What's Happening? Update
This update chronicles the activities of the State Vocational Federation of Teachers Leadership.

It Documents scheduled calendar events and reports on decisions and actions of importance to the SVFT.

Legislative Issues Conference
RESCHEDULED!
Legislative Issues Conference Brochure 03.06.10
Legislative Issues Conference Agenda

Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the Year Challenge
More information can be found on the Forms and Documents page.

Council Meeting
March 2010 Council Meeting Summary

Archive
February 25, 2010
February 8, 2010
January 29, 2010
January 18, 2010
January 11, 2010
December 14, 2009
December 6, 2009
November 20, 2009
November 16, 2009
November 9, 2009
June 8, 2009
May 18, 2009
May 11, 2009
April 27, 2009
April 22, 2009
March 31, 2009
March 17, 2009
March 5, 2009

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February 25^th, 2010
• SCHOOL VISITS – SVFT leadership is conducting our final round of school visits. During this round of visits an after school union meeting is scheduled with the hope that those that did not get a chance to speak with the officers during the last visit will now have the opportunity to do so. Anyone with an issue they would like discuss at the school union meeting should contact their building representative or contact the union office.
  • Schools visited to date; Grasso (Feb 17th) and O’Brien (Feb 23rd)
  • Scheduled school visits for the next two weeks include; Abbott (Mar 1st), Goodwin (Mar 2st), Kaynor (Mar 8th), and Ellis (Mar 9th)
• LEGISLATIVE TESTIMONY – On February 16st, President Rick Tanasi provided testimony to the Appropriation Committee at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Rick’s testimony focused on condition of our schools, supplies and the fate of the system’s future. On Thursday, February 25th Rick will provide similar testimony to the Labor and Public Employees Committee at LOB.
• BUDGET– The proposed budget (approved by the Budget Committee on January 26th) was voted upon and approved at the February 10th Executive Council Meeting. The final vote will occur at the General Membership Meeting, scheduled for May 6th at 6:30 PM - Wilcox THS in Meriden. Please attend! See your building representative for more information.
  
• VO-TECH FORUM – SVFT would like to thank several members who gave testimony on Monday, February 1st to the education co-chairs (Senator Gaffey and Representative Fleishmann) and numerous other legislators regarding the past budgetary neglect of the Vo-Tech system. Members who participated included; Julie Marzano (LPN), John Sylvestre (Electrical DH, Grasso), Ed DeSousa (Masonry DH, Bullard-Havens), Eric Sawyer (Related DH, Abbott), Cathy Burnside (General DH, Grasso)
• SEBAC (State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition) – SVFT leadership, along with other SEBAC leaders, and Dan Livingston (chief negotiator), met on January 28th with representatives from the state. Refer to SVFT’s homepage for up to date information as it develops.
• TEAM – New teachers who did not participate in BEST are required to complete the TEAM program to obtain Provisional certification.
  • Teachers who began August 2009 have been pulled from the Spring pilot program.
  • ALL teachers who do not have Provisional Certification should have a mentor in their school, and the mentor will need to attend TEAM Mentor Update Training offered through the Regional Educational Service Centers (RESCs).
  • For more information, please contact Kim Traverso at Central Office (860) 807-2208 or Kimberly.Traverso@ct.gov.
• HEALTH & SAFETY VISIT –The next Health & Safety visit is scheduled for Monday, March 15th at Vinal THS. Please see your building representative if you have any health and safety concerns. REMINDER, every school should have an in-house health and safety committee, which should review and address concerns.
• EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING –Any member who has a question or concern should contact their building representative for discussion at the next Executive Council Meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, March 10th. Please reference our web page for a synopsis of past meetings.
• GREEN TECHNOLOGIES –Three schools [Grasso, Goodwin and Wolcott] have been selected to participate in a Weatherization and Green Technologies program. The programs, funded by grants, will supply equipment and training for an after school adult educational program. The equipment will be also be available for use by CTHSS students during the day. Once proven successful, the plan is to expand the program into three additional schools next year.
• RACE TO THE TOP – The Race to the Top fund provides educational grants to States that create conditions for educational changes. At a recent meeting a AFT-CT, it was suggested SVFT sign the memorandum of understanding (MOU) in order to be allowed to participate in future program discussions. If the union did not sign the MOU, there was a possibility that the union would not have input on future initiatives resulting in Race to the Top. Educational Commissioner Mark McQuillan has stated that the plan does not include a merit pay system.
• WRIGHT TECH RENOVATIONS – Ad-Hoc committee meetings have been scheduled to develop a plan for Wright Tech in Stamford and make it a flagship technical high school. At the next meeting (March 8th) the committee plans to focus on identifying tracks, curriculum changes, “green” technology, partnerships, and existing shops that need to be refurbished. Please see the Wright Tech link on our homepage for more details.