News Feedhttp://www.nysut.org/utilities/feeds/news-feedDescription of RSS News Feeden{33E162BC-544F-4453-9081-F924B28459A2}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/port-chester-rallyKara SmithPort Chester Rallies in the Rain to Fix Tier 6<p>It was a cold and rainy March afternoon, but that didn’t dim the spirits of hundreds of Westchester County educators and activists who rallied in support of fixing Tier 6. The Port Chester Teachers Association, led by Christopher Kazim, organized “March on the 6th to Fix Tier 6” a rally and march highlighting the vast disparities between Tiers 5 and 6 and earlier pension tiers, and calling on lawmakers to institute changes. “I was sitting in gridlock traffic one day when it came to me ‘March on the 6th to Fix Tier 6,’” Kazim told the crowd. “Here we are, five months later, and I never could have imagined the tremendous support we have today!”</p><p> Chanting “Fix Tier 6” and clad in royal blue T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “March on the 6th Support Our Schools!” Port Chester activists were joined by supporters from several surrounding communities, including White Plains, Mamaroneck, Eastchester, Blind Brook and Harrison. “We did a big rally yesterday in Albany at the Capitol and they will continue until we see progress,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person, part of a broad slate of event speakers. Explaining that compared to earlier pension tiers, Tier 6 members must contribute more to receive significantly less in retirement, she called on supporters to fight for pension improvements on behalf of Tier 5 and 6 members. “If you look around you see solidarity across the generations and that’s important, everyone is united!”</p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"><div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xY9Ikb7iQCk?si=MPg6m7LlVcUkpOnf" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><br> <p> Other speakers included Westchester County Executive George Latimer, CSEA Unit 9200 President Hattie Adams, Westchester County Legislator Nancy Barr and several Port Chester administrators. </p><p> Kazim cited the work that earlier tier members put in to make improvements to Tier 4 and pledged to do the same on behalf of Tiers 5 and 6 colleagues. “We know change can happen, and we are in a similar situation with the current tiers,” he said. “The inequalities are staggering when compared to Tier 4 … it’s time to pay it forward as was once done for Tier 4. We cannot stop until Albany and Gov. Hochul hear us!” </p><br> Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:28:00 -0400{5682421E-2967-4D7D-9B5C-3A3CD529BC01}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/solar-eclipseEmily AllenTogether in totality: Eclipse Day brings out-of-this-world teachable moments for students and staff<h3>Palmyra Macedon Faculty Association member Joe Perry has been waiting for this since he started his teaching career in 1998.</h3> <p> “If it’s cloudy in upstate New York on April 8, 2024, it will ruin my decade!”</p> <p> Let’s face it, if there’s one thing you can rely on during the spring season in New York, it’s that the weather will be unreliable. </p> <p><img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/march/news_032524_eclipse_palmac_1.jpg" style="max-width:30%; height:auto; float:right; margin-left:10px;" alt="Palmyra-Macedon Faculty Association member Joseph Perry prepares for the total solar eclipse one year before the big day on April 8, 2023 at 3:22 p.m." /> But the Earth and space science teacher remains optimistic that even under cloudy conditions, his pocket of western New York will experience a spectacular celestial event that Monday: the region’s first total solar eclipse in 99 years.</p> <p> For those on the path of totality, it will be a rare opportunity to be plunged into darkness during the day as the moon passes in front of the sun. </p> <p> “The next total solar eclipse that will happen in our area of New York state is 2144, so that means that even kids who were born last week won’t be alive for that,” Perry explained.</p> <p>Perry says western and North Country New Yorkers will experience as much as four minutes of darkness, depending on exact location, and will be able to see five visible planets at the same time. And with a pair of binoculars, Perry says there’s even a chance to catch a glimpse of the “devil comet,” which only appears every 71 years. </p> <p> For years, he’s been advocating to make sure students can not only view and enjoy the momentous occasion but do so safely. </p> <p> As the timing of the eclipse will begin during afternoon school bus runs, thus posing a transportation safety hazard, Perry worked with his local to submit a resolution to the 2022 NYSUT Representative Assembly whereas NYSUT would request the State Education Department include language in their 2023-24 school calendar strongly encouraging all school districts in the state of New York implement a modified school day on April 8. </p> <p> Districts were ultimately allowed to make their own decisions, and most schools in the Rochester region, including Palmyra-Macedon Central School District, will be closed on the day of the eclipse. </p> <p> Along with several of his colleagues, Perry will be hosting a viewing party on school grounds for students, staff and community members. The district rented a digital planetarium and placed it in the gymnasium just in case the weather is unruly. </p> <p> “It is simply taking awe in the wonders of nature. There’s so much stuff out there that can distract kids and adults from that, but what science comes down to is observing, measuring and appreciating.”</p> <p> <img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/march/2024waynecofina_800x1200.jpg" style="max-width:30%; height:auto; float:left; margin-right:10px;" alt="2024 Wayne County Solar Eclipse" />About two hours northeast of Pal-Mac, students and staff at Belleville Henderson CSD will be celebrating the full week before the eclipse, as schools will be closed on April 8. Kids will be given eclipse glasses and student-designed shirts purchased with a NYSUT Solidarity Grant and community donations. The grant also helped pay for eclipse maps in every classroom and special eclipse photo filters that can be added on to cell phones to take pictures of the event. </p> <p> “I’m super stoked about it,” said Belleville Henderson TA President Heather Streeter, who teaches high school science courses. “I remember when I was in second grade going outside in the spring to watch a partial eclipse and it was one of those things that made me interested in science. So, I’m thinking now if one of our students is impacted by viewing this, who knows how far that experience will take them in life. It’s just one of those opportunities to remind our kids how much school and learning can be fun.”</p> <p> As a member of the district’s Eclipse Committee, Streeter and her colleagues have been ramping up for this day for the last few years. They brought high school students to SUNY Cortland’s planetarium and took younger students to the Museum of Science & Technology in Syracuse. They also coordinated to bring Cornell Cooperative Extension's mobile planetarium to their campus for students to enjoy a journey through space. And BHTA delivered additional eclipse glasses to senior citizens living at the Henderson School Senior Apartments so they, too, can safely enjoy the momentous occasion.</p> <p> “The whole event is just going to be a really memorable, once-in-a-lifetime teaching moment that reenergizes you as an educator,” Streeter said.</p> <p> But while it may be a one-off show for many, Perry is already planning his trip to see another total solar eclipse happening in Orlando, FL – on August 12, 2045.</p> <p> “Yes, I did ask hotels if they take reservations 30 years in advance. They don’t.” </p> <br />Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:04:00 -0400{0C9D10F1-9D4C-43E3-BA85-68A4E15B4147}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/media-release-higher-ed-rallyUnions, lawmakers rally for higher education funding in the final state budget<p><strong>Albany —</strong> New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person, United University Professions President Fred Kowal and Professional Staff Congress/CUNY President James Davis were joined by lawmakers and advocates at the state Capitol on Tuesday in calling on the Legislature to hold firm on increased funding for SUNY, CUNY and community colleges in the state’s final budget. </p> <p> Union leaders noted that although SUNY, CUNY and community colleges received historic funding increases in last year’s budget, the money wasn’t sufficient to repair years of disinvestment. At least 18 state-operated campuses are facing financial deficits, causing them to announce cuts to vital courses, supports and programs for students. </p> <p> This year, the Senate and Assembly each proposed millions of additional dollars in their one-house budgets, and NYSUT, UUP and PSC are strongly urging the Legislature to ensure state higher education funds are sent where they are needed most. </p> <p> The crowd representing CUNY and SUNY students, staff and faculty urged the governor and lawmakers to stand strong so that these funding increases are included in the final budget deal, a vital first step in finally supporting our world-class institutions at the levels our students and state deserve. </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pJa9mscdYUg?si=j-9h13tT4oRnxsnU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe></div> </div> <br /> <p> <strong>New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“If we are going to ensure our colleges are prepared to educate and get students ready for the careers of tomorrow, we need to ensure they have the financial resources to secure the technology, equipment and faculty they need. Every student deserves access to affordable and accessible higher education. That means public colleges and universities that don’t break the bank, and that are located within the local community so that individuals from every stage of life have educational opportunities.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>United University Professions President Frederick E. Kowal said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“UUP certainly appreciates the strong support from the Legislature when it comes to properly funding SUNY, which lawmakers demonstrated in their one-house budgets. By including millions of additional dollars in direct aid, they have shown that they truly understand the necessity of properly funding SUNY so our cash-strapped campuses can reverse more than a decade of drastic state aid cuts and underfunding. We urge the leaders of the Senate and Assembly to push to include their one-house budget proposals in the final enacted budget, for this funding to be directly allocated to campuses to close budget deficits, and that Gov. Hochul embrace this necessary step to build a better future for all of SUNY.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Professional Staff Congress President James Davis said:  </strong></p> <blockquote> <p>“There are precious few days before the ink goes dry on the state budget and we need to make sure any fiscal plan fully funds New York’s public universities. That’s why we came to the state Capitol today, joining students, our SUNY colleagues and our champions in the state Senate and Assembly. These legislators have rightfully called for the maximum possible increase in investment in CUNY. Many of them attended public universities and they know the struggles faced by our students, our union members, and the communities that we serve. We need them to stay strong and fight to fund CUNY in the final budget.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Senate Higher Education Chair Toby Stavisky said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“Quality, accessible higher education: How do we get there? We get there by increasing the operating aid. We get there by restoring the cuts to the capital construction projects. We get there by remembering that it’s really about the students. This is a united front. The Assembly and the Senate — together we can accomplish great things and fulfill our mission of maintaining quality education.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Assembly Higher Education Chair Patricia Fahy said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“As we look to these final days of the budget, it is imperative that we increase funding — at SUNY, CUNY, the hospitals, and of course, that we turn on the TAP — because we need to tell the students we have their backs. Seventy percent of students are telling us across this country that cost is the number one factor in why they're not attending school. We must demonstrate to them that we're going to keep college affordable, that we want them and we're going to keep it welcoming.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Sen. Robert Jackson said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“New York's commitment to public higher education isn't just a duty; it's our compass, guiding us towards a future where every student has access to opportunity, regardless of their background. Our universities are not just institutions; they are engines of opportunity and economic vitality. It's time for a transformative investment in our higher education system, a true New Deal that propels our students forward and fortifies the future of our state. To my colleagues I say, let's stay strong for more funding and stronger support of public higher education. Together, let's make it happen!”</p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“As an alum of Binghamton University and former UUP member, I strongly support the effort to include significant increases for our public universities, community colleges and hospitals in this year’s state budget. These institutions are invaluable community assets providing numerous educational and economic opportunities. Our community colleges, in particular, continue to play an under-appreciated role in addressing critical workforce shortages. They stand ready to play a pivotal role if we can provide them with the resources they need.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College President Dante Morelli said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“Investments in community colleges are an investment in our communities and New York state. Community colleges afford our diverse student population the opportunities to succeed in life.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“I went through this [higher education] process, starting as a student intern and completing my career as a dean. I can tell you that education is something that no one can take away from you. The foundation is education. To the academics, to the students, to the union leaders: thank you for your leadership.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“Education is the literal key to unlocking opportunities and the pathway to the middle class for New Yorkers. When you invest in our educators, when you invest in our CUNY and SUNY staff, when you invest in our CUNY and SUNY graduates, and when you invest in our students, you are investing in the future of New York. And I am betting on the future of New York.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Sen. John Liu said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“After two decades of continued disinvestment in higher education in this state, we finally turned things around last year, and when we turned things around, enrollment decline also turned around. But now is not the time to let up. We have to continue that trend. It can’t be a one-year turnaround. We need to turn it into a 10-year turnaround. Because education is the best investment. Education is the best economic development deal this state or any state could ever have.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Sen. Iwen Chu said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“Every student in New York state deserves to have their dream. And we are here to make sure that every student — at CUNY and SUNY colleges and schools — has the resources to do that; that our faculty and teachers have the resources; and that our buildings are equipped, updated and modernized to make sure that our students can learn … Today we are here to fully fund public higher education.” </p> </blockquote><br />Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:45:00 -0400{D4B7269F-8E3B-43FA-8E86-EB6E8D27195B}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/media-release-higher-ed-rally-2Unions, lawmakers rally for higher education funding in the final state budget<p><strong>Albany —</strong> New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person, United University Professions President Fred Kowal and Professional Staff Congress/CUNY President James Davis were joined by lawmakers and advocates at the state Capitol on Tuesday in calling on the Legislature to hold firm on increased funding for SUNY, CUNY and community colleges in the state’s final budget. </p> <p> Union leaders noted that although SUNY, CUNY and community colleges received historic funding increases in last year’s budget, the money wasn’t sufficient to repair years of disinvestment. At least 18 state-operated campuses are facing financial deficits, causing them to announce cuts to vital courses, supports and programs for students. </p> <p> This year, the Senate and Assembly each proposed millions of additional dollars in their one-house budgets, and NYSUT, UUP and PSC are strongly urging the Legislature to ensure state higher education funds are sent where they are needed most. </p> <p> The crowd representing CUNY and SUNY students, staff and faculty urged the governor and lawmakers to stand strong so that these funding increases are included in the final budget deal, a vital first step in finally supporting our world-class institutions at the levels our students and state deserve. </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pJa9mscdYUg?si=j-9h13tT4oRnxsnU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe></div> </div> <br /> <p> <strong>New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“If we are going to ensure our colleges are prepared to educate and get students ready for the careers of tomorrow, we need to ensure they have the financial resources to secure the technology, equipment and faculty they need. Every student deserves access to affordable and accessible higher education. That means public colleges and universities that don’t break the bank, and that are located within the local community so that individuals from every stage of life have educational opportunities.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>United University Professions President Frederick E. Kowal said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“UUP certainly appreciates the strong support from the Legislature when it comes to properly funding SUNY, which lawmakers demonstrated in their one-house budgets. By including millions of additional dollars in direct aid, they have shown that they truly understand the necessity of properly funding SUNY so our cash-strapped campuses can reverse more than a decade of drastic state aid cuts and underfunding. We urge the leaders of the Senate and Assembly to push to include their one-house budget proposals in the final enacted budget, for this funding to be directly allocated to campuses to close budget deficits, and that Gov. Hochul embrace this necessary step to build a better future for all of SUNY.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Professional Staff Congress President James Davis said:  </strong></p> <blockquote> <p>“There are precious few days before the ink goes dry on the state budget and we need to make sure any fiscal plan fully funds New York’s public universities. That’s why we came to the state Capitol today, joining students, our SUNY colleagues and our champions in the state Senate and Assembly. These legislators have rightfully called for the maximum possible increase in investment in CUNY. Many of them attended public universities and they know the struggles faced by our students, our union members, and the communities that we serve. We need them to stay strong and fight to fund CUNY in the final budget.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Senate Higher Education Chair Toby Stavisky said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“Quality, accessible higher education: How do we get there? We get there by increasing the operating aid. We get there by restoring the cuts to the capital construction projects. We get there by remembering that it’s really about the students. This is a united front. The Assembly and the Senate — together we can accomplish great things and fulfill our mission of maintaining quality education.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Assembly Higher Education Chair Patricia Fahy said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“As we look to these final days of the budget, it is imperative that we increase funding — at SUNY, CUNY, the hospitals, and of course, that we turn on the TAP — because we need to tell the students we have their backs. Seventy percent of students are telling us across this country that cost is the number one factor in why they're not attending school. We must demonstrate to them that we're going to keep college affordable, that we want them and we're going to keep it welcoming.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Sen. Robert Jackson said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“New York's commitment to public higher education isn't just a duty; it's our compass, guiding us towards a future where every student has access to opportunity, regardless of their background. Our universities are not just institutions; they are engines of opportunity and economic vitality. It's time for a transformative investment in our higher education system, a true New Deal that propels our students forward and fortifies the future of our state. To my colleagues I say, let's stay strong for more funding and stronger support of public higher education. Together, let's make it happen!”</p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“As an alum of Binghamton University and former UUP member, I strongly support the effort to include significant increases for our public universities, community colleges and hospitals in this year’s state budget. These institutions are invaluable community assets providing numerous educational and economic opportunities. Our community colleges, in particular, continue to play an under-appreciated role in addressing critical workforce shortages. They stand ready to play a pivotal role if we can provide them with the resources they need.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College President Dante Morelli said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“Investments in community colleges are an investment in our communities and New York state. Community colleges afford our diverse student population the opportunities to succeed in life.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“I went through this [higher education] process, starting as a student intern and completing my career as a dean. I can tell you that education is something that no one can take away from you. The foundation is education. To the academics, to the students, to the union leaders: thank you for your leadership.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“Education is the literal key to unlocking opportunities and the pathway to the middle class for New Yorkers. When you invest in our educators, when you invest in our CUNY and SUNY staff, when you invest in our CUNY and SUNY graduates, and when you invest in our students, you are investing in the future of New York. And I am betting on the future of New York.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Sen. John Liu said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“After two decades of continued disinvestment in higher education in this state, we finally turned things around last year, and when we turned things around, enrollment decline also turned around. But now is not the time to let up. We have to continue that trend. It can’t be a one-year turnaround. We need to turn it into a 10-year turnaround. Because education is the best investment. Education is the best economic development deal this state or any state could ever have.