January, 2007: The start of another new year and the opportunity to begin it with hope and resolve. When things seem impossible, we must believe that nothing is unattainable. It is this kind of hope, this type of firm determination, that will make us stronger, and ultimately, will effect the type of change that we know is necessary for the betterment of all.

With the last half of the school year in sight, we must be unwavering in our intent to stand for what we know is right and be uncompromising in voicing our collective concerns regarding district decisions that affect all of us and our students on a daily basis. The advent of a new year did not, unfortunately, erase the problems and concerns of the past, but it does allow continued opportunity to utilize our collective voice in order to promote an agenda of activism and involvement.

Now is not the time to stand by idly. There are varied MTA activities, workshops and committees that will be convening in 2007 and your participation is vital. Also, two Board of Education meetings are held each month—a definite eye-opening experience and one worthy of viewing in person.

Speaking of the Board of Education—only four months remain until the May elections and there are two open positions (Sue Botti’s and Linda Knapp’s terms expire this year). It is imperative to find suitable candidates who possess the skill, drive, desire and open-mindedness to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust in order to bring about a restored sense of integrity and credibility to a very splintered and dysfunctional Board. The time for us to have a Board of Education that is not the derisive amusement of Orange County is long overdue. Whether you live in the Middletown School District or not is irrelevant. We are all affected by the decisions made by the members of the Board of Education and we all reap the benefits or feel the consequences of their actions. I implore each and every one of you to think about individuals who could be asked to consider running for one of the open positions.

For 2007, please stay in touch and involved with your union. Let us show a sense of resolve and restore a sense of hope for all.

I currently purchase my auto and homeowners insurance through NYSUT Member Benefits. What benefit is there for me to make premium payments through Payroll Advantage? If you make your payments through Payroll Advantage you will receive a discount of 8% on your auto premiums (NY residents only) and you will not have any monthly service charge on your homeowners policy. Contact NYSUT Member Benefits at (800) 626-8101 to request the enrollment form.

With the new legislature set to get to work in Albany, what is the status of the 55 / 25 retirement legislation? At this time there is no bill being considered, but the 55 / 25 retirement legislation and the credit for paying 3% for more than 10 years will probably be part of this spring’s discussions. Get a head start and contact your legislators now by logging on to www.politicalaction.nysut.org and sending a letter endorsing both 55 / 25 and the Benefit Enhancement Clean-up.

When will we receive our annual Benefit Profile from TRS? As long as TRS has your current address you will probably receive it during the month of February. If you have moved you must send TRS a change of address form which you can download from NYSTRS.org. Be sure to also notify the MTA office of your change of address.

E-mail your questions to: questions@middletownteachers.org.

by Kristine Hannington

As we get to the middle of the school year; there are some things that I tell new teachers in the beginning of the year that are good reminders for all of us.

• Name changes need to be put into writing to both the personnel office and the MTA office.
• Keep copies of all important paperwork.
• When sending official paperwork to the State Education Department or any other office; it is in your best interest to send it registered mail and of course keep copies of all the paperwork you send.
• Keep records of parent correspondence; for example copies of written notes and logs of phone calls.

All of these can only be to your benefit.

The MTA
congratulates
Maple Hill
Vocal Music
Teacher
Tonie DePasquale
on attaining her
National Board Certification!

by Gregory Farina

Musical artist Lyle Cogen recently spent a week with the teachers and students at Truman Moon. Lyle and music teacher Kristen Patrick taught the children “Carnival of the Animals.”

“Carnival of the Animals” is a musical suite of 14 movements by the French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Students learned, through creative movement and dramatics, how to interpret the classical music story and how to tell a story through sound, characters and moods. It was a dynamic way for the children to make the connection between the Arts and English Language Arts.

by Pat Donnelly

I expect to pass this way but once;
Any good therefore that I can do,or any kindness that I can show
to any fellow creature,let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it
for I shall not pass
this way again.
(Etienne De Grellet)

When Etienne De Grellet, an American (French-born) Quaker evangelist and traveler, penned these words in the 19th Century he could not have known Kathy Keene. Yet these words—unfamiliar to most of us—were carried by the winds of time directly to Kathy as if written by De Grellet with her in mind. That gentle breeze swirled through Kathy’s Monhagen Middle School Nurse’s Office every day, caressing the delicate cheeks, bruised knees and sick stomachs of a thousand young students. Now the ephemeral wind that carried De Grellet’s message has quieted, leaving behind only its preordained truth: Kathy Keene, Monhagen’s beloved school nurse, passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, of cancer on New Year’s Day. She will not pass this way again.Under Kathy Keene’s direction the Monhagen Health Office was the finest in the district. Kathy’s knowledge of nursing was first rate and her organizational skills were unmatched. With the help of her good friend, Marena Escobar, Kathy ran a special office. They always made their middle-schoolers feel at ease. Young students always left the office with a smile because Kathy and Marena would have it no other way, always finding something to make the children laugh. There is much that Kathy’s charges will miss: some will miss the crackers to settle a queasy stomach, some will miss the mints, some will certainly miss the skeleton on the office door that began as a Halloween decoration, morphing through the seasons into a summer-ready, Speedo-clad swimmer, but all of us will miss Kathy’s smile and welcoming way.

True to De Grellet’s words, Kathy never deferred or neglected a kindness. We will remember her well for the good that she did and for the kindness that she heaped upon those around her. Our thoughts are with Kathy’s husband Al, her son Jeff and his wife Heather and daughter Victoria, as well as with Marena Escobar.

The MTA will be presenting three “Member of the Year” awards this spring.  Awards will go to an SRP member, an elementary teacher and a secondary teacher.  The awards have been established to recognize the members’ service, commitment and loyalty to the association and will be presented to the winners at the end-of-year social.

All MTA members with the exception of members of the MTA Executive Board, officers of the MTAO and officers of the MSNA are eligible to be nominated for the award.  Nominees must have a minimum of 3 years of MTA membership and intend to return as an active member of the MTA for the upcoming school year.

The nomination process will start in late March and the closing date for nominations will be the last day of classes in April.