Folks, the Schoharie Teachers Association is being overwhelmed with phone calls about this weekend’s work. They can not possibly return all the phone calls so please, if you have a question, and it’s not answered here, please comment on this blog and we will get the answer for you. They expect more than 200 volunteers both [...]

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 [...]

Tonight the 96-member Schoharie Teachers Association agreed to put $10,000 into a fund to insulate as many homes in the community as that amount will cover. This is on top of efforts of many members who have worked daily to help clean flooded homes down to the studs. “This uses up a very large amount [...]

First, if you have any questions about applying for aid, here’s your link to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That site has all sorts of links to what you need to know, even if you don’t qualify for aid. The State Education Department’s website can be a maze to navigate, so here’s a quick link [...]

The Schoharie TA has been coordinating efforts to clean homes in their village since Hurricane Irene’s rains devastated the community. On the 12th day, homes still need floors, walls, ceilings ripped out. A team of volunteers from NYSUT’s Legislation Department brought much-needed muscle to the job Sept. 8. Weighing heavily is just about 90 miles [...]

On Day 12 of a cleanup effort, Susan Peter of the Middleburgh TA still has a sense of humor. We captured her on video at the Middleburgh High School.

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 [...]

NYSUT is urging its members to take care when cleaning up flooded homes and businesses, and to use resources to get information on how to proceed safely. Throughout the state, teachers, school nurses, aids and assistants have all sustained heavy damage to their homes, and some have had their homes condemned due to severe flooding [...]

UPDATE: The phones were ringing off the hook at NYSUT’s headquarters in Latham as NewsChannel 13′s “Your Help Counts: Irene” telethon raised more than $350,000 to support flood relief efforts. Here’s a full report with video. Starting at noon today, NYSUT retiree Karen Hoover is working the phones for the American Red Cross. “It’s my [...]

Mike Mosall of the Burnt Hills Ballston Lake Teachers Association in Saratoga County reports that several members of the TA went to Middleburgh High School on Saturday to help teachers there clean out their damaged technology wing. “We also traveled to Schoharie to assist in the cleanup of a member’s home and an historic home [...]