SEPTA's Faculty Grants - The Deadline is Here!

SEPTA faculty grants provide funding for creative programs, equipment or pilot projects that enhance and support the educational experience for students with learning differences or disabilities.  These grants are intended to allow regular and special education teachers, specialists and administrators, who are or become SEPTA members, to undertake new projects that they would otherwise be unable to pursue or to pursue projects to a greater extent than they otherwise could.  Grants may be requested for an individual classroom or for projects that benefit a range of classrooms or ages.  Grants are usually limited to projects requiring several hundred dollars.  We anticipate that most grants will be in the $200-$500 range, although smaller grants will receive equal consideration.   The deadline for all grant requests for this school year is today, Friday, February 18, 2011.  SEPTA Faculty Grants Co-Chairs - Liz Paras 834-0787, paras@cims.nyu.edu & Barbara Mehlman - 833-8905, bmehlman7@msn.com.  The grant application form is available on SEPTA's website.  

SEPTA's Nominating Committee - Please help us work to insure SEPTA has strong leadership and board members for 2011-12.  The Nominating Committee is being formed now to identify candidates to fill open officer and board positions.  Please let us know if you are interested in participating on the Nominating Committee and invite your friends to join us as well!  Contact Amy Lieberman  - dashdoar@gmail.com or 552-1568 or Amy Kass - amysuekass@yahoo.com 834-3752.

As you may know, Governor Cuomo is proposing to cap the property tax increase at 2% - with no costs or expenses being excluded from this cap.  In our District the vast amount of the school budget is financed by property taxes and the community votes on the school budget each year.  In fact, school budgets are the only budget voted on by our community. Increases in the budget and taxes fluctuate year-to-year due to many factors such as enrollment numbers, increases in certain costs, including raises in salaries, health benefits costs, necessary repairs to aging buildings and interest on debt, as well as many mandated costs over which the District has no control, such as tax certioraris or pension fund payments - which can run into the millions.  Many of the required increases far exceed 2% - some are in the double digits.  Thus, the District has often been faced with the need to increase the budget and tax rate beyond 2% or to significantly cut programs and staff.  In the last two years alone 86 staff members (nearly 10% of total staff) have been laid-off due to budget cuts and this year is another challenging year -- applying a 2% cap would force the District to use nearly 90% of the allowable increase to pay for things that are required by state law - most notably pension costs. The estimated shortfall to be made up is approximately $4 million dollars!  Just as an illustrative example, if this gap were to be achieved through staff cuts, this could mean a reduction of 25 or so more teachers.  What will our district and public education look like after a few more years of having to do this?  

Our Board of Education has already passed a resolution opposing the current plan.

What can we do? Be Informed. 

Click here to visit the PT Council Web site for more information   

Have your voice heard!  

Speak or send a letter to your state legislators and Governor Cuomo by February 25th.  For a sample letter, click here.  Incidentally, Assemblyman, George Latimer held a public hearing about the Governor's proposed budget yesterday - to see an article about some of the comments he received, click here.

District Transition Meeting for Parents of Incoming 6th Graders Classified to Receive Special Education

Come learn about special education at the middle school level and ask your questions to help ensure your 5th grader will make a smooth transition.  Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 7pm  Hommocks Library.  Questions?  Contact Karen Gatto Director - Secondary Special Education - 220-2063

Protecting Children (and their Parents) from Environmental Toxins
Speaker: Dr. Maida P. Galvez -The Children's Health Center, Mount Sinai Medical School 

There are simple things you can do to protect your family.  Dr. Galvez can tell you how!

From the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center, a world authority on the growing effects of environmental toxins on our children's mental and physical health, comes Dr. Maida P. Galvez, a pediatrician, professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a leading researcher in how pervasive chemicals in our households are endangering children and babies in utero. Asthma, learning disabilities, ADHD, lower I.Q., the rise of childhood cancer, early puberty: if you are concerned about these issues, this is a talk you won't want to miss!  

April 4 at 7:30 p.m. Hommocks Middle School Auditorium (Free)

Sponsored by SEPTA, the Village of Larchmont Committee on the Environment, Town of Mamaroneck, Village of Mamaroneck, Village of Larchmont
Chatsworth Avenue PTA Sheldrake Environmental Center 

Community & Regional Events:

Dyslexia Symposium - Understanding & Managing the Disability - Saturday, March 5^th - The Murphy Center at Iona College - New Rochelle 9:30-4:00pm . To register contact Patty Besen by Feb 25, 2011, pbesen@inoa.edu or 633-2210.  Topics include: Testing and Assessment, Scientifically Proven Approaches to Language Remediation, Navigating the College Process, Addressing Challenging Behaviors, Dyslexia and the Law and Executive Functioning Coaching. 

Rick Lavoie "It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend": Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success  -- Monday, March 7, 2011 - 6:30 registration  7:00 pm Lecture Temple Israel Center, White Plains. Rick Lavoie is a special education expert who has served children with special needs for 40 years.  He holds three degrees in Special Education and has served as an adjunct professor or visiting lecturer at numerous universities and has made many national television appearances including on CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America & ABC Evening News. Kindly RSVP by February 21st!  Space is limited  - call Michelle Steinhart 914-948-2800 x 145 or e-mail michellesteinhart@gmail.com.

Organizing and Time Management Tools for the Busy High School Student. Sunday, March 20 4:00-5:00pm - Cost: $15
RP19S  999 JCC WIlmot Road, Scarsdale, NY10583 914.472.7250
School, homework, activities, jobs, friends.  When you're in high school your time is managed pretty well-by everyone else! In this workshop, through hands on exercises, you will take time to learn to make time to juggle your schedule by using time maps, school planners and electronic devices.  SEPTA's own Leslie Josel is the Instructor.  Leslie Josel, is a certified professional organizer specializing in students and adults with chronic disorganization.  She received her Chronically Disorganized and Hoarding Specialist Certificates from the Institute of Challenging Disorganization and is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers.  

10th New Rochelle School District Transition Fair - Thursday, March 10, 2011 - 5:00 pm  - New Rochelle High School House 4 Cafeteria.  For students and parents who are interesting in learning more about transition from school. Representatives from colleges, employment, housing, and social and recreational programs.  On March 22, 2011, Purchase College, State University of New York is hosting a symposium entitled, The Autistic Mind, Music, and the Brain.  Attached is a flyer for a symposium as well as a program for the day's events.  
 

SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday, May 18, 2011 12:30pm -- Rebecca Cort, NYSED: Issues Pertaining to the IEP Diploma and Graduation Requirements at Westchester Institute for Human Development.  Don't miss this opportunity to hear first-hand from the Associate Commissioner for Special Education for NYSED on these important issues. Registration information coming shortly!

SEPTA Magazine Fundraising Campaign

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