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.