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Sen. Iwen Chu said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“Every student in New York state deserves to have their dream. And we are here to make sure that every student — at CUNY and SUNY colleges and schools — has the resources to do that; that our faculty and teachers have the resources; and that our buildings are equipped, updated and modernized to make sure that our students can learn … Today we are here to fully fund public higher education.” </p> </blockquote><br />Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:45:00 -0400{4D6278EC-606F-4B1C-BA62-8B0E69E5AA92}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/collective-care-teamMolly BelmontFrom reactive to proactive - Victor's Collective Care Team model shifts approach to student mental health <p>At Victor Senior High School, student mental health demands an all-hands-on-deck approach. In 2019, the growing district just 20 minutes south of Rochester adopted the collective care team model for student wellness, and educators say the new model has fundamentally shifted the way the district supports students. </p> <p> “It’s our K through 12 method of intervention, but it’s also proactive,” said Mary Banaszak, coordinator of school counseling at the high school and a member of the Victor Teachers Association. “What the collective care approach has done is move us from being reactive to proactive, with teams in every building of our campus.” </p> <p> The pupil services staff includes 12 members, divided into six collective care teams that direct and manage the daily care of students. Each team consists of an administrator, school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, school nurse, and substance use prevention counselor, and all students are assigned to collective care teams alphabetically. </p> <p> Each care team comes together every other week to discuss the students they are working with and how they can best be served. During these meetings, or “minis” as they’re called, the high school team members share their findings, identify appropriate resources, collectively hammer out an action plan, and then check up on student progress, Banaszak said. </p> <p> “During these meetings, we get a more complete picture of the student,” said Benjamin Raymo, school counselor. “The more information you have, the better you can support the student, and the better the outcomes.” </p> <p> Raymo is assigned to students whose last names begin with G-La, and his team includes school psychologist Tara Hopson, social worker Kiah Bowerman, substance use prevention counselor Lindsay Snyder, and school nurse Kimberly Spitzer. All are members of the Victor TA. </p> <p> This team-based approach can be useful for assisting students with a whole range of issues, from slipping grades to depression, from absenteeism to substance abuse. They can also be essential when it comes to managing complex problems, said Raymo. </p> <p> During a recent meeting, this team discussed the re-entry of two students, one who was coming back after a disciplinary action and another who had been recently diagnosed with an eating disorder.</p> <p> “We talked about their schedules, and changes that might need to be made to their schedule,” recalled Bowerman. “We looked at whether the family needed resources to manage behaviors or situations at home and school — that would be more the social worker role. We discussed whether the nurse needs to be updated with any medication changes, and then, if it’s a student with special education needs, Tara is great about making sure we set up a meeting to update the IEP or 504,” she said. The team also coaches the students on how to field questions about their absence. “We all play a role in these re-entries,” Bowerman explained.</p> <p> Teaming up on student care also breaks down the silos that can keep information from getting where it needs to go. “The strength of this approach lies in the expectation that everyone will participate, and that information doesn’t just sit with one person,” said Snyder.</p> <p style=" margin:auto; text-align:center"><img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/march/news_031924_1.jpg?h=auto&w=720&hash=6F0E8691F462455E827843E4B8D67853" style="width:720px; height:auto;" alt="From reactive to proactive - Victor's Collective Care Team model shifts approach to student mental health" /></p> <p> The collective care approach can also help identify issues that may present in one way but have a different root cause. “Often in the nurse’s office, we’ll see kids that we think are having physical concerns, but oftentimes, they’re mixed with mental health concerns,” said Spitzer. Depression and anxiety are on the rise among teens, and Spitzer is sensitive to the fact that repeat trips to the nurse’s office can signal other issues.</p> <p> Missing classes and slipping grades could also indicate a student has a disability and requires specialized instruction or other interventions, said Hopson. Fourteen percent of Victor High students receive special education services. Identification of students in need of more support is a multi-stage process, and Hopson works with the student and family at every stage, helping them successfully navigate what can otherwise be a daunting ordeal. “We really try to keep everyone on the same page, especially parents because we want to make sure that they understand the process and potential outcomes,” Hopson said.</p> <p> The collective care team is also brought together to respond to crises, including threat assessments and critical incidents. “Our SRO will contact the principal, the principal will call us together for an early morning meeting,” said Banaszak. “Then, we’ll go through the Trauma, Illness and Grief protocol, and see who it impacts and create an action plan,” said Banaszak. Taking a proactive, multidisciplinary approach to traumatic incidents improves school safety and decreases the risk of secondary impacts. </p> <p> At the end of the day, the collective care model isn’t just good for students, it’s good for educators, too. “You are not alone. It’s not all on your shoulders,” said Banaszak. “You’re part of a team, and the support of our building and district level administrators is key to its success!” </p> <br />Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:08:00 -0400{CF39DC97-4027-4BBB-8C8F-777FA87BE98A}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/media-release-appr-fixEducation stakeholders reach agreement on fixing teacher and principal evaluations <hr> <p><strong>Albany, New York</strong> – Today, the New York State Educational Conference Board and New York State Education Department announced an extraordinary agreement on legislation to rewrite the state’s poorly designed teacher evaluation system that was imposed in 2010. </p> <p> A result of collaborative communication among organizations and state leaders who care deeply about public education, the proposal was hand-delivered by NYSUT President Melinda Person and NYSED Commissioner Betty Rosa to the offices of the Legislature’s education leaders. </p> <p> The legislation, which was crafted by educators, superintendents, school boards, administrators, parents and principals, returns the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) system to local control and creates a system for measuring teacher and principal accountability that focuses on professional development and support, rather than an over-emphasis on testing. </p> <p> Education chairs Sen. Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Michael Benedetto congratulated the collective for reaching agreement and pledged their attention to the bill during this year’s legislative session. </p> <p><strong>New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> “We owe it to our students, teachers, parents, and families to work together to develop a comprehensive and sustainable teacher evaluation system that meets the needs of all of our school communities across the state. Our focus is squarely on developing a system of continuous growth and development of teachers and principals that fosters meaningful teaching and learning, empowering educators to excel and students to thrive. This proposed legislation, created with and for those impacted, is intended to accomplish that purpose.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>NYSUT President Melinda Person said:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> “Teachers welcome fair evaluations that are designed to help them hone their teaching skills and better serve students. Returning teacher evaluations to local control allows educators to again put the emphasis back on what matters most in our classrooms — teaching and learning. I want to acknowledge the tremendous collaboration that happened between all the different stakeholder groups who sat at the table and worked out the details of this almost 50-page bill. If you value the love of teaching and learning in our public schools, if you think our educators should be treated like the professionals they are, if you think that teaching to standardized tests has gone too far, then this is a great day.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>New York State Council of School Superintendents Executive Director Charles Dedrick said:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> “We support the new proposal to reform the teacher/principal evaluation system. It’s the result of months of discussions between our organization, other public school groups, and State Education Department leaders. Superintendents commonly see the current system as a waste of time or worse, actually harming efforts to improve teaching and school leadership and to recruit and retain education professionals. In a November survey, more than four times as many superintendents told us the system now in place has a negative rather than positive impact on improving instruction — 44% to 9%. The proposal would restore local control, eliminating some of the damaging parts of the current system and giving districts flexibility to negotiate plans that best fit their local circumstances.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>New York State Parent Teacher Association President Helen Hoffman and Executive Director Kyle Belokopitsky said:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> “NYS PTA is thrilled to see movement away from the current flawed and punitive system of evaluation, towards a model that truly supports educators in meaningful ways and recognizes the professionalism and work teachers and principals do each day in the classroom and school building. We are exceptionally proud of the work that Educational Conference Board members have accomplished this past year, working hand in hand with the State Education Department, to craft a new system that supports teaching, learning, and most importantly — our students. We look forward to swift introduction and passage in the Legislature, and know that parents and families will continue to partner with educators to make every child’s potential a reality as we Support Kids, Raise Awareness, together.”   </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>School Administrators Association of New York State Executive Director Kevin Casey said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“On behalf of our over 20,000 active members we are pleased that discussions on APPR have resulted in a proposed bill that would revise the unwieldy accountability system that currently exists. SAANYS, as well as our other Educational Conference Board colleagues, have been working on this overhaul and we will continue our efforts to implement a system that delinks state assessments from professional evaluations and provides increased flexibility to school districts, teachers and principals to design a local evaluation system that will serve to elevate professional practice in our schools.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Conference of Big 5 School Districts Executive Director Jennifer K. Pyle said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“The Conference of Big 5 School Districts is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with our fellow ECB partners to develop a meaningful evaluation system that supports educators and is focused on what is best for all schools and the students served.  We are truly grateful for the engagement and leadership Commissioner Rosa and her staff provided and for Senator Mayer and Assemblyman Benedetto’s commitment to ensuring that all voices were heard. The new system will afford our school districts the flexibility to create a system that promotes excellence and opportunities for all students.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert Schneider said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“NYSSBA is proud to have worked side-by-side with our partners in the education community to develop this proposal. We believe this proposal ultimately will better serve our communities because it represents a shift in the way we evaluate our classroom teachers from a state-mandated process to one that is negotiated locally by school districts. As such, the proposal will restore local control over the teacher and principal evaluation process and allow each school district to craft a process that takes into account the unique circumstances in that district. In addition, the proposal will enable school district leaders to focus more on teacher development and improvement. This is particularly important now, given that New York faces a teacher shortage in certain critical subject areas. We should strive to create a more supportive environment for those in the classroom, while at the same time giving management the tools it needs to improve performance.” </p> </blockquote> <img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/march/nysecb_logo.png?h=AUTO&w=100%&hash=11513BF1BC53A61789C8905D7D47D2CD" style="height:AUTO; width:100%;" alt="New York State Educational Conference Board" /><br /><br>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:28:00 -0400{845C156A-6661-45A7-9EA2-0248A2709CC0}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/media-release-appr-fix-2Education stakeholders reach agreement on fixing teacher and principal evaluations <hr> <p><strong>Albany, New York</strong> – Today, the New York State Educational Conference Board and New York State Education Department announced an extraordinary agreement on legislation to rewrite the state’s poorly designed teacher evaluation system that was imposed in 2010. </p> <p> A result of collaborative communication among organizations and state leaders who care deeply about public education, the proposal was hand-delivered by NYSUT President Melinda Person and NYSED Commissioner Betty Rosa to the offices of the Legislature’s education leaders. </p> <p> The legislation, which was crafted by educators, superintendents, school boards, administrators, parents and principals, returns the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) system to local control and creates a system for measuring teacher and principal accountability that focuses on professional development and support, rather than an over-emphasis on testing. </p> <p> Education chairs Sen. Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Michael Benedetto congratulated the collective for reaching agreement and pledged their attention to the bill during this year’s legislative session. </p> <p><strong>New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> “We owe it to our students, teachers, parents, and families to work together to develop a comprehensive and sustainable teacher evaluation system that meets the needs of all of our school communities across the state. Our focus is squarely on developing a system of continuous growth and development of teachers and principals that fosters meaningful teaching and learning, empowering educators to excel and students to thrive. This proposed legislation, created with and for those impacted, is intended to accomplish that purpose.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>NYSUT President Melinda Person said:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> “Teachers welcome fair evaluations that are designed to help them hone their teaching skills and better serve students. Returning teacher evaluations to local control allows educators to again put the emphasis back on what matters most in our classrooms — teaching and learning. I want to acknowledge the tremendous collaboration that happened between all the different stakeholder groups who sat at the table and worked out the details of this almost 50-page bill. If you value the love of teaching and learning in our public schools, if you think our educators should be treated like the professionals they are, if you think that teaching to standardized tests has gone too far, then this is a great day.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>New York State Council of School Superintendents Executive Director Charles Dedrick said:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> “We support the new proposal to reform the teacher/principal evaluation system. It’s the result of months of discussions between our organization, other public school groups, and State Education Department leaders. Superintendents commonly see the current system as a waste of time or worse, actually harming efforts to improve teaching and school leadership and to recruit and retain education professionals. In a November survey, more than four times as many superintendents told us the system now in place has a negative rather than positive impact on improving instruction — 44% to 9%. The proposal would restore local control, eliminating some of the damaging parts of the current system and giving districts flexibility to negotiate plans that best fit their local circumstances.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>New York State Parent Teacher Association President Helen Hoffman and Executive Director Kyle Belokopitsky said:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> “NYS PTA is thrilled to see movement away from the current flawed and punitive system of evaluation, towards a model that truly supports educators in meaningful ways and recognizes the professionalism and work teachers and principals do each day in the classroom and school building. We are exceptionally proud of the work that Educational Conference Board members have accomplished this past year, working hand in hand with the State Education Department, to craft a new system that supports teaching, learning, and most importantly — our students. We look forward to swift introduction and passage in the Legislature, and know that parents and families will continue to partner with educators to make every child’s potential a reality as we Support Kids, Raise Awareness, together.”   </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>School Administrators Association of New York State Executive Director Kevin Casey said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“On behalf of our over 20,000 active members we are pleased that discussions on APPR have resulted in a proposed bill that would revise the unwieldy accountability system that currently exists. SAANYS, as well as our other Educational Conference Board colleagues, have been working on this overhaul and we will continue our efforts to implement a system that delinks state assessments from professional evaluations and provides increased flexibility to school districts, teachers and principals to design a local evaluation system that will serve to elevate professional practice in our schools.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Conference of Big 5 School Districts Executive Director Jennifer K. Pyle said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“The Conference of Big 5 School Districts is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with our fellow ECB partners to develop a meaningful evaluation system that supports educators and is focused on what is best for all schools and the students served.  We are truly grateful for the engagement and leadership Commissioner Rosa and her staff provided and for Senator Mayer and Assemblyman Benedetto’s commitment to ensuring that all voices were heard. The new system will afford our school districts the flexibility to create a system that promotes excellence and opportunities for all students.” </p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert Schneider said:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p>“NYSSBA is proud to have worked side-by-side with our partners in the education community to develop this proposal. We believe this proposal ultimately will better serve our communities because it represents a shift in the way we evaluate our classroom teachers from a state-mandated process to one that is negotiated locally by school districts. As such, the proposal will restore local control over the teacher and principal evaluation process and allow each school district to craft a process that takes into account the unique circumstances in that district. In addition, the proposal will enable school district leaders to focus more on teacher development and improvement. This is particularly important now, given that New York faces a teacher shortage in certain critical subject areas. We should strive to create a more supportive environment for those in the classroom, while at the same time giving management the tools it needs to improve performance.” </p> </blockquote> <img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/march/nysecb_logo.png?h=AUTO&w=100%&hash=11513BF1BC53A61789C8905D7D47D2CD" style="height:AUTO; width:100%;" alt="New York State Educational Conference Board" /><br /><br>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:28:00 -0400{0EE0F7E3-D049-491C-8A37-7483E974D4EF}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/long-island-rallyKara SmithLong Island activists rally to restore Foundation Aid cuts<style> .youtube-video{ aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; width: 100%; } </style><p>Sixth-grader Kelsie Curran knows what she wants to do when she grows up. And she’s thankful to her teachers for, hopefully, helping her get there some day. “I’d like to make it to Broadway,” said Curran, one of several Dawnwood Middle School drama club members who performed at the “Long Island Schools Can’t Afford to Lose!” rally in Hauppauge in mid-March. </p><p> Music teacher Lou Lomangio, Middle Country Teachers Association, invited his students to perform at the event to highlight the importance of restoring funding cuts; arts programs are sometimes first on the chopping block when districts face funding shortfalls. “I want to show that they’re worth it,” said Lomangio whose district faces approximately $1.2 million in cuts. “These students are never happier than when they’re making music in band and chorus.”</p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <iframe class="youtube-video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r497E2wCk6s?si=jCoYXaFdorBIqek8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br> <p>Curran sang the John Lennon classic, “Imagine.” And for the hundreds of rally attendees, imagining the disruption and pain of Foundation Aid cuts if the executive budget proposal stands isn’t hard — Long Island districts could lose $76.2 million, translating to lost jobs and cuts to important student programs. “We’re not going to go backwards with the investments we’ve made in our schools, we’re only moving forward,” said Melinda Person, NYSUT president, who has traveled to over 50 different schools statewide to witness first-hand the value of Foundation Aid investment, from elementary STEM programs to health services to Career and Technical Education offerings. “Although our country is divided on many issues, something we can all agree on is that we love our schools — Republicans, Democrats they all agree!”</p> <p> Chanting “hey, hey, ho, ho funding cuts have got to go!” and other spirited cries, members from dozens of locals across Long Island filled the parking lot of the H. Lee Dennison Building for the event. “We’re facing massive cuts if the budget goes the way that it was proposed, we’re looking at a $7.9 million reduction in state aid which would be devastating,” said Brian Pickford, president of the Three Village Teachers Association. “I’ve used the word apocalyptic when we talk about the cuts, dozens and dozens of teachers, programs, electives, clubs, sports, it’s never ending.”</p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:610px; margin:auto;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nysut/albums/72177720315502894" title="Fund Our Future Rally - Hauppauge NY"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53591806911_5843bcfa52_c.jpg" width="560" height="auto" alt="Fund Our Future Rally - Hauppauge NY"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></script> </div><br> <p>Representatives from several union groups showed their support including AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, and Long Island Federation of Labor President John Durso and other LIFL activists. “We want to let those who control the purse strings know that we stick together,” said William Cassidy, a LIFL vice president and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees member. “We support you, and not just for this event.”</p><p> Fresh from passing one-house budgets that would restore Foundation Aid, several state lawmakers spoke at the rally in support of students and educators, including Assemblymembers Ed Ra, Chuck Lavine and John Mikulin and State Senators Mario Matteria and Monica Martinez. “This our line in the sand,” said Assemblymember Doug Smith. “This is the last year our teachers and students will be used as pawns in the budget fight.” </p> <div class="callout primary" style="margin:auto; text-align:center"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION! Urge State Legislators to Fully Fund our Public Schools!</a></h3> </div> <br /> Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:10:00 -0400{DB6403DD-99DE-4CB4-BA1B-264334C1849F}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/womens-historyNYSUT celebrates Women's History Month with new poster featuring Rep. Carolyn Maloney<hr /> <h3>NYSUT's Women's History Month <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.nysut.org/publications" target="_blank">poster</a> for 2024 celebrates Carolyn B. Maloney, who served as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th and later 12th Congressional Districts from 1993 to 2023.</h3> <p>A former New York City teacher and administrator, Maloney was the first woman to chair the House Joint Economic Committee and the first woman to chair the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.</p> <p>As co-chair of the House Caucus on Women’s Issues, she authored and helped enact the Debbie Smith Act. Called one of the nation’s most important anti-rape laws, the law provided federal funding to clear the backlog of rape kits. Maloney also authored and passed the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, saving many lives.</p> <p>Her other legislative initiatives include introducing the Childcare Affordability Act, serving as the chief House sponsor for the Equal Rights Amendment, authoring and securing House passage of a bill providing four weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees and sponsoring the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act, which guarantees counseling, legal assistance and medical care for campus victims of sexual assault.