Right now beautiful, light snow is falling outside the windows. What a great time to go out for a walk or go skiing! How about those snowshoes you got for Christmas? I know there are a lot of teachers who run after-school downhill and cross-country ski programs for students, and they are loving this weather [...]

Worried about the impact of indoor air quality in your school? CNN is airing a piece this Sat. Jan. 14 and Sun. Jan. 15 about the impact of air quality on students and school employees. Among those interviewed are NEA Vice President Lily Eskelsen, who discusses how safety and health issues impact students and learning. [...]

How can you protect yourself and workers from the threat of workplace violence? It is the leading cause of serious injury and death in the workplace. To learn more, check out the session on “Understanding and Preventing Workplace Violence” being held Wed. Nov. 30 in Hauppauge (Long Island) from 5-7:30. Jeff Hyman, occupational safety and [...]

On Dec. 22 at noon, NYSUT will sponsor a free health and safety webinar about how to deal with PCBs in light ballasts. Click here to register for this free 75-minute webinar. Custodial and maintenance staff,and health and safety activists will be particularly interested in this session. Topics will include: PCBs and their health affects; why [...]

If you participate in that ritual of giving candy on Oct. 31, it’s time to get organized for Halloween. Why so early? Because if you want to do what’s called reverse trick-or treating get in on offering fair trade chocolate, you’ll want to get your order in this week. Here’s the link to all sorts [...]

Beverly Alves is technically “retired.” Yeah, right! Beverly taught special education for nearly 30 years at the Herkimer County BOCES, retiring in 2004. But this is one active retiree! A member of the Herkimer County BOCES Teachers Association, Beverly is a frequent visitor to Albany, where she advocates for NYSUT issues as part of the [...]

One month after historic flooding devastated 30 counties, local unions tweeted about preparing and handling a crisis or disaster. A number of Tweeps (the term for those who tweet) asked for more information about how best to be prepared to handle emergency situations. Here’s the beginning of a list. The state has an emergency management [...]

If you build it, they will come. It’s a well-worn line from the well-known movie “Field of Dreams,” but it’s also an incentive that the energy gurus at NYSERDA are using. The state energy association just started a new program offering money to educators who initiate classroom projects  to increase students’ knowledge about energy efficiency [...]

On another cloudy day here in New York, some good news is peaking through. New York state has launched an $8 million appliance and equipment rebate program at https://www.nysappliancerebates.com/ for those who sustained property damage from those foul-weather storm foes, Irene and Lee. Anyone who purchases Energy Star or High Efficiency appliances and equipment to replace [...]

Schalmont special ed teacher Cori Kinns has been going nonstop since the Mohawk River ripped up Rotterdam Junction. She’s been coordinating efforts among teachers, aides, school-related professionals and caring citizens for collecting clothes, toiletries, cleaning supplies,  school supplies, and children’s toys. Many people had homes that were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Irene, including school [...]