 About Us
The East Ramapo Teachers Association is the collective bargaining agent for approximately 750 classroom teachers, department chair, guidance counselors, psychologists, deans, reading teachers, interscholastic coaches, and other professionals who work with students in a non-administrative capacity in the East Ramapo Central School District.
ERTA represents its members in all matters of bargaining, grievance, terms and conditions of employment, salaries and compensation, and any issue which relates to the collective bargaining agreement including:
Members of ERTA are also members of the National Education Association (NEA) and the merged state organization of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and National Education Association of New York (NEA/NY) and the county wide, Rockland County Teachers Association.
ERTA's purpose is to promote the professional, economic, and social interests of the members, to promote and improve the educational environment, to promote closer relationships between teachers and the community and to encourage cooperation with other educational and professional organizations.
THE ELECTED OFFICERS The elected officers of ERTA include the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The term of office for all officers is one year with elections by ballot vote in each building during May or June. To qualify for office a person must be a member of ERTA for a minimum of two consecutive years prior to the year in which the person runs for office.
DUTIES: The President of the Association Chairs all meetings of the Executive Board, the Rep Council and the general membership. She is responsible for calling the meetings, preparing the agendas, appointing chairpersons and committee members and is an ex-officio and/or voting member of all committees. She is also responsible for representing ERTA in public meetings and for countersigning all checks.
Irene Bielski, our current President, is the first ERTA President from the Elementary division. Irene retired in 2007, after teaching in East Ramapo for 42 years. Her last assignment was as a sixth grade classroom teacher at the Lime Kiln school. Irene has been a "groundbreaker" in many ways. At the TA office she is known as our own personal "Hurricane Irene". Since becoming President, she has implemented numerous initiatives that have strengthened ERTA and moved it into new areas of service and communication with the membership.
Irene's resume is impressive. Prior to becoming ERTA President, she was the ERTA Elementary Vice-President for over 20 years. She also was a Chief Building Rep, a member of the Teacher Center Policy Board, the Discipline Committee, the Evaluation Committee, and the New Teachers Mentoring Committee for the District and she served on the NEANY Scholarship Committee. She has been on the Curriculum Planning Board and the Negotiating Team for ERTA, and a Director NEANY and NYSUT. She also represents East Ramapo teachers at the Rockland County Teachers Association.
The position of First Vice President is held by Alan Tesher, although Alan is better known as the VP for Elementary. His responsibilities include assisting the President in carrying out functions of the office and assuming the duties of the President when she is unavailable. Alan also supervises and works with a number of committees and serves on the Cabinet.
Now retired, Alan was a classroom teacher at Margetts and other elementary schools in East Ramapo since 1969. As an active member of ERTA for many years, he was Chief Building Rep, a member of the Benefits Committee, a member of the Curriculum Planning Board and previously served as Secretary of ERTA. He also was on the Teacher's Center Policy Board and is an advisor to ERTA's Status and Ethics Committee. Active at the State and National level as well, Alan has been a delegate to the NEA/NY Delegate Assembly, the NEA Representative Assembly, and served on the Board of Directors of NEA/NY and NYSUT. Alan has also been a member of the ERTA negotiating team.
Matt Mulligan , who teaches Special Education at Pomona Middle School, is the Second Vice President and is known as the VP for Secondary. Matt assists both the President and the First Vice President and assumes the functions of the President or the First Vice President if they are unavailable. Currently Matt is the Chairperson of the Teachers Center Policy Board and a member of the Status and Ethics committee. He also served as Chief Negotiator in bargaining our latest contract.
Secretary, Diane Gonzalez, is responsible for taking the minutes of Executive Board and Representative Council meetings. She assists the President with correspondence, prepares the calendar, supervises the maintenance of ERTA's files and records, keeps attendance at meetings, oversees membership recruitment and maintains the membership list. Diane is a science teacher at Chestnut Ridge Middle School. She was a member of the original technology team at SVJH, served on the District Reorganization Committee and the Discipline Code Committees and the Safe Schools Task Force. She also was Chief Building Rep at CRMS for 5 years.
Treasurer, Rita Bass receives and deposits dues, issues check and is responsible for maintaining records and reporting on the ERTA income and expenditures. She also chairs the Ways and Means Committee, works with the accountant on taxes and reporting and works with the Secretary on membership. Along with the President, she is responsible for developing and presenting the annual budget. Rita teaches Math at Spring Valley High School, where she was a Building Rep and then Chief Building Rep for several years. She is currently a member of the Teachers Center Policy Board, and has been a member of the Grievance Committee and the Curriculum Planning Board. Top
REP COUNCIL & BUILDING REPS ERTA's Representative Council is the legislative branch of the Teachers' Association. It is comprised of the Association officers, the delegates to the NEA and NEA/NY Delegate Assemblies and the Building Reps, who are the elected representatives of each building.