</p> <p>In 2020, Maloney’s bill to establish a Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall was approved and signed into law.</p> <p><strong>The free poster is available for download at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.nysut.org/publications" target="_blank">nysut.org/publications.</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.nysut.org/publications" target="_blank"><img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/february/news_240227_womenshistory_02_1920.jpg" alt="maloney" /></a></p> <br /> <br /> <br /> </a><br class="t-last-br" />Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:47:00 -0400{D2D8670D-1726-4207-AD11-2936E4496517}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/cairo-durhamBen AmeyProposed cuts threaten music, art and electives that keep students connected<p>Right at the northern edge of the Catskill Mountains, situated on top of a hill with gorgeous views, is Cairo-Durham Central Schools. A smaller, rural district of just over 1,000 students, the students who call themselves Mustangs take pride in their hard work, school campus and hands-on electives. But those could be at risk with proposed funding cuts in the executive budget. </p> <p> Cairo-Durham is facing a cut of nearly $900,000, or 7.7 percent, of its Foundation Aid. That would equal nearly 2.5 percent of last year’s budget in a district where over 60 percent of students are economically disadvantaged. </p> <p> “For some kids, these electives are the reason they come to school,” said Allison Manoli, president of the Cairo-Durham Teachers Association. “The arts and music, the engineering program, the interventions to make sure kids are comfortable and so they know they are capable.” </p> <p> In an art classroom, students studied landscape and perspective. Some are preparing to take Advanced Placement Art next year. Nearby is a woodworking class, a high-demand elective that students wait years to get into. Students proudly showed off projects they were working on, including chairs made from cardboard that were being tested to see which could hold the most weight. “Students need something to look forward to, something to excel at if they don’t really excel at other subjects,” said art teacher Jessica Little. </p> <div class="row"> <div class="column small-12 medium-6"><img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/march/news_031224_cairodurham_1.jpg?h=auto&w=400&hash=20D69D8E8DBE05724AB84A0F43E79BE5" style="width:400px; height:auto;" alt="Proposed cuts threaten music, art and electives that keep students connected" /></div> <div class="column small-12 medium-6"><img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/march/news_031224_cairodurham_2.jpg?h=auto&w=400&hash=0818F72F037407485882CD3AE9D12470" style="width:400px; height:auto;" alt="Proposed cuts threaten music, art and electives that keep students connected" /></div> </div> <p> In an engineering classroom, students concentrated on making circuits and planning projects. The class, part of the Project Lead the Way engineering courses, is on a three-year rotation, which gives students an opportunity to take as many courses as possible with limited resources.</p> <p> At a jazz band rehearsal, 18 students practiced for upcoming concerts. The music program at Cairo-Durham is robust, with 60 students in concert band and 70 in chorus. The band will be marching once again in New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, as well as playing in St. Patrick’s Day parades locally. </p> <p> In another classroom, students spoke about how the Students Taking Academic Responsibility, or STAR, program has changed their lives. The program is an intervention program for students who lack connections to school and has extra supports for students built in. STAR students are placed in a small class in ninth grade with the same core teachers through their junior year. </p> <p> “In middle school I was not on track at all,” said Abigail, one of the students in the program. In the STAR program, “the teachers really drive you to do your best, to be the best version of you. Without the program, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.” With STAR’s help, Abigail says she will be graduating a year early and heading to SUNY Delhi to study architecture. </p> <p> “The overall theme is how much of an impact these programs have on the lives on these kids,” said NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, who was touring the district. “The prospect of facing these cuts is really disheartening.” </p> <p> Coupled with the loss in Foundation Aid, the district is facing a $1.3 million budget deficit. The district would have to go well beyond the state mandated tax cap to cover that difference, leading to the prospect of cutting programs and staff. Teachers and administrators at the district say cutting staff would mean cutting offerings, which means opportunities for future students will be lost. </p> <p> NYSUT is fighting back against this executive budget proposal with our allies in the state Legislature. You can tell your local representative to oppose these cuts by going here: <a href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856"><strong>TAKE ACTION! Urge State Legislators to Fully Fund our Public Schools!</strong></a></p>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:36:00 -0400{32EAC9F7-A389-4B17-AE89-07BBDF8019A6}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/media-release-one-house-budgetNYSUT statement on the Legislature’s school aid proposals<hr /> <p><strong>ALBANY</strong> — New York State United Teachers applauds the state Legislature for showing commitment to students and schools in their one-house budgets.</p> <p> Both Senate and Assembly proposals fully fund the state’s Foundation Aid formula as written, a promise the state made last year after a more than 30-year fight.</p> <p> Since the release of the executive budget in January that proposed underfunding the formula by $419 million, NYSUT officers have been traveling the state to highlight the devastating effects the capricious cuts would have on every large, small, urban, rural and suburban district in New York. </p> <p> These visits allowed lawmakers from both ends of the political spectrum to witness the harsh effects the executive proposal would have on schools, as well as the families and communities that rely on them.</p> <p> “We thank the Senate and Assembly for making it clear that our students, educators and schools are a top priority,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “Great things are happening in our public schools, and in New York we are united across party lines and legislative chambers to support them with the resources they need.”</p> <p> NYSUT will continue to advocate for the resources our schools are owed as negotiations continue in Albany. The state budget is due before April 1. </p> <p> See more of NYSUT’s fight for a fully funded Foundation Aid this year at <a href="http://https://fundourfutureny.org/">https://fundourfutureny.org/</a></p> <br />Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:32:00 -0400{6B8521A8-744C-4713-A011-D2EFE3D901A6}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/media-release-one-house-budget-2NYSUT statement on the Legislature’s school aid proposals<hr /> <p><strong>ALBANY</strong> — New York State United Teachers applauds the state Legislature for showing commitment to students and schools in their one-house budgets.</p> <p> Both Senate and Assembly proposals fully fund the state’s Foundation Aid formula as written, a promise the state made last year after a more than 30-year fight.</p> <p> Since the release of the executive budget in January that proposed underfunding the formula by $419 million, NYSUT officers have been traveling the state to highlight the devastating effects the capricious cuts would have on every large, small, urban, rural and suburban district in New York. </p> <p> These visits allowed lawmakers from both ends of the political spectrum to witness the harsh effects the executive proposal would have on schools, as well as the families and communities that rely on them.</p> <p> “We thank the Senate and Assembly for making it clear that our students, educators and schools are a top priority,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “Great things are happening in our public schools, and in New York we are united across party lines and legislative chambers to support them with the resources they need.”</p> <p> NYSUT will continue to advocate for the resources our schools are owed as negotiations continue in Albany. The state budget is due before April 1. </p> <p> See more of NYSUT’s fight for a fully funded Foundation Aid this year at <a href="http://https://fundourfutureny.org/">https://fundourfutureny.org/</a></p> <br />Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:32:00 -0400{804DA1F7-9BF2-41AA-AF1C-5E12EE59A026}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/apprKara SmithPerson, Rosa deliver APPR reform bills to lawmakers <p>It’s been a long time coming, but the Annual Professional Performance Review fixes educators have been waiting for are within sight. On March 20, NYSUT President Melinda Person and New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa walked from the State Education Department building to the Legislative Office Building to hand-deliver a new bill rewriting New York state’s flawed teacher evaluation system. </p> <p> If the legislation is approved, as expected, the revamped APPR system would end the current requirement that student performance measures be included in teacher assessments and return teacher evaluations to local control. The pair met with legislative Education Committee Chairs Sen. Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Michael Benedetto. </p> <p> “For too many years we’ve lived under this onerous system that uses test scores to intimidate educators,” said Person. “We want a locally controlled system that actually supports, mentors and aids in the growth and development of our educators. </p> <p> “And that’s what this bill will deliver,” continued Person, who thanked the union’s partners in bringing the measure to fruition, the NYS Council of School Superintendents, the NYS School Boards Association, the NYS Parent Teacher Association and the State Education Department. “We worked collaboratively to put this bill together and we are so proud to deliver it to lawmakers today.” </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b9IAl5pZoNY?si=93EhnND3WVKRcgRl" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> </div> </div> <br /> <p> The current test-and-punish system imposed in the 2015-16 state budget by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, substantially altered the APPR system, relying on student performance measures on grades 3-8 English Language Arts and math assessments and a state-approved, one-size-fits-all teacher observation rubric to rate educators. “It was an accountability system focused on accounting, not ability,” said Rosa, noting that the new system shifts the focus to developing and nurturing educators through constructive feedback. “It’s the feedback, the constructive feedback that helps you become a better professional.” </p> <p> All felt strongly that the measure would be enacted this legislative session. “We wanted this done sessions ago, it will be done by the end of the year that’s for sure and even quicker than that,” said Benedetto who hopes the revamp will give educators the space they need to teach without the distraction of feeling someone is constantly looking over their shoulders. “I generally don’t make predictions like this, but yeah, I think it will be done that fast.” </p> <p> “The one thing we know for a fact is that she [the governor] is committed to teacher quality and teacher development,” said Rosa. “I do believe this is something she will stand behind.” </p> <p> Sen. Mayer thanked Person and Rosa for their dedicated work spearheading the bill’s development. “Thank you for reaching agreement … who can do that? It’s very hard to do that around here,” she said of the nearly-50-page bill’s creation and submission. “I look forward to reading it and learning about all the details.” </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:610px; margin:auto;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nysut/albums/72177720315572046" title="APPR"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53600123516_3e7f45f713_c.jpg" width="560" height="auto" alt="APPR" /></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div> <br /> <p> Under the new proposal, APPR plans would not require student performance measures, would have to be bargained collectively and locally developed and would include multiple measures aligned with state teaching and leadership standards. Current HEDI scores of highly effective, effective, developing or ineffective, would be replaced with a four-level numbered rating system with four indicating exemplary performance. Districts would have up to eight years to institute the new evaluation system. </p> <p> “Our teachers welcome fair evaluations, and they love feedback on their performance and their practice … but the current practice is hurting the profession,” said Person explaining that de-linking student performance measures and teacher evaluation will allow educators to focus on supporting student growth and mentoring new educators rather than preparing for high-stakes tests. “This will create space for student curiosity and love of learning … and support them in becoming better educators, which is ultimately what we want.” </p> <!-- <div class="callout primary"> <h4>Resources:</h4><ul><li> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nysut.docsend.com/view/4nzyhyv3df7xnqrz" target="_blank"><strong>Fact Sheet: Section 3012-e APPR Bill Summary of Provisions</strong></a></li></ul></div><br> -->Sun, 10 Mar 2024 17:05:00 -0400{A42EBFD6-6944-43D8-A183-684200961423}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/south-senecaMolly BelmontSouth Seneca says cuts are too costly<p>South Seneca reading teacher Andrea Puls has been meeting with one fifth grader one-on-one every day since the beginning of the year to help him achieve grade-level reading. </p><p> When he arrived, he was reading at a Kindergarten level. </p><p> “He has a learning disability, but I’m giving him one-on-one instruction right now, and he’s blossoming. He’s growing, and the prospect of sending him to sixth grade next year with no reading support and limited special ed support breaks my heart,” said Puls, a member of the South Seneca Teachers Association. “This is the support he needs, and if the cuts go through, he’s not going to get it.” </p><p> This week, NYSUT President Melinda Person visited the South Seneca Central School District to find out how the proposed cuts to Foundation Aid would impact students and staff. </p><p> South Seneca is a largely rural district in the Finger Lakes region, with a high poverty rate and a large population of transient students. </p><p> To meet the changing needs of the community, the South Seneca Elementary School implemented integrated, co-taught classrooms, enabling Puls and her colleagues to provide targeted, tiered support for reading and math. The co-taught model also allows the team to meet the needs of advanced students, with small-group readings and special projects. </p><p> Unfortunately, these are exactly the resources that would be on the chopping block if the cuts go through. South Seneca district would lose more than $1.5 million, or 16 percent. </p> <div class="callout primary" style="margin:auto;"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION! Urge State Legislators to Fully Fund our Public Schools!</a></h3> </div> <br /><p> When Puls talks about her fifth student, her voice breaks. “He’s going to be a farmer. That’s what he tells me. He doesn’t have to know how to read, because he’s going to be a farmer.” </p><p> Puls scoffs at the suggestion, and yet that seems to be the very message that many educators in rural areas are getting about aid cuts, which they say will decimate their ability to deliver special education, as well as AP courses, electives and social and emotional supports for their students. </p><p> “Why would anyone think it’s a good idea to strip rural schools of those same opportunities that other students get?” said Brad Cartwright, science teacher and member of the South Seneca TA. “That’s the biggest issue. It feels like discrimination. Our kids would be losing out on experiences that will determine what the rest of their lives are going to look like.” </p><p> Kristin Parry, a parent of three South Seneca students, said she grew up in a city school district, and when it came to her own children, she wanted something different. “I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere, and I didn’t want that for my kids,” she said. At South Seneca, her children have thrived. </p><p> She said the decision to cut Foundation Aid makes her feel like rural communities aren’t entitled to nice things. “We are a poverty-stricken district, mostly farmers and small businesses. There are no big businesses to pick up the tab. There’s no big Micron company to go to and say, ‘Will you donate this much?’” </p><p> School board member and parent Shannon Brock nods. When Brock and her husband moved to the area in 2011 to buy the Silver Thread Winery, she said she was initially hesitant about the idea of sending her children to a rural school, because she worried that they wouldn’t have access to the same programs and academic rigor as students at bigger schools. </p><p> “What I found was that a small school offers so many opportunities,” Brock said. Her kids are involved in activities every night of the week, she said, but they also have benefitted from strong, personalized attention from their teachers. “It’s been such a pleasant surprise, but it really comes down to the state aid formula. Up to now, the formula really allowed rural schools to provide a largely equivalent educational opportunity and academic experience to what kids are getting at bigger schools, but if they make these cuts, where is no way we can maintain that.” </p><p> New York State Senator Tom O’Mara, who sat in on a roundtable discussion about the budget said he was shocked by the depth of the cuts. “We’re loud and clear that these cuts are unacceptable,” he said. </p><p> Superintendent Stephen Zielinski said that as a small district they make careful spending decisions. “At South Seneca most of our enrollment declines were 20 years ago.” Zielinski said the district downsized then, and the staff that remain wear many hats, with some even teaching multiple grades or subject areas, he said. Since then, their enrollment numbers have been stable. “We have really been thoughtful over the years to build budgets that allocate our human resources where they're needed,” Zielinski said. </p><p> “What I'm seeing across the state when I visited school districts like South Seneca is that folks have used the decline in enrollment to lower class sizes, to go to a co-teaching model, and to do what's best for kids,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “To have the rug ripped out from under them after they've done all the right things is really offensive.” </p><p> Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers said the discussions represented a promising start. “What's really important here is the bipartisan nature of the fight for public schools,” said Weingarten. “You could hear it in this conversation of parents, teachers and business owners. This is a bipartisan push to create and maintain opportunity.” </p><br>Fri, 08 Mar 2024 17:16:00 -0500{30AA2FD8-2674-4752-91F1-62BF5F05AC41}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/eastchesterKara SmithIn Eastchester, Foundation Aid cuts don’t add up <p>As NYSUT President Melinda Person travels across the state visiting schools facing Foundation Aid cuts due to the governor’s executive budget proposal, one fact is clear: The math just doesn’t add up. </p> <p> “It’s a very simplistic argument,” said Person of Gov. Hochul’s rationale for ending “Save Harmless” Foundation Aid cuts, which shield districts from funding reductions due to enrollment drops. “If you have 10 percent fewer students you receive 10 percent less in funding. But people who actually work in and run schools understand that simply having 22 rather than 25 kids in a class doesn’t save 10 percent of your budget — you still have to run a class, and you still have to provide heat and other services.” </p> <div class="primary callout" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P0gD1sw3QaE?si=qVqUVPH-W3d6433e" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div> </div> <br /> <p> Person made the observation while meeting with Tom Puccini, Eastchester Teachers Association interim president, and Eastchester Union Free School District Superintendent Ronald Valenti. “Adequate funding not only empowers our dedicated educators, but also enhances the learning experience for every student, fostering a brighter future for our community,” said Puccini.</p> <p> Valenti agreed, quipping that turning off 10 percent of the classroom lights to save money simply isn’t an option. The state’s rationale that it’s facing a deficit also falls flat. “When hasn’t New York faced a deficit — and why are we placing that on the backs of kids?” said Valenti. </p> <p> In an afternoon visit at the southern Westchester County district, Puccini, ETA negotiator Adam Chertok, ETA Secretary Bryan Johnson and Eastchester Monitors Association President Susan Frascone, led Person on a tour of several classes at the high school. Eastchester stands to lose $95,012 in Foundation Aid under the governor’s proposal. And while the district anticipates a slight reduction in enrollment, as Valenti explained, the fall in student numbers won’t do much to reduce costs. </p> <p>Foundation Aid cuts, however, would directly impact a popular and successful Spanish language instruction program instituted last year for kindergarten and first graders. The district had hoped to hire two new teachers and expand the program to second and fifth grades. “We want a vigorous language program for elementary students, but due to these cuts we’d have to maybe only hire one teacher to share between the two buildings,” said Valenti. </p> <div class="callout primary" style="margin:auto;"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION! Urge State Legislators to Fully Fund our Public Schools!</a></h3> </div> <br /> <p>Hiring additional guidance counselors at the high school to improve the student-to- counselor ratio is also in question if the cuts stand. Person pledged to keep fighting on behalf of educators statewide to restore Foundation Aid cuts. “We brought 700 folks to the Capitol yesterday to lobby and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said they wouldn’t stand for these cuts,” she said. “We’re happy to work with superintendents on this — we’re all fighting for the same issues in Albany.” </p> <div class="primary callout" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nysut/albums/72177720315277005" title="Eastchester Senior High School Visit"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53573012115_cf41a322c2_w.jpg" width="1600" height="1200" alt="Eastchester Senior High School Visit" /></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div> </div> <br />Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:08:00 -0500{7C4839F5-E861-4434-A724-F9BFA00FD223}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/small-rural-districtsMolly BelmontSmall, rural districts weigh in on aid cuts<p>The Governor’s executive budget proposes funding cuts for all school districts in New York state, and presidents at some of the state’s smallest districts have just one question: At what cost? </p> <p> “We’re bare bones now,” said Robert Kirker, president of the Minerva Teachers Association. “There’s no place to make any more cuts.” Minerva Central School District, a tiny district in the Adirondacks, stands to lose $246,849 in aid, or about 25 percent of its budget. </p> <p> Leaders in these small districts say that the proposed cuts come at the expense of some of our state’s most vulnerable students. </p> <p> “We don't have any extra staff in terms of core areas,” Kirker said. “We have one art teacher. We have one music teacher. We have one gym teacher. We have one teacher for each subject area, one teacher for each elementary grade. I suppose we could put two elementary grades together, but we tried that in the past, and it wasn't effective.” </p> <p> With just 116 students, Minerva has disproportionately high levels of need; 59 percent of district students are economically disadvantaged, and 21 percent of students have disabilities. The district was able to use COVID-19 funds to hire a much-needed counseling staff, a part-time school psychologist, school social worker and school counselor who have been critical to addressing the mounting mental health crisis among teens and children. </p> <p> “For years, we have had students who had no counseling available to them whatsoever, and now they are finally getting the counseling they need. The concern now is that they are going to lose that,” he said. “We've got people in the schools that are building relationships with students, and I would hate to have that ripped away from them,” he said. </p> <p> Rural schools could also see a major jump in class sizes, which could threaten their post-pandemic recovery. </p> <div class="callout primary" style="margin:auto;"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION! Urge State Legislators to Fully Fund our Public Schools!