State of Connetquot School District

FOCUS ON CONNETQUOT TEACHERS

Mr. Charles Trupia to be Honored by University at Albany

Charlie Trupia has been teaching Social Studies in the Connetquot School District for 23 years, and the impact he’s had on his students has always been apparent. Outside the classroom his work with students in the Habitat for Humanity Club has helped generate thousands of dollars in donations for that organization. This year alone, along with co-advisor Jason Willans, Trupia has helped donate $18,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk County. Recently Trupia was contacted by the Director of the Honors College at the University at Albany.

Connetquot Teachers Association Congratulates Spanish Language Teacher Cheryl Sosa

Connetquot Teachers Association President Ms. Loretta Powell was recently notified that Spanish language teacher Ms. Cheryl Sosa had been honored on March 28th by the Spanish Embassy. At a special ceremony in NYC, sponsored by the Ministry Education of the Spanish Embassy, Ms. Sosa was awarded an academic scholarship to study at a Spanish University during the month of July. This financial award will pay the cost of tuition, room and board during her time in Spain.

COMMUNITY ADVOCACY

Connetquot Teachers Association Hosts Scholarship Awards Ceremony for Essay Contest Winner

Loretta Powell, President of the Connetquot Teachers Association (CTA), hosted an awards ceremony at the organization's headquarters on May 6th to honor six Connetquot HS seniors. Ms. Powell, and Ms. Nancy Dunlop (CTA Coordinator of Community Advocacy), presented certificates and $500 scholarships to each of the six students for their winning essays.

Connetquot Teachers Association Recognized in the Fight Against Cancer

Mrs. Anne K. Thorsen, Senior Director of Income Development for the American Cancer Society, visited with the Executive Board of the Connetquot Teachers Association (CTA) on April 8th. Thorsen stopped by the Ronkonkoma office of the CTA to present a plaque, and express her gratitude, to the members of the organization for this year's effort to fight cancer. The CTA effort raised $4,000 this year as part of the ACS annual Daffodil Days program.

Connetquot Teachers Spearhead The Fight Against Cancer

For the past several years Connetquot Teachers have joined forces and collected money for cancer research by selling daffodils. Again this year, an effort spearheaded by Connetquot Teachers Association Coordinator of Community Advocacy, Nancy Dunlop brought together teachers, secretaries, AP's, Food Service Workers, Central Office personnel and retirees to raise more than $4,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Connetquot Teachers Association Shares Championship

Connetquot Teachers Association (CTA) President Loretta Powell was recently presented with a championship trophy from the Connetquot Youth Association team the CTA sponsored last year. In accepting the trophy, Ms. Powell thanked, and congratulated, the coaches and players for their effort. Ms. Powell went on to say that the " ... CTA commitment to support community organizations such as the Connetquot Youth Association is firm, and continues. We encourage other individuals, businesses and organizations in this community to make a commitment to the youth of Ronkonkoma, Bohemia and Oakdale".

Connetquot Teachers Feed the Poor and Homeless

Connetquot teachers fed more than 600 poor and homeless adults and children at 'Every Child's Dream' Holiday Celebration held at St. Lawrence the Martyr auditorium on December 19th.

Connetquot Teachers Collect Coats and Blankets for Poor and Needy Adults and Children

The Connetquot Teachers Association collected more than 100 coats, 50 sweaters and 25 blankets for distribution to poor and needy adults and children.

Connetquot Teachers Collect and Donate More than 1000 Mittens and Hats to Needy Children

Loretta Powell, President of the Connetquot Teachers Association, today announced that a program that ran for only one week (December 3-7) was totally embraced by the community and teaching staff.

Teachers Walk to Raise Money for Breast Cancer Research

Teachers and their families walked at Jones Beach on October 21st in the Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. The CTA participants raised thousands of dollars for the cause as a result of their efforts.

Connetquot Teachers Association Raises over $3000.00 for Breast Cancer Research

In efforts led by Nancy Dunlop, Coordinator of Community Advocacy for the Association, and Dee Surber, former CTA member ...

Connetquot Teachers Association Sponsors Little League in Oakdale, Bohemia and Ronkonkoma

"It is the Association's pleasure to give back to the community in such a positive way" said Loretta Powell, President of the Association.

Connetquot Teachers Association's First Annual Awards Ceremony

Establishing a new tradition, the Connetquot Teachers Association held its own awards ceremony to acknowledge six students who submitted winning essays.

Association Assists in Fundraising Efforts

In an effort to raise money for the Blieka family, the Connetquot Teachers Association helped with the preparation for the bike riding function.

