In Short

UFT President Weingarten Reelected

Randi Weingarten, the president of the UFT, the New York City teachers union, was reelected to her second full term with 76.1 percent of the 52,385 total votes on April 5, according to the non-partisan American Arbitration Association. The election marked the highest voter turnout in the history of UFT elections. Her entire team of 11 officers also won large victories, and her Unity slate captured 74 of the other 78 Executive Board seats. —NYTeacher

Saturday Classes Underway in NYC

New York City 2nd-12th-grade students needing remedial or enrichment classes may attend Saturday classes offered at public schools. The program, though smaller than anticipated, is offered to 34,000 students. It is expected to expand to its full size in September, at a cost of $34 million.

Three types of classes are provided: intensive intervention for children who are far behind state and city standards, accelerated classes for children doing advanced work, and tutorials for high school students who need help to pass the state Regents exam, now a requirement for graduation.

Board of Education teachers teach the courses, with certified teachers receiving a hiring priority. —NEGP Weekly

BOE Hires Teach for America

The Board of Education has selected the New York office of the nationally renowned teacher recruitment and training organization Teach For America (TFA), to provide teacher recruitment, selection and related support services. TFA is uniquely qualified to provide the services required, based on its extensive expertise in collaborating with the NYC public school system. Phase 1 of the contract will include support services from May 1 through June 30 of this year to increase the number of first year new TFA corps members assigned to the NYC public schools to 170. Phase 2 will involve ongoing support and professional development for these first year corps members and 100 second year members assigned to NYC classrooms in the 2001-02 school year. TFA will also provide technical assistance and support in the retention of TFA alumni following their two-year commitment. Research done by the Board has shown that TFA would increase the number of quality recruits for the teaching ranks of the New York City public schools. —NYCBOE

Connecticut Teacher Salaries to Rise

Teacher salaries in Connecticut will rise by five percent in the fiscal year starting July 1 in order to recruit and retain teachers, according to the Connecticut Education Association, a teachers union in the state. Current teacher salaries range from about $30,788 to $63,640. The salary could pose problems for towns with financial difficulties. —NYTimes

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. © 2001.