Congratulations to the following colleagues who were granted tenure at the June 5th Board of Education meeting.

Chorley
Marie Frank
Anne Ketcham
Stacie Lanspery
Raquel Parker
Paul Saladino
Yolanda Wright

Maple Hill
MegAnn Baisley
Karen Conklin
Christopher Galloway
Laura Mullane
Julie Nolan

Mechanicstown
Erin Andersen

Middletown High School
Elisa Correa-Soto
Marie Deckinger
David DiBlanca
Linda Fiedler
Lindsay Hammer
Janet Langlitz
Mary Pellegriti
Daniel Pollock

Monhagen
Renee Alvarez
Ryan Carlozzi
Melissa Kane
Andrea Simmons-Murray

Truman Moon
Anne Longo

Twin Towers
Katherine Crawford
Sylvia Cruz
Lauren Cutler
Ruth Figueroa
Dena Johnson
Robbyn McCauley

Ms. Yegidis and Mrs. Byrne’s first grade classes went to Southwinds Retirement Home in May to visit with the residents and entertain them with songs and poetry.  The classes brought baked goods and the students made flowers to share with the residents.  Each child formally introduced themselves to the senior citizens.  Many parents joined us for  this visit.  The trip was very enjoyable for the students as well as the residents.  Many thanks to Mid-City Transit Company for donating a bus for our use.

On June 5, 2008 the MTA Scholarship Selection Committee met at the MTA office to select the scholarship recipients for 2008. The selection is based upon—GPA, sibling consideration, parental income, employment, high school and community activities, parental NYSUT and MTA membership and essays.

Recipient & Parent

Jillian Bergus - Sherrie Bergus (Mech)

Ann Reynolds - Catherine Reynolds (TM)

Ashley Witt - Patricia Witt (CH)

Joseph Petrossi - Arlene Petrossi (MHS)

Sean Hodgkiss - Stephanie Hodgkiss (MHS)

Amelia Fish - Anne Igoe (CH)

William Hluchan - Elizabeth Hluchan (MMS)

Rebecca Sgandurra - Gail Sgandurra (MH)

Thank you to the following MTA members who graciously volunteered to help with the selection process.

• Andrea Baker (Mech)
• Debi McGowen (TM)
• Jimmy Moffett (TM)
• Rhonda Perrett (MHS)
• Lori Poveromo (MMS)
• Jennifer Wentworth (MMS)
• Pat Scali (TTMS)
• Katherine Crawford (TTMS)
• Denise Woolsey (TTMS)
• Lorraine Pagliocca (CH)
• Sally Huffman (CH)
• Ruthann Galvin (MH)
• Matt Wentworth (MH)

The committee would like all those who participated to know that we greatly appreciate your help as well as your comments and suggestions. Twenty-four members spread across all grade levels participated in alternatives this year. The alternatives included professional portfolios, technology-media portfolios and peer reviews.

Participants experienced many different things on their journey, many positive and also a few learning experiences. All these experiences are being reviewed and considered by the committee to continue to update and improve our APPR document.

For those who will be “on cycle” next school year, you may want to begin thinking about what you would like to embark on yourself. Good luck and enjoy your summer.

A good time was had by all on Sunday, June 8th and the efforts of the MTA were recognized by many shouts of thanks as runners went by our West Main Street location.

Thank you to the following for staffing the MTA water table at this year’s Classic 10k:

• JoAnne Aumann
• Gina Churns
• David and Shannon Craig
• Katie Crawford
• Gloria and Greg Cortez
• Lynann and Gary Day
• Sheila and Forty Esposito
• Robin Geiger
• Jean Parrella
• LeighAnn Polenski
• Lois Samsel-Cronk
• Rochelle Weiler
• Karen Yegidis

NYSTRS Pre-Retirement Planning Seminars will be held throughout the state during the summer months. Seminars are scheduled in Middletown on August 6th and in Fishkill on August 7th as well as many other cities across the state.

The seminars are designed for members age 45 and older. To reserve a seat at the seminar just call TRS at 800-356-3128 ext 6180. When calling you will need to provide the following information: social security number or TRS membership number, date of birth, home address and home phone number.

(Submitted by Janet Myruski-Vote/Cope Coordinator)
The Spring 2008 Vote-Cope drive has come to a successful end. This year many people have increased their payroll contributions. Many people contributed for the first time and many more of you have contributed consistently throughout the years.

Thanks to each and everyone one of you!

Special thanks go out to the chairperson in each building.
Their efforts are truly appreciated.

Chorley-Patty Witt
Truman Moon-Frank Lentino
Monhagen-Andrea Simmons-Murray
Twin Towers-Lois Samsel-Cronk
Mechanicstown-Kathi Decker
Maple Hill-Nancy Healy
High School-Wendy Bartocci

A very special thanks to Frank Lentino
who came very, very close to getting
100% participation at Truman Moon.

Let’s strive for 100% participation in all buildings in the coming years. Contributing to Vote-Cope allows NYSUT to work on our behalf for the issues which are important to education and to our profession.

Best wishes to our retirees!
Have a wonderful summer everyone!!

The recipients of this year’s MTA Member of the Year Awards have recently been announced. The three winners are Cathy Smith (SRP), Jimmy Moffett (PreK-5), and Brandi Hundley (Grades 6-12). The awards are persented to acknowledge the members’ service, commitment, and loyalty to the association. The formal presentation of the awards will take place at the June 18th End-of-the-Year Social. Make every effort to attend to congratulate the award winners.

(Submitted by Corinne Brechbiel)

Truman Moon has two new additions to its library. Two child-sized rocking chairs have been added to the library in memory of Cathy Crouch, a teaching assistant who passed away in December 2007. CAthy spent her entire twenty-seven years of service working at various grade levels at Truman Moon.

