I recieved this email tonite, and this is something that I want to get out to as many people as possible. If you can, please send an email / mail to the people listed below.
Dear John,
Thank you for your support of the Xavier Teachers’ Association. I thought I would take this opportunity to inform you of a few recent happenings, and hopefully elicit some action from you.
In December the Xavier High School Board of Directors hired the services of a consulting firm to poll the faculty and learn of their concerns. The DeLisa Group conducted their interviews in January and February. The Board of Directors received a full report in March, and the faculty was informed of the results via a watered down PowerPoint presentation in April. The DeLisa Group, using broad generalities, identified only a small portion of the problems that exist at Xavier and painted a picture that showed the need for small change at best. Although the picture was bleak, the bitter pill to swallow was the way in which the DeLisa Group skewed the numbers of full time faculty members to include those employees of Xavier that only teach one or two classes, but hold different offices throughout the building. What did not surprise many faculty members was the fact that the DeLisa Group’s report spoke directly to the fancies of those signing the check, the Board of Directors, and failed to recognize many of the problems mentioned in our one-on-one interviews.
As you hopefully are already aware, the XTA has taken its fight to Connecticut’s lawmakers. This battle has occupied many hours of our time, but it is a fight we believe we can win. Proposed Bill 1305 (you can read about it at www.cga.ct.gov and type in 1305 at the top of the page), if passed, will allow the State Labor Department to conduct union elections within the walls of parochial elementary and secondary schools. Originally intended to strike religious exemption from State Labor definitions, this bill has taken on legs of its own. Now it leans more heavily in the favor of the thousands of parochial school teachers throughout the state, being a part of the Education Committee rather than the Labor Committee.
More important than the hours of our time occupied fighting for Bill 1305 are the many dollars Xavier has spent employing the services of two lobbying firms to fight the bill on the school’s behalf. Why the Catholic Church, through the Diocese of Norwich and Xavier High School, will not endorse its own social teaching is beyond our realm of comprehension. What we can comprehend is that Xavier High School has spent a large amount of money trying to ensure the Labor Department has no jurisdiction within its walls. Some food for thought: Where did this money come from? Although the school is “busting at the seamsâ€, those in charge have always been quick to mention its tight operating budgets and large need for Alumni giving to help many in need receive a Xavier education. When the Great Alumni Appeal begins next year, just where will your donations truly be going?
Alas, our plea for help. Fighting the Board of Directors, Administration, XBSS offices in Baltimore and the Diocese of Norwich has all been difficult. At times it seems we are gaining no ground. Battling lobbyists is even more difficult, as we can only send out so many letters supporting our cause. Listed below are the names of Senators, Representatives and Legislators that sit on the Connecticut Education Committee. We ask that you please take a few moments of your time and email or write them letters expressing your support (and asking for theirs) of Senate Bill 1305. Whether you write one letter, or thirty-five, every letter counts.
Also listed are the mailing addresses for Bishop Michael Cote (Diocese of Norwich), Br. Arthur Caliman (General Superior of the Xaverian Brothers) and Br. Lawrence Harvey (Vicar). A letter writing campaign involving these individuals is equally important, as both the Diocese of Norwich and the XBSS offices in Baltimore refuse to acknowledge and act on the teachers’ behalf at Xavier. If you have any further questions regarding the Church’s social teachings please feel free to email us or visit the web site (www.xavierteachers.org) and follow the link on the home page. How any of these three Catholic figures can sit back and allow the issues at Xavier to continue without interjecting and endorsing Catholic teaching is unconscionable and unfathomable.
Thank you again for your help. Your prayers and your support have been, and always will be, greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
