"Top Stories." NYSUT. A Union of Professionals. http://www.nysut.org Tue, 13 May 2008 12:06:56 EST Tue, 13 May 2008 12:06:56 EST 60 en-us NYSUT activists reject tax caps and press lawmakers to stop raids on SUNY http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/mediareleases_10224.htm Nearly 1,000 teachers and other educators will descend on the Capitol Tuesday to urge legislators to stop a state Budget Division raid on SUNY tuition and fees, and to soundly reject a destructive proposal to cap school taxes. 

]]> 84EA1F0A5BD64C1D810FF7664DCFDB3F Mon, 12 May 2008 16:33:49 EST Tax cap would be 'the wrong direction' http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10143.htm NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin is making the case that a property tax cap "doesn't make sense" as the state continues making gains in closing the achievement gap.

]]> 4CB9E55830E94691904CDA8F05383422 Tue, 06 May 2008 10:03:12 EST Reviewers needed for certification tests http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10162.htm The State Education Department and Pearson Evaluation Systems are seeking New York educators to participate in test review conferences for the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations.

Since the implementation of the NYSTCE, SED has periodically reviewed and redeveloped the tests to ensure that they are current and consistent with state and national standards.

]]> 6FEA372DD2194D4E974B8B0989EDDB00 Tue, 06 May 2008 09:55:21 EST May 13 rally to bolster Port Jefferson local http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10157.htm Intent on sending a strong message, the Port Jefferson Teachers Association plans to picket the board of education on May 13, demanding an end to a dispute that's left union members without a new contract for almost two years.

]]> 9441A85CE7CC4E7CA4E37EB601B1DCB4 Tue, 06 May 2008 10:06:10 EST Focusing on the visibility of school nurses http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10148.htm While working as an elementary school teacher in West Sand Lake, Tom Hart  saw firsthand how often school nurses were first to detect vision problems in students.

]]> ACC50C5751D64F61A98863781C55A636 Tue, 06 May 2008 15:43:31 EST Westchester County special school serves neediest kids http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10164.htm Hawthorne Cedar Knolls is one of 13 Special Act districts around the state, so named for the special acts of the Legislature that created them.

]]> 879568650CCF45AA98226A5D5436F87A Tue, 06 May 2008 13:46:07 EST Analysis: 2008 Property Tax Report Cards http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/bulletins_10152.htm As required by law, each year prior to the school budget vote all districts must submit a Property Tax Report Card to the State Education Department. The data contained in the 2008 Property Tax Report Card compares the 2007-08 school budget with the 2008-09 proposed school budget and the 2007-08 tax levy with the 2008-09 projected tax levy.

]]> DE91C8ABE5234AA0A8C350D8BA65A8D5 Tue, 06 May 2008 16:27:52 EST Retiree insurance protected http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10145.htm Retirees can breathe easier knowing their health insurance is safe for at least one more year. Gov. Paterson has signed a NYSUT-backed bill that will continue health insurance coverage protections for many public education retirees.

The law extends until May 15, 2009, a measure that prohibits educational employers from diminishing health insurance benefits or contributions for retirees and their dependents, unless there is a corresponding reduction in benefits for active employees.

]]> 93EB5064267149D8AD87E236D6E0088F Tue, 06 May 2008 15:20:31 EST Collaborative model works for North Rockland http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10147.htm In North Rockland, educators took the first word of the state's Contract for Excellence program very seriously.

North Rockland emerged as a model C4E district as NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira recently traveled around the state to get a front-line look at implementation of the state's Contract for Excellence program.

]]> 733C1AE0C5704ADDB532AAA11A4FE57C Tue, 06 May 2008 15:39:09 EST Psychologists pursue therapy through advocacy http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10149.htm Psychologist John Kowalski of Canaan, Columbia County, has been to the annual lobby day sponsored by the New York State Psychological Association three times, and eagerly came back to march the marble halls of Albany again, days before the final state budget passed.

Gabrielle Brecht is a NYSPA psychologist from the Berkshire Farms Center who came to lobby day out of "interest and intrigue for how the process works."

]]> 5674B2B59A35481D85DC3FB963671492 Tue, 06 May 2008 15:47:58 EST East Ramapo picketing pays off http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10167.htm On the new superintendent's first day on the job, nearly 500 members of the East Ramapo Teachers Association gathered at the district offices after school to call attention to protracted contract talks. After a group settled under his window, Superintendent Ira Oustatcher came outside and walked wth ERTA President Irene Bielski, shown here speaking into the bullhorn held by Susan LoRusso. The next week Oustatcher sat down with the union leadership; the following week they worked out a deal. 'The teachers really came out when they were asked and I think that helped,' Bielski said. The new five-year contract provides a 15.55 percent salary increase, and elementary teachers will receive an additional prep period per week. The union will designate one representative for each building to be free of duty assignments so they can attend to union business in the building. To provide more instructional time for students, a ninth period will be added to the school day. It will be staffed only by teachers who volunteer to work periods 2-9 rather than the regular periods 1-8 work day. 'We'll see how it works out,' Bielski said. 'I've stressed that it's voluntary and a number of members said they like the idea of more flexible scheduling.' The negotiations team was headed by ERTA Vice President Matt Mulligan. Photo by Joe DiVincenzo.

]]> 5388301EB6684D678F497F704AC98973 Tue, 06 May 2008 10:14:09 EST Union fights the trend that starts with teaching to the test http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_10155.htm When districts are pressured to offer only what is on the test, music and art are the first to get forfeited.

]]> AF17E835F0064EDCBC406185AA6FAD58 Tue, 06 May 2008 09:51:44 EST