Minutes from the Safety Committee Meeting 11-15-07

Minutes of School Safety Committee Meeting
11/15/07
Room 123, 1:45 pm

Present:
K. Burton, SSA Level III
F. Palumbo, SSA
M. DiAngelo, Q811 Site Coordinator
E. Turner, Parent Coordinator
A. Abicca, Dean, Emerson
M. Shelton, Dean, Montessori
V. Jerome, Dean, Freire
M. Flynn, A.P.O.


Mr. Burton shared that an additional SSA Level III has been assigned to the Glen Oaks campus. Her name is Ms. Robles. She will work primarily with 208 and 266, but will be available to assist at QHST on an as needed basis.

Mr. Flynn debriefed our Lockdown Drill of 10/26/07. Mr. Abicca asked about procedures for P.E. classes that are outside the building during Lockdown situations. Mr. Flynn said that a walkie-talkie has been ordered for use by the P.E. teachers when they are outside the building. Mr. Shelton said that P.E. teachers usually carried their personal cell phones with them when they were outside of the building in case of emergency. Mr. Flynn said that if a Lockdown occurred in the QHST building only, students and teachers should be alerted via the walkie-talkie and should go to 266 or 208 depending on which was closer. If the entire campus were locked down, Committee members suggested P.E. classes go to the security booth by Commonwealth Blvd. Mr. Flynn said that he would discuss this suggestion with Mr. Pugh and write it into the school safety plan.

Mr. Abicca raised a concern about communication between Deans, APs, and SSAs via walkie-talkie. He referred to a recent incident during which he had called on the walkie-talkie for assistance and had not gotten a response. Mr. Shelton asked if, in the future, Deans could be programmed so that there were two Deans not teaching at all times. Mr. Flynn agreed to discuss this with APs and programmers. Based on suggestions from the Deans and SSA Palumbo, Mr. Flynn proposed the following protocols:
1. If an AP or Dean is going to turn off his or her walkie-talkie for a period of time because of a meeting or a class, he or she should announce this over the air and announce what room he or she can be found in if an emergency arises.
2. If an AP or Dean is calling for a specific AP or Dean on the walkie-talkie and gets no response, he or she should make an “AP/Dean needs assistance” call. This call should be responded to immediately by any and all available Deans and APs.
3. If a Dean or AP is in a meeting or class with their walkie-talkie on, they should respond with the location where they can be found in an emergency.

Mr. Flynn stated that a number of teachers had expressed concern over students leaving the building without permission and returning later. The school is trying to hire an additional school aide to help with safety and security. In addition, Mr. Flynn is extending the hours of one school aide so that the CAASS system can be left in place at the main entrance through the beginning of the Freire lunch period. The SSA at the main entrance should hold students who arrive after the Freire lunch period. Those students will only be admitted with the approval of a Dean or an AP. Mr. Flynn handed out a list that had been provided by Ms. Varriale of students in the T.I. program who have permission to go to different classrooms in the building or to go to 208 or 266 during their school day. This list will be kept by all Deans and a copy will be kept at the main security desk.

Mr. Flynn distributed a draft of the School Safety Plan. He asked that all Safety Committee members look the plan over and relay edits to him by Tuesday, Nov. 27th. Safety Committee members will sign off on the final draft soon thereafter.

Mr. Abicca asked about the possibility of placing the elevators on key control and giving keys to staff members to prevent students who should not be using elevators from using them. Mr. Flynn said that he would discuss this possibility with Leadership and John Pattay.

Finally, Mr. Abicca asked about blue emergency contact cards for students. He said that he had found that some of them have phone numbers that no longer work. Mr. Flynn said that he had school aides coming in this Saturday to determine which students have not submitted blue cards and to begin the process of verifying phone numbers on the blue cards we have.

The meeting was adjourned.

UFT Weekly Update -- November 21

Save the date: UFT candlelight vigil on Nov. 26
Please join us on the evening of Monday, Nov. 26 for a candlelight vigil at Tweed headquarters to protest the DOE’s creation of the Teacher Performance Unit and to call for respect for city teachers.


