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NEW ==> April 2013 CSRTA Newsletter
From Joe Barbera

To view the April 2013 Central Square Retired Teachers' Association Newsletter please click here.

NEW ==> Join Forces

CSTA Members,

NYSUT President Dick Ianuzzi is asking us to join forces and take our message to Albany. At the listening session last week we heard from professionals from our surrounding locals expressing their concerns about the high stakes testing and our frustrations with the State Education Department. We need as many people as possible to join in the rally on June 8th. Bus transportation will be provided and more information will be forthcoming. Right now it is important to get out the word, save the date and make the commitment to our union, our profession and each other. My goal is 100 people - bring your spouse, your neighbor, a stranger off the street. It will be our numbers that show our legislators that we mean business. This is your opportunity to take action! Spread the word and sign up by emailing me at: cstaunity@aol.com

In solidarity,
Linda Meredith

For additional information about the rally from NUSUT - please click here.

The March 2013 CSTA Minutes

To view the March 2013 CSTA Minutes please click here.

The fight is on for funding for our classrooms

CSTA Members,

It's March Madness, and unfortunately in New York that doesn't just mean basketball. The fight is on for funding for our classrooms. Currently our school district is looking at a loss of 22 teaching positions and 15 non-instructional staff. Our class sizes will be larger with estimates of up to 23 in some kindergarten classrooms and possibly 27 in some 5th grades. Elementary chorus and art clubs will be cut. I urge you to fax your legislators asking them to support more funding for our classrooms and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. Executive Vice President Dave Fries recently returned from Albany and the Committee of 100 where our members spoke one on one to politicians. They voiced our concerns for us all, but we need you to put the exclamation point on the message with your fax. Please act now. Share your concerns by linking to the Member Action Center on your Facebook page. Please click on the above link ... and Take Action!

To send a fax, please click here, then mouse click on "Find More Issues and Take Action!" On the next website page find link titled "Support More Funding for New York's Classrooms!"

In solidarity,

Linda L Meredith
CSTA President

Cleveland Elementary School Has Done It Again!

In 2010, Cleveland Elementary School was named a Blue Ribbon School of Character and just this year they are the only school receiving the 2013 New York School of Character Award. Please click here to read all about it!

It's that time of year again

It's that time of year again. The time when we ask our politicians how much value is an education worth?

Legislators, will you fund our schools?

The Governor has released his budget which provides a 4.4% funding increase for education. Unfortunately it is not enough to make up what the state has taken away in the last few years. We now need to press our legislators to push for the necessary funds we need to balance our budget and support our students and teachers.

Watch the State of Our Schools video, "Will you fund our schools?"

Take action now by:

° Click here to share the video action page on Facebook
° Click here to share the video action page on Twitter
° Email the video action page to friends and family
° Click here to send a letter to your legislators asking them, "Will you fund our schools?"

2012 Audit Report Letter

To view the 2012 Audit Report Letter please click here.

Central Square School District and Community Participate in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk 2012
by Caroline Joss and Sarah Alsante, September 30, 2012

On Sunday September 30, members of the Central Square Teachers Association as well as other Central Square School District faculty, families and friends participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in downtown Syracuse.

Each school in the district worked hard to collect cash and online donations to help in the fight against breast cancer. The grand total of what was collected in registration forms on the day of the walk, combined with online donations, Central Square School District raised $1400.00 to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Many thanks to Building Team Leaders in each school for their hard work and dedication to this important walk: Cara Blake - PV Moore High School, Judy Windhausen- Central Square Intermediate, Sarah Alsante- Central Square Middle School, Helen Bolen- Cleveland Elementary, and Rick Snavlin and Pam Potter- Brewerton Elementary.

Many Central Square faculty, families and friends showed up to join us in Making Strides. They included: Rick Snavlin with Sarah Snavlin and Nate Snavlin, Sarah Alsante, Nora Rudewicz, Pam Potter, Jackie Straub, Heather Gullo with Annie Gullo, Sophie Gullo, and Tess Gullo, Delinda Sunderland, Michele Adams, Heather Applegarth with Maren Applegarth, Evie Applegarth, and Derek Applegarth, Melanie Wheeler with Marissa Wheeler and Anna Wheeler, Paul Garrow, Matt McGill, Cheryl Reed, and Carol Dwyer. Central Square Boy’s Varsity Lacrosse Coach Rick Snavlin walked with student athletes from his team, including Adam Wilckens, Sam Hatem, Logan McGill, Devin McGill, Jacob Garrow, and Zach Reed. PV Moore teacher Nicole Heath walked along with PV Moore High School students Sam Stetson, Alexis Holmquist, and Chris Kendrick.

CSTA Contract

To view the CSTA Contract please click here.

APPR Website Section Unveiled!!

The NEW CSTAonline website section devoted to APPR has been posted. Please click here, or use the APPR navigation button on the left, to view the latest APPR information.

Take Action with NYSUT's MAC

CSTA Members,

We are all aware of the fight for confidentiality for our evaluations. I urge you to go to https://mac.nysut.org and join NYSUT's Member Action Center from your home computer. Send your fax to your legislators and the governor that your personal evaluation needs to be kept personal, and don't do it once, do it twice every day. Share the information and site with your family and friends and ask them to send their faxes. "Like" the MAC site and add them to your Facebook page. Take action, remind your colleagues and push back.

Linda Meredith
CSTA President

February 20, 2012: CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT between the SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS of the CENTRAL SQUARE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT and the CENTRAL SQUARE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Dental Rewards and Incentive Co-Insurance Programs

With the cost of our Dental premiums increasing next month, now is a good time to take advantage of the Dental Rewards and Incentive Co-Insurance programs offered with our policy. Please mouse click here OR click on the Union Benefits button for additional information.

Important (and often overlooked) Teacher Retirement System Benefit
from Linda Meredith, 9/22/11

If you or another NYSTRS member is seriously ill, or experiencing a potentially life threatening surgery or procedure, then taking care of the people who survive is a concern. Understanding the benefits available through the NYS Teacher’s Retirement System is one part of securing the future for any beneficiaries you have. For additional information please click here.

Upcoming Retiree Events
by Joe Barbera, 10/16/12

NYSUT Member Benefits - Great Deals for YOU! from NYSUT NYSUT Member Benefits Trust was established for the purpose of endorsing and monitoring quality, competitive insurance plans, investments and benefit programs. These programs include discounts on travel, car rentals, mortgage services, consumer guides, insurance and much more. These programs and services are available to NYSUT members and agency fee payers. Some are also available to or cover spouses/domestic partners of members, dependent children, dependent parents and grandparents. In addition to the regular menu of benefits, certain programs are available exclusively for retiree members. Additional information from NYST Member Benefits can be found by clicking here.

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