We learned today that neither John Flanagan nor Ken Lavalle will be attending Saturday’s rally. The rally came about after Dr. Rella’s letter to elected officials, including New York State Senators Flanagan and Lavalle, was picked up by local residents supporting public education. Perhaps Senator Flanagan was told by ALEC not to attend? A representative for Senator Lavalle claimed, “his schedule fills up quickly.” More on these two phonies to come.
Tag: rally
Dick Ianuzzi to Appear at Saturday’s Rally
We received word late this afternoon that NYSUT President Dick Ianuzzi will attend and speak at Saturday’s “Students, not Scores!” rally at Comsewogue High School. Ianuzzi will be joined by Comsewogue School District Superintendent Joe Rella, New York State Assemblyman Steven Englebright, and a host of others.
“This is about raising our collective voice for all policymakers to put kids first and to get testing right.” Ianuzzi said.
Let’s Have a Rally!
The testing insanity has to STOP and every one of us needs to join together to make that happen…. Comsewogue Superintendent Joe Rella and the PJSTA invite you and everyone you know to a rally next Saturday to make our voices heard… Right now Engelbright will be there and we are working to get other State and Federal Representatives to the rally too…. Please post this on your facebook pages, distribute it to your members, Superintendents, school boards and every friend of public education you know… Click below to read the letter Dr. Rella wrote to our local leaders and community members…. . Ask your Superintendent to do the same….
Dr. Rella’s Letter to Ken LaValle
June 8th Rally Update
There are 50 PJSTA members registered to go to the Rally and we have room for more if you would like to join us… The PJSTA bus will leave from the Suffolk Regional Office at 7:15am… Please be punctual…
Rally Schedule & Location
The rally is scheduled to start at noon on the Empire State Plaza across the street from the capitol building and last for 2 to 3 hours, with buses departing the event as soon thereafter as possible.
The PJSTA Bus Will be leaving Leaving from the Suffolk RO in Hauppauge
Buses from this location are scheduled to leave at 7:15 AM and are tentatively scheduled to return at 6:30 PM.
Automobile Parking –
Drivers please be advised that NYSUT is recommending that you take the bus!! Parking will be very difficult at best and far from the rally location. Please let me know if you want to take the bus. Here is the link for parking garages and lots in the downtown Albany area. www.parkalbany.com.
Food
The PJSTA will be providing lunch on the bus. Light refreshments, coffee. and water will also be provided in the morning.
T-Shirts- wear your PJSTA testing shirts!
NYSUT Web Site
A great deal of information regarding the Rally can be found at: www.nysut.org.
Thursday’s Educate NY Now Rally
This past Thursday, October 25th, the PJSTA hosted an Educate NY Now! rally at JFK Middle School. The rally, one of 14 that were held across Long Island on Thursday, featured an estimated 300 people who rallied against the tax cap, unfunded mandates, and excessive standardized testing. The audience was made up of teachers, administrators, parents, and students from not just Comsewogue, but many surrounding school districts as well. Locals from Miller Place, Port Jefferson, Rocky Point, Mount Sinai, and Half Hollow Hills joined the PJSTA at the rally. Port Jefferson alone had 50 members show up, nearly half of their local’s total membership. The rally’s speakers were:
- Richard Haas, organizer for Educate NY Now!
- Dr. Joseph Rella, Comsewogue School District superintendent
- Dr. Ken Bossert, Port Jefferson School District superintendent
- Joseph Gordon, 6th grader, JFK Middle School
- Maria Navarro, President of CSEA Local 870
- Ali Gordon, Trustee, Comsewogue Board of Education
- Roger Clayman, Executive Director, Long Island Federation of Labor
Thank you to all PJSTA members who showed up. A lot of people made a big effort, staying several hours later than normal, coming back to work after being home, or coming back to work with their own children. The effort of those members is deeply appreciated. If you were unable to make it, surely you are pondering how you can help in the following months.
To read more about the rallies across the Island that day, check out Betsy Sandberg’s blog here.
On December 5th there will be a bus to Albany to stand up for our schools and demand quality education from our elected officials. The bus will be sponsored by Educate NY Now! To reserve your seat on the bus please contact Beth Dimino.
A special thank you to PJSTA’s first vice president Beth Shapiro for putting together the slide show below…
All Members Please Read… ALL PJSTA MEMBERS SHOULD BE AT THIS
Please view the rally flyer.
All PJSTA members should be there. Among the speakers at the rally will be Comsewogue’s own Beth Dimino and Joe Rella. Additionally there should be BOE members, parents, and students as well. The rally is not just for Comsewogue. People from other communities will be there as well. It is expected folks from Port Jefferson, Three Village, Mount Sinai, Miller Place, and Rocky Point will be there as well. We have all felt the effects of the state’s new ed policies this year. Now is our time to push back!
Feel free to bring your children, friends, neighbors, and anyone who cares about public education. Making signs in protest of the tax cap and of standardized testing is also encouraged. The CTU had a lot of funny and creative signs… look to them for inspiration if you’d like!
Educate New York Now! Rally
Mark your calendars…
Thursday, October 25th. 4:00 pm, JFK Middle School. ALL PJSTA members should be there as teachers, administrators, BOE members, and community members from our area rally for public education!
More details to follow…
Campaign Kickoff Event for Tim Bishop
The Long Island Federation of Labor is holding a campaign kickoff event for Tim Bishop on August 9th from 6-8 pm at IBEW Local 25 (375 Motor Parkway, Hauppague). This will be a chance to show support for Mr. Bishop in his bid for re-election. If it fits your schedule please try to come on down. Feel free to bring a friend or two! Food and beverages will be provided. If you go, make sure to wear a PJSTA shirt!
The Official Website of the PJSTA 