Tools for schools
Is your school district committed to a healthy school environment? If so, you're invited to share your school's success story by applying for a national Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools award. The deadline for this Environmental Protection Agency program is Oct. 8. If your school is just beginning to address indoor air quality, order a Tools for Schools kit at www.epa.gov/iaq/schools.
The kit shows how to carry out a practical plan to improve indoor air problems at little or no cost.
Recession's effect
The impact of the recession on Long Island's public health is the topic of a New York Public Health Association conference Oct. 21 in Melville.
Several county commissioners of health and social services in Nassau and Suffolk counties are featured. For details, contact Bert Jablon, a member of NYSUT and UUP and president of the NYS Public Health-Long Island region, at bertjablon@hotmail.com or 516-921-5174.
Nursing shortage
A New Careers in Nursing scholarship program from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded the University at Buffalo School of Nursing $80,000 in scholarship funds. Eight students will receive $10,000 each through the Johnson Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Visit http://www.rwjf.org/ for details.
What's your biggest challenge?
The NEA Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, invites public school educators to help identify and solve education's most pressing classroom problems.
In its "Challenge to Innovate" the foundation is posting a series of challenges or questions at innovation.ed.gov. The first asks educators to share their most pressing instructional problem. The five best ideas will win $1,000 each. Get details at http://www.neafoundation.org/.
AFT secures 'i3' funding
The American Federation of Teachers has raised $1 million to leverage a four-year $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation (i3) program to strengthen and enhance the work of NYSUT's Innovation Initiative. The grant will help implement the teacher development and evaluation model being piloted in New York, including training and teaching standards for educators working with English language learners and students with disabilities.
Talking about cuts on campus
Higher Ed members: If you have a story to share about how budget cuts have affected your campus, NYSUT United wants to hear from you. To share your experiences, e-mail them to your local or chapter leader, with a copy to Darryl McGrath, NYSUT's higher ed writer, at dmcgrath@nysutmail.org. Indicate in your e-mail if you prefer that we not use your name.