</a></h3> </div> <br /> <p> “Pre-COVID we had three teachers per elementary grade level, and then we had to cut that last year. We still have three teachers for our first, second and third graders because they are the ones that need that kind of intense contact the most,” said John Cain, president of the Copenhagen Teachers Association. Cain also chairs NYSUT’s Small and Rural Locals Committee, representing the state’s smallest districts. Tuesday, he and other members of SARL visited state legislators to plead for the restoration of Foundation Aid as part of NYSUT’s Committee of 100. </p> <p> Cain’s little rural district in the North Country educates 417 students and stands to lose about $82,977 in state aid, or 1.3 percent of its budget. “If these budget cuts go through, those elementary classrooms will all go from having 14 or 15 students to 24 or 25 students.” Increased class sizes could jeopardize the academic performance of Copenhagen students, whose math and ELA test scores have dropped overall since the pandemic and the advent of larger class sizes. </p> <p> In Edmeston, the proposed cuts would be a little deeper; the district is facing the prospect of losing about $715,223 in aid, or about 12.5 percent less than what was promised. The tiny district in Central New York serves about 345 students, 45 percent of whom are economically disadvantaged and 10 percent of whom have disabilities. Bruce Miller, president of the Edmeston Central Faculty Association worries these cuts would be felt most keenly by students with special needs. “We have two people retiring in the high school, an English teacher and a special education teacher and the superintendent is looking at not replacing one or both of them,” Miller said. “The loss of the special education teacher comes at a time when we are getting more and more students with special needs. We may be small, but these are still essential services for our students.” </p> <p> School leaders say that there is a fundamental disconnect between the governor’s perception and the realities that exist in classrooms across the state. </p> <p> “There is a mistaken belief that just because a school loses a few students, they can operate with fewer teachers and services,” said Cain. “The reality is that when they lose teachers, they have to shut down programs that provide services for special needs students and advanced classes for our high achievers. They lose mental health resources. The governor is applying a business model to education, and our schools are not factories, nor are our students simply a product.” </p> <br />Thu, 07 Mar 2024 07:37:00 -0500{42C1E9EF-0F37-4C60-9044-AFC5B68361BC}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/c100-ft6-rallyKara SmithCommittee of 100 Activists Rally to Fix Tier 6! <p>Against the majestic backdrop of the Million Dollar Staircase, more than 500 Committee of 100 activists made their voices heard at a spirited noontime <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://fixtier6.org" target="_blank">Fix Tier Six</a> rally at the New York state Capitol. “Since our Tier 6 members must contribute more into a system that is going to give them less in retirement, it strikes this inherent chord of unfairness,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person who stood surrounded by a sea of supporters, many bearing signs and placards from sister unions, such as the Public Employees Federation and CSEA. “It brings our members together to fight and that’s what you see here today!” </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w9ZsM2o850A?si=OeUtwGFDvPs6Eca6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> </div> </div> <br /> <p>As the stairwell reverberated with chants of “we won’t quit ‘til we <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://fixtier6.org" target="_blank">Fix Tier 6</a>!” and other pro-change slogans, several lawmakers supported rally activists in calling for change. “We are in a moment of time, we have the ability to fix the mistake of 12 years ago,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson who was joined by State Senators Robert Jackson, John Mannion, Lea Webb, Jessica Ramos and others. “In the public and private sector everyone is hurting to get more workers and we can’t attract them into the public sector because we don’t have a fair retirement system.” </p> <p> “It used to be that when you retired you knew you would have dignity, respect and financial independence,” said Mario Cilento, New York State AFL-CIO president, who pledged his union’s support for the movement. “New York state broke that promise with Tier 6 and as a result we have public-sector employees leaving their jobs after a year or two.” </p> <p> Bethany Hamilton, Tri-Valley Teachers Association, explained the crux of the issue for Tier 6 educators like her. “As a member of Tier 6 I can’t look forward to a dignified retirement,” said Hamilton noting that as the child of two public servants, she’s seen what the payoff for public service should be. “Instead, we’re anticipating a retirement where we may have to work in retirement or count on our children to take care of us. We won’t get what earlier tiers were afforded, which was always the beauty of being a public servant.” </p> <p> Person is determined to lead the fight for pension improvements for members like Hamilton. “We want to eventually create parity for Tier 6 members — because 30 years should be a career,” she said noting that changing the Final Average Salary calculation from five to three years is a goal for this legislative session. “We’re hopeful that the Legislature and the governor can come together and agree on something that will give our members hope for the future.” </p> <br />Wed, 06 Mar 2024 08:18:00 -0500{8CDD5235-2853-42FA-8DD5-148D9D772479}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/media-release-suny-downstate-2Frontline Care Workers, Community, Unions and Clergy Reiterate Call to Save SUNY Downstate, Release Polling Showing Overwhelming Support<hr /> <p>NEW YORK — In a press conference today, leaders representing the Central Brooklyn community, alongside frontline care workers at SUNY Downstate Hospital, union officials and clergy members, gathered to release new <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2024/DE-14714_AFT_Healthcare_Brooklyn_Survey.pdf" target="_blank">polling data</a> showing significant community support for keeping the hospital open, despite Gov. Kathy Hochul and State University of New York Chancellor John King’s plan to close it.</p> <p> The poll, conducted by Hart Research Feb. 22-26, 2024, surveyed 601 Brooklyn residents living near SUNY Downstate. Key findings include:</p> <ul> <li> Overwhelming opposition to closing the hospital (71 percent), particularly among people who have received care there (79 percent), older adults (76 percent) and Black residents (77 percent). Three-quarters of respondents want legislators to take action to keep SUNY Downstate open. </li> <li> Increased waiting times at other hospitals and the loss of 4,000 jobs in the community are major concerns for respondents if SUNY Downstate closes, along with the loss of maternal healthcare, perinatal care and NICU services, cardiac care and a level-two trauma ER. </li> <li> The loss of SUNY Downstate’s training and education services, as well as the closing of the only kidney transplant center in Brooklyn, are also concerns for respondents.</li> </ul> <p> AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “The public is sending a clear message to the powers that be: They don’t want Downstate closed. Central Brooklyn—particularly communities of color—will lose access to critical, necessary healthcare services if this vital teaching hospital is shuttered, and voters have made clear, bigtime, that they do not want this economic engine and the jobs it creates cut from their neighborhood. Downstate needs investment, not to be abandoned. The governor and Legislature should listen to the people and take the closure off the table immediately.”</p> <p> New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said:</p> <blockquote> <p>“This data confirms what we’ve been hearing from Brooklyn residents and the healthcare professionals who live and work there: Closing SUNY Downstate would have a catastrophic impact on the community. The state cannot ignore those who would feel this loss the most, and NYSUT will fight to amplify their voices until a final plan for the future of this hospital puts the people of Central Brooklyn at the very center.”</p> </blockquote> <p> United University Professions President Frederick Kowal said: “The poll data shows that, when asked, the people of Brooklyn expressed overwhelming opposition to SUNY’s destructive closure plan for Downstate University Hospital. We hope that the governor and the Legislature will reject it as well and focus on a sustainable plan for this important public teaching hospital. UUP has been fighting to save Downstate for nearly 20 years, and we will keep on fighting until our hospital’s future is secure.”</p> <p> Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said:</p> <p>“The survey released today confirms what we’ve said since we first learned of this misguided plan: Brooklyn Needs Downstate. It is a critical healthcare hub in a community that badly needs the services that the PEF, UUP and NYSUT members who work there provide. With New York running a budget surplus, why not just reinvest in Downstate so it can continue to serve the people of Central Brooklyn?”</p> <p>The presentation of polling data is available <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2024/DE-14714_AFT_Healthcare_Brooklyn_Survey.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. A transcript recording of the press conference is available upon request.</p> <br />Mon, 04 Mar 2024 20:30:00 -0500{D5332689-50A6-4487-A79D-01E90AD47161}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/media-release-suny-downstateFrontline Care Workers, Community, Unions and Clergy Reiterate Call to Save SUNY Downstate, Release Polling Showing Overwhelming Support<hr /> <p>NEW YORK — In a press conference today, leaders representing the Central Brooklyn community, alongside frontline care workers at SUNY Downstate Hospital, union officials and clergy members, gathered to release new <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2024/DE-14714_AFT_Healthcare_Brooklyn_Survey.pdf" target="_blank">polling data</a> showing significant community support for keeping the hospital open, despite Gov. Kathy Hochul and State University of New York Chancellor John King’s plan to close it.</p> <p> The poll, conducted by Hart Research Feb. 22-26, 2024, surveyed 601 Brooklyn residents living near SUNY Downstate. Key findings include:</p> <ul> <li> Overwhelming opposition to closing the hospital (71 percent), particularly among people who have received care there (79 percent), older adults (76 percent) and Black residents (77 percent). Three-quarters of respondents want legislators to take action to keep SUNY Downstate open. </li> <li> Increased waiting times at other hospitals and the loss of 4,000 jobs in the community are major concerns for respondents if SUNY Downstate closes, along with the loss of maternal healthcare, perinatal care and NICU services, cardiac care and a level-two trauma ER. </li> <li> The loss of SUNY Downstate’s training and education services, as well as the closing of the only kidney transplant center in Brooklyn, are also concerns for respondents.</li> </ul> <p> AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “The public is sending a clear message to the powers that be: They don’t want Downstate closed. Central Brooklyn—particularly communities of color—will lose access to critical, necessary healthcare services if this vital teaching hospital is shuttered, and voters have made clear, bigtime, that they do not want this economic engine and the jobs it creates cut from their neighborhood. Downstate needs investment, not to be abandoned. The governor and Legislature should listen to the people and take the closure off the table immediately.”</p> <p> New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said:</p> <blockquote> <p>“This data confirms what we’ve been hearing from Brooklyn residents and the healthcare professionals who live and work there: Closing SUNY Downstate would have a catastrophic impact on the community. The state cannot ignore those who would feel this loss the most, and NYSUT will fight to amplify their voices until a final plan for the future of this hospital puts the people of Central Brooklyn at the very center.”</p> </blockquote> <p> United University Professions President Frederick Kowal said: “The poll data shows that, when asked, the people of Brooklyn expressed overwhelming opposition to SUNY’s destructive closure plan for Downstate University Hospital. We hope that the governor and the Legislature will reject it as well and focus on a sustainable plan for this important public teaching hospital. UUP has been fighting to save Downstate for nearly 20 years, and we will keep on fighting until our hospital’s future is secure.”</p> <p> Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said:</p> <p>“The survey released today confirms what we’ve said since we first learned of this misguided plan: Brooklyn Needs Downstate. It is a critical healthcare hub in a community that badly needs the services that the PEF, UUP and NYSUT members who work there provide. With New York running a budget surplus, why not just reinvest in Downstate so it can continue to serve the people of Central Brooklyn?”</p> <p>The presentation of polling data is available <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2024/DE-14714_AFT_Healthcare_Brooklyn_Survey.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. A transcript recording of the press conference is available upon request.</p> <br />Mon, 04 Mar 2024 20:20:00 -0500{EC7B80DB-D5A6-4D23-B82A-A05E9EB4D95B}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/mount-vernonA united front in Mount Vernon<hr /> <p>As state lawmakers prepare to enter the final month of budget negotiations, a crowd of elected officials, teachers, parents and administrators rallied in the Mount Vernon City School District as one fierce, united group against the governor’s proposed school aid cuts.</p> <p> “We have a campaign at NYSUT that Public Schools Unite Us. Well this campaign has brought everyone together,” NYSUT President Melinda Person said from the steps of Benjamin Turner Middle School.</p> <p> “We have Republicans here, we have Democrats here, we have Assembly, we have Senate,” she said. “We have management and union. We all agree that we love our great public schools in the state of New York, and we're going to fight till the end to make sure that they get the funding that our students deserve.”</p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mu5abvYFw_Y?si=S9oC8d1OK7QLvpwL" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> </div> </div> <br /> <p>Mount Vernon would lose 3.5 percent of its state aid, or $2.9 million, under Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget proposal to cut Foundation Aid, and the district has no ability to absorb those losses.</p> <p> Mount Vernon was grappling with financial challenges even before the Foundation Aid cuts were proposed in January, said Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith. The district is one of just three in the state labeled as in “significant financial stress,” something the district and board attribute to the services required for its high-need student population and a tax base that cannot support those costs. </p> <p> “For the 2024-25 school year we have already had to cut staff, and as we attempt to navigate our way out of this fiscal stress, losing the $2.9 million next year would be catastrophic,” Smith said.</p> <p> She called on anyone who has ties to the district near and far — including influential figures such as actor Denzel Washington, who grew up in Mount Vernon, and rapper Ludacris, whose father is from the area — to make their voices heard about how the proposal could effectively limit basic academic services for their students. Seventy percent of the more than 6,600 students in the district are economically disadvantaged.</p> <p> “I don't beg, but for this cause, I'm begging,” she said. </p> <p> The district has “amazing staff, amazing teachers, amazing administration,” but they need help, said PTA President Ben Bakke.</p> <p> “Speaking as a parent of a special-needs student, they’re doing all they can right now,” he said. “And to cut funding at a time like this, or anytime, really, is just beyond the pale.”</p> <p> Sen. Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Michael Benedetto, chairs of their respective chambers’ education committees, both promised that the Legislature was determined to restore the full Foundation Aid funding in the final budget, due before April 1. </p> <p> “Thank you for fighting with us,” Mayer said. “This is a fight. This is not a calm thing. This is a passionate thing. This is a thing that goes to the heart of what we do as elected officials, as parents, as teachers and people who live in this community. This is unacceptable and we will not stand for it.”</p> <p> </p>Mon, 04 Mar 2024 13:42:00 -0500{15751832-FCD0-4277-A6BE-3A092D9D2474}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/march/long-island-citiesA tale of two Long Island Cities <hr /> <p>As part of NYSUT's ongoing efforts to bring attention to the real-world effects of proposed cuts to Foundation Aid, NYSUT president Melinda Person visited several districts in Long Island this past week.</p> <p> Each of these visits in their own ways highlighted a theme we've seen across the entire state. A reversal in fully funding Foundation Aid would come at the worst possible time: students are in need of more support, and the state is asking schools and educators to do more than ever before. In school districts large and small, educators are rising to the challenge and going above and beyond to help their students succeed.</p> <p> And as educators rise to do their duty, the state is trying to shirk its responsibility to help.</p> <p> This same refrain resonated in two districts that are only a few miles apart on the map, but are worlds apart in terms of the makeup of their communities and the services they provide for their students.</p> <p> The Three Village district on the north shore of Suffolk County has made intentional investments in adding programs and services to help its students get the best start on careers and in life. They've instituted many new career-track curriculum electives, such as CTE programs, finance classes and education-track courses for aspiring teachers. This investment is paying off as graduates can better enter high-paying professions in the trades or get valuable experience that prepares them for higher education opportunities.</p> <p>“You’re doing exactly the right stuff. Your chronic absenteeism is some of the lowest in the state,” said President Person in discussions with educators and school administrators. “Kids come here, they show up and it’s because you’re providing kids with the opportunities that drive them.”</p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:595px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rU4efpgeqdw?si=7TsYC4LOkII-jpoi" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div> </div> <br /> <p>Despite these promising signs, school administrators also cite the huge increase in student mental health issues over the past few years and the enormous amount of time and effort that goes into supporting these students.</p> <p> If the executive budget proposal goes through, Three Village will lose $8 million dollars; that's a 27 percent cut and the largest in the state. The district's administrators and educators say this will effectively mean an end to the innovative programs and needed services they've worked so hard to bring to their students.</p> <p> “It’s bad math. I mean that’s the message I would want to send out there,” said Sue Megroz, Three Village School Board president. “If you’re going to tweak something that wasn’t a fairly predictable pattern, then tweak the whole thing. It’s a hot mess. Don’t just arbitrarily pick on districts with no warning, with no roll out over time to give us a chance to react. Let these good people do their jobs.”</p> <p> By contrast, the Central Islip district is already bursting at capacity and has been struggling to meet the needs of many new students, even before the announced cuts. They are slated to lose 1.3 percent or $2 million of their state aid if cuts go through.</p> <p> </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:590px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MI5ogVBHn2o?si=z_Ut6fMLW5xUxQC_" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div> </div> <br /> <p>While less in total dollars and percentage compared to Three Village, the educators in Central Islip work in a district that has been on the edge for years. With one of the largest populations of refugees and newcomers in the region, their classrooms are already overflowing. Every dollar of their budget is going to provide care and, education and support for this student population, many with multiple special needs.</p> <p> Many students in Central Islip are coming into the classrooms bearing the burdens of traumatic experiences as refugees or coming from unstable households. Many are ELLs that require more intensive instruction, and educators often report students are lacking in basic necessities such as clothing. With resources already stretched, the district's educators are digging into their own pockets to help students get these bare essentials.</p> <p> To meet these needs, the district has become adept at stretching every dollar it receives in funding. But when confronted with unexpected and unnecessary cuts in aid, this budget-stretching may reach a breaking point. The cuts could translate into fewer staff to serve an ever-diversifying student population. It certainly would mean diminished services for those students who need the most help.</p> <p> What remains undiminished is the commitment of the faculty and staff at both districts to do everything in their power to help students learn and succeed.</p> <p> Educators in Long Island this week resoundingly echoed the same sentiment as their colleagues across the entire state: That they have a duty to provide the best education and support for every student that comes through their schoolhouse doors. They only wish the state would hear them and live up to its duty as well.</p> <p> </p>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:57:00 -0500{3D956860-BFF9-4601-8BD3-72DD03C145A4}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/social-workerKara SmithBuffalo school social worker receives statewide award<p>The 2022 Tops Supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York shook the nation’s consciousness. But for Kim M. Jones, a school social worker at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, it literally shook her world. The school sits in a majority Black community about five minutes away from the store. “A lot of my students’ family members were either victims, or related to victims,” said the Buffalo Teachers Federation member. </p> <p>Jones set up a counseling room at school the Monday after the Saturday shooting for students who needed emotional support. “I offered talking, art and play therapy and, for some students, just let them console each other while I facilitated,” said Jones. “I followed their lead.” </p> <p>A big fear at the majority Black school was why the shooter “hated them” so much. “I had to reassure students that not everyone feels that way,” said Jones noting that as one of a handful of Black staffers at the school, she felt the lack of diversity keenly in the days and weeks following the shooting. </p> <p>Although she’d never experienced a tragedy on the scale of the Tops attack, because of her resilience in tough times and innovative approaches to helping her fifth through 12th grade students succeed, Jones received the 2023 Ruth Schwartz School Social Worker of the Year Award from the New York State School Social Worker’s Association. In honor of National School Social Work Week, March 3-9, Jones spoke about her work. </p> <p>“I need to know that I’m helping people … I do what I do from my heart,” said Jones who partners with local businesses and community groups to develop initiatives that broaden her students’ horizons, and help their families access vital services at a school where more than 60 percent of students qualify for a free lunch. An annual March wellness fair brings over 60 different vendors to the school to provide information about services such as food stamps, subsidized housing and to speak about health and wellness. </p> <p>For the last couple of years, Jones has also organized an October school carnival that brings to campus therapy goats, a mobile exhibit and art activity from the Albright Knox Art Gallery and features a bounce house, ice cream truck and midway snacks such as kettle corn and cotton candy. “I heard about the goats through the school nurse,” said Jones who’d worked with therapy dogs in the past but wanted her inner-city students to experience a country fair atmosphere. “The kids love the goats … they sense your spirit, and really help the students with emotional anxiety.” </p> <hr /> <h3><strong>Student Videos: Wellness Fair</strong></h3> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:570px;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <p><strong>Student Videos: Wellness Fair</strong></p> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-5g0oh_A0s?si=MZ-n5DXbG5LHVavZ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> </div> </div> <br /> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:570px;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bkMKh3Q7A0Q?si=NkOdaGPaz6r_x7SN" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> </div> </div> <br /> <hr /> <p>Other initiatives she spearheads include a winter coat giveaway, a holiday adopt-a-student program, monthly kindness projects to reduce bullying, providing school-break to-go bags for students experiencing food insecurity, even sourcing appliances and furniture for families in need. “This has been a challenging year … there are so many depressed kids,” she said noting that she often asks herself if she’s making a difference. “A lot of families don’t have housing or money … so, if I can help, I do.” </p> <p>“Our entire faculty has grown to depend on Kim for the magic she works in teaching students the skills they need to cope with challenges and stay on task with academics,” said school social worker Stephanie Sacco, a Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts colleague. “She sets the bar extremely high for what a school social worker can be, not only to our students, but to our school and the entire community.”