UFT Weekly Update -- October 5th 2007 Issue

AFT gives early nod to Hillary Clinton
The American Federation of Teachers on Oct. 3 endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination for president, calling her “a leader that its members can trust to strengthen public education, increase access to health care, promote commonsense economic priorities and secure America’s place in the world.” A recent poll of AFT members found that 45 percent said they would vote for Hillary if the election were held today, compared to 21 percent for Obama and 13 percent for Edwards.

“There is no better champion of our schools and our teachers than Hillary Rodham Clinton,” said UFT President Randi Weingarten, who is an AFT vice president. “Throughout her public life, Hillary has been a relentless advocate for children and working families — refusing to let issues like public education and health care fall off the national agenda. And she intuitively understands the challenges our teachers face — especially urban districts — and we are confident that their voices will be heard when she is president.”

Read the full story on the UFT Web site.

UFT needs your help to distribute Open School Week booklet
To encourage more parents to visit schools, the UFT just revised its “Welcome to Open School Week” booklet in English and Spanish—and is asking chapter leaders to make sure that it is distributed properly. Chancellor Klein is asking principals to facilitate its distribution.

We expect to be delivering copies to schools in bulk during the week of Oct. 15, with the first shipments targeted to high schools. The packages will be addressed to “chapter leader.” We’re asking chapter leaders to take responsibility for distributing copies—but particularly if a school lacks an elected UFT chapter leader, the DOE is asking principals to take on that responsibility.

Please distribute the booklets in the following manner:

In elementary, middle and District 75 (main site only) schools, teachers should give each student a copy to bring home. Please ask teachers to provide clear instructions so that students give it to their primary caregiver. Ideally, the copies should be distributed about two weeks before the first Open School visit.

In high schools, copies should be placed at the front desk so parents can pick them up when they arrive to speak with teachers.
We know from the past that this booklet not only improves the quality of Open School Week visits, but also builds our alliance with parents, who are our union’s greatest allies. Thanks very much for the extra time and effort that this project entails.

Here is the Open School Week calendar:

School Level
Afternoon
Evening

Elementary
Tuesday, Nov. 13
Wednesday, Nov. 14

Intermediate and junior high schools
Tuesday, Nov. 20
Monday, Nov. 19

High schools
Friday, Oct. 26
Thursday, Oct. 25

District 75
Thursday, Nov. 8
Wednesday, Nov. 7



TRS to fund affordable housing in Bronx for city educators
One of the hurdles in attracting young teachers to city schools — and retaining them once they are hired — is the soaring cost of city housing. A new housing investment initiative by the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), working with City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. and the City’s Housing Development Corp., aims to change that, UFT President Randi Weingarten said at the Oct. 4 announcement of a $28 million investment that will create 234 affordable Bronx housing units exclusively for educators working in New York City schools.

Read the full story on the UFT Web site.

Keep the pressure on Congress to fix NCLB
Please remind all your members how important it is to send off that second fax concerning NCLB to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and their Congress Member. The fax urges them especially to eliminate a mandate in the draft bill requiring school districts to have a performance pay plan for individual teachers based on the test scores of that teacher’s students in order to receive certain federal funds. Have members go to the Action Alert! section of the UFT Web site right now to send the fax. Time is short, and every voice counts.

Want more background information on this important debate? Our NCLB handout is online.

File all Step 1 grievances online
Remember that from now on chapter leaders must go to the UFT Web site to file all Step 1 grievances on behalf of members in their chapter. The union has moved to an online grievance procedure for Step 1 grievances so we can track grievances filed at the school level more effectively and assist members more quickly.

You must be logged in to the UFT Web site to have access to the private chapter leader section, where the grievance form will be housed under the heading “Grievance Briefcase.

If you have not already done so, you must register for an account at www.uft.org . When you identify yourself as a UFT member on our online registration form, you will be asked to verify your union membership by providing your Social Security Number, File Number or EIS number. You must verify your membership to have access to the chapter leader section of the Web site. Do not change the zip code that our computer system generates even if it is out of date. Once you click “verify membership,” your membership should be verified immediately. Click on the link, “return to home page” on our Thank You! page. You will now see a Chapter Leader section at the top of the left-hand navigation bar on the home page. When you click there, you will find the online grievance form under the heading “Grievance Briefcase.”

If you have any questions about the new online grievance process, contact the grievance liaison/contract coordinator in your borough office.

Celebrate those “tiny victories” on edwize
Having a hard time thinking positive as the class acts up yet again? You’ll empathize (and smile) with “Miss Brave” at New Teacher Diaries on edwize, the union’s blog.

Upcoming home-buying opportunities seminars in Queens & Staten Island
It’s not too late to sign up for a home-buying seminar for those looking to buy or rent a house, co-op or condo. Jointly sponsored by the UFT, ACORN and the city, the seminars, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (see dates below), introduce members to the spectrum of offerings. After the session, each member is assigned a loan counselor who gives one-on-one support. Seminars and counseling are both free. Pre-registration is required. To register for a seminar, call 1-718-246-8080 and identify yourself as a UFT member.

