News | Herricks Teachers' Association

Reminder: Take Action April 28!

Had enough of Governor Cuomo's war on public education?

Had enough high stakes testing as a substitute for learning?

Frightened by what the property tax cap is doing to our schools?

Had enough of a Governor who is a captive of the hedge fund managers and real estate interests?

On Monday, April 28, 2014, Governor Cuomo is scheduled to speak at Villa Lombardi's at 877 Main Street in Holbrook. Parents and teachers from across Long Island will be assembling at 4:00 P.M. to let the Governor know that we rate his performance INEFFECTIVE!

If you care about the future of public education, please join us

Take Action April 28!

Hope you had a relaxing Spring Break. I'd like to update you on two items:

The enrollment period for potential SRP UNUM enrollees has closed. I'm happy to announce that we met the enrollment quota and UNUM will be provided for SRP members who filled out the enrollment forms. Premiums will be (29.11 per month). The effective date is May 1, 2014. Please refer all questions to BettyAnn Napolitano at X8934.

Rally for Education: Monday, April 28,at 4pm at Villa Lombardi in Holbrook

Please join colleagues and supporters of education at a Rally on Mon., April 28th at 4pm in Holbrook. Your presence will

Herricks Teachers at NYSUT Representative Assembly

Herricks at NYSUT R.A. Making our voices heard. Thank you Dick for always fighting for us.

Update on BOE Meeting March 20, 2014

elow is a synopsis of the BOE Meeting on Thurs., March 20th.:

*Adoption of the 2014-2015 school budget. The 2014-2015 General Fund Appropriation of $107,234,911 was set forth subject to voter approval on May 20, 2014.

*Bond Proposition (facilities improvement project) not to exceed $3,500,000 to be placed on ballot and voted on May 20, 2014.

*Approval of 2014-2015 School Calendar - provides 181 instruction days plus 2 staff days and 6 contingency days.

*Announcement of mutually acceptable agreement between the BOE and HAAS. The

Advocacy Website & Rally Reminder

Dear Colleagues,

It is imperative that we keep up the pressure and continue to make our voices heard as we advocate for our public schools. Our colleagues in Garden City have created a new website to give the GCTA advocacy tool (similar to the NYSUT MAC) a more generic look. The new link www.thegcta.org is a one page site that is just on advocacy. The campaign that is targeted at the senators is spotlighted on the page, allowing anyone to click on the banner and take action. Anyone that uses the old link (previously sent out) will be automatically redirected to the new site.

PLEASE feel free

Important Rally on Friday, March 21, 2014 3:30 pm

Rally at Senator Jack Martin's Office

151 Herricks Road

Garden City Park, NY 11040

Friday, March 21, 2014

3:30-5pm

Dear Colleagues,

This Friday, at several locations around the state, NYSUT activists and our allies in education are going to bring home the message that the budget proposals being negotiated in Albany are unacceptable.

As we enter the final two weeks of the state's budget process, the worst possible proposal is the Senate resolution. It includes many unacceptable positions that short change public schools, fund and empower charter and private schools at the expense of public schools

Middle School and High School Conferences

FYI, at the BOE meeting on Thurs., March 6, the parent who wrote the recent article in the local paper (regarding H.S. & M.S. Parent- Teacher conferences) asked the BOE to consider making the request for M.S. & H.S. parent teacher conferences a part of negotiations. The BOE's response was that they already had a lengthy list of requests which they had on the table. The BOE also stated that they would research by asking for data from nearby districts who had such conferences. They would look into what was done, how it was done, frequency, positive effects, and if stopped reason for doing so

Long Island Presidents Council

As mentioned in the recent "President's Pen", the Long Island Presidents Council provides information on how to contact legislators on the elimination of the GEA.

Please visit http://educationis.org/ for more information.

Important Information About Your Unum Benefits

Herricks Teachers' Association Upcoming UNUM

Benefit Meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 4 p.m

Click here for additional details.

Condolences Sent From HTA

Hi everyone,

Hope you had a relaxing February Break and enjoyed the time with family and friends. FYI, I received the information below on Monday afternoon.

It is my belief that during difficult personal times it is important to show our support for each other and our leaders. I attended the wake on Monday night and had a chance to speak to NYSUT President, Dick Iannuzzi. I expressed the HTA's condolences. Dick was surprised and touched by the thoughts and support I expressed on behalf of our members on the passing of his mother.

In unity,

Nidya Degliomini

President

Herricks Teachers' Association