The Offical Website of the PJSTA

Beth Dimino, president of the Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association (PJSTA) said she thinks Superintendent Joseph Rella made the right call to ask for the boards support in sending the funds back.
“The PJSTA stands in solidarity with Dr. Rella and the Comsewogue BOE’s decision to return the RTTT funds,” said Dimino. “The strings attached to those monies serve only those groups that are working to destroy public education.”

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Posted on October 31, 2013 by thepjsta

Flanagan and King at Ward Melville November 6th

I have no confidence in either of these buffoons.

**Update** The date of the meeting has been changed to November 12th.

On November 12th, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, Senator Flanagan will be hosting a forum for his friend John King to address the Common Core. This is one of the forums that is being held in place of the PTA Town Hall meetings that King cowardly canceled earlier this month.

In the least surprising news of the morning, the meeting will not be open to the public. I repeat it will NOT be open to the public. Senator Flanagan, no friend of ours, has called each school district in his senatorial district and told them that they can invite two people to speak for two minutes each at this forum. Each district will be allowed to have 50 people total attend. No word on what will happen if somebody tries to speak for longer than two minutes. Or if thousands show up and attempt to get inside.

Once again John Flanagan is standing up for his friend John King. Placing the protection of King’s ego above giving his constituents a voice in their democracy. This is Flanagan and King’s way of placating parents and educators. Of throwing them a bone. They don’t really wanna hear from anyone, so they’ll only give a handful of people two minutes each to speak… then they’ll hope those people stop sending letters and making phone calls calling for King’s resignation and New York State’s withdrawal from Race to the Top.

John Flanagan is a politician of the worst kind. This is just one more reason to vote him out next November. Typically the Democrats run only a warm body against Flanagan. Hopefully next year they will choose more carefully and select a candidate who supports not just public education, but somebody who is interested in giving their constituents an opportunity to have their voice heard.

As a reminder, we will be picketing at Senator Flanagan’s office in Smithtown tomorrow afternoon from 3:30 to 5:00. Rain or shine. Please come. Tell everybody you know to come. We promise to give you more than two minutes to express your feelings!

Press Release: Informational Picketing at Senator Flanagan’s

Supporters of Public Education Rally to Be Heard

On Friday, November 1st, the Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association, in coalition with other supporters of public education, will be picketing in front of the Smithtown office of New York State Senator John J. Flanagan , beginning at 3:30 pm.

Senator Flanagan, an ally of NYSED Commissioner John King, is one of two state senators who represent portions of the Comsewogue School District. Additionally he chairs the New York State Senate’s Committee on Education. He has been hosting hearings around the state on the effectiveness of New York State’s education reforms. While the hearings are open to the public, Flanagan controls the meeting by limiting the speakers with an invite only policy. This picketing event is an opportunity for everyone, parents, students and teachers, to share their opinions about education directly with Senator Flanagan.

Senator Flanagan’s top campaign contributor in 2012 was Michelle Rhee’s Students First organization. Students First is an out-of-state, for profit organization who’s primary objective is school privatization. Senator Flanagan’s support of this reckless school reform agenda in New York State, coupled with his support for NYSED Commissioner John King’s common core high stakes testing reforms demonstrates the influence that corporate money is having on our local politicians.

The Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association invites all those who support quality public education to join us on Friday, November 1st, to demand that Senator Flanagan listen to the voices of his constituents who support public education rather than the voices of corporate “deformers” who merely fund his senatorial campaigns.

Senator Flanagan’s office is located at 260 East Main Street, Smithtown, NY 11787.

Friday Notes

The NEA, to whom we pay dues, continues to sell out it’s members.

The AFT, to whom we pay dues, continues to shill for the Common Core. Here is Randi Weingarten in tandem with John King.

President Obama, whom the NEA and AFT endorsed twice, is bringing in a new education aid to join his team. He’s just what we need too… the leader of a philanthropic group who raises money for charter schools!

While we are on the topic, B-LoEdScene speaks of Upside Downland.

Andy Cuomo thinks John King should not step down. After all “change is hard.”