On the same day that the city’s scores on a respected national test showed no progress between 2003 and 2007 in three of four categories, the city announced that it has hired a team of lawyers and former principals to help principals build cases against tenured teachers who they believe are incompetent. UFT President Randi Weingarten called it unfortunate that at the first sign of bad news, “the preemptive response by this administration was to blame the teachers.” Ask members in your chapter to show their displeasure by attending the vigil.


Pension Dept. sets preliminary 55/25 meetings
The UFT Pension Department has set up after-school meetings in every borough this month to answer members’ general questions about 55/25. These are preliminary meetings. Additional sessions will be held after the legislation is enacted -- and more details are known. All meetings will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Members wishing to retire under 55/25 should hold off scheduling an individual pension consultation under after the legislation is passed.


Remind members that health benefits transfer period ends Nov. 30


Please remind your members that Nov. 30 is the deadline for any member who wants to transfer their health plan, add or drop rider coverage, or add or drop dependents. The new plan becomes effective in January 2008. The application (ERB form) is available through your payroll person.




Delegate Assembly urges members to aid storm victims


In the wake of the devastation by Tropical Storm Noel of the island of Hispaniola, the union’s Delegate Assembly on Nov. 7 unanimously passed a resolution urging members to give generously to aid the victims. Torrential rains and savage winds left 12,000 people homeless, more than 100 people dead, and destroyed some 3,00 homes in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Towns were isolated, power and communications were disrupted, and schools were flooded.




UFT members wishing to donate should send checks payable to the UFT Disaster Relief Fund with a notation that the money should be earmarked for Dominican/Haitian relief and send them to the UFT, c/o Jeff Zahler, 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.


Send your paperwork overload stories to paperwork@uft.org
We know that many of our members are frustrated with excessive paperwork that is stealing your time from instruction. We need as many concrete examples as possible from school-based members about duplicative and unnecessary paperwork as we begin talks with the Department of Education about how to reduce the paperwork burden on our members. We have created a UFT email address for members to send us their stories and their recommendations for paperwork elimination: paperwork@uft.org. Please give your name, grade level and school in these emails so we can follow up if need be, but rest assured that we will protect your confidentiality in any discussions with the DOE. And please spread the word to other members in your school chapter.


New child abuse reporting requirements
There has been a recent change in state law that affects all mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or maltreatment, including teachers, guidance counselors, school nurses, school psychologists and school social workers. All pedagogical and non-pedagogical staff in a school who have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment are now required to file a report with to the State Central Register personally. Mandated reporters may no longer fulfil their reporting obligation by having the principal or the principal’s designee make the required report.


Call the SCR at 1-800-635-1522 or 311 to report suspicions of child abuse or neglect. All reports made to the SCR should include the name, title and contact information for every staff person in the school who is believed to have direct knowledge of the allegations contained in the report. Afterward, the staff member must immediately notify the principal or the principal’s designee and provide the “Call I.D.” number provided by the SCR. The principal or designee is then responsible for all subsequent internal action.


Ride a new teacher’s emotional roller coaster on Edwize
Go from laughter to anger to tears in five minutes as “Miss Brave” describes just one of her days. From covering a mass prep single-handedly, to a contemplation of the mounds of data burying her and her colleagues, to a good-bye to the best part of her day, you’ll find plenty to empathize with. While you’re at the UFT’s blog, check out Teacher News of the Day. Recent stories included why your students might not be allowed to visit the United Nations, which teachers are posing for Esquire magazine, and how the Leadership Academy graduates are actually doing.



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To Do:
Approximately 5,000 UFT members have received a letter from the DOE informing them their certification has expired or will expire Jan. 31, 2008.The letter warns them they will be fired June 30, 2008 if their certification status is not remedied.Randi sent these members a letter inviting them to workshops in the borough offices to help them. Please encourage any of your members who received the DOE letter to take this very seriously and get their certification in order ASAP.
Help a fellow member. With a few clicks from you and your school colleagues, a Queens member teaching in a converted home economics kitchen can get a $25,000 “Classroom Makeover.” The Expo Dry Erase Marker company has selected Charlotte Arzola of P.S. 26Q as a $5,000 semi-finalist; she is the only finalist in New York State. Now she competes for the grand prize $25,000 makeover, and the winner will be the finalist with the most votes. Anyone can cast a vote online, so click in before the Dec. 3 deadline and help make over Charlotte’s classroom.

