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News Notes

• House of Delegate elections
  
  Delegate elections are approaching. Watch for information to be posted about a nominating meeting. Your current delegate should
  receive information about election procedures after winter break. If you don't hear anything by January 21, please contact your field representative. In order to be seated at the February House meeting all nominations and elections must be finalized by February 1.
  
  
  
• Read IFT President Ed Geppert's letter to Illinois PSRPs
  
  November 19 is PSRP Day in Illinois. Click here to read IFT President
  Ed Geppert's letter to PSRPs in Illinois.
  
  
  
• Correction to the calendar book
  
  In the CTU calendar book November 7 is marked as a staff
  development day. November 7 is actually a professional development
  day so half the day will be self directed. We apologize for our error.
  
  
  
• Correction for the October issue of the Chicago Union Teacher
  
  In the Chicago Union Teacher's Grievance Department section (page 6) an article stated that 1.2 teachers across the city have won a grievance filed on their behalf. The grievance was filed for 1.2 teachers in Academic Achievement Academies only.
  
  
  
• Maria Rodriquez and John O'Brill win pension election
  
  The following are the results of the October 24 pension election.
  
  1. Maria Rodriguez, 8,176 votes
  2. John O'Brill, 6,755 votes
  3. Jack Silver, 5,327 votes
  4. Aspasia Demeros, 4,596 votes
  5. Kathleen Cortes Kuklis, 2,141 votes
  
  
  
• AFT and Senator Obama agree on education issues
  
  Click here to read the AFTs response to Senator Obama's views on education.
  
  
  
• Administrative Transfers without the Consent of the Current Principal
  
  The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Chicago Teachers Union has defined the administrative transfer periods when a teacher can transfer to another school without the consent of his or her principal. Therefore, principals must submit an administrative transfer signed by the receiving principal to the Department of Human Resources within the dates of November 10 and December 25.
  
  
  
• Appeal committee upholds decision to convict Theodore T. Dallas
  
  The Chicago Teachers Union Appeal Committee by a vote of 22-1 has upheld the conviction of Theodore T. Dallas for bringing disrepute upon the Union. Click here to read more.
  
  
  
• AIG's response to news reports of uncertain financial conditions
  
  Click here to read AIG's response to reports of the company's
  financial situation.
  
  
  
• AFT launches Union reform effort
  
  AFT will launch a union reform effort based on a study of a work-site model created by British unions. The pilot program will begin with the Baltimore Teachers Union; the Northern Suburban Teachers Union in
  Niles Township, Illinois; and the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers
  and Health Professionals. Click here to read more.
  
  

• New ISBE certification website
  
  The Illinois State Board of Education has redesigned their certification website. The website is organized into services and information for current or prospective educators, services and information for districts and regional offices of education, and services and information for colleges and universities. The address for the site is http://www.isbe.net/certification.