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Monday, January 18, 2016

Cerf’s power grab over contract benefits–is this the end of the Newark Teachers Union? | Bob Braun's Ledger

Cerf’s power grab over contract benefits–is this the end of the Newark Teachers Union? | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Cerf’s power grab over contract benefits–is this the end of the Newark Teachers Union?



Here’s the question now in the Newark schools: Will the charm offensive pressed by Christopher Cerf, the governor’s man running the district, overpower the contractual rights of teachers and other school employee unions? Will Cerf’s sweet-talking to the school board and his road show with the mayor result in a major—perhaps fatal–blow to public employees and their bargaining units?
Cerf is trying to ignore his contractual obligations to bring in a new prescription drug provider with business connections to the insurance broker run by George Norcross, the South Jersey Democratic boss and virtual co-governor with Chris Christie. The Newark Teachers Union (NTU) is trying to fight the switch.
Cerf’s antipathy to the union is long-standing. The opportunity to break the union’s remaining power is obvious. Since Christie cut a deal with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to bring in Cerf, the former state education commissioner and national charter school champion, as Newark superintendent, virtually all vocal community opposition to state control and privatization has ceased.


Jose Leonardo--a voice against the state has been silenced.
Jose Leonardo–a voice against the state has been silenced.

The loudest voices in he past—including those of the Newark Students Union and members of the elected school advisory board—have oddly fallen silent. Indeed, the charismatic leader of the Newark Students’ Union, Jose Leonardo, has quit his leadership position in the union–but remains a member of the rump “Newark Cerf’s power grab over contract benefits–is this the end of the Newark Teachers Union? | Bob Braun's Ledger:

BATs WALL OF SOLIDARITY! BATs RUNNING FOR LOCAL AND STATE UNION OFFICE! Badass Teachers Association

Badass Teachers Association:

BATs WALL OF SOLIDARITY! 
BATs RUNNING FOR LOCAL AND STATE UNION OFFICE!

The Badass Teachers Association encourages our members to be an important and active participant in their local, state, and national unions.  We encourage our members to run for office so that unions represent rank and file members, are run using a true democratic system, exist as entities that are about great education for all children, and support a framework for social justice.   
BATs would like to offer a powerful message of solidarity to BATs around the country who are running for union office and being proactive members of their local and state unions.   If you are running for a local or state union office, and are involved and engaged in the BAT network, please email us your election platform so that we can add it to our BAT  Wall of Solidarity. You can email your platform to our Executive Director Marla Kilfoyle and Asst. Executive Director Melissa Tomlinson atcontact.BATmanager@gmail.com   We wish you luck and stand with you in a united vision of great schools, healthy workplaces, and social justice. 
We offer BAT Solidarity to the following members who are running for local and/or state offices.

Broward Teachers Union-Florida


Green Apple BATs in Broward


Anna Fusco – President


Terry Preuss – Vice President




**Adding candidates to this letter of solidarity is NOT  considered an endorsement.  The Badass Teachers Association will only engage in national election endorsements through the guidance of our NEA BAT Caucus.  We will not be endorsing at the state or local level.     

Marie Corfield: Study Commission Pt.3: What Public Testimony?

Marie Corfield: Study Commission Pt.3: What Public Testimony?:

 Study Commission Pt.3: What Public Testimony?


In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, I dissected the report issued by the Study Commission on the Use of Student Assessments in New Jersey. In Parts 3 and 4 (coming tomorrow), education activist Sue Altman reports on the public testimony that was not only downplayed in the final report in terms of numbers of persons who testified, but completely ignored in the commission's recommendations.

Here's Sue's report:

On three separate dates in early 2015, in three locations in New Jersey, over 200 individuals testified on the issue of high stakes testing in New Jersey as part of the Study Commission on the Use of Student Assessments in New Jersey.  It took a full year for the report to be published to the public; in fact, while the original document was dated November 30, 2015, the document was not released to the public until January 11, 2016.  This was the same day as a Board of Education meeting at which I spoke on this very issue:
​.  

So, who testified?

The Department held testimony at three locations, and also provided an opportunity for people to submit testimony via email.

Submitted Written Testimony118
Jersey City26
Jackson42
Blackwood23
TOTAL:209
(The State report states there were 100.)

Jerseyans from all walks of life took part in this democractic exercise, and that in itself is inspirational.  There Marie Corfield: Study Commission Pt.3: What Public Testimony?:


Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/18/15



CORPORATE ED REFORM





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YESTERDAY

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Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/17/15
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