November 18, 2009

Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program
Our school has been asked to participate in the Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program (SPBP) for the 2009-2010 school year. In order to participate, 55% of the ENTIRE UFT staff must vote “yes.”

On Monday, November 23, we will hold chapter meeting which will conclude with an SBO on the SPBP during the lunch periods in room 201. There are no absentee ballots for those who are absent that day. Arrangements can only be made for those on field trips or those on PD. Votes will be counted starting at 2:15 PM. Please make every effort to attend.
If we do participate and meet our goal, there will be a pool of funds to be divided. The pool will have $3,000 ($1,500 for a partial goal) for every full-time P.S. 123K UFT member. It is not $3,000 awarded per member.

If approved, a compensation committee made up of Mrs. Greene, a designee of hers, and two UFT members will divide the funds, At Monday’s meeting, any UFT member interested in being on the compensation committee can sign up. If more than two members sign up, then an election will be held to decide who the members representing us will be.

I will discuss any important matters from Wednesday’s Delegate Assembly as well.


GRADE CONFERENCE SBO
The results of the SBO on holding the once a month grade conference during “common” prep instead of during one lunch period a month passed. 36 (85.7%) voted “Yes,” while 6 voted “No.”

MIDYEAR CUTS
Devastating mid-year cuts to education in New York State are planned. We must let our voices be heard. Send your legislators an online fax. Go to:

http://petitions.uft.org/protect_classrooms_from_midyear_cuts

MATERNITY WORKSHOP
Dec. 8, 2009, 4:30 – 6 PM, Queens UFT office. RSVP to Karla Jordan at kjordan@uft.org


CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
If you are required to attend a certain amount of hours of PD in order to keep your certification, keep track of what you are required to take, and don’t delay doing what is required. For certification questions, call Elizabeth Perez at the Brooklyn UFT office.

MEET THE PRESIDENT
There will be a meeting with our new UFT president, Michael Mulgrew. This meeting will be at I.S. 383, 1300 Greene Ave., on Tuesday, November 24, from 4 – 6 PM. There will be refreshments and a raffle. Please let me know ASAP if you will be attending.

LUNCH DUTY
Please remember that UFT members are not to be in the lunchroom with the students. This also includes half days. The only exceptions are IEP paras if the IEP requires a para at lunch, and the lunchroom coordinator.

EXCESSIVE PAPERWORK
Citywide, there have been many complaints about the mountains of paperwork which teachers are required to do. The UFT wants to fight it. I need samples from each grade of the paperwork which you are required to do. Please give samples to me immediately so that the paperwork can be fought on a citywide level. Blank forms are okay.

PARA REP NEEDED
We need a para rep to complete the term expiring in June, 2012. Any para may be nominated, including self-nominations. Since there have been no nominations, the deadline will be extended to 3PM on Wednesday, November 25. Please submit nominations for Para Rep to me by then. Only paras may be Para Rep, nominate someone, and vote.


HOLIDAY PARTY
Our holiday party will once again be at O’Neill’s, on December 22. Please give payment of $55 to either Mrs. Molina, Mrs. Reese, or Mrs. Berberena ASAP.

LEAVES
Before taking a leave of any kind, call John Settle at the Brooklyn UFT office.

CONTACT INFO
You can e-mail me at 123uft@optonline.net

Brooklyn UFT Office: (718) 852-4900