We’re only two weeks into January and already the list of concerns continues:

• Quarterly Assessments: Directly on the heels of State Assessments and Regents—does this make sense??? We want our students to be active, engaged, and eager to come to school, correct? How can we expect that to occur when right after the state has tested them to death, we follow suit!
• MAPS—Middletown Assessment of Primary Students: What a mess! Far too many mistakes. Who proofreads? If we sent anything out that looked like this we would be called to task!
• Bi-lingual MAPS: Ditto the above
• HS Construction: Why doesn’t anyone listen to what the staff is saying? Were we not out in front with all of this via a paid newspaper ad back in the fall? How long will heads remain buried in the sand? Kerosene leak? What kerosene leak? (At the Jan. 5th BOE meeting it was revealed that board members had never been informed of this major mishap.)
• Negotiations Impasse: We talk to each other. Do they talk to each other?
• Class Link: Where did this come from? How will this benefit staff and students? As stated at a few building trainings–“Students may access this at home.” Hello! Do the presenters have any idea about our student population and the corresponding poverty levels?
• Scoring Leaders: Way too close to Turnkeys? We’re collecting the documentation regarding exactly what is transpiring because this is grievance territory!
• Training, Training, Training: Why? Why so much? Why the multitude of various programs all at once? Why couldn’t there have been better planning? How about just planning? At last count there were over 15 different district initiatives requiring varying amounts of training.
• Lack of Subs: Maybe if we could be in our classrooms a bit more and have some of that good old quality contact time with our students there wouldn’t be this problem.
• Computer Technology: Again, and again and again I ask: So how are we better off now than we were last year? And…the answer is a resounding—“We’re not!!!” This is a major loss, and it is a major embarrassment to have fallen so far from what we had—something that really worked for our students.
• Inconsistent District-Wide Communication: Who’s on first? Does anyone talk to anyone else? Why all the late notices for meetings and trainings? Where’s the Literacy Coordinator? What about a House Principal for the HS? Will there be an Executive Principal for the HS by the next school year? Where is the consistency of communication among buildings?

In closing, I would like to comment on a remark made by the vice-president of the Board of Education on Thursday, January 5th. In response to detailed information about the multitude of problems being experienced during the HS re-construction, Mrs. Botti stated that “When this is over and done with no one will remember this.” I beg to differ! I am quite certain that everyone and anyone who cares will remember this year. Not only will everyone remember the high school debacle of ’05-‘06 (Cross Pointe, lack of a master schedule, executive principal resignation, etc.), but I fear they will also remember all of the concerns detailed above and we will face unprecedented resignations. Out of 518 MTA members we have 300 who have only been here since 1998! What is this district going to do to prove that they are willing to not just listen, but to also hear the concerns before them? The MTA offered to meet with the BOE on May 5, 2005—we’re still waiting.

In my pay I currently receive a payment in lieu of insurance. How much of this is for declining dental insurance? None of the payment is for dental declination. All members who decline health insurance should be carrying a family plan for dental insurance. If you are not covered by the dental plan, contact the benefits coordinator at the BOE (ext 5316) and immediately enroll in the dental plan. Your dental plan will be your primary coverage and it will serve as the secondary coverage for your spouse (if they have their own dental).

I notified the BOE of my change of address. Do I need to notify the MTA, NYSUT and AFT? Just alert the MTA and the changes will automatically be forwarded to the state and national levels. You will need to notify the retirement system. There is a form that can be downloaded from www.nystrs.org.

If I retire from teaching in this district can I be re-hired into a different position in the district without affecting my pension? Sections 211 and 212 of the Retirement and Social Security Law govern NYS public employment by service retirees under age 65. Under Section 212, the earnings limit for calendar year 2005 is $27,500. The limit, deter-mined by the State Legislature, will apparently remain the same in 2006. Service retirees can have unlimited earnings in the following cases: a) in private employment; b) in federal employment; c) in public employment outside New York State; d) as an elected official, inspector of elections, poll or ballot clerk, commissioner of deeds, juror or notary public; or, e) in all employment (including NYS public employment) beginning in the calendar year they turn age 65.

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!

Here’s another “note from home” gathered from a very deserving and dedicated colleague. If you have some of your own, please consider sharing them, here or in your school!

I wanted to extend my immeasurable appreciation to you. I have no doubt that, in part, your gifts of an outstanding college recommendation and continued support allowed me to fulfill a dream. Thanks to your preparation in the classroom and continued encouragement, I have been accepted to the Class of 2010 at Princeton University! For more than four years, I have had hopes of attending one of our country’s fine institutions during the Fall Term of 2006. In the past year, I have absolutely fallen in love with everything about Princeton University, and, now, I can say I have reached my goal. Because of your superlative actions as a role model and amazing help, I must say that I would be remiss to ask for a better educator than yourself. I share my accomplishment with you and hope that you take your due credit. Without you, I would not have received such an outstanding Christmas present!

Thank you once again. Happy Holidays!

For over 15 years MTA members have become accustomed to receiving the annual Educator’s Tax Guides. However, this year the guides will not be made available as NYSUT has made the MTA aware that Educational Tax Publication Services is no longer producing the guide. Representatives from NYSUT were not able to locate another suitable publication that they felt comfortable recommending to NYSUT members.

With changes in tax laws, NYSUT accounting recommends visiting the Internal Revenue Service’s Web site at www.irs.gov and searching its many resources for questions that you may have.

NYSTRS Benefit Profiles are mailed out each January to active members. If you do not receive your profile by mid-February you should contact the retirement system. The major reason for not receiving your profile is a member’s omission in notifying the retirement system of a change of address.

Once you receive your profile you should verify the accuracy of information reported to the System (i.e., salaries, days of service). Your eligibility for current and future benefits, as well as the calculation of those benefits, will depend on this information. The benefit projections, including death and disability benefits, can help you make important financial decisions at each stage of your career. Be sure to review your designated beneficiary as your personal life might have had a few changes during the past year. Remember, you can also visit the Secure Area of the NYSTRS Web site to access your Profile at any time.

A retirement workshop aimed at Tier 3 & 4 members will be held on March 23rd at the MTA office. Sheila Salenger, NYSTRS board member, is scheduled to be the presenter.
Additional information will be distributed in early February along with reservation forms.

In June 2003, a National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge found Wal-Mart violated federal labor laws in 2000 by refusing to bargain over job changes it imposed on meat cutters in a Jacksonville, Texas, store after they voted for union representation. The skilled meat cutters were suddenly demoted to “sales associates” and all Wal-Mart stores eventually shifted to selling pre-cut meat.