Wednesday, August 12, 2020

UFT CHEERS ON CSA LETTER CALLING FOR LATE SEPTEMBER SCHOOL OPENING

The CSA is the Principals' union. They sent a letter to the Chancellor today asking to delay the reopening of school buildings to an unspecified time "toward the end of September." To think they will mend the safety and health problems of in-person education in a couple of weeks sounds rather optimistic.  

From the NY Post:

The city’s principals union called for a delay in the reopening of New York’s public schools to allow more time to address coronavirus concerns, the group said in a letter released Wednesday.

“I write on behalf of New York City’s 6,400 school leaders urging you to heed their dire warnings concerning the city’s September 10 reopening plan,” CSA president Mark Cannizzaro said in the letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza that was obtained by The Post.

“Given the lack of information and guidance available at this time, CSA [the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators] believes that NYCDOE’s decision to open for in-person learning on September 10th is in disregard of the well-being of our school communities,” the letter said.

The letter included a list of lingering questions, including concerns on the hiring of school nurses, the lack of a specific plan for special-needs students, and the requisition of PPE, hand sanitizer and other supplies.

“The slow rollout of guidance has forced us to once again address an unfortunate truth: schools will not be ready to open for in-person instruction on September 10th. A more realistic, phased-in approach would instead welcome students for in-person learning toward the end of September, following a fully remote start to the year,” Cannizzaro said in the letter.

The UFT issued a rah, rah CSA response to the letter.

From the Post article:

Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said that the CSA’s reservations underscore the work the city has to do before schools can reopen safely.

“We need both safety and sanity in this crisis,” said Mulgrew in a statement. “Will any parents be willing to put their children in a school whose principal believes the building is not ready to open because it is not safe?”

 Today is a day where the UFT is following the principals' lead. I remember the days when the UFT was a leading labor union in the country. I stayed home from school on a bunch of occasions when I was a kid when the UFT launched illegal strikes. Now, the UFT stands behind the CSA and says, Go get'em principals.

Is two weeks enough time for buildings to be safe ladies and gentlemen?

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is only 1 answer.

WE WILL NOT STEP FOOT IN A SCHOOL BUILDING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Not a few weeks later...That is unacceptable.

Anonymous said...

Seriously- what is going on? Is Mulgrew being blackmailed? On the take? What is it exactly? My principal has said repeatedly that the CSA sucks, but suddenly they're emerging as the heroes.

Mulgrew is finished if he doesn't act.

Anonymous said...

I guess Randi and Leroy forgot about teacher safety again...They must have a lot of free time during pandemic when our lives are on the line. I guess they figure CSA will handle it for us.

@rweingarten
A new “ coalition of conscience” is fighting for America -⁦
@KamalaHarris

LeRoy Barr Retweeted
Kamala Harris
@KamalaHarris
@JoeBiden
can unify the American people because he's spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he'll build an America that lives up to our ideals.

I'm honored to join him as our party's nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.
LeRoy Barr Retweeted
ABC News
@ABC
BREAKING: Former Pres. Barack Obama on Joe Biden's selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate: "Joe Biden nailed this decision." http://abcn.ws/3kzoUVG
LeRoy Barr
@LBUFT
Obama on Harris as VP: 'Joe Biden nailed this decision' | TheHill

Anonymous said...

de blasio isnt backing down, he is forcing us to go in.

Mulgrew, your move.

De Blasio said city has met with both unions every day on reopening plans. On the calls to delay reopening, he says "I hear their concerns but this ball game is far from over. We are gonna make these schools safe."

Asked how the city can successfully open schools if there are many teachers/principals who don't feel comfortable about it: "You’re talking about professionals. Unions will always sound various alarms and unions will say things sometimes in a very dramatic fashion...
This is nothing new in New York City. But what is the mission? The mission is taking care of our kids."

