Free Books for Kids This Summer! School is nearly out, and kids need books now more than ever. Many children from low-income communities have no books at home to keep them from falling behind over the summer. But you can change that, by applying for free books from the “Basking in Books” distribution!

First Book is distributing over 400,000 brand new books with over 200 titles for ages 0-18 through the Basking in Books distribution, and you can get in on the action today! Help make sure no child is left without books this summer...

First Book always has tons of great new books to give away, so we encourage you to apply for any and all the distributions you want. We also encourage you to apply as soon as you can, because demand is high. And don't be discouraged if you don't get books this time around, we make sure to get books to every program as often as we can!

Questions?
Email -help@firstbook.org or Call - (866) READ-NOW


THE 2013 SUMMER SCHOOL PAYROLL TIME REPORT SCHEDULE IS NOW AVAILABLE.
Click here to download Pay Dates and Kronos and Supplemental Time Reporting Schedules...

 FMLA COMPLAINTS...
If you or any member have been adversely effected by NPS’s failure to notify, we strongly urge you to contact Northern New Jersey District Office
US Dept. of Labor, Wage & Hour Division, Joseph Petrecca, District Director, Phone: (908) 317-8611 

Click this link to read all the details, updates, guidelines and what to do if you have a problem with FMLS.
 

Thinking About Retiring...click here to download the updated Request for Retirement / Resignation Form

URGENT ACTION:
EXTENDED SCHOOL DAY!
Be on the lookout for Principals who are trying to extend your school day! As per our contract, only the Superintendent can designate a school as Turnaround and also by our contract can only do this ten times a year.

For complete details about this development and how to handle it, click here...

CONGRATULATIONS TO CAROL GRAVES 2013 NTU HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE!
We want to thank all our members, NTU staff, Building Reps and Executive Board members who attended and/or supported our 15th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Dinner. Congratulations again to Carol Graves NTU president from 1968 to 1995 and the 18 scholarship winners.
Joseph DelGrosso, President & John Abeigon, Dir. of Org.

PIED PIPER SAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY...We are beginning
to read more about some of the higher salary folks brought in by Newark's Superintendent Cami Anderson. For example, Tiffany Hardrick brings in $175k as an NPS Asst Superintendent. Did Ms. Hardrick disclose that only a few months ago she was being investigated for ethics violations from her previous job in New Orleans?
Click here to read the entire breaking news report investigation click here.

THINKING OF RETIRING? WANT TO GET A JUMP START! CREATE YOUR “MY NEW JERSEY ACCOUNT” QUICKLY AND VIEW “RETIREMENT MADE EASY”.
Step by step guidelines to prepare for retirement...          Click here for both.

NEWARK BOARD VOTES ‘NO CONFIDENCE’ IN SCHOOLS’ CHIEF CAMI ANDERSON-NJ Spotlight, John Mooney
“Action adds to strife in district already in turmoil over state control, sweeping layoffs and severe spending cuts”

President Del Grosso cheered the Board's action last night and that his members may consider a “no confidence” vote as well.

Last night the Newark Advisory Board declared itself
the “Newark Board of Education”. They unanimously declared as well an unprecedented “Vote of No Confidence in Cami Anderson and declared her leadership to be AWOL.

Click here to read entire NJ Spotlight article...
Click here to read related PolitickerNJ article...

Congratulations to Kaileema Sanders
from Ivy Hill School (West Ward winner) and Maria Louvado from First Avenue School (North Ward winner) for 2013 Bulletin Board Contest. Click here for photos.

ASSESSMENT ALERT!
State testing of Newark’s elementary students will commence shortly. During the past year, schools in Newark, as well as certain staff, have been interviewed and investigated by the State Department of Education in respect to alleged testing irregularities and alleged test breaches. To read President Del Grosso’s entire letter, click here.

NTU PEER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
NTU members can now pass along any concerns, issues and suggestions regarding Peer Oversight.

The NTU has created an email address for members  to address Peer Oversight in a confidential, secure format. Please send your emails to the NTU Peer Oversight Committee at peeroversight@ntuaft.com.

