The Big Lie Blue Ribbon Afterschool 2011 Health Street Named About Big School Program Fills Benefits for Late Government Winners the Gaps Package Principal 3 7 8-9 10-11 14

February 2011

Volume 44, Number 6 Local 1, American Federation of School CSANEWS Administrators, AFL-CIO COUNCIL OF SCHOOL SUPERVISORS AND ADMINISTRATORS Chancellor Black Visits Schools Citywide Logan Joins Top City Officials at Brooklyn Site BY YURIDIA PEÑA said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who joined Ms. Black on the On Jan. 3, Cathie Black citywide tour and answered assumed the position of Schools questions from the press with Chancellor and took a tour of her. Faced with this deficit, the schools in the five boroughs mayor stated that he would seek starting with PS 262 in Brooklyn. alternative revenue sources. Upon her arrival, she was Despite expected cuts, Ms. greeted by CSA President Ernest Black hopes to make progress Logan and PS 262 Principal with a tight budget. “We want Joeletha Ferguson. every one of our children to Ms. Black said she intends to achieve their dreams,” she said. forge ahead with the implemen- “Of course, it’s not going to be tation of the Common Core easy,” said Ms. Black. Standards and accountability Although Ms. Black did not measures. Setting new policies expand on her educational phi- and strategies for schools will losophy during the press confer- take a back seat to budget issues ence, she did give a few general- because the city faces a deficit of ized statements.“We don’t want $2.35 billion and cuts all around to be teaching for the test. It has are expected. to be a holistic approach to YURIDIA PEÑA “She’s going to have to deal learning,” she said. In addition, n From left, CSA President Ernest Logan, Chancellor Cathie Black, Principal Joeletha Ferguson and Assistant with the budget we can afford,” Continued on Page 6 Principal Desiree Barter.

Labor Alert ‘Save Pensions’ Leads Legislative Agenda Mayor Takes Aim At Civil Service he Mayor’s Workforce Reform Task Force issued a Treport on Jan. 7 that is less about reform and more about redefining civil service in a way that could eviscerate the Taylor Law. It recommends eliminating seniority rights so that the city can lay off those employees with more seniority in favor of less experienced and lower-paid employees. CSA leadership is in discus- YURIDIA PEÑA sion with the Municipal Labor n CSA President Ernest Logan, above, and Executive Vice President Committee, and city and state Peter McNally, top right, exchanged greetings with community organ- colleagues to determine if the izers, religious leaders, lawmakers and others in the state task force report could jeop- Assembly chambers in Albany before walking over to the ardize CSA members and Empire State Plaza to hear Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Jan. 5 undermine rights gained at the state-of-the-state address, right. Story on CSA’s 2011 state bargaining table. legislative agenda, Page 6. 6 2 CSA NEWS February 2011

PRESIDENT’S PAGE The Mayor’s

Council of School Supervisors & Administrators American Federation of School ‘State-of-the-City’ Administrators, AFL-CIO, Local 1 16 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11241-1003 Phone: (718) 852-3000 Fax: (718) 403-0278 Creating artificial divisions within the middle class. By Ernest A. Logan www.csa-nyc.org s we struggle through a demoral- she doesn’t show up. Nothing takes the President izing recession, financial and place of equitable taxes. Yet the Mayor gave Ernest A. Logan corporate power brokers often the impression that taxing the highest earn- Executive Vice President seem determined to blame mid- ers would require an equal tax burden on Peter J. McNally dle class employees with pen- everybody else. First Vice President Randi Herman, Ed.D Asions and benefits for breaking the bank. Last If the Mayor isn’t careful, we could end Secretary I looked it was bankers who were breaking out balancing it on the backs of the middle Mark Cannizzaro the bank. class by streamlining government and, as he Treasurer put it: “save(ing) tens of millions of dollars Laverne Burrowes This scapegoating – which often targets on our workforce by reforming the anti- Vice Presidents educators – was sometimes suggested in Jermaine J. Garden, Mayor Bloomberg’s State-of-the City speech quated civil service laws.” This could become Richard Oppenheimer, on Jan. 19, which he gave at Staten Island’s a recipe for middle class job cutting. Henry Rubio, Nancy Russo, Irwin Shanes, Retiree Chapter St. George Theatre. During his speech, I He added to this brew the dash of resent- heard several recommendations I could stand ment that undermines middle class union Executive Director Operations Anita Gomez-Palacio behind, but I also heard him offer an agenda members: “City workers deserve a safe and General Counsel that could protect exceptionally rich New secure retirement, but right now, they Bruce K. Bryant Yorkers while turning portions of the middle receive retirement benefits that are far more Counsel class against each other. On the national generous than those received by most work- David Grandwetter Charity Guerra level, this scapegoating is reaching the pitch of a middle class ers in the private sector.” Comptroller civil war. No question pension costs are rising quickly because of the Phil Fodera Mayor Bloomberg knows that “one percent of New York ballooning retirement of baby boomers and investment returns Special Assistant to President City residents earned nearly 45 percent of the city’s income in that have sagged ever since Wall Street greed devastated the Gary Goldstein 2007,”(1) much worse than the national record, and the situa- Executive Director Field Services tion has gotten worse every year. I really do believe that he Audrey Fuentes worries about the vanishing middle class and the rising tide of Field Directors poverty. In his State-of-the City speech, he talked about immi- Juanita Bass, Stephen Bennett, Investment returns have sagged Phyliss Bullion, Bernard Lopez, gration reform and “spurring new jobs and opportunity . . . William Meehan, Kathleen Murphy, across all five boroughs” by creating the next great neighbor- Daisy O’Gorman, Steven M. Rosen, ever since Wall Street greed Margaret Williams hoods in Willet’s Point, Hunters Point, Coney Island and along Assistant Field Directors the Navy Homeport in Staten Island.” I was with him on that. devastated the nation in 2008. Mary Aloisio, Mildred Boyce, Joseph Costa, Charles Dluzniewski, • • • Martin Fiasconaro, Joanne Frank, Aura Gangemi, Pat Glassman, ater, I was among the first to cheer when he spoke about Ellie Greenberg, Ray Gregory, James Harrigan, gun control and about partnering with Gov. Andrew nation in 2008. Nobody can pin this state of affairs on organ- Robert Jeanette, Kate Leonard, Cuomo to overhaul the state’s juvenile detention system. ized labor or claim that we’re unwilling to talk about how we Christine Martin, Monica McDonald, L can help ease the city’s pain. We did our part during the city’s Lena Medley, Thelma Peeples, He pledged to reduce truancy, create partnerships between the 1970s’ fiscal crisis and we should have earned enough good Mercedes Qualls, Cynthia Sanders, NYPD and the clergy and compensate for cuts in federal fund- Shelli Sklar faith to be treated with respect now. ing to summer youth employment programs by raising private Grievance Director Robert J. Reich money to put thousands of young New Yorkers to work. But • • • depending on the good will of those with the kind of private Assistant Directors hile we are reasonable and concerned, Carol Atkins, Robert Colon, money he’s talking about could be like pinning all your hopes Marlene Lazar, Ph.D, we can’t forget that the vast majority on Cinderella’s fairy godmother. When you need her the most, Phyllis Casolaro Williams of public employees, including teach- Director of Communications W Chiara Coletti ers and administrators, do not have extravagant Assistant Director State of the State pensions. We should also bear in mind what Antoinette Isable Steve Allinger, Director of Legislation at NYS Director of Political Affairs United Teachers, recently said about the now- Herman Merritt popular suggestion that we shift from defined Assistant Directors John Khani benefit plans to defined contribution plans, such Sondra Peeden – Political Affairs as the private sector’s 401K: Defined contribution Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon – Governmental Affairs plans are more expensive to administer than Director of IT defined benefit plans.(2) Egal Sanchez There it was live on stage at the St. George CSA Conference Chairman Theatre: The kind of talk that could inadvertently Pierre Lehmuller get the Walmart middle manager to view the CSA Retiree Chapter Neil Lefkowitz, Chair somewhat more highly paid police officer on the Mark Brodsky, Director beat as the enemy. It could turn the local electri- CSA Historian cian against his kids’ somewhat more highly paid Jack Zuckerman high school math teacher or Assistant Principal. When the Mayor put so much of the burden CSA NEWS for our fiscal woe on public pensions, he came Editor Anne Silverstein Editorial Assistant Yuridia Peña close to sounding the kind of drumbeat against Production Consultant Michele Pacheco public servants that used to be reserved for senior Production Assistant Christine Altman executives of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Design Consultant Louis Silverstein Brothers and AIG. YURIDIA PEÑA CSA News (004-532) is published 10 times a year for $35 per year per member by n WNYW/Fox 5 reporter Ti-Hua Chang interviewed CSA President Ernest Logan fol- 1) New York Post, 1/19/11, “City’s Extreme CSA, 16 Court St., Brooklyn, NY, 11241. lowing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address in Albany on Jan. 5. Mr. Logan Rich-poor Income Divide,” Bill Sanderson, Amber Second Class Postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMAS- and CSA Executive Vice President Peter McNally attended the speech and several leg- Sutherland. TER: Send address changes to CSA NEWS, islative receptions that followed. 2) Times Union Blog, 1/19/11, “Tier 6 Proposal 16 Court St., Brooklyn, NY, 11241. May Be on Tap,” Rick Karlin. February 2011 CSA NEWS 3

