With 79% of the total staff voting “YES,” we have elected to participate in the SPBP for 2009-2010. If we reach a yet-to-be determined goal, we will be given a sum of bonus money equivalent to $3,000 for every full-time UFT member on staff. That is not $3,000 awarded per member. If we reach a partial goal, then that amount is $1,500 for every full-time member.
A compensation committee made up of two UFT members, the principal, and a designee of hers, will meet to divide the bonus awarded to the UFT staff. As of this writing, the following have been nominated. Alphabetically, they are:
Mary Keegan
Debra Aglio
Patricia Molina
Voting will occur during Friday’s lunch periods. Accommodations will be made for those on trips or PD, so see me.
NEW TEACHERS
Approximately 1,344 newly appointed teachers have not validated their online Salary Step Application. The DOE is preparing to send an e-mail to these teachers who have a pending application in the system.
This e-mail will come from noreply@SalaryStepSalaryDifferential.nyc.gov.
You need to open this e-mail and follow the directions. Teachers with prior teaching service and/or per diem service will not receive this credit if they don’t validate their salary step application.
You have only six months to validate their prior teaching service in order to receive retroactive pay to your start date. It’s important, however, that ALL teachers validate their application, whether or not they have prior service credit, since the validation process generates an anniversary date that will be used for all future salary steps.
ACTIONS TEAM DATABASE
Volunteers from our school community are needed to be involved in our local, borough and city level mobilizations and campaigns. If any staff, parent or community leader is interested in volunteering, give me your contact information. The UFT will contact you.
MATERNITY WORKSHOP
Dec. 8, 2009, 4:30 – 6 PM, Queens UFT office. RSVP to Karla Jordan at kjordan@uft.org
MEETINGS DURING PREPS AND LUNCH
By contract you are entitled to a duty-free lunch and five unassigned preps a week (first-year teachers may have two preps assigned per week). We SBO'd having only one staff conference a month during a lunch period and only one grade conference a month during a prep period.
It has come to my attention that there are teachers being told that they must attend meetings or PD during each common prep or during several lunch periods a week, sometimes by their own colleagues! Except for the once a month staff conference and the once a month grade conference, you can not be compelled or pressured in any way to give up your preps or lunches to attend these meetings, workshops, etc. If you want a copy of any handouts from these meetings, you are entitled to receive them.
It has come to my attention that there are teachers being told that they must attend meetings or PD during each common prep or during several lunch periods a week, sometimes by their own colleagues! Except for the once a month staff conference and the once a month grade conference, you can not be compelled or pressured in any way to give up your preps or lunches to attend these meetings, workshops, etc. If you want a copy of any handouts from these meetings, you are entitled to receive them.
BUDGET CUTS
The mayor and governor are planning massive cuts to our schools. While the UFT has asked that the chancellor make cuts from Tweed hall, he intends on making more cuts from the schools. Hundreds of DC37 school aides have been laid off. UFT members are not to perform school aide duties such as lunch duty, hall duty and bus duty.
PARA REP NEEDED
We need a para rep to complete the term expiring in June, 2012. Any para may be nominated, including self-nominations. I have been authorized to appoint one. If you want to volunteer, see me.
HOLIDAY PARTY
Our holiday party will be at O’Neill’s on Tuesday, December 22. Please give payment of $55 to Mrs. Molina, Mrs. Reese, or Mrs. Berberena ASAP.
Our holiday party will be at O’Neill’s on Tuesday, December 22. Please give payment of $55 to Mrs. Molina, Mrs. Reese, or Mrs. Berberena ASAP.
PARKING
A certain someone has been taking a parking pass without always signing for it, and has not always returned it. If this continues, YOU will not be allowed to borrow a pass again.
Supposedly we will be getting two additional parking passes. I will let you know when they arrive.
Supposedly we will be getting two additional parking passes. I will let you know when they arrive.
NEXT CHAPTER MEETING
Our next chapter meeting will be on Tuesday, December 15. Kathy Sharko, District 32 representative, will be here to discuss important issues.
Have a joyous holiday season!