On proposal to delay in-person learning: "If you want to take away another month of a kid’s education you can do that, but that’s thats’ not where I start. I start with, let’s start with the valid concerns that teachers and admins are raising with a whole month to go."

The unions are arguing that that the actual timetable for planning — submitting a preferred model, getting it approved, getting staff up to speed — is not enough.

Anonymous said...

The press rarely puts the numbers in perspective, talking about positive cases but not fatality rates, increases but not totals. Looking at deaths-per-million shows the biggest impact — the biggest failure — was the Northeast. New Jersey: 1,797 deaths per million residents. New York: 1,689.

Anonymous said...

Look at this asshole mayor, in a media availability, a reporter remarked that she didn't remember her school in Staten Island having sinks in every classroom, and @NYCMayor chuckled and said, "But you turned out okay! You're still alive!", which sums up his approach to all of this quite well.

Anonymous said...

Sounds safe. That's why it's hard for me to fathom exactly what the thinking was behind this particular revelation. Consider the following--NY State opening guidelines state the following on page 29. You can check.

Turn desks (including teachers) to face in the same direction rather than facing each other to reduce transmission caused by virus-containing droplets (e.g., from talking, coughing, sneezing);
Given that we can't even face one another because it's too risky, given that talking is listed as something we ought not to be doing while facing one another, how on earth is it okay for us to be sitting in the same classroom and eating?

I can't speak for all my colleagues, but if I were in a class with instructional lunch, I'd be wearing an N95 mask, a facial shield, a hairnet, and an entire body covering. That's what my doctor wore when she examined me a few weeks back. I would not consider eating, not for a moment.

I'd advise students not to eat either. Perhaps this is conceived for younger students rather than high school students, but it would make no difference to me. 97,000 children just tested positive for Coronavirus, and this idea is a rebellion against common sense.

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't you just be better to go remote until January?

Disgusted in Queens said...

Mulgrew is an embarrassment. He continues to follow the same pattern of hiding behind the principal's union. He is clearly showing he is not a leader and is inept at his job. I am not looking forward to hearing more of his bs and lies tomorrow. If I have to hear how he is having a terrible summer one more time...

I have been following someone that sounds like he would be a better choice for uft president. Wish we could have a revote now and remove Mulgrew so we can have a safe fall.
I have been following for a few days. Looks like he could be a better leader than Mulgrew although at this point Mickey Mouse can do a better job than Mickey Mulgrew.

https://www.badassteacher.org/bats-blog/say-no-to-instructional-lunches-by-dr-michael-flanagan?fbclid=IwAR05CVYDP7YozXYrv-fOFw8ZvRs8YumGaWlyc0rkGcRtvgNKftqaoyA4LD4

Anonymous said...

Hey Mulgrew...

You're a worthless pussy.

23 yrs of service

Anonymous said...

Read the opinion piece in the poll that says De blassio is actually putting kids ahead of unions. Does that idiot even know what he is talking about? Deb is actually putting his self interest ahead of kids and unions.

Anonymous said...

Now we have 25,000 staff members getting letters saying they don't have to put themselves in danger but I must? Not gonna do it.

Anonymous said...

Randi Weingarten
@rweingarten

Across the country, schools that are reopening without preparations and with high community COVID spread are having COVID outbreaks and having to close and quarantine. This is not how we should be reopening.

Anonymous said...

“It is true that children are far less likely to get sick from Covid-19, as compared to adults, but they are by no means immune. They can become infected and they can spread it quickly.”

Anonymous said...

For all of you who say we should pay dues, I would love to know why Solidarity has a gofundme page to get donations to hire a private lawyer to attempt to keep schools closed next month. Don't all the dues you pay cover legal? Shouldn't mulgrew and company be working on this? Very sad under the most dire of circumstances.

Anonymous said...