COMING EVENTS Events are at CSA’s The Rich Benefit as Public Sector Brooklyn Headquarters, 16 ( Court Street, unless ) otherwise noted. Workers Are Under Attack FEB. 10, 10 AM: CSA BY ROBERT REICH covered by Social Security, so the govern- Retiree Chapter ment isn't contributing 6.25 of their pay Executive Board n 1968, 1,300 sanitation workers in into Social Security as private employers do. FEB. 14, 5 PM: Memphis went on strike. The Rev. Yes, unfunded pension liabilities in future years are a cause for concern. But it's Association of Martin Luther King, Jr. came to sup- Assistant Principals port them. That was where he lost his much the same in the private sector. The life. Eventually Memphis heard the main reason for underfunded pensions in FEB. 16, 5 PM: CSA grievances of its sanitation workers. In both sectors is investment losses that Retiree Chapter occurred during the Great Recession. Before subsequent years, millions of public Executive Board employees across the nation have benefited then, public pension funds had an average I of 86 percent of all the assets they needed from the job protections they've earned. FEB. 17, 5 PM: But now the right is going after public to pay future benefits – better than many NYCESPA Executive employees. private pension plans. The solution is no Board Public servants are convenient scape- less to slash public pensions than it is to goats. Republicans would rather deflect slash private ones. It's for all employers to FEB. 17, 5 PM: CSA attention from corporate executive pay that fully fund their pension plans. Latino Caucus continues to rise as corporate profits soar, The final Republican canard is that bar- even as corporations refuse to hire more gaining rights for public employees have FEB. 28, 5 PM: Irish n Reich: “Convenient scapegoats.” workers. They don't want stories about Wall caused state deficits to explode. In fact no American Heritage Street bonuses, now higher than before the relationship exists between states whose and Culture taxpayer bail out. And they'd like to avoid a employees have bargaining rights and Committee spotlight on the billions raked in by those The big lie states with big deficits. Some states that whose income is treated as capital gains deny their employees bargaining rights – MARCH 2, 4:30 PM: and subject to only a 15 percent tax, due to about big Nevada, North Carolina, and Arizona, for CSA District Chairs tax law loopholes designed for them. example – are running giant deficits of over MARCH 7, 5 PM: It's far more convenient to go after peo- government 30 percent. Many that give employees bar- ple who are doing the public's work – sani- gaining rights – Massachusetts, New Education tation workers, police officers, fire fighters, Compare apples to apples and you'd see Mexico, and Montana – have small deficits Administrators teachers, federal employees – and portray that over the last 15 years the pay of public of less than 10 percent. Association them as hooligans who are making off with sector workers has dropped relative to pri- Public employees should have the right your money and crippling federal and state vate-sector employees with the same level to bargain for better wages and working MARCH 8, 5 PM: budgets. The story fits better with the of education. Public sector workers now conditions just like all employees do. They ABENY Executive Republican's big lie that our problems are earn 11 percent less than comparable work- shouldn't have the right to strike if striking Committee and due to a government that's too big. Above ers in the private sector, and local workers would imperil the public, but they should Board Meeting all, Republicans don't want to have to jus- 12 percent less. (Even if you include health at least have a voice. They often know more tify continued tax cuts for the rich. As qui- and retirement benefits, government about whether public programs are work- MARCH 18-19: etly as possible, they want to make them employees still earn less than their private- ing, or how to make them work better, WNET/WLIW permanent. sector counterparts with similar educa- than political appointees who hold their Teaching & Learning But the right's argument is shot through tions.) offices for only a few years. Conference, with bad data, twisted evidence, and Don't get me wrong. When times are Hilton NY unsupported assertions. They say public ere's another whopper. Republicans tough, public employees should have to Please check with the event employees earn far more than private-sec- say public sector pensions are crip- make the same sacrifices as everyone else. pling the nation. They say politi- And they are right now. Pay has been organizer to confirm times tor workers. That's untrue when you take and dates. into account an employee’s level of educa- Hcians have given in to the demands frozen for federal workers, and for many tion. Public sector workers actually earn less of public unions who want only to fatten state workers across the country as well. than their private sector counterparts when their members' retirement benefits. They But isn't it curious that when it comes to compared in this manner. charge that public employee pensions obli- sacrifice, Republicans don't include the The Republican trick is to compare gations are out of control. richest people in America? To the contrary, apples with oranges – the average wage of Some reforms do need to be made. they insist the rich should sacrifice even public employees with the average wage of Loopholes that allow public sector workers less, enjoying even larger tax cuts that Teachers’ all private sector employees. But only 23 to "spike" their final salaries to get higher expand public-sector deficits. That means Retirement percent of private sector employees have annuities must be closed. And no retired fewer public services, and even more pres- System college degrees; 48 percent of government public employee should be allowed to "dou- sure on the wages and benefits of public ble dip," collecting more than one public employees. It's only average workers – both workers do. Teachers, social workers, public January 2011 Unit Values lawyers who bring companies to justice, pension. in the public and the private sectors – who government accountants who try to make But these are exceptions. After a career are being called upon to sacrifice. Diversified Equity: 58.207 sure money is spent as it should be – all with annual pay averaging less than Stable-Value: 19.223 $45,000, the typical newly retired public need at least four years of college. International Equity: 9.63 employee receives his is what the current Republican a pension of attack on public-sector workers is Inflation Protection: 10.689 $19,000 a year. really all about. Their version of class Socially Responsive Equity: And most of that Twarfare is to pit private-sector workers 10.577 $19,000 isn't even against public servants. They'd rather set on taxpayers' average working people against one shoulders. While another – comparing one group's modest they're working, incomes and benefits with another group's Corrections most public modest incomes and benefits – than have n An obituary for Sidney employees con- Americans see that the top 1 percent is now Roth in the December 2010 CSA tribute a portion raking in a bigger share of national income News identified him as the for- of their pay into than at any time since 1928, and paying at mer Principal of PS 124, pension plans. a lower tax rate. And Republicans would Queens. The correct school was Taxpayers are rather you didn't know they want to cut PS 134. Incorrect information directly responsi- taxes on the rich even more. was provided to the CSA News. ble for only about n An obituary for Dr. Julius 14 percent of Robert Reich is the Chancellor's Professor F. Rubin incorrectly stated the public retirement of Public Policy at the University of California middle initial of the school’s benefits. at Berkeley and served as Secretary of Labor name. He was the longtime Remember also under President Bill Clinton. He is the author Principal of the Harry A. that many public of “Aftershock,” which predicts upcoming Eiseman JHS in Brooklyn. COURTESY OF JON RICHARDS workers aren't class warfare. The Editor regrets the errors. 4 CSA NEWS February 2011

The Grievance Corner Bob Reich Enhancing the ‘Accountability’ Factor

ccountability, something administra- ments aligned to NYS standards – and an Once the Principal has entered his recom- tors have always supported, has been associated baseline measure, as well as mendation in the Tenure Notification greatly enhanced by the new steps Teacher Data Reports (when available). System, the Superintendent will review it A the Department of Education has In addition to these three categories, you and issue a final decision. established before a teacher is granted may give special consideration to gains tenure. It is imperative that CSA members demonstrated with special populations, Filling a Vacancy learn the new process and implement it including special education students, English Should a teacher be denied completion of immediately. Language Learners, and students who are probation, the Principal may fill the vacancy In the past, supervisors filled out a brief over-age and under-credited. with a new hire of his choice provided the online form to grant tenure to a teacher. The school has the budget for it, and no layoff new rubric for the “effectiveness framework” Tenure Notification System condition exists making implementation places teachers in one of four categories: The Tenure Notification System will pro- impossible under legal and contractual rules. highly effective, effective, developing and vide Principals with the following informa- You should have accessed the current list ineffective. tion for all probationary teachers: previous of probationary teachers with upcoming Before placing a teacher in one of these U-ratings, poor attendance, particularly tenure decisions via TNS early in January. New categories, a supervisor must consider: strong or weak teacher data report indicators, Upon accessing this, you will be able to pro- 1) Professional Contributions ATR status, limited time teaching at their duce one-touch data reports for those teach- rubric 2) Instructional Practice current school (less than one year) and pro- ers. Be certain to review the training mate- 3) Impact on Student Learning bation previously extended. Superintendents rial which was made available to you in mid- places will receive similar data to assist them when December. Should you have questions, con- Evidence for Documentation making tenure decisions for administrators tact your CFN for assistance. Of course, you teachers 1) To document professional contribu- including how long you’ve been working in can contact me at [email protected] with tions, you may include parent and/or stu- a school, Quality Review scores and Progress questions, concerns or comments. in one of dent feedback, attendance and punctuality, Report grades and scores. colleagial feedback, work products related to For teachers whose tenure decision are • • • four CEP goals or broader school goals, and work due in May and June, Principals must enter a A number of you have asked about pro- products related to inquiry or other teacher preliminary recommendation in January. Be fessional development requirements for groups. teams. certain to follow the timetable as announced administrators. Those of you serving under 2) The evidence to support instructional in the Principals Weekly. When you complete a NYS SBL or SBA certificate must compete practice may include classroom observations your final recommendations, you must pro- 125 hours of professional development (PD) (formal or informal), teacher work products vide feedback utilizing the four-point frame- every five years. A Principal may approve PD and annual reviews. work, offer a rationale for your tenure rec- for attendance at conferences, workshops or 3) Evidence to support a teacher’s impact ommendation, and explain the evidence you other relevant activity. on student learning may include student collected which led to your recommendation Check out the wide variety of workshops work and/or portfolios, achievement reports of granting tenure or recommending an offered through the Executive Leadership – Regents Exams, Passing Rates, or assess- extension of probation. Institute at www.csa-nyc.org.