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For your information:
One-click 55/25 updates plus calendar items at uft.org: Now, on the home page of the UFT Web site, you can click on the fuchsia “55/25 Update” button for the latest updates on the progress of 55/25. You will also find background information on the 55/25 retirement option, the dates and locations of this month’s informational sessions, and frequently asked questions about the pension enhancement. Also new on the home page is the “UFT Calendar” button, linking to union- and education-related events.


Paras should not administer glucagon: The DOE does not train paras to administer glucagon to diabetic students, and a school which had asked a para to administer the hormone if needed rescinded the request when the union objected. Giving glucagon requires mixing powder into a pre-filled syringe and knowledge of symptoms related to insulin reactions and the potential side effects following the injection. If you know of any school that is ordering paras to administer glucagon, please contact your district representative.




New, online DOE form for change of status:
The way to inform the Department of Education of a change of personal information has changed. Changes of name, Social Security number, tax information and date of birth are now made by downloading a new form from the DOE Web site and following the instructions. One part of the completed form is to be sent to the DOE and the other given to your school secretary. This online form replaces the now-discontinued OP-85 form. Change of address, home phone and marital status can be reported to the DOE’s HR Connect at 718-935-4000.


UFT Health & Safety Committee Workshops:
The UFT Health & Safety Committee offers workshops to our members on health and safety issues such as bloodborne pathogens, communicable diseases, ergonomics, and injury prevention/Workers’ Compensation on staff development days, extended days, union meetings, etc. If you would like to have one of these workshops offered at your school, please have your chapter leader contact us. You may call us at 212-598-7739 or fax the request to 212-677-6612. Visit the school safety section of the UFT Web site for more details about the training topics.




Dial-A-Teacher linked to HomeworkNYC.org: The UFT’s Dial-A-Teacher homework hotline is now linked to HomeworkNYC.org, a Web site maintained by the city’s public library systems. The site offers access to library resources online. Students using computers to access the library via the Internet can click a link that directs them to Dial-A-Teacher. So now students can get homework help over the phone by calling Dial-A-Teacher at 212-777-3380, Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 7 p.m., or they can get help on homework on the library Web site.


UFT Affordable Housing Program Seminars:
ACORN Housing, in cooperation with the UFT, is offering free two-hour introductory seminars in the UFT borough offices for those UFT members looking to buy a house, co-op or condo. To register for a seminar, call 1-718-246-8080, and identify yourself as a UFT member.Here are the remaining dates and times:



Staten Island borough office – Nov. 27, 6 to 8 p.m.

Manhattan, union headquarters – Dec. 6, 6 to 8 p.m.



The Update is online: This Weekly Update is also posted on uft.org every week in the Chapter Leader section and will remain online all week for your reference. You’ll need to sign in and click on “Chapter Leader” to view the page.




When “Donors Choose,” your students win:
Have a great idea for a project, but no way to fund it? The nonprofit organization Donors Choose may be able to fund your proposal for materials or experiences your students need to learn, from donors who read about your proposal on the Web. The Donors Choose Web site has the details needed to get started.


File 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. 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 also register for an account at www.uft.org and verify your union membership on the profile page of your account. If you have any questions about the new online grievance process, contact the grievance liaison/contract coordinator in your borough office.


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



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In the News:
How many really graduate? With No Child Left Behind stalled, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings is considering making her own rules to force states to report graduation rates in a uniform way, says the Associated Press. Florida, for example, groups GEDs with regular diplomas. North Carolina totally ignores early dropouts in its statistics. Federal estimates of graduation rates are nearly always lower than state-reported rates. Spellings notes that the nation’s governors agreed to the need for a common method of calculating graduation rates two years ago, and said if Congress won’t act now, she has the power to act through regulation.

