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NYSUT Representative Assembly - May 1 - May 3
BTA President Mairead Schuelein attended the NYSUT President's Council meeting and the NYSUT Representative Assembly from May 1st through May 3rd in Rochester along with 1,600+ other delegates from across the state. Southern Westchester BOCES was featured in NYSUT President Melinda Person's annual speech! Congratulations to former BTA President Marty Sommer on winning one of the 5 Community Service Awards for Retirees state-wide.
What is the NYSUT Representative Assembly?
Every local NYSUT union is assigned a certain number of delegates based on the size of their union. The President is an automatic delegate and the BTA then holds an election every year for 3 additional delegates. The Representative Assembly (RA) is a yearly meeting where thousands of delegates across the state come together to vote on resolutions. These resolutions become NYSUT's legislative priorities for the following year. You can read stories and watch videos of what the RA looked like here.
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BTA President Mairead Schuelein attended the NYSUT President's Council meeting and the NYSUT Representative Assembly from May 1st through May 3rd in Rochester along with 1,600+ other delegates from across the state. Southern Westchester BOCES was featured in NYSUT President Melinda Person's annual speech! Congratulations to former BTA President Marty Sommer on winning one of the 5 Community Service Awards for Retirees state-wide.
What is the NYSUT Representative Assembly?
Every local NYSUT union is assigned a certain number of delegates based on the size of their union. The President is an automatic delegate and the BTA then holds an election every year for 3 additional delegates. The Representative Assembly (RA) is a yearly meeting where thousands of delegates across the state come together to vote on resolutions. These resolutions become NYSUT's legislative priorities for the following year. You can read stories and watch videos of what the RA looked like here.
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BTA Spring Elections
As announced at the April Rep Council meeting and via email earlier that month, the BTA will not be holding a Spring election as there are 4 members running unopposed for 4 different positions. In the Executive Board meeting held on 4/28/25, Recording Secretary Liz Lopez made a motion to approve the candidates for their positions, and so each candidate won their election 1-0. Congratulations to:
Jason Poniatowski, Executive Vice President
Derrick Green, 1st Vice President of Aides
Keith Mattos, 2nd Vice President of ALC
Rosalie Consani, RA Delegate
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As announced at the April Rep Council meeting and via email earlier that month, the BTA will not be holding a Spring election as there are 4 members running unopposed for 4 different positions. In the Executive Board meeting held on 4/28/25, Recording Secretary Liz Lopez made a motion to approve the candidates for their positions, and so each candidate won their election 1-0. Congratulations to:
Jason Poniatowski, Executive Vice President
Derrick Green, 1st Vice President of Aides
Keith Mattos, 2nd Vice President of ALC
Rosalie Consani, RA Delegate
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Certified Staff Contract Negotiations
The Certified Staff contract expires June 30th, 2025. As mentioned at the last Rep Council meeting, the Negotiations team has been meeting on a bi-weekly to negotiate a contract. The Negotiations team believes we are close to getting something settled. Once the Negotiations team settles a deal, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) gets written that is signed by both the BTA and the administrators involved in negotiations. An MOA outlines the language changes that will be made to the current contract. Once that is signed and received, the BTA will send out both the MOA and a separate document that outlines what those proposed language changes mean to members. We will also send out a series of dates for virtual informational sessions and the dates and times of the votes on the MOA. A text will also go out to all those on the text list to inform them of the MOA. Please be sure to check your personal email regularly to make sure you are informed!
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Question of the Month
BASIS providers
Question: I saw the posting for BASIS providers for next year. I've never done a BASIS case before. What is BASIS?
- BASIS stands for "Before and After School Intervention Services". These are services provided in a child's home before or after school, mostly throughout Westchester County, but occasionally in adjacent counties as well.
- The students are, more often than not, NOT students that attend SWBOCES. They are students who local districts have identified as needing help either before or after school, for various reasons.
- These reasons can include, but are not limited to: assisting a student and their parents in getting a student on the bus or to school, establishing a routine for the student and family in the morning, tutoring services in specific subjects, assisting a student with organizing and completing their homework after school, and direct student services in the home (i.e. OT, PT or ST services).
- The deadline to sign up to be a BASIS provider for the 2025-2026 school year is Friday, May 16th. You can find the application here.
- The BTA encourages all members to sign up to become BASIS providers. Signing up does not guarantee you a case, nor does it obligate you to take one. Sign ups only happen twice yearly - there have been many members who have signed up to work cases at various times during the year due to an unexpected need for additional income.
- Once you sign up, the BASIS steering committee meets to determine whether members are eligible to take cases next year. The Board of Education will then approve the list of members, and you will be on an email list with potential cases starting July 1st. Please consider joining. If you have questions, reach out to a Rep or Exec Board member.
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BTA outing to the NY Yankees
Come join the BTA for an outing at the Yankees vs. Orioles game on Saturday, June 21st at 1:05pm at Yankee Stadium. Tickets are $95 each, which includes a $15 voucher for food and drink. We encourage you to bring your family and friends! Payment is due at the time of your purchase to Rosalie or Liz in either cash, Venmo or Zelle. RSVP is due by Wednesday, May 14th at 3pm. To get tickets, please click here
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Come join the BTA for an outing at the Yankees vs. Orioles game on Saturday, June 21st at 1:05pm at Yankee Stadium. Tickets are $95 each, which includes a $15 voucher for food and drink. We encourage you to bring your family and friends! Payment is due at the time of your purchase to Rosalie or Liz in either cash, Venmo or Zelle. RSVP is due by Wednesday, May 14th at 3pm. To get tickets, please click here
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BTA End of Year Happy Hour and Falens Project Backpack Drive
The BTA will be holding it's End of Year Happy Hour on Wednesday, June 11th from 4-5:30pm at Captain Lawrence. Every member will get a ticket for one drink and pizzas will be provided. Please RSVP here
Additionally, the BTA has partnered with the Falens Project to do a Backpack Drive for students that need school supplies. The Falens Project, founded in memory of Falens Bruno, a former BTA member, is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, kindness, and belonging for all students, especially those with disabilities. Through school activities, awareness events, and community partnerships, the project encourages every student to feel seen, valued, and supported. Together, we honor Falens’ legacy by creating a culture where differences are celebrated and everyone has a place. Please signup here to purchase an item to be donated and bring it with you to the End of Year Happy Hour. If you can't make the happy hour but would still like to donate, please deliver it to the Rep or Exec Board member at your site.