Letters CSA AT WORK Retirement Benefits Were Grievances and Outcomes BY BOB REICH General Counsel Bruce Bryant argued can be filed if the letters violate other Deferred Salary the case at arbitration, the arbitrator clauses of the contract. In this instance, Waiting for a decision after you have ordered the administrative bar lifted the letter was removed because the DOE To the Editor: I am a former public filed a grievance, appealed the initial and the Department of Education had failed to provide the CSA member school Principal who receives one of decision and gone to arbitration can Medical Bureau to examine the with the mandatory 48-hour notice. the “generous pensions” described take more than a year. While this is Principal. Stay tuned to hear if a line- by Josh Barro and EJ McMahon in a admittedly a long time, if you don’t use of-duty injury is granted. In other grievance news: op-ed in the New York Post (Dec. 18, the grievance procedure when you feel Still other examples: • CSA has filed a grievance to address 2010). you have been wronged in salary dis- • A member worked a per session non-school based employees who were It is true: My retirement benefits putes or with work-related issues, you activity for which he was not paid. required to report to work on Dec. 27 are better than many people who lose the right to collect money owed to Promises were made but no payment during the winter blizzard that practi- worked in the private sector. But you or to have work conditions reme- followed. We filed a grievance and he cally shut down NYC. I will keep you what the writers failed to mention is died. received the 59 ½ hours he had earned. abreast of the results in this case. that for over 30 years I earned far Early last year, an Education • A high school Assistant Principal • Last, but not least, CSA awaits an less money than people with equal Administrator grieved because she said applied for a 12-month position for the arbitrator’s decision on excessed super- education and responsibilities. she had been promised a promotion 2008-2009 school year but was not visors who were working at schools As a NYC Principal, I had vast with a raise. Although the grievance hired. A grievance was filed and we where appointed supervisors received a experience in my field and years of conference was held and the EA’s super- waited for the scheduling of the arbi- performance bonus but the excessed post-graduate education. I needed to visor agreed that she had indeed prom- tration. Meanwhile, the 2009-2010 sum- supervisors were deemed ineligible for be adept in budget management, ised a raise, it was never implemented. mer job postings rolled around, and this the money. The DOE contends that educational research and managing Fortunately, the union and the mem- member reapplied. Again he was not they are ineligible because they are not personnel. In essence, this made me ber pursued the issue through negoti- hired. But he was patient, understood permanently assigned to a school; we the CEO/CFO of a multimillion-dol- ations and a demand to go to arbitra- his contractual rights to the job and had contend that they contributed to the lar organization. tion, and as a result, she’ll receive a raise confidence in CSA to fight for him. I success of a school and should share in People in the private sector with of 7 percent retroactive to July 2009. am pleased to tell you that his confi- the performance bonus. This issue dates comparable jobs made much more That money would have been lost had dence was rewarded in a settlement in back to 2007. than I did in salary and perks. We this member not filed a grievance. his favor. He will be paid as a 12-month accepted lower salaries, in part, Here’s another example of why you employee for both 2008-2009 and 2009- It is important for each member to read because we understood that our must grieve: A Principal slipped and fell 2010! the CSA contract and understand the many retirement benefits were deferred while in his office. An ambulance took • A member received a letter for her rights and protections that the union lead- compensation. him to the hospital where he was file. The member did not receive a 48- ership has negotiated for them over the –HELAINE KOBRIN, QUEENS admitted. The DOE placed an admin- hour notice when summoned to a dis- years. Principal, Retired istrative bar on the case because no one ciplinary conference. Although the If you have questions about the contract A version of this letter appeared in witnessed the accident. The grievance DOE would like you to believe that file or about a specific grievance, do not hesi- the Dec. 26 issue of the New York Post as was denied at Step III but after CSA letters cannot be grieved, a grievance tate to email me at [email protected]. well as online at the NY Post’s website. February 2011 CSA NEWS 5 State of the State Legislative Herman Agenda Merritt Accountability Is A Shared Responsibility s a former Principal, I can imag- ine nothing so disheartening as hearing from my superintend- ent that my school will be Aphased out. It would be especially terri- ble if I had repeatedly reached out to that same superintendent and asked for help only to receive a deaf ear. According to anecdotal information that we have received, that’s essentially what has happened to a number of our YURIDIA PEÑA Principals who have been blind-sided Upstate Assemblyman Karim Camara of Brooklyn, left, with the announcement that their greets CSA President Ernest Logan and Executive Vice President Peter schools will close. CSA has spoken out McNally in the New York State capitol building before Gov. Andrew in support of accountability, and CSA Cuomo’s Stat-of-the-State speech. Right, state Comptroller Thomas President Ernest Logan has repeatedly The first DiNapoli and Mr. McNally. The CSA officers spent much of the day in said that those who cannot face the visit from informal meetings with state lawmakers and their representatives. music should find another profession. But Mr. Logan and CSA also firmly believe that a Principal, Assistant Tweed Principals and a school require the sup- should Political Activists Begin Training port of the district, and that the responsibility for the success of the school is a shared one. not be Where is the accountability for the superintendents, network leaders and when the central Tweed when a school closes? Where is their accountability if a school is Principal has repeatedly asked for sup- port? Many issues cause a school to fail closed. including, but not limited to, an influx of high-need students, a surge in ELL students, a change in the neighbor- hood population, and an increase in special education students without appropriate funding and support. To that end, CSA recently released a statement about the Department of Education’s plan to close 25 schools. Some of these schools had new Principals. Some of these schools were just beginning to turn around.

CSA STATEMENT ON SCHOOL CLOSINGS CSA embraces accountability and believes that schools

ANNE SILVERSTEIN should be closed if they have failed for more than a period Volunteers CSA held its first meeting for Legislative District Coordinators, a new political of three or more years, despite receiving full support from action volunteer program for members. The LDC program will assign volunteers to interact with law- the DOE. We won’t tolerate the propagation of failure. But in the case of several of these proposed closures, we makers, fostering relationships to benefit schools and advance CSA member priorities. Assistant must ask if some of the schools are being held accountable Director Sondra Peeden, left, listens to Director of Political Affairs Herman Merritt at the Dec. 13 LDC while the structure that supports them is not. In those meeting at CSA’s Brooklyn headquarters. cases, we must inquire if the schools were really failing and by what measures they were failing. We must ask if the DOE truly put each of these schools through a thorough process to ascertain whether they had been provided ade- Award-Winning Smiles quate supports and guidance by their Superintendents and Children’s First Networks and if the Office of Student Enrollment had leveled the playing field. NY League of CSA has asked, and continues to ask, the DOE to lay bare the process by which it determined that each of these Puerto Rican schools be closed. In the case of each school, we want to know what the superintendent did besides visiting the Women schools to announce their closings. We must know how he New York League of thorough the superintendent was in the process of helping TPuerto Rican Women these schools to succeed over the last few years. held its annual awards DOE should include an analysis of the role of the ceremony on Aug. 19, Children’s First Networks (CFN). Since each school pays a 2010 at the Marina del CFN to advise them on student achievement, coach Rey in the Bronx. Principals on school improvement, and perform many Betty Gonzalez-Soto, other support functions, what sort of service did each of Principal CS 211, D-12, these 25 schools get for their money? and Marilyn Custodio, AP, Finally, DOE should assess how fairly the Office of PS 60, D-27 were among Student Enrollment minimized challenges in schools that the honorees receiving a faced so many other challenges. It is important to know if special recognition award. these institutions were sent an unusually large proportion KATHLEEN MURPHY of ELL students and children with special needs. Pictured from left: Stephen Bennett, CSA Field Director; The NYLPRW provides at Honorees least six college scholar- When every question is asked and answered, we are Betty Gonzalez-Soto, Principal CS 211, D-12, Bronx; Marilyn Custodio, ships each year to Puerto likely to discover that some of these schools can’t be saved. Assistant Principal, PS 60, D-27, Queens; Anita Gomez-Palacio, CSA Executive Rican female students. We are also likely to discover that many of them can Director Operations and Bernie Lopez, CSA Field Director. remain open and thrive, with adequate Superintendents and support networks and fair enrollment practices. 6 CSA NEWS February 2011 State Legislative Agenda Set for 2011 Early Childhood Education, Pension ‘Reform’ and Retiree Health Benefits Are Among Top Priorities BY ALITHIA RODRIGUEZ-ROLON develop a seamless and comprehensive set a high school degree. We must also take a an employers’ financial obligations. CSA of educational systems and stabble finan- close look at student placement policies to says that any change to the pension sys- Each year, CSA sets its priorities at the cial supports for children from birth to age ensure that these students are enrolled in tem must be applied to future, and not cur- state level. The union’s state legislative five. appropriate academic settings and receive rent, members. Those workers now near- agenda informs state legislators, the gov- the support they need. ing retirement would be unable to plan for ernor and other relevant groups of CSA’s TURN AROUND SCHOOLS and absorb alterations to their retirement priorities for the upcoming legislative ses- Federal School Improvement Grants PRINCIPAL LEAVE benefits. Changes to current retiree bene- sion. CSA also uses the agenda as a blue- provide funds to assist schools deemed Existing law allows public school teach- fits would result in an increased reliance print in developing a strategy for working “persistently lowest achieving.” To receive ers to request an extended leave of up to on social service programs to help pay for with lawmakers, education advocates and this money, states must demonstrate a two years to teach in a charter school. CSA health care, medication, utilities and food. other unions on issues that affect in-serv- commitment to improving a school’s per- wants public school Principals to have the ice members, retirees, our schools and early formance by selecting one of four “turn- same opportunity to work in charter RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS childhood education centers. around” models: Turnaround, Restart, schools. Allowing teachers and adminis- As health costs increase, many have School Closure, and Transformation. All trators to work in charter schools provides proposed that in-service and retiree mem- EXPAND/ENHANCE EARLY CHILD- four models call for the removal of the an opportunity to learn and apply best bers should contribute to their health pre- HOOD EDUCATION: CSA Supports S.328 school Principal. CSA wants to require an practices that can be brought back to the miums. CSA is against any proposal that Montgomery assessment of any school so identified public schools. requires current retirees to pay toward their A strong investment in early childhood before selecting an intervention model. health insurance benefits. Such changes education and the professionals that pro- PENSION REFORM would be an abrogation of the employee vide these services is a necessity. Extensive JUVENILE JUSTICE State and local governments have seen contracts under which retirees worked. research shows that children with access The state must reform its juvenile jus- an increase in required contributions to Retirees live on fixed incomes and should to high-quality early education perform tice system to ensure that young people in pension systems due to the economic crisis not have to choose between prescription better compared to children who do not residential facilities may continue earning caused by lax banking oversight and reck- drugs and food, rent and utilities. receive these services. S.328 would require educational credits. Unfortunately, less practices in the finance industry. This is a slightly edited version of the the NYS Education Department (SED), in teenagers often return to the community Lawmakers have offered proposals to dras- agenda. For the full version, visit the CSA web- consultation with other state agencies, to without the support they need to strive for tically alter the pension system to decrease site at www.csa-nyc.org. Chancellor Black Visits ‘Say Hey Kid’ Wows the Crowd Again Schools Citywide Continued from Page 1 ers; teachers make every profession hap- the Mayor stressed accountability for edu- pen,” said Ms. Forcer. She added that she cators and raising expectations of stu- was shocked to hear about former Schools dents. Chancellor Joel Klein’s resignation, During the tour of PS 262, which is adding, in reference to Ms. Black, “She located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, visitors has a lot to do.” observed fourth graders during a lesson After PS 262, Ms. Black and Mayor Bloomberg visited North Queens Community High School; the High School for Violin and Dance, Bronx; the Democracy Preparatory Charter School, Manhattan and the Richard A. Hungerford School, D-75, in Staten Island. Although Ms. Black’s lack of education YURIDIA PEÑA credentials raised eyebrows from parents, n Hall of Famer Willie Mays visited PS 46 in Harlem, where the Polo school advocates and elected officials, NYS Grounds once stood. (That’s the stadium where Mays made what will Education Commission David Steiner forever be known as ‘The Catch’ for the NY Giants during game 1 of granted a waiver to confirm the appoint- the 1954 World Series.) Mr. Mays told students about when he was on ment provided the Mayor appoint a sec- the team, and about his life in Harlem, his adopted hometown. The ond-in-command with the appropriate assembly concluded with an excited rendition of ‘Take Me Out to the education credentials. Deputy Chancellor Ballgame.’ The Principal is George Young, right. n Mayor Bloomberg visited several classes at Shael Polakow-Suransky was selected as PS 262 with Chancellor Black. the first Chief Academic Officer. In his new position, Mr. Polakow-- led by Stephanie Forcer, a veteran English Suransky, a former Principal and founder teacher. of a Bronx high school, will oversee cur- “You know what they say about teach- riculum and testing.

