The following “top ten list” reflects the most commonly expressed concerns by our members during the month of November.

• Quarterly Assessments (the debacle continues)
• Teachers out of classrooms (more than ever)
• Technology problems (lack of available computers and printers, programs needed for instruction not installed, Cross Pointe issues)
• ESL/Bi-Lingual Concerns (very serious issues exist district-wide)
• Teaching Assistants pulled to cover classes (on a consistent basis)
• Lack of substitute teachers (problems abound across the district)
• Communication problems (lack of timely notice for testing schedules, staff development day, and non-instructional day)
• Secondary Parent Teacher Conferences (poor planning, lack of timely notification to parents, totally inadequate communication to staff, inconsistencies regarding implementation among all three schools)
• Numerous classroom interruptions and disruptions (unexpected deadlines, additional work required of teachers, administrators violating classroom sanctity)
• Too much testing (teaching time diminished and disrupted yet the standards are expected to be upheld)

All of the above have been brought to the attention of the superintendent during my monthly meeting, and your feedback will be vital in order to assess whether any changes or improvements are noted.

Please make use of the communication mechanism your union has established in each building by talking to your building representatives and continuing to report issues and concerns.  It is through this process that information is brought to the MTA Executive Board.  The Executive Board is comprised of the Officers, the Senior Building Reps, and the Affiliate-at-Large (currently the MTAO president).  It is at this table that policies and procedures are established and plans of action are discussed.  Clear communication between our members and their elected representatives is critical, and we need to consistently utilize the channels we have established in order to address the items of importance to our members.

We may not always agree with one another’s viewpoints or opinions, but we do need to agree to work together if we are to realize gains from the daily efforts put forth on your behalf by your union representatives.

On that note, and with recognition to the time of year, I would like to express my personal gratitude to our members for their hard work and continuing loyalty to the students of this district.  May the holiday weekend be a time to relax, unwind, and enjoy family and friends.   Just think–when we return it’s only 20 school days until the Winter Break!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

by Wendy Bartocci
Eileen joined the Middletown community over 35 years ago.  She began as a volunteer in the classroom when her youngest child started elementary school. Eileen loved being in the classroom and soon became a teaching assistant.  She began her career in the Special Education Department and spent her remaining years as a teaching assistant in the library at Mechanicstown where the highlight of her day was reading to the children.  Eileen loved her job and it showed through her dedication to the children of the Middletown district.
Sadly, on August 30, 2006, Eileen lost her courageous battle with cancer.  She has 4 loving children and was the proud “Nana” of 5 beautiful grandchildren.  Eileen will be sadly missed.

Delegates to the New York State Teachers Retirement System re-elected Mike Corn to his 6th 3-year term as a teacher-member of the TRS Board of Directors.  Middletown delegates Sheila Esposito, Lois Samsel-Cronk and Gary Day attended the meetings that were held November 6th in Saratoga Springs.

Corn is a past president of the New Hartford TA and currently serves on the NYSUT Board of Directors.  Corn’s priorities include eliminating retirement tiers, ensuring full funding of the pension system and fighting efforts to create a Tier 5. Corn chairs the TRS Board’s Disability Retirement Committee.

During the board/delegate meeting which preceded the election, there were 2 topics that dominated the discussions.  Those were the 25/55 retirement incentive that was vetoed last summer by Governor Pataki and possible legislation to give additional service credit to Tier 3 & 4 members who made 3% contributions beyond a period of 10 years.  Teacher-members on the board said that these and other issues would be part of the NYSUT legislative package and that Vote/Cope contributions go a long way in helping to pass enhancements to retirement benefits.

by Lynann Day
Over 100 MTA members and their family members and friends participated in the October 15th Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Woodbury Commons.  Many thanks go out to them and their building chairpersons who were part of the over 9,000 participants at Central Valley who raised in excess of $750,000.

