March 2023

Volume 15, Issue 2

Published by the Oceanside Federation of Teachers:

Affiliated with the NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS, AFT/AFL-CIO
“YOUR CHILD...OUR PRIORITY”

The Award Winning Newsletter of the Oceanside Federation of Teachers

Acting Now and Planning Ahead

Rob Pittman, OFT President, #9M
In case you missed it, Oceanside’s “Take A Look At Teaching” club kickoff in the fall of 2022 was a
great success and was highlighted in the NYSUT-United Jan/Feb 2023 issue, in the article entitled:
“Oceanside Students Learn How Teaching Can Be an Uplifting Career.”

Here is an excerpt: “Close your eyes and think back to a memorable early learning experience. Who
was that special person who taught you something? One student talked about how her grandmother
taught her how to make meatballs, sharing a deep family secret. Another recalled how he learned how to throw a base-
ball from his dad. ‘Miss Eckers!’ said another — and the room went abuzz at the mere mention of beloved kindergarten
teacher Elaine Eckers. ‘She taught me ‘left’ and ‘right..’”

Go Kindergarten! This is not the first time I’ve heard a secondary level student reflect on the impact made on them by a
beloved teacher at school #6, pre-k or grades one through six. Students sharing special memories of a teacher six or ten
or twelve years back is a great testament to the special work the teachers at pre-k through six grade levels, and all of us
do as educators. Kudos and many thanks to all our dedicated OFT members who made this program possible: NYSUT
Article on Oceanside TALAT or https://united.nysut.org/issue/january-february-2023/.

Looking back at 2022, we can be proud of the efforts and gains made by our union members and leaders in Oceanside
and throughout the state. With the support of NYSUT/NEA, OFT members and leadership joined forty other local un-
ions to address anticipated teacher shortages through our Oceanside TALAT program. This past year, the OFT leader-
ship and members negotiated all affiliate (nurses, aide, security, etc.) and teacher contracts providing our members with
security for five years. Additionally, our members, along with hundreds of thousands of our union sisters and brothers
throughout the state, worked to achieve a greater than 90% passing of school budgets providing security for our stu-
dents, our programs and our members.

More recently, the OFT negotiated with the district to provide another avenue of retirement investment for our members
with a Roth 403(b). Work on this started last year at the suggestion of a member and the OFT labor management team
went to task. At the time of publication, some information has been shared with OFT members, and more information
regarding this new opportunity will be presented to OFT members in the spring.

Last year, NYSUT continued its work to address the inequities between Tiers 4, 5, and 6. Union members’ voluntary
contributions to VOTE-COPE resulted in NYSUT successfully lobbying for a reduction in the pension vesting period
for these two tiers from ten to five years. For more than a decade now, the state has imposed an unfair teacher evaluation
system on our profession. With the support of member contributions to VOTE-COPE and other advocacy groups, NY-
SUT successfully removed that burden last year. Both items are of critical concern to our members and there is much
more work that needs to be done moving forward. In-person lobbying returns this legislative session up in Albany with
NYSUT’s “Committee of 100” this March. (continued on page 7)
PLEASE VISIT http://www.oceansideteachers.org/ TO ACCESS THE LINK IN THIS ARTICLE.

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President: OFT Officers Affiliates Vice President:
Rob Pittman, #9M 2022-2023 Tom Morreale, #7
rpittman@oceansideschools.org tmorreale@oceansideschools.org

Executive Vice President: Secretary:

Donna Gales, #2 Amy Brown-Rand, #9M
dgales@oceansideschools.org abrownrand@oceansideschools.org

Elementary Vice President: Treasurer:

Jen Whyte, #9E Sue Tantleff, #7
jwhyte@oceansideschools.org stantleff@oceansideschools.org

Middle School Vice President: Membership and Welfare:

Mike Demarco, #9M Vicki Trum, #5
mdemarco@oceansidechools.org vtrum@oceansideschools.org

High School Vice President:

