four sites, ONE SCHOOL

Chapter Leader Message

02/06/2009 20:42

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

Happy New Year! In times of uncertainty, it is challenging to be positive. However, at the end of the tunnel, there is hope. The economic crisis continues to loom in the minds of every member. Most experts predict that things will get worse before they get better. To date, over 7% of our nation is unemployed with almost 2 million unemployed from this time last year (most within the past 4 months). (Abcnews.com) Forty three states in our union are impacted by this crisis, with New York being one of the hardest hit.

 

Our schools are under attack. The State is facing a $15 billion deficit, which is exponentially worsening each day. To make up for its shortcomings, some of the biggest cuts are to education. Schools are seeing big chunks of their budgets disappear. While general education schools are more greatly affected, Special Education will see cuts, as well. As our new President gets acclimated, we hope that he will lead us through these challenging times. However, as we can see, Washington politics stand to get in the way.

 

In all of this, at this moment our jobs are safe. Our pensions are constitutionally protected, so they are also safe. However, we cannot continue to allow our government to chisel away at the funds we need to do our jobs effectively. Our classrooms are under-resourced, and our children are underserved as it is already. Administrators are advised to be more stringent with new 1:1 paraprofessionals. There is an increased number of students who do not receive services. Eventually, these cutbacks are going to be felt in our classrooms.

 

With new contract negotiations looming, we have to be proactive. We must come together as not just ONE school, but as ONE Union. Therefore, I am asking all of you to join the cause and volunteer to be part of, what Randi describes, the biggest mobilization of unionists ever. We should be willing to protest using various ways, the attacks on education. Why must we endure the largest cutbacks? Please visit www.aft.org, or www.uft.org, or www.thebridge.webnode.com and sign up now! Click on either “Join the budget fight to protect classrooms” or “Fight for America’s Future” to volunteer. This fight is not just for our classrooms, but for the future of America.

 

At Your Service,

 

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