Colleagues,
Just one long weekend left in your well-earned summer recess. And as you prepare to return for the 2022-2023 school year, here’s a brief update on school related issues:
– Negotiations. After a number of unproductive bargaining sessions last Spring and during the summer, we declared impasse in negotiations and requested that the NYS Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) appoint an impartial mediator to restore good faith bargaining. A mediator has just been appointed and is in the process of determining a schedule for negotiation sessions. At stake in the stalled negotiations are some important provisions, including but not limited to, class sizes, social and emotional support for students, school safety, teachers’ professional discretion, professional development, health care benefits, and competitive salaries that acknowledge the reality of the severe teacher shortage and the spiking rise in the cost of living. Until a successor agreement is negotiated, the provisions in the expired contract continue to apply – including additional salary increments effective as of July 1, 2022 (see attachment below). Once negotiations are concluded, salary will be increased further for the current school year and beyond. If you have specific questions about your initial salary increase for the 2022-2023 school year, please contact RTA’s John Pavone <pavrta@aol.com> or Martha Keating <maskerade6@aol.com>.
– RTA Action Committee. To promote solidarity among our members, the RTA Action Committee is leading the way. Co-chaired by Corrine Mundorff, Sharon Key, and Kelly LaLonde, the RTA Action Committee will be proposing ways that members can become actively involved in our effort to achieve a successor contract that would improve conditions for teaching and learning in our schools. The RTA Action Committee’s first monthly newsletter <Action Committee September Newsletter> outlines some activities for September, including “Solidarity Wednesdays” that will begin on September 14. Please contact Corrine Mundorff <cmundorff@rochesterteachers.com> if you want to propose ideas, if you’re interested in becoming more actively involved, or if you’d be willing to serve as RTA’s Action Committee liaison for your school or work location.
– Status of Staffing. Largely due to the general shortage of teachers, and the fact that more than 250 RCSD teachers resigned or retired since July 1, 2021, the District had 385 teacher vacancies for the 2022-2023 school year. To the best of our knowledge, the District managed to hire approximately half of that number thus far. This means that your administrators will scramble for ways to deal with the predicament. And it appears that the shortage of substitute teachers will continue, as well. You should know that Section 30 of our contract provides that regular teachers shall not be expected to assume substitute teacher duties except with the regular teacher’s consent or in emergency situations. RTA Faculty Representatives will inform us, on a weekly basis, how many teacher vacancies exist at their school and how these vacancies are being covered. Please see your RTA Faculty Representative, or contact RTA’s Martha Keating <maskerade6@aol.com> or Matt Lavonas <mlavonas@rochesterteachers.com>, if you become involved in this dynamic and need advice or support.
– COVID Regulations. New York State guidelines, in line with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) regulations, now include the following: the test to stay protocol has been eliminated; COVID-19 screening or testing in schools is no longer required; quarantine due to exposure is no longer required; and if someone tests positive for COVID-19, they should stay home for at least 5 days and then may need to wear a mask through day 10 upon return. Please contact RTA’s Margaret Sergent <mmsergent@rochesterteachers.com> with any questions or if you need assistance. Margaret also provided a more detailed COVID update from the District (see attached).
– New Superintendent. While the Board of Education concludes separation negotiations with the outgoing Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small, Dr. Carmine Peluso will serve as Acting Superintendent. Dr. Peluso has served in the RCSD as a teacher, a principal, a School Chief, and Deputy Superintendent. We wish Dr. Peluso a successful tenure and will work with him to resolve the stalled negotiations and to provide to schools the services and support that our students and their teachers need and deserve.
– First Book. As we have done in the past, RTA is again participating in the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) First Book Project. We are planning to launch this year’s event during the weekend of October 29th. If you would like to select books for your students, please register with First Book at <www.firstbook.org/AFT> or scan the First Book Registration QR code attached below. Please contact RTA’s Aimee Rinere <arinere@rochesterteachers.com> if you have any questions or need assistance with registering.
We will continue to keep you informed about the progress of our efforts on your behalf and on behalf of all our students. Meanwhile, please join us for the Labor Day Parade this Monday and save the date (September 23, 4-6pm) for RTA Back to School Get-Together at ONE Nightclub. As always, call or email us with any questions or if you need assistance.
Have a great and successful new school year.
Adam Urbanski, RTA President
2022-23 Triborough Salary Schedule
2022-23 Covid Guidelines (as of 9/1/22)