The Xavier Teachers’ Association
Bishop Michael Cote
201 Broadway
Norwich, CT 06360
860/887-9294
Br. Arthur Caliman
Xaverian Brothers Generalate
4409 Frederick Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21229
410/644-0034
Br. Lawrence Harvey
Xaverian Brothers Generalate
4409 Fredericks Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21229
410/644-0034
State Senators on the Education Committee
John W. Fonfara
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 3900
Hartford, Conn 06106
Fonfara@senatedems.ct.gov
William Finch
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 2400
Hartford, Conn 06106
Finch@senatedems.ct.gov
Thomas Herlihy
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 3100
Hartfrod, Conn 06106
Thomas.Herlihy@cga.ct.gov
Anthony Guglielmo
100 Stafford St.
Stafford Springs, Conn 06076
Anthony.Guglielmo@cga.ct.gov
Thomas Gaffey
Co – Chairman – Education Committee
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 3100
Hartford, Conn 06106
Gaffey@senatedems.ct.gov
Anthony J. MacDonald
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 2500
Hartford, Conn 06106
Mcdonald@senatedems.ct.gov
State Representatives on Education Committee
Andrew M. Fleischmann
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 3101
Hartford, Conn 06106
Andrew.Fleischmann@cga.ct.gov
Mary Fritz
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4108
Hartford, Conn 06106
Mary.Fritz@cga.ct.gov
Linda Gentile
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4050
Hartford, Conn 06106
Linda.Gentile@cga.ct.gov
Linda Abercrombie
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4000
Hartford, Conn 06106
Linda.Abercrombie@cga.ct.gov
Toni Boucher
5 Wicks End Lane
Wilton, Conn 06897
ToniBoucher@po.state.ct.ut
Charles Clemons Jr.
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4202
Hartford, Conn 06106
Charles.Clemons@cga.ct.gov
Michael Cardin
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4046
Hartford, Conn 06106
Michael.Cardin@cga.ct.gov
Paul Davis
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4043
Hartford, Conn 06106
Paul.Davis@cga.ct.gov
Gail Hamm
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4020
Hartford, Conn 06106
Gail.Hamm@cga.ct.gov
Deborah Heinrich
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 5005
Hartford, Conn 06106
Deborah.Heinrich@cga.ct.gov
David Labriola
31 Briarwood Road
Naugatuck, Conn 06770
David.Labriola@housegop.state.ct.us
Marily Giuliano
43 Cricket Court
Old Saybrook, Conn 06475
Maryilyn.Giuliano@housegop.state.ct.us
Steve Mikutel
Assistant Majority Leader
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4051
Hartford, Conn 06106
Steve.Mikutel@cga.ct.gov
Timothy O’Brien
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4003
Hartford, Conn 06106
Timothy.O’Brien@cga.ct.gov
Felipe Reinoso
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4115
Hartford, Conn 06106
Felipe.Reinoso@cga.ct.gov
Thomas Reynolds
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 5007
Hartford, Conn 06106
Thomas.Reynolds@cga.ct.gov
James Shapiro
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4028
Hartford, Conn 06106
James.Shapiro@cga.ct.gov
Lewis Wallace
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 2103
Hartford, Conn 06106
Lew.Wallace@cga.ct.gov
Robert Heagney
Minority Whip
8 Fawnbrook Lane
Simsbury, Conn 06070
Robert.Heaghney@house.gop.state.ct.us
Debra Lee Hovey
296 Fan Hill Road
Monroe, Conn 06468
D.LeeHovey@housegop.state.ct.us
Themis Klarides
Assistant Minority Whip
23 East Court
Derby, Conn 06418
Themis.Klarides@housegop.state.ct.us
Kevin Witkos
15 High Ledge Road
Canton, Conn 06019
Kevin.Witkos@housegop.state.ct.us
Area House Legislators we should also Mail/email
Raymon Kalinowski
c/o Legislative Office Bldg
House Republican Office
Hartford, CT 06106
Brian O’Connor
Leg Office Blda – Rm 2802
Hartford, Conn 06106
Brian.Oconnor@cga.ct.gov
James O’Rourke
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4001
Hartford, Conn 06106
Jim.ORourke@cga.ct.gov
Joseph Serra
Assistant Majority Leader
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 4021
Hartford, Conn 06106
Joseph.Serra@cga.ct.gov
Area State Senators we should also Mail/email
Eileen M. Daily
Deputy President Pro Tempore
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 3700
Hartford, Conn 06106
Daily@senatedems.ct.gov
Biagio Ciotto
Chief Deputy President Pro-Tempore
Leg Office Bldg – Room 2300
Hartford, Conn 06106
Diotto@senatedems.ct.gov
Edward Meyer
Leg Office Bldg – Rm 1000
Hartford, Conn 06106
Meyer@senatedems.ct.gov
The XTA is fighting the good fight, and anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.
If you can, spread this letter around.
The more exposure this gets, the better.