FEATURED POSTINGS

Proposed School/Bus Schedule Change for September, 2008

Community members and teachers attended the BOE meeting on 1/22/08 to discuss newly proposed changes in school and bus schedules. Community members, administrators and teachers voiced serious opposition to any change due to the adverse impact on students and significant increased taxpayer costs. The Connetquot Teachers Association summarized the discussions and its viewpoint in a letter to the BOE.

CLICK HERE TO READ LETTER SENT TO
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Lack of Foresight and Planning Leads to Sustained Lateness of Buses

The Association has been receiving feedback from a number of elementary schools that the buses continue to be late. This is an untenable situation for students, parents and teachers.

Association Questions Why BOE Says No to 403b Contribution for Retirees

The Connetquot Teachers Association questions the reasoning behind the Board of Education's decision not to allow retiring teachers the option of investing their retirement incentives into their tax sheltered annuities. In addition to this being an honorable action for the District to do for its retiring members, it could have saved the taxpayers of the District over $550,000 since 2003.

MOST RECENT POSTING

Association Health and Safety Concerns Validated by Department of Environmental Conservation Report

Over the course of the last 15 months, the Association has on at least three occasions, notified the District of serious issues at the Connetquot High School. Our concern was due to continuing toxic waste back ups into the classrooms overflowing from the chemical waste tank. Our concerns center around the improper handling, analysis and disposal of such waste.

The District has maintained on their website and through direct communication with the Association that they have addressed our concerns on many occasions. Furthermore, they denied that back ups into classrooms took place (see photographs below). They assured the Association and the community that the classrooms were free of any contamination.

The Association Responds to Attack on its Participant on the District Health and Safety Committee

The Association has been extremely diligent about bringing health and safety issues to the District’s attention. This has proved embarrassing to the District due to their failure to address these issues for years. As a consequence, there have been attempts by the District to attack the teacher participant on the District Health and Safety Committee.

The Association takes great offense to these attacks. It was only at the insistence of the Association that the Health and Safety committee was formed in February, 2007. The District had failed to follow State mandates to create a Health and Safety Committee for eight years and as a consequence many health and safety risks went unaddressed. Our representative has been very diligent in following through on staff concerns. This insistence has offended the District. The Association believes that the only reason they are offended is because the District is finally being held accountable for health and safety risks that have not been addressed for years.

Regardless of the District’s offense, the Association will continue to insist that health and safety issues be addressed in a timely fashion and that the students and staff be protected.

READ RESPONSE TO BOARD OF EDUCATION

Despite Assurances from District, Chemical Tank Backs Up Again

For the second time in a little over a month, the chemical waste tank at the high school backed up into a classroom. This occurred despite the District making assurances that the tank was working "fine."

Concerns Continue Regarding Elementary Report Cards

For the second year in a row, there has been very poor planning and implementation of the elementary report cards. There have been numerous reports from teachers that this has adversely affected their communication with parents and caused significant confusion. The Association has repeatedly asked the District to utilize a less autocratic approach and work more with teachers when developing and implementing report cards.

CLICK HERE TO READ LETTER SENT
TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Again, Chemical Waste Tank Backs Up into Classroom

The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau have been contacted due to the ongoing chemical backup problem at the High School.

New York Committee on Occupational Health and Safety Issues Follow Up Report on OBMS

Due to the ongoing mold problems at OBMS and the impact on the health of students and staff, NYCOSH conducted a follow up inspection to the one conducted in November, 2006.

Association Recognized for Commitment to Health and Safety for Students and Staff

The efforts of the Connetquot Teachers Association in addressing health and safety issues in the district were covered in the New York Committee on Safety and Health's publication.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

Teachers at OBMS Given Health and Safety Training

Due to the ongoing health and safety problems at OBMS, health and safety training was provided by NYCOSH and the Association to more than 60 teachers at OBMS.

Building Related Illnesses Continue at OBMS

Several teachers have medical documentation that indicates that they are suffering from symptoms related to excessive mold growth. These symptoms include coughing, sneezing, upper respiratory problems and sinusitis.

Report on the Health and Safety of the District School Buildings

The Connetquot Teachers Association brought the New York Committee on Safety and Health (NYCOSH) to inspect buildings in the District. This resulted in a report that indicated many health and safety problems that can affect the health and safety of students and staff.

CLICK HERE TO
READ NYCOSH REPORT

The Connetquot Teachers Association has focused its efforts on improving health and safety for students and teachers.

What is the District Health and Safety Committee?

New York State Education law requires that all District's form a Health and Safety Committee. The Connetquot Teachers Associations brought the District's lack of compliance with this law in October, 2006. The District held its first Health and Safety Committee meeting in January, 2007.

Health and Safety Corner

Important articles, surveys and documents about Health and Safety in our schools.