As Sheryl Delano walked through the hall of the unfinished Rondout Valley Middle School, she said hello to all the construction workers. Most she knew by name.

"Hi, John. How're you doing, hon'?" she called to a worker on a ladder.

Delano's rapport came from persistent contact during the one-year project. When the job started in September 2000, the Rondout Valley Federation of Teachers health and safety chairwoman didn't know much about construction, State Education Department rules or building codes.

Soon, as she walked through the school, she could recite code requirements. She found out what was required by good communications with the people doing the work.

It started with members of the district's own maintenance staff, who had been helpful in the past. She began bringing them home-baked cookies. She sat down with them, asked about their jobs. They gave her information that helped her solve members' problems, and she was able to return the favor with help on their job issues.

Delano, a teacher in the middle school, started visiting construction areas every day when school was in session. "The general contractor liked the brownies and the ventilation guys liked the double chocolate chip," she said.

At first, the workers were hesitant. "They didn't know who I was, but they soon learned I wasn't going to go away. I got so much on-the-job training with all the information I learned from them."

Even during the summer, Sheryl came to the middle school two or three times a week to check on progress. She established a reputation as a strong, no-nonsense advocate for staff and students, said RVFT President Vince Fisher.

On one occasion, strong odors wafted through the Ulster County building when workers began gluing carpet on the first floor and painting on the second. Her call to the project field supervisor was answered in 10 minutes. He stopped the work, fixed the problem and asked her to let him know immediately if it happened again. She hadn't even met him yet.

Fisher asked Delano to chair the health and safety committee when Liz Cusack, a member of New York State United Teachers Health and Safety Task Force, took maternity leave.

"You do kind of have to be relentless," Delano said. "Expect to be taken seriously and never take 'no' for an answer. And, be reasonable in your requests."

For construction projects, Delano said to keep good records and get copies of correspondence. "Look at the blueprints and ask a million questions," she added.

- WENDY HORD

NYSUT.org. Copyright New York State United Teachers. 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York, 12110-2455. 518.213.6000. http://www.nysut.org. For questions about this web site, contact the webmaster at bthomas@nysutmail.org.