PMRE GENERAL BREAKFAST MEETING-MAY 12,2010

Call to Order: 9:50 am

Present: Jane Conetta, Brigid Kinney, Dot Braunstein, Sue & Tony Segelski,

             Mary  Sayer, plus 40 PMRE members

Jane Conetta:  Acting President for Andy MacAvoy

                      Jane Welcomed All

                      1.  Reported highlights of the NYSUT Convention

                           a.NYSUT lobbies for withdrawal from Iraq

                           b.Arousing speech from the president of the United

                               Mine Workers-West Virginia.  He was strongly 

                               pro-labor,pro-action.

                               There will be a March  on Washington for Labor

                               in Sept.,2010.  PMCT will be hiring buses for

                               PMCT &PMRE members to go...

                            c. Albany has not passed a Budget-NO School Aid!

                                May 18th Budget vote-if it fails PMSD will cut 50

                                 teachers.  All are urged to vote!!!

                             d.  Pros and Cons of Charter Schools in NYS were

                                  discussed.  They raised Cap on Charter 

                                   Schools.

                              e. New Teacher Evalutation-Huge Discussion-No 

                                  yet.  Based on 100 point system:

                                             20%-standardized test scores

                                             20%-Student Growth

                                             60%-traditional teacher ratings

                                 RATINGS:  Highly Effective, Effective, 

                                                     Developing, and Ineffective

                                 Supposed to be funded with teacher development...

                             f.  State Furloughs -Governnor Paterson

                             g.  We will be receiving e-mails to make calls or 

                                   to send letters to legislators to help our  teachers...                    

                             h.  PMCT asked for help with the phone bank 

                                  to support Budget vote-May 17th,union office

                                  1-3pm.  Sign up list was passed around.

                              i. Pass Budget WALK to be held Sat., May15th

                                  Call union office if interested.

Tony Segelski stressed need to support Active Members!

                               Tony discussed Health Care and Health Reform

                                Issues.  He gave out a packet from Alliance for Retired 

                                Americans on how Seniors Benefit from the New Health Care Law. 

A Fact Sheet Packet was also handed out on Improvements to 

Medicare's Preventive Services under Health Reform.

Dot Braunstein handed out Treasurer's Report and asked if there were any questions. 

Claire Siegel made social announcements. 

We were saddened to hear of the passing of our member Lynne Mccormack on Feb. 27, 2010.

Next the floor was opened up to Questions from members...

50/50 by Sue Segelski-  Winner was Dorothy Labowski.

Adjourned at 11am.

        Respectfully submitted by, 

                                        Brigid Kinney-Secretary PMRE