NTU Update - May 13, 2016

Colleagues,

1)    Layoffs -  The NTU met with the district this week to discuss layoffs.  In the district’s initial plan (which has not yet been approved by Civil Service), they will be looking to layoff 23 NTU members in the following positions: 

·       Keyboarding Clerk 1 – 10

·       Keyboarding Clerk 2 – 7

·       Keyboarding Clerk 2 Bilingual - 2

·       Keyboarding Clerk 3 – 4

All layoffs will be done by seniority and will go into effect on July 22.  The district’s plan has not yet been approved by Civil Service; that will take up to a month.  These numbers could change depending on how many staff retires this year.  The district expects to notify impacted staff around June 7.  Once staff is notified, if they choose to file an appeal with Civil Service, they can come down to the Newark Teachers Union where we can help you with that process.

These layoffs are the latest in a serious of attacks against Newark staff, children, and citizens.  Come out to the May 24, Newark Public Schools Advisory Board meeting to make sure they hear our voice: “NO MORE!”

Belmont Runyon School

1 Belmont Runyon Way

Newark, NJ 07108

6:00 PM

2)    Non-tenured clarification – As we do every year, earlier this week, the Newark Teachers Union sent out a letter to non-tenured staff on the procedures to follow to ensure they will have a job next year.  Because of changes to the way district reports hiring dates to the NTU, it is possible that some tenured staff may have received these letters.  If you are TENURED, you can just ignore the letter.

That said, we have also received concerns from TENURED staff who have gotten letters from Newark Public Schools saying they must find a new position by July or they will be terminated.  Obviously, this is a clear violation of staff’s tenure and seniority rights.  We are working to get clarification, but we believe these letters were sent out in error because of the same “hire date reporting issues” mentioned above.  If this has happened to you, email Mike Maillaro IMMEDIATELY so we can make sure this is resolved – mmaillaro@newarkteachersunion.com.

3)    DYFS Warning - We have analyzed the conduct unbecoming tenure cases brought by the District’s Talent Office and have concluded the District’s Talent Office is seeking to balance its deficit on the backs of teachers whose conduct has been determined by arbitrators not to warrant termination.  Recent cases won by the Union strongly indicate the Talent Office is not scrutinizing the exemplary backgrounds of teachers they are bringing tenure charges against.  However, they still bring tenure charges for blameless teacher acts for the purpose of teacher harassment and morale degradation.  

Unfortunately, the taxpayers of New Jersey are paying for the poor judgment of the District’s Talent Office whose record of legal defeats in conduct unbecoming cases bears witness to their mischief.  Again, we urge you to continuously discuss with your colleagues a complete and total “hands-off” policy except when necessary to insure the safety of your students and yourself and that you carefully and cautiously intervene with a methodology that supports a prudent attempt to de-escalate a situation while using the minimum amount of physical intervention.  

4)    FYI: DRAFT 2016-2017 Calendar – Attached is a draft calendar NPS showed us for next year.  This is only a draft and not finalized yet.   

5)    Last call for NTU Hall of Fame Dinner Tickets - We are still selling tickets for our Hall of Fame Dinner, Wednesday, May 18, 2016 – 6:30 PM.  See attached form.  Remember, all the money raised goes directly to providing scholarships for Newark's students and the children of NTU members!

In Solidarity,