Honoring civil rights history

Noemi Medina of the UFT, and her husband, Fernando, look over the exhibit honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s contributions.

Charlene Testut of Ithaca Federation of Teachers and Lynn Romanick of the Baldwinsville ESPA get information from staffer Davida Twitty.

Karimah Lawrence of Washington Irving High School sings the national anthem to open the convention. On her left, Robert Astrowsky of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, longtime chairman of the Credentials Committee, reported that as of 7 p.m. Thursday, there were 1,891 delegates registered, 81 non-voting alternates and 624 registered visitors.

Taking a Jeopardy challenge from Education & Learning Trust staffer John Strom are, from left, Michael Lyons of Wappingers Congress of Teachers and Buffalo Educational Support Team members Carmen Ortiz, Gail Brooks and Evelyn Hunter.

Louis Catalano of the Maryvale TA with Snoopy.

NYSUT local leaders got the latest information about the state's Contract for Excellence program from NYSUT staffer Dan Kinley, pictured above, and State Ed representative Chuck Szuberla. Under the new rules for 2008-09, the number of eligible districts will drop from 56 to 39, and three new districts will be added. Also, there will be more flexibility in using money, and academic after-school and Limited English Proficiency programs will be added to the C4E menu of allowable purposes.

Learning about NYSUT's new-member programs from staffer Frank Ciarlo are Jenn Auteri and Jeanne Saeli of the North Babylon TO.

John Rigney, Rochester TA retiree, reports out.

Jeffrey Weiss, above, and Benjamin Williams, below, take their chances at filling the Medicare doughnut hole.