Last updated: July 2, 2009
Paterson Calls Senators to Session During July 4 Holiday
ALBANY - While the Senate remains still in gridlock after the June 8 coup, Gov. David A. Paterson calls for Senators to attend extraordinary sessions July 2-6, working into the July 4th holiday. Paterson issued a proclamation of the bills that the Senate would discuss throughout the session. Legislation that will be discussed includes, Mayoral Control and increasing NYC tax. The special sessions will be held at 3 pm each day. Sen. Ruben Diaz has already refused to attend the July 4 session, stating that he will be home spending time with his family. -More here-
Special Sessions, Nil Results
ALBANY - Only Sen. Pedro Espada, D-Bronx, and Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Center, appeared for Senate negotiations yesterday in a public forum, while chairs of Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-St. Albans and Sen. John Sampson, D-Brooklyn, remained empty. At a called special session yesterday, the Senate adjourned after a proclamation on mayoral control, put forth by Gov. David A. Paterson was read. Senate Democrates met to express how they had met quorum and bills were legitimatly passed when Sen. Frank Padavan walked through the Senate chambers as session was called. -More Here- and -Here-
ECB Board meeting June 11, 2009
Left: ECB Chairman Ed McCormick sits down with Chancellor Merryl Tisch at last Thursday's Board meeting to discuss the future of New York's Education system. Right: Vice Chair of ECB Alan Lubin, Interim Commissioner Carole Huxley, ECB Chairman Ed McCormick, and Chancellor Merryl Tisch discuss teacher prepardness, tenure laws and Race to the Top. Photos by Andrew Watson. -More Here-
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Thursday July 2, 2009 Friday July 3, 2009 Saturday July 4, 2009 Sunday July 5, 2009 Monday July 6 ,2009 Senate Special Session, 3:00 pm, Senate Chambers View Senate Schedule for today's session -Here- |
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Fate of Mayoral Control Bill Still Undecided
ALBANY-Control of the New York City school system lies in the hands of the state's botched Senate as mayoral control legislation remains deadlocked withing the Senate chambers.
If left unpassed, control could be handed from the city education department to the Board of Education.
“As of July 1st, It will spiral New York’s public school system and education process into chaos,” Gov. Paterson said. -Read More Here- and -Here-
Education Commissioner Richard Mills Last Day
ALBANY-After 14 years of service as the state's education Commissioner, Richard Mills stepped down from his successful post yesterday.
Assembly Passes Bill for Mayoral Control
The Assembly education committee passed a bill yesterday that would extend NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's reign in order to continue to enhance the previously failed city school system. -More Here-
Board of Regents Releases Graduation Rates
Statewide results were realased by the State Board of Education June 22 which showed that state graduation rates were at 73.6 percent. NYSED will consider actions to raise graduation rates, performance and standards.
The data showed gradauation rates for each school district. Rates showed a steady increase in drop rates, but according to NYSED, they remain low. Graduation results can be found -Here-
3-8 Students Exam Scores Improve
May 7, 2009--Exam results of ELA and Math were released today, showing improvement and steady growth in grades 3 -8 throughout the state.
Higher Exam Scores Help Bloomberg Gain Mayoral Control of Schools
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Verizon Foundation Launches Campaign to Train 1,000 Teachers
The Verizon Foundation's Thinkfinity.org has launched a campaign to
train
1,000 teachers this month. In a hands-on webinar, teachers will learn
to
navigate and make the most of the thousands of free educational
resources on
Verizon Thinkfinity.org.
The free 60-minute online, interactive professional-development
session will be offered every weekday through June 26, with additional
sessions set
for Saturday, June 20. Employees are encouraged to let teachers know
about
this opportunity. Those interested in taking part in one of the
sessions
can register online (http://tims.thinkfinity.org/CourseSessions/AttendeeSignIn.aspx?CourseID=56)
at Thinkfinity.org.
Thinkfinity.org is the Verizon Foundation's free, comprehensive Web
site
that saves teachers time and money by providing thousands of free
educational resources including K-12 lesson plans, online educational
activities,
videos and other materials to enhance teacher effectiveness and
improve
student achievement. -MORE HERE-
Two Retired Teachers Extinguish Reading Woes
May 27, 2009
By Kaitlyn Dmyterko, ECB
TROY-Between taking ELA tests and finding the percentages of numbers, Virginia O’Brien and Keli Santaniello’s fifth grade classes at School 18 in Troy took a break to participate in a Reading Is Fun Week event, sponsored by NYSUT.
Two former teachers, Eleanor P. Bartlett and Kathy Pautler, led the activity which included reading snippets from their new children’s book, Friday: A Dog’s Tale, co-authored by the two. Reading Is Fun Week took place May 11 to 17 to encourage children’s willingness to read.
Bartlett and Pautler, two novice writers, thought of the material while vacationing in Florida and began furiously writing on pads of legal paper until they reached a computer. The final product follows a young girl named Ellie, her four brothers, and her dog Friday through their often messy adventures.
Pautler, who disregarded reading as a fun activity while she was young said, reading eventually “becomes a habit, and you can’t live with out it.”
Bartlett, a retired Albany educator served as special education teacher, assistant middle school principal, elementary school and high school house principal, and assistant and deputy superintendent. She also is a member of the NYS Board of Regents, and has received many awards including the Capital District Leader in Education and the Capital Region Center principal of the Year.
Pautler, now retired, taught 30 years in the Albany County school districts, including Giffen Elementary, P.S. 18, and P.S. 23. She was recognized by the New York State English Council as an Educator of Excellence.
Bartlett and Pautler’s second book is in the works; a sequel to the tale of the loveable pup, Friday. Proceeds from the children’s book will benefit school children throughout New York.
Hyde Park Librarians...Keepin' it Loud
By Liza Fernette
First Published: May 31, 2009 in the New York Teacher
HYDE PARK- A group of elementary librarians in Hyde Park are collaborating on fun, interactive and, yes, noisy projects for students to show them how to use the library for research and reading.
Games, music and even commercials help students learn about biographies and book reports, and what can be found where in the library in this Dutchess County district. -Read More Here-
