THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION June, 2015
Ms. Jacqui Greadington
EOEA President
HONORING OUR 2015 RETIREES:
On June 4 th , 2015, we held the 9 th Annual EOEA Retirement Celebration honoring. There were 47 retirees this year. Together they gave a total of 1,212.8 years of service to the East Orange School District. We bid them good health, peace and joy as they begin this new phase of life. They are:
BOWSER: Vivian Alston, Leslie Bailey, Judith Buzzelli, Stella Udeh
CARVER: Wendy Fleming, Pamela Johnson, Mary Myrick, Kathie McKoy-Osborne
COCHRAN: Angela McGhee
COSTLEY: David Walsh
EARLY CHILDHOOD: Gertude Fraser
EOCHS: Gwendolyn Barnes, Rita King, Iziah Mike, James Sala, Keith Seow, Sharon Sullivan-Rubin,
Marsail Sultan, Jay Wheeler
FRESH START HS: Shao Wang, Deborah Sykes-Vaughn
GARVIN: Connie Johnson, Shawn Steed
GIBSON: Hannah Marcus
HEALY: Freida Highland, Gean Greene, Donna Jenkins
HOUSTON: Sherill Cowan, Janice Jackson
HUGHES: Viola Carty, Deborah Thurmond
JACKSON: Brenda Cosey, Anita Cowles
LOUVERTURE: Patricia Motti
PARKS: Dr. Yvonne Cultess., David Kahiga
PPS: William Iyizoba
TYSON ELEM: Robert Kohut, Catherine Mutura
TYSON M/H: Valerie Chavis, Merolyn Kelly, Howard Myricks, Casmir Okeke, Sarah Perry, Stewart Southland
WARWICK:
Sharon Giles, LeeRae O’Brien
SUMMER COMMUNICATIONS:
The EOEA office will be open on Wednesdays from 12:00 noon – 2:00 PM. In case of emergency, please contact our Uniserv Rep,
Maddie Colas at 973-762-6866. Although we will monitor the phones on a regular basis, the best way to communicate will be via email at eoea@aol.com
. We will keep you informed of all pertinent information via Constant Contact emails.
May you have a safe and restful summer vacation. You deserve it.
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION June, 2015
Last month the HSSC conducted a walk-through of Costley School. While the committee realized that the building is old and was scheduled for demolition several years ago until the School Construction Company (SCC) ran out of money, we were disappointed in the amount of work that was not completed. The committee found missing/stained/cracked ceiling tiles, lights in need of replacing, chipped floor tiles, cracked light lenses, etc. Many of the items listed are quick fixes. Issues related to plumbing, painting, and carpentry and electrical are inputted into a software program called School Dudes. The Head Custodian in each building has been trained to input areas of concern into the system and the Maintenance Department expedites craftspeople to address the concerns. The HSSC will do a follow-up walk-through of Costley School on Thursday, June 11, 2015.
Have a safe and healthy summer.
As you can tell by the Negotiations Updates you receive after each bargaining session negotiations are going at a snail’s pace.
Hopefully the talks will speed up at subsequent sessions. The two sides met on Monday, May 11 th and discussed salary and Chapter 78
(health benefits contributions by employees). Our next meetings are scheduled for Monday, June 15 th and Tuesday, July 14 th . Our plan is to continue to meet throughout the summer to get this contract settled as quickly as possible.
Keep abreast of the progress by reading the Negotiations Update which will be distributed to members via email after each bargaining session.
EOEA PRIDE in Public Education Awards Ceremony
The EOEA Pride Award Ceremony was an enormous success. The program was well attended with the presence of Mayor Lester Taylor,
Council members Ted Green and Andrea McPhatter (recipient of the
FAST award). The E.T.Bouncers provided dance entertainment for the evening.
This year the EOEA honored the following six of our own members:
Robert DeVeaux Cicely L. Tyson Middle School
Jennifer Longo STEM
Gertrude Fraser Early Childhood Department
Julius David East Orange Campus High School
Walter McCall East Orange Campus High School
Tiana McCargo Edward T. Bowser School of Excellence
The Teachers Guide to Summer Break –
Tips for Fun, Relaxation, & Improving School Climate
Being a teacher means keeping your body of knowledge in tiptop shape. Summer break equals a lot of preparation for the coming marathon, especially since teachers have to stay a few steps ahead of their students in order to guide the race over the course of the next school year.
Here are some ideas and guidelines that are aimed at helping teachers keep up with their summer-training schedules:
1- Decompress.The concept of spare time is a foreign one for teachers. When summer arrives, teachers often need a couple of weeks to adjust and to realize that they are NOT behind on
The overall program was both enjoyable and gratifying for the recipients and all in attendance.
“
Thank You
” to ALL of You grading homework or preparing for tests.