Upcoming Home-buying Opportunities Seminars:

Queens: Oct. 11, UFT Borough Office, 97-77 Queens Blvd., 8th Floor, Room G

Staten Island: Oct. 18, UFT Borough Office, 4456 Amboy Road, 2nd Floor, Room ABC


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To Do:
Although the awards for UFT Outstanding Paraprofessional won’t be given out until the March 15 UFT Paraprofessional Chapter Annual Festival and Awards Luncheon, nomination form for honorees must be submitted to the Paraprofessional Chapter by 5 p.m.,Tuesday, Nov. 30. Two paras from each borough will receive awards, plus two from the high school division and two from District 75. Only UFT members may make nominations.



Address changes: Remind members that they must notify the Department of Education, the union and the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) when they change their address, name, telephone number or marital status. They can get forms from the payroll secretary to notify the DOE. To notify the UFT, members who are already enrolled in the UFT Welfare Fund can use the new online change of status process] to: 1) make changes to your name; 2) update your mailing address, and 3) update your family profile including dependents and beneficiaries. Members may also continue to use the blue “Change of Status” packets that are available through your chapter leader or by calling the UFT Welfare Fund forms hotline at 212-539-0539. If you have not previously enrolled, please click this UFT Welfare Fund Enrollment link.



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For your information:
UFT Dental Plan transfer period: Members can transfer their dental plan during the month of September through Oct. 15, and the new plan becomes effective in November. Forms and information are available on the Fund website or by calling the Fund Forms Hotline at 212-539-0539.

New York City health benefits program transfer period: In-service members may transfer their health plan, add or drop Rider coverage, or add or drop dependents during the transfer period, which runs from Nov. 1, 2007 through Nov. 30, 2007. The new plan becomes effective in January 2008. The application (ERB form) is available through your payroll person.

DIAL-A-TEACHER: Members should let students know they can get homework help over the phone by calling Dial-A-Teacher at 212-777-3380, Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

UFT Welfare Fund updates: Members can now Enroll or file a Change of Status form on-line at www.uftwf.org.

Buy-Out Waiver Program: The Health Benefits Buy-Out Waiver Program allows eligible employees who can obtain non-City group health benefits to waive their New York City health benefits in return for an annual cash incentive. The Medical Spending Conversion Enrollment/Change Form is available from your payroll person and must be submitted along with a completed ERB form by Nov. 16, 2007. Members can access a full description of the program on the following website: www.nyc.gov/olr (Click on left listing- Health Benefits Program and then Flex Spending Programs).

Know your rights: The UFT’s “Know Your Rights” manual, an abbreviated, A-Z ready reference, is online at uft.org. Please share the link with your members.



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In the News:
"The Day Louis Armstrong Made Noise"Fifty years ago, a young journalism student went to interview Louis Armstrong about jazz. The student had specifically been told by his editor not to talk politics, and Armstrong was not known to talk politics anyway. But the interview took place just as the Arkansas National Guard was attempting to prevent the desegregation of Little Rock schools, the journalism student did talk politics, and what happened next made a lot of noise, and perhaps helped make history as well.

Survey: Montana meth use plummets – big declines seen among high school students While methamphetamine use has risen in neighboring states, teenage meth use in Montana has plummeted 45 percent since its Montana Meth Project began two years ago. The project, a campaign that uses graphic advertisements depicting the effects of meth use, is given credit for the spectacular turnaround. Attorney General Mick McGrath says the advertisements, which display rotten teeth, wasted and pock-marked bodies and losing one’s virginity in a dirty bathroom, have been successful at reaching the at-risk kids. Soon other states will copy the project, as Arizona, Idaho and Illinois have plans to implement similar programs.

Smithsonian debuts virtual museum:Social networking technology will allow visitors of an interactive web site to chart the future of the Smithsonian Institution's newest museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, set to open in 2015. Museum officials say the interactive technology will allow those who wish to share their memories, photos, essays, and oral histories, bringing together people interested in the African American experience and those who have "great stories to tell."



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Calendar:
Thursday, Oct. 11 and Thursday, Oct. 18: The following upcoming workshops are scheduled for both middle school and high school teachers: The ABCs of the UFT Contract is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11. In this workshop, you will learn how to use your contract to address school issues. Explore Using the Internet to Enhance Your Teaching, on Thursday, Oct. 18 and learn to use several sites that provide tools to motivate and challenge students. There is a $5 fee for each workshop and both are scheduled from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and are held at 52 Broadway. Please share this information with your teachers, both new and experienced, as well as any of your substitutes. Call Sue Picicci at 212-598-9282 or e-mail spicicci@uft.org to register or for further information. Refreshments will be provided.

Wednesday, Oct. 17: The next Delegate Assembly will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 4:15 p.m., at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway.

