  |
| |
State recognizes SRPs with
a day of their own October 22, 2003 NYSUT has long recognized SRP members for the work they do. In 1999, the statewide union created a video focusing on support staff. For Ann Gentilin, it's splendid that New York state lawmakers have set aside Nov. 18 as a day of recognition of all School-Related Professionals. Gentilin is going them one better - she's going to give carnations to recognize more than 200 members of her local, the Onteora Non-Teaching Employees Association. "I want to honor those who are the foundation of education of children in my district," said Gentilin, president of the SRP local in the Ulster County district. "And thanks to our statewide union lobbying to get this recognition day, I know just when to do it." New York State United Teachers lobbied for a statewide recognition day since the spring of 2002, when delegates at its annual convention asked for it. "We in the union have known for a long time that it is so often the SRP members who turn the four walls of a school building into learning spaces," said NYSUT President Tom Hobart. "We applaud the governor for declaring Nov. 18 as a day of recognition for all School-Related Professionals." "We're very pleased that legislators approved this resolution to recognize our SRPs for all they do to make schools work," said Alan Lubin, NYSUT executive vice president, who directs the union's Legislative Department. To Lubin, this lobbying effort was personal. He recalled the treatment of SRP members early in his teaching career at a Brooklyn elementary school. "I remember how it was for our paraprofessionals, where only one or two people selected by the administration got to go on to continue their education," Lubin said. "It was so demoralizing and destructive." In the 1970s, the United Federation of Teachers, NYSUT's affiliate of teachers, paras and secretaries in New York City, negotiated a career-ladder program. It paid for up to six college credits per semester, gave some time off for higher education and provided a stipend during summer session. "Of course, the best way to recognize workers for a job well done is with salary or a career program such as the one the UFT negotiated," Lubin said. "But while we work on negotiation improvements in individual locals, we'll celebrate with this success of the wide variety of our SRP membership having their own day." Pride Pride in work was one of the reasons the Brewster Teachers Association was among 14 NYSUT local unions that submitted the resolution to the Legislature. Joanne Colombo, a payroll clerk in the Putnam County local, said the variety of jobs in a school district is amazing. "I deal with every employee and every contract, and I am deeply proud of the work they do," she said. Pride is what Gentilin felt this fall when school started and buildings were ready. "Teachers and support staff were reassigned among four elementary schools, one of which was under construction, and we had lost four custodian jobs to budget cuts," Gentilin said. "When the students and staff arrived Sept. 4, they walked into sparkling buildings. "That's the kind of effort our SRP members make every day on the job." - Betsy Sandberg |
|
| | |