Paint Merrick Road Red Flyer
Attached is an updated flyer for the Paint Merrick Road Red for Public Ed event on Friday. The new flyer contains a list of gathering points where people can assemble to walk. Yesterday I sent you an e-mail referencing two rallies on the same day. One in NYC and the other in Babylon. The Babylon Rally has been changed to Lindenhurst. Please see the attached flyer.
Lindenhurst Rally NYC Rally Mark Steinberg President PLEASE CALL DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY MEMBERS!!
With the state of budget negotiations reaching a critical stage it is important to make sure that the Assembly Democrats continue to stand firm with us in these negotiations. Many of the proposals being discussed include the erosion of local control and a dangerous increase in standardized testing. PLEASE CALL YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER NOW. This can’t wait! It is unlikely that you will actually speak with an Assembly member so just leave the message with their staff. ASK THEM TO CONTINUE TO STAND STRONG WITH TWO-THIRDS OF NEW YORKERS AND REJECT THE GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION ‘REFORM’ PROPOSALS. Nassau Democratic Assembly Albany office District office AD 13 Charles Lavine 518-455-5456 516-676-0050 AD 16 Michelle Schimel 518-455-5192 516-482-6966 AD 19 Earlene Hooper 518-455-5861 516-489-6610 AD 20 Todd Kaminsky 518-455-3028 516-431-0500 AD 21 Michaelle Solages 518-455-4465 516-599-2972 Suffolk Democratic Assembly Albany office District office AD 1 Fred Thiele 518-455-5997 631-537-2583 (an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats) AD 4 Steve Englebright 518-455-4804 631-751-3094 AD 6 Phil Ramos 518-455-5185 631-435-3214 AD 11 Kimberly Jean-Pierre 518-455-5787 631-957-2087 Turning the Tide on Public Education: New York voters say they trust the state’s teachers’ unions over Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s own direction for education policy in the state, according to a new poll just released. Voters trust the unions by a margin of 55 percent to 28 percent when it comes to improving the state’s education system. Meanwhile, Cuomo’s job approval rating has fallen to one his lowest ever in the poll. The survey found voters are skeptical of efforts to scale back teacher tenure or provide merit pay for teachers based on testing. Voters believe teacher salaries shouldn’t be tied to how students perform on standardized testing. Meanwhile, 65 percent of voters polled by Quinnipiac believe teacher tenure shouldn’t be based on test scores of students. http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2015/03/q-poll-new-yorkers-back-teachers-unions-over-cuomo/ Shout-Out 4 Schools in Need: Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi is encouraging educators to push local legislators to support plans to increase funding to small city school districts. “There are almost 700 districts in New York and 17 are quote ‘failed.’ Let’s look at those failing districts and fund them,” Brindisi, a Democrat from the Utica area, said during a state budget seminar hosted by the New York State Association of Small City School Districts. Approximately 30 superintendents and other educators from various districts attended the seminar to discuss how budget proposals would impact small city school districts. http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/03/8564261/small-city-school-districts-push-increase-funding?news-image Bipartisan Call for Testing Rights- Fantastic: Members of state Legislature on Tuesday introduced a bill that would ensure school districts properly notify parents of their right to opt out their children from the controversial Common Core standardized tests. The bill is in response to the growing concerns of parents and teachers in the state about the over-testing of children, particularly through the Common Core standards. Assembly Republicans joined Senate Republicans in introducing the legislation, which is called the "Common Core Parental Refusal Act." http://www.lohud.com/story/news/education/2015/03/17/common-core-legislators-law/24918341/ Parent Perspective: http://www.localsyr.com/story/d/story/ny-lawmakers-pushing-education-bill-on-opting-out/34594/JfvIofpYlkypxDefelGjdQ Don’t B a Lemon -Pledge to Do All U Can: Attend a community forum supporting public education (flyers attached). Stay tuned for more- You could even organize one yourself Attach Your Local Events Here: · Educate yourself, family, and friends · Register and Vote · Donate to Vote Cope Take Action Now! https://mac.nysut.org/ · Register to vote · Find Your Elected Officials · Take Action with a click · Connect with volunteer opportunities CNY PAC and NYTN are from Phil Cleary. Share the messages and get CNY PAC – NYTN extras https://twitter.com/ @clearypm If you are in the vicinity of New York City next weekend, I encourage you to attend a large rally planned on Saturday, March 28th at noon-outside the governor's Midtown District Office, located on 633 3rd Avenue at East 41st Street.