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The BTA will be holding it's End of Year Happy Hour on Wednesday, June 11th from 4-5:30pm at Captain Lawrence. Every member will get a ticket for one drink and pizzas will be provided. Please RSVP here
Additionally, the BTA has partnered with the Falens Project to do a Backpack Drive for students that need school supplies. The Falens Project, founded in memory of Falens Bruno, a former BTA member, is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, kindness, and belonging for all students, especially those with disabilities. Through school activities, awareness events, and community partnerships, the project encourages every student to feel seen, valued, and supported. Together, we honor Falens’ legacy by creating a culture where differences are celebrated and everyone has a place. Please signup here to purchase an item to be donated and bring it with you to the End of Year Happy Hour. If you can't make the happy hour but would still like to donate, please deliver it to the Rep or Exec Board member at your site.
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New outline of BTA Rep Council and General Membership Meetings
On April 30th, the Reps and Exec Board received a training from our Labor Relations Specialist, Tom McMahon, on proper outline and purpose of union meetings. The purpose of a union meeting (Rep Council or General Membership) is to conduct the business of the union. It should not be a time for open discussion and public comment. Moving forward, these meetings will attempt to follow the outline below with no "member comments/concerns" section. As mentioned at the April 30th Rep Council meeting, this is not meant to stifle a member's ability to ask questions or get information. That should be done before or after the meeting, by directing your question or comment to a Rep or Exec Board member at your site whether in person, via phone or email. The Rep or Exec Board member at your site can then talk directly with the principal there to address the concern, and move it up to the President who would work with upper administration if it is a concern that is impacting members across sites. Please bear with us as we adjust to our new outline! We will also be receiving training on Robert's Rules of Order this summer and based on that training, will look to make additional changes in the fall.
The new agenda will look similar to this:
a.. Call meeting to Order
b. Approval of previous meeting minutes
c. Old Business
d. President's Reporte.
e. Vice President's Report (if needed)
f. Treasurer's Report
g. Grievance Report (if needed)
h. Committee Reports (if needed)
i. New Business
j. Adjourn meeting
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On April 30th, the Reps and Exec Board received a training from our Labor Relations Specialist, Tom McMahon, on proper outline and purpose of union meetings. The purpose of a union meeting (Rep Council or General Membership) is to conduct the business of the union. It should not be a time for open discussion and public comment. Moving forward, these meetings will attempt to follow the outline below with no "member comments/concerns" section. As mentioned at the April 30th Rep Council meeting, this is not meant to stifle a member's ability to ask questions or get information. That should be done before or after the meeting, by directing your question or comment to a Rep or Exec Board member at your site whether in person, via phone or email. The Rep or Exec Board member at your site can then talk directly with the principal there to address the concern, and move it up to the President who would work with upper administration if it is a concern that is impacting members across sites. Please bear with us as we adjust to our new outline! We will also be receiving training on Robert's Rules of Order this summer and based on that training, will look to make additional changes in the fall.
The new agenda will look similar to this:
a.. Call meeting to Order
b. Approval of previous meeting minutes
c. Old Business
d. President's Reporte.
e. Vice President's Report (if needed)
f. Treasurer's Report
g. Grievance Report (if needed)
h. Committee Reports (if needed)
i. New Business
j. Adjourn meeting
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TA observation form committee
Thank you to Tyree Morris, Spencer Ingram and Elizabeth Lopez for volunteering to be the three TAs from the BTA to participate on a committee with administration to look at potential changes to the TA observation form. Thank you for your work!
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Thank you to Tyree Morris, Spencer Ingram and Elizabeth Lopez for volunteering to be the three TAs from the BTA to participate on a committee with administration to look at potential changes to the TA observation form. Thank you for your work!
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Congrats to our Retiree
Rosanne Pennella -27 years
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Rosanne Pennella -27 years
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Reminders
The postings for Team Leader and TCIS Response team member are up. If you already serve in these roles, you still need to reapply. Team Leaders will be needed at St. Matt's, Valhalla and Transfiguration and TCIS Response team members are needed at all sites. A cover letter and resume must be sent to Suzanne Doherty for consideration for the Team Leader position by May 16th. The TCIS Response team form can be found here and closes on May 19th.
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.
Next Rep Council meeting: Please join us on Wednesday, May 28th at 3:30pm for our next Rep Council meeting. The meeting will be in person at RLC or you can join us virtually. Link to follow!
The postings for Team Leader and TCIS Response team member are up. If you already serve in these roles, you still need to reapply. Team Leaders will be needed at St. Matt's, Valhalla and Transfiguration and TCIS Response team members are needed at all sites. A cover letter and resume must be sent to Suzanne Doherty for consideration for the Team Leader position by May 16th. The TCIS Response team form can be found here and closes on May 19th.
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.
Next Rep Council meeting: Please join us on Wednesday, May 28th at 3:30pm for our next Rep Council meeting. The meeting will be in person at RLC or you can join us virtually. Link to follow!
