Wednesday evening!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

(Thanks, Frank Viggiani, for all of your hard work in organizing this party).

Many of the lawmakers visited by NYSUT grassroots lobbyists this week were convinced that privacy is essential. They agree that a law is needed to protect the evaluations of teachers, as well as their students, from exploitation by the public and news media. This bill -- A-9814 -- is the union's top priority for the remainder of the legislative session. Go to the NYSUT MAC site to take action on it and keep up the pressure. 

https://mac.nysut.org/

In addition to seeking legislative remedies, NYSUT continues to consider legal action to challenge the 60 percent supermajority required to override the tax cap. Nineteen of the 24 districts that failed to pass a budget May 15 had tried to override their cap. The union continues to gather evidence on how this arbitrary cap is a blunt instrument that damages not only public education, but also efforts to create equity for all children. 

Districts with override budgets, as well as districts that stayed within their cap but did not get a simple majority of yes votes, have one more chance, June 19, to get a budget to pass. If a second budget is defeated, districts may not increase the tax levy above the previous year's levy -- a zero percent tax cap. Many districts plan to submit budgets that stay within their 2 percent increase and thus only require a simple majority. 

Check out this item from the NYSUT news blog, "June 19 matters."