NTU Updates

Colleagues,

1) Emancipation Celebration – After 22 years of state control, Newark Public Schools were finally emancipated on Feb 1, 2018.  TODAY!!  Friday, February 9, there will be a celebration at Newark Symphony Hall at 4 PM to mark this tremendous occasion!  All NTU members and allies are invited!

2) February Increment – One question we get a lot is "What is a February Increment?"   Under NJ law, generally staff salary increases only happen twice a year, in September and in February. 

When you get your increment is based on your hire date.   If you were hired between March 1 and October 15

Colleagues,

1) THE NTU IN TRANSITION - Your NTU continues to develop the NTU TRANSITION PLAN and is currently focusing on a Building Rep Committee Plan.  It was introduced to the Executive Board and Building Reps that attended their monthly NTU Building Rep Meeting and widely supported.  If you are interested in hearing about this plan, ask your Building Rep.  For Executive Board and Building Rep meeting dates, see the NTU website.

2 ) Health Benefits Contribution:  A few members reached out to us to say their health benefits contribution went up on their paystub.  Unfortunately, over the last

Colleagues,

1)            Stipend Payment: We’ve gotten a lot of questions about when the district will be paying out the Turnaround/Head Start Stipends.  The date they gave us is January 19^th.

2)            Civil Service Classification Questionnaire: The Newark Public Schools has recently come under scrutiny by the Civil Service Commission relating to its classification of employees into non-Civil Service titles.  It has come to our attention that the Newark Public Schools has been circulating a Classification Questionnaire.  We have also been advised that the description of the work duties

Colleagues,

We at the NTU hope that you have a restful holiday break!

1) NTU Ed Resource Center will be closed from December 18 until January 2, 2018. The NTU Office will be closing at 1 PM on December 21, and will be closed from December 22 until January 2.

2) December Pay Checks: Payroll Reminder! December is a three pay-check month. For full time ten month employees, you will be paid on December 1 (covering 11/20 to 12/01), December 15 (covering 12/04 to 12/15), and December 21 (covering 12/18 to 12/29).  The first paycheck in January will be January 12, 2018.

In order to get paid for the full

Colleagues,

1) NPS Central Office Relocation - NPS sent out this information, and we wanted you to be aware of it:

As you know, the Central Office of the Newark Public Schools is moving. 

The overall move will be complete by the time the district returns from winter recess on 01/02/18. Until that time we are providing information to assist you in finding the right department during this transition period. A few key things to note: 

·  The Talent Office (servicing all HR needs) and the Contact Center will be closed this coming Monday on 12/18 while they move into the new space at 765 Broad Street.

Colleagues,

1)     December Pay Checks: Payroll Reminder! December is a three pay-check month. For full time ten month employees, you will be paid on December 1 (covering 11/20 to 12/01), December 15 (covering 12/04 to 12/15), and December 21

(covering 12/18 to 12/29).  The first paycheck in January will be January 12, 2018.

In order to get paid for the full Winter Break, if you are going to be absent on December 21 or January 2, you must take a personal day. The only way you can use a sick day for those days is if it is part of an approved medical leave.

2)     Coverage Survey: As with

Colleagues,

1)  Observations – IMPORTANT!  If you receive an Ineffective or Partial Effective on your observation, YOU SHOULD WRITE A REBUTTAL.  Without a rebuttal, the record has nothing to show except that you agreed with this negative observation.   And these observations can have a dramatic impact on your salary or tenure rights.  Please review these Rebuttal tips attached.

2)  Mid-Year Evaluation -  Under TeachNJ, Mid-Year Evaluations are only required for teachers on Corrective Action Plans (teachers who received an ineffective or partially effective on their end of the year evaluation).  

Colleagues,

1) Schedule - Just a reminder that in our new contract, NTU members now have 5 personal days. Also remember that only 3 of these 5 personal days roll over as sick days if they are unused by the end of the school year.  

·       Wednesday, November 22 – School Open. 1 PM Closing. If absent, employee must use a personal day. You can only use a sick day if it’s a part of an extended or short term sick leave.

·       Thursday - Friday, November 23-24 – Thanksgiving. School Closed.  

·       Monday, November 27 - School Open.   If absent, employee must use a personal day. You can only use

1) Newark Public Schools Workers Vote to Join Teachers Union  - 189 unaffiliated NPS staff have voted to join the Newark Teachers Union!  On Oct 31, the Public Employee Relations Commission certified the vote and rejected Newark Public Schools arguments against recognizing the new members’ right to join a union.  This is a huge victory and we will be meeting with this staff next week to discuss next steps.

2)  NTU LGBTQIA Meet and Greet - School districts nationwide are facing increased concerns over giving voice, protection, and resources to their LGBTQIA students, and staff. The Newark