NPS SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITIES Summer Programs 2013 General click here... Instructional click here...
Non-Instructional click here...

LEAVE OF ABSENCE WITHOUT PAY AND PURCHASING MBOS SERVICE CREDIT...

Members of the PERS & TPAF are eligible to purchase all or any portion of service credit for official leaves of absence, including FMLA & NJFLA, without pay. The amount of time eligible for purchase also depends on what "type" of leave was taken. CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE DETAILS

All purchase requests must be submitted to the Division of Pensions and Benefits using the Purchase Application program of the Member Benefits On-line System (MBOS). Information about MBOS and the on-line Purchase Application can be found in the MBOS Users’ Guide.
CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE DETAILS

Working Families United:
Canvassing Opportunities...

WHAT: Daily; Paid door-to-door canvassing opportunity for the Working Families United for New Jersey
RATE OF PAY: DAILY rate of $50.00 per shift. Each shift is one day from 2pm until approximately 7pm.
WHEN: 12PM Monday, March 11th FIRST CANVASS TRAINING
WHERE: Newark Teachers Union, 1019 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
NOTE: If you are interested but can't make the first training for canvasses, we will take and train people daily until all our shifts are filled.

For more information or if you have any questions please contact Lamar Dandy at 717-978-0466.
 

PROPOSED SPECIAL ED CODE CHANGES

-To Download the Power Point Presentation for Proposed Special Education changes, click here...
-To Download the Proposed Special Education Code changes in its entirety, click here...
-To Download related article regarding Tensions Between Parents & Administration & proposed code changes, click here...

Updated Salary Inquiry Form - Click Here...

ELECTION TO WORK AGREEMENTS UPDATE...
It has been brought to NTU’s attention that at some of the renew schools designated for 2012-2013, a Draft Election to Work Agreement is being circulated among staff. It is important to know these EWA’s are ONLY DRAFTS! As per our contract, Election to Work Agreements can only be disseminated by NPS after consultation with NTU. We were not consulted on any of these Election to Work Agreements.

The NTU intends to grieve any violation of the new contract.  This includes any Newark school's attempt to create an illegitimate Election to Work Agreement and any attempt to immediately and unilaterally change the conditions of these schools. In Solidarity, John Abeigon, NTU Dir. of Organizatio

.
TO SCHEDULE A SCHOOL BUILDING MEETING,
REACH OUT TO...
Vinnie Gaglione at 914-462-3712 or email
vtgx@aol.com.

PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT FUND UPDATES...
The NTU PIF committee submitted a proposal to NPS allowing NTU members to enroll in on-line professional development courses. The proposal was supported by NPS. In addition, one (1) professional improvement fund reimbursement of $400 is allowed per year. For current PIF forms, guidelines & approved on-line vendors click this link to download. For any additional questions, please email Justin Petino NTU VP & PIF Chairperson at pif@ntuaft.com.

© Newark Teachers Union 2011

Princess Hogue, NTU VP & Special Ed Building Rep confirms that Special Education laws & regulations which were under close scrutiny and presented to lawmakers for proposed changes will remain untouched for now. Because of growing comments & opposition from parents, families, local unions including the NTU as well as the Education Law Center, Newark, Chris Cerf, Commissioner of Education stated that given the importance of these proposed changes & feedback it will take more time to move everyone along.
Click here to read the entire NJ Spotlight article...

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS
GET INVOLVED. STAY CONNECTED

June 15, 2013 (Saturday)
Coalition for Effective NPS Schools Click here for Cookout flyer...
NOON TO 3PM
1019 BROAD STREET
Behind the Building on Beechetr Street

June 18, 2013 (Tuesday)
Newark Bd of Educ Business Mtg
5:30PM, 2 CEDAR STREET
10TH FL, CONFERENCE RM 1010

June 25, 2013 (Tuesday)
Newark Bd of Educ Meeting
6PM AT SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
260 NORFOLK STREET
 

VICTORY!!!
EXPERIENCE, WHEN IT COUNTS

“For first time in 18 years, Newark school board to regain control of fiscal operations...”
Excerpts Jessica Calefati - Star-Ledger
To read the entire article click here...

