RETIREE COUNCIL 7
MAY – JUNE 2015
THE CENTRAL NEW YORKER
http://nysutretireecouncil7.org
What’s Old is New Again!
(With Misguided Reforms)
Flashback to the 1970’s and an anti-teacher
movement in the state legislature passes a
series of bills called the Kingston-Jerabek
bills. In that legislation the lawmakers
abolished sabbatical leaves in teacher
contracts, extended the probationary
period to five years, and abolished the
minimum teacher wage.
Those actions drew such uproar in the
ranks of educators that they donated a
day’s pay to their new political action
fund, Vote, later to be known as
Vote/Cope. They also unseated one of the
bill’s authors, Charlie Jerabek, in a
Republican primary. Soon, other
legislators became aware of a new power
in town and quickly rescinded that
legislation.
Today, that anti-teacher sentiment is alive
and well in the Governor’s mansion in
Albany. The Governor condemns the
“public school monopoly” and he asks for
the “death penalty” for “failing schools.”
He further denounces his own APPR
evaluation plan as “baloney” when over
95% of teachers are proved effective or
highly effective.
Like Jerabek’s legislation decades ago, the
Governor scapegoats teachers, but his
“Opportunity Agenda” has many
misguided reforms. He starves the public
schools of funds through the Gap
Elimination Adjustment (GEA), robbing
schools of art, music, Phys. Ed, AP, and
enrichment courses, clubs, modified
sports, academic intervention services,
ELL, CTE, and more. He then ignores the
Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) court
order of 2006 to fully fund our schools to
promote a “sound basic education.” He
sets our schools up for financial failure.
In fact, eleven CNY school districts are
under some form of fiscal stress
according to the Comptroller.
To make matters worse the former
Commissioner set new 3-8 test cut lines
that give the impression that schools and
teachers are failing even though teachers
have exceptional evaluations. Those cut
lines indicate that 34% of students are
college and career ready. However, cut
lines a few years before revealed that
80% of students were college and career
ready. Same teachers, so what is going
on?
The Governor, named the “Honorary
Chairman” of the charter school
movement, did not preside over the
recent Harvard Club meeting of Hedge
Fund bosses in Manhattan, but he could
have. The all-day symposium said it all:
“Bonds and Blackboards: Investing in
Charter Schools.” The Walton Family
Foundation and the Gates Foundation
intends to convince investors that
“there’s money to be made in charter
schools,” according to the Daily News.
The formula is simple. Starve the public
schools. Set them up for failure.
Demonize teachers. Make parents and
taxpayers angry and then show them the
shiny thing in the corner: charter schools!
Decades ago Charlie Jerabek sought to
make changes around the edges. Our
Governor, however, promotes misguided
reforms that destroy public schools. We
now need that same dedication and
strength used to defeat Jerabek and his
laws to end the Governor’s misguided
reforms. Write and call your local state
legislators to explain what is at stake: the
future of public education in New York!
Deep Throat, the mysterious tipster in
Woodward and Bernstein’s book on
Watergate, had an answer: “Follow the
money,” he said. And since 2000 the big
money, nearly $40 million, has been
sponsoring charter schools. Could it be
that our Governor, who has received
Go to https://mac.nysut.org/ and
over $4.8 million from Hedge Fund
stay up to date!
managers, is doing their bidding to
significantly expand charter schools?
~Bill Spreter, 2nd VP
And, could it be that other lawmakers
influenced by that $40 million in political
contributions will starve the public
schools to feed the charters?
