• WESTERN SUFFOLK BOCES FACULTY ASSOCIATION – ALLIANCE OF SCHOOL BASED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
    PROFESSIONALS WHO CARE
    WSBFA WSBFA WSBFA

    HERE’S WHERE WE ARE: In a blink of an eye, it seems our world has turned upside down. We’re working remotely, some of us are managing a child or children who are climbing the walls without school to occupy their time, and you’re casting about trying to find some tangible way to help yourself, your loved ones, colleagues and the broader community in which you live not to mention those hit hardest by the outbreak. While we may not be able to help everyone impacted by coronavirus right now, we can help the people we normally worked with day in and day out right alongside us. Please read "What We Need to Know" below gives affordable steps we can take to help us and others stay safe:

    What We Need to Know

    • Schools and nonessential businesses will stay closed through May 15th.

    • Governor Cuomo issued executive orders 202.17 and 202.18 requiring all people in New York to wear masks or face coverings in public, including when taking public or private transportation or riding in for-hire vehicles.

    • Preliminary Phase I results of Antibody Testing Study show 13.9% of the population have COVID-19 antibodies. Find more information and FAQs on antibody testing.

    • Expanded COVID-19 diagnostic testing at NYCHA facilities begins 4/23.

    • In face of a dangerous uptick of domestic violence incidents, a new domestic violence text program and new confidential online service will aid victims of abuse.

    • Governor Cuomo will issue an Executive Order mandating the NYS Board of Elections automatically mail every New Yorker a postage-paid application for an absentee ballot.

    • State Health Department will partner with Attorney General James to investigate nursing home violations.

    • New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health through May 15, 2020; must apply within 60 days of losing coverage.

    • New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.

    • Testing is free for all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.

    • Your local health department is your community contact for COVID-19 concerns.

    Members support coping with COVID-19 and more.

    Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

    EAP is free, confidential and voluntary. This means that there is no charge for your meeting with an EAP Counselor. It means that your matters are not discussed with supervisors, personnel officers or union leaders. the voluntary nature of the program means that the decision to participate in EAP is strictly up to you. A supervisor may recommend that an employee seek help from EAP, but the employee is not required to do so. Please take a look at the brochure

    Bereavement Leave For WSBFA-ASBHP, this is the one topic we did not want to address at this time.

    The statement above is simply to express how deeply we feel about members having to endure additional pain given the circumstances we’re in.

    We’re aware of our members and BOCES staff with Family Members, Love Ones, and Friends, who are impacted not only financially but far most importantly, health wise in all denominations of human well being, Our heart goes out to them at this difficult time.

    In our Unit I and VII contract the Bereavement Leave states:

    1. Employees shall be permitted to use a maximum of five (5) work days per separate and distinct occasion in the event of death in the family. Such leave shall be only for those work days immediately following a death in the family and shall be reduced by any holidays or school closing days that may fall within the period.

    We’ve engaged administration regarding this provision as we deal with where we are.

    Please reach out to your immediate supervisor for instructions on how to proceed.

    We ask that you make us aware so that we can assist where possible.

    LITBF: The Long Island Teachers Benevolent Fund offers a Burial Award Application, Application for Military Service Grant, Application for Financial Grant for Catastrophic Loss and a Scholarship Application.

    Link to the applications will be available soon.

    Legal Plan: At our last General meeting, the Representative Assembly voted unanimously for WSBFA members to subscribe to a NYSUT sponsored Legal Plan. The plan in provided by Feldman, Kramer & Monaco. Western Suffolk Business office will complete the arrangement with NYSUT for payroll deductions. As soon as it’s place we will notify our members

    Negotiations MOA's: Unit one Contract is currently available at: or here:

    Currently we have Three covid 19 Memorandum Of Agreements.

    ASBHF(unit VII) not signed.

    WSBFA(unit I ) not signed.

    WSBFA(unit IX) not signed but approved by the Board.

    The Alliance unit (VII) is currently active in negotiations.

    Summer school (unit X) contract will expire June 30 2020, We’ve submitted intent to negotiate (unit X)

    Will Summer School be in session?

    Mrs. Wilson SPECIAL EDUCATION director, stated that BOCES is waiting for directions the state on how to proceed with summer school.

    FACULTY ASSOCATION UNION AWARD: Each year, we offer scholarships to deserving graduates. We are continuing to make this award available for our students. Please contact your building representative with your nominees. Recipients of this award must exhibit qualities of patience, perseverance, and diligence. They must also demonstrate their willingness to work hard and succeed at both school and in their community.

    Flex Benefits: BOCES benefits office is recommending members visit BRI for updated information regarding Flex Benefits.

    Retirement system: A few weeks ago we posted on our website wsbfa-ASBHP.org important forms that members should be fully aware of, given the times we’re in. We continue to recommend that WSBFA member visit NYSTRS and ASBHP members visit NYSERS open an account and review benefit, beneficiaries.

    SOCE Extension: The SOCE application deadline is extended from June 30, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

    SUFFOLK’S Edge Teacher Center: Please visit SUFFOLK’S Edge Teacher Center.
    Countless resources are available to us, the Teacher Center is always available, offering assistance that enable us to perform our professional responsibilities. They are also working very hard to support and benefit us.

    SENIORITY LIST: The seniority lists for SPECIAL EDUCATION and SUPPORT SERVICES were emailed to the members because we received a number of inquiries. We’re working with the personnel Director, Dr Gigante. in making sure the list is accurate. A new list will be sent out and will have a form to fill out if needed.

    In addition, Mary Brooks President of the Alliance (unit VII) is working with administration to compile the seniority list of all unit VII members.

    Security concerns with using ZOOM: In the past week our divisional Directors sent an email memo re: ZOOM to all staff.

    The memo outlined procedures to follow when using ZOOM conferencing, WSBFA-ASBHP proactively participated in developing the procedure to help with cyber safety .

    Security issues with ZOOM are related to the settings the user should preset. Best Practices for Securing Your Zoom Meetings

    Returning to BOCES Facilities: Currently we’re scheduled to return to the facilities May 16th. However we do not have any guidelines on how we would be providing safety for the students and staff members. We’ll be reaching out to administration regarding what the policies and procedures will be when we return. We’ll be asking that our Safety committee chairperson, Lawrence Cimino, participate in the planning. Any suggestions or ideas please share with us, we can then bring your ideas to the table and do our best possible to keep everyone safe.

    Union Dues: Dues for 2019 was $852.96. Please consult your tax advisor regarding any educators taxable deductions. The members of the WSBFA-ABBHP Financial Review Committee: Nicholas Catti, Esther Moy and Bruce Spivak will be examining our association’s financial records. We thank each of these members for their willingness to serve on this most important committee. This review, recommended by NYSUT, is done annually, in addition to the audit/review that is required by the WSBFA Constitution. A copy of this annual audit report, prepared by a certified public accountant, is sent to the AFT, our national affiliate each year.

    On Another Note: Mike Flynn (Chief Operating office) and the Directors are in daily conferences with district superintendents regarding the services we provide, they have been briefing us and we will update you when possible.

    REMINDER: We’re required to login to our BOCES email at least twice a day and to follow our directive for remote learning. When we have questions regarding directives or procedure we should reach out to our supervisor for clarification. We’re to make the best efforts to fulfill the student mandates. Keep accurate logs of interactions with students and parents. Our administrator are working diligently to insure that we’re following state guideline (nysed-covid-19), assuring the district that we continue to provide the best quality service for our students and to find ways to support us. This is the most challenging time for us and our administrator. We can make it.

    Contact Us: Here is the list of Representative and Officers for our units. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with questions or concerns, we’re here for you.