Gavin Kalner, #7
gkalner@oceansideschools.org

OFT Additional Positions

OFT Times Co-Editors-in-Chief: Jeanmarie Johnson, #9M and Brian Weinstein, #9M
Eyeglass Coordinator: Kristine Ryan -ofteyeglassvoucher@gmail.com
Grievance Chair: Frank Nappi, #7 VOTE COPE Coordinator: Amanda Iemma, #9E
Public Relations/Outreach: Debbie Herman, #8
New Teacher Coordinator: Stephanie Bragman, #9M
Maternity Leave Specialist: Heidi Burns, #8 Webmaster: Stephen Melish, 9M
Pre K: Maria Cantone and Christina Peruffo, #6

OFT Affiliate Representatives

Administrative Assistants: Victoria Ramalho, #9M , Gail Alazraki, #9E
Nurses: Sharon Hughes, #2 and Mary Conlon, #7 Security: Leo Bonacasa, #7
Teacher Aides: Maria Cantone, Pre-K, Susanne Cavale, #9M, Stacey Formont, #2
Donna Fulgieri, #7, Andrea Johnson, #9M , Roe Palette, #7, Annmarie Cozzi, #6,
Eyeglass Coordinator: Susanne Cavale, #9M Monitors: Diane Nystrom, #9E
OFTRC (OFT Retirees): oftrcmail@gmail.com Executive Committee - Susan Henkus, Rita Kaikow,
Sharonann Katcher, Leslie Krasnoff, Roslyn Lorge, Lois Nevitt, Arlene Wegard and Bonnie Zebalese.

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 It’s Always in the Air
By Brian Weinstein

At winter faculty meetings during my first few years at Oceanside Middle School, union lead-
ership would occasionally announce retirement deadlines and upcoming visits from financial
planners. I remember leaning over to a colleague who would retire that year, and joked that I
was ready to retire after two years of teaching. She turned, looked at me and, with a straight
face, said: “Your career goes fast, and retirement is always in the air around this job.”

I heard other veteran teachers express similar sentiments. To me—a second-year teacher in his mid-20s still liv-
ing at home with his parents--this was all nonsense. Sometimes a day felt like a year; a career probably feels like
a century.

My earliest memories of teaching are a blur. I remember some of the best-behaved students and some of the
worst-behaved students. I remember which administrators were pleasant to work with, and which administrators
were like headaches with legs. Other than that, it’s difficult to recall my earliest teaching experiences, but there is
one specific conversation I had with my mother that I remember as clear as day.

I had just received my first paycheck from Woodland Middle School in East Meadow, where I was a permanent
sub. The moment I stepped through the door, my mother was waiting for me. She knew that I was getting paid
that day. When she asked to see the paycheck, I assumed it was because she was so proud of her son who had just
finished earning his graduate degree and was making his way in the world of professional education.

I was wrong.

She looked over my paycheck and, without blinking, told me to get my name in “the system” as soon as possible.
I had no idea what that meant, but she knew what she was talking about. She was a teacher for nearly 40 years in
the Queens neighborhood of Corona; a small enclave that borders Flushing to the east and Rego Park to the
south. She wanted me to get my name into the NYSTRS as soon as I could, in order to get started on my retire-
ment plan ASAP.

At the time, I had no idea what she was talking about, and even if I did, I probably couldn’t wrap my mind
around it. I just wanted to run to the Astoria Bank on the corner to deposit my check and hold onto the spending
money. “Retirement?,” I thought, “That’s a lifetime away.”

But now that I just turned 40 and the OFT recently negotiated a new retirement option for a Roth 403(b), Fran
Slovin’s words make more sense than ever. The second half of my career began as of this school year, and so
when talk of 403(b)s comes up, or “retirement planners” visit the faculty room, my ears perk up a bit more than
they did in the mid-2000s when I was brand new to the district.

My point is, to younger teachers in our district whose eyes glaze over when there’s talk of retirement and finan-
cial plan acronyms: take a look into what the more-seasoned teachers are discussing. No one can predict what
their lives will look like 30+ years from now, but the sooner you get started, the better your options are when it’s
time to start thinking about the end of your teaching career.