RC 7 Meeting
Stay Connected, Active and Involved…
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Check the NYSUT Member Action Center
Visit the RC 7 website regularly
Set up a facebook page or twitter account to follow the latest news
Attend RC 7 meetings and your Chapter meetings
Send your participation fee to RC 7 (info in next newsletter)
Stay in contact with your elected representatives
Join friends on the RC 7 trips
Volunteer at local charitable events
Support our in-service colleagues at local education forums
June 16 – NYSUT
Reservation form on page 3
SAVE THE DATES
RC 7 Meetings for 2015-2016
September 22, 2015
October 20, 2015
November 17, 2015
December 15, 2015
March15, 2016
April 19, 2016
May 17, 2016
June 21, 2016
THE CENTRAL NEW YORKER
2014 – 2015 ISSUE 6
From the President’s Desk…
Loretta K. Donlon
RC 7 Loses a Founding Leader
The Central New Yorker
is published by
NYSUT Retiree Council 7
NYSUT, AFT, NEA, AFL-CIO
Robert F. Doyle, 95, a retired 5th grade teacher at
Lakeshore Elementary School and proud member of
the North Syracuse Education Association, passed
away on February 16, 2015. Bob is remembered as a
Founding Leader of RC 7, who then served as the
newsletter editor and President. The following
includes part of a tribute from an earlier edition of
The Central New Yorker.
Robert Doyle was a soldier. His service in World War II ended but
service was still a big part of who he was. During his teaching years, Bob served
his union in a wide variety of positions. Combining his devotion to his students
with devotion to country he instituted a Flag Day Celebration at his school
which, though he retired in 1982, continues today.
After retirement, Bob says, “I got bored.” So he did two major things.
He, along with a few other retirees (you can find their photo on our website
www.nysutretireecouncil7org.) founded Retiree Council 7. He also contacted
area schools offering to talk to classes about what life was like for soldiers
during WW II. And therein, as they say, lies the story.
RC 7 Board members always knew about Bob’s talks with kids because
he would bring to our meetings letters that the students had written to him. It
was clear from what they wrote that he had made the WW II experience real for
them.
Always a proud veteran, Bob was often seen wearing his WWII
Veteran's cap, which was a gift from his niece, Sister Rita Shawn. In 2013, he
had the opportunity to be part of the Honor Flight Syracuse Mission Two and
received a Certificate of Recognition for his service to his country, his students
and his fellow teachers on Veteran’s Day.
One other part of Bob 's union legacy serves us all. Bob was responsible
for legislation that created the Trustee position for a retiree on the New York
State Teachers Retirement System. That TRS Board position protects your
pension.
For reasons too numerous to count, we all owe Bob a debt of gratitude.
We at RC 7 are so proud that he is one of us. Rest in peace, Bob. We will always
be grateful for your service to children and their teachers.
Officers
Loretta Donlon, President
David Smithson, First VP
William Spreter, Second VP
Mary Jo Roberge, Secretary
Carol Graham, Treasurer
Margo Buckingham, Immediate
Past President
Board of Directors
Phillip DelloStritto
Robert Doyle
Joanne Heisler
Fran Hudson
Sylvia Matousek Marjory Schuster
NYSUT Regional Office
4983 Brittonfield Parkway
E. Syracuse, NY 13057
315-431-4040
http://nysutretireecouncil7.org/
Loretta Donlon, ED 51 Director
"""""""""""
Anne Marie Voutsinas
Retiree Services Consultant
Lynn Davis, Web Master
EditorRC7@gmail.com
Contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to Honor Flight Syracuse, Inc., PO Box 591,
Syracuse, NY 13209-0591.
We Remember
Fondly…
Jamesville-Dewitt
Margaret Conan.
Liverpool
Frank Barnes III
Joan Plumb
Marty Uczen
Fayetteville-Manlius
Helene McCarthy
Glenn Parrish
Auburn
Margaret LaDue (+JE)
West Genesee
Florence Wright
2
Syracuse
Alza Birden
Josephine Bordonaro
Josephine Costa
Marlene Evans
Viola Hall
Annie Hammonds
Jackie Irby
Linda McCray
Sam Noel
Evangeline Peters
Virginia Reaume
James Rogers
Joseph Scaravillo
Chester Seals
East Syracuse-Minoa
Susan Rink
North Syracuse
Gerald Case
Betty Jean Groom
Jordan-Elbridge
Patricia Fillingham
Margaret Scranton
RETIREE COUNCIL 7
MAY – JUNE 2015
Join Us on June 16, 2015 for the RC 7 Luncheon at
NYSUT, 4983 Brittonfield Parkway, E. Syracuse
$15 per person
Registration @ 11:30 • Meeting @ Noon • Lunch @ 12:30 • Program after Lunch
Spend time with friends and colleagues!
