Teachers of the Year decry Regents action on teacher evaluations

Sylvia Saunders - NYSUT Communications - May 23, 2011 

Ever the excellent teacher, Rochester's Rich Ognibene offered news reporters a compelling analogy to explain why he and seven current and former New York State Teachers of the Year are saddened and frustrated over the Board of Regents' decision to allow up to 40 percent of a teacher's evaluation to be based on their students' state standardized test scores.

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Wisconsin Update

Please consider contributing funds to the Wisconsin recall efforts:
http://wisconsinrecall.net/blog/

As part of the backlash against Governor Scott Walker's assault on public workers and teachers in particular, there has been a tremendous effort to recall sitting senators who supported the governor's radical plans.  Signatures for recall elections were gathered at a record pace across the state.  Six Republican senators (and three Democrats) are up for recall elections, and this is historic since only 20 public officials in US history have ever been forced into a recall election. The recall elections are slated for July 12.  A change in the composition of the Wisconsin Senate would send a clear message across the country to politicians who choose to attack public employees and public services.

Cuomo to Propose Cost-Cutting Pension System

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will soon announce a proposal for a new, less generous pension system for future state, local and school employees that is designed to save taxpayers $93 billion over 30 years, according to two officials briefed on the plan.

Newsday - 5/16/11
The Associated press

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Action Needed Today, Stop the Tax on Pensions!

The Senate Reforms Committee took substantial testimony today (5/10) on HB 4361, the tax bill that includes taxation of pensions on an age-related sliding scale.  The committee is slated to meet again tomorrow morning and take a little more testimony before reporting the bill to the floor.  We have been told that the Senate plans to vote on it on the Senate floor on Thursday, telling members to be prepared to stay all night.

The Governor and the legislature are taxing the pensions of retirees, raising the taxes on low-income working families and cutting education in order to fund a tax cut for large corporations!  This is not shared sacrifice!

Please call your state senator today or tomorrow to urge a “NO” vote on this unfair shift of taxes to retirees.  Click here to find your Senator’s phone number.  A phone call is better, but you may also send an email by clicking here.  Do it today!

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