June 1, 2009

SWINE FLU
There has been much panic about H1N1, or swine flu. The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to those of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

· Fast breathing or trouble breathing
· Bluish skin color
· Not drinking enough fluids
· Not waking up or not interacting
· Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
· Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
· Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
· Sudden dizziness
· Confusion
· Severe or persistent vomiting

These can also be symptoms of other illnesses and medical conditions.

Take the following steps to help prevent the spread of H1N1 flu, just like with other air-borne illnesses:

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze (and after using the bathroom – NO EXCUSES!).

Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

BROOKLYN-QUEENS DAY
Many teachers have asked me if we have to be in by 8:00 AM on June 4. The answer is yes. It is in the contract that on professional development days, the work day is 6 hours and 50 minutes. You must stay until 2:50. The same holds true for the two days prior to Labor Day.

SPRING CLEANING
Make an appointment to check your file.

ORGANIZATION
The tentative organization sheet for the fall will be out shortly. All teachers must have one of their three choices. This applies to ALL teachers, regardless of tenure status. According to Article Seven of our contract, grievances may be lodged if:

1) In any year an elementary school teacher fails to be granted one of his/her stated program preferences; or

(2) For two years in succession the elementary school teacher has been denied his/her first priority of program preference.

Grievances must be filed within 48 hours of the distribution of the organization sheets. If the organization sheet comes out on a Friday, then they must be filed by Tuesday.

Unfortunately, due to budget cuts and the manner in which schools are now funded, some positions will be cut. Please lobby your city councilman and Albany representatives, and remember this when you vote on on Election Day.

CHAPTER ELECTIONS
Digna Ortiz was the only nominee for Para Representative, and I was the only nominee for chapter leader. We will serve in these positions until 2012. WE STILL NEED A TEACHER TO BE OUR DELEGATE! See Rona Kassel or me.

OPEN MARKET TRANSFERS
If you want to switch schools, you may use the Open Market Transfer Plan. ANY pedagogue may transfer to another DOE school without the principal’s release through Aug. 7. After that, only if she releases you. For info, visit: http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/qa/open_mkt_plan/

To apply:
https://www.nycenet.edu/offices/dhr/transferplane/

SBO’s
All SBO’s except for the eight period day have passed and have been signed and approved. We will have the programmer and lunchroom coordinator positions posted. Grade and faculty conferences will be held once a month during lunch hours. Afternoon and evening Parent-Teacher conferences will be held on the same day. From Mon.-Thurs, extended time will be from 8:00AM-8:37.5AM, with the school day running from 8:37.5AM-2:57.5PM. On Fridays, the school day will run from 8:40 AM-3:00 PM.

Since the eight period day SBO failed, the school day will remain a seven period day. The only way that we can change it to eight periods is through the SBO process. If the staff wants to change this, it can only be done through the next SBO vote in May of 2010.

TEACHER’S CHOICE
All materials are the property of the Dept. of Education. You may use them for as long as you are in P.S. 123K. However, if you retire or transfer, all Teacher’s Choice materials must be left here.

PROGRAMMER & LUNCHROOM COORDINATOR
If you wish to apply for either position for the fall, see Mrs. Greene.

BUDGET CUTS
With city budget negotiations entering the final month, we need you to send a fax to your City Council member through the union’s Web site, UFT.org, and explain to them what’s at stake. Please also call your council member. Write and call the City Council members as well. If you have have not yet signed up on uft.org, do so now to join the budget fight to protect classrooms. So far, more than 4,420 faxes have been sent by UFT members.

TEACHER’S CHOICE (Part 2)
The mayor and chancellor have announced that they want ZERO funding. DEMAND THAT YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES RESTORE THE TEACHER‘S CHOICE PROGRAM! (See above)

A REMINDER
When moving rooms or packing materials for the summer, please avoid lifting heavy boxes or objects, or climbing up on furniture. The resulting injuries would not be considered to be “line of duty.” As items may somehow disappear over the summer, take home personal items. Lock up materials.

EMAIL
Please email me from your non-DOE email account at 123uft@optonline.net. This way I can contact you over the summer regarding Teacher’s Choice and other issues.

FYI - FROM THE UFT
This was sent to me by the UFT:

Retiring or resigning? Give plenty of notice to help ATRs find positions
Although it is not mandatory and there will be no penalties if you do not do so, the UFT is encouraging all staff who plan to either retire or resign before the beginning of the next school year to inform their school administration as soon as possible. Please distribute this information to your chapter so we can help to reduce the number of ATRs in the system. As we all know, the current fiscal situation requires schools to carefully plan how they will be staffed for next year. The recent hiring restrictions set by the Department of Education offer current staff the first opportunity to secure available positions in schools for next year. The union wants to emphasize that letting your school administration know of your plans not to return will greatly assist in the planning for school staffing for the upcoming school year, allowing schools to have as complete a picture as possible and affording other interested staff members the chance to secure positions in a timely manner.


HEALTH PLAN CHANGES
There will be some changes to some plans. Check future editions of New York Teacher and your mail at home for details

Here are the results of the May 18 SBO vote:


1. Programmer
75 voted
70 Yes (93.3%)
5 No
The position will be posted.

2.Lunchroom Coordinator
75 voted
68 Yes (90.7%)
7 No
The position will be posted.

3.Eight period day
79 voted
21 Yes (26.6%)
58 No
FAILED. We will continue the present 7 period day for 2009-10.

4. Extended time in the AM
76 voted
72 Yes (94.5%)
4 No
We will continue to have ext day M-Th from 8am-8:37.5am

5. Hold faculty conf. during lunch
75 voted
70 Yes (93.3%)
5 No
We will hold faculty conferences during lunch periods

6. Hold grade conf. during lunch
73 voted
67 Yes (91.7%
6 No
We will hold grade conferences during lunch

7. PTC on the same day
66 voted
62 Yes (93.9%)
4 No
We will hold both the afternoon and evening conf. on the same day.