</p> <p>For resources to celebrate National School Social Work week, visit the <strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nyssswa.org/school-social-work-week/" target="_blank">New York State School Social Workers' Association</a></strong>. </p> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Thu, 29 Feb 2024 12:42:00 -0500{4A74B5DA-9145-4233-843F-2FAD23BAC2D8}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/onteoraEmily AllenOnteora Eagles: Don’t let Foundation Aid cuts clip our wings<p>Chatting over a cup of coffee in rural Ulster County, a group of parents proudly tell NYSUT President Melinda Person they will be attending the upcoming Bennett Elementary Jazz Band concert in the New York State Empire Plaza Concourse in Albany. </p> <p>It just so happens the performance will coincide with another busy budget season as the Senate and Assembly work to pass their one-house budget bills in response to the governor’s executive budget proposal, which includes cuts to Foundation Aid that will be felt by every school district in the state. </p> <p>“We should leave a viola case open with a sign asking for donations to help cover the cuts!” </p> <p>They’re not joking. Jenny Jared, Jessica Wisneski and Kara Colevas all have students in the Onteora Central School District, which stands to lose over $3 million with a 38.7 percent cut to their Foundation Aid. </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:600px;margin:auto;"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-FrT9daQV4Q?si=DMiraOMnez7eWWkK" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> <br /> <br /> <p>“It’s putting public school children on the backburner in a major way,” said Jared. “There’s no fat to trim in our schools. All our ‘extra’ programs are not extra; they’re essential. And within our school district community, we have a large population of lower-income families who could never access or afford the supports our schools offer without the district providing them for free.” </p> <p>Colevas added, “I want to continue having our phenomenal teachers and staff. They are the core of our schools.” </p> <p>Prior to sitting down with parents in the district, President Person met with Onteora Teachers Association leaders and district administration who addressed potential eliminations of staff, programs and student supports if the full funding is not restored. </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:640px;margin:auto;"> <h3><strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION! Urge State Legislators to Fully Fund our Public Schools!</a></strong></h3> </div> <br /> <p>“Worst case scenario involves layoffs and that’s a terrible culture to have where our people are anxious and stressed,” said Superintendent Victoria McLaren. “It’s putting people through a traumatic situation for no good reason and it’s a really awful thing to do.” </p> <p>And time is ticking to make difficult decisions with school boards required to make their budgets available no later than May 7. </p> <p>“We’ve got about six weeks before the Board has to adopt a budget and they will probably do so before the state does, so which budget do they adopt? One with state aid restored or one without?” asked Assistant Superintendent for Business Monica LaClair. </p> <p>President Person assured that NYSUT will be pressing the governor and Legislature for an on-time budget and doing everything in our power to ensure it includes fully restored funding. </p> <p>“The state is not in a recession,” Person said. “There’s no need for these cuts.” </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:650px;margin:auto;"> <a data-flickr-embed="true" data-header="true" data-footer="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nysut/albums/72177720315086958" title="Onteora HS Visit"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53554312164_fd8dec947e_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Onteora HS Visit" /></a> <script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div> <br /> <br /> <p>In addition to grappling with the dire consequences of state aid cuts, Onteora CSD is already dealing with a reconfiguration plan that will close two elementary schools over the next five years; astronomical transportation costs in the mainly rural district that encompasses approximately 300 square miles; special education costs that have increased more than any other area of the district’s budget, according to McLaren; and the continued, crucial need for student mental health supports that are desperately lacking outside of the school buildings. </p> <p>“My main concern comes down to our students,” said Onteora TA President Scott Via. “They are directly affected by these proposed cuts, and I don’t want to see any opportunities for them taken away, whether it’s mental health services, art and music programs, AP courses, or hands-on electives like our science of survival course.” </p> <p>Onteora TA will be represented at NYSUT’s annual Committee of 100, March 4–5, and will be lobbying lawmakers with hundreds of other NYSUT activists to support public schools and students and restore funding. <strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856" target="_blank">Join the fight and make your voice heard. </a></strong></p> <br class="t-last-br" />Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:51:00 -0500{8101EFA3-E6EA-4C51-B674-72F1783E3E6B}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/teaching-black-history-monthChallenges of teaching Black history focus of February program<hr /> <p><strong>The “Power of Education” was the theme of a February Black History Month Thought Leaders Forum moderated by J. Philippe Abraham, NYSUT secretary treasurer.</strong> The event was part of NYSUT’s Many Threads, One Fabric social justice series. “We are challenging historical erasure by reclaiming Black history,” said Abraham in welcoming remarks. “History is not just a call to reflection, but a call to action.”</p> <p>Noting our nation’s tarnished history surrounding race, Abraham termed education “One of the most effective tools to create awareness and fight back against injustice.” He cited NYSUT’s 2024 Black History Month poster featuring “Tulsa’s Black Wall Street” as an example of both celebrating the achievements of Black Americans and shedding light on tragic events like the Tulsa race massacre. </p> <p>NYSUT President Melinda Person agreed. “Our nation is at a crucial moment, we’re confronted with a troubling trend that seeks to diminish, distort or outright erase Black history from our public-school curriculum,” she said. “It not only undermines the significance of Black contributions to our nation but deprives our students of a comprehensive and truthful understanding of American history.” </p> <p>Person called for educators to stand against these efforts by making their classrooms places of inclusivity, understanding and respect for all histories and voices. </p> <hr><div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/913168751?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Many Threads, One Fabric: Black History Month Thought Leaders Forum"></iframe></div> <script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script><hr> <br /> <p>A slate of speakers discussed the challenges educators of color face when teaching Black history. Teaching Black history from a position of perseverance and strength, rather than reducing enslaved Blacks to their institution, is important, said LaShonda Bradberry, a special education teacher at Cheektowaga Central High School. “They were people first who had skills,” said Bradberry noting that she often teaches her students that they were the first chefs, blacksmiths and skilled tradesmen, helping to build the country. “That alone can change the way a child feels in the classroom.” </p> <p>Emmanuel Blanchard Jr., a history teacher at North Shore High School on Long Island, discussed how limiting Black history lessons to a handful of prominent figures, such as Frederick Douglass or Martin Luther King Jr., can be disempowering for students. “It reduces groups of individuals to caricatures of themselves … that you’re nothing more than two figures in history,” said Blanchard noting that often even when those figures are taught, they receive scant treatment, such as only discussing King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. “The erasure of history is the erasure of the individual and there are dire consequences to that.” </p> <p>Students who aren’t Black and brown also benefit from Black history lessons, said Johanna Josaphat, a middle school educator at the Urban Assembly Unison School in Brooklyn. “Learning the history and being able to celebrate all members of their community is very important for students,” she said. “It changes their perception, how they see themselves and how they view others.”</p> <p>Learning their history also empowers Black students, said Zenya Richardson, a program director and assistant professor at Rockland Community College. “Learning about yourself gives you permission to be proud of your history … it’s an acknowledgement of where you come from and helps you see where you can go.” </p> <p>Richardson advised her fellow educators to be kind to themselves as they work to dismantle systemic racism in education. “We might not get where we want to in our lifetimes, but there will be students standing on our shoulders.” </p> <p>For more information about NYSUT Social Justice, visit <a href="/resources/special-resources-sites/social-justice"><strong>nysut.org/socialjustice</strong></a>. </p> <br />Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:33:00 -0500{8FF8345B-1452-449A-A278-3530B65E6375}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/media-release-making-stridesNYSUT named top fundraising company nationwide for supporting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer<hr /> <p>Latham, NY – New York State United Teachers is being nationally recognized as the <strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=strides_marketing_2" target="_blank">number one organization across the country</a></strong> for its contributions to the American Cancer Society’s 2023 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.</p> <p>The statewide union had 174 teams from every corner of New York participating in Making Strides events this past year. Together, they raised $612,787 to save lives and fund the future of cancer research, patient support and advocacy. Among the thousands of NYSUT members and staff who took part in the annual breast cancer movement, the top five local fundraising teams come from NYSUT’s Nassau regional staff office, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Buffalo and Westchester.</p> <p>“We are thrilled to surpass our ambitious goal and we know every dollar raised helps defeat this deadly disease,” said J. Philippe Abraham, NYSUT secretary-treasurer, whose office coordinates the statewide union’s social justice initiatives and who lost one of his sisters to the disease. “Our members’ generosity and dedication to community service is part of the fabric of our union. NYSUT is proud to do our part in finding a cure for our educators, their students, families and communities who are impacted by breast cancer.”</p> <p>NYSUT is a flagship sponsor of the annual Making Strides events and has raised over $17.5 million for the cause since 2002.</p> <p><em>New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO. </em></p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Tue, 20 Feb 2024 07:30:00 -0500{88326221-7DAD-47C6-BBE8-55E0B41736C1}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/media-release-making-strides-2NYSUT named top fundraising company nationwide for supporting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer<hr /> <p>Latham, NY – New York State United Teachers is being nationally recognized as the number one organization across the country for its contributions to the American Cancer Society’s 2023 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.</p> <p>The statewide union had 174 teams from every corner of New York participating in Making Strides events this past year. Together, they raised $612,787 to save lives and fund the future of cancer research, patient support and advocacy. Among the thousands of NYSUT members and staff who took part in the annual breast cancer movement, the top five local fundraising teams come from NYSUT’s Nassau regional staff office, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Buffalo and Westchester.</p> <p>“We are thrilled to surpass our ambitious goal and we know every dollar raised helps defeat this deadly disease,” said J. Philippe Abraham, NYSUT secretary-treasurer, whose office coordinates the statewide union’s social justice initiatives and who lost one of his sisters to the disease. “Our members’ generosity and dedication to community service is part of the fabric of our union. NYSUT is proud to do our part in finding a cure for our educators, their students, families and communities who are impacted by breast cancer.”</p> <p>NYSUT is a flagship sponsor of the annual Making Strides events and has raised over $17.5 million for the cause since 2002.</p> <p><em>New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO. </em></p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Tue, 20 Feb 2024 06:45:00 -0500{77EAD2EA-C2D1-4D6E-ABF5-1989249AFEC2}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/schuylervilleBen Amey“These cuts cannot go through.” NYSUT, lawmakers, education officials push back on proposed Foundation Aid cuts<p>NYSUT President Melinda Person held a roundtable discussion with education officials and local lawmakers on Friday to discuss the impacts proposed Foundation Aid cuts would have on the Schuylerville Central School District and its community.</p> <p>Schuylerville stands to lose more than 17% of its Foundation Aid under the executive budget proposal, amounting to nearly 6% of last year’s budget. “There is no way you take a 17% cut and not have an impact on what you can provide students,” said Schuylerville Assistant Superintendent for Business Christine Burke.</p> <p>Said Superintendent Gregg Barthelmas, “The bottom line is this: these cuts will impact Schuylerville like you wouldn’t believe.”</p> <p>“These cuts cannot go through,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “There’s a common thread that I’ve heard in every district I’ve met with, it’s that we don’t want to go backwards, we want to move forward. To pull the rug out from districts who have done the right thing is unconscionable.”</p> <div class="callout primary" > <h3><a href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION! Urge State Legislators to Fully Fund our Public Schools.</a></h3> </div> <br /> <p>The effects of these cuts will also be felt regionally. Officials from the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES talked about the reverberations the proposed cuts are having across the region. “Here in this region, with this proposal, 21 of our districts are being hurt by this,” said WSWHE BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Turina Parker. “When we talk about all the work that has been done in growing opportunities for kids, it really does take us back.”</p> <p>Those expanded opportunities could be clearly seen at a campus tour following the roundtable discussion: agriculture programs, career and technical education programs, students engaging in engineering, woodworking and 3D printing. All are hands-on learning programs that could potentially be at risk if these cuts remain in place.</p> <p>“I feel like this budget throws away years of progress,” lamented Schuylerville Board of Education member Bernie Buff. “It feels like we’re running into a brick wall with this. It’s very frustrating.”</p> <p>“To think that agriculture programs at Schuylerville, at Argyle, at Cambridge, at Greenwich could be at risk is heartbreaking,” said Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, who represents Schuylerville.</p> <p>But education leaders were also concerned about the effect the cuts could have on mental health services for students, desperately needed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our teachers don’t just teach the content,” said Schuylerville Teachers Association President Erin Lloyd. “They are an ear to listen, they are there for students who are going through unprecedented times.”</p> <p>NYSUT has been working with its allies in the Legislature to remove these cuts from the final budget proposal, and we will keep fighting to make sure that our schools, educators and students get the resources they need and deserve.</p> <p>“We can’t build a budget off the backs of students, their education and local taxpayers. That’s totally unacceptable. It’s clear there’s bi-partisan agreement that the legislature will not let this stand,” said Senator Jim Tedisco, Ranking Member of the Senate Education Committee.<br> </p> <br /> <br /> <br />Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:02:00 -0500{16F18EC6-1962-44BD-B0C1-9AC9564A5890}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/toast-albanyEmily AllenA TOAST to community schools: the heart of the neighborhood<p>For many of us, it was a major accomplishment to learn to tie your own shoes in kindergarten. For kindergartners at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST), they’re already studying the laws of the Universe with hands-on physics experiments.</p> <p>TOAST is a community school in the Albany City School District with a STEAM theme – science, technology, engineering, arts and math. NYSUT President Melinda Person recently took a tour around TOAST with Sen. Jim Tedisco, marking the third stop on NYSUT’s statewide community school tour to show legislators firsthand the tremendous value of investing in a school model that functions as a neighborhood center and supports the whole child and family.</p> <p>“Our public schools, as the centers of our communities, are increasingly becoming the hubs where our students’ and their families’ basic needs are being met,” Person said.</p> <p>As a community school, TOAST collaborates with a variety of community partners to provide extensive programs and services to its students, families and staff. All students participate in one or more in-school enrichment programs focusing on subjects from college and career readiness to gardening, and more than half of students are enrolled in one or more after-school programs. </p> <div class="callout primary"> <h3><a href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/868?1708033693" target="_blank"><strong>TAKE ACTION! Urge your representatives to double the number of community schools statewide!</strong></a></h3> </div> <br /> <p>In one classroom, budding STEAMsters sport kid-sized safety goggles as they learn about push and pull forces. They gather in a circle on the carpet as they conduct their experiments, record their data and compare notes.</p> <p>Down the hall, fifth-grade engineers and inventors are working voluntarily during their lunch break in the Makerspace – a special STEAM room equipped with a 3D printer and filled with prototype materials such as clay and cardboard, glues and tapes, wires and washers. They’re designing west coast wind turbines that will float in water, stay upright and generate electricity without being tethered. </p> <p>“The future is in this room,” said Sen. Tedisco. “They’re our future; their education is their future.”</p> <p>And on the first floor, empty bags are waiting to be filled with food donated from the Regional Food Bank. President Person, Sen. Tedisco and school staff pack the reusable totes with nonperishables and fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Extra bags are being sent home ahead of the school’s February winter recess so that students and their families have enough to get by for a week while the school is closed.</p> <p>“In New York state, one in five of our school children lives in poverty,” Person said. “While community schools across the state look different depending on their individual community’s needs, they all have the same thing in common. They focus on removing obstacles to learning, such as hunger, so that students can be successful in school and in life.”</p> <p>NYSUT is pushing for $100 million in categorical aid in this year’s state budget to double the nearly 400 community schools in the state.</p> <p>“There’s been a lot of attention on student achievement and outcomes,” said Person. “But if we want to achieve those outcomes, we need to focus on meeting kids and their families where they are.”</p> <br /> <br />Fri, 16 Feb 2024 14:45:00 -0500{3EDF344C-D0B9-49B7-9393-BDF8971BBD4C}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/shoreham-wading-riverMolly BelmontShoreham-Wading River RISE program a slam dunk<p>Special education teacher Caitlin Gould said she’s tired of people feeling sorry for her and her students. “When someone tells me, ‘Your job is so hard,’ I’m like ‘You have no idea,’” Gould said. “The truth is I feel so lucky. I can’t believe this is my job and that I get to come to this school every day and work with these kids. It is just so rewarding.” </p> <p>Gould teaches at Shoreham-Wading River Senior High School. She and Matthew Millheiser lead RISE, a fully adaptive program at the Shoreham Wading River Senior High School designed to help students with severe disabilities reach independence through structured experiences. </p> <p>“Our students face struggles every day of their life, more than we as teachers could ever understand,” said Millheiser. RISE students deal with physical limitations, communications issues, chronic health problems, and cognitive deficits. “The world, especially high school, can be a difficult place for them.” </p> <p>Together, Gould and Millheiser, who are both members of the Shoreham-Wading River Teachers Association, help their students master the practical skills they need to succeed in the real world and find joy there. </p> <p>“Overall, most outsiders feel bad for our students, focusing on all the things they can’t do,” Millheiser said. “Our program strives to show our students and others what they can do, which is a lot more than they think they can.” </p> <p>“Every morning, first period, all the students have a job,” said Gould. Some work in the school store, selling drinks and handling inventory, she said. Other students run the school’s coffee cart, and still others are charged with running the school’s meal delivery program. </p> <p>Once a week, students 16 and older are transported in the program’s van to off-site jobs. “We see that they get placed in a job in the community in a field they are interested in,” said Caitlin. “We have one student who works at a clothing boutique that she loves. We have another student who works at the Suffolk Theatre, and then because he works with us, they also hired him on the weekends.” </p> <p>Determined to open more doors for their students, Gould and Millheiser created an innovative peer mentoring program eight years ago that gives their students access to co-taught electives like theater, music, art and Spanish. The program invites students from the mainstream population to join them and serve as mentors. </p> <p>The mentoring component is beneficial for everyone, giving students with special needs the support they need to participate, and giving students from the general education population the opportunity to be part of something transformative. </p> <p>Theater was the first elective they tried with the peer mentor model, and it taught everyone something valuable, said Mary Hygom, theater teacher and president of the Shoreham-Wading River TA. “Never underestimate what kids are able to do. They will surprise you. Keep expectations high, and don’t pigeonhole students.” </p> <p>The student mentors have quickly become fixtures in the RISE classroom, with many stopping in between classes, popping in during study hall, and showing up for special events. </p> <p>“I never worry about my kids in the hallways, and it’s because of these peer mentoring classes. We have so many kids who are now immersed in our classroom, and they generate true friendships here,” said Gould. That enthusiasm spills over into extracurricular activities like unified basketball, which includes both special education and mainstream students. </p> <p>Gould said seeing their team take the court would make any school jealous. “When we roll up to the school, we have like 40 kids on our team,” Gould said. “We don’t have to ask anyone to join, they all just want to do it because they are already friends with our kids.” </p> <p>This year, their <strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://westchester.news12.com/andrews-slingshot-coaches-teammates-help-shoreham-wading-river-high-school-sophomore-become-a-basketball-player" target="_blank">unified basketball team made the news</a></strong> after Shoreham-Wading River student Andrew Brennan, who has limited use of his limbs, achieved his dream and finally scored a basket. “I was crying. His peer mentors were crying. Matt was losing his mind, jumping up and down. Andrew’s mom was crying. We were just so happy for him,” Gould said. </p> <p>“When our students realize their own potential and begin to take charge of challenging situations, it is the best feeling as a teacher,” said Millheiser. “It validates all the hard work and reflection we do.” </p> <br class="t-last-br" />Fri, 16 Feb 2024 07:09:00 -0500{F910A92B-C70A-4A8E-AE0A-9B17D7756978}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/black-history-monthMany Threads, One Fabric: Black History Month Thought Leaders Forum <hr /> <div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/913168751?