Lamphere Federation of Teachers
MFT&SRP Local #1614
August/September 2002

Congratulations--Sharon McClurg, High School French Teacher retired over the summer. We wish her the best. Welcome to the following new staff, Jennifer Taliaferro, Lessenger 5th grade, Megan Merlo, Edmonson 5th grade, Carri Putnam, Simonds 5th grade, Cristina Alexander, Lessenger 1st grade, Kim Ashby, Social Worker, Katerina Young, High School ESL, Laura Mahler, High School English, Stacy Glaazen, High School French, David Holstein, High School  Science and Melissa Cragg, High School Math.

CEC Hours--If you would like a current accounting of your CEC hours please make the request to Joy Champion by September 15, 2002. You should receive it by September 30, 2002, according to our contract language.

Social Gathering Hazel Park Raceway--The LFT will host at night at Hazel Park Raceway on Saturday September 28th. The $16 ticket includes admission, buffet and a race program. The deadline for payment and reserving your spot is September 23.

CAMPAIGN OFFERS HOPE IN BATTLE AGAINST AIDS IN AFRICA

The heart-wrenching toll HIV/AIDS is taking on Africa's teachers, children and its education system was dramatically highlighted at this summer's AFT convention.  AFT executive vice president Nat LaCour, who, along with AFT vice president Ann Twomey recently returned from a visit to four African countries, outlined the AFT-Africa AIDS Campaign, a project of the AFT Educational Foundation. The campaign's goal is to help unions in Africa deal with an epidemic that has killed or sickened thousands of teachers, left millions of children orphaned and threatens the very future of the continent. Teacher unions in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria and other African countries are working with the AFT to develop and implement effective programs in HIV/AIDS education and prevention, counseling and referral, and care for teachers and their families affected by AIDS. LaCour also announced that the union has received a $165,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State to support the launch of the campaign in partnership with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (see press release at http://www.aft.org/convention/aids_grant.html). Delegates saw a video on the campaign and heard from Thulas Nxesi, general secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), who warned that the long struggle to end apartheid may soon be overshadowed by a new and more deadly enemy. "AIDS is today's crime against humanity, "he said. "We once again look to you to join with us in this battle." For details, visit the AFT-Africa AIDS Campaign on the union's Web site at http://www.aft.org/africa_aids.

Elementary Planning Time--Elementary planning time is increased to 200 minutes per week this contract year.

AFT STUDY URGES CURBS ON CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH

Policymakers should not expand charter school activities until more convincing evidence of their effectiveness and viability is presented, urges a new AFT charter school study released Wednesday. The report examines the nation's 10-year experiment with charter schools and weighs their track record against the promise these institutions originally held. The expectations that fueled an explosion in charter schools over the past decade have not been met, the study warns. Among the report's most significant findings was that charter school students generally score no better, and often do worse, on student achievement tests than other comparable public school students. Also, charter schools contribute to the racial and ethnic isolation of students. Often underrepresented at charter schools are such "high cost" populations as English language learners, special education students and students from low-income families. The report also found that charter schools spend more on administration and less on instruction than comparable public schools. "While some are successful and some should be used as models, most charter schools don't improve student achievement, aren't innovative and are less accountable than the public schools," AFT president Sandra Feldman said. The report may be downloaded from the AFT Web site at http://www.aft.org/edissues/downloads/charterreport02.pdf (requires Acrobat Reader).

Respectfully Submitted,

Judy Schram, LFT President