“Retirement is always in the air around this job” I was able to ignore those words of wisdom 15 years ago. Now
it’s time to start breathing in that air. To any younger colleagues in the district: I highly recommend that you do
the same.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!! Please send your writings, news or photos to
Do you have something say? jjohnson@oceansideschools.org and
Good news you want to share? bweinstein@oceansideschools.org.

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 Jamie Goldband, #9E, her
husband, Jason, and proud big
Michael Santisteban, brothers, Lucas and Jacob Danielle Block, #7, and her
#8, and his wife, Kaitlin welcomed baby Lily Jean on wife, Courtney welcomed baby
welcomed baby Paytn Lynn on January 11th. She weighed in at Eli Noah on April 19th. He
October 31st. She weighed 6lbs., 12oz. and 19.5 inches. weighed in at 8lbs., 3oz. And
in at 6lbs., 9oz. 21 inches.

Tricia Pizzo, #7,

her husband,
Frank, and proud
big sisters, Grace
and Maddie
welcomed baby
Anna Thomas on
June 14th. She
weighed in at
4lbs. 12oz. And
18 inches.

Kristine Ryan #3, is happy to Donna Gales, #2, welcomed

announce the engagement of her Kristine Ryan, #3, is ecstatic to
her 2nd grandchild, Luca John announce that her son, Ryan
son, Chris Spielman, an on February 23rd. He weighed
Oceanside graduate, to Melissa Spielman, an Oceanside gradu-
in at 6.9lbs. and 18 3/4 inches. ate, and Shannon O’Connell
Gander. A wedding is planned Kristina Santeramo (Gales), an
for the fall of 2024. were married on October 22nd.
Oceanside alumni, and her
husband, Matthew are proud 1st
time parents.
The Annual OFT Affiliate Social was held on Thursday, November 3rd at Grandpa Tony’s in East Rockaway.
Over fifty attendees including OFT Affiliate VP, Tom Morreale, OFT VP, Donna Gales, OFT Elementary VP,
Jen Whyte, OFT Secretary, Amy Brown-Rand and OFT President, Rob Pittman. Members from all the affiliate
groups were represented including nurses and occupational therapists, aides, security, administrative assistants,
monitors, etc. A good time was had by all while catching up and sharing news!
 The 102nd New York State Teachers’ Retirement System
Annual Delegates’ Meeting
Retirement Planning Starts The Day YOU Begin Teaching!
By Noah Glass
On November 6 & 7, 2022, in Saratoga Springs N.Y., the delegates of the New York State
Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) met for our 102nd annual meeting since the NYSTRS
began in 1920. In addition, we unanimously re-elected Juliet C. Benaquisto, a teacher from the
Schenectady School District, as one of our three teacher representatives to serve on the NYSTRS Board of Direc-
tors. As a point of district pride, our own Dr. Harrington has been appointed to the NYSTRS Board since 2010.

This year’s two-day meeting included seven different sessions. Below, a synopsis of these presentations is outlined
with associated links:

Key Retirement Decisions You Must Make

 Do your Retirement Homework
 Review your Benefit Profile
 Run Estimates
 Review our District Contract

 Resign from Oceanside & Retire from NYSTRS (0-90 days prior; 14 days to rescind)
 Date of retirement should be the date after your last paid day
 Mid-year retirement can dilute your FAS & Service Credit
 Filing out the form online is easier than on paper (MyNYSTRS.org)
 Review your Benefit Payment Options; you have 30 days to change after you retire
 Federally taxed; no NYS, Social Security or Medicare payment. Check RPEA.com or
www.RetirementLiving.com for states that do not tax pensions.
 PREP Videos - Pension & Retirement Education Program