NYSUT will be joining our Brothers and Sisters from UFT; AFSCME DC37; Local 372; AQE; Class Size Matters; Citizens Action; Council of School Supervisors & Administrators; Education Council Consortium; NY Communities for Change; and Strong Economy for All Coalition at this #ProtectOurSchools Rally. If you are available to participate, please take pictures and utilize social media "tweeting" to me @AndyPallotta, using the following hashtags: #AllKidsNeed, #InviteCuomo, #ProtectOurSchools. Please share the attached flier with other NYSUT members. Thank you! Protect Our Schools Rally Flier Thousands of Parents Stand Together to Reject Governor Cuomo’s
Education Reform Debacle "If we are silent when we ought to speak, and are able to speak, we appear to give consent...we do not consent" -Joseph Rella New Yorkers from all across the state are rising up and striking back against the Cuomo/Tisch/King Education Reforms. The past few weeks thousands of New Yorkers rallied for public education, attending forums stretching from Plattsburgh to Brooklyn, West Seneca to Brookville. ‘Refuse the Common Core Tests & Reclaim Public Education’ messages are going up on billboards and in all media outlets across the state. And the powerful voice of the people is taking on new life in the Legislature, with the unprecedented removal of a former Chancellor from the Board of Regents. In January, on the morning of Andrew Cuomo's State of the State Address, New York State Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE) cited Governor Cuomo for violating state ethics laws and his oath of office through his cozy relationships with donors and an unconstitutional attempt to declare himself King of education policy in our state. Now, with many questions surrounding lobbying and a shady, but lucrative book deal as well budget bill from the Assembly ignoring all components of Cuomo's education reform debacle, all indications are that the Allies' assertions were unfortunately on target. On top of New Yorkers being outraged about any proposed increase to charter schools and threats of receivership takeovers, perhaps the most egregious proposal that has support in the Senate is the education tax credit. As proposed, the education tax credit would give a dollar for dollar tax credit for private and religious school spending, among others. “While NYSAPE supports a parent's choice of private education, one of the core values of our nation is separation of church and state. Enabling public dollars to pay for private and religious education is an affront to New Yorkers and Americans. The education tax credit creates a back door for Cuomo's wealthy backers to drive their privatization agenda, attempting to sneak a voucher system past a public that rejects their attempts to destabilize our public schools. This scheme is an outrage and simply unacceptable,” said Lisa Rudley, Westchester County public school parent and founding member of NYSAPE. “Governor Cuomo and his controversial education agenda vows to bust public education. However, we remain in control because Cuomo and his agenda place extreme weight on Common Core tests. Seven of the eleven flawed education points in Cuomo’s State of the State address rely almost entirely on Common Core tests. When parents refuse the tests in large numbers, we will stop Cuomo,” said Eric Mihelbergel, Erie County public school parent, founding member of NYSAPE. "There is a new surge in advocacy here on Long Island. Parent led forums, which began last month, are seeing crowds like never before. Community members, parents, and educators are packing into community centers, local churches, school auditoriums, PTA meetings, and local libraries. Attendees are being educated on the damage that high-stakes testing is doing to our education system, the harm Governor Cuomo's agenda will have on our public school children, and what they can do about it. Parents leave feeling angry, yet empowered that through the act of refusing the NYS 3-8 grade Common Core state tests, they can help put an end to the dismantling of our public schools," said Jeanette Deutermann, Nassau County public school parent and Long Island Opt Out founder. Now, as the next round of excessive state testing approaches, it is time to stand together. NYSAPE has several events and resources for parents to learn more about the flaws in Governor Cuomo's Agenda and how they can fight back and reclaim