Joseph DelGrosso, NTU President, Local 481 meets with   U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan

The following news article appeared in the National AFT LeaderNet publication… June 9, 2009

AFT local leader Joseph DelGrosso had a chance to meet with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan when his listening tour recently took him to Newark, N.J. Newark Teachers Union President Joseph Del Grosso and some of the union's other top leaders and staff had a chance to meet with Duncan and Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Clifford Janey. "We had a very cordial meeting," Del Grosso says. He told the secretary about a literacy campaign that the NTU is conducting in the city. The union has paid for a billboard across from City Hall that encourages adults to read with children; it also has donated books for parents and students, worked with other groups to spread the message about the importance of reading, and helped put together a summer reading list for students.

Del Grosso presented Duncan with some books for his own two young children. "Reading is the core building block of education. If we don't get our children to read well, none of the other programs are going to succeed," Del Grosso says.
He also told the secretary about a new effort the union has undertaken in collaboration with Seton Hall University to help provide additional training for teachers who are struggling in the classroom. Del Grosso says the partnership could be expanded to include additional mentoring for new teachers, improved teacher training programs and other ways of looking at teacher compensation. Duncan "was very interested in the project and pleased with the fact that we are working in collaboration with the district and the university on reform."

In addition to visiting a Newark charter school, Duncan used his New Jersey visit to announce that the state will receive close to $900 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is designed to help save jobs and promote reform.

President DelGrosso highlights collaborative partnerships involving Seton.  Hall University and the Newark Public Schools with Secretary Duncan

Check out a couple of thank you notes to NTU Pres. Joseph DelGrosso from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s children Ryan and Claire.

NTU Retiree Chapter Update

Congratulations and good luck to our new NTU Retiree officers for 2009-2011
President Peter Rubas, First Vice President Lester Fusco and Second Vice President Doris Nicholson. Also welcome aboard to Executive Board Members Pauline Mathis, Joan Smart and Louise Morrison.

Thanks to the retiring NTU Retiree officers for a job well done…William Green, Diane Guerino and Carol Cathey.

Contract Negotiations Update

There were no ground rule agreements reached at the last NTU-NPS contract negotiation’s meeting.

The next NTU-NPS contract negotiation’s meeting will be held at the Newark Teachers Union on June 15th at 1pm. At this meeting, the NTU will again propose ground rules for negotiation. Until the ground rules are agreed to by both sides, there will be no exchanging of contract proposals or demands.

SUBJECT: SCHEDULE FOR CLOSING OF SCHOOLS

Ten Month Employees: The last work day for 10 month employees is June 26, 2009.  However, all 10 month employees are required to work an entire work day to complete all end of year records for submission and acceptance by the school administration. All staff is required to turn in a set of keys to their classroom/office on the last school day.

HELP WANTED ² - “READ A BOOK TO A CHILD” CAMPAIGN

Joseph Del Grosso, NTU President & Dr. Clifford Janey, NPS Superintendent will designate the upcoming months as the on-going collaboration dedicated to Literacy and Newark’s Children. Both educational leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the students of Newark at the Newark Teachers Union Hall of Fame and Shanker Scholarship Dinner at the Mayfair Farms.  

Joseph Del Grosso highlighted the importance of Reading during his presidential address as he asked that each scholarship recipient take a book home and read to a student to promote the campaign’s message. Michele Corbo, Ed Issues Director placed reading books at each dinner table for friends and family members to take home with them.

The NTU Kicks Off 2nd HELP WANTED Campaign...
The Newark Teachers Union has a new HELP WANTED campaign aimed at literacy and Newark’s school children- “Read A Book To A Child Now”. This follows on the heels of the NTU’s 1st HELP WANTED Campaign “Stop The Killings In Newark Now”. The campaign gained national and international attention as well as prime time news slots on CNN. President Del Grosso garnered support from many camps as he effectively raised community awareness questioning the record killings in Newark. By the end of the campaign, killings in Newark were on the decline.
Call 973-643-8430 x18 for more information
Paid for by the Newark Teachers Union - Joseph Del Grosso, President

Prevent child abuse.  For additional information on Child Abuse or to receive more leaflets to distribute to students call 1-800-CHILDREN.

"My Promise for Prevention" leaflet - PDF version

"My Promise for Prevention" leaflet - Graphic version

Tiered Intervention Search Engine (TISE) See the NTU Research and Communication page for more information.

Del Grosso / Janey Letter to Teachers and Textbook Certification Form

Textbooks by Grade and Content

See President’s Column on right 

Certification of Health Care Provider
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993

Download form here

Extra Curricular Activities Comp. & Pay

Dear Building Reps & VPs:

Now is the time to remind our members who are involved in Extra Curricular Activities to begin completing time reports and whatever other record keeping they do for their activity. Once completed and documented, they should hand it in to the appropriate payroll personnel or administrator at their school for processing.