Earnings After Retirement

 Consider and plan what you will do when you retire
 You are required to report your earnings by law; report monthly on MyNYSTRS.org
 Retirement & Social Security Law
 Section 212 - Discussing earning limitations
 $35,000 in the public sector up until you reach the age of 65.
 Section 211
 Employer can obtain a waiver prior to the start of your employment
 New State Laws - NYSTRS.org
 Chapter 56 - Limit exemptions, e.g. salary cap
Tier 5 & 6 are now vested after 5 years of service (4/22)
 From the date of retirement onward, regardless of age, there is no limit to the amount that a member can earn
in the private, federal or out-of-state markets.
 You can suspend your pension. You can rejoin NYSTRS under Section 503.11, if you go back to work for a
NYSTRS employer. Re-retirement is possible after 5 years of employment; this could change your retirement
payment.

Social Security Information

 The age at which you can receive your maximum benefit is increasing; it is contingent on the year in which
you were born. Full retirement age is 66 or 67, depending on your birth year.
 You can begin to receive Social Security benefits at age 62, though it will be at a reduced rate. In approximate-
ly 12 years, you will have broken even with members who waited until their maximum benefit age.

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 Once you reach the yearly salary cap no further deductions will be made from your paychecks. Some of
our members already enjoy a payment free November & December. In 2022 this cap was $147,000. In
2023 it will be $160,200 annual earnings
 Review your annual Social Security statement for AIME & PIA calculations
 Apply 4 months prior to when you would like to begin receiving benefits.
 Earning Limitations if you continue working while collecting, $21,240 (2023). At Full Retirement Age
(65-67) there is no limitation.
 Check www.socialsecurity.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 for further information. Create a My Social Securi-
ty account.

Why Pensions Matter More than Ever (Pension Education Toolkit)

 Our retirement system offers us an amount of money that we are guaranteed for the rest of our lives upon
retirement, a defined benefit. A pension is unlike a typical 401K or 403(b), where you pay a set amount
while you work, a defined contribution. In a DC plan what you will receive upon retirement all depends
on how well your investments did while you worked. How long it will last in retirement all depends on
how much you spend.
 3 Legged Stool: social security, pension, savings etc.
 West Virginia, Alaska, Kentucky, San Diego, and Tennessee have shown that their move to DC plan re-
quired a return to DB Pension within a decade (National Institute of Retirement Security).
 SECURE Act is a current movement to some kind of employer-sponsored pension.

How You Can Receive All the Service Credit for Which You Are Eligible
 Membership - Mandatory for full time, Optional for part time, but recommended for all
 Prior Service - There is a cost for claiming this credit. It costs less the earlier you purchase this credit.
 Military - Chapter 548 or Chapter 41, Section 243, USERRA
 Transfer Service Credit - Allows members to combine two retirement system memberships. Reinstate-
ment - There is a lump-sum cost for claiming this credit.

Using NYSTRS Resources Throughout Your Membership

 Membership in NYSTRS is mandatory for full time, Optional for part time, but recommended for all
 MyNYSTRS.org & the Benefit Profile

With careful planning each member should seek to receive 70 – 90% of their working salary through a
combination of pension, social security and earnings from investments.
Be proactive; track it throughout your career.
It is your retirement!

PLEASE VISIT http://www.oceansideteachers.org/ TO ACCESS ALL LINKS MENTIONED

IN THIS ARTICLE.

Acting Now and Planning Ahead (Continued from page 1)

NYSUT leadership, members and lobbyists will continue working on the items above and much more. Con-
trol of our APPR is likely to be given back to local unions to negotiate with district administration. The OFT
is proactively working on this while we await direction from NYSED and NYSUT that is expected to be
available sometime in the spring. Once the state and NYSUT provides guidance, the OFT leadership will
negotiate a system that is reasonable for our members. Additionally, more work needs to be done on bring-
ing equality of benefits to tiers 5 and 6.

These issues are important to our current members as well as for attracting the future generations of educa-
tors. On these issues and many others, you can help by increasing your contributions to VOTE-COPE to at
least $7 per check ($140 per year), by contacting your NYS legislators (Senators and Assemblymen), as
well as by attending monthly board meetings and union sponsored events.

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