Be sure to take a look at page 6 of the Nov. 2 issue of the NY Teacher to see a photo of MTA members Samantha Rodriguez and Elizabeth Cepeda.  This is the 3rd year in a row that MTA members have appeared in the NYSUT publication.

The MTA office was the scene on October 23rd when 32 new or relatively new teachers attended a workshop focused on retirement. Even though many of those attending have 25 to 30 years before becoming eligible to retire, the teachers learned quite a bit about what they can do now to enhance their pension.

Presenter Sheila Salenger, a teacher-member of the TRS Board of Directors, spent a great deal of time explaining how many of the teachers could secure additional service credit for previous non-credited public employment within New York. In addition, there was discussion regarding in-service death benefits, designation of beneficiaries, change of name and address and the story behind the 3% contributions. As she always does when giving workshops in Middletown, Sheila mentioned the importance of participating in a 403(b) to supplement your pension and the need to make annual contributions to Vote/Cope to help secure improvements in our defined benefit pension plan.

The Special Education Department at Middletown High School has established the Patricia A. Truex Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of our beloved colleague and friend.

The scholarship will be awarded to a qualifying graduating senior from Middletown High School who plans on pursuing a career as a Special Education teacher or a classified graduating senior who is planning on furthering her/his education.

For further information or to make a contribution, contact Rochelle Weiler, 692-8580.

On November 3rd & 4th MTA Benefit Fund Trustees Donnalee Helhoski, Becky Osczepinski, Sheila Esposito and Gary Day attended the biennial NYSUT Member Benefits Conference at the Crowne Plaza in Albany.

In addition to attending sessions outlining the vast program of benefits that NYSUT Member Benefits makes available to all members and fee payers, our trustees had the opportunity to network with trustees of nearly 75 other benefit funds.  The networking was done informally as well as in seminars that dealt with fiduciary, legal and ethical matters related to benefit funds and their operations.

On Friday, October 20th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, the MTA initiated a new tradition – the New Teacher Social.  The event was attended by teachers new to the district, building reps and the Executive Board.  The Rep. Council meeting room transformed into a festive atmosphere with the help of candlelight, flowers, soft music and, of course, plenty of party finger food.

New teachers had an opportunity to mingle with union reps and other new teachers while nibbling and relaxing.  Sheila (the MTA president) made sure that all of the new teachers present felt welcome and at home – reminding everyone that the offices belong to all of its members.

As it neared 6:00, members began to depart while expressing  how much they enjoyed and appreciated the event.  It was a great lead into a well deserved weekend!

Upon retirement can I elect to take my entire pension in a lump sum and then invest it on my own? This is not an option offered by TRS. There is a lump sum option but it is only for a payment to a beneficiary upon the death of the retired member.
My spouse has recently gained full medical and dental coverage for our family. Do I need to wait until next September to decline coverage within the district and to start receiving the payment for declination? No, you can start the declination at any time provided that you are able to submit proof to the district that you are covered by your spouse’s health / dental plan.

I do not live in the Middletown School District but would like my child to attend school in Middletown. Is there any contract provision for paying tuition? Yes, there is contract language that deals with this scenario. Teachers who elect to bring their children into the Middletown district can do so and be credited $2,000 per year in district tuition expenses per child.

When I retire can I drop out of the Orange/Ulster Health Plan and be covered by my spouse’s health insurance and then re-enter Orange/Ulster with my own plan when my spouse retires? No, once you retire and opt to not carry your own policy you are precluded from re-entering the health plan at a later date with your own policy.

Any questions regarding retirement, salary, or the Benefit Fund, may be e-mailed to: questions@middletownteachers.org. All questions will receive a reply; some may appear in future newsletters.

