March 11, 2026 bulletin – Free BTA shirts, Fix Tier 6 rally, CTLE/CEU opportunities

Fix Tier 6 Rally

Pictured from top left in a clockwise motion: Mairead Schuelein and Ann Marie Ross at the rally, NYSUT President Melinda Person, Governor Kathy Hochul, Mairead with NYSUT Executive Vice President Jaime Ciffone, and AFT President Randi Weingarten.

More than 15,000 people attended NYSUT’s Fix Tier 6 rally on Sunday, March 8th. This included teachers, SRPs, nurses, firefighters, police officers and government employees. Thank you to Ann Marie Ross for joining Mairead up in Albany. Governor Hochul and State Majority Leader, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins both spoke at the rally about the importance of fixing Tier 6 this year. Additionally, the one house budgets came out on 3/11 and indicate both the state Senate and Assembly want changes to Tier 6. See this reel from NYSUT President Melinda Person and the press release from NYSUT on the rally. We won’t quit until we Fix Tier 6!

NEW BTA T-shirts for everyone!

All BTA members will be receiving a complimentary NEW BTA t-shirt as part of one of our LAP initiatives. An email with a link to a swag shop will be sent out in the next few days, with a choice of two shirts, one in men’s and one in women’s sizing. The deadline and how to order will be included in the email. All orders will be sent to Mairead and then distributed to sites. Once delivered, we will start having Wear Your Shirt Wednesdays, with spotters recording all those who wear their shirts to be entered for a drawing for a prize. This is a way to build solidarity and unity among our members. Thank you to our LAP team for this great initiative!

Certified Staff Benefits Additions

As mentioned at the January and February Rep Council meeting as well as in a separate bulletin on February 23rd, the Benefits Trust has add additional benefits for all Certified Staff effective March 1st, 2026. All concerns about vision coverage have been rectified but please let us know if you continue to have an issue. The changes include:

Increase in coverage of orthodontics for kids

• Increase in coverage of orthodontics for kids
• Yearly vision exam with glasses or contact coverage
• Addition of the Stacey Braun financial counseling
• Monetary reimbursement by the Trust for up to $400 of specific items/services that relate to health and wellness as determined by the Trustees

Please note: If you have changed your address since July 1, 2025, please include an updated address with your receipt so that the check can be mailed to the correct location.

Virtual Employee’s Retirement System (ERS) workshop

The NYSUT Tarrytown Regional Office will be holding a virtual ERS seminar on Thursday, April 9, 2026 from 4:30-6pm. This is not just for people considering retirement, but for all members who will eventually retire into the system. Teacher Aides and PTs and OTs are all part of ERS. Please register via this flyer and a Zoom link will be sent to you the day before the meeting.

Virtual Will Day – Thursday, April 9th

The Spring Virtual Will Day will be held on Thursday, April 9th from 3pm to 6pm. A flyer will be sent out next week. Aides – you are also eligible for a free will through NYSUT. Please reach out to Vitaliya at navitaliya to sign up.

LAP 1:1 Conversations

As one of our LAP campaigns, the LAP team selected members across various sites to hold 1:1 conversations with BTA members over the next coming months. These conversations will be approximately 10 minutes in length, and will be used to get information from our members such as their charity interests, what tier they are, and their perception of the BTA. Thank you to all of those who responded “yes” to being chosen and a reminder that a short Zoom training will take place on Monday, March 16th at 6:30pm. If you are someone interested in being one of the interviewers, please reach out to Mairead.

Congratulations Robert DelGreco and Anchelle Allen!

Congratulations to BTA members Robert DelGreco and Anchelle Allen for February 6, 2026 being named a day in their honor by the Westchester County Board of Legislators. They were also named Champions of Change by NYSSBA back in January.

Know Your Contract campaign

The Know Your Contract campaign for Certified Staff is an ongoing campaign to encourage members to read and learn their contract. Reach out to a winner to see how they won. There are still approximately 30 winners still out there!

Karen Canino, RLC/Irvington

Darlene Brice, CTE

Demetria Thomas, St. Matt’s

Sabrina Ereditario, Irvington

Jane Shields, Irvington/St. Matt’s

Tiziana DeMasi, RLC

Cristina Piccolo, RLC

Meghan McCann, Transfiguration

Meghan McCann with her prize

Retirement Info from NYSUT Member Benefits

Congratulations Edith Rivera!

Edith was the recipient of the SWBOCES Ambassador award, which was presented to her at the March 4th Board of Education meeting. Read more about Edith’s award here

Know Your Rights

Thank you to all of you who completed the Know Your Rights survey that was sent throughout August and September. Each month I will highlight a different question that was on the survey, how our members responded and the State Education law that explains the answer to the survey.

Question #5: Under New York State Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulations, either the Superintendent or the Board can recommend a teacher for tenure. 62.5% of members answered it was true. The correct answer is false.

