At its May 4 meeting, the BCFPE Board approved the following appointments to the Elections Committee:

• Graceann Rehbein, Health Department
• Jerlena Rhodes, Corrections
• Samantha English, 911 Center
• Tishawn Usiade, Health Department, Alternate

The Committee will meet throughout the summer to oversee the election of officers this fall.

The Board also approved the following to attend Union Steward Training on May 23:

Our President Ruby Newbold, AFT Vice President and PSRP PPC Chair, helped to lead the three-day conference held at the Detroit Marriott. Here are some of the photos from the weekend that featured AFT President Randi Weingarten; Lorretta Johnson, AFT Secretary-Treasurer; David Hecker, AFT Michigan President; and Alycia Meriweather, Interim Superintendent for Detroit Public Schools Community District.

See more photos in the News section under Photos. 

LONG ISLAND CHAPTER OF NYSARA MEETING AT NYSUT

Bow, NH- May 11, 2017 

The wheels turn slowly in Concord, as we grind towards the inevitable mid-June end of the 2017 legislative session The House did not meet in session this week due to a lack of bills coming to the floor for action, so everything will be condensed into sessions at the end of May.  The House meets in session on May 18^th to vote on an emergency supplemental appropriation to fund the Department of Health and Human Services until the end of the fiscal year. There will be no consideration of committee reports at this session.

AFT Detroit calls on the DPSCD administration to understand the important role that we play and negotiate with us accordingly. 

We’ve been team players. We’ve sacrificed a significant portion of our salaries in recent years.  Now, we say with one voice: What’s best for educators and support staff is best for students.

READ MORE: https://michronicleonline.com/2017/05/10/whats-best-for-educators-and-support-staff-is-best-for-students/

Follow the link for more information from the Monticello Board of Education.

By Ruby Newbold, DAEOE president, chair of the AFT PSRP program and policy council, and an AFT vice president

The way we work as paraprofessionals and school-related personnel changes over the years. 

Think of the changes our retirees have seen over the course of their working lives. Just the technology alone — think of those changes.

READ MORE: https://aftvoices.org/moving-with-the-times-e1df32d74563

On Saturday, April 29, 2017, union delegates from across the state of Maryland attended our Statewide Advisory Meeting which was held at MCEA Headquarters. President Linda Day called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.  The meeting was well attended but very somber due to the unexpected passing of Agnes Valenzia, MCEA Executive Vice President. Agnes had been a member of MCEA for over 30 years and was a great friend and a loyal advocate of MCEA.

It is with deep regret that MCEA announces the passing of one of our dear beloved members, Agnes Valenzia. Agnes joined the ranks of MCEA in the fall of 1985. Before the ink was dry on her MCEA membership card she began volunteering for different committees within her local chapter #022 at the MVA.