New York Teacher

Highlights from the latest issue of New York Teacher:

UFT President Randi Weingarten delivered a serious message to help prevent the spread of influenza-like illness and squelch panic at a press conference held outside IS 227 in East Elmhurst, Queens — a school hard hit by flu.

In the face of looming budget cuts and after months of UFT advocacy, the DOE agreed to a hiring freeze and greater efforts to place members who are in the Absent Teacher Reserve pool.

The red-carpet treatment wasn’t just a dream for the staff of PS 300 in the Bronx.

It’s official: schools that initially faced more than $1.4 billion in budget shortfalls will receive cuts of 3.8 percent for the next school year — some $315 million. The union will still ask the City Council to restore the education funding removed from the proposed city budget.

There’s a quiet hum of activity in the air at PS 68, the Bronx — and it doesn’t let up until 6 p.m.

Speaking to an audience packed with more than 2,500 members, elected officials and the schools chancellor, UFT President Randi Weingarten used the May 9 Spring Education Conference to lay out a bold vision for turning around — rather than closing — struggling public schools.

Debate over mayoral control of New York City schools is getting heated as state lawmakers prepare to decide whether to renew and/or modify the law that put the mayor in charge of the system seven years ago.

The UFT’s five-borough “There Is No Excuse” special-education campaign was in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island on May 12 to meet parents dissatisfied with how the Individualized Education Programs of their special-needs children are being met by the Department of Education, and to offer some common solutions.

Eighteen months after voting overwhelmingly to join the UFT in October 2007, child care providers have completed successful market rate discussions with the city Administration for Children’s Services.

City scores surged 11 points in the percentage of students meeting English Language Arts standards this year, led by especially large increases in middle schools, traditionally an area of weakness.

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