Many American education policies reinforce the inadequacies of our approach to education: the misues of standardized testing, the narrowing of the curriculum, the emphasis on competition over collaboration, and other top-down reforms that have divested parents and teachers of input and have led to inadequate support and difficult conditions - all producing rampant teacher turnover. 

Read the Quality Education Agenda here

PISA is the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment. Every three years it tests 15-year-old students from all over the world in reading, mathematics and science. The tests are designed to gauge how well the students master key subjects in order to be prepared for real-life situations in the adult world.

The bad news is most state education systems are falling dangerously behind the world in a number of international comparisons and on our own National Assessment of Educational Progress, leaving the United States overwhelmingly underprepared to succeed in the 21st century economy.

VOTE TODAY

A&R is proud to endorse the following candidates for local office.  The first four candidates are A&R members and are running for office in local elections.  If you live in any of these towns.

VOTE TODAY

Support the candidates that support collective bargaining.  All endorsed candidates were vetted by our COPE committee and determined to be supportive of working people and their right to unionize.

• JONATHAN HAND – COVENTRY TOWN COUNCIL
  
  • A&R Member

• ROBERT PERO – NEW LONDON BOARD OF EDUCATION
  
  • A&R Member

• MATT SAUNIG – GLASTONBURY TOWN COUNCIL
  
  • A&R Member

• SHIRLEY SURGEON – HARTFORD CITY COUNCIL
  
  • A&R Member

• BILL GARRITY – PLAINVILLE TOWN COUNCIL
  
  • University Health Professionals union president/AFT-CT vice president

• KAREN PAGLIARO – BERLIN MAYOR

• MARY BYLONE – COLCHESTER FIRST SELECTMAN

• ROSEMARY COYLE – COLCHESTER BOARD OF SELECTMAN

• MARY TOMASI – COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION

• MICHELE WYATT – COLCHESTER TAX COLLECTOR

This may have been the most cordial bargaining meeting we have had all year. CTA rejected the District's two-year proposal and passed it's "Comprehensive Package Proposal" (mimicking the District's title) across the table. The District did not pass anything across the table.

Opening Statement by President Wendy Doromal Bargaining Session, October 30, 2019:

One would think that school districts would have class. It appears that ours is in need of some serious schooling, including comprehensive lessons on good faith bargaining, respect and proper conduct.

A reminder to those members who qualify for longevity payments: the payment will be included in the 10/24/19 paycheck. To qualify, you must have 10 years of service as of 10/1/19 and a start date prior to 7/1/2011.  View the longevity charts at this link or in the back of the blue contract book (one page before the index).

President Doromal's message to the October 23rd Bargaining Session:

The Open Enrollment has begun and runs through December 7. Any changes will be effective January 1, 2020.