Colleagues,
Here’s a brief update on some timely issues and reminders:
– Opposing RCSD Budget Cuts. The Superintendent’s preliminary budget for the next school year calls for the elimination of about a dozen Guidance Counselors positions, a reduction of more than two dozen School Social Workers positions, the reassignment of virtually all Home/Hospital Program teachers, the relocation of Pre-School programs, a reductions in school-level administration and support positions, and other changes in a budget exceeding a billion dollars. These “cost-saving changes” would result in the lessening of school safety as well as reducing needed services – especially for our most vulnerable students. Opponents of the proposed cuts will attend this Tuesday’s Board of Education’s Speakers Forum to advocate for our students, and for our schools. To sign up to speak, please call (585) 262- 8525 or email <boardofeducation@rcsdk12.org> by no later than noon tomorrow (Monday). But even if you do not sign up to speak, please show up (RCSD Headquarters, 131 W. Broad Street) to support those who are speaking and to help educate the school board about the needs of our students.
– Teacher Transfer Days. The transfer days are tentatively scheduled for early June: K-12 on June 3; Core Academic Subjects on June 4; teachers of Students With Disabilities on June 8; and Elementary Schools on June 10. Please check the RTA website <www.rochesterteachers.com> for the most up-to-date information. Please feel free to email RTA’s Martha Keating <maskerade6@aol.com>, Aimee Rinere <arinere@rochesterteachers.com>, Margaret Sergent <mmsergent@rochesterteachers.com>, Matt Lavonas <mlavonas@rochesterteachers.com>, or Jason Valenti <jvalenti@rochesterteachers.com> if you have questions or need assistance.
– Sabbaticals. If you’re considering taking a sabbatical next year, please know that the deadline for submitting an application is Friday, April 24. You can find an application here <Sabbatical Leave Application Form>. The semester or full year sabbatical could be used to conduct research, to write curricula, to create educational materials, or to travel and pursue independent study. Teachers who have served in the RCSD for at least 5 years are eligible to apply. Recipients receive 60% of their salary for the duration of the sabbatical. Email <Sabbatical@rcsdk12.org> if you have questions or need additional information.
– Fixing CPI. Good that the District agreed to rescind their ill-advised mandate that would have required a Certificate of Personal Illness (CPI) for last Friday’s Superintendent’s Conference Day. This will give us time to engage in further discussions with the District about how to improve that entire process for the future. Among the topics that we will raise is the long overdue need to make Superintendent’s Conference Days productive enough to be worth attending. We will also insist on eliminating the current provision on the CPI form that requires the divulging of such personal and privileged details as the “nature of illness.” Not only is such an overreach a violation of HIPAA laws but it also betrays an insulting distrust of teachers.
As always, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need assistance. Thank you for your continued solidarity and for all that you do every day for our students.
Adam Urbanski
RTA President