2-Pamper Yourself.Even though the idea of relaxation may be harder for some than others, it is still important that teachers take time in the summer for things that they truly enjoy doing –
I would like to personally thank the Executive Board, EOEA Reps.,
PRIDE committee, EOEA members, COC’s, and any other school district employees for supporting me throughout the past several years. not things they have to do. There are a multitude of things that can provide an escape, from attending to a garden, to getting a massage, to going on a cruise. Do whatever floats your boat
It has been enjoyable and rewarding to work with and for you. I am
(pun not intended). Stepping away from school will help you
Proud of the success of the programs that the Pride committee has effectively provided for the schools and the community. Through the
Pride projects we have brought schools and the community together to demonstrate how great our public schools are. Upon my retirement, again I want to “Thank You” for together we have made a difference in our schools.
A special thanks to
EOEA’s Administrative Assistant “Valerie
Jones” for her support and assistance during my years as Pride chairperson.
HAVE AN ENJOYABLE RESTFUL SUMMER become a better teacher.
3- Reflect.Speaking of stepping away, summer time also provides the important opportunity to look back at the highs and lows of the previous school year. Examine the lows and critically think about what you could do to avoid these situations and improve the climate in your classroom, as well as, school building in the next year, but focus mainly on the highs so that you can cultivate a positive attitude within your subconscious about the upcoming school year.
From the EOEA School Climate Committee, I want to wish everyone an enjoyable summer!!!!!
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION June, 2015
1. A Hearing was held on behalf of a member who has complained that her administrator was continuously implying that certain students, who were inclusion or may need to be in inclusion, be looked at and addressed. These students had IEP’s which clearly stated that they were supposed to be in a regular setting, yet she was continuously questioned about what could be done if the students were experiencing difficulties (with disregard of the IEP status). The
Association grieved that the administrator was in violation of the
Special Education Regulations, which are very clear and unambiguous about following the student’s IEP. The member began to experience difficulties after refusing to address anything other than what was allowable under federal law. She subsequently was transferred. A Grievance was filed that memoranda of a derogatory nature be removed from the teacher’s file. It has been moved to
Level III (Bowser) the Hearing has been cancelled because the administrator is out for the remainder of the school year.
2. A Hearing was held at Level III regarding the concerns of a teacher that the reflections on his Evaluation did not truly reflect his performance. There were also indicators of his performance that were either not true or without evidence. The lengthy Hearing was suspended to allow for more time to present the member’s position.
It is still pending. (EOCHS)
3. A Grievance will be filed that an administrator did not have a post conference with several teachers after observations were done. It has been scheduled at Level III. (EOCHS)
4. A Grievance will be filed that an administrator is in violation of the progressive discipline practice of the district with respect to tardiness. It has been resolved. (Langston Hughes)
5. A Grievance will be filed on behalf of a teacher who missed their prep and part of their lunch due to a conference and then was denied compensation for that loss. It has been resolved. (EOCHS)
6. A Complaint Procedure Violation Grievance will be filed on behalf of a teacher because she receive memorandums immediately
Primary Election.
Tuesday, June 2 was primary election day in New
Jersey. On the eve of the election, we ran a small phone bank at the
EOEA office. Thank you to everyone who volunteered! The local candidates that we endorsed - Amy Lewis, Jacquelyn Johnson, Quilla
Talmadge, Casim Gomez, and Mustafa Brent - all won their contests for
City Council in East Orange. In Legislative District 20, the two candidates endorsed by NJEA - Annette Quijano and Jamel Holley - also won their elections.
Pension Activist Pledge Cards. If you have not filled out a pension activist pledge card, please go to http://fundnjpension.org
, click on
“Become a Pension Activist,” and fill out the form. In the next few weeks, there will be a flurry of activity around pensions and the budget in New Jersey. We are expecting a state Supreme Court decision - in our favor - any day now. The Legislature will pass a budget in the next two weeks, and the leadership of the Legislature has pledged to include a full pension payment. It’s also entirely likely that the Governor will line-item veto that appropriation and any concomitant tax increases. This is why we need everyone to be signed on to the pension activist list. When the
Governor’s veto comes down, there will only be a few days for the
Legislature to consider and vote on an override. If we are going to convince the Legislature to vote for that override, we will need all of our members in the state to act swiftly and collectively to put pressure on them. Organizing now will give us strength later.
Join the Twitter Campaign . In the meantime, you can join the Twitter advocacy campaign that is ongoing throughout the state. If you have a
Twitter account, follow the hashtag #fundnjpension. Let the world know on June 15th that you’ve made your pension payment. If you’re not on
Twitter or have questions, we’re hosting an introductory workshop at the
EOEA office on Wednesday, June 10 at 3:45. Come learn! following a complaint of a parent instead of having an opportunity to resolve the complaint informally. (Tyson Elementary)
7. Grievances were filed on behalf of three members who have lost their increment.
8. A Grievance will be filed against an administrator who did not meet individually with teachers for their Summative Evaluations but held group signature sessions.
Standards and Testing.