The Newark Teachers Union and the Newark Public Schools collaborated on developing the Standards Clarification Search Engine. This new resource integrates New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) resources from the Standards Clarification Project, new NJDOE third through eighth grade assessments and the previously developed CCCS CD ROM. It should help stakeholders better align their professional practices with state standards and assessments.

NJ Standards Clarification Search Engine – Phase 1

© Newark Teachers Union 2009

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Cartoon Corner by AFT.org

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Recent topics:

School Uniforms in Newark?

Newarks Mayor “Pay to Play” deals

MRSA discussion

Lesson Plans - Revisited

Superintendent Search Committee

NTU Kudos
The NTU wants to recognize members’ accomplishments, awards and special projects in and out of the classroom.  Send us your photos and stories using an upload utility. We will gladly “sing your praises” on the NTU Web Site.  For more information, visit the kudos page or you can email the NTU at webmaster@ntuaft.com

Recent kudos:

Teen Actress wins scholarship

Joe Fonseca receives award

Harriet Tubman School

Rafael Hernandez School

Malcolm X. Shabazz and NPS

Rafael Hernandez Debate Team

Onsite Mentor Program
Come meet our veteran teachers who are ready to help answer your concerns and make your teaching experience easier.
No Appointments Necessary - Located at NTU Offices.

Ed Issues Dept launches Mentor Program via email for new Teachers...  Looking for practical, survival tips in navigating your day to day professional and personal demands and challenges?  Now you can reach out to our veteran teacher staff 24/7 via email when it is convenient for you.

To work with a veteran mentor in:
k-4 area, click here.....
5-8 area, click here.....
9-12 area, click here.....
Special Ed area, click here.....

A Message to Newark Public Schools' Students, Parents and Staff
School Uniforms update, read more

NEWARK TEACHERS UNION 2008-2009 RESOURCE GUIDE. We are about to embark on a new school year. A school year that will be a journey of change and excitement for all our members. As we fondly remember the tenure of Doctor Bolden, we look forward to beginning our collaboration with Dr. Clifford Janey, our new superintendent.

Download Resource Guide here
Browse Resource Guide site here

Special Edition - Charter Schools. 
A comprehensive and revealing analysis of Charter Schools and Newark Politics. NTU’s Research and Communication Department scrutinizes commonly held perceptions about the benefits of Charter Schools but the data points to discriminatory enrollment procedures, exorbitant administrative expenses, little State oversight, questionable achievement results and costly, segregated placement of special education students. Click here to download your electronic copy of the complete NTU Bulletin...

President’s Column

Joseph Del Grosso

HELP WANTED...

Join the Help Squad. Parents and students can pick up books for free at the NTU. The purpose of this campaign is to remove any financial barriers to getting books in the hands of Newark’s children. Literacy is the foundation of any child’s academic achievement. It’s our duty as professional educators to find creative ways to encourage parents and children to get involved in the process. Free books are just part of the literacy campaign. Parental involvement is crucial to a child’s success in school. We encourage parents to not only pick up the books, but take them home and read to and with their kids.

A billboard across from Newark City Hall advertising the “Read A Book To A Child Now” serves as a daily reminder to get involved with a child’s education. The NTU will also be distributing posters and flyers shortly throughout Newark in churches, supermarkets, public meeting places and other parent/community centers. Visit the NTU Web site in the days ahead for more information.. A telephone hotline has also been set up at 973-643-8430 ext 18.

Dr. Clifford Janey, State District Superintendent, Newark Public Schools, applauded Joe Del Grosso and the NTU’s efforts and is looking to other community organizations to join the help squad.

 
In Solidarity,
Joseph Del Grosso, President

HELP WANTED Campaign was released to the press and TV stations this past Friday.

Contact Person:
Joseph Del Grosso
ntupres@ntuaft.com
973-643-8430

Newark, New Jersey
Population (2005): 280,666
Pop. density: 11,793 sq. mi. Pop. change (2000-05): 2.6%; Area: 23.8 sq. mi.
Employment (2005): employed 95,581; 8.3% unemployed
Per capita income: $43,277; increase (2000-2001): 6.0%
Mayor: Cory A. Booker (Dem)
History: Settled by Puritans 1666; used as supply base by Washington 1776; inc. as town 1833, as city 1836.
Transportation: 1 intl. airport; 1 intl. seaport, 4 railroads; bus system; subways.
Communications: 5 TV, 6 radio stations, 1 daily newspaper, 8 weekly papers.
Medical: 5 Hospitals.
Education: 5 universities and colleges; 58 public elementary schools, 13 junior and senior high schools, 10 special schools, 2 vocational schools, and 40 private schools.
City Map of Newark

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