Achievement Gap Remains Large uring the Mayor’s Jan. 3 press con- the mayor arrived. ference at PS 262, Mr. Bloomberg According to a statistician at the Dcredited his administration for nar- National Center for Education Statistics rowing the achievement gap between which administers the national standard- black and Hispanic students in comparison ized test, the city made no statistically sig- to their Caucasian and Asian peers. nificant progress in closing the racial According to a report released last year, achievement gap betwen 2003 and 2009. about 40 percent of black students and 46 (Historian Thomas Sugrue says African- percent of Hispanic students in grades Americans made the biggest gains in the three through eight met the state’s profi- 1970s not today.) ciency standards in math, compared to 75 percent of Caucasian students. n 2002, 31 percent of black students were The latest state math and English tests, Iconsidered proficient in math, for exam- however, show that the proficiency gap ple, while 65 percent of white students between minority and white students has met that standard. Therefore, disparities returned to about the same level as when continue to be significant. February 2011 CSA NEWS 7

From 30% to 97% Passing! NATION ‘Blue Ribbon’ Leaders Honored Labor DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: BY YURIDIA PEÑA No Sick Days Over 44 million American workers PS 254, D-27, and PS 335, D-16, were (representing 42% of the private named 2010 National Blue Ribbon Schools sector workforce) have no paid sick and their respective Principals, Naomi days, according to the Institute for Drouillard and Dr. Laverne Nimmons, each Women’s Policy Research. The received the Terrel H. Bell Award for National Partnership for Women & Outstanding School Leadership. Families is hopeful this data will be Each year, the Blue Ribbon Schools a wake-up call for Congress to cor- rect gross, inadequate work poli- Program honors public and private schools cies. (Workers Independent News) that are high performing or have brought student achievement to high levels espe- WISCONSIN: cially among disadvantaged youngsters. Last year, the US Department of Education, Health Care which sponsors the program, announced House Republicans are reportedly 304 winners, two of which were in NYC. pushing hard for a repeal of the An awards ceremony was held in Affordable Health Care Act which, Washington DC in November. if successful, could deny health At PS 254, test scores rose consecutively insurance to 30 million Americans. during the last two years for all students In addition, according to the including those in special education and Congressional Budget Office, such English Language Learners. a move would cause the federal budget deficit to rise to $230 bil- “We did not have a wide sub group that YURIDIA PEÑA was not making progress,” said Ms. n On Dec. 17, 2010, PS 254 celebrated its Blue Ribbon Schools award. That’s PS 254’s Principal lion in the next ten years and $1.2 trillion in the ten years after that. Drouillard. The school is comprised of 66 per- Naomi Drouillard on the left. Joining her for the joyous occasion were fellow Blue Ribbon Schools (Workers Independent News) cent Hispanic, 18 percent Asian, 8 percent winner Dr. Laverne Nimmons, right, and CSA First Vice President Randi Herman. Caucasian and 7 percent African American. NEW YORK: parents that they and their children were help struggling students individually. “We PS 335 Presented Challenges “brilliant … Now they believe in themselves teach the children the same concepts using Status Of Women In 2003, Dr. Nimmons faced many chal- and they believe they can do anything,” she different methods in a smaller group,” she The UN Commission on the Status lenges when she assumed the Principalship said. said. of Women will explore the theme at PS 335 in the Bedford Stuyvesant neigh- Her school, PS 335, reached the greatest Most teachers at PS 254 are novice edu- “access and participation of women borhood in Brooklyn. Only 30 percent of her gains of any fourth grade in New York State cators, so professional development is a key and girls to education, training, sci- students were passing on the standardized in 2009 math and ELA scores. “We have component to success. Teachers meet daily ence and technology, including the math tests and only 26 percent were passing very high expectations for our children” and during their common prep time to discuss promotion of women’s equal acess the English Language Arts. Today, 97 percent the school supports the work the teachers their respective grades, which ultimately to full employnment and decent are passing math and 87 percent are passing perform, Dr. Nimmons said. leads to a continuum of planning and teach- work” at its 55th session in New York English; the school’s dramatic turnaround “Teachers [have] got to know how to get ing styles. The differentiated instructional in February/March 2011. Public has become the pride of its neighborhood. it right and they need support,” she said techniques used for special education stu- Services International, Education Her population is more homogenous than This year, the school has already received dents are also applied to the general popu- International and the International Ms. Drouillard’s; PS 335 now has 429 stu- half a million dollars in grants that will be lation. “We create an educational environ- Trade Union Confederation will dents, almost all black or Hispanic, and the used for beautification and renovation proj- ment that makes the teacher want to teach,” have a strong trade delegation. vast majority receive free lunch. ects. said Ms. Drouillard. (Public Services International) Dr. Nimmons’ first leadership strategy The arts are an important component of CONNECTICUT: was approaching the parents in her school Emphasis on Intervention the school culture as well. During a Blue community and boosting their confidence. Every student at PS 254, said Principal Ribbon Award celebration on Dec. 17 at PS Seeking Input She changed the cultural paradigms of the Drouillard, is offered Academic Intervention 254, all the grades participated – they sang, Newly-elected Governor Dan school and community by persuading the- Services. Teachers use different strategies to danced, played instruments, recited poetry Malloy, who has the difficult task of and gave multi-media presentations. resolving a $3 billion budget deficit, Where does the funding come from? As has taken the problem to the peo- do many school leaders, “We apply for ple, asking for their input. Via email, Catholic Teachers Association grants all over the place,” said Ms. the Governor praised state employ- Drouillard. For example, the Shubert ees and asked for a dialogue. He Foundation presently helps fund her the- expressed his desire to hear “out-of- ater program. the-box” thinking and new ideas to The school also offers a cluster enrich- resolve the difficult issues facing the ment program during the school day where state. (Workers Independent News) teachers lead lessons in jewelry making, sign language, pillow making, yoga, glee club, INDIANA: soccer and community service. Protesting Bill Long on Experience The Indiana AFL-CIO sent 75 gro- Ms. Drouillard began her career more cery and food processing workers to the Indiana statehouse to lobby than 20 years ago in 1989 as a sixth-grade against a right-to-work bill that for- classroom teacher. Her first supervisory posi- bids so-called “closed shops” that tion was as a Magnet Coordinator. She later require workers to join a union. became an Assistant Principal at PS 206 in Twenty-two states have such laws; Queens and was appointed founding the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Principal of PS 254 in 2004. is lobbying for it, believing it will Dr. Nimmons earned a bachelor’s degree help Indiana attract new jobs. in early childhood education and a master’s Proponents of the bill, including degree in education from Queens College. the United Food and Commercial She received a Ph.D in educational leader- Workers, say the bill will “depress ship from Fordham University. wages and force people onto gov- KATHLEEN MURPHY For more information on the Blue Ribbon ernment assistance”. The House n The Catholic Teachers’ Association of the Diocese of Brooklyn honored CSA Executive Schools program, visit the US Department of Employment Committee is to hear Director Field Services Audrey Fuentes and Principal Lisa Esposito at its annual Christmas din- Education website at www2.ed.gov/pro- two versions of the bill. Governor ner/dance on Dec. 1. Ms. Fuentes received the St. Therese of Lisieux Award. Ms. Esposito, the grams/nclbbrs. The Terrel H. Bell Award, named Daniels is pushing for more discus- Principal of PS 203, Brooklyn, received the Dr. Irene Impellizzeri Award. Dr. Dorita Gibson, DOE for the former U.S. Secretary of Education, rec- sion as the bill is controversial. Senior Supervising Superintendent, was presented with the Msgr. Thomas Noonan Award. The ognizes outstanding school leaders and the role (www.wibc.com) event was held at Russo’s on the Bay. Dr. Gibson, Edward Rice, CTA President, Ms. Fuentes and they play in developing schools that face severe — COMPILED BY Ms. Esposito. challenges. (Terrel H. Bell was the Secretary of CHRISTINE ALTMAN Education under President Ronald Reagan.) 8 CSA NEWS February 2011 Integrated After-School P

n Lois Lee, left, discusses a bulletin board created by these five-year-olds on the words and thoughts of Martin Luther King Jr. Her project-based curriculum is inspired by holidays of the year as well as other events. “What we try to do is make things relevant to their lives,” Ms. Lee said.

At PS 20, the Principal, APs and Teachers Work With After-school Program Supervisor Lois Lee to Provide a Continuum of Education

BY ANNE SILVERSTEIN cheerleading or other clubs, so they arrive for after-school when they’re done. et Lois Lee talking about the But back to the subjects that Ms. Lee wants this inequities of the city day care system reporter to write about: 1) creating a collaborative and you’d better have a lot of time. partnership between after-school programs and She knows facts and figures off the NYC’s public schools, and 2) establishing partner- top of her head, has an institutional ships between public school Principals and early memory that goes back 40 years, and learning childhood schools/Day Care Centers canG describe in detail the changes the city has under the auspices of ACS – the Administration made in recent years that make little sense to her. for Childrens’ Services. Ask her to talk about herself, and she has a lot less to say – she just doesn’t want to be the focus n the past five years, much has changed in how of an article. the city provides subsidized child care for work- Ms. Lee is the Program Director of the School ing New Yorkers. But one of the biggest changes Age Day Care at PS 20, D-25, Queens, an Out-of- Itook place when the city removed school-age School Time program run by the Chinese- programs as well as kindergarten children from American Planning Council. (Ms. Lee is also the Day Care Centers and placed them in schools. This CSA Day Care District Chair for Queens and left empty classrooms at Day Care Centers and a among the union’s most active members.) She is hole in their budgets and destroyed a continuum responsible for the education and care of about of education that had existed between the centers 200 children from 2:30 to 6 p.m. at the Flushing and the neighborhood schools. elementary school, (which during the day has a “How can you have UPK for four-year-olds, no population of about 1,500). Most of the kids come mandatory school for fives, and school starts at from PS 20 but the program pulls from many of six?” Ms. Lee asked rhetorically. “They tried to the schools in the neighborhood as well. recreate the wheel but somehow they lost the Even after many of the PS 20 children have fives,” she added. In addition, because of that gap gone home for the day, the building remains a in care, the relationship between Day Care bustling community. Centers and schools was lost. Day Care Centers The after-school kids are busy in classrooms, once were “feeder schools” for their local public working with teachers on homework assignments schools, and Principals and Day Care Center Happy faces! or the after-school’s project-based curriculum. Directors had a relationship. That continuum was (The Lunar New Year and Martin Luther King’s destroyed, Ms. Lee said, and a tie that is vital in n The children in the after-school program at PS 20 are busy from work and ideals were the theme when this helping children succeed in school. “Because they the moment they have their hot snack to the moment their parents reporter visited.) Or they’re playing basketball in lost the fives, they lost that collaboration.” pick them up by 6 p.m. They get homework help, work on projects, the gym with Ms. Lee’s staff. Or they’re enjoying Another problem was created when a good have physical education sessions (sports or dance), and take other themselves in the large, indoor atrium/play- concept – free after-school care for all – was under- classes including cooking! ground. They’ve all had a hot meal upon their funded, said Ms. Lee. School-age day care in the arrival so they’re energized and ready for work “old” days was meant for low income, working PHOTOS BY ANNE SILVERSTEIN and play. And some of the kids are busy with parents with few choices. Now the program has February 2011 CSA NEWS 9

NATION Program Fills the Gaps Education ARIZONA: Controversial Class The Tuscon district was given 60 days to stop teaching a Mexican- American ethnic studies class (that presents American history from a Mexican-American per- spective) or lose 10% of its state funds. The state contends the classes divide students racially to be taught separately and violate state law. The district contends the classes comply with the law and provide lasting impact to stu- dents. (Education Week)

NEW JERSEY: Funding Battle A landmark case over education funding has resumed with NJ Supreme Court. The Education Law Center, an advocate for urban- school funding, says Gov. Chris Christie’s cuts of over $1 billion last year violate the Court’s order to fully fund education for three n One of the 14 classrooms that Ms. Lee supervises during years. Christie’s administration the after-school program. deviated from the formula that was to be tested during the three year period and disproportionally affected some districts. Christie has criticized the court for its involvement in state budget deci- sions and seeks to remake the court. (Wall Street Journal)

n From left: Assistant Principals Patrick Foy and Cynthia DiBello, Principal Victoria Hart (seated), Lois Lee and Assistant Principal Janice Eagen. All agree that the collaboration between PS 20 and the after-school program provides “seamless” instruction for the kids.

n One of the students reads aloud from a bulletin board.