LOW scores? Investigate!> Illinois education officials are crying foul after scores on the state achievement exam plunged, according to the Chicago Tribune. They plan to hire an independent auditor to investigate why the scores are the lowest ever. “Any time you see a drop like this, it’s a concern,” said a spokesman for the state board of education. “We want to take a close look at the whole testing process and see if we can determine if there was a problem with the test, or if this is a real decline in scores.”
Outscoring Sweden, but not Singapore: The good news is that even the states with the lowest scoring 8th-grade students outscore most of the world’s 8th graders in math testing, according to a study by a nonprofit scientific research firm, reports the New York Times. The bad news? A number of our strongest economic competitors, such as South Korea, Singapore, and Japan, outscore even our best states. Another testing specialist, however, while praising the study’s methodology, said that differences among countries make good comparisons problematic.


Calendar:
Now through Nov. 30: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 forms 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.

Saturday, Nov. 17: The UFT Teacher Center will host a seminar entitled Assessing Current Assessments on Saturday, Nov. 17 as part of its Urban Educators Forum. The guest speakers will include Robert Tobias, the director of NYU’s Center for Research on Teaching and Learning, and James. Popham, professor emeritus at the University of California at Los Angeles and a former test maker. The seminar will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 52 Broadway, 2nd floor.

Tuesday, Nov. 20: Explore the web of relationship between people, places, their products and the environment at an elementary workshop entitled “Around the World.” This workshop will be held at 52 Broadway from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m., and is offered to elementary school teachers who wish to upgrade their teaching skills; it is not for college credit. Make $5 checks payable to UFT Elementary Workshops. This workshop requires an event registration coupon, which can be found in the paper version of the New York Teacher as part of the UFT Calendar. Send one check when registering for more than one workshop.

Tuesday, Nov. 27: Learn to use and teach Semantic Mapping and KWL strategies to increase understanding and enhance the learning outcome in an elementary workshop entitled “Strategies for Success.” Other topics covered include questioning and assessment techniques, ways to improve homework study, and test-taking skills. The workshop will be held at 52 Broadway, 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. It is offered to elementary school teachers who wish to upgrade their teaching skills; it is not for college credit. Make $5 checks payable to UFT Elementary Workshops. This workshop requires an event registration coupon, which can be found in the paper version of the New York Teacher as part of the UFT Calendar. Send one check when registering for more than one workshop.

Saturday, Dec. 1:Seeking to use your talents to make your educational dreams a reality?In Grant Writing – Ideas and Suggestions, learn how to demystify the grant-writing process by gaining an understanding of the key elements involved in writing a grant. This workshop is designed specifically for both middle school and high school teachers, and is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 52 Broadway. To register or to get more information, call Sue Picicci at 212-598-9282 or email spicicci@uft.org. There is a $10 fee. A light breakfast will be provided.

Tuesday, Dec. 6:The Elementary School Committee will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m., at 52 Broadway in Auditorium C on the second floor.

Friday, Dec. 14: At 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing the 20,000 faculty and professional staff who work at CUNY, will be showing the film Ride with the Devil as the fourth 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. For more information, contact Dania Rajendra at (212) 354-1252 or at drajendra@pscmail.org.

Thursday, Dec. 20:Enjoy the spirit of Kwanzaa, learn about the holiday, and pick up the perfect gift for the holiday at the African Heritage Committee’s “Kanzaa 2007” on Thursday, Dec. 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at 52 Broadway, 14th floor. Door prize and light dinner. Register by Dec. 7.



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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, Dec. 14, 4 p.m., Executive Board Meeting.
HAEA/UFT (Hellenic-American Educators Assn.)

Friday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m., Cinema Night.
NYC Dance Educators/UFT

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m., Membership Meeting.
NYC Music Teachers Association/UFT

Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m., Choral Workshop.
Outdoor-Environmental Education

Saturday, Nov. 17, 8 a.m., Saturday Science @ Francis Lewis HS.
Per Diems

Thursday, Dec. 13, 4:30 p.m., Membership Meeting. POSTPONED
Players

Friday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m., Board Meeting.
Runners

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 4:30 p.m., Membership Meeting.
Science
Friday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m., The Chemist as Detective in Examining Arts and Artifacts @ NYU.

