December 11, 2008

Parking Permit Problems
We are on a first-come, first-served honor system with the parking permits. Sometimes someone may accidentally forget to return their permit at the end of the day. However, a few members are habitually not returning permits to room 103. Please be considerate of your fellow UFT members and return the permit before you leave. Otherwise we may have to explore other distribution options. We are still awaiting action on our appeal for more spaces and permits. As far as the permit situation, you may lodge complaints to the man who created this fiasco, Mayor Bloomberg, by calling 311.

Leave Policy for Cancer Screening
and Blood Donation
Under a new personnel memo issued by the DOE, UFT members are now eligible for an excused leave for breast cancer screening, prostate cancer screening and blood donation.

UFT members will have up to four hours of paid leave to get a mammogram, up to four hours of paid leave for prostate screening, and up to three hours of unpaid leave to give blood.

Under the procedures outlined in the memo, the member must make the request for time off in advance and in writing. Approval must be granted by the principal (or designee) as long as the request does not "substantially disrupt the normal operation" of the school.

Lesson Plans
We are responsible for developing lesson plans. However, you can determine the format, organization, notation and content. Supervisors may make suggestions, but cannot require or insist upon a particular format. or make you use pre-printed lesson plan sheets, the exception being if you had a “U” rating last year, or are about to receive a “U” rating.

TEACHER’S CHOICE
If you have direct deposit, you should have received your stipend on December 1. All others will receive debit cards on December 15th. All other rules and regulations regarding Teacher’s Choice remain unchanged. This year, all teachers receive $150; guidance counselors, social workers and school psychologists, $100; lab specialists, $75; and secretaries, $50. Remember to save receipts for your purchases. The spending period runs from Aug. 1, 2008, to March 15, 2009.

NEWS AND EVENTS
Check the bulletin boards outside of 251 and inside 251 for UFT events, courses and other activities.

Holiday Party
Please give payment to Mrs. Reese, Mrs. Molina and Mrs. Berberena ASAP.

Welfare Fund Moves to New Prescription Benefit Manager for In-Service Members
The UFT Welfare Fund will be switching providers for its prescription drug plan from Express Scripts to Medco in February 2009. The move to Medco follows a careful process in which the union’s Welfare Fund reviewed its plan in order to continue to ensure the best coverage possible for UFT members. In December, members will receive a mailing at home with information on the transition. In January, all eligible in-service members will receive a “Welcome Package” from Medco, which will contain members’ new drug cards and complete plan information. The move to the new plan will be effective Feb. 1. The plan co-pays will remain the same.

The Fund wants members to begin to check their current prescriptions. Available refills will be transferred to Medco from Express Scripts. Prescriptions that have expired or that have no refills left, however, will not be transferred.

Smoking Cessation Program
The UFT, in partnership with the NYC Department of Health, is offering a smoking cessation program for our UFT members and staff. Stop by the UFT Safety and Health department at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 15th floor, to pick up your patches and to get confidential assistance on how to quit smoking. If you are eligible, they will provide you with smoking patches at no charge. Call (212) 598-7763 for questions and information.

Pension Expert
A pension expert will be visiting us on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 during the three lunch periods to answer any questions that you may have about retirement, or planning for the future if you are a newer teacher. Considering the state of the economy, all teachers are strongly encouraged to attend.

CONTACT INFORMATION
You may email me at:
123uft@optonline.net

Have a merry Christmas, a joyous Chanukah, a blessed Kwanza, and a happy new year!