Colleagues,
Welcome back from the Spring recess. Below is a brief update on some current and upcoming issues:
– Negotiations. Our current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires this June 30 and we have already started negotiations for a successor contract with the Rochester City School District. Although it’s still very early in the process, it is already clear to us that the District’s priorities are substantially different from those communicated to us by the teachers. We are far apart in negotiations but we remain determined to achieve the goals that teachers have for our students and for our schools. While we will continue to respect the protocols and confidentiality of the negotiating process for as long as negotiations continue, we will also keep you informed about any significant future developments.
– Transfer and Placement Days. The upcoming Transfer and Placement Days will occur by Zoom in early June. Links will be sent two or three days prior to the scheduled meetings. Here’s the schedule: June 2 for Special Subjects K-12, including Library, Social Workers, Guidance, Music, Physical Education, ESOL, Reading, and Health. June 4 for Secondary Academic Subjects including Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Technology, Business, Foreign Languages, Family and Consumer Science. June 5 for Special Education. June 10 for Elementary positions. The RTA Hotline will be activated for the remaining positions on approximately June 12. Receivership and Exempt Schools are scheduled for May 20-27. Please contact RTA’s Martha Keating <maskerade6@aol.com> if you have questions or need assistance.
– RTA Elections. Links for voting in the current RTA elections were sent out yesterday. If you haven’t received that email, please contact the Chairperson of RTA’s Nominations and Elections Committee, Karen Lahr <klahr@rochesterteachers.com> to provide her with your current personal email address. Exercise your right to vote.
– NYSUT Workshops. The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) is offering two professional development sessions free to RTA/NYSUT members. The first, needed to meet NYS certification requirements, is training on Dignity for All Students (DASA) on May 14 and May 15 from 4:15 to 7:15. Participants must attend both sessions. Advance registration is required. Please follow these <directions> to create an account for ELT courses and then you can register <here>. The second is on Dealing With Challenging Behaviors of Students Through a Health and Safety Lens on April 28th at 4:00-5:30 pm, also offered virtually. You can register <HERE>.
– Insurance Deductible Reimbursement. The District has extended our Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to continue reimbursing teachers for the auto insurance deductible if their vehicles are damaged or stolen on school premises. To receive the reimbursement, the applicant must file a police report and go through the auto insurance company. Additional information, including the Google link, can be found here < https://tinyurl.com/33b98h2j>For support and advice, please contact RTA’s Matt Lavonas <mlavonas@rochesterteachers.com>.
– PD Opportunities. On May 12-17, the Rochester Teacher Center will conduct its annual Institute on Teaching and Learning Informed by Cultural Knowledge. The flyer, attached below, lists and describes the various sessions. Please note that the May 15 session is an RTA Dinner Seminar, featuring Dr. Noma LeMoine, on Academic English Mastery. Teachers can register through TrueNorth Logic (look under Rochester Teacher Center and/or RTA) for one or more of the offerings and earn PD credits for each session. Please contact RTC’s Yolanda Montalvo <ymontalvo@rochesterteachers.com> if you have questions or need additional information.
As always, please contact us at the RTA if you need any assistance.
Adam Urbanski, RTA President