UFT Meeting 11-06-07 Minutes

UFT Meeting

Agenda – November 6, 2007


I SBO Votes – Brooklyn-Queens Day – Discussion

1. Do you want to make Thursday a teaching day and do Professional Development on Friday?
2. Teachers have asked me to have an SBO vote to make mandated Monday meetings once a month for 80 minutes.
1. What is the protocol for teachers, administrators and our Union when under investigation?
2. Creating a unified chapter at the Queens High School of Teaching.
3. Scheduling, electives, programming etc.
4. Security Issues
5. Merit Pay and 55/25 retirement
6. Coverage's and Dear coverage in addition to teaching 3 classes in a row all on the same day.

Minutes – 70 UFT members present

SBO Vote – Brooklyn Queens Day – from Thursday to Friday
 The question of bussing was raised. In addition, because of the Senior Prom, seniors will take off anyway.
 Teacher wanted to revisit this matter and move on to more pressing issues
Vote on changing Monday meetings to one meeting for 80 minutes.
 Since this is an SBO – School Based Option, the entire school would need to vote on this even though it would primarily effect Freire.
UFT Members under investigation
 Teachers have been under investigation for verbal abuse and need to know their rights.
 The Chancellor’s Regulation A-421 specifically addresses the guidelines for principals, UFT members and the UFT. (All of the Regulations can be found at www.uft.org)
 It is important to know that UFT members should not go into a meeting like this without representation.
 The Principal is in a difficult position of advocating for students and teachers. Mr. Lieber has pointed out that weight should be given to the professional, since most students do not have the same ability to interpret their experiences as adults do.
 The record of the UFT member and the student should also be given considerable weight.
 Also the investigation should be confidential. If it is not kept confidential, the integrity of the investigation is compromised.
 After the statements are collected, the UFT member has a right to view them and be given time to read them.
Creating a Unified Chapter at the QHST -- Laurie Kucic gave this presentation
 Laurie Kucic is now the LEOC representative
 All members should attend UFT meetings
 We pay approximately $1000 in dues and should make use of the UFT
 Lieber cannot address teacher to teacher conflicts, which is the job of the LEOC.
 Members should not go to the administrators and complain about a colleague. We should find better ways to handle conflicts. Go to the person and speak directly and if that does not resolve the problem, go to the LEOC representative.
 Laurie Kucic is not paid or compensated for this position
 Lieber pointed out that when teachers complain to the administration about other colleagues, that weakens the chapter and contributes to the idea of “Divide and Conquer.”
Scheduling, Electives & Programming
 Some Montessori teachers are pushing into other teachers’ classes and this is creating a sense of inequity in the building for the teachers who have a full schedule.
 Lieber pointed out that he cannot go to the administration and make sure that teachers work harder.
 Lieber received the assignments from the administration of the teachers who were not teaching a full schedule.
 Lori Mayo suggested that teachers who owe hours could assist in the Writing Center
 Several teachers asked about a class of American Regents History that is being taught by a teacher who does not have a license in that area, and that there are teachers who are available to push in with that license are scheduled elsewhere.
 It was also pointed out that the split schedule does not provide students with their academic needs. For example, it took 2 months for ESL students to be serviced. There is not enough access to the library** and 1 period electives, which is not educationally sound. ** The following day, Jo-Anne Kyriannis pointed out that the library can be open for Bands 1 and 11 on a needs basis. She requires approximately 1 week notice, and would be there to accommodate the students’ needs.
 A UFT member explained that electives are being used to fill holes in programs
 The teaching profession is being devalued when any teacher can teach any subject regardless of license. We are sending a negative message.
 There was a question regarding the PSAT exams and that teachers were given 3 hour proctoring assignments, which was too long.
 Another problem is that “Rating Days” were eliminated and teachers were asked to attend professional development.
 Lieber pointed out that if UFT members feel that their rights are being violated, they should speak with him to see if that is true and a grievance will be filed.
 Many inexperienced teachers are not aware when they are asked to do tasks that are not contractual. They may also be intimidated to file a grievance because they are not tenured. Experienced teachers should advise colleagues what is contractual or not.
 Lieber explained that teachers can file a grievance immediately after the infraction, but it must be filed by another teacher.
 Lieber will ask to see proctoring schedules before the exam and make the schedule public.
 Teachers also complained about teaching 3 consecutive hours and that it is illegal
 Lieber explained that we have had a tacit agreement about teaching 3 in a row because we have days that have many free periods.
 Normally, it is contractual to teach 3 periods in a row, but the periods in a traditional school are 45 minutes long.
 During the consultative meeting, we will discuss changing the schedule and a group of UFT members will form a panel to assist in creating a more accommodating schedule.
55/25 Retirement and Merit Pay is covered in an article. There is additional information on the website: www.uft.org