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Many Threads, One Fabric: Black History Month Thought Leaders Forum"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script> <hr /> <p><strong>NYSUT honors Black History Month with a panel discussion, “Power of Education: Challenging the Threat of Erasure by Reclaiming Black History."</strong></p> <p>Secretary Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham moderates a conversation that highlights the perspective and knowledge of Black educators. Participants will learn about the importance of Black history, and how to combat the threat of erasure in NYS public schools.</p> <p><strong>PANELISTS</strong></p> <ul> <li>LaShonda Bradberry, Cheektowaga Central High School, Special Education Teacher</li> <li>Dr. Zenya Richardson, Program Director/Assistant Professor, Rockland Community College</li> <li>Emmanuel Blanchard, Jr., Educator, Community Leader, Writer, Minister</li> <li>Johanna Josaphat, Educator at the Urban Assembly Unison School in Brooklyn</li> </ul> <p><em>Originally broadcast Thursday., Feb. 15, 2024.</em> </p> <br /> <br /> <hr /> <br /> <p><img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/february/news_240208_blackhistory_02_1920.jpg?h=519&w=960&hash=289952C36F6F9D635F86586CBB8CBCA1" alt="black history month" style="width: 960px; height: 519px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></p> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br /> <br /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <hr /> <!-- Simulated Live Embed Tests <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:720px;margin:auto;"> <div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://vimeo.com/event/4093643/embed/924c78f4a2" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:720px;margin:auto;"> <div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/913400636?h=1409ccf373&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="SIMuLATED LIVE TEST Higher Ed Lobby Day Cut 2"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script> </div> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:720px;margin:auto;"> <div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://vimeo.com/event/4093736/embed/feeb9c0c00" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></div> </div> -->Thu, 15 Feb 2024 13:24:00 -0500{4ADD10FA-A51A-400D-B6C4-4DEED4402A57}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/media-release-suozziNYSUT members come out in force for Congressman-elect Tom Suozzi<hr /> <p> <p>Albany, New York — NYSUT released the following statement on Tom Suozzi’s victory in the 3rd congressional district last night:</p> <blockquote> <p>“In the midst of a winter snowstorm, NYSUT members came out in force for Congressman-elect Tom Suozzi. Their hard work has paid off and their voices have been heard. Congratulations to Tom on this victory. We share the belief that public schools have the power to unite us and we look forward to working together to bring our communities together in common purpose to help unite a divided nation.” - NYSUT President Melinda Person</em></p> </blockquote> <p><em>New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.</em></p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:32:00 -0500{7B2AB9F2-C406-4CF9-9670-0312B0AA6726}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/suozziUPDATE: NYSUT members come out in force for Congressman-elect Tom Suozzi<hr /> <div class="callout primary"> <p><strong>UPDATE Feb. 14:</strong></p> <p>NYSUT released the following <strong><a href="/news/2024/february/media-release-suozzi">statement on Tom Suozzi’s victory</a></strong> in the 3rd congressional district last night:</p> <blockquote> <p>“In the midst of a winter snowstorm, NYSUT members came out in force for Congressman-elect Tom Suozzi. Their hard work has paid off and their voices have been heard. Congratulations to Tom on this victory. We share the belief that public schools have the power to unite us and we look forward to working together to bring our communities together in common purpose to help unite a divided nation.” - <em>NYSUT President Melinda Person</em></p> </blockquote> </div> <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>For the Congressional District 3 Special Election, <br /> Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, NYSUT endorses:</strong></p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>TOM SUOZZI</strong></h2> <br /> <blockquote> <h3>• Tom Suozzi believes middle-class families need tax relief. He will fight to repeal the cap on the SALT deduction.</h3> <h3>• He wants teachers to be able to teach and students to love learning, which is why he supports the More Teaching, Less Testing Act.</h3> <h3>• He believes that strong union protections are essential to securing good pay and benefits for all workers.</h3> <h3>• He is a tireless advocate for our public schools.</h3> </blockquote> <br /> <p>Tom Suozzi fights for us. Now we fight for him. Vote Tom Suozzi on February 13 in the NY-03 Special Election for tax relief, better schools, and more protections for the middle class. Tom will be an effective voice for us in Congress.</p> <br /> <!-- pledge form hidden 2-13-2024 <hr /> <h2 style="text-align: center;">Pledge to vote in support of Tom Suozzi</h2> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:720px; margin:auto;"> <a name="form1615280490" id="formAnchor1615280490"></a> <script src="https://fs20.formsite.com/include/form/embedManager.js?1615280490"></script> <script> EmbedManager.embed({ key: "https://fs20.formsite.com/res/showFormEmbed?EParam=m_OmK8apOTB5ntyNXbuzkzkluNuWclgLd0EdsE-2w-E&1615280490", width: "100%" }); </script> </div> <br /> --> <hr /> <h2 style="text-align: center;">How to Cast Your Vote</h2> <p>It's never been more important to vote... and it's never been easier. Choose ONE of the following three methods to vote this year:</p> <h3>VOTE ABSENTEE</h3> <p><strong>IMPORTANT DATES:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Feb. 20 is the last day for the board of elections to RECEIVE absentee applications — applications must be physically in their office by that date, not postmarked.</li> <li>Apply for a ballot by Feb. 3. </li> </ul> <p><strong>WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Request an absentee ballot at - <a href="https://ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov/home/absentee" title="https://ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov/home/absentee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov/home/absentee</a></li> <li>Mail or drop off your ballot in person at board of elections no later than Feb. 13.</li> </ul> <h3>VOTE EARLY</h3> <p><strong>IMPORTANT DATES:</strong></p> <p>Early voting runs Feb. 3 to Feb. 11.</p> <p><strong>WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Check your county board of elections for hours and locations.</li> <li>Go to <a href="https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">voterlookup.elections.ny.gov</a></li> <li>Go VOTE!</li> </ul> <h3>VOTE IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY</h3> <p><strong>IMPORTANT DATE:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Election Day is Tuesday,<br /> Feb. 13.</li> </ul> <p><strong>WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Go VOTE!</li> </ul> <hr /> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://vote-cope.org/#choosecandidates" target="_blank">How does NYSUT choose which candidates to support? </a></h3> <br /> <br /> <!-- <p><img src="https://vote-cope.org/templates/yootheme/cache/22/NYSUT_AFT_UFT_NEA-22371385.png" border="0" alt="logos" loading="lazy" /></p> --> <br /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Tue, 13 Feb 2024 11:07:00 -0500{C67E81FF-8D70-43D8-83AA-881EFF3397DE}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/berne-foundation-aidMolly BelmontGovernor’s foundation aid cuts threatens to set Berne-Knox-Westerlo back 15 years<h3>Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to slash foundation aid in 2025 is sending districts across the state into a panic. This week, NYSUT President Melinda Person visited Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District, to meet with members and learn what the cuts would mean for their students.</h3> <p>At Berne-Knox-Westerlo (BKW), a small rural district at the western edge of Albany County that serves 684 students, the governor’s proposal would result in a $624,179 budget shortfall. District members said the reduction would set the district back 15 years and undo all the progress that’s been made in the classrooms during that time.</p> <p>“To pull the rug out without any forewarning is punitive,” said Berne-Knox-Westerlo Superintendent Timothy Mundell. “It’s Draconian and it’s mean.” </p> <p>New York State Assemblymember Chris Tague joined the visit and declared his opposition to the cuts. “I do support the efforts of NYSUT and Dr. Mundell and I will continue to do so. I am a perfect example of what public education can do,” Tague said.</p> <p>To rebalance the BKW budget, the district would have to eliminate 12-15 teaching positions, increase elementary class sizes, and threaten the special education program – which has demonstrated sturdy growth in recent years due to increased investment. The cuts would also eliminate the district’s only afterschool program, end summer programs and reduce counseling services and CTE offerings. </p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:720px; margin:auto;"> <div class="responsive-embed"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUK0YOiMeaA?si=4FcNY0a9JTcnIQMm" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <p>The budget would also imperil co-taught classrooms and could eliminate support staff members. Brenda Dibble, President of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Teacher Support Staff said her 25 teaching assistants and aides are pushing into every elementary classroom, and that’s played a critical role in improving district test scores. “That’s how our kids are growing,” Dibble said. “The growth is huge and impressive, and it would be a loss if we don’t have that.”</p> <p>Hochul’s proposal is based on false assumptions, Mundell said, including the fallacy that declining school enrollment significantly reduces district costs.</p> <p>Person told him she is always trying to explain this fiscal reality to policy makers. “The simplest explanation I usually give them is that if you have a class with 25 kids and you reduce that to 22 kids, how much money do you actually save?” she asked.</p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:720px; margin:auto;"> <h3>Resources</h3> <p>To see the full data and how much each district would be cut, visit <a href="http://fundourfutureny.org" target="_blank"><strong>fundourfutureny.org</strong></a>.</p> <p>Visit the Member Action Center to <a href="https://mac.nysut.org/action/856" target="_blank"><strong>urge state legislators to fully fund our public schools</a></strong>.</a> </div> <br /> <br /> <p>Losing a few kids from each class doesn’t help with fixed costs, like electricity, heating oil and fuel, Mundell said. “We drive 633,000 miles per year on our buses. Whether we have 1 kid or 25 kids who need to go to an out of district placement, it’s 40 miles there and back. One bus, that’s $40,000 a year.”</p> <p>According to Mundell, the governor’s proposal also assumes that districts are sitting on a bunch of money. In fact, costs are increasing astronomically year over year, and districts continue to face new state mandates, like the requirement that all schools transition to electric buses by 2035. </p> <p>The governor’s proposal also assumes that an increase in the Combined Wealth Ratio (CWR) means districts can turn to taxpayers to make up the shortfall, Mundell said.</p> <p>Combined Wealth Ratio (CWR) is a measure of relative wealth, indexing each school district against the statewide average based on property wealth and income wealth per pupil. But, Mundell points out, in his community, and other communities like his, property values are up, but household incomes are stagnant. Inflation hit residents hard, and consumer pricing still hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels.</p> <p>Mundell said BKW would have to hike school taxes by 12 percent to offset the aid loss in his district, which state law prohibits. </p> <p>Fortunately, the governor’s proposed budget may not have the support it needs to pass.</p> <p>During her visit, Person told Mundell and BKW educators that the proposal is being opposed by legislators on both sides of the aisle. “One thing that Republicans and Democrats can agree on is that great public schools are important,” she said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to fix this.”</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <br /> <br /> <br />Thu, 08 Feb 2024 19:00:00 -0500{55779E35-618B-45DB-B084-71F94DBEA86D}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/corningEmily AllenCorning Teachers Association connecting kids with careers in education <h3>When David Rich became president of the Corning Teachers Association in March 2022, he was immediately interested in bringing NYSUT’s Take a Look at Teaching program to his district.</h3> <p>The statewide, union-led initiative aims to develop a robust and diverse educator pipeline in New York, as state officials estimate districts may need up to 180,000 teachers in the next decade.</p> <p>“It’s something within our grasp as educators that we can do to address staffing shortages,” Rich said.</p> <p>This school year, Rich was able to get funding for the district’s inaugural TALAT course through NYSUT, which received a grant from the National Education Association to help local unions start Grow Your Own programs. And next fall, they will be adding a second TALAT course to the catalogue.</p> <p>“I think it’s been a fantastic program and a way to connect with students,” Rich said. “We have so much talent here that we want to tap into and this allows us to plant the seeds early that a career in education is great – not just as a teacher, but as a school counselor, speech therapist, social worker, librarian. If NYSUT hadn’t put the resources out there, I probably wouldn’t have done the program so that’s been invaluable to me.”</p> <p>Kayleigh Sparks is one of 12 students currently participating in the program. She says the class has affirmed her decision to pursue becoming a teacher.</p> <p>“This class was one of the best things I could have done for myself and my future,” Sparks said. “It gave me many opportunities to explore the education field and helped me determine what area of teaching I want to focus on, which is special education. I was assigned a special education class for one of my observations and instantly realized this is something I am interested in. I recommend this class to any student who is interested in teaching – give it a try.”</p> <p>The TALAT course is taught by Corning TA member Megan Plate, who often will take her students on field trips to colleges and school board meetings.</p> <p>“One of my favorite things about the course is seeing my students' passion when they interact with cooperating teachers or students during observations,” Plate said. “It's been inspiring to watch them navigate difficult questions and situations that educators are faced with daily. I truly believe the future of education is in great hands!”</p> <p>To get students further involved, Plate and Rich have nomination cards for teachers to recommend students for the district’s Teacher-for-a-Day program.</p> <p>“It makes for a good connection between a teacher and a student to recognize them as having potential to be a future educator,” Rich said.</p> <p>The program allows high school students to spend a day co-working with a teacher in the grade level and subject of their choice.</p> <p>“Students do tasks like taking attendance, introducing a lesson or learning objective, closing a lesson and checking for understanding or explaining directions for an assignment,” Rich explained.</p> <p>Corning TA member Thomas Schilke is a middle school English Teacher participating in the program who recently worked with a student on lesson planning and classroom management. He says it was a breath of fresh air.</p> <p>“Her eagerness and excitement were contagious. She had great questions about the profession including pros and cons, benefits, retirement, classroom management strategies and so on. We probably should have just offered her a job on the spot because she is going to be great.”</p> <hr /> <br /> <h3><strong>To learn more about NYSUT’s Take a Look at Teaching program and for grant information, visit <a href="http://takealookatteaching.org" target="new">takealookatteaching.org</a>.</strong></h3> <br /> <br /> <p> </p> <p> </p>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 11:58:00 -0500{1F03354A-7CF7-40AF-B1D5-5AFF76F9063A}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/coalition-letterEducation stakeholders call on lawmakers to fully fund our schools<hr /> <ul> <li><strong>DOWNLOAD: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nysut.docsend.com/view/y7xzqtumi8ba324j" target="_blank">PDF</a> | <a href="https://www.nysut.org/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/february/news_240203_coalitionletter_large.jpg" target="_blank">JPG</a></strong></li> </ul> <hr /> <h3>Today, a broad coalition of stakeholders declared their combined opposition to the executive budget proposal that would underfund public schools by hundreds of millions of dollars in the following letter:</h3> <blockquote> <p>We, the undersigned organizations, care deeply about public education and the educational opportunities and resources available to the students in our communities. We have come together to express our concerns regarding the troublesome proposals in the executive budget that would change the way schools in our state are funded.</p> <p>The executive budget proposes to stop using the current Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is 3.8 percent, and instead begin using a 10-year rolling average of 2.4 percent. This will underfund the Foundation Aid formula, which is the main driver of both school aid in our state and the distribution of equitable state aid funding. </p> <p>Coupled with the blunt cuts being proposed by changes to the Save Harmless provisions that will affect 337 school districts around the state — half of which are high needs — this will lead to a compounding loss of programs and services such as mental health, enrichments and staff to assist students for years to come.</p> <p>As proposed, these changes will result in a decrease of $419 million in Foundation Aid. They will strip our schools of the resources required to provide students with the quality education they deserve. This decision not only breaks a promise made to our children and educators, it also jeopardizes the future of our communities by undermining the foundation of a strong and equitable education system.</p> <p>The impact of this shortfall will be felt across all districts, disproportionately affecting those already struggling. Without the promised funding, schools will be forced to make cuts that could result in larger class sizes, fewer and diminished educational programs, and a decline in the quality of education our children receive. This is not just a budgetary issue; it is a question of our priorities and values as a state.</p> <p>New York’s students deserve better, and we know that the Legislature wants better for the communities they serve and for the entire state.</p> <p>We urge you to stand up for our students and schools by doing everything you can to properly fund our public schools. Our children deserve a future built on the promise of a high-quality education.</p> </blockquote> <br class="t-last-br" /> <img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/february/news_240203_coalitionletter_0960.jpg?h=363&w=960&hash=03233E62B04A82A9BEE9C175EF3EDA53" alt="coalition letter" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:24:00 -0500{91FB332B-197D-4228-B5E5-16A6D19E14AE}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/february/school-busPTSI guide to school bus regulations now available to local unions<hr /> <p><img src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/february/bus-laws-and-regs-2024.png?h=362&w=226&hash=2B74BB05C6E436E49F63774DEBBBC248" style="width:226px; height:362px; float:right;" alt="Bus laws and Regs 2024" /></p> <p>Do you have school bus drivers, monitors or attendants in your local union?</p> <p>The new 2024 NYS Laws and Regulations for School Bus Drivers, Monitors and Attendants booklet is available now.</p> <p>NYSUT will send the booklet to your local at no cost. Supplies are limited.</p> <p>Order now and be up to date with current regulations. Contact Tammie Waldenmaier at <a href="mailto:Tammie.Waldermaier@nysut.org?subject=PTSI%20Booklet">Tammie.Waldermaier@nysut.org</a>.  </p> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:08:00 -0500{93DB2D1D-EAE6-4C05-83AE-C53676DE20BF}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/school-counselorKara SmithBethlehem teacher named 2023 NYS School Counselor of the Year<h3>When Bethlehem Central Teachers Association member Carla Young found out she’d been named the 2023 New York State School Counselor of the year, she was skeptical.</h3> <p>“I didn’t know I’d been nominated,” said Young, a Bethlehem Middle School counselor, whose name had been placed in the running by a group of co-workers. “When I got the email, I thought it was a scam.” </p> <p>But it was no scam. Recognizing Young’s commitment to her profession and to her students, Bethlehem High School counselor Darnell Douglas, a former graduate student of Young’s at Russell Sage College, where she teaches as an adjunct, spearheaded the nomination.</p> <p>“Carla educates herself on challenges faced by students, school counselors, guardians and all other stakeholders,” wrote Douglas in the nomination form he submitted on behalf of Bethlehem’s K-12 counseling team. “[She] ensures the work remains student-centered at all times.” </p> <p>Given by the New York State School Counselor Association, the School Counselor of the Year Award recognizes school counselors who lead within their profession and advocate for students by helping them address academic, social-emotional and career development needs. School counselors focus on prevention rather than reaction when it comes to student behaviors, and work with students more as educators than traditional counselors.</p> <p>As the New York state winner Young will work on projects for submission to the American School Counselor Association, NYSSCA’s national affiliate, and travel to Washington D.C. to meet with fellow state honorees for ASCA’s School Counselor of the Year Award announcement this spring. National School Counseling Week runs Feb. 5–9; Young discussed her goals for the year ahead. </p> <p>One is raising awareness about the professional standards outlined by the ASCA. Although the national organization provides ethical and professional standards to guide school counselors in their work, they’re not widely known, she explained.</p> <p>“Following ASCA guidelines pulls us into alignment and ensures that all students receive the same type of services,” said Young who has presented at several NYSSCA conferences and highlights the guidelines as part of her graduate teaching. “A wide range of professional support is also available to school counselors through the ASCA, including peer-reviewed journal articles and webinars.”</p> <p>Teaching students about healthy relationships is another focus. “The book <em>Maybe He Just Likes You</em> by Barbara Dee is a great way to discuss relationship boundaries with middle schoolers,” said Young explaining that the publication centers on a middle school girl who is subject to uncomfortable and unwanted attention from boys in her class. “Students need to be aware of personal boundaries, how to decode situational meanings and be able to pick up on social cues such as eye contact and tone of voice.” </p> <p>She also uses a goldfish cracker exercise to illustrate boundary setting. “I give them goldfish and walk around the classroom taking their crackers as I talk,” she said noting that students’ reactions run the gamut from outrage to acceptance. “It leads to a discussion about personal boundaries and how to communicate those boundaries.” </p> <p>Young appreciates being recognized and looks forward to the year ahead. “I feel very honored to receive this award,” she said. “That a former student nominated me makes it extra special.” </p> <h3>For National School Counseling Week materials, or to learn more about the American School Counseling Association, visit <a href=" http://schoolcounselor.org" target="_blank">schoolcounselor.org. </h3> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Mon, 29 Jan 2024 15:31:00 -0500{32D7B603-C8BA-42BC-9963-494E3EFD136E}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/nbctJoin us online in April to celebrate our new National Board Certified Teachers!<hr /> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>RECOGNIZING NEW YORK'S NEWEST NBCTs<br /> April 11, 2024, 4-5 p.m.</strong></h2> <p>Please join us online April 11 for a celebration of the New York State's Class of 2023 National Board Certified Teachers! Our 50 newest NBCTs join more than 2,300 NBCT’s statewide.</p> <p>The event will stream live on this page Thursday, April 11, 4-5 p.m.