ELEMENTARY TEACHER HOURS COMPENSATION--As compensation for the extra 6 hours elementary teachers are working this school year, an extra sick day will be added to the sick bank of elementary teaching staff. If there are no state mandated changes in hours for the 2002-03 school year the instructional hours will return to 1098 hours. The teachers are to be commended for their willingness to compromise and their problem solving skills.

TEACHER TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE--At a recent board meeting the school board approved the purchase of additional laptop computers for teachers who did not qualify under the technology grant initiative.

The following individuals have been elected as building reps:

Simonds: Carole Pryzby

Lessenger: Chris Anderson

Edmonson: Denise Abbate

Hiller: Donna Bush

Middle School:Darla Gower, Ralph Shepard (write-in candidate)

High School: Mary Ellen Bell & George King

Write-in votes were received for Jim Toma and Chuck McLauglin for building rep.

Officers elected were: Dave Wrobel, HS Vice President, Barbara Buczynski, Middle School Vice President, Doren Steckler, Elementary Vice President, Beth Sabo, Secretary, Tom Gennette, Treasurer. Thanks to all for their willingness to serve on the LFT Executive Board.

RETIREMENT PLANNING--Individuals who wish to purchase "universal time" towards retirement should contact the MPSER’s Office. The address is Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System, P.O. Box 30026, Lansing, Michigan 48909. The phone number is 1-800-381-5111. You can also contact the office via e-mail ORSCustomerService@state.mi.us. Request a statement for your most recent employment year. The web site is http://www.state.mi.us. The cost for purchasing the time is based on salary, so the sooner you do this, the less money it will cost you. If you have questions contact LFT Treasurer, Tom Gennette.

Thousands of dollars in contributions from AFT locals, state affiliates, leaders, members and staff have poured into the national headquarters in the past two weeks for the AFT Recovery Fund to help the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The national union is now preparing guidelines and a committee to oversee the dispersal of the funds, reports AFT chief financial officer Mike Benner. Just over $42,000 has been collected as of Sept.28--nearly $11,000 of that from AFT national staff and vice presidents alone. Contributions to the recovery fund will go directly to victims, their families, loved ones and others who have been harmed by the terrorist attacks, as well as other organized assistance efforts. In addition, the national union and the New York State United Teachers are making separate donations to an assistance fund set up by the New York State Public Employee Federation, which reports that 36 members remain missing in the World TradeCenter attack. They were members of the AFT. Contributions are welcome from individuals as well as AFT locals and state federations. Checks should be made payable to the AFT Recovery Fund and sent to: AFT Recovery Fund, 555 New Jersey Ave., N.W.,Washington, DC 20001.

A fund has also been established for other union members affected by this tragedy.

Labor Disaster Relief Fund:1925 K St. N.W., Suite 410, Washington, D.C. 20006, or the New York City Central Labor Council Disaster Fund, 386 Park Ave, South, New York, NY 10016.

A significant number of the rescue workers included union ironworkers, firefighters, police officers and teachers. Courage with the union label....

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the United Federation of Teachers in New York City has created a 50-page resource guide to help educators incorporate tolerance and respect for cultural diversity into their teaching. "We must educate our students so that they understand that the unspeakable actions of deranged terrorists cannot be blamed on every citizen living or having roots in the suspected terrorists' countries of

origin," said Randi Weingarten, president of the union representing New York City's 100,000 public school educators. The guide, which includes sample lesson plans, also features chapters by organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, the AFT and others. For a complete list of the resources, visit the UFT's Web site at http://www.uft.org.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Schram

LFT President

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