Delegates draw the line!
In a sharp rebuke, delegates at the NYSUT Representative Assembly unanimously called on the state Board of Regents to direct Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to fix the state's broken standardized testing system within the next six months. (Above: Delegates like Nora Bender, Heather Kurtz and Sally Tripi from Williamsville TA loved the Correct the Tests mobile billboard.)
In the first RA since anti-union forces attempted — but failed — to use the U.S. Supreme Court to destroy the labor movement, leaders urged delegates to continue the fight for their rights.
Check out all the coverage at NYSUT.org/RA. See you next year!
NYSUT hosts Take a Look at Teaching, Capitol Summit
Key legislative leaders voiced strong support for funding NYSUT's Take a Look at Teaching legislative recommendations. At a breakfast meeting this week, both the Senate and Assembly Education chairs thanked NYSUT for its advocacy to address the teacher shortage and promote more diversity in the workforce. NYSUT's Jolene DiBrango and panelists made the case for expanding recruitment, mentoring, loan forgiveness programs and more.
Photo: Panelists include Albany TA's Laura Franz, Syracuse TA's Jessica Elliott and Dunkirk TA's Walter Robertson.
Power of the union sweeps school board in Buffalo
For the first time in 15 years, all nine seats on the Buffalo school board were up for election Tuesday. The Buffalo Teachers Federation did not miss its chance.
It is "a sign of what is to come on May 21," said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta, "when communities statewide go to the polls to adopt school budgets and elect school boards."
Here's NYSUT's new fact sheet on 2019-20 Property Tax Report Cards. Statewide, 17 school districts propose to exceed their maximum tax levy limit, meaning they must get at least 60 percent voter approval for their budget to be adopted.
More news
- Teacher Appreciation Week: Sue Ellen Williams' story illustrates the impact a teacher can make.
- Having a school nurse on site can be the difference between life and death.
- Take action now at the NYSUT Member Action Center to ask lawmakers to require the state to start closing the TAP Gap!
- In the wake of yet another school shooting, former Teacher of the Year Rich Ognibene, Fairport TA, published this op-ed in the Washington Post.
- CUNY students star in PSC ad campaign.
- North Country art show highlights work of art students and the teachers behind them.
- AFT President Randi Weingarten is calling on union members to take an important new survey to inform actions the AFT may take to help people struggling with student loan debt. You can complete the survey online or read more here.
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