Membership Letter from Ms. English
A letter to our teacher members from President, Marietta English. A schedule of events for the new contract is attached as well.
Who Decides? WE Decide.
Walker thinks he can cripple our union by making payroll deduction for union dues illegal. By re-committing to our union and continuing membership, we are standing strong and sending a message: Walker can’t legislate away our union, he can’t decide that we don’t have power, he doesn’t decide – we do.
To join in building our union, click the button below and continue your union membership and our ability to fight Walker, his agenda and the stripping of our rights. You’ll be redirected to a secure website where you can sign up to continue your membership no matter what Walker says. This information is for union purposes only and will never be shared with an outside party. Deductions will only begin if payroll dues deduction is eliminated, and your information will be kept secure.
We can build our union and take back Wisconsin. It’s all up to us. Who decides? We decide!
12-Month Pay Compare
Please see the attached information on the 12-month salary comparison for going from 21 to 26 pays.
NYSUT suspends work with SED, blasts Board of Regents for "breach of faith."
Regents' approval of flawed evaluation regulations was clearly a breach of "good faith" collaboration -- and President Dick Iannuzzi announced, effective immediately, that NYSUT is suspending collaboration with SED for the rest of the academic school year, including participation and co-sponsorship of SED's June 13-14 district/union collaboration conference at Cornell, as the union weighs legal options.
The state Board of Regents adopted regulations that ignore the recommendations of the Regents' own task force; ignore best practice documented by nationally recognized researchers; and contradict the state's recently passed law on teacher/principal evaluations. The regulatory changes are a breach of the agreement forged with NYSUT to develop a fair, comprehensive system of teacher evaluations.
NYSUT is exploring legal avenues to challenge the regulations, which were approved by the Regents in a 14-to-3 vote, with Regents Tilles, Rosa and Cashin commendably voting "no." Due to NYSUT's strategy that the law require the process for teacher evaluations to be negotiated locally through collective bargaining, we can continue to negotiate educationally sound evaluation procedures even as we challenge the Regents' action approving the option that could open the door to "double-counting" and other changes in the regulations. Here are talking points to use in messaging to members and to the community. We've also posted what others are saying, including education scholars and Regent Tilles condemning the action. NYSUT United comes out next week and will feature in-depth analysis.
Teachers of the Year decry Regents action on teacher evaluations
Sylvia Saunders - NYSUT Communications - May 23, 2011
Ever the excellent teacher, Rochester's Rich Ognibene offered news reporters a compelling analogy to explain why he and seven current and former New York State Teachers of the Year are saddened and frustrated over the Board of Regents' decision to allow up to 40 percent of a teacher's evaluation to be based on their students' state standardized test scores.
Rally to Stand Up for Our Kids Draws Over 100 Parents and Teachers to Prunedale Elementary
Over 100 teachers, parents and students gathered on Thursday, May 19th to protest the untenable class sizes at prunedale Elementary School and across the District. Thanks to everyone who came out and suppported this event.
Wisconsin Update
Please consider contributing funds to the Wisconsin recall efforts:
http://wisconsinrecall.net/
As part of the backlash against Governor Scott Walker's assault on public workers and teachers in particular, there has been a tremendous effort to recall sitting senators who supported the governor's radical plans. Signatures for recall elections were gathered at a record pace across the state. Six Republican senators (and three Democrats) are up for recall elections, and this is historic since only 20 public officials in US history have ever been forced into a recall election. The recall elections are slated for July 12. A change in the composition of the Wisconsin Senate would send a clear message across the country to politicians who choose to attack public employees and public services.
Tilles: Don't Grade Teachers on Test Scores
Roger Tilles is Long Island's representative on the New York State Board of Regents.
OpEd: by Roger Tilles
May 16, 2011
Retirement Seminars
Retirement Seminars for those who would like information on retirement
May 2011 Newsletter
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