Security Issues
 A UFT member stated that there are students who are arrested and then allowed to come into the building.
 Students should not be permitted to leave the building and then come back.
 Parents are also allowed into the classrooms
 Lieber explained that every school has a safety code, which must be followed. If there is a breach of the safety code, Lieber will file a safety grievance. The UFT takes violations of the safety code very seriously.
 A UFT member stated that students from other schools have been entering the building. These students should be considered intruders.

UFT Weekly Update -- October 26h 2007 Issue

Lead teacher program: are there issues in your school?
Please assist us in ensuring that the Lead Teacher Program is being implemented appropriately citywide. We are collecting data to provide the DOE with information about where there are issues and concerns about program implementation.

The following are the critical elements of the program:

The program was designed to provide teacher leadership opportunities for classroom teachers.
In elementary schools, two lead teachers share one classroom. Each lead teacher teaches three periods (morning or afternoon) and is released for three periods to provide in-classroom support and professional development to colleagues.
In middle and high schools, while lead teachers do not share a class, they also teach three periods and are released for three periods for the same purpose.
Ideally, a lead teacher’s classroom also serves as a model and lab where colleagues can visit and view strategies and ideas they are interested in trying or learning more about.
Lead teachers receive an annual stipend. They are required to report for five additional days in the summer before school begins and to attend 40 hours of mandated professional development provided throughout the year by the UFT Teacher Center in collaboration with the DOE Office of New Teacher Induction.
If your school is implementing the Lead Teacher Program (see the list of schools and names of the lead teachers that were approved for this school year), please email UFT Vice President and UFT Teacher Center Director Aminda Gentile at agentile@uft.org immediately if there are any issues or concerns about the implementation. These may involve lead teachers’ schedules, roles and responsibilities, or programs that do not follow the guidelines above.


Rally doubleheader this Saturday
Make your presence and your enthusiasm known at two events tomorrow. First up, join a rally in Harlem to support Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign to win the Democratic presidential nomination. UFT President Randi Weingarten and Congressman Charles Rangel will be speaking. The rally begins at 11 a.m. in the Abyssinian Baptist Church at 132 W. 138th Street (Odell Clark Place) between Adam Clayton Powell and Malcolm X Boulevards. The American Federation of Teachers, the UFT’s parent union, endorsed Clinton on Oct. 3.

Next up is the National Day of Action to end the war now and bring the troops home. The march, which UFT delegates voted to support, will be one of a number of anti-war rallies that day in cities across the country. You can join the labor contingent on 17th Street east of Broadway. Labor marchers will start gathering at 11 a.m., but the march doesn’t step off till 1 p.m.

Tune in this Sunday a.m. for Weingarten and former Chancellor Crew
UFT President Randi Weingarten and former New York City Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew are being interviewed on “Eyewitness News Close-Up” this Sunday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. on Channel 7. Crew, who became Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools in 2004, was schools chancellor in New York City from 1995 to 1999. The interview will also be available on www.7online.com.

Joe Torre and merit pay
When was the last time you were compared to Joe Torre or to post-season baseball players? A guest writer on the union’s blog, edwize, maintains that you and they are more alike than you might think.