Later this month, Cerf is expected to return control of Newark Public Schools' fiscal operations to the district's advisory school board. 

Newark’s advisory school board will resume authority over its fiscal operations and begin voting on district contracts as early as this summer after 18 years of state control, an assistant state attorney general said this morning during a court hearing.

Typically, when districts meet state requirements under the Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) – the state law governing state takeover of troubled school districts – school systems maintain or regain control of themselves.

ROSEVILLE AVENUE SCHOOL
“The little school that can...”

SAVE OUR SCHOOLS RALLY A HUGE SUCCESS!

OUR CITY! OUR SCHOOLS! OUR VOICE!

NON-TENURED TEACHERS

Non-Reoffering - Reemployment...
By now you should have received either a non-reoffering letter or a contract in the mail for the 2013-2014 school year from the Newark Public Schools.

If you didn't receive a non-reoffering or a contract for the 2013-2014 school year in the mail you should immediately follow the directions and the linked PDF form.

Please call the NTU at 973-643-8430 with any and all questions you may have in regards to the 2013-2014 school year.

Click here to download non-tenured teaching staff form.

NTU President Blasts District Super on Finances... Calls for External Audit.


Del Grosso faults Cami Anderson for "serious and disturbing problems, secrecy, and intended layoffs.”

Click here to read the entire developing story by John Mooney in Education...

President DelGrosso’s letter to Senator Rice & Assemblywoman Wagner...Click here to read entire letter.

N T U

Nearly 14,000 First Book books picked up at Pennsauken, NJ and delivered to NTU headquarters. They are ready for distribution to NTU teachers around the district. NTU Building Reps will begin to get these books into the hands of teachers who will use them with thousands of Newark’s children...

For more information about this First Book& how NTU members can take part click...http://www.firstbook.org/ or email Michael Dixon at mdixon@ntuaft.com

PROBLEMS WITH YOUR RETRO CHECKS

FAX THE COMPLETED SALARY INQUIRY FORM TO HRS
AT 973-733-7753

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLAOD THE SALARY INQUIRY FORM...

SALARY GUIDES UPDATE
Newark Public Schools has put up the Salary Guide Selection form online for teachers with MA and PhDs to select if they want to be placed on the UNIVERSAL SALARY GUIDE (new guide) or stay with the currently EXISTING SALARY GUIDE(old guide). The form can be found at:http://newarkexcels.org/nps-salary-scale-selection-form/ (If you have a problem getting to the form when clicking on this lick, you can copy and paste the link in your browsers url). The password is: newarkteachers. Make sure you fill out the entire form to ensure NPS is able to accurately register your choice. Staff will have until Monday, December 17, 2012 to make their selection. For anyone who needs additional clarification on the differences between the two guides, please call Michael Maillaro at (973) 643-8430 EXT 20 or email mmaillaro@ntuaft.com. In addition, you can come down to the NTU any time between 9 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and someone will be available to walk you through the differences.

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON COMPENSATION OVERVIEW, UNIVERSAL SALARY, COMPENSATION FOR BA, MA, PHD, CST, OTHER NTU MEMBERS AND RELATED CONTRACT ITEMS, CLICK HERE

UPDATED 2012-2013 NPS POLICIES FOR STAFF & STUDENTS
Download the following very important Policy documents from NPS. Click on each PDF link to download and/or print. Please read over carefully and reach out to the NTU if you have any questions.
 
Attendance, Absences & Excuses Policy (File Code #5113)
Conduct Discipline Policy (File Code # 5131)
Public Safety Policy (File Code # 5142)

“EMPLOYEES WITHOUT PLACEMENTS” ALERT...
It appears that many of our EWPs continue to be placed in inappropriate assignments that are outside of their area of certification and/or highly qualified status.

Protect your professional rights and yourself by completing the linked document and email it to Homere Breton at Human Resources ( hbreton@nps.k12.nj.us) with a copy to Michael Maillaro (mmaillaro@ntuaft.com). Remember to request a read receipt for your email.

Click here to download the Out of Certification document...or go to our Info Center/Forms, Reports & Information page to download the Out of Certification form..