Rockland BOCES Staff Association: Bowling for Hospice

Advocating for Our Profession, Our Schools, and Our Retirement

On Sunday Rockland County teachers showed up in Albany in huge numbers to share with the elected officials that Tier 6 needs to be fixed! We made our demands clear, we want to see major changes to the pension system. Our voice was clearly heard by those in power and it should help us remember, showing up matters!!

After the rally, representatives from each local in Rockland County had the opportunity to spend more time in Albany and share our union voice directly with the elected officials. Several key issues were discussed that directly impact educators, public schools, and retirees. Below is an update on what we have been fighting so hard for and why it matters. 

Thank you again for taking the time to go to the rally on Sunday. Your attendance will make a difference in the future of so many public employees.

In solidarity, 

Kevin O’Connor

Rockland County Teachers Association

President

This letter was sent on behalf of the following local union presidents.

Jon Wedvik

Clarkstown Teachers Association

Tricia McNab

East Ramapo Teachers Association

Ron Scherer

Education Association of South Orangetown

Stacey Lange

Nanuet Teachers Association

Debra Brennan

North Rockland Teachers Association

Kathy Kearney

Nyack Teachers Association

Kevin O’Connor

Pearl River Teachers Association

Kevin Connell

Rockland County BOCES Staff Association

Colleen Annunziata

Suffern Education Association

🛠 FIX TIER 6 – PENSION REFORM

New York is facing a serious educator shortage. Teacher preparation program enrollment has dropped 50% since 2009, while one-third of teachers are approaching retirement eligibility.

One factor discouraging new educators is the retirement system.

The Reality

Pension Tier

Full Retirement Benefit

Pension Benefit at 55

Tier 4 pension system

Age 55 with 30 years

60% of Final Average Salary

Tier 6 pension system

Age 63 with 30 years

26.4% of Final Average Salary if retiring at 55

Tier 6 members must work 8 additional years, pay higher contribution rates, and still receive significantly less in retirement.

Progress We’ve Made

✔ Vesting reduced from 10 years to 5 years
✔ Final Average Salary calculation improved from 5 years to 3 years

What We Are Fighting For

• Retirement at age 55 with 30 years of service
• A flat 3% employee contribution rate
• Restore the 40% pension benefit after 20 years of service

📢 Thirty years is a career. Public servants deserve a dignified retirement.

🏫 SCHOOL FUNDING – FOUNDATION AID

Fully funding Foundation Aid is about keeping a promise to our students that every child — regardless of ZIP code — attends a well-resourced public school.

Since the state fully funded the formula in 2023, schools have begun to rebuild programs and opportunities for students.

What We Are Seeing

✔ Modernized facilities and classrooms
✔ New CTE training spaces and career programs
✔ Robotics, hydroponics labs, and podcast studios
✔ Restored art and music programs
✔ Filling critical staff positions

But Foundation Aid is a floor — not a ceiling. Many schools still face aging buildings, staffing shortages, and rising student needs.

Legislative Priorities

Update the Foundation Amount

• Conduct a new “successful schools study”
• Increase the per-pupil foundation amount beginning in 2026–27

Update the Regional Cost Index

• Adjust regional cost calculations to reflect actual economic conditions
• Correct unrealistic differences between neighboring districts

Fix Property Tax Cap Interactions

• Set the cap at 2% or inflation (whichever is higher)
• Eliminate the supermajority requirement for districts to access local revenue

Modernize the Funding Formula

• Add Growth Aid for districts experiencing enrollment increases
• Update English Language Learner funding weights
• Explore special education funding based on actual service costs
• Update the Pupil Needs Index to include homeless students

📢 Our goal: ensure the funding formula reflects the real needs of today’s schools and students.

🎓 STOP FEDERAL VOUCHERS

A new federal law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, creates a massive voucher program beginning in 2027.

What It Does

• Allows taxpayers to redirect $1,700 in federal taxes to private school scholarship funds
• Could cost $51 billion per year nationally

Why It Matters

⚠ Diverts money away from public schools
⚠ Could lead to cuts in Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
⚠ Evidence shows students often experience achievement declines after switching

📢 Our position: New York should NOT opt into this program.

Where Local Officials Stand

• Assemblyman Patrick Carroll – Opposes the federal voucher program
• Senator Bill Weber – Opposes the federal voucher program
• Assemblyman Aron Wieder – Supports implementing the federal voucher program (this was based on a December conversation - he was not available to meet us on Tuesday and did not get back to us)
• Congressman Mike Lawler – Urged the Governor to support the federal voucher program with the letter linked (page 1) (page 2)

🏫 CHARTER SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY

Charter schools were intended to serve as laboratories for innovation. Instead, many now operate with limited oversight and reduced transparency.

Financial Impact

📉 In charter-heavy districts, 61% of Foundation Aid increases went to charters.
📉 In New York City, 83% of funding increases were consumed by charter tuition.

Public schools still carry fixed costs while losing per-pupil funding.

Legislative Solutions

• Restore local voter control over charter expansions
• Pass S.77 / A.6112 giving the Board of Regents final approval authority
• Pass A.6884 requiring charter transparency

🍎 SAVE TEACHER CENTERS

Teacher Centers provide educator-led professional development to more than 200 districts, BOCES, and schools statewide.

They support:
• Mentoring for new teachers
• Training in literacy, STEM, robotics, coding, and science
• Strategies for supporting students with disabilities and English language learners
• Family engagement programs

The executive budget proposes eliminating $21.4 million in funding.

📢 Our ask: Restore full funding for Teacher Centers.

👴 PROTECT RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS (IRMAA)

The executive budget proposes eliminating reimbursement for the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount under the New York State Health Insurance Program.

Because retirees must enroll in Medicare Part B, this would cost retirees:

💰 $700 – $4,100 more per year

📢 Our ask: Remove this cut from the final budget.

💰 FAIR REVENUE FOR NEW YORK

Economic inequality continues to grow in New York. The top 1% now earns 35% of all income.

Reasonable revenue reforms could generate $5 billion annually for public services.

Proposed Solutions

✔ 1% tax increase on incomes over $5 million
✔ 1.9% corporate tax increase on profits over $5 million
✔ Tax offshore corporate profits

📊 75% of New Yorkers support higher taxes on incomes over $5 million.

These investments would strengthen public education, infrastructure, healthcare, and communities.

📢 HOW MEMBERS CAN HELP

✔ Stay informed
✔ Talk with colleagues about these issues
✔ Contact your legislators
✔ Support union advocacy for public education

Together we can protect our profession, strengthen our schools, and secure the retirement we earned.