NEW SCHOOL SECRETARY CHECKLIST

Union related

School Secretary Borough Coordinator & UFT Secretary Chapter Executive Committee

____ UFT School Secretaries' Contract - a legal document which contains information you should know about your union won rights regarding your wages, working conditions and terms of your employment.

____ UFT Membership Application packet - enrolls you as a voting member of your union. Introduce yourself to the UFT Chapter Leader in your school. He/she will give you an application packet and valuable information about your union privileges.

____ UFT Welfare Fund Application - enrolls you and your eligible family members in the UFT welfare fund that provides benefits such as prescription drugs, optical, dental, and hearing aids, as well as disability and death benefits. See your school's UFT Chapter Leader for an application.

____ Authorization for dues deduction - as a union member you will pay dues that are automatically deducted from your paycheck.

____ Authorization for voluntary COPE deduction - minimal amount of money which pays for our political action endeavors in government such as securing pension and COLA benefits. The money is automatically deducted from your paycheck.

____ Publications and websites: RELAY, Secretaries' newletter four times a year and NY Teacher newspaper which are mailed to your home. Secretaries' website: www.uft.org/chapter/secretary/ and UFT website: www.uft.org.

____ NYSUT/UFT pocket date book - handy for keeping track of events. Your school's Chapter Leader distributes them to members.

____ Name of your School Secretary borough and district coordinator. Click onto School Secretary Executive Committee and Borough Coordinators or see the last page of the RELAY. These union representatives will give you information and assistance when you need it.

Department related

____ O.P. 85 - Supplies personal and tax information to the Department of Education's Division of Human Resources. You should fill it out only once unless there is a change in name, address or tax information. See your school's Payroll Secretary for the form.

____ Health Insurance Application (ERB00) - enrolls you and your eligible family members in your choice of health plans provided by the City of New York. Some plans have no cost and others do. Read the Summary Program Description booklet and rate schedule, a copy of which can be requested from the Health and Welfare unit at the Department, for information and fees for individual plans. Copies of both are usually kept in the school office for reference. See your school's Payroll Secretary for an application.

____ Teacher's Retirement System (TRS) Application packet - enrolls you in a pension plan. Call 1-888-8-NYCTRS for information and an application packet. (For newly appointed Secretaries).

____ Board of Education Retirement System (BERS) Application packet - enrolls you in a pension plan. Call (718)935-2000 for information and an application packet. (For regular substitute Secretaries. You can transfer funds into TRS when you are appointed).

____ Tax Deferred Annuity Application (TDA) - enrolls you in a tax deferred savings plan that can supplement your pension plan. Call your retirement system for an application.

____ Application for Step Placement - allows you to apply for a higher step (additional money) for allowable prior paid secretarial experience. See your school's Payroll Secretary if you have not received one as part of a packet from your district office.

____ Application for Differential - allows you to apply for additional money for additional educational preparation. Read the Checklist for Coursework for more information. See your school's Payroll Secretary if you have not received one as part of a packet from your district office.

____ Direct Deposit Application - allows your paycheck to be automatically deposited to the bank of your choice. See your school's Payroll Secretary for the application.

____ Flexible Spending Account Programs - HCFSA - health care flexible spending account; DeCap - dependent care assistance program; MSC - health benefits buy-out waiver program. Ask your Payroll Secretary for information that you can read about these programs.

____ Miscellaneous Benefit Programs - Access-A-Ride Transit Benefit Program; NY College Savings Program. Ask your Payroll Secretary for information that you can read about these programs.

____ Information you should know: Sick leave (CAR-Cumulative Absence Reserve) - your bank of sick days - how it is earned and used.Storm day procedures. School safety plan procedures - availability of security, fire and shelter drills. Ordering procedures - for office supplies and Teacher's Choice, if applicable. Bulletin Board - postings of per session secretarial positions.

____ Personal file - Make copies of all forms and place them in your personal file at home. They will be invaluable for future reference, especially if you have a problem.

--THE UFT AT WORK FOR YOU--

Coursework

____ Mandatory six college credits which are two credits in "School Records and Accounts" and four credits in Education courses. These courses must be college credit bearing courses.They may be given at a community college or through the UFT.

____ The UFT offers courses at a reduced cost and are advertised in the NY Teacher, the UFT's newspaper that is mailed to your home, in the course edition supplement.

____ Thirty college credits, which include the mandatory six credits, within five years of the date noted in the Examination Announcement of the exam you took for your license. Courses may be taken at a college or through the UFT. The UFT offers courses at a reduced cost.

____ Thirty credits above your original thirty for your license if you wish to earn your Educational Differential. These credits may be earned by taking any college credit courses or by taking in-service or "P" credit courses. In-service courses are given by the Department of Education and are advertised in the booklet entitled, "Professional Development Opportunities 2002-2003" which is delivered to your school in the fall and in the spring. In the spring, you will receive information regarding summer courses. Professional credit courses or "P" courses were created by the UFT, in collaboration with the Department, in order to provide our members with low or no cost courses. They begin later in the semesters and if you are eligible for a differential, you will be mailed a letter and booklet in which you will find a coupon for registering.

_____ Thirty credits above your 60 credits if you wish to earn your Professional Differential. Same information as above.

 

Read Personnel Memorandum No. 19, which is enclosed, for full information about which courses are acceptable for each differential.