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MOE'S SOUTHWEST GRILL

Has Moe’s got a deal for you, WGTA members! Year-round, WGTA members will get 15 percent off orders. Not only that, but in the months of June and September, a meal will be 50 percent off with purchase of a large drink. Just show your NYSUT card or your WGTA card to get the discount. Thanks to Mary Weaver, Social Committee chairperson, for getting this amazing deal from Scott Searles, co-owner of Moe’s in Camillus.

WGTA Dues for 2007

The total amount of teacher union dues paid for the 2007 calendar year for a full time teacher was $618.58.

Discount at Applebee's!
from Mary Weaver

The Camillus Applebee's has graciously volunteered to give West Genesee teachers a 10% discount during the entire month of April. Simply show them your NYSUT card or your WGTA membership card to get your discount.

New Discount For Budget Truck Rentals
from The NYSUT Leader

The trustees of NYSUT Member Benefits Trust recently endorsed a new discount program for members. Budget Truck Rental will discount local and one-way truck rentals by 20 percent. The Member Benefits ID number is 56000070789. The discount is only valid when making a reservation through the Budget Truck Reservations Center, which can be accessed by phone or online. The toll-free number is (800) 566-8422. To access the center online, members must use the link off the Member Benefits Web site, http://www.memberbenefits.nysut.org, which brings them to a special Budget site for NYSUT members. The Budget Truck Rental information and link will be added to the Member Benefits site by mid-March.

Discount coupons will be provided to Member Benefits soon, but members can obtain the discount with the above information.

New Requirements for Mandated Reporters
from The NYSUT Leader

Now you, the classroom teacher, have been added to the list of those individuals whoa must make the call when child abuse is suspected

Local teacher union leaders have been asked to let their members know about changes in state law for mandated reporters who suspect a child is being abused outside the educational setting. Mandated reporters of child abuse must now directly report their suspicions to the Statewide Central Register for Child Abuse and Maltreatment, rather than rely on the school principal or supervisor.

This change in Social Services state law, which went into effect in October, clarifies murky requirements that had been subject to varying interpretations.

The new law also clarifies that "school officials" who are mandated reporters include teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, school nurses, administrators and other school personnel required to hold a teaching or administrative license or certificate. Previously, "school officials" were defined as mandated reporters, but the law did not specify what employees that included.

The mandatory reporting also applies to a wide range of staff in residential and non-residential programs for children, private schools and others.

The new law makes it clear that school districts and other educational or health care employers cannot take retaliatory action against an employee who makes a child abuse report in good faith. A principal or supervisor cannot demand that prior approval is necessary before a report of suspected child abuse or maltreatment is filed.

Different reporting requirements apply to suspected child abuse in an educational setting.

Anyone who is mandated to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment - and fails to do so - could be charged with a class A misdemeanor and sued in civil court for monetary damages, "so it's essential for everyone who cares for children to be aware of the law," said Steve Allinger, NYSUT's legislative director. Mandated reporters who make a report in good faith continue to be protected from any criminal or civil liability.

Mandated reporters must report reasonable suspicions of child abuse or neglect occurring outside the educational setting by personally calling the Statewide Central Register at (800) 635-1522. The mandated reporter should then immediately notify the person in charge of the school or facility. Telephone reports must be followed by a faxed written report on the official form within 48 hours. The supervisor is responsible for all subsequent processing.

Further information is posted at www.nysut.org. An information bulletin on the topic is being updated by NYSUT Research and Educational Services. A general guide for mandated reporters, including warning signs to look for, is available at www.ocfs.state.ny.us/.

Tenure Law Changes for New Teachers are on the Way
from The NYSUT Leader

Local leaders need to be aware that teacher tenure changes are on their way in the coming school year and NYSUT is carefully monitoring the State Education Department’s development of new regulations.

The upcoming changes, which require the creation of statewide minimum standards for teacher tenure, are part of Gov. Spitzer’s education accountability system. Under Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2007, the statewide process for tenure determinations made on or after July 1, 2008, includes:

* an evaluation of the teacher’s successful use of student performance data when providing instruction;

* peer review by other teachers, as far as practicable; and

* an assessment by the teacher’s building administrator.

NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira will be sending out additional information to local leaders as it becomes available. The law would affect teachers who are currently in their tenure track; however, NYSUT is seeking an amendment to the law so it applies prospectively to teachers hired on or after July 1, 2008.

“NYSUT opposes making changes affecting teachers currently in a tenure track,” Neira said. “It’s a matter of fairness. You can’t change the rules in the middle of the process.”

NYSUT is working to ensure that the regulations clearly indicate that any changes in the determination of tenure for new teachers are consistent with the local collective bargaining agreement.

While the executive budget initially proposed using student test scores to determine tenure, NYSUT’s advocacy was instrumental in getting the legislature to reject that proposal.

Neira discussed the upcoming changes at NYSUT’s Policy Council meeting on Nov. 8. She noted the process for evaluating teachers is a mandatory subject of collective bargaining and part of the Annual Professional Performance Review. Currently, the APPR requirement includes peer review as an optional method of teacher evaluation and proper training of administrators to conduct teacher evaluation.

Local leaders at the NYSUT Policy Council suggested NYSUT develop a training session on the new regulations and the use of student data to inform instruction. Leaders also asked that the statewide union share best practices for peer review programs and make sample contract language available.

The state Board of Regents is scheduled to discuss a concept proposal for tenure regulations in December. Watch www.nysut.org and New York Teacher for the latest information available.

HAVE FUN FOR LESS MONEY WITH AFT PLUS

From AFT Retiree E-news

The AFT PLUS Entertainment Discount Program makes going out more affordable than ever for AFT members. Entertainment PLUS Discounts help you and your family save money when you want to enjoy movie rentals, live theatre, museums, sporting events, theme parks, aquariums, ski lift tickets and much more. Check out local entertainment, and when planning family travel, your destination city. When you sign up for the program, you earn 100 "Advantage Points" to use for your future entertainment. You earn one additional point for every dollar you spend through the program. To find out more, call 800/565-3712 and use ID #744387769, Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (EDT) or visit http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/571KNr61Iu6r/unionplus.