The Building Reps are the heart and soul of our Association. By bringing the viewpoints and wishes of the building to the attention of Rep Council and by informing members in the building about the actions taken by the Rep Council, the Building Rep keeps the Association responsive to the needs of the members. Top
Participating in the monthly Representative Council meetings is just part of the Building Reps job. Within the building a Rep plays an important role in the functioning of the school and the Association. In many buildings the Building Reps hold liaison meetings with the Principal and other administrators on a regular basis. This provides opportunities for discussions and solving of building problems before they escalate. It also provides the administrators with an awareness of staff concerns.
Reps are available to confer with individual teachers on status and ethics issues as well as contractual violations. They often can be unofficial mentors, helping new teachers "learn the ropes", and acting as a confidential and supportive friend who can address professional questions, problems and ideas. Reps help teachers interpret and respond to observation and evaluation reports and advise teachers on personal and procedural matters. When the Teachers Association is called upon to appoint members to various committees, the selection process often includes seeking recommendations from the Building Reps. Reps conduct polls, elections, and referenda and assist the Chief Building Rep in collecting monies and enrolling new members. They are responsible for establishing the communications network that ERTA uses in times of crisis and for political actions.
Any ERTA member may be elected a Building Rep. Schools are entitled to one Rep for every 12 ERTA members in the school building, with a minimum of two Reps per school. Also, the school is entitled to one Alternate for every two Reps. An Alternate fills the position of a Rep who cannot attend a meeting. The term of office for Reps and Alternates is two years, with half of each building's contingency elected each year. Elections are held in May or June when possible, with new terms starting the following September. In the event of a vacancy, The Chief Building Rep holds a special election to fill the position.
Regular Rep Council meetings are held monthly. All ERTA members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Top
STANDING COMMITTEES Much of the daily operations of the Teachers' Association takes place through the work of the Standing Committees. These include Grievance, Status and Ethics, Liaison, Public Relations, Nomination, Sympatico, Ways and Means, Scholarship, Elections and Curriculum Planning Board. Chairpersons of Grievance, Status and Ethics and Curriculum Planning Board also serve as members of the President's Cabinet. Top
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE: Among all ERTA's committees, Grievance is perhaps the most well known. The members of the Grievance Committee represent ERTA in the grievance procedure as stipulated by the contract. They also advise, help and represent members of ERTA in the initial steps of a grievance and they confer with and assist our legal council when necessary. The Chairperson of Grievance, George Bielski, now retired, was a teacher at the Lime Kiln School. Top
STATUS & ETHICS: Not as well known, but certainly equally active, is the Status and Ethics Committee. Chaired by Susan LoRusso, an English teacher at Spring Valley High School, the members of Status and Ethics advise, help and represent members of ERTA in any matters of professional status that do not involve contractual grievances. Members of Status & Ethics regularly confer with the building and central administrators on practices and policies relating to teachers. They also investigate complaints of unprofessional treatment and report on these matters to Rep Council for appropriate action. The Status and Ethics committee members may confer with legal representatives about the legal rights and privileges of teachers. They also compile and disseminate information to the membership on approved practices and policies. Top
CURRICULUM PLANNING BOARD: The Curriculum Planning Board, often referred to as CPB, is unique among all committees in East Ramapo because it is the only contractually mandated arena for shared decision making. Teacher members of CPB represents the interests of ERTA members in all curriculum matters. Composed of one teacher member each from level, elementary, middle and high school, ERTA's CPB representatives meet with representatives of the administration on a monthly basis. The purpose is to identify, analyze and coordinate curricular needs of the District. Duane Stilwell, a Science teacher at Spring Valley High School is the CPB Chairperson for the Teachers Association. He reports on CPB activities at Rep Council each month.
Members and Chairs of all ERTA committees are available to answer questions and to give advise or direction regarding their areas of expertise. If an ERTA member has ideas, questions, concerns or suggestions on any matter under the auspices of these committees, speak to a building rep or call the Teachers Association office directly and leave a message or email for the committee chair. Top |
ERTA represents its members in all matters of bargaining, grievance, terms and conditions of employment, salaries and compensation, and any issue which relates to collective bargaining.