A March 27th Times Herald-Record article entitled “Schools fear ‘contract’ will cost them” contained extremely important information about the implications of Governor Spitzer’s school aid plan that will include 55 schools districts signing a “Contract for Excellence.” Middletown will be one of those districts.

The impetus behind the governor’s plan is to make sure that the money for school aid is not wasted, and, most importantly, that districts be held accountable (see related excerpt from the governor’s address). This is where the TH-R article became quite interesting. It was revealed that superintendents’ contracts will be tied to student performance. The article stated “lots goes into performance that superintendents don’t control.” Our superintendent was quoted as saying a consequence of this is “you are going to drive good people away.”

Well, well, well. Welcome to our world! Is it not fascinating that this seemed to be no problem when the shoes were on the other feet? For three years our teachers have faced constant pressure regarding student performance. We have been told to work on increasing student attendance, decrease student failure rates, increase academic achievement, implement quarterly assessments, and strictly follow district scope and sequence documents.

Through various means we have consistently expressed our deep concern over the systematic dismantling of this district’s programming and personnel. We have taken out a paid ad, spoken at the microphone at Board of Education meetings, written letters, asked to meet with the BOE, published a list of concerns, and used this publication as a forum — all of which led us to think, “Is anyone listening?” Coincidentally, the superintendent is quoted in the March 27th TH-R article as saying “I don’t think anyone is listening.” What a fascinating (and ironically humorous) overlap of experiences!

Three years ago, when we heard that our new superintendent wanted to know about teachers who had “high failure rates,” the MTA was quickly involved in pointing out that many factors influence student failure rates and are completely outside the control of teachers. On more than one occasion, it was stated publicly and printed in this newsletter, that we were going to lose quality teachers from our ranks if central administration continued to persist in equating student failure rates solely with teacher performance. This issue has been a constant source of frustration and one in which the union has been continually involved. We adamantly maintain that our members will not be evaluated on student failure rates (or on student success rates). Our evaluation process is a mandated condition of bargaining and not subject to change based simply on the opinions or desires of our superintendent, building administrators, or board of education.

Our strength is in our collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and we will be vigilant in monitoring Governor Spitzer’s Contract for Excellence, particularly in relation to how our CBA may be affected. NYSUT is already deeply involved in analyzing the implications of the Contract for Excellence and is a readily available resource for locals with questions and concerns. The Contract for Excellence will place very serious demands upon our district. At the April 12th Board of Education meeting, tentative plans revealed the district’s thinking regarding how to use the approximately $4.3 million in Contract for Excellence school aid. Most notable is that Governor Spitzer’s plan states that each district’s reform plan “will need to be developed in consultation with all the stakeholders that are involved in every district, including parents, teachers and administrators.”

Know that the MTA is always listening and always monitoring anything that may affect our members. We will continue to utilize our power to protect our members and uphold our contract. We will speak out, we will publish task force reports, we will file grievances, and we will continue to hold meetings that allow our members the opportunity to voice their questions and concerns. We will do whatever it takes to let others know that we will not be bamboozled. We will not be duped, and we will not be hoodwinked because, quite simply, we know the truth and no one has the power to prevent us from speaking it.

It is imperative that all of us understand what is involved in the Contract for Excellence that the Middletown School District must sign.  Please take the time to read the information that has been made available.

A Contract for Excellence
For more information go to:
www.nysut.org
www.ny.gov/governor/keydocs/0129071_speech_print.html

An excerpt from Governor Spitzer’s March 26, 2007 remarks to Commissioner Mills and the Board of Regents:

Accountability should run through the system from top to bottom.  We should make sure districts hold principals and other school leaders accountable for their actions with individual school leadership report cards.  From now on, our children and schools should not be the only ones receiving report cards.  We must insist on annual “School Leadership Report Cards” that track the performance of principals and superintendents.  For the first time, we will be able to rigorously compare the performance of principals and superintendents across the state.

In-service and retiree members of NYSUT can now take advantage of a family vision plan program offered through NYSUT Member Benefits. (This coverage is not part of the MTA Benefit Fund.) The coverage is through Davis Vision and the family plan coverage includes you and your spouse or domestic partner and unmarried, dependent children under age 25. Unmarried, dependent children ages 19 to 25 are eligible for benefits only if they are full-time students.

Whether or not you opt to carry the family plan, members will continue to receive individual coverage through the vision plan administered by the MTA Benefit Fund. In effect, those individuals will have 2 annual vision benefits.

The family plan coverage for 2007 costs $230 and the plan year runs from January 1 through December 31. You may enroll at any time throughout the plan year, however, the premium will be the full amount and you will have the balance of the plan year to use the full benefit.

To enroll in the family plan contact NYSUT Member Benefits by phone (800-626-8101 or e-mail benefits@nysutmail.org to request an enrollment form.

On Thursday, June 14th the MTA will host the annual End of the Year Celebration at the Brookside Manor. This a great opportunity to acknowledge the new teachers, and recognize our retiring colleagues.