Parents think UTAH: Graduation Rise they’ve won the The graduation rate has risen to about 90% for the class of 2010 but the number could drop this lottery when a spot year as all states will be required by the federal government to use opens for their child. the same formula to calculate graduation rates. The main differ- ence will be in categorizing no eligibility requirements and is open to everyone, “unknowns” -- students who have she said. That initially created a 600-child waiting list, not informed the district that they Ms. Lee said, and she was forced to freeze the waiting are dropping out, transferring list. “When we call up a family, it’s like winning the elsewhere or moving. Though dis- lottery, they say,” Ms. Lee said. tricts try to keep track, it is diffi- cult where families are very t PS 20, the partnerships Ms. Lee says are so nec- mobile. If “unknowns” were counted, this year, the graduation essary to the educational success of children are rate would have been 75%. (The firmly in place. A Salt Lake Tribune) “Seamless” is how PS 20 Principal Victoria Hart describes the transition for her students from their regular day of instruction to Ms. Lee’s after-school RHODE ISLAND: program. Good Morning Start “That connectivity we have, of resources and com- Breakfast in the classroom is munication, makes it real special for the kids,” she slated to be offered in all 25 of said. With PS 20’s teachers in constant touch with the Providence’s elementary schools after-school program teachers, the expectations for by mid-April. It is hoped more stu- the children are consistent with no interruption of dents will opt for the federally curriculum or instruction, Ms. Hart said. “When it funded breakfast, available K-12, comes to the educational goals, we are really in sync,” no matter family income. said, Ms. Lee. Students who already partake Said Janice Eagen, Assistant Principal: “There’s a reportedly are more focused and tremendous collaboration between [the Chinese- teachers say it’s a nice way to start American Planning Council] and PS 20. There’s (con- the day. (The Providence Journal) stant) communication between Lois, teachers, stu- — COMPILED BY dents and parents. It’s built a tremendous sense of CHRISTINE ALTMAN n Playing basketball and other sports is part of the physical education component. community in the building.” 10 CSA NEWS February 2011 The Welfare Fund: Comprehensive Summary Of Health Benefits DOE In-Service Members Douglas V. Hathaway, Ph.D. Subject to $150 deductible and payable at 80 percent up to $2,000 maximum. GHI – Supplemental benefits for expenses not fully reimbursed by he chart on these your basic city plan. pages presents a sum- mary of the benefits – Physical and speech therapy, up to 20 office visits ($75 per visit). T provided by the three – Podiatry, eight office visits. funds administered by the – Orthotics, two pair per year, $400 maximum. CSA Welfare Fund. Each Supplemental – Appliances and emergency ambulance. fund, by action of the Medical – Wigs (two annually) for alopecia or cancer, $1,000 maximum annually. respective Board of Trustees, HIP – Supplemental benefits for expenses not fully reimbursed by has developed a benefit your basic city plan. package designed to supple- – Physical and speech therapy, up to 20 office visits ($75 per visit). ment and complement the basic health care coverage – Podiatry, not routine issues, four office visits. provided by a participant’s – Private duty nurses. employer. Other HMO – Coverage similar to HIP supplemental coverage, see above. The Trustees and the administrators have care- Our Deductible $1,500, reimbursement of 80 percent to $1,000 then reimburse- fully developed the various benefit Catastrophic ment of 100 percent to $50,000 maximum annually, per patient, for covered Fund benefits to meet the Stop Loss medical services based on reasonable and customary charges. needs of participants and (Hospital charges excluded.) for those benefits to be sus- program tainable in less than rosy is among economic times. Home Health Not applicable. Contributions to each fund the best are determined during col- Aide lective bargaining. As all are in the city. aware, the city has shown little interest in negotiating Psychiatric Outpatient co-pays for HMO member are reimbursed subject to $150 new contracts. As a result, deductible. we must ensure that we can fund our benefit program Choice of two plans: now and in the future without reducing benefits. SIDS – Cap at $7,500 based on fee schedule. $25 deductible, waived for The CSA Welfare Fund and the CSA Retiree Welfare Fund provide benefits for our Department Dental diagnostic and preventive services. $50 co-pay for certain services. of Education members that are similar or superior HEALTHPLEX – HMO/restricted to participating providers. to those in the UFT. CSA benefits compare very favorably to UFT benefits for in-service members with essentially similar dental, optical, and prescrip- Eligibility: Every three years. Maximum of $600. $35 co-pay when partici- tion drug benefits. The CSA Welfare Fund adds sup- Hearing Aid pating provider is used. Exam is not covered. plemental medical benefits, and does not imple- ment step therapy in the prescription drug pro- gram. Optical benefits are provided annually as Laser Vision Eligibility: Once in a lifetime. Maximum of $500 reimbursement to defray compared to every two years for UFT members, and Correction cost of surgery. Participating providers available for discount. CSA adds a catastrophic Stop-Loss medical benefit Surgery that limits out-of-pocket costs to $1,750 annually, a benefit not provided by the UFT. Day Care benefits Visual Aid Not applicable. are similar to those provided by Local 205. Machine The CSA Retiree Welfare Fund provides, arguably, the best retiree benefit package in the city. Eligibility: Every 12 months. Participating providers. Services include exam The Fund has added several benefits over the years Optical (NY only), frames within benefit allowance and lenses. Free Choice pro- designed to help with excess costs incurred with vides $65 maximum reimbursement to member for all services. age. Notable among these benefits is the reimburse- ment for home health aide and private duty nurs- ing. Home health aides can be reimbursed to a Annual cap of $15,000. Deductible applicable when local pharmacy is maximum of $6,000 annually with a lifetime maxi- used: $50 (per person), $150 (family maximum). mum of $18,000. Private duty nursing, upon certi- Co-pays: 10 percent for generics, 25 percent preferred brands, 35 percent fication of need from your medical provider, is non-preferred brands. reimbursed to a maximum of $10,000 annually Mandatory mail service after original fill and two refills. with no lifetime maximum. Prescription When you factor in the low deductible for the Mail service includes no deductible (60-day supply). Catastrophic Stop-Loss medical benefit – $1,000 – Drugs Co-pays: $10 for generics, $25 for preferred brand, $35 for non-preferred and an additional 15 percent reimbursement that brands. the CSA Retiree Chapter pays to Chapter members Note: Anti-inflammatory and H2 antagonist drugs are not covered at local for many benefits including home health aide and pharmacies; they are only covered through mail service after the Welfare private duty nursing, CSA retirees enjoy a very rich Fund receives a letter of medical necessity and approves exception. benefit package to supplement the free basic health care provided to city retirees. Domestic Documentation required: NYC registry and proof of primary medical cover- • • • age through partner’s own employment or member’s city plan. e are continually looking for ways to Partnership improve benefits and service. Soon, we plan Wto send email updates containing important Premium: $25.10 (no drug coverage). Premium: $74.80 (with drug coverage). reminders or tips, and we’re redesigning our web- COBRA Members are eligible for 18 months. Dependents for 36 months. site to allow members to request optical, hearing, and laser vision vouchers by email. We’re making Life Insurance $10,000 for members only. these changes so that we may continue to provide exceptional service to our members. Survivors Coverage for CSA active benefits continue for five years at no charge. If you have questions about your benefits, call me at Additional benefit: continuation of city coverage (through COBRA); premium (718) 624-2600 or email me at [email protected]. is reimbursed for first two years. February 2011 CSA NEWS 11 Package of Health Benefits,2011

Day Care Members Retirees/DOE Members Only

Subject to $150 deductible and payable at 80 percent to $10,000 maximum Subject to $100 deductible and payable at 80 percent/$5,000 maximum. HIP – Supplemental benefits for expenses not fully reimbursed by your GHI & HIP: Supplemental benefits for expenses not fully reimbursed by basic city basic city plan. plan. Physical/speech therapy – 20 office visits ($75 per visit); podiatry, eight office – Physical and speech therapy for up to 30 office visits ($75 per visits; orthotics, two pair annually - $400 maximum; appliances; emergency ambu- visit). lance/ambulette (by review only – $2,500 maximum); anesthesia; radiation/ – Routine podiatry care, four annual office visits. chemotherapy costs (exclusive of drugs); in- and out-of-hospital surgery; surgical – Appliances/oxygen/emergency ambulance/anesthesia/private stockings – three pair per year and maximum $100; portable toilet, one annually; duty nurse. wigs (two per year) for alopecia or cancer treatment to a $1,000 per year maximum; – Wigs (two annually) for alopecia or cancer, $1,000 maximum private duty nurse to a maximum of $10,000, separate $100 deductible, paid at 80 annually. percent; multi-focal lens at $500 per eye (once in a lifetime benefit). $300 hospital – Orthotics, two pair annually/$400 maximum. admission fee to a maximum of $750. HIP/HMOs only Office visit co-pays reimbursed; $100 deductible; payable at 80 percent Medicare-eligible only: Chiropractic benefit after Medicare allowance.

Not applicable. Deductible is $1,000, reimbursement of 80 percent to $1,000 then reim- bursement of 100 percent to $50,000 maximum annually, per patient, for covered medical services based on reasonable and customary charges (Hospital charges excluded.)

Not applicable. Coverage includes post hospitalization with physician authorization and home health aide certification required. $100 deductible. Payable at 80 per- cent with an annual maximum of $6,000. Lifetime maximum of $18,000.

Outpatient co-pays for HMO member are reimbursed subject to a Outpatient co-pays for HMO member are reimbursed subject to $100 $150 deductible. deductible.

Choice of three plans: Choice of four plans: SIDS – Cap at $7,500; fee schedule; no deductible; SIDS – Cap at $7,500 based on fee schedule. $25 deductible, waived no co-pays. HEALTHPLEX – An HMO and thus restricted to participating for diagnostic and preventive services. $50 co-pay for certain services. providers. AMERICAN DENTAL PLAN Of fLORIDA – Restricted to partic- HEALTHPLEX – HMO/restricted to participating providers. ipating providers and only available to Florida residents. DELTA – an HMO DELTA – HMO/restricted to participating providers. and thus restricted to participating providers.