The last couple months
, we’ve been focused almost exclusively on pensions. That doesn’t mean the fight over curriculum and standardized testing is over, though. There’s been a lot going on - the Governor has suggested that New Jersey will re-evaluate the Common Core, a series of bills are moving through the Legislature related to testing, and the PARCC Consortium has announced revisions to its assessments for next year. In September - once the pension crisis is averted - we can refocus and you’ll receive a full update on these other important issues.
NEA Member Benefits has started a new shopping program. Members should have received a magazine that includes all types of products that can be purchased interest fee, with low monthly payments. The program is called PayCheck Direct. The advantage is no credit check, interest free financing, no down payments and low convenient automatic electronic payments. Eligibility requirements: 18 years of age, household income of at least $20,000/year and full-time dues paying member for at least 6 months. Visit www.neamb.com/pcd .
The restaurant for the month is "Biggie's" in Hoboken, Carlstadt, and Ramsey, NJ. I dined at the Carlstadt location, which was family friendly and had two rooms, one with a large bar area and another with tables and booths. Large TV screens were throughout the restaurant.
For seafood lovers, plenty of fresh clams, oysters, and other shellfish prepared many ways. Salads, ribs, sandwiches, any many more appetizers and entrees were offered. Many drink specials, sangria's, and beers are featured. Visit their website for more information, www.BiggiesClamBar.com
.
It is with great sadness that this is my last membership article. I have enjoyed sharing tidbits with my EOEA friends that hopefully have helped you along the way. The best of everything to you all!
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION June, 2015
All summative evaluation conferences should have been completed by May 30th. The results of your observations and Student Growth
Objectives (SGOs) can provide the necessary information for establishing your professional development goals for the 2015-2016 school year.
A professional development plan (PDP) must be in place in order to receive credit for any workshops or courses you attend during July and
August.
Evaluation Calendar – Dates to remember
September 15 - Deadline for Corrective Action Plan (CAPs) for those with a summative score prior to the end of the year – 15 work days the maximum amount of time to develop a CAP for individuals who receive their summative evaluation score after September 15
October 1 – Annual notification of evaluation system and all evaluation procedures
October 31 - Student Growth Objectives (SGOs) due – 10 work days the maximum amount of time allowed to give notice of changes to evaluation system after October 1
February 1 – Deadline to appeal 2013-2014 rating – Mid-term evaluation for people on a CAP if the CAP was developed on or before
September 15
February 15 – Deadline to modify SGOs
If you have any questions or concerns about your evaluation, don’t hesitate to contact the EOEA office at 973-672-7331 or eoea@aol.com.
Have a great summer and take time to exhale!
Thanks to the Association Representatives who solicited names for our annual Pride Award Dinner. Kudos to the awardees and the participants on the program. It was well attended. Standing room only! Thanks to my partner and friend Donna Jenkins who has served this association well as the PRIDE Chairperson. You’ll be missed, but, never forgotten! Enjoy your retirement!
Our “Youth Empowerment Summit” was co-sponsored by
Fresh Start Middle School, East Orange Education Association
FAST and the North Jersey Branch of the National Association of
University Women. This summit was planned as an ongoing activity to encourage our youth, parents and community stakeholders to become intimately involved in public education and to create opportunities for networking as we advocate for our students and our schools. Street trends are not an option! How do we compete? We compete by becoming aware of those trends and showing our youth options that work. This was held at George
Washington Carver and Fresh Start Middle School on June 4 th from
9 until 2. Many thanks to the speakers/presenters and volunteers who made it a success.
Finally, our annual planning meeting for the 2015-16 school year will be held at the EOEA office on June 16 th at 3:45 p.m.
Please encourage those persons who have ideas that promote parental and community involvement to attend in order to add their activities to our grant proposal. I have amended my grant too frequently this year. If you are really interested or have an idea, you must be present at the meeting.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer! You work hard and not always in the best situations, but, we appreciate your labor of love and commitment to your students and to this association.
June
14 Flag Day
21 First Day of Summer / Father’s Day
25 Last Day for Students
26 Last Day for “TEACHERS”
The retirement dinner was a success and all who attended enjoyed themselves.
This is my last article. I would like to take this opportunity thank everyone who has voted for me over the years to serve in the many positions I have held in the EOEA .Finally, I would like to leave you with these two thoughts for the summer months to remind all of us we are very special people and without us this nation would not have many of the geniuses they celebrate.
"I TEACH:
I facilitate thinking.
I encourage risk.
I engage minds.
I cheer for little accomplishments.
I develop life-long readers.
I educate hearts.
I model kindness. I listen with my heart.
I make learning fun.
I love my job.
I TEACH! "
Ms. Jacqueline Greadington, President
Mr. Clarence Osborne, Vice President
Ms. Patricia Landon, Treasurer
Ms. Deborah Thurmond, Secretary
Ms. Joyce McCree, Editor Ms. Donna Jenkins, Reporter
Volume 12, Issue 10 Page 4