One day after approving the unification of NYSUT and NEA/NY, delegates to the RA wrote a script for that single, more powerful voice that will commit the new organization to speaking out more forcefully than ever for each of the constituencies it serves.
Recognizing the value of early childhood education, delegates on Saturday threw their support behind a recent policy statement by the state Board of Regents that calls, among other things, for full-day kindergarten in all districts, and a lowering of the compulsory kindergarten age from 6 to 5. They also supported a measure calling for a Sept. 1 age cutoff date for kids entering kindergarten.
Delegates called on the state Legislature to provide long-term funding to ensure all districts can provide a sound, basic education to all kids pre-K-12. As the state continues to stall in implementing a series of court orders to reform school funding, delegates - in a series of resolutions - urged NYSUT and its locals to support a statewide solution to the issue of school funding, and to make it a legislative priority.
With closing of the achievement gap a priority for the statewide union, delegates recommended NYSUT seek ways to direct more funding to poor rural and urban districts to help recruit and retain the best-qualified teachers.
Delegates repeated a call for more clarity in the regulations governing Academic Intervention Services and how AIS is developed, funded and provided.
Delegates called on NYSUT to work with the State Education Department to limit class sizes, particularly in elementary grades.
In a resolution noting the positive effects of smaller classes on students of color and those in big-city districts, delegates agreed the initiative is another means to help reduce the achievement gap. NYSUT and its national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, should ensure that class-size reduction is emphasized as the federal government works on reauthorization of its No Child Left Behind Act, the resolution said.
Delegates also called on NYSUT to work with AFT to convince Congress to fully fund NCLB. They urged a delay in the deadline for schools to make sure their students achieve academic proficiency under NCLB until funding and testing issues are resolved; called for more equitable ways to assess the work of English language learners; and urged tighter standards for private providers of remedial services under NCLB.
NYSUT will seek to have classes in elementary and middle-level school suspended for a week to help teachers who need to administer and score annual tests in grades 3-8 under NCLB.
Delegates committed NYSUT to seeking tighter controls on new charter schools, including measures that would: limit enrollment to no more than 5 percent of a district's total enrollment; require public hearings and voter approval of charter proposals; and ban further charter schools in Albany.
Delegates approved a pair of resolutions supporting LOTE, including incentives for college students to become teachers of Languages Other Than English and a bill in the Legislature that would fund foreign language programs in elementary schools.
They also voiced their support for school counselors, psychologists and social workers as the best-qualified professionals to provide mental health support services for students.
Higher ed
Delegates agreed to recommit NYSUT and its higher ed locals to a public campaign seeking more financial support from the state and less reliance on raising tuition. The measure calls for additional funding for community colleges, full-time faculty lines and the Tuition Assistance Program.
Delegates also committed NYSUT to seek salary equity and short-term disability coverage for all part-timers. However, a measure seeking improvements in calculating pensions for adjunct professors at CUNY was referred to the Board of Directors for further study.
Delegates called for more funding for services to give students with disabilities a better chance to attend the college of their choice, rather than only schools with the necessary support services. Noting that nationally the average ratio of college students to counselors is 1,500 to 1, delegates agreed to look at the ratios at CUNY and SUNY campuses.
They also renewed NYSUT's opposition to the so--called Academic Bill of Rights.
Health and safety
NYSUT's health care professionals lined up to support a resolution that opposes training non-medical school personnel to treat diabetic students as a substitute for hiring enough school nurses.
"You need to alert everyone at your schools to this challenge that is coming and don't compromise," said Anne Goldman, a New York City nurse who represents health care professionals on NYSUT's Board of Directors. The measure also calls for at least one full-time licensed registered nurse in every school building.
Delegates called for ways to designate a person to make health care decisions for those without a health care proxy. They pledged the union's support in encouraging school districts to prepare avian flu emergency plans; and recommending classroom temperature maximums.
Delegates also passed resolutions affirming support for the New York State Occupational Safety and Health Training Program and asking NYSUT to develop a workplace violence prevention program for health care locals and a model workplace violence policy for health care employees. They supported use of compact fluorescent light bulbs to reduce energy use and pressed for changes to OSHA's indoor air quality standards for schools, which are based on adults, not children.