Eligibility: Every three years. Maximum of $600. $35 co-pay when Eligibility is every three years. Maximum is $600. $35 co-pay when partici- participating provider is used. Exam is not covered. pating provider is used. Exam is not covered.

Not applicable. Eligibility is once in a lifetime. Maximum is $500 reimbursement to defray cost of surgery. Participating providers available for discount.

Not applicable. Eligibility is once in a lifetime. Maximum of $500.

Eligibility: Every 12 months. Participating providers. Services include Eligibility: Every 12 months. Participating providers. Services include exam exam (NY only), frames within benefit allowance and lenses. Free Choice (NY only), frames within benefit allowance and lenses. Free Choice pro- provides $65 maximum reimbursement to member for all services. vides $65 maximum reimbursement to member for all services.

Annual cap of $10,000. GHI non-Medicare: Refund of prescription co-pays at 80 percent after In-Service members pay 20 percent at local pharmacy with no $100 deductible is met with a $5,000 maximum. deductible. Mandatory mail service after initial fill and one refill. Mail GHI Medicare D: Co-pay reimbursement at 100 percent only for excess of service provides a two-month supply with no deductible. Co-pays: annual applicable True-Out-Of-Pocket-Cost. In 2011, that’s $4,550. $10 for generics and $25 brand names. HMO Medicare/non-Medicare: Prescription co-pay reimbursement at 80 Retired (Non-Medicare) pay a $50 deductible/annual cap $1,500 percent after $100 deductible is met to $5,000 maximum. per person. Co-pays: 20 percent at local pharmacies; mail service Diabetic medications: Covered by all city basic plans until member is eli- provides a two-month supply with a $50 deductible. Co-pays: $8 for gible for Medicare, then covered by Medicare Part D. generics; $15 for brand names. PICA (through Express Scripts) Program: Covers injectible and Retired (Medicare) will be reimbursed prescription co-pays at 100 chemotherapy medications only for non-Medicare eligible members. percent up to an annual maximum of $1,500 per person.

Documentation required: NYC registry and proof of primary medical Documentation required: NYC registry and proof of primary medical cover- coverage through partner’s own employment or member’s city plan. age through partner’s own employment or member’s city plan.

Premium: $68.35; members are eligible for 18 months. Dependents Premium is $63.05. Dependents are eligible for 36 months. are eligible for 36 months. $10,000 for active members only. Not applicable. Not applicable. Coverage for CSA retiree benefits continues for five years at no charge. Additional benefit: COBRA continuation of CSA retiree benefits for lifetime is available after survivor benefits are exhausted at current COBRA rate. 12 CSA NEWS February 2011

DOE Delays Safeguarding Schools Ray Garcia Special Ed Safer With Weapons Scanning Initiative believe that most parents, stu- and assaults dropped by 33 percent. dents, Principals and teachers So far, we have avoided the mass BY CSA NEWS STAFF support a weapon detection carnage that other schools and uni- program in their schools. versities have experienced, and I The Department of Education has Whether it’s a metal detec- believe the deterrents we have in announced that Phase 1 of the Special Itor or a scanner, I believe the place have helped. Our mission to Education Initiative has been extended communities we serve feel safer prevent fear, crime and disorder pushing back the implementation of knowing we’re keeping knives and to create a suitable environ- Phase 2 for one year. Phase 2 will not and guns out of classrooms. ment for learning is partly achieved begin until school year 2012-13 after all We now have 79 full-time and by preventing any weapons or danger- 260 Phase 1 schools have been through nine part-time scanning programs. (A ous instruments from entering our schools one annual review cycle. part-time program provides random scan- in the first place. CSA believes this change was en- ning.) We also have unannounced mobile • • • acted in response to the information scanning programs in place. compiled and disseminated from a CSA Occasionally, however, I still hear from any of us remember a time when you member survey on the special educa- In 2010, those who question the value of these pro- could board a plane, enter a court or tion initiative as well as member corre- we found grams. They ask me if these programs are nec- Mgo to school without going through a spondence with CSA, which was shared essary or are over-the-top measures in schools. metal detector. Life has changed a great deal with the DOE, said First Vice President five guns The answer isn’t a yes or no: I provide them in the past 50 years. Randi Herman. with the numbers. Last year, we recovered five The killings at Virginia Tech, Columbine The delay will allow for more com- and 495 guns as well as 495 weapons. (The schools High School and last month in Omaha, NE, plete, in-depth professional develop- reported a total of 240 assaults including where a high school student shot and killed a ment for school-based supervisors and other attacks on 20 teachers.) Crime statistics have Vice Principal and wounded the Principal, are network staff, said Dr. Herman, which made it clear that we are much safer with the horrible reminders that schools are targets for means all personnel will be better weapons. assistance of modern security technology. violence. Through effective and proactive trained and in better position to suc- While we still have our work cut out for safety measures, we can make our children cessfully meet student needs. us, I'm proud to say that our collaborative safer. “CSA is gratified that members stood efforts with our "Partners in Crime Fighting" – up and advocated for what they believe CSA, UFT, Local 237, NYPD Counterparts, and Need assistance with crime prevention at your would be the right thing to do for kids,” others – we saw a 7 percent decrease in major school? Contact Ray Garcia, Director, Division of said Dr. Herman. incidents. Robberies were down 41 percent School Safety, at [email protected].

In Memoriam

Assistant Principal Brunilda Berrios, Retiree Chapter Secretary teaching at PS 5. He served as the Assistant Assistant Principal 54, died on Jan.11 after suffering a heart Principal of PS 18 from 1959 to 1964. Mr. attack. Born in Canovanas, Puerto Rico, Stern also supervised summer school and she moved to NYC with her family as a the school district’s latchkey program, and Brunilda child and later earned a bachelor’s degree Aaron Stern he worked as an instructor at Wagner and a master’s degree in administration, Aaron Stern, 83, College. In 1967, he became PS 52’s from Fordham University. the Retiree Chapter Principal where he remained until his Berrios Ms. Berrios taught during the late Secretary, a long- 1991 retirement. In 1995, the superin- 1970s and became an administrator in time elementary tendent asked him to take over PS 50 for 1983 in District 12, the Bronx. In 2009, school educator one year. In 1996, PS 52 named its play- she became the Assistant Principal at JHS and a staunch ground after him. 22, D-9, also in the Bronx. She was instru- union supporter, Mr. Stern represesented District 31 as mental in developing the school into died on Dec. 26 a CSA Chair for 20 years. For several years, small learning communities. This June, after a battle with he represented the Retiree Chapter in the in her honor, an eighth grader will receive leukemia. He also Council of Municipal Retiree the Brunilda Berrios Award at graduation. served for many Organizations of NYC, NYC Association “She loved to dance and laugh,” said her n Aaron Stern. years as an officer for Retired Americans and the American Principal, Linda Rosenbury, as she of the Retired Federation of School Administrators. Mr. described Ms. Berrrios. Ms. Berrios had School Supervisors Association. In addi- Stern belonged to many organizations planned to retire this spring. “She was a tion, Mr. Stern was an involved member including the SI Teachers Association dedicated educator,” said Jose Cruz, a UFT of the Staten Island Regional Unit of the Committee on the Handicapped. retiree and Ms. Berrios’ partner. The cou- Chapter. Condolences may be sent to his wife, ple planned to marry this May and move Mr. Stern graduated from Wagner Camille, at 225 Lyndale Ave., Staten Island, to Puerto Rico. College and earned a master’s degree in NY, 10312. Donations made be sent to Ms. Berrios is survived by her children, education at Hunter College; he took post- Staten Island Giving Circle. Make checks Brunilda Vasquez and Enrique Rosa graduate courses at NYU. He also served payable to Evelyn Kormanik; mail to Berrios. Condolences may be sent to Mr. for two years in the US Coast Guard. In Staten Island Giving Circle, c/o Casey Cruz at 2045 Hermany Ave., Bronx, NY 1953, Mr. Stern began what would be 40 McCallum Rice Funeral Home, 30 Nelson n Assistant Principal Brunilda Berrios. 10473. years as an educator on Staten Island Ave., Staten Island, NY 10308. n BARBARA GLICKENSTEIN, 79, of Palm Secretary. She taught English and Social n SEYMOUR SALIT, 84, died on Dec. 29, may be sent to her at 5 Thomas Paine Dr., Beach, FL, a former Assistant Principal, died Studies at Curtis High School from 1970 to 2010, in Phoenix, AZ. He was married for 62 Monroe Township, NJ 08831. on Nov. 4, 2010. She retired from PS 7, Bronx, 1975, took a hiatus to raise her children and years to Vivian Salit, a former special educa- n LEONARD ZUCKERMAN, 81, of Bellmore, in 1991. Condolences may be sent to her returned as a substitute teacher at New Dorp tion administrator who retired in 1994. NY, died on Sept. 16, 2010. The former super- husband, Frank, at 3400 Paul Ave., Apt. H, High School from 1982 to 1987. After a brief Condolences may be sent to Vivian at 511 E. visor at PS 225, Queens, retired in 1984. Bronx, NY 10468. stint at a private school, she returned to New Tuckey Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85012. Donations Condolences may be sent to his son, Seth Dorp in the social studies department. In may be sent to the Hospice of the Valley Zuckerman, at 2198 Jacqueline Ave., North n MARTIN LEBOWITZ died on Oct. 26, 2010. 2001, until her retirement in 2007, she served Development Fund, 1510 E. Flower St., Bellmore, NY 11710. Mr. Lebowitz is survived by his wife, Marilyn. as an Assistant Principal Humanities at Staten Phoenix, AZ, or The Beatitudes Campus Condolences may be sent to her at 13094 Island Technical High School. In addition, she Foundation, 1610 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix, Via Minerva, Delray Beach, FL 33484. taught college courses for paraprofessionals AZ 85021. and was a UFT teacher mentor. She was also Send obituaries to Anne Silverstein, n CATHERINE MARY PISZKO, 63, a retired an adjunct at the College of Staten Island and n MARTIN SCHWARTZ, 75, a former CSA News Editor, CSA, 16 Court St., Assistant Principal, died Dec. 21, 2010, after a a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Delta Kappa Assistant Principal-Supervision of music at Brooklyn, NY 11241 or email battle with cancer. Ms. Piszko was an Gamma International, Alpha Beta Chapter. Erasmus Hall High School, died Oct. 15, 2010. [email protected]. Obituaries are Executive Board member of CSA Retiree Condolences may be sent to her husband, He had retired in 1991. He is survived by his printed as space allows. Chapter’s Staten Island Unit and its former Edward, 78 Leslie Ave., SI, NY 10305. wife, Sandra, a retired teacher. Condolences February 2011 CSA NEWS 13

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ‘Teaching & Learning’ Set ELI Reopens Manhattan Center for March 18 BY CSA NEWS STAFF

Three New ‘Children First’ Workshops Introduced in 2011 The Sixth Annual Celebration of Teaching and Learning will take place over two days on March 18-19 at the Hilton NY. The conference, which draws thousands of educators, is pro- duced by WNET and WLIW21 and is considered one of the nation’s top professional develop- ment conferences. Ronald Thorpe, WNET Vice President and Director of Education, attended the CSA Executive Board’s Jan. 19 meeting to provide CSA officers with an overview of the Conference and to encourage participation. He thanked CSA for its support – CSA is a major sponsor – since its inception. In addition to financial support, about 150 CSA’s retirees have volunteered to work. For more information, visit CSA’s website, www.csa-nyc.org.

