The Rally at Senator Flanagan’s Office has been cancelled.

RALLY
After faxing and calling since the Senate Republicans one house budget was released last week, NYSUT is now asking us to ramp up the pressure on several Senate Republicans around the state given their position on handing out millions in additional aid to charters and removing the cap on charters.

Its time to let them Hear our Voice. This Friday, March 24th at 4:00 – 5:00 PM

• Suffolk-rally in front of State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan- 260 E Main St #203, Smithtown, NY 11787
• Nassau- Rally in front of State Senator Elaine Phillips – 252 Mineola Boulevard, Mineola, NY 11501-2421

The New York State Senates one house budget bill promotes the corporate charter school industry at the expense of our public schools. Some of the most egregious parts of this budget bill include:

Increase the dollars the local school district has to pay for each charter enrollee.

Eliminates the cap on charter schools; fueling expansion.

Increase the amount of money to faculty at charters which is in addition to the extra per student increase they will
receive this year.

Building aid increases is expanded beyond NYC.

This all comes at a cost to our schools and more importantly the students – our children – that attend.  Presently the public schools are owed millions of dollars from Albany and the charter schools are sitting on unlimited reserves (something public schools cannot do).

Please come with signs and your voices!!!

Jeff Friedman
Long Island Political Organizer
NYSUT
516-670-7834
[email protected]

The Executive Board of the R-UTN and the UTN have voted to support the Northport-East Northport Capital Bond Project Referendum which will be voted upon on February 28^th from 6am-9pm. If you are a resident of the school district we urge you to vote, and add your voice to support and protect public education. As former educators of this fine school district we have an obligation to raise our voices and vote to support students, colleagues, and future generations. Public education is under attack in our country, and we must do everything in our power to continue the legacy of excellence here in this district that we helped to build and foster.

The Bond has three main areas in which to focus improvement. It aims to:

• Improve the aging infrastructure of the buildings
• Enhance and improve classroom instructional space and replace outdated equipment
• Improve our physical education areas and athletic fields.

For the children, and to maintain our legacy and Tradition of Excellence, the value of our homes and community, we must continue to repair and improve our educational facilities. As lifelong and caring educators and citizens we urge you to vote YES on the Board Referendum on February 28^th and invest in the future.

For more information on the specific details of the Bond visit to the Northport-East Northport UFSD website. Click HERE for information regarding absentee ballots and voter registration. A recent edition of  Our Schools mailed to each home in the district is also a source of valuable details.

Remember to vote, and invest in the future.

Chris Pendergast, R-UTN member, ALS patient and Ride For Life Founder & President invites you an major event to celebrate 20 years of the ALS Ride for Life Support the cause and plan to attend the celebration on March 8th at Villa Lombardis in Holtsville from 6:30-10:30 p.m..

Visit the ALS Ride for Life Facebook Page to see the invitation.

As posted late last week, Bill Hall, retired President of the United Teachers of Northport, passed away on January 7. The Northport – East Northport community lost one of its most dedicated educators. His dedication to the students and teachers of the district was unsurpassed, and he will be missed by his many friends and colleagues. Bill is survived by his wife Gloria, also a retired Northport teacher. Please visit the In Memoriam page to read a remembrance of Bill.

Visitation today at the Brueggemann Funeral Home from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. with a service at 8 p.m. The family has chosen a private cremation service.

In the true spirit of how Bill lived his life, donations are requested for the United Teachers of Northport Scholarship Fund.

United Teachers of Northport
Scholarship Fund
166 Laurel Road
East Northport, NY 11731

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing yesterday of Bill Hall, retired president of the UTN and current R-UTN Board member. While plans are still being made, there will be a wake Thursday, January 12th at Brueggeman’s from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and  7:00 – 9:00 p.m with a service at 8:00p.m..  Information about donations instead of flowers will be forthcoming.

R-UTN Vice-President Joann Kroon offered the following tribute to Bill’s wife, Gloria Hall, upon learning of his death.

… He has always been a man I admired as a Northport teacher, UTN President, civic volunteer and lifelong educator and advocate for public education. He inspired me to continue to be involved in our life’s work to stand up and speak out for public education. I was so happy to serve with him on the R-UTN board. He has always been a caring, funny, bright and articulate gentlemen who never allowed his disease to destroy his compassion and work on behalf of others. He lived life with passion and joy, enjoying your many trips and adventures. I know your heart must be broken, but be assured that love is eternal, and he will always be with you and all of us.