Fridays, Oct. 19, Nov. 9, and Dec. 14: At 6 p.m. on Oct. 19, the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing the 20,000 faculty and professional staff who work at CUNY, will be showing the documentary Control Room as the second of ten films about war as part of its ongoing series, Labor Goes to the Movies. The 2007-08 film series aims to create a forum to deepen the collective discussion across the labor movement about the current war and strengthen labor’s opposition to the war in Iraq. The films are shown at 6 p.m. at the PSC Union Hall, 61 Broadway, 16th floor in Lower Manhattan. There is a $2 suggested donation. The remaining 2007 movie schedule is: Friday, Nov. 9, Culloden and Friday, Dec. 14, Ride with the Devil. For more information, contact Dania Rajendra at (212) 354-1252 or at drajendra@pscmail.org.

Friday, Oct. 19: “A Night of Casino Fun & Games” to benefit the Katrina Relief Fund will take place on Friday, Oct. 19, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the UFT’s Bronx Borough Office, 2500 Halsey. All proceeds will go to the UFT’s disaster relief efforts. Tickets are $25, but you get $10 back for prizes and games.

Now till Oct. 21: Help rebuild New Orleans, one book at a time. The UFT is bringing donated books from the Big Apple to restock the library at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in the Big Easy. New books appropriate for a K-8 school, as well as software and audio-visual equipment, can be dropped off at any of the five borough offices. If your school would like to make a cash donation instead to help rebuild the library, please make checks payable to: Disaster Relief/MLK and mail to UFT, 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, Attention: Vice President Michelle Bodden.

Saturday, Oct. 20 and Saturday Nov. 3: Two workshops focusing on classroom management in the middle schools will be offered during the next few weeks. Classroom Management – Strategies to Consider is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20. In this workshop designed specifically tailored for middle school teachers, participants will learn beginning of the year strategies and techniques for immediate use in the classroom. On Saturday, Nov. 3, the workshop Managing the Middle School Classroom through Learning Styles will be offered. This workshop will enable middle school teachers to pinpoint the learning styles of their students while addressing classroom management concerns. Both workshops run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and are held at 52 Broadway. There is a $10 fee for each. Please share this information with your teachers, both new and experienced, as well as any of your substitutes. Call Sue Picicci at 212-598-9282 or email spicicci@uft.org to register or for further information. A light breakfast will be provided.

Sunday, Oct. 21: It’s time again to make strides against breast cancer. Join the UFT and NYSUT at 9 a.m. on Oct. 21 and join one of the six marches in the five boroughs plus Jones Beach. You can find contact information and download the flyer online.

Sunday, Nov. 4: The UFT celebrates Labor Heritage Week with its annual Teacher Union Day Awards and Gala Luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 4th at the Waldorf Astoria. The first two chapter leader mailings will include nomination forms for members who have advanced in UFT titles and chapter leader service awards. The deadline for submission of names is firmly Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. If you need further information please email Samantha Mark at smark@uft.org.




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Professional Committees
UFT Professional Committees offer a wide range of workshops, presentations, and exchanges enabling all members to take an active part in their professional growth. Unless indicated, meetings are at UFT Headquarters at 52 Broadway. Check lobby for location. For further information contact us @ 212-598-7772.
ATSS/UFT (Assn. of Teachers of SS)

Friday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m., Executive Board Meeting.
Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m., Annual Fall Tour.
ELAC/UFT (English Language Arts Council)

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 4 p.m., Essay Writing…
HAEA/UFT (Hellenic-American Educators Assn.)

Tuesday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m., Executive Board Meeting.
Humane Education

Saturday, Nov. 3, 9. a.m., Respecting People, Animals & Nature Conference.
Italian-American

Thursday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m., Annual Heritage Celebration.
NYCAFLT/UFT (NYC Assn. of Foreign Language Teachers)

Saturday, Oct. 27, 9.a.m., Annual Regional Conference.
NYCATA/UFT (NYC Art Teachers Assn.)

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m., Pre-Conference Dinner.
Saturday, Oct. 27, 8:30 a.m., Annual Artworks Conference @ Fiorello LaGuardia HS.
NYC Dance Educators/UFT

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 4:30 p.m., General Membership Meeting.
Players

Thursday, Oct. 11, Thursday, Oct. 18 & Friday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m., Rehearsals.
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 4 p.m., Dress Rehearsal.
Thursday, Oct. 25 & Friday, Oct. 26, 6 p.m., An Actor’s Life For Me.
Friday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m., Theater Improvisation.
Runners

Thursday, Oct. 25, 4 p.m., General Meeting.
Science

Friday, Oct. 19, 7:15 p.m., Can Technology Save the Planet? @ NYU.
Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m., Hands on Science for Students @ The NY Hall of Science.
Saturday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m., Physical Science Sampler Workshop @ Cornell Weill Medical Center.
Veterans

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 4:30 p.m., General Meeting.
Editor: Paul Schickler

Contributors include: Michelle Bodden, David Hickey, Samantha Mark, Nyree McCray, Deidre McFadyen, Arthur Pepper, Susan Picicci, Chris Policano, Marvin Reiskin, Sterling Roberson, Howard Solomon, Shelvy Young-Abrams and Jeff Zahler.