When “Donors Choose,” your students win
Have a great idea for a project, but no way to fund it? The nonprofit organization Donors Choose may be able to help. Through its Web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. At the same time, potential donors who would like to fund such worthy endeavors browse through the proposals listed, selecting the ones they will support. Teachers get funding, donors get thank-you letters and students get enriching experiences. The Donors Choose Web site has the details to get started.

To Do:

• Remember that safety planning is an ongoing process. The school safety committee in your school must meet at least once a month during the school year. See our Safety Plan Check List as a preliminary guide to what your safety plan should cover. Make sure that your school has a SAVE Room and a removal process as part of the Safety Plan. (Chancellor's Reg A443 1.05MB). If you have any questions, you should call your borough safety liaison.

• 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 forms 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.

For your information:
Grants, awards & freebies: For those who need money for their classroom or just like to get free stuff (and who doesn’t?), the Grants, Awards & Freebies section at uft.org has ideas, updated on an ongoing basis. Don’t see what you want? Keep checking back.

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.

File 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. 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 also register for an account at www.uft.org and verify your union membership on the profile page of your account. If you have any questions about the new online grievance process, contact the grievance liaison/contract coordinator in your borough office.

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.

Changes to personal information: 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.

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

In the News:
UFT gets an “A” in smarts: Teachers got a deal on pensions with 55/25 and gave up nothing in exchange, comments Diane Ravitch in the Daily News. She points out that teachers in participating schools can insure that money is shared by all UFT members, guaranteeing an equitable bonus plan despite mischaracterization of the plan by some in the media as a “merit-pay plan.” Ravitch goes on to explain how merit pay hasn’t worked anywhere it’s been tried anyway. “Union members will be able to collect their pensions at an earlier age; the new voluntary schoolwide bonus plan bears only a faint resemblance to merit pay and may ultimately bear none at all if the winning schools divide their bonuses without regard to the test scores reported for each teacher's classroom,” she writes.

Problem finding teachers? Grow your own: A few years ago, Chicago public schools would have passed over college dropout and teacher candidate Anita Sanders, a 42-year-old mother of three, because she lacked teaching credentials, reports U.S. News and World Report. However, after growing tired of seeing first-year teachers flee to suburban schools, the city is now targeting teachers like Sanders. Illinois is spending $7.5 million to help people like Sanders become teachers in underperforming schools as part of the Grow Your Own Illinois initiative which aims to prepare 1,000 teachers by 2016. The candidates, mostly women of color from low-income communities, will receive forgivable college loans of up to $25,000 in exchange for a minimum five-year commitment to teach in underserved schools. In order to qualify, candidates had to show promising ability, as gauged by transcripts, an interview and performance on a test.

Learning from Jena, so there isn’t another: In 2006, a survey conducted by Teaching Tolerance, the National Education Association and the Civil Rights Project found that most teachers claim their schools are free of ethnic or racial bias, yet recent news and a federal study, which found that one in four students are victims of racial or ethnic incidents every school year, suggest otherwise, reports Teacher Magazine. Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Law Poverty Center, who testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee about the Jena High School incident, pointed educators to "Six Lessons from Jena," a document that outlines what every school and educator can learn from the recent events and what they can do to hopefully prevent them. As a path to early prevention, the lessons include ways to examine a school’s climate and how to identify and respond to bias incidents, among others. The document includes suggested lesson plans.

Calendar:
Now till Tues., Oct. 30: Do you have an idea to enhance the learning environment in your school? Act fast, because the UFT Teacher Center Mini-Grant Program’s Oct. 30 deadline is approaching. Last year more than 70 educators received grants of up to $2,500 that in a variety of ways helped to spark students’ participation in their classrooms. Mini-grant-winning proposals also address issues that affect the entire school community. Grant guidelines include such topics as designing a family engagement program; promoting collegiality and raising morale in the work environment; unconventional approaches to instruction; and mentoring new teachers in a particular area or grade level.

Tuesday, Oct. 30: In There’s More to Google than Search, learn how to harness Google to make you a better teacher as you search for Web content, image, news, maps, U.S. government agencies and blogs. Learn how to use Froogle and Google Earth. We promise that you will leave this workshop amazed at everything you can do to enhance your teaching. This workshop is for both middle school and high school teachers. It is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at 52 Broadway. To register or to get more information, call Sue Picicci at 212-598-9282 or email spicicci@uft.org. There is a $5 fee. Refreshments will be provided.