</p> <p>NYSUT strongly supports National Board candidates by offering awareness programs, supportive writing retreats, online discussion forums and professional learning through the union’s Education & Learning Trust and the state network of teacher centers. The union has also successfully advocated for local incentives, stipends and the state’s Albert Shanker Grant, which covers the costs for National Board Certification. The deadline to apply for a Shanker grant is Feb. 16, 2024. For more info, visit <a href="http://www.nysut.org/nbpts" target="new">nysut.org/nbpts</a>.</p> <hr /> <h2><strong>AGENDA</strong></h2> <p><strong>Welcome and Remarks</strong></p> <ul> <li>Jaime Ciffone, Executive Vice President, NYSUT</li> </ul> <p><strong>Remarks</strong></p> <ul> <li>Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr., Chancellor of the NYS Board of Regents</li> <li>Roger Tilles, Regent, NYS Board of Regents</li> <li>Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education, New York State Education Department</li> <li>Peggy Brookins, President and CEO, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards</li> </ul> <p><strong>Closing Remarks</strong></p> <ul><li>Laura Havill, NBCT and So. Tier Regional Chair for NBCNY, President of TST BOCES Teachers Association</li></ul> <p><strong>Moderators</strong></p> <ul> <li>Susan Lafond, NBCT, Assistant in Educational Services, NYSUT</li> <li>Elena Bruno, Albert Shanker Grant Coordinator, New York State Education Department</li> </ul> <p></p> <h3>For NYSUT resources on National Board Certification, visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.nysut.org/nbpts" target="_blank">nysut.org/nbpts</a>.</h3> <hr /> <h2><strong>2023 NEWLY CERTIFIED NBCTs in NEW YORK STATE</strong></h2> <br /> <p><strong>Bellport Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Jill DeRosa, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Bethlehem Central Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Dana DiGiansante, Generalist/Middle Childhood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Brentwood Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Jennifer Goldhaber, English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood</li> <li>Holly O'Keefe, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Brewster Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Noelle Palumbo, English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Canandaigua Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Sarah Pennica, World Languages/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cornwall Central Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Chrysanthe Gianiodis, English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Croton Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Suzanne Leslie, Physical Education/Early and Middle Childhood</li> <li>Eric Schmidt, Mathematics/Early Adolescence</li> <li>Sarah Wellman, Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence</li> </ul> <p><strong>Geneva Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Jill Humphries, English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Glens Falls Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Megan McCabe, Science/Early Adolescence</li> </ul> <p><strong>Great Neck Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Jo-AnnEyre Cruz, School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> <li>Erica MacDonald, School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Half Hollow Hills Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Kerry Guarriello, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> <li>Natasha Kubicsko, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Hastings Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Emily Isidori, Generalist/Early Childhood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Hyde Park Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Kristen Vinson, Music/Early and Middle Childhood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Jamesville-Dewitt Faculty Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Ashlee Childers, Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood</li> <li>Mark McIntyre, Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Lewiston-Porter United Teachers</strong></p> <ul> <li>Rachel Smith, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Locust Valley School Employees Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>John Canavan, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Madrid-Waddington Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Michelle Robinson, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Newburgh Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Linda Romano, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Plainedge Federation of Teachers </strong></p> <ul> <li>Juliana Fillinger, Generalist/Middle Childhood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Poughkeepsie Public Schools Teachers Association (PPSTA)</strong></p> <ul> <li>Ann Marie Tucker, School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Saratoga-Adirondack BOCES Employees Association (SABEA) </strong></p> <ul> <li>Wendy Hill, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Schalmont Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>John Urbanski, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence</li> </ul> <p><strong>Schenectady Federation of Teachers</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lewis Butts, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Shenendehowa Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Jennifer Jette, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood</li> <li>Erin Faeth, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood</li> <li>Andrew Mink, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Sherburne-Earlville Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Kenneth Buehner, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Spackenkill Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Kody Andreas, Music/Early and Middle Childhood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Syosset Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Lindsey Warren, Mathematics/Early Adolescence</li> </ul> <p><strong>United Federation of Teachers (UFT)</strong></p> <ul> <li>Sarah Newberger, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood</li> <li>Philip Asaro, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> <li>Ethan Chaisson, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood</li> <li>Francesca DiPietro, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood</li> <li>Kelly Falco, Generalist/Early Childhood</li> <li>Amanda Hochstatter, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood</li> <!-- <li>Annie Jones, Generalist/Early Childhood</li> --> <li>Ayana Mitchell, Generalist/Early Childhood</li> <li>Anne Montero, Generalist/Middle Childhood</li> <li>Adam Sawamura, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>Webster Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Jennifer DeWitte, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood</li> </ul> <p><strong>West Genesee District Teachers Association </strong></p> <ul> <li>Jacqueline Mills, Science/Early Adolescence</li> </ul> <p><strong>Windham-Ashland-Jewett Teachers Association</strong></p> <ul> <li>Jennifer Higgins, Science/Early Adolescence</li> </ul> <p><strong>Yonkers Federation of Teachers </strong></p> <ul> <li>Stacy Walther, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood </li> </ul> <p><strong>Unaffiliated</strong></p> <ul> <li>Michelle Bram, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood</li> <li>Adrienna Kudrewicz, Science/Early Adolescence</li> </ul> <br /> <hr /> <h3>For NYSUT resources on National Board Certification, visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.nysut.org/nbpts" target="_blank">nysut.org/nbpts</a>.</h3> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br class="t-last-br" />Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:58:00 -0500{D5C9DC1C-297B-40E6-9A9B-00D936A58AE0}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/patchogue-organizingKara SmithPatchogue-Medford Security Guards organize to win with NYSUT<h3>Paid time off, fair pay and respect at work can’t be taken for granted without a union.</h3> <p>That’s why a group of security guards at the Patchogue Medford Union Free School District in Suffolk County on Long Island worked with NYSUT’s experienced team of organizers and labor relations staff to unionize in December. NYSUT is chalking up big organizing wins across the state thanks to the hard work of its network of union organizers. Over the past year, the statewide union has brought hundreds of public and private workers across New York into the union fold. </p> <p>“If we don’t work, we don’t get paid,” said security guard Denise Page-Hastings noting that, despite providing years of dedicated service and having a roster of experienced law enforcement professionals, the Patchogue Medford guards lack paid days off and fair compensation. “I’m going into my 19th year, and I started at $18 an hour and now I’m at $21.50. … I feel like they’re treating us like cheap labor.” </p> <p>Patchogue-Medford’s roster of just over 100 guards became one of NYSUT’s newest locals after a whirlwind organizing campaign. “I have been in conversation with the guards in Patchogue-Medford for a couple of years. But when they reached out to me this past fall, I could tell that these workers had reached their breaking point and were tired of being the only group without a union in their district,” said NYSUT organizer Alexandra Castillo-Kesper. </p> <p>After that first contact, there were consistent scheduled meetings with the guards and NYSUT’s organizing staff, where they discussed priorities for their first contract, in addition to NYSUT’s organizational structure, their legal protections, and the work involved in collectively forming a public-sector local. </p> <p>“My objective as an organizer is to establish a foundation of trust with workers during a new organizing campaign, and that they feel and know that their membership with NYSUT is a partnership,” said Castillo-Kesper. “This was especially important to this group, where the vast majority of members are retired from careers in law enforcement, in addition to being parents to alumni and current students enrolled in the school district.” </p> <p>Several guards reached out to Castillo-Kesper after a colleague in a neighboring NYSUT local provided them with her contact information. Castillo-Kesper explained that word of mouth has sparked several organizing campaigns. Security guard Brendan Grogan believes organizing was the right decision for the group. “I felt we weren’t being represented the way we should be,” said Grogan. “Other units at the district had representation and were receiving benefits that we were not. And it became obvious that without a union we were never going to get those benefits.” </p> <p>Fellow guard Michael Zotto agreed. “This summer we asked for a $3 per hour raise and three to five days off,” he said. “The district came back to us in late August early September and offered a $.50 hourly raise.” </p> <p>Although the guards have an amicable relationship with the district, the offer felt like an insult, said Zotto. Worse still, without a union the group was powerless to push back and ask for more. “Once they [the district leaders] made the decision, that was it.”</p> <p>“That was a turning point for lots of people,” said Page-Hastings noting that soon after meeting Castillo-Kesper and learning the legal process to form a union in New York state, she worked with them to develop an organizing strategy to identify group leaders and contact unit members. Page-Hastings, Zotto, Grogan and others divided up the guard list and began distributing union cards. The plan allowed the team to collect signed union authorization cards from 95 percent of the guards in less than a week. </p> <p>The newly formed Patchogue-Medford Security Employees Union hopes that by joining NYSUT they can negotiate benefits similar with what other bargaining units receive including equitable raises, paid time off, longevity and pay for holidays and for staffing events like basketball and football games. In the meantime, the fledgling local is setting up bylaws and a constitution and electing officers, an executive board and a negotiating team. Page-Hastings intends to run for union secretary; Zotto, a former leader of the Islip Teachers Aides Association, will run for president and hopes to have a place on the negotiating team. “The best part of the union is that we’ll have a seat at the bargaining table … we’ll control our own destiny,” said Zotto. </p> <p>“We’re seeing energy to form unions in libraries, health care facilities, school district support staff and higher education,” said NYSUT Director of Membership Growth and Organizing Mike Deely. “It’s a win for everyone when professionals get the respect, support and compensation they deserve in the workplace.” </p> <p><strong>If you know someone who’s interested in forming a union, contact <a href="https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/our-union/organize" target="new">NYSUT Organizing</a> for information.</strong></p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Fri, 26 Jan 2024 11:31:00 -0500{9A39F62B-7147-4629-8472-AA6F5974F1C7}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-one-in-fiveNYSUT and partners launch One-in-Five campaign to combat cycle of childhood poverty<hr /> <p><strong>ALBANY –</strong> New York State United Teachers and a coalition of child, family and community stakeholders today announced their combined push to confront the root causes and harsh effects of poverty that impact hundreds of thousands of children across the state.</p> <p>Nearly one in five New York children live in poverty, a rate that exceeds the national average and overall poverty rates in both the state and country. In New York, a state with a GDP of over $2 trillion and home to 135 billionaires and 340,000 millionaires, this is unacceptable.</p> <p>More than 700,000 children enter our classrooms every day with the burdens of homelessness, unaddressed health concerns, lack of basic hygiene products, and the stigma and stress surrounding a life of poverty. If children are worried about survival, they will be unable to learn.</p> <ul><li><strong><a href="https://nysut.docsend.com/view/3kccas4qz5be8ti3" target="_blank">FACT SHEET: New York State: A Tale of Two Realities</a></strong></li></ul> <p>Childhood poverty isn't inevitable. It is the result of local, state and federal policy choices. The One-in-Five coalition is supporting a slate of initial measures to tackle this crisis on multiple fronts and support the futures our children deserve. </p> <p>These include:</p> <ul> <li>The Working Families Tax Credit (S277A Gounardes/ A4022–A Hevesi); </li> <li>Mothers and Lasting Change (S4578 Ramos/ A 6197-A  Clark); </li> <li>S1875 Brouk/A4408 Reyes, which supports Medicaid services for students through school-based health centers; </li> <li>S7747 Brouk /A8146 Gonzalez–Rojas, which ensures children who are eligible for public health insurance continue to receive coverage until age of 6; </li> <li>Affordable housing; </li> <li>Universal school meals; </li> <li>$100 million in categorical funding to potentially double the number of community schools in New York.  </li> </ul> <p><strong>Melinda Person, President, New York State United Teachers:</strong> “A child’s capacity for creativity and growth – even the ability to experience the joy of learning – is blocked by the effects of poverty. If we really want to address deeply rooted issues that are affecting our students' ability to learn and demonstrate their learning, and if we really want every student to live up to their natural potential, we need to stop ignoring New York’s child poverty problem and use the enormous amount of resources in our state to address it.”</p> <p><strong>Mario Cilento, President, New York State AFL-CIO: </strong>“First and foremost, the New York State AFL-CIO sees this as a social justice issue. There is no disputing that when children lack access to proper nutrition, secure housing, and other critical social and health services, it puts them at a disadvantage.   That is why the entire union movement is united in ensuring that all children start on a level playing field which can be accomplished by providing families with the support they need for food, housing, and health care. It is the best way to improve a child’s health and mental well-being, which bolsters their ability to learn and thrive.”</p> <p><strong>Sen. Samra Brouk (D-Rochester):</strong> “The way a state cares for its young people says everything about its priorities and its values. I’m proud that two of my bills, designed to provide continued health insurance coverage to our young people, and another to connect more students to physical and mental health services through providers at their school, are included in this package. In Rochester, nearly one in two children live in poverty, which is unacceptable. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to ensure that every child receives the support they deserve to lead safe and healthy lives.”</p> <p><strong>Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens):</strong> “Because of the Child Poverty Reduction Act, New York state has a mandate to cut child poverty in half over the next 10 years. But that doesn’t mean we have to wait 10 years. The time to start is now. Lifting our economy up by focusing on children is the way forward. Guaranteed income for mothers puts money in the hands of those who need it most to ensure that the next generation of New Yorkers start their lives off with safety and economic security.”</p> <p><strong>Assemblymember Sarah Clark (D-Rochester):</strong> “Child poverty is a policy failure, and one that we as legislators must correct. Breaking the poverty cycle to ensure every child has access to health care, food, and equitable educational opportunities regardless of their family’s economic status is our responsibility and an important step toward our goal of cutting child poverty in half. Helping new moms is a much-needed start. I am proud to stand with my Legislature colleagues today and grateful that NYSUT has selected my legislation, Mothers and Infants Lasting Change, as a priority this year.” </p> <p><strong>Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens):</strong> “More than one in five New York children live in poverty and if we don’t address this during this budget session with serious and bold investment, then we will have abdicated our responsibility as lawmakers. I’m excited that Governor Hochul included my proposal to provide continual health care coverage to children in Medicaid or Child Health Plus (CHP) from birth to age six, but health care is only one part of the equation. I'm proud to stand with NYSUT and advocates, and urge Governor Hochul to fully fund universal school meals in this state budget, because you can’t teach hungry children. If we are going to address childhood poverty, we must do it holistically and comprehensively, not with austerity.”</p> <p><strong>Andrès Vives, Executive Director, Hunger Solutions New York; Co-Lead of the Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids Coalition: </strong>“We especially appreciate NYSUT’s continued advocacy for Healthy School Meals for All, a vital support for student wellbeing. More than one in seven children in New York face food insecurity. School meals are a far-reaching anti-hunger program – but only if kids have access, free of stigma or paperwork barriers. In this year’s state budget, New York can and must extend no-cost school breakfast and lunch to all students across the state, ensuring children’s access to the meals they need to learn and thrive.”</p> <p><strong>Kate Breslin, President and CEO, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy:</strong> “When a child experiences poverty, it impacts every part of their life, from meals to housing to homework. Reducing New York’s child poverty rate means increasing opportunities and helping more children realize their full potential at school and beyond. With New York’s child poverty rate persistently higher than the national average, and an ambitious target established that has committed the state to reduce child poverty by 50% over the next nine years, New York must prioritize poverty-fighting policies this year.</p> <p>These initiatives, including the Working Families Tax Credit, the Mothers and Infants Lasting Change allowance, Healthy School Meals for All, housing supports and community schools, encompass the supports New York families need to grow, learn, work, and thrive. The right funding and policies can help us achieve a vision for New York state in which families can not only afford to stay in New York, but choose to stay and flourish here.” </p> <p><strong>Rebecca Garrard, Deputy Executive Director, Citizen Action of New York:</strong> “Childhood poverty is an escalating crisis in this state and throughout our nation. In order to address this crisis, we must pass policies such as Mothers and Infants Lasting Change to ensure that all children, regardless of race or ZIP code, are able to thrive.”</p> <p><strong>Ron Deutsch, Director, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness: </strong>“It is long past time that New York starts addressing pervasive child poverty. We have some of the highest child poverty rates in the nation, particularly in our upstate cities, where nearly half of all children are living below the federal poverty line. Research has clearly shown that increasing child tax credits is one of the best ways to help families escape poverty. We know what works, now we just need the political will to make it happen.”</p> <p><strong>The Rev. Peter Cook, Executive Director, New York State Council of Churches:</strong> “A statewide Housing Access program would be one of the most cost-effective ways to provide low income people with permanent housing. Availability of vouchers reduces reliance on much more expensive programs for people who are precariously housed or homeless. Homeless programs are particularly tough on children who move from shelter to shelter instead of having a safe and stable home environment, which vouchers will make possible.”</p> <p><strong>Marina Marcou-O'Malley, Interim Co Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education: </strong>"Children live intersectional lives. In New York, we have the capacity and the resources to give expectant moms what they need, to feed every child or student, to make sure that our public schools can have doctors or mental health professionals and all the services they need to take care of children. We also have the capacity to provide housing, health care and stability to every child. Do we have the will?” </p> <p><strong>Michael Kink, Executive Director, Strong Economy For All Coalition:</strong> "We can move this bold anti-poverty agenda here in New York, because it's happened in other states already. In 2021, Washington state passed a capital gains excise tax to fund a working families tax credit that lifted 36,000 children out of poverty, while funding additional food, housing and healthcare assistance. In 2023, Minnesota passed a capital gains tax to fund a child tax credit that lifted 33,000 children out of poverty, while boosting funding food, housing and healthcare assistance. New York can go bigger and bolder, and with 700,000 NYSUT members and millions of allies leading the way, we'll make it happen together."</p> <p><em>New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.</em></p> <hr /> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:650px;"> <h2>Photo Gallery</h2> <a data-flickr-embed="true" data-header="true" data-footer="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nysut/albums/72177720314297155" title="Child Poverty Campaign Press Conference"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53485308940_4daf446e10_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Child Poverty Campaign Press Conference"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div> <p> </p> <hr /> <br /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Wed, 24 Jan 2024 17:48:00 -0500{728BEA59-E25E-4EAC-8107-C07A3AE9C514}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-budgetNYSUT releases analysis on Governor Hochul’s executive budget: Broken promises and backtracking<hr /> <p>ALBANY — New York State United Teachers, representing educators across the entire state, released numbers today showing that the governor’s plan to cut Foundation Aid would negatively impact every one of New York’s nearly 700 districts.</p> <p>The executive budget proposal would <strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://fundourfutureny.org/" target="_blank">slash more than $400 million in public school aid</a></strong>, with harsh effects on needy districts and small, rural communities where school budgets lean heavily on Foundation Aid. More than half of the $419 million in cuts will be taken from districts classified as High Needs Districts.</p> <p>The plan — which would arbitrarily change elements of the formula to save money — represents a sharp turn for an administration that took the historic step of fully funding Foundation Aid for the first time in state history just last year.</p> <p>“Call them what you want; these are cuts,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “Once again, the state is turning its back on its support for our students and our communities. It took less than a year after the legacy victory of fully funding Foundation Aid for that promise to be broken, and we now return to the same old fight for the resources all our schools desperately need. To say we are profoundly disappointed is an understatement.”</p> <div class="callout primary" style="max-width:720px;margin:auto;"> <h3>See the data</h3> <ul> <li><strong>To see the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://fundourfutureny.org" target="_blank">full data</a> and how much each district would be cut, visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://fundourfutureny.org" target="_blank">fundourfutureny.org</a>.