Current News and Announcements

 

APPR Information - Check out the State Ed Website which has the Danielson Rubric posted.  Lots of good information related to APPR and the process and what it willmean to teachers.

STA Executive Board Meeting: The April meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 3:30 P.M. in President Flatley's Room 109 at the Middle School.

VOTE-COPE Begins 2012 Campaign:We thought it was bad last year...well, 2012 is turning out to be a worse year, with morale at an all-time low as the attacks on education and public employees continues.  The governor bullied the legislature into approving aTier 6 which will keep retirement funds from funding the current NYSTRS pension fund. Hundreds of teachers are losing their jobs due to the loss of state aid through his infamous tax cap.   Help us change the way educators are viewed!  If you did not increase your contribution last year, NOW is the time to do it! A letter and form will be distributed to members shortly.  Let's stand up for our profession !

State Budget Targets Teachers...again:

 NYSUT has developed a Members Action Center,which allows members to contact their legislators by fax.  We are also challenging each building to have members contact their legislators to fight against these new attacks on our profession. 

Members should encourage their friends and neighbors to also contact their legislators as any cuts to education will affect the programs and courses  in their own school districts.

What Does Your Union Mean to You?  Here is your chance to share your story.  We will be publishing stories and essays in the STATIC or as a special publication. Together we can describe what it means to be a member of the Schalmont Teachers' Association.  Check out how you can participate.  All essays should be sent to Sarah Mattice as soon as possible. 

Kinns Featured in NYSUT's "It's What We Do": Check out the link to the NYSUT page: "It's What We Do."  Our own Cori Kinns, Jefferson Special Education teacher is featured as she speaks about the Rotterdam Junction/Pattersonville flooding.

The February/March 2011 issue of the STATIC is now available.  Check out other issues.

STATIC Editor Needs You! - Sarah Mattice, HS English teacher and STATIC editor is always looking for STA "news", congratulations, and editorial opinions from members.  If you have a classroom project or would like to submit an item that would be of interest to our members, email Sarah or contact her in the high school. 

Election Results:  STA Executive Board for 2011-12
 

Officers	High School	Middle School
President - Mary Beth Flatley 1st Vice President - Alisha Couse 2nd Vice President - Chris Bailey Secretary - Carol Carelli Treasurer - Pete Rings	Adam Dolan Sarah Mattice Kevin Meachem Kathryn Sargent	Bob Anderson Mike Libertucci Laurie Macken Karen Passino
Jefferson	NYSUT Delegates
Kathy Cathell Amy Glick Sue Hennessy Kim Knapik	Alisha Couse Mary Beth Flatley Mike Libertucci, Alternate

Spring 2011-12 IDEA Grant Deadlines Announced:  Check out the IDEA Traditional Grant dates for 2011-12!

***Important News from Political Action Coordinators - As our profession continues to be under attack at the state and national levels, it is imperative that members keep abreast of how  the actions of the governor and legislature may impact not only the jobs, benefits and pensions of others, but how those actions may change YOUR own life and your family's welfare if salaries, pensions and health benefits are changed.

The Political Action link on the left sidebar now includes articles and information related to what is happening in our state and nation as the attacks on public employees (including educators) escalates. Also explained is important information related to tenure, the Triborough Amendment and the Taylor Law and how changes to any will mean major changes to the way we have viewed education for over 50 years.  Get involved in helping us educate the public. Everyone will be affected to some degree if these sweeping changes are enacted. 

 

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Other News and Items of Interest to Members

STA Joins forces with Rotterdam Junction/Pattersonville Community for Christmas Tree Lighting and Caroling:  On  Sunday, December 11 at 6:00 PM, the Rotterdam and Pattersonville communities gathered together to celebrate the closeness and caring that has been evident since the flooding in late August. Music students, under the direction of Eileen Scheffer, Justin Godlewski, and Sean Lowery welcomed the Christmas season with caroling, concert music and lighting the Christmas tree. 

The event was phenomenal! It truly displayed the "Spirit of Christmas.  Many thanks to all who made a contribution and/or participated in the celebration.  The community was very touched by the out-pouring of gifts and compassion that STA members had for the families of the two communities.  We are very proud to be part of an organization which cares so much about their students.  Thank you.

STA and the Schalmont Community Collect over $10,000 in Bank/Gift Cards for Victims of Rotterdam Junction/Pattersonville Floods: Many, many thanks to everyone who donated a gift card or cash to the victims of the Rotterdam Junction/Pattersonville Flood victims.  The cards were turned over to Reggie Wydronkowski, Commissioner Chairman on September 29.  The Rotterdam Junction volunteer Department will be dispersing the cards to the victims.  We are Schalmont...we are family!

NYSUT Disaster Relief Fund: Sadly, there are a number of our members who have lost their homes or suffered severe damages due to Hurricane Irene.  NYSUT collects donations for their Disaster Relief Fund, which supports our members during times of need.

If you or anyone you know has suffered a loss and does not have access to a computer, please let them know that NYSUT has a fund for Disaster Relief. Click on the link for the application. It must be completed and sent to Mary Beth Flatley for her signature.   You can also make a donation thru NYSUT by clicking on this link.

 

A HUGE "thank you" to Members of the Guilderland and Mohonasen Teachers' Association: Many thanks to members of the Guilderland and Mohonasen Teachers' Association for sponsoring a food drive and collecting over $1,200 in donations for our students and families in the Rotterdam Junction/Pattersonville area.  The donations, which were taken to the Rotterdam Junction FD, were warmly accepted by the volunteers assisting our families.  Any other locals wishing to help can contact Mary Beth Flatley, STA President.

STA Raises over $2500 for Breast Cancer: Over 30 STA members participated in the 2011 "Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk" in October.  STA collected over  $2500 for the cause.  Many thanks to Lorinda Gandrow and Melissa West for coordinating the event for STA.

 

STA Executive Board Minutes Now Available Online: Minutes that were previously included in the STATIC will now be distributed to members immediately following the monthly Executive Board meeting.  The purpose for the change is to keep the membership informed in a more timely manner.  The minutes will also available by clicking on the sidebar labeled Executive Board minutes.

STA Members Awarded Tenure:  Congratulations to Greg Loiacono, High School Guidance Counselor; Greg Pattison, Middle School Art teacher;  and Julie Ploss, Mariaville and Woestina Music/Band teacher for earning tenure.

Congratulations to our 2011 Retirees: 5 STA members have joined the rank of "retiree".  Thank you for your many years of service to Schalmont and to our STA family.  Retirees will receive a questionnaire from STA with the results posted on the Retiree Connection of the STA Website.  This year's retirees include:  Jim Scott, MS Guidance, Joanne Jones, Woestina Nurse, MaryAnn Efner, Occupational Therapist, Jane Azzaro, Mariaville/Woestina Librarian, and Greg Pattison, MS Technology

VOTE-COPE Campaign Successful: The 2011 VOTE-COPE campaign ended with a BANG...25% of our members either increased their contribution or started contributing for the first time!  We gave out 23 STA sweatshirts to those members who increased their contribution to at least $3.00 per paycheck.  Thank you to all members who participate in VOTE-COPE.  Your dollars will help us in our fight to maintain the advances we have made our profession over the past 44 years. 

STA STATIC Earns NYSUT Recognition Again:  NYSUT has announced that the Schalmont Teachers' Association newsletter (STATIC) earned another  "Award of Merit" in the 2010 Journalism Contest.  This is the 3nd year in a row that STA has been recognized for their efforts.  Congratulations to Kelly Healy and Carol Carelli, former STATIC Editors.