It gives me small pleasure to see most teachers suffer Mulgrew’s acquiescing, this time with back to school during the plague again (let’s please not forget 3/17-19. ATRs suffered his silent closed door agreements over and over again - the worst being the 2014 contract agreeing to deBlasio’s demands for an expedited termination clause for ATRs, the inference being that the DOE’s intentionally published and pushed stereotypes were correct. Demand his resignation at tomorrow’s sure to be bullshit meeting.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. Didnt de blasio say all the staff wanted to return?

Randi Weingarten
@rweingarten
“Two-thirds of all respondents (66.2%) indicated that they would be most comfortable with full-time distance learning for all students, either until cases decline significantly or for the full fall semester.”

Anonymous said...

Currently listening to the DOE meeting for family and students and Carranza is straight up LYING about so many things!! This is seriously propoganda!!!

Just some lies I’m hearing :

- He says he’s looking into buying a thermometer for every family! 😆

- Teachers will be getting MORE prep time

- They are working closely with principals to ensure schools are safe...

- Everyone has a device

Please add more lies you heard!! This is ridiculous

Anonymous said...

Dear Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza,
I write on behalf of New York City’s 6,400 school leaders urging you to heed their dire warnings concerning the city’s September 10th reopening plan. We are now less than one month away from the first day of school and still without sufficient answers to many of the important safety and instructional questions we’ve raised on behalf of school leaders and those they serve. Given the lack of information and guidance available at this time, CSA believes that NYCDOE’s decision to open for in-person learning on September 10th is in disregard of the well-being of our school communities.
While the city’s messaging suggests that reopening plans have been developed collaboratively with our union, the city has failed to address many of our crucial concerns and ignored repeated appeals from school leaders to allow enough time to implement highly complicated protocols. Since last school year ended, our members have been working tirelessly to reimagine the upcoming school year and pleading for more information on the City’s incomplete reopening plans. The slow rollout of guidance has forced us to once again address an unfortunate truth: schools will not be ready to open for in-person instruction on September 10th. A more realistic, phased-in approach would instead welcome students for in-person learning toward the end of September, following a fully remote start to the year.
Additional time before the start of in-person learning would allow our system to answer basic, but vital questions. When will nurses be hired for schools currently in need? How will school communities be informed of repairs to ventilation systems? When will schools receive PPE, thermometers, signage, hand sanitizers and cleaning materials to comply with the safety protocols? What additional support will be given to communities if they have a higher positivity rate than the city standard? Will we have sufficient staff to schedule both in-person and remote teaching? Do our schools have sufficient bandwidth to support remote instruction? When will we receive proper guidance specific to our students with special needs?
These are just a small sample of questions that must be answered for school leaders to provide a safe and successful educational environment for students. To be sure, no one understands how important it is to reopen our buildings more than our members. These public servants have dedicated their entire lives to serving their communities. They know firsthand how essential in person learning is to their students’ success and growth, especially after the challenges and trauma brought about by the pandemic this spring. They experienced the frustrations and deficits of remote learning alongside teachers, parents, and most importantly, students. They also fully understand the hardships that remote learning causes working families and the fundamental needs that in-person services fulfill, particularly for
August 12, 2020

underserved and vulnerable students. School leaders speak with these families every day and will continue to stand with those parents asking for schools to return to in-person learning as soon as possible.
However, the number one priority of all school leaders is to ensure the safety, health, and well-
being of the staff and students in their charge. Regrettably, the city started the planning process
far too late for them to have any faith or confidence that they can reopen their buildings on
th th September 10 . Especially given that teachers do not report until September 8 , allowing
frighteningly little time for the preparation and training necessary for these unprecedented circumstances.
th

Anonymous said...