</strong></li> </ul> </div> <br /> <p>The total cuts come from two elements: changes to the formula’s consumer price index (CPI) adjustment and removing the “save harmless” policy that ensures school districts get at least as much school aid as the previous year.</p> <p>Already letters, emails and phone calls have poured in from NYSUT members across the state with subject lines like “please help!” and explanations of how the proposed formula changes would hurt students and communities.</p> <p>For example, compared to the 2023-24 levels, under the executive budget proposal:</p> <ul> <li>Hudson would have its Foundation Aid cut by $2.9 million, or 16 percent, which is more than 5 percent of its budget for the current school year. Hudson is a low-wealth district where 65 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged.</li> <li>Mount Vernon would have its Foundation Aid cut by $2.9 million. Mount Vernon already faces financial challenges, and 70 percent of the district’s student body is economically disadvantaged.</li> <li>Clifton-Fine in St. Lawrence County would have its Foundation Aid cut by almost $1 million, or about 24 percent. Clifton-Fine is a small, rural district where 71 percent of students are economically disadvantaged.</li> <li>Central Islip in Suffolk County would have its Foundation Aid cut by $2.3 million. More than 80 percent of students in the diverse district are economically disadvantaged.</li> </ul> <p>NYSUT is in favor of updates to the Foundation Aid formula, but changes should be based on thoughtful research, not arbitrary measures to save the state money. </p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Tue, 23 Jan 2024 18:19:00 -0500{D7AF51D7-58DD-42BF-BB8E-FBA272AE3258}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-budget-copyNYSUT releases analysis on Governor Hochul’s executive budget: Broken promises and backtracking Tue, 23 Jan 2024 18:19:00 -0500{F44415EA-4966-4C35-A6D8-040BEBCEE9F1}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/executive-budgetExecutive Budget: Highs and Lows<hr /> <p>This week Gov. Kathy Hochul released her <a href="https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy25/ex/book/briefingbook.pdf" target="_blank">2024-2025 executive budget</a>, including school aid funding proposals and more details about her legislative priorities.<p> <hr /> <h1><strong>THE GOOD</strong></h1> <br /> <h3><strong>Literacy</strong></h3> <p>The executive budget provides $10 million to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/reading" target="_blank">train educators on evidence- and science-based instructional practices</a> regarding teaching reading. The funds will support professional learning for roughly 20,000 teachers in the Science of Reading while preserving districts' autonomy to update their individual curriculums. It specifies that the State Education Department will provide school districts with updated best practices for Pre-K to grade three before July 1, 2024.</p> <ul> <li><strong>This means:</strong> Access for educators to a broad scope of the most recent, research-backed literacy methods and professional tools and training developed with NYSUT’s Education & Learning Trust (ELT).</li> </ul> <h3><strong>Children’s mental health programs</strong></h3> <p>The executive budget expands mental health services for children and families by investing an additional $12 million in the HealthySteps program and Home Based Crisis Intervention teams, $5 million for High Fidelity wrap-around supports and $10 million to develop school-based clinics.</p> <ul> <li><strong>This means: </strong>Increased supports for the whole child and better resources to address the mental health crises that affect every individual in our public schools and facilities. <strong></strong></li> </ul> <h3><strong>Social media and children</strong></h3> <p>The executive budget includes two initiatives <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2023/october/online-safety" target="_blank">that are supported by NYSUT</a> – The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act <strong>–</strong> that would enhance parental controls as well as ensure that companies are not targeting algorithms to children. </p> <ul> <li><strong>This means:</strong> Creating conditions that allow students to navigate emerging technologies and social media platforms safely, as well as keeping our schools as spaces where the focus is on learning and engagement. </li> </ul> <hr /> <h1><strong>CONCERNS</strong></h1> <br /> <h3><strong>Foundation Aid cuts</strong></h3> <p>The executive budget proposes a $507 million increase in Foundation Aid, compared to the $926 million it was scheduled to increase under current law. The cuts come from two elements: </p> <p>1. Lower consumer price index (CPI) figure: Under current law, Foundation Aid is annually adjusted by CPI from the prior calendar year. The governor’s proposal does not make that adjustment – which is scheduled to be about 4 percent. Instead, the proposal uses a 10-year CPI average of 2.1 percent, which lowers the amount of calculated Foundation Aid for all school districts.</p> <p>2. Hold Harmless: The executive budget ends the state’s guarantee that school districts get at least as much school aid as the previous year, a policy dating back to the 1970s called “hold harmless” or “save harmless.” This provision has allowed school districts a baseline to calculate future budgets and helped preserve programs and staff during times of uncertainty. Ending the policy would reduce budgets in 337 school districts by about $167 million total.  </p> <ul> <li><strong>This means:</strong> Underfunding Foundation Aid by more than $400 million, negatively impacting all districts in the state, and not fulfilling the state’s promise to fully fund the Foundation Aid formula.</li></ul> <hr /> <h1><strong>WHAT'S NEXT: </strong></h1> <p>The executive budget proposal is just the start of the lengthy budget process which includes input from stakeholders during public hearings and counter proposals from both the Senate and the Assembly. NYSUT is committed to ensuring that our schools, staff and educators are supported and that last year’s historic victory of fully funding our schools will continue long into the future. We will be engaged, fighting for our members, every step of the way.</p> <h3>Learn more</h3> <ul> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-state-budget" target="_blank">NYSUT President Melinda Person’s statement</a></li> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/school-aid-runs" target="_blank">Check your district’s school aid totals under the proposed executive budget</a></li> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/legislative-priorities" target="_blank">Read more about the rest of NYSUT’s legislative priorities: </a></li> </ul> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:16:00 -0500{D6254C22-9530-49DB-B7C5-1C2E63DFFC7D}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/school-aid-runsSCHOOL AID RUNS: Your district's proposed funding for the 2024-25 state budget<hr /> <p>School aid runs for the 2024-25 executive budget proposal are now available.</p> <p>Download our <strong><a href="/-/media/files/nysut/news/2024/202425-executive-budget-school-aid-profile.xlsx" target="_blank">Excel spreadsheet</a></strong> to compare your district's proposed aid to last year's funding data.</p> <p>Open the document on your desktop computer and use the yellow drop-down menu (cell B1) to select your district from the alphabetical listing.</p> <!-- <p>Please note: All districts are negatively impacted by the Governor’s Budget Foundation Aid proposal compared to current law. Foundation Aid was scheduled to increase by $926 million (3.8%) under current law. The Executive Budget contains two actions that will reduce Foundation Aid for 2024-25 to $507 million (2.1%). The first includes using a lower figure for CPI in the Foundation Aid formula than would be used under current law. The second is a year to year reduction in Foundation Aid to school districts that are on Save-Harmless.</p> --> <h3>Comparison Data</h3> <ul> <li><a href="/-/media/files/nysut/news/2024/202425-executive-budget-school-aid-profile.xlsx">2024-25 Executive Budget State Aid Profile</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="/-/media/files/nysut/news/2024/202425-executive-budget-school-aid-profile.xlsx"><img alt="" src="/-/media/images/nysut/news/2024/january/news_240117_schoolaid_01_1920.png?h=405&w=405&hash=3A31623EC561E240A127488E8F104114" style="height: 405px; width: 405px; border-style: solid;" /></a></p> <h3>Additional Resources</h3> <ul> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://stateaid.nysed.gov/output_reports.htm" target="_blank">NYSED School Aid Output Reports</a> </li> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy25/ex/local/school/2425schoolruns.pdf" target="_blank">School Aid Runs Published by the Education Department | NYS FY 2025 Executive Budget</a> (PDF)</li> </ul> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Fri, 19 Jan 2024 07:51:00 -0500{11DB5EAB-960E-4808-AF6B-42161BEA8573}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-state-budgetNYSUT statement on the executive budget proposal<hr /> <p>NYSUT President Melinda Person released the following statement in response to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 executive budget proposal:</p> <blockquote> <p>"We share the governor's ambitious vision for public schools that invests in addressing student mental health, expanding professional opportunities for educators, and enhancing our approach to teaching reading.</p> <p>Particularly in fulfilling the state’s promise to fully fund Foundation Aid, the governor has been clear she wants our public schools, colleges, universities and hospitals to be as strong as possible and to position New York as an economic and innovation powerhouse.</p> <p>The Foundation Aid formula is how we determine what resources our schools need. We're concerned that the executive budget proposal includes modifications to the formula to reduce School Aid costs. The critical need to consistently support our students and educators should not vary with the fluctuations in our state tax revenue.</p> <p>We know this proposal is just the start of the budget process, and we are happy to work with the governor and Legislature to ensure that the state can continue to completely fund the education opportunities that New York’s students deserve.”</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>SEE ALSO:</strong></p> <ul><li><a href="https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy25/ex/local/school/2425schoolruns.pdf" target="new">School Aid Runs: 2024-25 State Aid Projections for Executive Budget Proposal</a> (PDF)</li> <li><a href="https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy25/ex/index.html" target="new">Executive Budget: Briefing Book and Additional Resources</a></li> </ul> <p><em>New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.</em></p> <br /> <br /> <br />Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:20:00 -0500{D8B986B3-CED4-4C8E-91C3-398FE6140332}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-state-budget-2NYSUT statement on the executive budget proposal<hr /> <p>NYSUT President Melinda Person released the following statement in response to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 executive budget proposal:</p> <blockquote> <p>"We share the governor's ambitious vision for public schools that invests in addressing student mental health, expanding professional opportunities for educators, and enhancing our approach to teaching reading.</p> <p>Particularly in fulfilling the state’s promise to fully fund Foundation Aid, the governor has been clear she wants our public schools, colleges, universities and hospitals to be as strong as possible and to position New York as an economic and innovation powerhouse.</p> <p>The Foundation Aid formula is how we determine what resources our schools need. We're concerned that the executive budget proposal includes modifications to the formula to reduce School Aid costs. The critical need to consistently support our students and educators should not vary with the fluctuations in our state tax revenue.</p> <p>We know this proposal is just the start of the budget process, and we are happy to work with the governor and Legislature to ensure that the state can continue to completely fund the education opportunities that New York’s students deserve.”</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>SEE ALSO:</strong></p> <ul><li><a href="https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy25/ex/local/school/2425schoolruns.pdf" target="new">School Aid Runs: 2024-25 State Aid Projections for Executive Budget Proposal</a> (PDF)</li> <li><a href="https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy25/ex/index.html" target="new">Executive Budget: Briefing Book and Additional Resources</a></li> </ul> <p><em>New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.</em></p> <br /> <br /> <br />Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:20:00 -0500{167ECFCC-3DAF-4B53-B5FE-742A79DC57A6}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/black-historyFREE NYSUT poster celebrates Black History Month and 'Tulsa's Black Wall Street'<hr /> <h3>Gear up for Black History Month with NYSUT's new poster highlighting the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as Black Wall Street at the start of the 20th century.</h3> <p>It began in 1905 after entrepreneur O.W. Gurley purchased 40 acres in Tulsa and began selling plots to fellow Black settlers to establish a community at a time of widespread racial segregation due to Jim Crow laws. Black entrepreneurs and professionals flocked to the area, so much so that Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, dubbed Greenwood “Negro Wall Street.”</p> <p>Problems began in 1921 when an accusation against a Black man, which was later dismissed, sparked two days of unprecedented racial violence. The riots left 10,000 homeless and property loss claims totaled $1.8 million, the equivalent of $27 million today.</p> <p>Although the Greenwood District was rebuilt by the 1940s, it never regained its former prominence; and neither the survivors nor their families have ever received compensation from state or city officials.</p> <p>Tulsa was one of several “Black Wall Streets” in the United States. Others include Bronzeville in Chicago, Illinois; Hayti in Durham, North Carolina; Sweet Auburn in Atlanta, Georgia; West Ninth Street in Little Rock, Arkansas and Farish Street in Jackson, Mississippi.</p> <p>The free poster is available for download at <strong><a href="http://www.nysut.org/publications">nysut.org/publications</a></strong>.</p> <br class="t-last-br" /> <br class="t-last-br" />Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:39:00 -0500{DF6DE7CE-B52C-4F69-81A9-693D16F12076}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/saranac-book-clubMolly BelmontSaranac Lake teacher starts Demon Copperhead book club – and helps the author<h3>When English teacher Kelsey Francis read <em>Demon Copperhead</em> last winter, she was blown away.</h3> <p>“I felt like it resonated so much for me. It reminded me so much of some of my former students.” </p> <p>Francis, a member of the Saranac Lake Teachers Association, knew she wanted to share the book with colleagues, and she pitched the idea of forming a <em>Demon Copperhead</em> book club to a district administrator. </p> <p>“I thought I would get a few English teachers and a librarian,” said Francis. Seventy-five educators heeded the call. “I was astonished.” </p> <p>Due to the idea’s immense popularity, the district used grant funds to purchase copies for all the book club participants. The educators read the novel over the summer – and met to discuss it in the fall. </p> <p>They had lots to talk about. </p> <p><em>Demon Copperhead</em>, by Barbara Kingsolver, is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens’s classic <em>David Copperfield</em>. In the novel, the title character Demon is born into generational poverty. After his teenage mother dies of a drug overdose, he is shunted into a tottering foster system. Then, because of a sports injury, he develops an opioid addiction that almost breaks him. </p> <p>The story was intensely familiar to Francis. Six of her former students have died of drug overdoses. “When I read this book, I saw the seeds of some of their stories,” she said. </p> <p>Francis also recognized similarities between rural Saranac Lake and Lee, the Appalachian town where <em>Demon Copperhead</em> is situated. Like Lee, Saranac Lake is a beautiful mountain community that has been stripped of its resources and sidelined by the global economy, Francis said. Housing costs are high, and access to health care is limited. In her small school district, a whopping 47 percent of students are economically disadvantaged, 1 percent of students are homeless, and 1 percent are in foster care. The district also suffers from elevated levels of chronic absenteeism. </p> <p>During the book club, Saranac Lake teachers, nurses, counselors, TAs, administrators, and coaches shared their experiences with students like Demon: students who hate school, who have been let down by the systems that are supposed to protect them, gotten injured by knotted social nets and failed by the adults who are supposed to help. </p> <p>“Every single bit of feedback I got was ‘This work was so much more relevant than anything else I could have read,’” Francis said. “The book presents an enormously nuanced picture of students’ lives. They are not just the kid who is sitting in front of you. They carry these enormous invisible backpacks of history with them every day. It gives you a deeper tenderness for them.” </p> <p>Profoundly affected by the novel and the experience of reading it with her community, Francis decided to reach out to the book’s author to thank her and to tell her about the book club. </p> <p>Two months later, she received a reply. Kingsolver needed her help. </p> <p>The Pulitzer-prize winning author explained that her publisher, Harper, secured copies of the novel for the Lee County High School AP English class – the very school where her novel was set – but they were confiscated before students could read them. She asked Francis if she would be willing to contact the school board to appeal their decision to ban the book. </p> <p>“It seems so shocking, and ironic, that these educators can't see the relevance of this book in their school system. I wonder if they might be swayed by whatever arguments you – a professional educator – used to convince your peers that <em>Demon Copperhead</em> could be useful to their professional understanding of their most challenged kids,” wrote Kingsolver. </p> <p>Francis was happy to help. “I was stunned that she would see me as someone who could help her, and I just felt so honored,” she said. “I wrote to the superintendent of schools in late July and told him that I believed his AP students deserved to read this, and that he should also consider having his staff read it.” </p> <p>Her advocacy, along with impassioned statements to the school board from Kingsolver and other supporters, seems to have changed some minds, as the books were made available for the students to read. </p> <p>Francis hopes more schools will follow Saranac Lake’s example and use the novel as a professional development opportunity. </p> <p>“I feel like I want to scream it from the mountaintops, ‘Teachers, read this book!’” she said. “If we can talk about these issues – if we can allow our students to talk about these issues and bring them out into the open – that’s the only way we are going to solve them.” </p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Wed, 10 Jan 2024 11:33:00 -0500{67FEDB5E-71C2-484E-9E01-A16FDEF9A942}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-state-of-the-stateNYSUT statement on Gov. Hochul’s 2024 State of the State Address<hr /> <p>NYSUT President Melinda Person released the following statement today in response to Gov. Kathy Hochul's speech and proposed 2024 agenda:</p> <blockquote> <p>“The governor’s State of the State message is a welcome affirmation of her commitment to invest in our public schools, students and educators. NYSUT shares her powerful goals of addressing barriers to authentic learning, including increasing access to vital student mental health support, protecting kids from harmful impacts of social media and fighting to end childhood poverty.</p> <p>We appreciate her appetite for building on the historic full funding of Foundation Aid and are excited that her vision recognizes that our schools and communities prosper when we offer educators the tools and professional training they need to build healthy classrooms and sustainable careers.</p> <p>NYSUT looks forward to working with the governor and the Legislature to craft a state budget that ensures our students and educators, from pre-K to postgraduate, have the resources and support they need for success.”</p> </blockquote> <ul> <li><strong>RELATED ARTICLE: <a href="/news/2024/january/legislative-priorities" target="_blank">NYSUT 2024 Legislative Priorities</a></strong></li> </ul> <p><em>New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.</em></p> <em> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </em>Tue, 09 Jan 2024 16:26:00 -0500{8A939DD4-D79A-4E5C-ADA0-EDE14DD9C177}http://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-legislative-prioritiesNYSUT releases 2024 legislative priorities ahead of Hochul’s State of the State Address<hr /> <ul><li>UPDATE 1/16: <strong><a href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/media-release-state-budget">NYSUT statement on the executive budget proposal</a></strong></li></ul> <hr /> <p>Albany, NY – In anticipation of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 State of the State Address today, <a href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/legislative-priorities" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New York State United Teachers is outlining an ambitious legislative agenda</a> that builds on victories from the previous year and advances NYSUT’s fight for a strong, well-funded public education system that supports all students and educators.</p> <p>NYSUT has already successfully worked with the governor to fully fund Foundation Aid, a historic 30-year union-led effort that resulted in the state finally making good on its promise to give students and educators the tools and resources they need to thrive. </p> <p>In recent months NYSUT has established shared goals with Hochul, including new legislation to <a href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2023/october/online-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">protect children from online dangers</a> and the creation of a <a href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2024/january/reading" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Science of Reading” initiative</a> that will ensure educators have access to proven, evidence-based tools for teaching literacy.  </p> <p>NYSUT is also working hand-in-hand with government partners to <a href="https://www.nysut.org/news/2023/december/media-release-micron" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reimagine workforce development in New York through collaborative and sustainable education opportunities</a>. In December 2023, NYSUT was proud to join Hochul and Micron Technology in Syracuse for the announcement of an unprecedented $4 million plan to develop an Advanced Technology Framework that will help districts statewide develop experiential, hands-on learning programs to increase the pipeline of students interested in the semiconductor industry.  </p> <p>This year, NYSUT will be advocating for new measures to maximize outcomes for New York’s students, position New York as a world economic leader and protect the rights and dignity of all our members. The statewide union will push legislation that includes:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Fixing flaws</strong> in the state’s pension system to bring parity with Tier 4 for members in Tiers 5 and 6;</li> <li><strong>Fighting to end childhood poverty</strong> — a root cause of education inequities — by supporting New Yorkers’ access to nutritious food, health care and housing.; </li> <li><strong>Correcting the broken APPR system</strong> and returning teacher evaluations to local control;</li> <li><strong>Increasing the number of community schools</strong> across all regions of the state;</li> <li><strong>Providing sustainable funding</strong> for SUNY, CUNY and community colleges and SUNY hospitals;</li> <li><strong>Ensuring air quality and temperature</strong> in our classrooms are conducive to teaching and learning, including establishing maximum temperature limits; and</li> <li><strong>Replacing the receivership system</strong> with a new plan that supports struggling schools with the resources and tools they need to meet New York’s high educational standards.</li> </ul> <p>“There is much to be done and we are optimistic that productive partnerships with the governor and the Legislature can result in the safety, support and standards that our students and educators deserve,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “NYSUT will always fight to improve the professions of all of our members and to position New York’s public schools as the centers of our communities.”</p> <ul> <li><strong>RELATED ARTICLE: <a href="/news/2024/january/legislative-priorities" target="_blank">NYSUT 2024 Legislative Priorities</a></strong></li> </ul> <p><em>New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.</em></p> <em> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </em>Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:45:00 -0500