The deadline for submitting paperwork for your 2007 Flexible Spending Account is December 1st.  Be sure to submit your forms by the deadline so that you can take advantage of paying for your 2007 unreimbursed medical and dental expenses and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.  Be sure to do your homework as money placed in the account and not used for acceptable claims will be forfeited.

by Peggy Fellows
The new contract brings new rights.  It has been updated to reflect the new millennium. Two areas were addressed.  They were serious illness in the family and death in the family.  Added to the definition of immediate family was domestic partner. Domestic partners need to have resided together for 6 months and then have filled out a domestic partner affidavit. This attests to the fact they are in a mutual loving and caring relationship and plan to continue.  This must have been filed before the leave is requested. Call the personnel office to request an affidavit. This does not apply to health or dental.
insurance.

As this issue of the MTA News went to press there still were some appointment times available for the MTA Benefit Fund’s “Will Day” that will be held November 29th at the MTA office. “Will Day” is an opportunity to have a living will, health care proxy, power of attorney or a simple will written at no cost to the teacher participant. If you are a teacher and wish to schedule an appointment time for you and/or your spouse or domestic partner be sure to contact Donnalee Helhoski, Benefit Fund Chairperson, via e-mail as soon as possible.

by Lois Samsel-Cronk, Grievance Committee Chairperson
We are only a quarter of the way through the year and we have 4 pending grievances and a possible 2 more by the end of the week. The bussing grievance at Maple Hill is at Stage 2 and a meeting is set up with a representative appointed by the superintendent. There is a Stage 1b from the High School regarding a 44-minute lunch period not being given to teachers the day of Parent Teacher Conferences. Lastly, Mechanicstown and Twin Towers are at a Stage 1b, soon to be Stage 2, as the teachers are being denied access through an entrance by their parking lots. Not all teachers have been given security discs.

by Connie Duczeminski
From the start of our 2006-2007 school year, our High School staff has experienced the gamut of emotions.  Engulfed with excitement at the prospect of working in an enlarged, modernized environment, we have also experienced the difficulties of operating within a work still in progress.  Throughout it all we have stayed focused on our mission as teachers and have continued to strive to offer our students the best education possible.

We all knew that in order for improvements to be made, staff and faculty would have to use ingenuity to compensate for the things we would have to do without.  Rather than focus on what we don’t have - let’s take a moment to commend all the teachers and other faculty members for the creative solutions they have embraced.  Our classroom teachers have continued to offer the students at MHS consistent, quality instruction in spite of the environment’s difficulties and deficits.

Take Jean Allee for instance.  Of the many staff members in our building, Jean has surmounted a massive loss of environment - the High School Library - due to be completed some time in January 2007.  Even without telephone or computers for e-mail at the start of the year, Jean has made both her presence and library services easily accessible to both faculty and students.  She is constantly moving throughout the building to bring the information and importance of the library directly to the students.\

Most recently, Jean and her support staff, Vera Ioannou and Fran Wittman, were observed distributing library materials to Debbie Brown’s English Language Arts class.  Armed with several portable library carts, catalogue cards and return due date stamp pads, students were given the opportunity to browse through the stacks and choose the literature that would both enhance their personal knowledge base and improve their reading skills.  Jean has used her resourcefulness to bring library resources to us.

Jean and her staff continue to remind us all that, while the newly painted walls and tiled floors are nice, it is truly the creative and dedicated staff “in-between” those walls that make a productive, functional educational environment.  Thank you Jean and the rest of the MHS staff.

On October 31, 2006, first grade students from Mrs. Abt’s, Mrs. Byrne’s and Ms Yegidis’ classes visited the residents of Southwinds Retirement Home. It was an exciting day for not only for the residents, but for the students as well. The children served the residents treats and entertained them with a poem and three songs. All who were present couldn’t help but smile. It was a joy to watch.

The first graders students also learned to formally introduce themselves to the seniors. Throughout the room you could hear children saying,”Hi my name is ____.” “What is your name?” “It is nice to meet you!”

The short hour spent at Southwinds not only had an impact on the students, but the seniors were truly touched by the attention the children showed them.

The teachers and students would like to thank everyone from Southwinds for allowing them to visit. The day was so successful that the three classes are planning another visit in the spring.