Nov 8, 2019 | Grassroots, Initiatives
There’s nothing like a good book as fall turns to winter, and the African American Teacher Mentoring Program is inviting all PFT members to read and discuss Christopher Emdin’s “For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood … and the Rest of Y’all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education” on select Wednesday evenings in November and December.
The first two chapters are due to be read by Wednesday, November 13th—but if you can’t catch up just yet, please join us for our initial discussion anyway!
Join us at the PFT or call in via conference call number—complete details can be found here!
Nov 8, 2019 | Event, Featured, Grassroots, Initiatives, Member Profile, Members, News, Retirees
You can always count on PFT
members to be generous and to reach out to others who need help!
As
another successful PFT/ACLC Stuff the Bus comes to an end—just look how great
the PFT lobby looks before PFT staff loads up to take all of these beautiful
toys over to the Allegheny County Labor Council meeting tonight to STUFF THAT BUS and help
the families of union members in need!
On behalf of Darrin Kelly, the
Executive Board of the ACLC and all our union brothers and sisters—thank you
for your generosity, kindness and endless giving PFT spirit. I always expect
nothing less!
Oct 3, 2019 | Featured, Grassroots, Members, News
The Para to Sub Program is Starting Up Again this Year! Please Help to Make Sure that Administration and Everyone Follows the Rules!
We’re so happy that many of our paraprofessionals were given the opportunity to teach and to earn extra money, but we also want to make sure that teachers are not left without the supports they need and that special education federal/state laws are not being violated in any way that comes back to bite anyone.
That is why we keep pushing the rules that were so carefully vetted through the PFT and the BOE. Every PFT Building Rep has a set in her/his Binder that was distributed at the start of the year, and we have plenty more of those here at the office.
Once again, here are the rules for the Para to Sub Program below.
PARAS—REMEMBER the following about eligibility:
CERTAIN paraprofessionals (only if they are interested and willing) will be eligible to work as substitutes IF they have a degree, and IF it does not leave students and teachers without supports.
Eligible with no restrictions:
EA1s
Student Services Assistants
Eligible only within their own classroom provided students receive appropriatelevels of support (i.e. substitute paraprofessional) and legally-mandated adult-to-student ratios are maintained:
Assistant Teacher
Classroom Assistant
Educational Assistant II
Educational Assistant III
Educational Assistant IV
JROTC Noncommissioned Instructional Assistant
For example …
Special Education paraprofessionals assigned to one classroom like ES rooms, LSS rooms, AS room, or Therapeutic Rooms can only sub IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOM! AND IF there is no teacher sub available and IF they provide a para sub.
Paras, if you have a disagreement with these rules, please give us a call at 412.431.5900—don’t argue with the teacher in your room; he/she had nothing to do with the policies of the program. We can fill you in on every decision that was made because PFT staff was there through all of the intensive negotiations—412-431-5900.
Oct 3, 2019 | Grassroots, Initiatives, Members, News
Several members have asked for a protocol on water emergencies in our District and city for the rare occasion they are needed, like the sudden South Hills water main break that crippled water supplies on Friday September 20th.
Our great friend and General Foreman for the District, Ed Reinhart walked us through the steps the District takes when deciding to close a school(s) or remain open. Ed reported that:
- If a school/schools has NO water before the start of the school day, they make the decision based on the size of the school and the number of schools that are affected.
If it is a small or smaller school and/or a manageable number that drinking water can be drayed into and water can be taken or drawn from to flush the toilets—then school is on.
- If water is lost DURING the school day, the District also has to consider the time of day (how much of the school day is left), available water for drinking and flushing, size of the school/schools. Whenever possible the choice is to keep the students in school—particularly our younger students who may have no one to go home to.
- In that emergency situation on Friday, September 20th—a close was really the only way to go. Seven schools lost water before the opening of school—and then it quickly became ten. This obviously would have been far too many to provide drinking water for.
- At least one school lost water after the school day started, so the District moved to the protocol of providing bottled water to the elementary students and emptying a boiler to flush toilets. Some parents did choose to pick up their students, but remember, the first choice will be to keep students in school—particularly younger students who may have no one at home to receive them.
- Ed was confused when I reported that one member said that some high school teachers received confusing reports on whether or not their school was open or closed. He said that the media was alerted as soon as the close was determined and there was no waffling on it.
Now as for make-up time in those schools—of course the day will have to be made up, but some have also0 asked … “what about if you were at school already?”
Just like a late call on a snow day (even though this was not a late call), I hope that you signed in at the office.
Talk to your principal about what you can do about being compensated for that time. Contact us if you have any additional questions.
Sep 30, 2019 | Grassroots, Initiatives, News
Let’s show our solidarity and the desire for quick contract negotiations with a SEA OF BLUE to kick off October!!! Get that blue t-shirt out (or your favorite blue shirt, dress, blazer, tie or entire outfit) and wear it proudly on Tuesday, October 1!
Get your staff together for a Bluesday Team Picture and send it to our Communications Director, Dan Evans, so we can share them in the Tuesday Blast, in next week’s Notes, and on our new and improved website!
Sep 29, 2019 | Featured, Grassroots, Members
We’ve been working on this off and on over the last 8 months—and are pleased with the results that give so many of our member initiatives and grassroots committees their own “home,” while moving our on-line presence to a news-driven information format designed to eventually be a one-stop PFT member resource.
Nothing will change with the site web address, (www.pft400.org is our primary domain). we’ve enhanced our calendar, and will be updating our site frequently with news you need to know or would like to share. Look for us to add an Instagram feed this year as well.
Please submit suggestions and items of potential interest through our Contact section.
Stay Connected With PFT Text Messaging and Social Media
Are you part of our text messaging service? This is different from our “one to one” service we use on occasion to communicate with our entire membership—and is a great way to get occasional news and reminders about upcoming events or critical member issues.
Simply text the phrase PFT400 to the number 69238 to join.
Currently only about half of our membership takes advantage of these vital services. One thing’s for sure—we do not overuse this great way to communicate—on average we send less than 4 texts per month. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.