On Aug 6 , the Chancellor’s team met with principals to discuss the submission of individual
school plans to the State for the first time, asking that they complete their school’s submission
within four working days. School leaders rose to that pressing challenge while also preparing
th
to submit their programming model selection to the DOE by August 14 , which they have
grappled with due to lack of information on student enrollment and teachers with accommodations to work remotely.
Once all individual school plans are submitted this week, school leadership teams must wait for approval and will have less than 15 working days to prepare for the arrival of students without much of the necessary guidance and training in place. The task before them is simply not possible to complete while simultaneously providing assurances of a safe and secure learning environment.
New York City school leaders are among the most talented and creative in the world. They stand ready and willing to take on the immense responsibilities of reopening their school buildings this fall, but I implore you to not ignore their voices at this critical time in the lives of New Yorkers— commence in-person learning only when our school leaders are confident they can reopen school buildings safely and successfully.
CSA

Anonymous said...

Wonder what all of you whiners would be thinking and saying if the person who stocks the shelves in your supermarket where as afraid to go to work as you are? They were out there since day one . How about the truck drivers who deliver the goods? Like it or not teachers are essential workers. If you are paralyzed from coronaphobia then resign your position.

Anonymous said...

The fact that the principals union is doing more now than our own union says a lot. This should be addressed at town hall tomorrow. Mulgrew should know we feel he is not doing enough for us. Seems like every press conference with Deblasio, there is NO regard for us teachers, staff and our families. Will they be held accountable for staff should something happen to them?

waitingforsupport said...

@6:02 pm: I would do the same thing. I'd go in the first days without students and then my throat would feel sore. When i returned I'd suit up as if i were walking into a contamination room: mask, shield, gloves, and biohazard suit. Social distancing tape around my desk and windows wide open. The next week,,,,headache. Time to take off. They will suggest remote teaching and i will say sure.

Anonymous said...

HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF TEACHERS THE MEDICAL ACCOMODATIONS ACCEPTANCES ARE STARTING TO GO OUT

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew is a coward. He has already folded like a cheap suitcase.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry! CSA will handle the situation. Maybe are dues should go to CSA.

Anonymous said...

Why can’t Mikey do this? Why can’t he write his own letters?

Why can’t he go in front of a tv camera and flat out say “we have lost teachers already because the city refused to act. We have lost principals, and children have gotten very sick. Enough is enough until the city proves they can make this safe, this is a non starter,”

Why? Because he doesn’t care. And he is paid to care, or so I thought.

Someone once told me in life you don’t have to care, but the appearance of caring is very important.

De Blasio Must Go! said...

10:06,

Sorry to say, but you're just another one of those endless morons, whose brain capacity is severely limited.

First off, I can't speak for all the "whiny" teachers because personally, I don't care if we go back or not - this whole new school year is going to be a total disaster. Easy money, as far as I'm concerned.

Now, for the millionth time, schools are not the same as grocery stores. At the height of the pandemic, grocery shops had full social distancing measures in place, and stores limited the amount of people that were in a store at any given time.

Adults, for the most part, listened to those instructions and followed protocol.

Schools will be incubators for the virus, with or without social distancing, and if school reopenings lead to an increase of cases, which they certainly will, uncontrolled spread will lead to an unnecessary burden on our healthcare system that will be an entire crisis of its own.

Not to mention we have no idea how this virus is going to end up behaving at the height of winter.

Understand now, endless moron?

I mean, seriously James, where the hell do these idiots come from?

Anonymous said...

The only way I will risk my life and return to work on 9/10 is if Mulgrew resigns. That and that alone would make it worthwhile. If Mulgrew doesn’t resign, I will not return to work. As bad as the virus is, Mulgrew is worse. Regardless, of what the next emergency is, it will be less dangerous than having a man who is oblivious to our dignity and respect as people and as workers. He allowed to go in for a less than worthless three day training to ensure the automatic dues payment. He lost his position as our Union leader at that very moment. I will no longer follow him, listen to him or give him even the slightest respect as UFT president. I don’t say this lightly. We all need to understand the true betrayal of his silent surrender on our behalf on 3/17, 3/18 and 3/19.

Anonymous said...

