11 July 2020

• Abraham: Funding is essential to reopen schools safely

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  In a national roundtable on reopening schools, NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer Philippe Abraham Thursday pointed to a fact that is often overlooked during this time of the pandemic: The lingering effects of the 2008 recession were still stifling public education when the COVID-19 crisis happened. By 2020, he said, 20 states were still spending less on schools and 41 were spending less on colleges than they were before the recession.

  “Pre-COVID was inequitable to begin with, and the current situation exacerbates the inequity,” he said during an online roundtable with Dr. Jill Biden, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, and other AFT leaders. Hosted

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• How to Organize Your Health and Safety Committee

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  Organize your committee

  NYSUT is committed to ensuring that our collective voice is heard on all issues related to the health and safety of our school communities. One way this can be done is by working with our schools to establish effective health and safety committees.

  We encourage you to review this how-to guide (PDF) to learn more about best practices and what the state law requires.

  If you have questions or need support, contact NYSUT’s health and safety specialist, Veronica Foley at ...

• Governor releases timetable for school budget revotes

  From ABSO, the Association of School Business Officials of New York:

  On July 3, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.47 establishing July 28 as a date for budget votes for school districts that had defeated budgets on June 9. The order notes that the 11 affected districts will operate under contingent budgets from July 1 to July 28. The re-vote will be held following guidelines that will be issued by the Department of Health. Because of concerns about COVID-19, all voters are eligible to request an absentee ballot.
  
  Timeline of second budget vote:
  
  July 7 – School districts must send a postcard to all

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• NYSUT statement on reopening of schools

  ALBANY, N.Y. July 8, 2020 — New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta released the following statement today regarding the reopening of New York’s schools:

  “Health and safety of students, families, educators and other school staff, and equitable access to a high-quality education must be the top priorities in reopening schools. The federal government’s demands that schools reopen without concern for health, safety and equity are simply out of touch. Thankfully here in New York, we know the governor, the Regents and fellow education stakeholders are taking this seriously. Our work with them continues, and

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• Planning for School Reopening: The instructional questions that must be answered

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  NYSUT believes in the education of the whole child.

  Educators agree: Remote learning will never replace the important personal connection between teachers and their students that is a critical component of the teaching and learning process. Technology can supplement but will never supplant in-person teaching and learning.

  Above all else, as the education community looks to reopen New York schools, we must look through the lens of educational equity and access for all students. That is why we have assembled a series of thought-provoking questions for you to consider when developing your local union’s positions about reopening.

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