On Friday June 12, 2020 NYSUT published numerous articles regarding
Health and Safety Considerations for Reopening Public Schools. I urge all members to take a look at NYSUT.org under the Coronavirus Toolkit listed on the home page or click on the link below: https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/coronavirus-toolkit/health-and-safety In Solidarity, Melissa Barreto
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Cuomo waives state teacher and principal evaluations amid pandemicReema Amin, Chalkbeat New York The evaluations, which include classroom observations and student performance data, can influence tenure decisions and trigger firings. After months of uncertainty, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has waived requirements for teacher and principal evaluations for this school year. State law mandates school and district leaders assess teachers and principals using the so-called Annual Professional Performance Reviews, or APPR. The evaluations, which include classroom observations and student performance data, can influence tenure decisions and trigger firings. In an executive order issued Sunday, Cuomo will not require the reviews for the 2019-2020 academic year, since the coronavirus pandemic has kept school buildings closed across the state. The order also allows districts to grant tenure to educators who have met all other requirements for it and have been evaluated in the past, but have not been reviewed this school year. Under the order, districts can also choose to postpone tenure decisions for another year. Cuomo’s executive order comes just weeks before the end of the school year and nearly two months after the state education department asked for such a waiver, given that in-person visits to evaluate educators became impossible amid coronavirus closures. State officials were also concerned about the cancellation of grades 3-8 reading and math tests, which districts can consider when evaluating teachers. New York City schools can choose from a list of alternative student assessments and performance measures that do not include state test scores in reading and math. Although the question over evaluations remained open for months, it was hardly top-of-mind for many New York City educators, who were busy making the transition to distance learning. The city’s education department told schools “that they should provide supportive feedback so that teachers can focus on delivering the highest quality remote instruction for our students,” Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for the department, said in a statement Friday, before the governor issued his executive order. City officials were planning to provide schools with more guidance as the department itself awaited word from the state. Anthony Cosentino, principal of P.S. 21 in Staten Island, said that since school buildings closed in mid-March, his school has been busy meeting students’ immediate needs. Cosentino and a couple teachers drove around to deliver laptops and hotspots to students and to offer them technical support. In addition, more than a dozen P.S. 21 teachers, working with a community-based organization, volunteered to help bag and deliver groceries to families who need it. “We’re all anxious, we’re all stressed, we’re all traumatized about what’s going on around us, and with the support of the superintendent and the direction of the DOE, we put our focus on our priorities, which is not teacher evaluations at this time,” Cosentino said before the governor’s decision came down. Andy Pallotta, president of the state teachers union, said the governor’s decision “rightly” allows districts to make tenure decisions. But the governor’s months-long delay in issuing a waiver has left school leaders in the dark, said Bob Lowry, deputy director for advocacy and communication at the state’s Council of School Superintendents. “Districts have already had to begin making tenure decisions,” Lowry said. “Some have entered into agreements to extend teachers’ probationary periods for a year, assuming that they could not grant tenure without a rating this year.” Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Bringing communities together for justice
Join us for a virtual vigil from 4-6 p.m. Monday, June 8, to call for an end to racial and economic inequities and honor the life of George Floyd and other lives senselessly ended. We are bringing communities across the state together to grieve, declare Black Lives Matter and offer national, state and locally driven actions to make a difference. The event will feature state and national union leaders and NYSUT members. In between speakers, we will have performances by students and members. RSVP here. PREP Seminar Modules Available OnlineSummer Hours
NYSTRS’ building remains closed to the public until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic but staff are telecommuting and our phone lines remain open. Please be aware NYSTRS’ operating hours will change for the summer. Beginning Thursday, June 25 our office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday. These hours will remain in effect through Wednesday, Sept. 16. We will return to our regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Thursday, Sept. 17. Also note NYSTRS will be closed Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day and Monday, Sept. 7 for Labor Day. PREP Seminar Modules Available Online Due to social distancing restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, NYSTRS will not be holding group Pension & Retirement Education Program (PREP) seminars this summer or fall. However, members can now watch video versions of all our PREP seminar modules online at their convenience on the Retirement Planning > Pension & Retirement Education Program page at NYSTRS.org. We also plan to hold benefits presentations virtually over the coming months, and we will post news about this program shortly on our website. Additionally, even though we are not holding in-person benefits consultations at this time, members can get all the important information they need in a phone consultation with one of our Retirement System representatives. Members can book an appointment through their MyNYSTRS account or by calling us at (800) 348-7298. |
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