So here I sit on this bleak December day
wishing I had something new and exciting to say!

The reason for this season is to be merry and gay
while sadly we experience more frustrations day by day.

What would an MTA wish list look like you say?
Certainly, it could take shape in the following way:

Clearer communication and no duplication of trainings,
and workshops would be a great start.

Technology restored to its glory of old would be a wish
come true.
It’s sad and a shame that tech cannot claim the place
that we all fondly knew.

What is that I hear you say? There are more items for the
list?
There are far too many that I have missed?

Let them wait for another day
for I cannot leave you in a negative way.
Suspend the numerous issues, file away the complaints, hold at bay the concerns, and prepare for me to say:

The list grows long with all that you do:

instructing, correcting, tying a shoe
listening, directing, learning something new
food baskets, coaching, fundraisers galore
concerts, lesson planning, test reviews and more

Before you know it we’ll be back in ’06,
rested and ready to continue the list.
But for now, take a break, relax and have fun,
have the merriest of holidays with my best wishes sent to
everyone!

Does the question really need to be asked, or answered, from our point of view? But what kind of year was it for the students from their parents’ point of view? Here are a few “notes from home” gathered from some very generous colleagues. If you have some of your own, please consider sharing them, here or in your school!

I am writing because I want you know how much I appreciate all the very special things you are doing in class to engage, inspire, and excite your students about learning. How fortunate your students are! Perhaps some of them appreciate you now, perhaps not. You are making a lasting impression on my grandson, and certainly on your other students. He, and the others, will take what you’re giving them through their days of learning, and through their life.

I am so glad my grandson is having the oppounity to learn under your tutelage. I’m glad you’re on the staff of this school district, introducing so many of Middletown’s children to such wonderful culture and knowlege.

With sincere thanks and admiration,

My son began the year with a fear of Math that I’m sure he inherited from yours truly! I know it’s not the thing to do, but we had basically resigned ourselves to seeing Math grades that would barely float!

After a shaky, but short, start, our son’s Math grades started to soar! At first we’d thought there was some mistake. But, no, the grades were real. He started to look forward to his Math homework, and even his tests! And you may not believe this, but each and every time we wondered at the change, he gave all the credit to you!

Well, we believe it. After being in three different school districts, we have found miracle workers like you in Middletown. You have made learning fun for our son, and for us! Thank you, from our hearts, and enjoy a great summer!

My daughter and I were talking about you the other day, commenting on how much she owes to your teaching. Your enthusiasm, high standards, and particularly your passion for literature really made a great impression upon her. These days, her greatest joy is reading, and she has done exceedingly well in school since she was in your class.

Never think that your work has no positive impact or is not appreciated. Anyway… best to you and yours for the holidays and in the new year to come!

If I retire during the school year instead of waiting until June 30th do I receive any service credit for the portion of the year that I work? You will receive service credit on a pro-rated basis for each day of work. TRS has a conversion chart that credits you with the appropriate number of months of service for partial years of work. This chart appears on
www.nystrs.org.

If I don’t use all of my personal days prior to the end of the year do I carry them over to next year? Yes, your personal days are carried over in September and 3 additional personal days are added to your carry-over amount. Should this new total exceed 5 days, the days in excess of 5 are transferred over to your personal illness days.

Many teachers in my building are having difficulties using the vision plan at a local provider. The problem isn’t with the doctor, but with the other staff members. Can the benefit fund help us? The MTA Benefit Fund has addressed this issue with both the doctor and NYSUT Member Benefits. It is hoped that all fund participants will notice an improvement in the manner in which the doctor’s staff deals with the patients.

I noticed that my summer school pay for 2005 was the same as for 2004. Why wasn’t there an increase? Summer school pay is based upon the BA Step 1 salary that is in effect at the time. Since a new contract has not been settled, the summer school pay was based upon the same salary figure as the year before.

Any questions regarding retirement, salary, or the Benefit Fund, may be e-mailed to: questions@middletownteachers.org. All questions will receive a reply and some may appear in future newsletters. Visit our archives at: middletownteachers.org for all the answers!