classrooms of learning and inquiry for their children. Now is the time to stand as one and reject, once and for all, classrooms that have become Governor Cuomo's politically motivated compliance factories for testing. Parents and educators are coming out in droves to make their voices heard against reforms that harm children and denigrate our public schools. The refusal movement is on fire and has been set ablaze throughout the state. Here is how you can do your part. Attend a Forum: Learn More and Take Action! Get more details here: http://www.nysape.org/eventspressletters.html NYSAPE Testing and Test Refusal Information: www.NYSAPE.org NYSAPE is a statewide sponsor and organizer of many of these events along with advocacy organizations statewide. NYSAPE is comprised of over 50 grassroots parent and educator groups from around the state bring awareness of the excess use of high-stakes testing and protection student data. NYSUT Alert from Executive Vice President Pallotta - 2015-15 NYS Budget One-House Budget Bills3/13/2015
Memorandum
From: Andy Pallotta Date: March 13, 2015 Re: 2015-16 NYS Budget One-House Budget Bills The Assembly and the Senate adopted one-house budget resolutions Thursday, an important milestone in the Executive Budget process. The attachment details in chart form the Executive, Senate, and Assembly budget proposals. The school aid finance proposals were both strong, but SUNY and CUNY state operated budget and community college funding levels were wholly inadequate. The Assembly resolutely rejected all anti-teacher/public school proposals contained in the governor’s budget as well as the punitive “performance” budget provisions for SUNY and CUNY. The Senate decoupled the governor’s toxic K-16 proposals from the budget bills, but did introduce them in their entirety in a standalone bill, separate from the budget bills. Moreover, the Senate makes the governor’s charter school proposal worse by further increasing tuition payments, providing building aid, and removing accountability to the chancellor of the NYC school system. The Senate’s budget resolution only states that they intend to “modify” the executive proposals on tenure, school receivership, and APPR without specifying how. We have only 18 days left until the budget adoption deadline. We must continue our unprecedented advocacy and member engagement right to the end and finish strong. Thank you for all that you have done to support NYSUT’s agenda and all that you will continue to do. Final One House Budget Bill I am very confident that each of you will get a great deal of helpful information by attending one of these workshops (see the attached listing of upcoming events and workshops). Additionally, your attendance is approved as acceptable toward the 175 Professional Development Hours and your Domain 4. At the registration table during the event, a “My Learning Plan” sign in sheet will be available to assist you.
There will be four workshops with a variety of subjects including CDOS, Special Needs Trusts, OPWDD Services Front Door Training, Behavior Services & Interventions, Voucher Reimbursement, Recreation Services and Self-Determination. Each workshop will be led by experts in the field of Disabilities Rights and Services. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. If you have any questions please contact Cheryl Gitlitz, Transition Coordinator at [email protected] or 516-992-1349. Cheryl Gitlitz, LCSW BMCHSD SEPTA Workshops SEPTA Presents CDOCS I am very pleased to announce the recipients of this years' BMUST awards, chosen by their peers in the buildings and by members of the Board of Trustees:
BMUST AWARD WINNERS – 2015 OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALS Anthony DeMartinis - Kennedy High School Barbara Farchione - Merrick Avenue Middle School Heather Glick - Calhoun High School William Leacock - Mepham High School Arthur Schnee - Grand Avenue Middle School Jennifer Weinstein - Meadowbrook Alternative Program LOU DeFILIPPO OUTSTANDING UNION SERVICE AWARD Carolyn Condenzio PARA SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD Maria Vogelsang PTA AWARD Marcia Eisenmesser PRESIDENT’S CHOICE AWARD Kim Black PATRICIA CHRISTY OUTSTANDING RETIREE AWARD Jane Kline COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Kerry Dennis Chris Patten FRIEND OF EDUCATION AWARD Scott Brinton |
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