NYSUT Tarrytown Regional Office Conference
Thank you to Karen Canino for joining me at the NYSUT TRO summer conference held August 10-11, 2026. There we took courses on union representation, grievances, collective bargaining, legal updates and a presentation from NYSUT President Melinda Person on NYSUT’s legislative victories and priorities. It was also a great opportunity to network with other local unions and their leaders.
BTA Mission and Vision Statement
The LAP team was charged with writing a mission and vision statement for the BTA. That team took time during their conference this summer to identify values and then create the statement. You can find them on the BTA website here
The mission of the BOCES Teachers Association is to:
- Unify our diverse membership under a collective voice for strength and solidarity.
- Support our educators through active representation.
- Defend our collective bargaining agreement to safeguard member rights, benefits, and working conditions.
- Maintain the highest standards of professional ethics, safety, and instructional quality.
- Further the goals of public education by fostering a collaborative community.
- Strengthen relations between staff, administration, and the communities we serve.
To institute this mission statement, leadership will embed these core commitments into monthly union meetings, contract negotiations, and committee work to ensure every decision reflects our shared values.
Vision:
“To foster an unshakeable collective voice that safeguards the rights and well-being of all members, cultivating an environment where educators thrive and public education prospers.”
Values:
Diversity
Transparency
Knowledgeable
Effectiveness
Future Focused
BTA Swag Shop
The BTA will be holding a fall swag shop. Items are being finalized this week and an email will be sent out once the swag shop is officially open. If you would like free delivery, the items can be delivered to Mairead who will then distribute them to Reps at your site. Pick up some extra swag for you to wear on Wear Your Shirt Wednesdays!
LAP Initiative: Trunk or Treat
As one of the LAP team’s Year 1 initiatives, we had to create a campaign for our community. The LAP team has decided to hold a Trunk or Treat for students in our Special Services programs. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 28th in the Rye Lake Campus bus circle. Car decorators will arrive at 3:30pm and families will arrive beginning at 4pm. If you would like to sign up to decorate your trunk, use this signup genius link. We are limited to 25 cars and will open it up to families/administration if we do not meet the 25 cars. Thank you to those who have already volunteered!
If you are interested in volunteering but do not want to decorate a car, please send an email to Rosalie at correspondingsecretary@bocesta.net.
LAP Campaign: Aides Contract and Solidarity
As mentioned in last month’s bulletin, the LAP team has focused this upcoming year’s campaign on the Aides Contract and Solidarity. The Aides negotiation team has generated ideas for the survey which has been sent to NYSUT, and we are hoping to push out that survey to Aides in the end of September/beginning of October. The Aides negotiation team has also crafted an Aides handbook, which has been sent up to NYSUT to be printed. These will be distributed to all current Aides and new Aide hires. Additionally, we will be surveying all members and inviting them to nominate an Aide for “Aide of the Month”. Each month, one Aide will be chosen and highlighted in this bulletin and on social media. Please fill out this survey by Thursday, September 24th with someone you wish to nominate. Let us honor the tremendous work each of our Aides do all year long!
The LAP team has also created a Facebook and Instagram account highlighting the work they are doing. Click on the links and follow us! Links to the separate BTA accounts are at the bottom of this bulletin.
WYS Wednesdays Are Back!
Wear Your Shirt Wednesdays will be back starting Wednesday, September 9th. Make sure your spotter logs you wearing your shirt to be entered for a prize each month. Check out our swag shop! Continue to upload your photos here or text/email Mairead so that you can be highlighted for wearing your shirt.
Know your Rights Survey
Thank you to all of you who completed the Know Your Rights survey that was sent throughout last August and September. Each month I will highlight a different question that was on the survey, how our members responded and the State Education law that explains the answer to the survey.
Question #12: Under New York State Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulations, if a position is abolished, the Board can choose the teacher it wants to excess. 72.5% of members answered it was false. The correct answer is false – way to go!
Ed Law 3013 and C.R. 30.13 establish that the least senior teacher in each tenure area is excessed.
Sick Bank
What is it?: An insurance policy to be able to have additional paid time granted to you if you exhaust all sick/personal time and find yourself disabled due to a serious long term illness or injury.
How can I join?: BTA may join the Sick Bank at any time by completing the Sick Bank Enrollment form. Teacher Aides must submit the form to join the Sick Bank in September of your fourth year of employment. When you donate 2 sick days, SWBOCES will donate one. Here you can find the form for Aides and the form for Certified Staff.
Who determines how many days I get?: A Sick Bank committee comprised of the BTA President, BTA Treasurer, Sr. Director of HR and Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services meet to determine eligibility and days granted.
What happens when the bank runs out?: Members replenish the bank with another day when the level drops below 75 for teacher aides, 90 for BTA.
If something happens to me this year, will I be eligible for days from the Sick Bank?:
- Aides – No. You can only join the sick bank after working here for 3 years.
- Certified Staff – Employees who have worked less than 3 years may only be eligible for up to 5 days from the Sick Bank per school year.
Welcome New Members!
Susan Allegretti, Valhalla
Tracy Larson, CTE
Sarah Colefield, lower RLC
Ann LoBosco, CTE
Alex Solomon, upper RLC
Starr Felicier, CTE
Deirdre Paletta, lower RLC
Rosemary Anderson, Transfiguration
Samantha Hirschhorn, Transfiguration
Dawn Micklas, Rochambeau
Michele Gibbs, Valhalla
Suzanne Spellman, Rochambeau
Save the Date!
The BTA will be hosting a Welcome Back Social on Wednesday, September 16th at Bar 141. Please sign up on the following form if you plan to attend. All members receive a ticket for a free drink and light fare will be served.
Reminders
BASIS provider sign-ups: HR will be sending out an email today, September 1, if you are interested in signing up for BASIS. Check your SWBOCES email to complete the form. As a reminder, you must sign up to be notified of cases throughout the year now as the next signup will not be until the end of the school year. You can sign up to receive emails about available cases and there is no obligation to take a case.
If you are interested in receiving your seniority list, please reach out to Derrick Green for the Aides list and either Stacey DiPaola or Mairead Schuelein for the Aides or Certified Staff lists.
Next Rep Council meeting: The next Rep Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 23rd at 3:30pm at Transfiguration School in Tarrytown. Zoom invitation to follow.
GCN trainings: please complete by the assigned deadlines. Unfortunately, we have seen members receive counseling memos for not completing their GCN trainings.
BTA text list: If you wish to receive texts from the BTA, please fill out this form. The BTA does not give out your cell phone number to outside parties. We use it to send reminders about meetings and upcoming events.
If you receive an email from your supervisor saying you can bring a union rep to a scheduled meeting, reach out to one of the Reps or Exec Board members listed at the bottom of this bulletin ASAP.
Executive Board and Reps
Mairead Schuelein, President
Jason Poniatowski, Executive Vice President
Stacey DiPaola, Treasurer
Derrick Green, 1st Vice President of Aides
Keith Mattos, 2nd Vice President of ALC
Melissa Barreto, Grievance Chair
Rosalie Consani, Corresponding Secretary
Rebecca Phang, Recording Secretary
Julie Crosier, Teacher Rep
Theresa Saive, Teacher Rep
Pierre Fils, CTE Rep
Marianne Weston, TA Rep
BOCES Teachers Association 