YURIDIA PEÑA Member n Participants in one of two Quality Review workshops held on Dec. 29 discuss strategies for professional development at their schools. ELI UPDATE Coordinators Leslie Gurka and Beth Peller ran two Quality Review workshops that day and most participants attended both classes. BY YURIDIA PEÑA would like to thank Principal Roger Performance Turgeon for this wonderful space,” she said. Mid-Winter Break Workshops The Executive Leadership Institute has In other news, ELI announced three re-opened the Manhattan Education new workshops in the Children First Mid-winter break workshops will take Differentials Learning Center (ELC) at a new location: Leadership series, bringing the total number place at CSA headquarters Feb. 22-24. Food and Finance High of workshops in that series to 17. ELI col- The offerings, in addition to the three Announced School on the West Side. laborates with the NYC Leadership mentioned in the story here, include The new ELC began offer- Academy to offer the Children First work- Maximizing your Budget In Difficult Times; The Department of Education ing classes on Jan 24 with shops, which are designed to support Excel for Beginners and Advanced and has released the list of schools eligi- the School Based Department of Education school leaders in Quality Review. ble for the 2009-2010 performance Intermediate Supervisors the areas of instructional leadership and For course descriptions, a schedule and differentials negotiated by CSA for Institute (SBISI) Series I accountability. to register, visit www.csa-nyc.org/execu- its members. The list of schools workshops. Registration for this series is open to all tive-leadership-institute/upcoming-work- includes elementary, middle and Coordinator Sherry CSA members. The three new workshops shops. high schools, as well as schools in For more information about SBISI, Sherry Gregory Gregory will facilitate are Common Core State Standards I and II, District 75 and District 79. workshops at the new and English Language Learners. “We are look- visit:www.csa-nyc.org/executive-leader- The list also includes Transfer site, said ELI Executive Director Eloise ing forward to a productive and successful ship-institute/school-based-intermediate- and Early Childhood schools for the Messineo. “I am very excited about the re- spring term with our members,” said Dr. supervisors-institute. 2008-2009 school year. opening of the Manhattan ELC and I Messineo. Principals and Assistant Principals whose Progress Reports scores are in the top 20 percent city- wide are eligible. Awards range from $7,000 up to $25,000 for Principals, and from $3,500 up to $12,500 for Assistant Principals. Payment began in the Jan. 30 payroll. The list can be seen on the CSA’s website, www.csa-nyc.org. The DOE has also released the list of eligible winners for the school performance bonus under the UFT program. School Principals who met 100 percent of their performance targets and did not meet the crite- ria for the CSA award are awarded $7,000 and Principals of schools who met 75 performance of their targets are awarded $3,500. Assistant Principals at these schools receive half those amounts. If you have any questions, please e-mail CSA Executive Director Field Services Audrey Fuentes at [email protected].