As per NYS Ed Law 3012, only the Superintendent can recommend a teacher for tenure. The Board of Education then votes on that recommendation.

NYSUTHealth and Educational Professionals Conference

NYSUT is holding this upcoming conference in Ossining, NY. See the flyer for more details. This conference offers 5.5 CEU hours for social workers.

Free CTLE hours through NYSUT

Welcome New Members!

Donna Bruno, Rye Lake

Denise Alvarez, Irvington

Reminders

Next Rep Council meeting: The next Rep Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18th at 4pm via Zoom. Zoom link to follow.

BTA text list: If you wish to receive texts from the BTA, please fill out this form. The BTA does not give out your cell phone number to outside parties. We use it to send reminders about meetings and upcoming events.

If you receive an email from your supervisor saying you can bring a union rep to a scheduled meeting, reach out to one of the Reps or Exec Board members listed at the bottom of this bulletin ASAP.

Executive Board and Reps

Mairead Schuelein, President

Jason Poniatowski, Executive Vice President

Stacey DiPaola, Treasurer

Derrick Green, 1st Vice President of Aides

Keith Mattos, 2nd Vice President of ALC

Mike Piccolo, Grievance Chair

Rosalie Consani, Corresponding Secretary

Liz Lopez, Recording Secretary

Julie Crosier, Teacher Rep

Theresa Saive, Teacher Rep

Pierre Fils, CTE Rep

February 23, 2026 bulletin – BTA Certified Staff Benefits Trust changes

All plan changes take effect March 1, 2026

Certified Staff Benefits Trust Changes

As mentioned in the February 6 BTA bulletin, changes are coming to the Certified Staff benefits. Please join us at the end of the Rep Council meeting on Wednesday, February 25th for a brief presentation about your new benefits as well as an opportunity to ask and answer questions.

Changes to Orthodontics

Orthodontics will now increase from $1750/dependent to $2500/dependent over the course of their lifetime. This increase will begin on March 1st only for new dependents who receive orthodontics. If your child currently is wearing braces or wore braces in the past, you unfortunately do not get the additional $750 increase.

Change to Vision Plan

The plan will now be an annual plan instead of a biannual plan for both adults and children. You will be able to receive a yearly eye exam and either a year’s supply of contacts or a pair of glasses. Benefits for glasses still include:

• scratch-resistant coating
• polycarbonate lenses for children and adults
• ultra violet coating
• intermediate lenses
• blended segment lenses
• photochromic glass lenses
• standard progressive addition lenses
• premium progressives
• blue light

You can find a list of vision providers within a 10 mile distance of Valhalla here

Stacy Braun Financial Planning

We are offering a brand new benefit: 6 free sessions of financial planning with Stacey Braun Associates. To schedule an appointment, call the number below or scan the QR code and fill out an online form. See the flyers below for more information.

Health and Wellness Reimbursement

All Certified Staff are entitled to up to a $400 monetary reimbursement by the Trust for specific items/services that relate to health and wellness. These items were voted on by the Trustees in their January meeting. The following items will be reimbursed:

• Gym/Fitness
• Gym memberships
• Sporting equipment (no apparel/sneakers)
• Fitness class fees
• Stretch Lab
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Spa Treatments
• Massage
• Facial
• Sauna
• Steam Room
• Body scrubs
• Nutrition
• Diet Program
• Weight watchers
• Jenny Craig
• Meal Kits (these are examples)
  • Hello Fresh
  • Blue Apron
• Acupuncture
• Reflexology

Purchases must be made between 1/1/26 – 12/31/26. Whether this benefit will be continued will be determined on a yearly basis by the Trustees.

• In order to be reimbursed, members must submit an original receipt (please make a copy for yourself), which clearly lists the items or services purchased as well as proof that this item was paid for in full.
• Receipts can be submitted in 1 of 3 ways:

1. PONY to Mairead Schuelein at Transfiguration
2. Mail to Stacey DiPaola at treasurer

• Acknowledgement of the receipt will be made to the member in an email.
• Reimbursement will be in the form of a check written to the member and mailed to the member’s home (please make sure you have your correct address on file with the BTA)

Please reach out to the Benefits Trust Trustees if you have any questions.

Tyree Morris – Chairperson

Stacey DiPaola – Treasurer

Jane Shields – Secretary

Peter Schwartzgott – Trustee

Mairead Schuelein – Trustee/President of the BTA

Executive Board and Reps

Mairead Schuelein, President

Jason Poniatowski, Executive Vice President

Stacey DiPaola, Treasurer

Derrick Green, 1st Vice President of Aides

Keith Mattos, 2nd Vice President of ALC

Mike Piccolo, Grievance Chair

Rosalie Consani, Corresponding Secretary

Liz Lopez, Recording Secretary

Julie Crosier, Teacher Rep

Theresa Saive, Teacher Rep

Pierre Fils, CTE Rep

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