NTU Update - March 4, 2016

Dear Colleagues,

1) Rx UPDATE – Just this week, a judge ordered NTU members prescription medications "for attorneys’ eyes only." That means that Superintendent Cerf and his staff can't see what meds you're on.

2) NPS Advisory Board Meeting – Wednesday March 16! Arts High!  - The attack upon our prescription plan was Cerf’s way of saying that imposition is going to be his way of negotiating. We must take the time this weekend to make personal calls to active members and encourage them to come out to the next Advisory Board Meeting. We cannot and should not rely on other organizations to fight our battles.

Headlines about unpaid furloughs of teachers and staff in Chicago Public Schools are an ominous warning to us here.  The same conditions exist here.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-cps-furlough-days-met-20160304-story.html

So please make every effort to rally your brothers and sisters to organize car pools, childcare, etc.

3) NJ Transit Strike – With a possible NJ Transit strike looming, please seek alternative means of transportation. Share your predicament with school staff and colleagues in NPS, you may be able to hitch a ride.  These workers have been without a contract for five years, and we support our union brothers and sisters in their fight!

4) Hall of Fame Dinner: The 18^th Annual Albert Shanker Scholarship Awards Dinner is upon us.  If you are a full member of the NTU, your son/daughter is eligible to apply.  If you are a full member of the NTU and you are a Paraprofessional in our public school district who is currently attending college then you are eligible to apply.  

This year, the Newark Teachers Union is proud to induct Thomasina Lemon into the Newark Teachers Union Hall of Fame.  Tommie worked in Newark for over 25 years and served as a NTU Building Rep and Vice President.  She continued to be very active in the labor movement even after she left the Newark Public Schools. 

5) NTU Member Recognition (LAST CALL): As part of the celebration of NTU’s 80th anniversary, we will be honoring NTU members nominated by their peers at the Hall of Fame Dinner.  If you or a colleague would make a candidate, please go to our website and fill out the nomination form!  The deadline is next Tuesday, so hurry up!

6) Upcoming NTU Workshops:

·       Thursday, March 17, 2015 from 3:45 -5:15pm in the NTU Conference Room.  “Driving Towards Success: Introductory to Google Drive”.  Are you struggling with Google Drive?  Fear no more and come and experience how to navigate Google Drive with experienced technology teachers:  JoAnn Pringle, Belmont-Runyon Elementary School and Ginger Mullens, Peshine Avenue School.  Little or no knowledge/experience required. Occupancy is 15 people. Please bring your laptop or Chromebook (Preferred).

·       Wednesday, March 30, 2015 from 3:45 -5:45pm in the NTU – ERC Center. “Spark Up!:  Navigating the SPARK Curriculum Website”. This workshop is geared for physical education teachers with little or no experience using the Spark Curriculum website for designing lesson plans aligned with NJCCCS. Please bring your laptop or Chromebook (Optional). Presenters are Physical Education Teachers: Alicia Malave-Diaz, Belmont-Runyon Elementary School and Anthony Lardieri, Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School.

·       Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 3:45 – 5:15pm in the NTU Conference Room – “Professional Improvement Fund at Its Best” in the NTU conference room. Come and learn how to maximize on thoroughly completing the PIF forms accurately so it can be processed in a timely and quick manner. A complete hands-on guide/powerpoint presentation with Justin Petino, PIF-NTU Committee Chairperson/Physical Education Teacher at East Side High School and Awilda Rodriguez, PIF Committee representative/ESL Teacher at Benjamin Franklin School/NTU-ERC Resource Center. Occupancy is 25 people.

·       Tuesday, March 29, 2016, 4:15 – 5:15pm in the NTU Conference Room – “Let’s Learn Kahoot!” Kahoot! is a free, fun game-based learning geared for any subject, language, and/or devices, and for all ages! Participants must have an iPhone, and an iPad, tablet, laptop or chrome book.  Presenter: Vilma Mosquera-Bilingual Teacher from Wilson Avenue School.

·       More to come in the next few weeks!

Please email:  ERC@newarkteachersunion.com  in the subject area please type the name of workshop you are interested in attending. Then provide us the following: your name, your school name, your email address, your school phone number and your personal cellphone number where you can be reached.

In Solidarity,