A flyer will be coming out in May with all of the particulars.

Retirees, new teachers, new TAs, new nurses, and buddies will be receiving personal invitations.

Save the date and try to make every effort to attend - we could all use a little celebrating!

I understand that you must have 5 years of service credit to become vested in the retirement system.  Must all of the 5 years be served within 1 school district?  No, the 5 years of service required for vesting can be earned in more than 1 school district.

I am currently a TA and will be getting my teaching certification in the near future.  Must I change retirement systems when I become a teacher?  There will be no need to change retirement systems because TRS membership covers TA’s, teachers, administrators and superintendents.

I am receiving the health insurance declination because I am covered through my spouse’s health insurance plan.  Am I able to carry dental insurance through the district?  Even though you decline your health insurance you can either receive a dental declination or carry a family plan dental policy.  Contact the personnel office if you wish to sign up for your dental coverage.

If I work summer school this year and retire at the end of August how will my FAS be determined?  TRS will determine your FAS by finding the 36 month period of time that you earned your greatest salary.  In most cases, this is your final 36 months of service.

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

The MTA Benefit Fund will be holding this year’s second “Will Day” on May 21st at the MTA office. This event gives all teacher participants in the MTA Benefit Fund an opportunity to meet with an attorney from the law firm of Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C., the service provider for the NYSUT Legal Service Plan since 1980.

During the meeting with the attorneys, participants can complete any or all of the parts of the Legal Security Package. The package includes a simple will, a power of attorney, a health care proxy, and a living will. Participants can also meet with the attorneys to execute wills that were drawn up at a previous Will Day. These benefits are available to all teacher participants and their spouse or domestic partner.

Reservations are required to meet with the attorneys. Reservations forms were recently distributed and must be returned to Donnalee Helhoski, Benefit Fund Chairperson, at Mechanicstown. If you have any questions call the MTA Benefit Fund office at 344-2074.

by Peggy Fellows. MTA Secretary

I hope you are finding this column helpful.  This month I want to go over a few important items that are easily overlooked.
Several months ago I discussed leaves.  I want to remind you of something about sick leave. When you need to utilize sick leave you do not have to submit a doctor’s note.  The district can require you to submit to a medical examination by a doctor of its choice at their expense.
Have you done curriculum writing during the summer?  Starting July 1st the rate per day will increase to $170 per five-hour day.
While reducing class size is always a good way to increase student-teacher contact time and perhaps raise test scores, we do not have set limits.  We do agree that the Commissioner of Education’s recommendations regarding class size are worthy goals.

by Lois Samsel-Cronk, Grievance Committee Chair

It appears there was a violation of our contract, the Stage 3 grievance the High School Guidance counselors filed regarding CrossPointe was voted on without a hearing. The contract states, ”the B.O.E. shall hold a hearing…”. We were able to get a hearing date after a reminder to the Board president of our contract language. The date was April 12th, and we presented our grievance concerns to the board. At the time of this writing there has been no response from the BOE. Hopefully the emperor’s new clothes do not still enamor the people involved with this response.

The cleanliness grievance at Chorley is on hold pending the return of the head custodian.

We also have two “undue clerical” grievances at stage 1b pending. One stems from all the work that has fallen upon the teachers as a result of ALL the testing at the elementary level. The other is a result of CrossPointe.

A retirement workshop geared specifically to the needs of our Teaching Assistants will be held on Monday, June 4th at the MTA office.

The workshop is scheduled to be presented by Sheila Salenger, a teacher-member of the NYSTRS Board of Directors. Sheila will tailor the workshop to the needs of both part-time and full-time TA’s. Part-timers have the option of joining TRS and Sheila will outline the advantages of joining the system sooner rather than later. Full-timers will learn of the benefits that are available to them and the possibility of gaining extra service credit for service rendered as a part-time employee prior to achieving full-time status.

During the last two weeks of May 2007 the MTA will be conducting its annual VOTE-COPE fund raising campaign. VOTE-COPE is the Committee On Political Education and is the NON-PARTISAN political action committee of NYSUT.

• V-C is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from members.
• V-C funds are used to support union-backed candidates and campaigns which support education and labor.
• V-C contributions are NOT tax deductible.
• V-C provides rebates (up to 40%) to the MTA to use for local political action.
• You can contribute to V-C via a one-time annual payroll deduction which is usually taken from the first paycheck in October.
• V-C funds have been used to attain Tier equity and in the coming days and weeks you will receive specific information as to how your VOTE-COPE dollars have worked for Tier equity in the past.
• V-C works for you even in retirement. If you will be retiring this year you can make a contribution to VOTE-COPE via a check this May. Many retirees have done so in the past.
• The MTA will once again be offering a financial incentive to those who contribute to VOTE-COPE via payroll deduction for the first time and for those who increase their VOTE-COPE payroll deduction. Details will be included in the information you receive in May.
• Everyone benefits from the efforts of this committee and we strongly encourage everyone to contribute .