualized Education Program diploma for all students with disabilities. The change would establish a new credential only available to students with severe disabilities participating in the State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA). The formal comment period ends Nov. 21. See the following link for more information and how to submit your comment:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/comment/alternatecredential-announce.htm
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The Mitchell 20 Trailer from Mitchell 20 on Vimeo. |
"Mitchell 20."
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A new law, backed by NYSUT, will require insurers to cover screening, diagnosis and treatment for autism spectrum disorders. It includes routine toddler screenings, behavioral health treatments, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. That should bolster early and effective treatment and save individual families as much as $50,000 a year in out-of-pocket costs for 30,000 autistic New York children. The change will save schools and governments $13 million a year in special education, Medicaid and social services costs
Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo created a cap on local property taxes to ensure that all New Yorkers – not just politicians – help shape the future of their communities and our state. To provide New Yorkers with the information and tools they need to make their voices heard, Governor Cuomo has launched a new website called "Cap NY Property Taxes – A Citizen's Guide."
Below is a video message from Governor Cuomo about the property tax cap and here to visit the new website.
The "Citizen's Guide" helps residents decide whether a property tax increase for their local government is really necessary.
Decisions about property taxes affect your money, your local services, and your community, and the "Citizen's Guide" will help you to be involved in making them.
newyorkstateofficeofthegovernor on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free
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