Saturday Nov. 3: A workshop focusing on classroom management called Managing the Middle School Classroom through Learning Styles will be offered on Saturday, Nov. 3. This workshop will enable middle school teachers to pinpoint the learning styles of their students while addressing classroom management concerns. It will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and be held at 52 Broadway. There is a $10 fee. 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, Nov. 4: Teacher Union Day Award Ceremony & Luncheon, when the union celebrates its own, will be at the Waldorf Astoria. UFT Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Langiulli will receive the Charles Cogen Award. The conference registration deadline was Oct. 24.

Thursday, Nov. 8: The Ladder of Referral is a workshop targeting recordkeeping as it relates to discipline issues in middle school classrooms. Learn how to keep quality anecdotal records and write appropriate referrals for the disruptive, disrespectful and insubordinate student. Find out when to get deans, school safety, guidance counselors and administration involved with specific youngsters. This workshop is designed specifically for middle school teachers, and is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at 52 Broadway. To register or to get more information, call Sue Picicci at 212-598-9282 or email spicicci@uft.org There is a $5 fee. Refreshments will be provided.

Friday, Nov. 9 and Friday, Dec. 14: At 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9, the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing the 20,000 faculty and professional staff who work at CUNY, will be showing the film Culloden as the third 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 is Ride with the Devil on Friday, Dec. 14. For more information, contact Dania Rajendra at (212) 354-1252 or at drajendra@pscmail.org.

Thursday, Nov. 15: The UFT Brooklyn Borough Office is presenting a Maternity/Childcare Workshop on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Limited reduced rate parking is available after 2 p.m. at the Edison Parking Garage in the Renaissance Plaza Marriott Hotel with UFT validation only. (Additional charges apply for large SUVs) To register, call 718-852-4900 M-F between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 16: Come meet Dan Brown, author of The Great Expectations School: A Rookie Year in the New Blackboard Jungles. On Nov. 16, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the UFT Salon, 52 Broadway, fifth floor, will be hosting Brown. His book is a memoir of his first year teaching at P.S. 85 in the Bronx. A light dinner will be served.

Saturday, Nov. 17: The UFT Teacher Center will host a seminar entitled “Assessing Current Assessments” on Saturday, Nov. 17 as part of its Urban Educators Forum. Speakers will include Robert Tobias, the director of NYU’s Center for Research on Teaching and Learning. The seminar will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 52 Broadway, 2nd floor.

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)

• Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m., Annual Fall Tour.
• Friday, Nov. 16, 4 p.m., Executive Board Meeting.
• Monday, Nov. 26, 9 a.m., TBA

ELAC/UFT (English Language Arts Council)

• Wednesday, Oct. 24, 4 p.m., Essay Writing…

ESL/Bilingual Committee

• Tuesday, Nov. 13, 4:30 p.m., Literacy in the ESL/Bilingual Social Studies Class.

HAEA/UFT (Hellenic-American Educators Assn.)

• Tuesday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m., Executive Board Meeting.
• Friday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m., Cinema Night.

Humane Education

• Saturday, Nov. 3, 9. a.m., Respecting People, Animals & Nature Conference.

NYCAFLT/UFT (NYC Assn. of Foreign Language Teachers)

• Saturday, Oct. 27, 9.a.m., Annual Regional Conference.

NYCATA/UFT (NYC Art Teachers Assn.)

• Saturday, Oct. 27, 8:30 a.m., Annual Artworks Conference @ Fiorello LaGuardia HS.

NYC Dance Educators/UFT

• Wednesday, Nov. 14, 4:30 p.m., General Membership Meeting/Elections.

NYC Music Teachers Association/UFT

• Saturday, Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Choral Workshop.

Outdoor-Environmental Education

• Saturday, November 17, 8 a.m., Saturday Science @ Francis Lewis HS.

Players

• Friday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m., Theater Improvisation.

Science

• 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.