ANNE SILVERSTEIN Visit the CSA website YURIDIA PEÑA n The Day Care Workshop series continued on Jan. 7 with “The Impact of Classroom n Top: An advanced Excel workshop. Bottom: A beginner’s Language on Children’s Early Learning.” Above, Liege Motta, a staff developer with at www.csa-nyc.org. class. Maureen Monaghan, bottom left, teaches both. the Bank Street College of Education, talks with workshop participants. 14 CSA NEWS / RETIREES February 2011 RETIREE C h a p t e r CHAIR’S MESSAGE Neil Lefkowitz The Art of We Earned Our Health Care and Pensions Making n Jan. 19, Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave his State-of-the-City Oaddress to an audience of govern- Furniture ment employees, lawmakers, community and union leaders, including CSA President Ernest Logan. The Mayor’s clarion call By Hand emphasized the need for belt tightening in light of the current economic meltdown. BY ANNE SILVERSTEIN While the fiscal crisis is real, his efforts to lay the blame on city workers – and Michael Ebenstein has been pretty busy therefore reduce their benefits – is cynical. since his 1999 retirement as an Assistant He has been gunning for our pensions and Principal. He spent five years as a CSA Assistant health benefits since his first inauguration Field Director, and after a brief as well as during the boom years that fol- hiatus, took on the task of Past city lowed. His approach is typical of manage- running the Retiree Chapter’s ment, not surprising since he’s the supreme Educational and Cultural mayors manager, or at least that’s what he told us Program, a job he shares with during his three campaigns. (Anyone who Co-Chair Marty Smith. agreed to is following the massive CityTime $700 Although he is fairly pas- million debacle or who slogged through every sionate about designing a pro- unplowed streets in December might think gram that encompasses about less of his management skills now.) benefit 70-plus offerings each spring The Mayor is using the city’s economic and fall, he has two great plight as an excuse to call for a reduction n Ebenstein we now loves in his life: Betsy, his of the city's obligations to city workers: He wife, and making fine furniture. wants to reduce pension benefits and he have. “I always did something with my hands,” wants city workers, past and present, to he said, when asked when did he begin mak- contribute to the cost of health insurance. ing furniture. He cites “crude” objects made “… I will not sign a contract with salary increases unless they are from wood and wall hangings as early projects. accompanied by reforms in benefit packages that produce the n A beautiful example of Mr. Ebenstein’s But, as with so many arts, one thing leads savings we need to continue making investments in our future craftsmanship. to another and sometime just prior to his retire- and protecting vital services, period,” said Mayor Bloomberg, ment, “I bought myself a table saw. And than I started to read and read and play around clearly throwing down the gauntlet. and make the mistakes and figure out what I needed to do.” His first project: two small tables. “They were very poorly designed because I didn’t e all understand the seriousness of our times. Most of us know what I was doing. They look OK but they weren’t terribly graceful. Then I built a lived through the 1970s, and many of us still remember the W cedar dining table for the porch, which turned out pretty well.” Depression. But we also know that once you crack open this partic- But his first “real” project, he says, was a blanket chest built to match the style and décor ular door, you can be sure the city in future years will insist that we of his bedroom. In the following years, he has built a houseful of furniture including two pay an even larger portion of our health care costs. desks, a sideboard, a clock, bookcases and a dish cabinet. Almost everything he does is mor- We’re also subject to attacks that our pensions are too large. tise and tenon construction, where one pieces fits into another. “If you [make] fine furni- Many of our members retired before the large raises of 1999 and ture, you don’t use nails and screws. There’s a lot of different ways to put wood together.” the past decade. While most are in the middle class, some are He loves the physical nature of woodworking. “I could spend hours downstairs [in his stretched very thin indeed. One of the Chapter’s main roles is to basement workshop] as long as my back and legs hold up. You get lost in it.” make sure that our retirees can maintain the lifestyles they earned “I never thought I would have enough patience for this. And neither did Betsey, espe- during their years of city service. Our Legislative Committee, led cially when it came to the end of a project…..as you’re seeing it come to life, the last thing by Legislative Liaison Dee-Dee Goidel and Pat De Meo, has devel- your want to do is screw it up.” oped an action plan (which will be presented at our Executive Board meeting this month.) The plan’s education component is as follows: City leaders must be reminded that we A) gave up raises during the city's eco- nomic crisis of the 1970s and B) gave up raises in later years for better benefits. Whatever we have now, the city agreed to. From Welcome New Chapter Members the propaganda we’re listening to these days, you’d think these were unilateral contracts foisted on the naïve politicians of NYC. The Retiree Chapter Marianne Ferrara Annette Kunin Mary Roberson The truth is these benefits were part of our deferred compensa- welcomes the following Martin Fiasconaro Steven Laplaca Emily Rodriguez tion package, benefits that tough-nut mayors agreed to, not a gift members . Grace Formica Gerald Levy Dov Rokeach from Mayor Mike. Laurel Fraser Donna Luisi Josephine Rondi • • • Elsie Acevedo Joan Geiger Herman Merritt Norma Rolon-Genao Nelson Acevedo Deborah Gentile Eloise Messineo Joel Rubenfeld Last month, Mr. Logan, Welfare Fund Administrator Douglas Lilane Arencibia Michael Gersch Elizabeth Moss Sally Rudetsky Hathaway and I visited our two Florida Regional Units, our annual Maria Aviles Patricia Glunt William Mulqueen Carol Salmon visit to friends down south, and we enjoyed catching up with Sherry Baumfeld Carole Greene Roseanne Namm Julia Sanchez them. On a serious note, we emphasized how crucial it is that they Michelle Betancourt MaryJane Griffith Hilda Nieto Steven Satin remain politically active both nationally and locally, especially in Diane Blount Victor Herbert Gail Oberlander Selma Sundick New York, in light of the coming storm. Donna Brewster Charles Hernandez Mary O’Connor Patricia Taylor Portia Campbell Karl Hoffman Debra Pagnozzi Nicolina Villani Ken Carson Binta Jalloh Norma Perez Gwendolyn Wattley Alison Clarke Mildred Jones Maria Pietrosanti Judith Wechsler Ada Dolch Sheryl Kerewski Teresa Perez Muriel Wollner Kathleen Elvin Ditta Korbeogo Eda Ramos Joan Yuni Rose Fairweather-Clunie Kathleen Kroitor Helen Ramson Marion Zachowski February 2011 CSA NEWS / RETIREES 15 RC Regional Units JS Levy Enterprises: Strategic GEORGIA BROOKLYN Services for Organizations We’re planning to hold a spring gen- Out Unit will meet at St. Francis College Former CSA President Jill organization while helping eral meeting in April. (The date has yet to on March 29 and June 7. Please note your Levy recently announced the each client to develop and be determined.) We’re also planning other $15 dues for our Unit for 2011 are due launch of her own business, JS implement plans for the future. activities and will keep members posted. now. Contact me at [email protected]. Levy Associates, LLC. The com- Small and mid-sized organ- For further information, contact me at —RON JONES pany offers services to profes- izations can benefit from [email protected] or 770-693-2399. sional associations, not-for-prof- strategic services, says her web- —GEORGIA HARRISON PACIFIC COAST its and educational or trade site says, but often have finan- organizations to help them cial limitations. Ms. Levy has LONG ISLAND Our next meeting will be held on build a strong foundation and “developed creative ways to March 15 at Carrows Restaurant in We wish everyone a Happy New Year. develop strategies. Ms. Levy make her team’s expertise Laguna Hills at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Douglas says the guiding principle of accessible” and affordable. Our “snow birds” have taken off for Hathaway, Welfare Fund Administrator, warmer climates, and Victor Ravens, our her company is to respect the The company’s website is n Jill Levy at a past is our guest speaker and is available to individual nature of each www.jslevyassociates.com. union function . Unit leader, has chosen to join them for answer any questions you have. Please the next several months. I will serve in save the date. You will soon receive a let- his stead through March. We will dis- ter with the luncheon details. Call me at tribute our Unit’s newsletter, greet mem- (310) 858-0558 should you need direc- bers on their birthdays and anniversaries, tions or additional information or call Gil plan our May membership meeting and Gotfried at (310) 521-0329. We look for- TravelDesk implement our legislative program. We ward to seeing you at the March meeting. will initiate a publicity program to recruit —MANNY BIERMAN GARY GOLDSTEIN more members and prepare for the May edition of Emeritus. For more informa- tion on any of our activities, call me at SUN COAST A Year of Trips (516) 747-6291, or e-mail me at nor- The unit held the first of its two 2011 [email protected]. meetings at Marie's Italian Kitchen in for Your Pleasure —NORMAN WATNICK Sarasota on Jan. 11. More than 50 attended the luncheon buffet and meet- NEW JERSEY ing to hear the latest from central CSA The Jewels of Asia $3,071.04. Optional insurance is addi- from President Ernest Logan, Retiree March 29–April 12, 2011 tional. We await spring and the return of our Chapter Chair Neil Lefkowitz, and Dr. “snow birds” to begin another year of Sail from Hong Kong on the ele- Douglas Hathaway, Administrator of the gant Azamara Quest. We’ll visit Hue Crossroads of Sicily experiences with colleagues. We are also Welfare Fund. Noman Sherman, our CSA Sept. 16-26, 2011 preparing for the coming political storms and Ho Chi Minh City in Viet Nam, Retiree Chapter Florida Liaison, also Featuring Palermo, Siracusa, and and anticipated attacks on our retiree ben- Ko Samui and Bangkok in Thailand, spoke. The next and final meeting of the Taormina. Tour includes roundtrip air- efits. We are looking forward to our visits and end in Singapore. This luxury ship year is March 3 also at Marie’s Italian fare from NY, hotels, sightseeing, 15 to the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton holds only 650 passengers. Kitchen. For information or any ques- meals (nine breakfasts, one lunch, and Township and the Princeton University RATES below include cruise, taxes, tions regarding union/health matters, five dinners), porterage and transfers. Museum. and port charges. Air fare is not please call me at (941) 383-0408. included as some of us will use points RATES: $3,365 per person double; —STEPHEN PORTER —MIKE NEMOYTIN or purchase tickets to suit individual single, $3,845 and triple, $3,336. preferences. Inside, $3,247.34 per per- MANHATTAN PALM BEACH son, double occupancy; window, Easy Cruising to San Juan $3,697.34 per person, double occu- Information about our Spring 2011 Oct. 23-29 or 31, 2011 pancy; balcony, $4.497.34 per person, Unit trips has been mailed to members. We depart on the Summit from double occupancy. Send responses to Irma Schonhaut, 305 E. Cape Liberty, (Bayonne) N.J. on Oct. A $450 deposit per person holds 24 St., Apt 19S, NY, NY 10010. We are 23 and sail to Bermuda and Saint your stateroom without penalty until planning our first night meeting for April 6 Thomas and arrive in San Juan on Oct. 90 days prior to departure. for our Unit members who cannot attend 29. You can fly home or spend two day meetings and requested an evening additional nights in vibrant Puerto Rico meeting. Please RSVP to me at 400 E. 56 British Isles / Normandy ($279 per person for a double includ- St., Apt. 8M, NY, NY 10022. n CSA’s Florida Liaison Norman Sherman July 16-28, 2011 ing hotel, transfers, taxes and resort —STANLEY H. WILSON sent pictures of the Jan. 10 meeting. Sail on the Crown Princess from fees.) These all-inclusive cruise rates Southampton, England, and sail to have never been more competitive! Normandy (with access to Paris), RATES per person: Inside, $591.50 CAROLINAS About 350 people attended the Jan. 10 meeting in Delray Beach. CSA President Edinburgh, Inverness/Loch Ness, (double); window, $701.51; balcony, Save the date: Our Unit will meet on Ernest Logan and RC Chair Neil Lefkowitz Belfast, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin, $811.51; sky suite, $1291.51. Air fare May 11. We’ll send you more information were guests. The next meeting: Feb. 17 at Cobh, and Guernsey. Return to rates will become available in January. or you may contact me at [email protected]. Benvenuto’s Catering in Boynton Beach. London on July 28. —ELLA IVY —ROSE BENNETT RATES per person: Inside, Australia/New Zealand $2,072.19; window, $2,672.19; bal- cony, $3,172.19; mini-suite, $3,822.19. Nov. 30-Dec. 12, 2011 Rates include all taxes but do not Celebrity's Century will depart from Sydney, on Nov. 30 and sail to ARIZONA going to help with a celebration at the include air fare. Suites, singles, triples, Unit’s March 16 meeting. and quads are available on request. Tasmania, Milfor Sound, Doubtful We are looking forward to our Annual Born on March 26, 1911 in NYC, Mr. Optional insurance is additional. Sound, Dusky Sound, Dunedin, Health and Welfare Luncheon for the lat- Steinfeld became a teacher-in-training in Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, est information from Welfare Fund 1934 after passing a competitive qualifi- Tauranga, Bay of Islands and Auckland. Administrator Douglas Hathaway. The cation examination; jobs were in demand Aloha CSA! You may return from Auckland or March 16 event will have an added fea- and applicants were numerous. He began Aug. 20-27, 2011 book a post package (or depart earlier ture: the 100th birthday celebration of teaching accounting at Julia Richman We fly to Honolulu and sail on the for a stay in Sydney!) Visit the website member Sol Steinfeld. The meeting is at High School and became the Chairman beautiful Pride of America to Maui, www.celebritycruises.com for descrip- the Holiday Inn, 777 N. Pinal Ave., Casa of “Record-Keeping and Accounting” at Kauai, and the "big island" of Hawaii tions of these ports of call and come Grande at 11:30 a.m. We will read mes- Franklin K. Lane High School. He including Hilo and Kona, site of the along to be pampered! sages from wellwishers; send them to me coached many teachers to become Mauna Loa Volcano. Rate includes RATES: Inside, $1,769.77 per per- at [email protected] Chairman including six teachers in his roundtrip air from NY and all taxes. son; window $2,069.77; verandah, —MAISHE LEVITAN own department. Among his mentees Pre- and post- Honolulu packages $2,609.77; sky suite $4,039.77. Add were Ben Mandel, a founder of CSA and available. Suite, single, triple and fam- tax of $140.77 per person. Rates do Norman of the Long Island Regional ily rates on request. not include airfare. Luxury suites, Unit Will Help Unit. RATES per person: Inside, triples, quads and singles available In addition, he was the author of sev- $2,545.47; window, $2,743.79; bal- upon request. (Best air value 11 months Celebrate Member’s eral textbooks on record-keeping that cony, $3,001.62; large balcony, prior to departure.) sold more than a million copies. He Major Milestone retired from the school system in 1976, Solomon Steinfeld will celebrate his after 42 years. CSA’s officers wish him the For more information, contact Gary Goldstein by email at [email protected]. 100th birthday, and the Arizona Unit is happiest of birthdays and many more! Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, NYC Periodicals New York State Federation of School Administrators Local 1 AFSA, AFL-CIO US POSTAGE PAID AT 16 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11241-1003 Brooklyn, NY 11201 and Additional Mailing Office FEBRUARY 2011

In The Schools Citywide A Legacy and a Life: Celebrating Dr. King, Jr.

n To honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to celebrate the civil rights movement, students at PS 3 in Manhattan had class discussions, sang songs, and made posters to hang up in the school.

BY CHIARA COLETTI Principal and school founder Maxine asked students to imagine that other Finally, drawing on lessons from Dr. Nodel explained, "MPI is a unique past human rights leaders could look King’s life, the children wrote about n celebration of the life of Dr. oral history class involving year-long through a lens of time to decide if the their own hopes and dreams for the Martin Luther King, Jr., schools broadcast journalism and oral his- goals so eloquently outlined in the future. Even younger members of the all over NYC came up with cre- tory work with the AMcK radio Dr. King’s “I Had a Dream” speech PS 3 community, from the K/1 CTT ative ideas to bring his memory show, El Museo Del Barrio and Elders have been realized. Principal Joseph class, sang songs and had class discus- to life for our children. Here are a Share the Arts." F. Zaza pointed out that “MLK Day is sions about the famous civil rights Ifew that came to our attention: “The Struggle for Human Rights,” part of a more comprehensive cele- leader and made peace posters to On Jan. 18, students from a theme that perme- bration of civil rights and community hang around the school. Millennium Art Academy in the ates courses across service at our school.” Principal Brian DeVale and his Bronx – who participate in an inter- the curriculum at staff organized a fourth- and fifth- generational Millennium Pearl Leon M. Goldstein t PS 3 in Manhattan’s grade assembly on Jan. 14 at PS 257 Initiative (MPI) – interviewed their High School in Greenwich Village, individual in Brooklyn. Mr. DeVale spoke African-American elder mentors Brooklyn, became the A classes paid homage to Dr. King. about“the Reverend King’s back- about where they were, what they basis of the MLK Day “We find that this has a more durable ground as a man of faith and how he were doing and what the atmosphere assembly. Through impact on our students,” said put that faith into action to unite was like on April 4, 1968 when Dr. academic research as Principal Lisa Siegman. With second the American people against the per- King was assassinated. In addition, n King well as video, music and third graders, teacher Katie verse practice of institutionalized two students and an elder from this and performing arts, students com- Kaufmann shared memories and racism.” Three classes made their oral history project were to be part of pared MLK’s struggle for human mementos from a trip she made to own original presentations after a broadcast on the nationally syndi- rights to the struggles of other histori- Memphis. She recounted her visit to which the entire assembly watched cated radio show (AMcK Initiative cal figures. Coordinator of Student the Civil Rights Museum, housed in Dr. King on screen as he delivered his Radio) as part of an interview com- Activities Steven Sclavos, who the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King “I Have a Dream Speech” from the memorating both Martin Luther designed the assembly project with was assassinated, and shared a poster steps of the Lincoln Memorial on King Day and Black History Month. Assistant Principal Christian Del Re, of pictures she created from that trip. Aug. 28, 1963.