Month: July 2017
Vote NO in November on a Constitutional Convention
Election Day — November 7, 2017 Continue reading
Help Secure a NO VOTE on the NYS Constitutional Convention
NYSUT is working to ensure a NO VOTE on the Constitutional Convention this November, and is asking for our help. They will be holding retiree phone banks every Tuesday starting August 1st at the Suffolk Regional Office in Hauppauge.
These phone banks will run from every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will entail retiree activists contacting fellow NYSUT retirees to educate them on the perils of the Constitutional Convention.
There will be a phone bank training on Tuesday, July 18th from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Suffolk RO to familiarize callers with the new phone banking system. While it is not mandatory to attend the July 18th training in order to participate in the subsequent phone banks, it is strongly encouraged. We are now utilizing a computer list/script system for phone banking which will make our efforts much more effective. Once it is demonstrated it is very easy to use, but if you have not used it before, you will need a brief training/demonstration.
Please spread the word to your fellow retirees. You can RSVP for the July 18th or any of the Tuesday phone banks by contacting Theresa Rampello at 631-273-8822 or trampell@nysutmail.org.
SUNY Proposes Changing Charter School Teacher Certification Requirements
On Thursday, July 6, the SUNY Charter School Committee, proposed new regulations that would allow teachers at SUNY authorized charter schools to work without obtaining a master’s degree or passing certification exams. that is charged with overseeing SUNY authorized charter schools. The Charter School Committee is a four member sub-committee of the SUNY Board of Trustees.
NYSUT, along with the state’s schools chancellor and Board of Regents chair have spoken out against these proposed regulations. Posting on the official NYSUT website, President Andy Pallotta stated —
What the charter industry is essentially saying is, ‘Give me a few weeks and I’ll authorize almost anyone we want to be a teacher.’ This backdoor approach fails students and would be a grave disservice to aspiring charter teachers. It is a travesty.SUNY is looking for public comment on the proposals, and NYSUT urges all members to visit the Member Action Center (MAC) and voice their opposition. To read more on this topic visit the NYSUT website and Chalkbeat.org.Congratulations to the Retiree Class of 2017
The R-UTN welcomes five new members to the retiree ranks —
Ellen Comiskey, Pulaski Road Special Education
Margaret Minardi, Northport High School Art
Angela Mislowack, Northport High School Special Education
Pamela Waldroup, Northport High School Art
Linda Van Yahres, Pulaski Road Fifth Grade