The funds for the chairs were received from the MTA, which consists of teachers, teaching assistants, and nurses. The idea for the chairs was formulated by the MTAO Executive Board members.

Peg Fratto, Truman Moon’s MTAO Building Rep, took on the task of completing the unfinished rocking chairs. Peggy sanded, stained, and produced the beautifully finished chairs now in use in Truman Moon’s library. Each chair displays a plaque embossed “In Memory of Cathy Crouch,” and the children have enjoyed using them while reading.

The project was a true labor of love. Not only will Cathy’s memory be present in our hearts, her memory will rock on in the halls of Truman Moon.

 by Robin Geiger

The MTA will hold its annual End of the Year Celebration on Wednesday, June 18th at the Wallkill Golf Club. The festivities will start at 4:15 (to accommodate all of our colleagues). All members who have announced their retirement will be invited to attend as guests of the MTA. Traditionally, retirees will be honored with kind words and gifts. As is also our practice, all new teachers and their buddies will receive invitations to attend as guests.

The evening starts out with munchies and a cash bar, to be followed by a buffet dinner including cake and coffee. This is always an enjoyable evening and a wonderful opportunity to honor our colleagues. Invitations for retirees, new teachers and buddies will be distributed in May. For all of the rest of us, forms will be sent out in May with all of the information. Save the date — make every effort to attend — you’ll be happy you did!

(by Lois Samsel-Cronk)

The committee has been working hard to show the Board of Education how the administrators are not adhering to our contract. We have been successful with the last two grievances that have gone before the Board of Education, the High School directive on the use of their prep period and the 6th class at Twin Towers. As a result, the secondary administrators have been instructed to adhere to our contract regarding these two matters.

The member who was not receiving credit for her Masters and graduate courses is now receiving the credit and we are waiting on the retro pay that is due to her since September.

We are still having problems with CrossPointe as we have 3 members who are waiting to have their MOE reflect the correct number of years. We have been informed that the representative will correct this problem.

(by Tenise M. Wall, LLSW - School Social Worker at Truman Moon)

In honor of National Professional Social Work Month, March 2008, social workers throughout the country are working hard to bring acknowledgment to, and an understanding of, the social work profession.

There are many different agencies in which you will find social workers employed. Social workers may be found in hospitals, mental health agencies, foster care agencies, adoption agencies, courtrooms, geriatrics departments, substance abuse centers, disaster relief centers, and in schools, just to name a few. Surprisingly the misconception is still prevalent that social workers primarily work within the area of child protective services. This is an unfortunate misunderstanding. The fact is that, as a collaborative professions, social workers do more to strengthen, build, advocate and provide resources for families than any other profession to date. Working in the social work profession is more than “just listening.” It is having the clinical training, knowledge, licensure and skills needed to assess, diagnosis, and work with a team of people who are focused on an individual. In the schools that team may be the parents, student, teachers, administrator, and collateral agencies. In a hospital that may be the nurse, doctor, patient, and case manager. Wherever you find social workers you will find them working diligently on behalf of the populations they serve. Their reward is certainly not the pay, but rather the improved lives along the way.

Help celebrate March 2008 Social Work Month by saying thank you to a social worker who has touched your life.

REWARD
THE SMILE ON A WINNING SENIOR’S FACEJ
SATISFACTION OF HELPING A YOUNG PERSON
AND YES THE POSSIBILITY OF BIG CASH$$$$$

SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE APRIL 9TH
BEGIN TALKING IT UP TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY
LET’S SELL ALL THE ALOTTED TICKETS AND MAKE THIS THE LARGEST SCHOLARSHIP OFFERING EVER!

THE DRAWING WILL BE MAY 14TH

NYSTRS expected to begin mailing of the annual edition of your personalized Benefit Profile in early January. It will take 4-6 weeks to complete the mailing of the approximately 270,000 Benefit Profiles.

This year’s statement will report your pension-related information through June 30, 2007. The Profile will be mailed to NYSTRS members who had a date of membership before June 30, 2007 and were still in active status in the first quarter of the current school year.

The Profile is an essential retirement-planning tool. Review it closely to verify your salary and service credit information – the basis for your NYSTRS benefits – have been correctly reported by your employers. If you notice an error, ask your employer to correct the records and to submit the revision to NYSTRS. Correcting any misinformation now will help expedite the processing of your benefits in the future.
The information you will find in your comprehensive Profile includes:

• Your earnings and service credit for the school year ended June 30, 2007;
• A complete service credit history;
• Projections of service retirement benefits under various scenarios;
• Descriptions of benefit payment options;
• Disability and death benefit projections;
• Your beneficiary information;
• A summary of your contributions and loan information, if applicable; and,
• Other important facts related to your NYSTRS membership.

If you do not receive your Profile by the end of February, contact the Retirement System at (800) 348-7298, Ext. 6250.

by Lois Samsel-Cronk

I know I have said this in the past, but it is still true today.  The grievance committee has been very busy advocating the importance of our contract.  We need administrators and staff at the board office to understand that this a legal document agreed upon by the MTA and the district.  There is a real break down in the system when only the MTA is aware of its contents.  There are 4 members who were unable to have their salaries corrected and so we have a Stage 1b pending.  Another Stage 1b is for teachers who were asked to teach a 6th class instead of their duty.  Teachers have also been directed on how to use their prep period, so this will go to a Stage 1b.  The Stage 3 asking for an annual reporting of sick days will be presented to the board 1/17/08.  The other Stage 3 for payroll deductions was presented and we are waiting for a response.  We finally have a date for the coach’s evaluation grievance that went to arbitration.  No date has been set for the other grievance that went to arbitration regarding workers compensation.