News | Herricks Teachers' Association

Tisch's Future APPR Plan

Happy New Year! Hope you are enjoying the break and holidays with family and friends.

I wanted to update you on some information regarding teacher evaluations. Governor Cuomo has rejected legislation that for two years would have discounted Common Core-aligned student test scores in state-mandated teacher evaluations. Cuomo called the measure unnecessary and said he will propose reforms to the evaluation system next year.

It appears that Regent Tisch is planning to set up an APPR that will double down on the state assessment, takes local observation out of the hands of local school districts

NYSUT Board Alert from Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta -- Open Invitation to the Governor

A chance for our voices to be heard has been announced.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is inviting New Yorkers to an open house at the Executive Mansion on the afternoon of New Year's Eve -- Wednesday, December 31, 2014. I encourage you to register on the following link, and if selected to attend, use this opportunity to personally invite the Governor to come to your public school for an unfiltered open forum to hear feedback from parents, educators and students on Common Core, standardized testing and school funding.

www.governor.ny.gov/news/meet-governor-andrew-cuomo-executive-mansion

TALI Funding Campaign Announcement

On Wednesday, January 7th, the newly elected members of the NYS Assembly and Senate will convene to open their 2015 legislative session. In anticipation of that, the Take Action Long Island (TALI) members would like to send a positive message to our representatives, asking for their support for public education and outlining areas that are important to educators.

You are asked to join unions from across the county, the island and the state in sending this positive, proactive message to Albany. Please consider signing this letter (TALI template) and returning it to your HTA representatives

Sign the petition: End campus rape

Please read the attached message from AFT President, Randi Weingarten, and sign the petition so as to help enact change on this important issue.

One in five young women will be sexually assaulted while in college. I too was sexually assaulted. Like millions of others, I never reported it-in large part because our culture tells victims that we are to blame.

Over recent years, I've watched in awe as courageous young people have begun to change our culture by telling their stories and demanding that we take sexual assault seriously.

And while I have no interest in reliving my own experience, I

Thanksgiving is Coming

Thanksgiving is Coming!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Red and gold leaves, sweaters and a chill breeze all lead to thoughts of roasted turkey, steaming stuffing and smooth pumpkin pie - but then comes the dinner conversation. You know what that means. It may start like this: "Hey Joe, you're a teacher, right?" or "Sally, let me ask you a question." And before you know it, you're on the ropes, fighting off indigestion and trying to defend the teaching profession, especially tenure and pensions. So here are some talking points you might want to keep handy:

Tenure

Tenure does not

Happy SRP Day

Happy SRP Day to all our Herricks' School Related Professionals.

We value your dedication and the work you do each day to help our students and district.

Thank you!!!

SRP Day- Tues., Nov. 18, 2014

In 2007, Governor Spitzer signed into law a bill creating a permanent School-Related Professionals Recognition Day on the state calendar. SRP Recognition Day falls on the third Tuesday of each November, often during American Education Week.

NYSUT's 90,000+ SRP members perform a variety of key roles in schools, working as bus drivers, school nurses, custodians, secretaries, food service workers, teaching assistants and aides and in dozens of other job titles.

I encourage members to recognize all our SRPs at Herricks on Tues., Nov. 18th for the valuable work they do to help our students each and

Unclaimed Funds Site

A neighboring local's president was kind enough to share the following, "I was looking online for something and stumbled upon this unclaimed funds/abandoned accounts search engine on the NYSTRS website. I found three former members names on the list."

In looking at the site, I also saw some names associated with Herricks. The link to this site is:

https://secure.nystrs.org/unclaimedFunds/UnclaimedFunds.aspx

While you are at it you may also wish to check out Tom DiNapoli's site for unclaimed funds.

www.osc.state.ny.us/

May you, your family and your friends seek and prosper.

In unity,

Nidya

Negotiations Meeting for SRP Members

HTA Negotiations Meeting For SRP Members Whose Contracts Expire on June 30, 2015

Meeting will be held on:

Wed., November 12th - C.C. Auditorium - 4:00pm

Our NYSUT LRS, Steve Clements, will be present. We look forward to meeting with you.