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CDC Guidelines (2/25/2022)

CDC issues new guidance

The Centers for Disease Control today issued updated school masking guidelines and recommends new metrics to determine high-risk communities. Here’s a community risk breakdown by county under the new metrics. While this guidance does not change the current state mask guidelines, Gov. Hochul said New York’s mask mandate for schools would be reevaluated next week after students return from winter break.

Here we go, as lobbying efforts go into overdrive

As the Legislature comes back from its February break, NYSUT will ramp up the staff lobbying and volunteer political action throughout March to push the union’s Future Forward priorities. Actions include the Committee of 100, higher ed action days, BOCES lobby days and more. The state budget is due by April 1.

It’s Public Schools Week!

#PublicSchoolsWeek is a nationwide effort promoting the benefits schools offer to students. NYSUT members know firsthand how impactful a public school education is. From addressing students’ social and emotional needs to ensuring they have access to meals; we are working to further strengthen these institutions of learning.

More news

  • As Women’s History Month begins, Executive VP Jolene DiBrango’s blog explores the triumph of trying, and not giving up hope. Get a free WHM poster for your classroom from NYSUT.
  • A new national adjunct faculty survey underlines the economic reality faced by contingent and adjunct faculty at colleges and universities—and illustrates how the pandemic further eroded job security and bolstered the need for public help.
  • Feb. 28 is the deadline for NBCT candidates to apply for Al Shanker Grants.
  • Remote classes for NYSUT ELT Spring Session 2 begin March 7 through the Moodle. Registration closes Wednesday, March 2.
  • Last chance! The deadline to submit article proposals for the next edition of Educator’s Voice, NYSUT’s professional journal has been extended to Tuesday, March 1. The issue will focus on the topic of Sustaining Democracy through Civics Education.
  • Tax tip: The educator expense tax deduction was renewed for 2021 tax returns.
  • Save the Date! for the NYSUT Professional Issues Forum on Health Care to be held May 7 via Zoom. This free virtual conference will provide professional development and some Continuing Education Unit credits to NYSUT members.
  • New free webinars on certification issues have been added covering the most requested topics, including special education March 2 and expiring certificates and changing assignments March 3.
  • Register online for one of NYSUT’s popular Student Loan Debt webinars. The next sessions are March 8 and 24. Space is limited.

Just for leaders

  • Applications are now being accepted for the final round of the AFT Innovation Fund’s Return, Recover and Reimagine grants. Grant awards will range from $20,000 to $50,000.
  • NYSUT offers a special one-time matching grant program to help aid local unions in their efforts to elect and re-elect pro-public education members to school boards across the state. To apply for a grant, complete the application no later than March 15.
  • Be on the lookout for the RA Delegate Bulletin which was mailed to RA delegates. You can find updated information about the 2022 NYSUT Representative Assembly, April 1-2 in Albany, at nysut.org/ra.
  • The AFT provides, at no cost, general liability coverage to protect AFT/NYSUT locals in the event of an incident that might result in a liability lawsuit.

 

 
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NYSUT COVID-19 Update (as of 2/10/2022)

TO: NYSUT Board of Directors, NYSUT Local Presidents
FROM: NYSUT Officers
DATE: February 10, 2022
SUBJECT: NYSUT Alert – February 10, 2022 – Update from NYSUT

Masks & Schools:  Q & A

When does the mask mandate for schools expire?

The State mask mandates for both schools and the general public were adopted pursuant to temporary regulation.  The Commissioner of Health set an expiration date of February 10, 2022, for the public mask mandate.  There was no such date expressed by the Commissioner for the school mandate, but because a temporary regulation only has a life of 90 days, it is set to expire by operation of law on February 21.  Another regulation would need to be adopted to extend it.
                         

If there is no State mandate, can schools mandate masks for students and visitors?
No. Boards of education only have the powers and obligations given to them by the Legislature. To respond to a health situation, either the state or county department of health needs to declare there is a situation requiring a response in schools. If the state mandate is lifted, then the ability for schools to respond with a mandate is lifted with it.  Boards of education do not have inherent power to impose a general mask mandate for the students, visitors and employees of their district.  This is not to say a board of education might not try.  But if it did, the mandate likely would not survive a challenge if one is brought before the courts or the Commissioner of Education.  Employees, however, should comply with district policies while they are in place or risk discipline.

If there is no State mandate, can schools mandate masks for employees?
Not without collective bargaining with the respective unions. If the mandate goes away, we believe that a directive to wear masks would be similar to an imposition of a dress code that would require collective bargaining.

Can anyone other than the State adopt a mask mandate applicable to schools?
Counties through their respective health agency could do so.  If a county adopted a mask mandate that included schools, through proper processes, it should withstand scrutiny, and a school district would need to comply with such mandate.

 

Can a mask mandate be negotiated?
As discussed above, in New York, a requirement unilaterally imposed by a school district that employees must, or must not, wear masks would be subject to negotiation.  But in New York, a demand to negotiate with the union about a mask mandate for students would likely be deemed to be a “prohibited” demand, if there is no state or county health declaration any longer.   As described above, the district itself would not have the power to impose such mandate on students without a health declaration so it could not do so as a product of bargaining.

 

Thank you.
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New Isolation & Quarantine Guidance from NYSUT

Hello all,

Below is a memorandum from NYSUT.

NYSUT Alert – January 14, 2022 – Additional Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance

Additional Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance
The New York State Department of Health issued revised guidance late today. The updated guidance replaces the version emailed earlier today with the date of 1/13. Of note, they created an FAQ section on contact tracing and case investigation and issued guidance related to schools. The isolation/quarantine chart was also reformatted.

FAQ – Contact Tracing for Schools
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/01/CT_FAQ%20for%20Schools_1.14.22.pdf

The NYS DOH has updated their website and posted to the most recent version of the guidance. All can be found under the guidance and FAQ section:
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact-tracing

Thank you.

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Letter from the AFT

Hello,

Below is a letter from the AFT. There will be a virtual town hall open to all who are interested on January 11th, 2022 at 6:45 p.m. for information about COVID 19 and Omicron.

AFT info[1467]

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State of the State Summary

Hello all,

We hope you enjoyed the holidays and some well deserved time off. Please see the attached document for information about the State of the State address. There are also a few links within the document about the address to view at your convenience.

State of the State Summary

Thank you!

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Negotiations Survey Link

Hello all,

Below is the link to the survey to help with contract negotiations. Please fill out the survey by Friday, December 10th, 2021.

https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2FWFLBEA2021NegSurvey&data=04%7C01%7Cccasw1%40brockport.edu%7Cf8e67a3d32154c7defef08d9b901b32a%7C696ec4990f244fd9b691252a2884ef3b%7C0%7C0%7C637744239967476880%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=34kSNz05MhzBC%2FPeJuyHOScmTjSux%2BMXOqObHux4xWA%3D&reserved=0

Thanks!

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