NYS Teachers Retirement System has just announced the dates for the upcoming Pre-retirement Planning Seminars. The day-long seminars are open to TRS members age 45 and older. Please note that the seminars are not designed for one-on-one retirement counseling.

In our area the seminars will be held at the Fishkill Holiday Inn on January 27 and March 8. The Tarrytown Marriott will be host to the seminars on March 9 and May 5.

To make a reservation call TRS at 800-356-3128 ext 6180. If you wish to see a complete list of the statewide schedule visit www.NYSTRS.org.

If you make a United Way pledge this year the MTA encourages you to make a pro-union statement on the pledge card. Just do it by marking the pledge card with the notation “No funds shall be allocated to Orange County AHRC”.

This action is keeping in line with the MTA resolution passed at the May 2004 Rep Council meeting stating the MTA’s objection to the anti-union activities being conducted by the management of Orange County AHRC. Employees at Orange County AHRC have been attempting to unionize, but have been met head on by management’s union busting activities.

In addition, the May 2004 resolution asked NYSUT members who serve on the United Way board to stop allocating funds to Orange County AHRC and encouraged MTA members to sign petitions to the Board of Directors at AHRC calling for then to cease and desist from their anti-union activities. Over 375 signatures were collected and forwarded to AHRC.

Reported by Kristine Hanington

Many questions have come my way regarding the duties of a buddy. I have also been asked what the difference between mentors and buddies are. I would like to clear up some confusion regarding these 2 roles.

The role of the mentor is a formal one. A mentor is a paid position, it is board approved. Mentors are assigned by a match committee, which is a sub-committee of the Mentor Advisory Council. Mentors are also required for all first year full-time classroom teachers under the new certification regulations. The length of time for a mentoring experience may vary with certain certifications and individual situations. Mentors and interns have defined activities and their relationship is completely confidential.

An MTA buddy is an informal relationship. MTA buddies are volunteers who fall under NYSUT’s professional partnership program. Their role is to assist a teacher new to Middletown but not necessarily new to teaching. Their duties basically include helping a new teacher understand and execute district and building policies and procedures. Buddies can also help a new teacher acclimate to their role as an MTA member. Buddies are an information source for new teachers.

Though there may some overlap between the roles of mentor and buddy, they are two completely different positions. My hope is that this can help delineate these two positions to those who may have questions. Any further questions about the buddy program can be directed to me. You can e-mail me or contact me at Mechanicstown.

Wal-Mart’s “race to the bottom” in salaries and benefits force some of its employees to rely on government-funded programs, including subsidized school lunches, food stamps, child healthcare and low-income housing assistance. Each Wal-Mart store employing 200 people costs taxpayers approximately $420,750 annually in public social services used by Wal-Mart workers whose low wages and unaffordable health insurance mean most of them are among the working poor.

The following is a listing of Davis Vision Plan providers within a 25 mile radius of Middletown. This list is accurate as of December 11, 2005.

The listing of any provider does not indicate an endorsement of that provider’s services by either the Middletown Teachers Association or the Middletown Teachers Association Benefit Fund. Providers located in other areas can be located by using the Davis Vision website www.davisvision.com.

BLOOMING GROVE
Dr Battiato 496-9999

CHESTER
Dr Bekerman 469-5161

ELLENVILLE
Dr Escobar 647-2020

GOSHEN
Dr Rossi 294-6411
Dr Ulmer 294-8914

HAMBURGH, NJ
Dr Vanderyajt 973-823-0300

MIDDLETOWN
Eye to Eye 692-2020
Dr Feder 342-2020

MILFORD, PA
Milford Family Optical 570-409-8282

MONTICELLO
Dr Sandow 796-3937
Dr Bloom 794-4930

NEWBURGH
Dr Accettura 561-0305
Dr Feldman 566-9179
Dr Groo 561-0907

NEW WINDSOR
Dr Feintuch 565-4100

PINE BUSH
Dr Pagan 744-2003

VAILS GATE
Dr Munoz-Guzman 561-6305

WALDEN
Dr Morrison 778-3591