American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Month: June 2015

AFT NewsLabor News
AFTNJ

Joint Statement on Public Service Workers on Supreme Court Grant of Cert in Friedrichs v. CTA – See more at:

Lawsuit Seeks to Curtail Freedom of Firefighters, Teachers, Nurses, First-Responders to Stick Together and Advocate for Better Public Services, Better Communities

Jeopardizes American Promise that Hard Work Leads Families to a Decent Life

WASHINGTON—NEA President Lily Eskelsen García, AFT President Randi Weingarten, CTA President Eric C. Heins, AFSCME President Lee Saunders, and SEIU President Mary Kay Henry issued the following joint statement today in response to U.S.…

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Newark Teachers UnionPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

Unlikely Partners Form Alliance To Shape The Future Of Newark’s Public Schools

On heels of Cami Anderson’s resignation, Gov. Christie and Mayor Baraka name panel to work on returning district to local control

By John Mooney

The new panel given the task of guiding the end of state control of Newark’s schools – announced Friday by Gov. Chris Christie and Mayor Ras Baraka – is intriguing right down to its name: the Newark Educational Success Board.…

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Pre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

Christie has handcuffed School Security Task Force, leaving N.J. kids at risk

By Patrick Diegnan Jr.

On December 14, 2012, an armed intruder attacked Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The inconceivable carnage left 20 children dead, along with six adults who attempted to thwart the attack. Although there will never be a simple answer as to how to prevent the behavior which led to the attack, everyone agrees that access to our schools is far too easy for those intent on causing harm.…

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AFTNJ NewsMediaPress Clips
nbender

Wayne Hills honor society students raise attention to homeless veterans

By Debra Winters, Staff Writers, Wayne Today

WAYNE – National Honor Society (NHS) students at Wayne Hills High School recently made a social statement when they slept outside in boxes to bring awareness to the problem of homeless military veterans plaguing our country.

The event, NHS Goes Homeless, was a fundraiser for Home Front Hearts, a New Jersey organization which provides assistance to veterans in need including homeless vets and military families.…

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Newark Teachers UnionPre-K to 12 News
nbender

Feds Find New Jersey Violated Esea Waiver By Not Helping Newark Schools

Responding to a complaint filed by Education Law Center (ELC), the U.S. Department of Education (USED) has found the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) failed to comply with requirements of its Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) waiver by not intervening to improve 28 low performing schools in Newark.

By letter dated June 19, Acting Assistant Secretary Heather Reiman details USED’s investigation of ELC’s complaint that, in 2012, then-Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf improperly gave into a demand from Newark’s State-appointed Superintendent, Cami Anderson, to allow her to retain full control over 28 low-performing schools classified by NJDOE as “priority” and “focus” schools.…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsMediaPress releases
nbender

Press: Students, Faculty and Staff Call for Implementation of Opportunity Fund Increase

CONTACT: Patrick Nowlan, pnowlan [@] rutgersaaup.org, 908-812-0972; Nat T. Bender, nbender[@] aftnj.org, 908-377-0393

Cite high success rate of EOF program for low-income, minority students

“The New Jersey Legislature’s budget committees took a significant step for New Jersey’s students by restoring and expanding funds for the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF),” said Shornna Berkeley, a student counselor at Rutgers.…

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AFTNJ NewsNewark Teachers UnionPre-K to 12 News
nbender

The Reality Of Cerf Return Starts To Dawn On Newark Politicos, Teachers

By John Mooney

[…]

Meanwhile, the Newark Teachers Union yesterday elected its first new president in 20 years, picking longtime union official John Abeigon to replace outgoing president Joseph Del Grosso.

It was no small development, given that the union has long been a thorn in Anderson’s side and is about to face new contract negotiations to follow up on the district’s landmark deal of three years ago.…

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Baraka for MayorNewark Teachers UnionPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

Will Cerf bring new game plan or old lessons to Newark?

By Adam Clark, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NEWARK — Chris Cerf, next in line to become state-appointed superintendent of Newark Public Schools, has been a history teacher, a White House attorney and the CEO of a global technology company.

But his record as state education commissioner and his support for outgoing Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson is what Newark school officials said both surprises and concerns them about the state’s selection.…

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AFT NewsNewark Teachers UnionPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

AFT’s Weingarten on Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson’s Resignation

WASHINGTON—American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the resignation of Cami Anderson, state district superintendent for the Newark (N.J.) Public Schools:

“Every child deserves a high-quality public education at a great neighborhood school, and we must ensure such an education is available to all. Unfortunately, and seemingly at every turn, Cami Anderson undercut that aspiration in Newark—ignoring the community, the school board, parents, students, and educators.…

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Adjunct IssuesHigher Ed News
AFTNJ

Adjuncts at UCC continue to vent frustration with pattern of disrespect

By Cheryl Hehl, Staff Writer

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Although both Kean and Union County College continue to use adjunct, or part-time, professors in large numbers, these educators maintain job security, pay and status continue to be an issue despite efforts on their part to change this pattern.

After LocalSource reported in the May 21 edition about the ongoing problems adjuncts were having at both educational facilities, UCC adjuncts came forward to express their views and straighten out any misconceptions there might be about what they are paid for their teaching services.…

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Newark Teachers UnionPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

Mayor: Newark superintendent’s departure ‘great news for us’

By Jessica Mazzola, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NEWARK — Hours before the state officially announced the departure of Newark schools superintendent Cami Anderson, city Mayor Ras Baraka said he would be happy to see her go.

“It would be great news for us,” Baraka said of the then-rumor that the state would swap out Newark Public Schools Superintendent Cami Anderson.…

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Newark Teachers UnionPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

Newark superintendent to step down, state education commissioner says

NEWARK – Cami Anderson will step down as Newark’s superintendent of schools by July 8, state Education Commissioner David Hespe announced today.

Hespe said he will recommend former state Education Commissioner Chris Cerf to replace her.

Cerf would need to be approved by the state Board of Education, Hespe said.

“Superintendent Anderson has worked tirelessly over the last four years to implement a bold educational vision for the students and parents of Newark,” Hespe said.…

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