Newsbriefs, July 2008
Jul 2, 2008 2:03 PM
1. End of Year Rating Sheets –
All speech teachers should have received a rating sheet at the end of the school year. If you receive a U rating, you should go to your UFT borough office to file an appeal. Make sure that you bring any unsatisfactory letters with you to the borough office for its review.
If you receive a letter to extend your probation or you are discontinued, you should contact your UFT borough office. The borough office will send your letters to NYSUT’s legal department for its review. Do not sign any letters without contacting your UFT borough office. It is important that you seek help and advice.
2. Paperwork Reduction Progress –
Next year our mandated attendance cards will be shaded to indicate days off, holidays and weekends. This will greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to complete these cards. Vice President Carmen Alvarez, Executive Assistant to the President Michael Mendel and I have been working to make sure that the cards are done more efficiently. Linda Wernikoff, the executive director of the New York City Department of Education, has assured us that the attendance cards will incorporate their suggestions next year. We thank her for this step in the right direction. We will continue to work for more reduction in redundant paperwork and will share more information on this matter in the fall.
3. Legislative Report –
At this time, more than 24,000 UFT members have opted in to the 55/25 early retirement plan. The state legislation that enabled this plan to take effect is a great achievement and will help many members in the future. You must opt in by Aug. 25, 2008.
4. Department of Education’s Admission and Exiting Criteria –
About 25 speech teachers this year were asked to participate in a “Child Study Project and Decision-Making Tools for Caseload Selection Including Entrance and Exit Considerations Practice Guidelines.” The DOE will use this information to create new criteria for students entering school and those who may be decertified at the middle school or high school level.
On June 23, 2008, the DOE’s Special Education Division reported to Carmen Alvarez and me that a speech consultant from Iowa has been presenting workshops to selected staff and speech supervisors this year. The UFT Speech Chapter was not invited to attend these meetings. We would like to hear from the participating speech teachers about their findings and what they thought of this new model. Please contact me at 212-598-7774 as soon as possible so I can hear your feedback about this important initiative. Our chapter wants your input, ideas and suggestions. This model will dramatically change the way services are delivered as well as entry and exiting criteria throughout the city. We have been told that workshops will begin in the fall and are targeted for preschool, middle school and high school. Please call us and leave a number so that we can reach you during the summer if you were part of this new committee. Thank you
5. Save the Date –
A. Our staff development workshops for next year are tentatively scheduled for Sept. 21, 2008, Oct. 26, 2008, Nov. 8, 2008 and April 25, 2009. We are currently working on hiring speakers for these Saturday and Sunday workshops. CEUs will be offered once again and will provide certificates for the state.
B. In addition to our workshops, the New York State Speech Language Hearing Association is having a special fall workshop entitled “Auditory Processing Disorders: Best Practices in Diagnosis and Evidence-based Treatment Options for Children.” It will be on Sept. 21, 2008 in Manhasset, Long Island. As director of schools for NYSSLHA, I want you to be able to plan for these upcoming workshops. The speakers for this presentation are Kim Tillery, PhD, CCC-A and Theresa Cinotti, MA, CCC-SLP. In this workshop, you will learn a variety of therapeutic strategies for decoding memory and organization types of central auditory processing disorders (CAPDs) related to language and literacy. Presenters will not only provide an overview of the nature of and risk factors for CAPDs and the methodology for audiological diagnosis and complementary speech-language testing, but will also provide case studies throughout the workshop.
The course fee is $160 for NYSSLHA members and $195 for non-members. NYSSHLA members also get a discount for the annual convention. Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch and program materials. For more information and to register, please call NYSSHLA at 518-786-0947 or 800-NYSSLHA (800-697-7542) or fax the organization at 518-786-9126.
6. Summer Time in the City –
All of the UFT borough offices will be open this summer for member services from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. As always, UFT headquarters, Manhattan, will remain open. Summer hours for member services will be Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
I will be in the office at the beginning of July and as needed throughout the summer. If you have an urgent message, first call the borough office for their help and expertise.
I wish all of you a happy and relaxing summer. See you in the fall.
— Mindy