Action was deferred on a measure aimed at protecting teachers from students who are not immunized. Delegates also called for a review of safety in school science labs and ordered NYSUT to seek legislation to control student-teacher ratios and lab class sizes.
SRPs
In addition to calling for an annual SRP recognition day, delegates urged NYSUT to work with SED to require that all districts provide training programs for teaching assistants. They directed the union to seek legislation mandating student-to-adult ratios for SRPs supervising students in out-of-classroom activities, and said the union should work to ensure that all School-Related Professionals receive a "living wage."
NYSUT was directed to seek amendments to Civil Service law to give civil service employees the same protections tenured teachers receive under Section 3020-A of state Education Law. Delegates also called on NYSUT to: create a mentor program for teaching assistants; consider establishing a leadership institute for SRPs; look at recruiting and training SRPs as NYSUT labor relations specialists; and consider hiring full-time facilitators from SRP ranks for SRP professional development.
BOCES
Delegates called for a more equitable state reimbursement rate for 12-month BOCES services and approved resolutions calling for restoration of the former BOCES expense-driven aid formula; offering wide support for BOCES as an education service provider; and asking NYSUT to seek legislation requiring BOCES districts to fill SRP vacancies more quickly. Delegates recommended NYSUT continue a longstanding effort to protect therapists, counselors and others against the growing practice of contracting out their jobs.
Pension and retirement
Delegates urged NYSUT to continue its vigorous defense of traditional defined-benefit pensions.
They also outlined a series of measures to correct deficiencies in Medicare's Part D prescription drug program.
With the new drug program under way, delegates moved for protection of existing programs, including the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program.
NYSUT was directed to fight for: additional service credit for teachers who contributed 3 percent of their salaries to the state retirement system beyond 10 years; improvements to the permanent Cost of Living Allowance the union helped secure from the state Legislature; pension credit for summer programs and Peace Corps service; and the elimination of accrued interest for buying back ERS service credit.
Resolutions were approved to push for legislation that would: allow military credit to be purchased under the same terms as non-military credit; let teachers apply unused sick leave to service credit; and change ERS service years from 25 to 20 with half pay.
Referred to the NYSUT Board of Directors were resolutions aimed at changing retirees' designated pension beneficiaries, and holding TIAA-CREF responsible for its investment policies.
Social justice
Delegates endorsed resolutions honoring the memory of civil rights icons Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks.
Looking to protect the rights of immigrant workers, delegates urged the union to oppose a state policy that would deny a driver's license to immigrants who cannot produce a Social Security number or prove they are in the U.S. legally; approved a special order of business supporting the AFL-CIO in its campaign for "the responsible reform of immigration laws that must protect the working conditions for all workers in the U.S.;" and defeated an amendment from the floor that called for a concurrent need to protect U.S. borders.
Delegates encouraged the purchase of fair trade products like coffee, tea and chocolate.
Citing Wal-Mart's failure to provide many of its employees with affordable health insurance, delegates urged NYSUT to support state and federal legislation that would require such large employers to follow an industry standard for providing benefits or reimburse taxpayers for the costs of providing health care.
Delegates called on NYSUT to urge members to patronize only union stores. They also recommended the union work with the AFL-CIO to publish a list of anti-union corporations and governments.
Miscellaneous
Delegates called on NYSUT to obtain more union release time for leaders of small and rural locals.
They are also seeking creation of a task force to look at ways to deal with school boards that stall contract settlements, and want NYSUT to encourage development of contract language to enhance teacher autonomy and prevent "micromanaging."
They directed NYSUT to look further into the ongoing issue of domestic partner benefits and seek to ensure that all public employees be guaranteed those benefits.
They urged NYSUT to encourage locals to provide stipends to members who complete literacy volunteer training.
NYSUT will seek changes in state education regulations to allow school districts to actively promote passage of school budgets. Proposals to put school budget approval in the hands of boards of education - as it is done in the state's Big Five cities - were referred to the NYSUT Board.
Delegates also passed resolutions asking NYSUT to lobby for legislation that would: renew the National Voting Rights Act of 1965; provide supplemental military leave, reimbursable by the state; and enhance 3014A and B worker protections to certain school employees not now covered.