Luncheon Buffet includes Cheese Manicotti, Meatballs, Chef Salad, Fruit Salad,
Rolls and Butter, Cookies, Soda and Water
Program - TBD
Directions: From Rte. 481N, take exit 7. Turn right, then left onto Brittonfield Parkway. NYSUT is on the right.
Reservation Form
RC 7 Luncheon – June 16 at NYSUT
Name
Phone
Email
Number of reservations
at $15.
Amount enclosed $
Please send reservation form and a check payable to NYSUT RETIREE COUNCIL 7 to:
FRAN HUDSON, NYSUT Regional Office, 4983 Brittonfield Parkway, Box 247, E. Syracuse, NY 13057 Reservations must
be received by June 1st. No one can be seated without a reservation.
RC 7 TRIPS
RC 7 Trip to Lancaster PA September 29 – October 1, 2015
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Roundtrip motor coach transportation
2 Nights Lodging at the Eden Resort and Suites
2 Breakfasts and Wine & Cheese reception at the hotel
Prime Rib Dinner at the Eden Resort Restaurant
Dinner at the Plain and Fancy Restaurant
Admission to:
o Performance of “Joseph” at the Sight & Sounds Theatre
o Visit the Kitchen Kettle Village
o Bird-in-Hand Farmer’s Market
o Time to shop at the outlets in Lancaster
o Amish Experience – tour of an Amish homestead, farm & school
CNY Food Tour
July 15, 2015
Lunch at D & R Depot in LeRoy
Jell-O House & Museum Tour in LeRoy
Kutters Cheese Outlet Store in Corfu
Monks Bread in Piffard NY
Sweet Expressions Candy Shoppe in
Canandaigua
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Seats still available – See Mar/Apr Issue
Lancaster Trip Info: Cost is based on number of travelers and room occupancy choice. Cost will range from a high of $695 (single room, 35
travelers) to a low of $420 (quad room, 50 travelers). Initial deposit of $75 per person and registration form is necessary to reserve your seat.
Balance will be due by September 1, 2015. A letter with your balance due, final itinerary, luggage tags and meal choices will be mailed directly
to you prior to the tour.
Bella Tours ~ 315-652-0121 ~ bellatours@hotmail.com
Questions? Contact Marge Schuster at 446-2037 or mschuster730@yahoo.com or go to RC7’s website.
NYSUT RETIREE COUNCIL 7 & 8 LANCASTER PA RESERVATION FORM
Please complete the following form for each traveler and return to
Bella Tours and Travel Inc. 305 Vine Street, Suite 9, Liverpool, NY 13088
Phone# 315-652-0121 Fax# 315-299-4733 email: bellatours@hotmail.com
veler’s Name______________________________________________________M______F_
_
dress__ Address________________________________________________________________________________
me Pho Home Phone #________________________ Cell Phone#_________________________________________
purchas
Room Choice
Single____ Double__ _ Triple
Quad
Roommate Name(s)
Optional Cancellation Insurance? Yes___ No_____
(please submit with deposit - insurance is $30 per person - additional info available at Bella Tours)
thod of Method of payment: Cash_____ Check#____ Credit Card ____ (call cc info into Bella) Money Order _____
ase ma Make checks payable to Bella Tours and Travel Inc. (There will be a $20 fee for any returned checks.)
3
THE CENTRAL NEW YORKER
$
6/16 @ NYSUT catered by
John’s and Sons
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2014 – 2015 ISSUE 6