SW BOCES Teachers Association
  • President's Corner
  • Elections
  • Reps and Executive Board
  • Calendar
  • BTA Benefits
    • BTA Benefits Contacts
    • New and Existing Members >
      • New and Existing Members
      • Davis Vision
      • Delta Dental
      • Group Access Legal Service Plan
      • UNUM Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance & Long Term Disability (LTD)
    • Retiree-Change in Status
    • NYSUT Member Benefits
    • NYSUT Endorsed Vision
  • Questions
  • Vote-COPE (Why it matters!)
  • NYSUT Updates
  • Sunshine
  • BTA Contracts
  • BTA BULLETIN

Additional comments

6/12/2017

1 Comment

 
Gerry Murphy's address to the BOCES Board on June 7th.

​Good Evening,
For the past 36 years I have been the face of BOCES /your hospitality. The students form Culinary have prepared food for every event the Board has celebrated. My time with BOCES has been a thrill and honor.
 
I am here tonight for two reasons.
One of the reasons I am here tonight is to say thank you for your service to education.
The second reason is Compensation.
In years past your leadership team was local; they knew the issues and they knew the concerns of parents, students and staff of our region.
 
They and you where fair and SW BOCES grew.
 
I never thought it necessary in the past to speak to you about compensation issues. This is my first time, in my 36 years, to speak on a compensation issue.
 
I am retiring this year. At a reception celebrating my retirement I was reminded, by my programs first guidance counselor, that the ratio of students with IEP’s was about 5% I also spoke to another guidance counselor about IEP issues in secondary day programs and he said the ratio was about 5%.  Today at the career center we have about 70% students with IEP’s in the shops.
 
What does that say about BOCES?
It says you have a tremendous teaching staff that has adapted to the needs of the community.
It says the educational community of Westchester knows that SW BOCES can and does get the job done.
Remember the students we have today in the past were often in institutions.
Districts could not educate these students. Districts said, “So let’s send them to BOCES and let’s see what can happen.”
Happily, in most cases, a miracle happened. Your teaching staff enjoys the confidence of the Westchester educational community.
 
I truly think your leadership team at this time is out of touch with Westchester and your staff.
 
The teaching staff has been told the districts say no to this or that.  That they don’t do certain things for their own staff and therefore the BOCES staff cannot enjoy any extras.
But I wonder why the same rule is not applied to leadership?  I am OK if No is No top to bottom.
Sadly that is not the case; leadership rewards itself annually.
 
I do not know if it is a good idea to listen to what the districts say or request.  I have always thought of BOCES as the leader on all issues pertaining to education.
 
I know of one issue when the districts/superintendent’s all sent a signed letter to the newspaper saying not to hire a new COO. …you chose not to listen ...
 
Again thank you for your service to education and for giving me the opportunity to serve.
 
 
1 Comment

June 7th BOCES Board Meeting

6/9/2017

0 Comments

 
Long time advocate and union activist, Gerry Murphy, and President, Melissa Barreto, spoke out for the just treatment of members and called for the settlement of a fair contract at the June 7th BOCES Board Meeting.  The meeting was attended by more than 30 additional members who came out, on short notice, for a show of solidarity. 

President Barreto's statements:  

I want to thank the board for providing me the opportunity to make a statement on behalf of the BTA. We are here today to let you know that we have been without a contract since 2014. 

As divisions around us receive raises and base salaries increase, we have not received raises since 2012. We are asking for a fair and equitable contract. The memorandum of agreement was voted down 175-15. This clearly speaks to my members frustrations; and they have made their voices heard, past and present.

I want to thank the retirees who are here for their support. We have worked collaboratively with administration to create the APPR plan, the professional development plan and the summer school side letter all in good faith with the same passion to move BOCES ahead.

We applaud and appreciate the financial means put forth in consultants and contracts to invest in this organization to make it an educational leader. What we ask is that you invest in us, your employees who make that difference in the lives of children each and everyday!

Thank you!
Melissa Barreto, President BTA
0 Comments
    Picture

    ​Categories

    All
    Action
    BTA By Laws
    BTA Constitution
    Common Core
    CTLE
    Election Results
    Legislative Advocacy Breakfast
    Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
    NYSUT
    Professional Development
    Rally
    Retirement
    Sample Ballot
    Updated APPR
    Video
    Workers Compensation
    Workshop

    Archives

    April 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    May 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • President's Corner
  • Elections
  • Reps and Executive Board
  • Calendar
  • BTA Benefits
    • BTA Benefits Contacts
    • New and Existing Members >
      • New and Existing Members
      • Davis Vision
      • Delta Dental
      • Group Access Legal Service Plan
      • UNUM Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance & Long Term Disability (LTD)
    • Retiree-Change in Status
    • NYSUT Member Benefits
    • NYSUT Endorsed Vision
  • Questions
  • Vote-COPE (Why it matters!)
  • NYSUT Updates
  • Sunshine
  • BTA Contracts
  • BTA BULLETIN