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SRP
leaders prepare for new challenges
November 6, 2002 School-Related Professionals know what it's like to listen to many voices - whether they resonate in school buses, cafeterias, classrooms or offices. "SRPs know that, when we add our many voices to our statewide union, what happens is powerful," Mary Jo Roberge told participants at New York State United Teachers' annual SRP leadership conference, echoing this year's chosen theme of "Many Voices + 1 Union = Powerful Education." Roberge,who has chaired the union's SRP advisory committee for two years, cited a list of accomplishments the union has achieved on behalf of support staff this year. Roberge spoke during the kickoff to the three-day conference in Lake Placid in mid-October. Many accomplishments center around increased opportunities for support staff to get training they need for their jobs. A Professional Development Program by SRP members for SRP members is now in full swing with dozens of workshops offered across the state. SRP members now have their own Web site, accessed through www.nysut.org. They have increased new member participation programs and created a task force to look at needed reforms in civil service, and a subcommittee for retirees. They also took a new name this spring when "professionals" replaced "personnel" in their title. "The definition of professional is someone who is prepared and expert at his or her work," NYSUT President Tom Hobart told the 325 participants. "This name change to School-Related Professionals was a long time coming to reflect the important work you do." The statewide union is "many voices and many job titles," Hobart said. "But in the union, we're all equal." On-the-job concerns In 18 workshops, SRP leaders learned strategies for managing student behavior and improving workplace safety. They learned ways to protect themselves from identity theft and computer fraud, tips to identify and report child abuse, and ways to improve communication on the job. A main topic during the conference was how changes to the federal Title I program affect paraprofessionals who work in classrooms instructing children. New education requirements mean significant changes to those paraprofessionals who do not have two years of college study. Under the new law anyone working in Title I programs (either school-wide or targeted), hired since Jan. 8, must have completed two years of college study, have a two-year college degree or pass a state or local assessment. Those working in school before Jan. 8 have until January 2006 to meet the same requirements. "How are single mothers going to afford this, especially on the salaries we make?" asked Theresa Petrozzi, a member of the Guilderland Classroom Teachers Association. Jane Countryman, president of the Monroe 1 BOCES Paraprofessional Association, agreed, noting the starting salary for her members is $9,600. The good news is the law requires districts to support training and professional development for paraprofessionals, said Tish Olshefski, a staffer with the national union, the American Federation of Teachers. The Title II portion of the law provides grants for professional development and funds for programs to recruit paras into alternative routes to teacher certification. The regulations are still being developed. The AFT and NYSUT are constantly monitoring the developments. Participants also honored their own, including the United Federation of Teachers' Margaret Espinosa and Julia Martinez, and seven locals for outstanding support of VOTE-COPE, NYSUT's voluntary political action fund. - Betsy Sandberg |
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