FLU Season
*With the flu season in full swing, please be cognizant that anyone who is very sick or has a contagious illness should stay home! Coming to work while being very sick, or with a fever will expose students and colleagues to catching the same illness. It also often causes the ill employee to be susceptible to catching a secondary infection and being out even longer. As per the teachers' contract a doctor's note is NOT required for an absence. Should a member be asked to supply such a note, it is important that this concern be directed to me or an executive council member so we can handle it, accordingly. Extended absences that require a leave or use of FMLA do require documentation. Jury duty also requires documentation. Please refer all questions on this topic to me or an executive council member so that the correct information is disseminated. Some SRP contracts, such as the green - custodial, can require documentation for multiple days of absence.
STRENGTH IN UNITY
*If a member is having difficulty with another member it is best if they go to a building rep, an executive council member or me for advise on solving the issue at hand. It is not advisable for a member or group of members to go to an administrator to complain or speak out against another member. This causes division among members and sets up a scenario of members being incriminated against by peers with administrators becoming involved and possible disciplinary actions being set forth by colleagues. We are extremely fortunate to be a large local of over 750 members from five units which encompasses almost all Herricks employees. There is a potential of great strength from our numbers, ability to work together and resolve issues that arise amongst ourselves. We are ONE Union, should always look out for each other and are all in this TOGETHER!
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
*On Thursday, January 19th join colleagues throughout the country and the Alliance to Reclaim our Schools (a nationwide network of community groups and unions promoting educational and social justice) for a National Day of Action.
- On January 19th we ask everyone to stand united in support of our schools, public education and the right EVERY child has to a free and appropriate education.
- Wear your HTA shirt or wear blue to show your support of public education.
The purpose of the day is to share concerns about public education and the nominee for US Secretary of Education, Ms. Betsy DeVos.
- Ms. DeVos is a billionaire activist from Michigan. She has a degree in Business Administration and Political Science. Ms. DeVos has no educational experience. She has not ever attended public schools herself nor have any of her four children. Never having worked in a school - public or private, many believe, should disqualify her from serving in this role.
- The US Secretary of Education should hold some minimal credentials: a degree in teaching, have served as an educator and have a connection to a public school system – where 85% of the children in this nation are educated.
- Many are concerned that Ms. DeVos will support policies intended to privatize, defund and destabilize public education in America.
- There are concerns on how national policies may adversely affect our public schools and the quality education our students receive in Herricks, throughout Long Island and our entire country.
- Please voice your opposition against the nomination of Betsy DeVos for US Secretary of Education. Contact your US Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten GIllibrand (Click on Senator's name to access a link to email each) and tell them to Vote NO! Betsy DeVos should not be confirmed Secretary of Education.
- Consider reaching out to others via social media by using tweets such as: I support Public Education! I want the US Secretary of Ed to be an educator! Public schools are for every student! Public schools are for ALL children - support them!
2017-2018 SCHOOL CALENDAR
*Administration is working on the school calendar for 2017-2018. The BOE has asked the superintendent to include four additional religious holidays (Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr and Lunar New Year) into the calendar if they fall during the school year. This has been done in many neighboring districts. Many schools start classes the last week of August. Various restraints, including State mandated Regents testing days, religious and mandated national holidays when school is closed and vacation periods set forth in contracts make it very difficult to come up with a feasible calendar. It may be likely that we will be returning to school the last week of August for 2017-2018. The superintendent will present the proposed calendar at the next BOE meeting on Jan.19th at the HS.
COMMUNITY FUND DINNER
*The Community Fund Dinner will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9th. You are encouraged to attend this event. Each building may want to set up sign up sheets so members can sign up for tables to attend this worthwhile yearly event. Attendees' checks and a list of members who will sit at each table can then be sent by the Jan. 26th deadline. Members who attend will be reimbursed half of the price of the ticket ($32.50) after submitting a cancelled check and reimbursement form to Karen at the HTA office.
CILENTO: DAILY NEWS TO BOOST LABOR COVERAGE, OFFER UNION DISCOUNT
*The Allied Printing Trades Council asked the state AFL-CIO to meet with New York Daily News management to discuss if and how the labor movement could work with the newspaper to help protect good, union jobs at the newspaper, while also increasing circulation.
As a result, said state AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, the paper is offering union members and their families a deep discount for one full year of home delivery in hopes of increasing circulation. More significantly, the Daily News committed to increase its labor coverage in the paper and on its labor-focused webpage.
Please click Here's more to go to the link which provides information on using this discount.