The uft has been selling out teachers for decades. They will continue to do so for the same reason bad kids rule the schools. No consequences for bad behavior means the escalation of bad behavior. This bad behavior on the uft's part has now escalated to putting teachers in potential life and death situation and turning to CSA the agency that protects our abusers to save us. But teachers will not bother to vote out unity/Mulgrew. Teachers will vote blue no matter who supporting the uft choices in elections and yes will keep paying dues. No consequences yet. What next? Whatever The Democratic Party wants, the union will give. Dems Deblasio, Cuomo, Carranza want schools open. Deblasio and Carranza will make sure teachers who complain about unsafe conditions are punished and the uft will yet again protect the dems and themselves while teachers suffer. Should NYC schools go remote like LA and Chicago? Wonder what Biden and Harris have to say on schools. Do they differ from Trump on school openings? Waiting for more than Trump's bad from them. The fate of NYC teachers will change when teachers grow a spine. Until then get used to being treated like the collective doormat we are.

Anonymous said...

to 10:06-I would absolutely prefer to go to my local supermarket and work rather than to the 96 year old school that I have to return to. My school has no a/c, no windows in stairwells that open, the air in the hallways and stairwells in stagnant and was of poor quality before this. Now I am supposed to wear a mask? It was hard to breathe on many September days already and now to do it with a mask on? The local supermarket has a/c and a vetilation system. Adults shopping are better at staying 6 feet away from each other than 5 year olds.

Anonymous said...

Waitingforsupport -
I wouldn't want you teaching my child. I've met a lot of your type over the 32 years in NYC. Lazy, incompetent, always looking to get over. You're exactly what we don't need in our education system. And exactly the type the teacher the UFT should not be supporting

Anonymous said...

10:06: You're comparing apples and oranges. It is much easier to socially distance in a supermarket and you don't have to sit in a small room while people eat with their masks off. Problem is the doe does everything ass backwards. I worked for a supermarket for years when I was in college. You can easily socially distance there and limit the number of people who come in. You must be a principal or someone who does not teach because the usually say the stupid things.

Anonymous said...

Today TOWNHALL 3 30
Get the latest facts, not the rumors and opinions

Anonymous said...

Waiting for support doesn't deserve to be called lazy. You do realize we and the public were lied to in March. We know they will lie again. So we have to fight fire with fire. I rarely agree with Waiting for support..... but if we behave ethically when the city plays dirty we're just suckers. I'm sure Waiting is equally relieved she's not teaching your children. I'm sure they've inherited your sanctimonious assholeness. not nice to call names is it?

Anonymous said...

Hahahaha facts at uft town hall. Thanks I needed that laugh, Unity troll. Fact: mulgrew sent us into infected buildings. Soon to be fact: mulgrew sent us into infected buildings. Fucking Groundhog Day.

Anonymous said...

Hope you participated in the TOWNHALL.
You would have heard dozens of UFT members ask civilized questions of importance to them.
Not one person was a foul-mouthed ignorant person like you.

James Eterno said...

Total censorship. My wife and friends had tough questions that of course never got through.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Carranza discussed the ventilation systems. Stated have been checking the ventilation systems since May and are replacing the filters to higher quality filters that captures more of the airborne particles. What does this even mean? Is not specific. Shame on Carranza for not educating the public and educators on exactly what is going on.

Also stated that the unions have been on 'some' of the walk throughs
and identifying some of the concerns from the union's perspective.

Check it out on Youtube: Mayor de Blasio Holds Media Availability - Channel: NYC Mayor's Office.

waitingforsupport said...

@7:33 am: Meh. You're entitled to your opinion. I certainly hope you're a better educator than you are an assessor. I don't it but hey that's my opinion.

waitingforsupport said...

#7:33 am: *i doubt it.

waitingforsupport said...

@11:55am...Actually I wouldn't have a problem teaching @7:33am's child. All children deserve to be treated like gems. In March and even before March, the UFT/DOE figuratively kicked every educator in the ARCE. I'm very peaceful
I'm fair. I will always speak up for you and me. However, I can and will defend myself. If the DOE/UFT kicks me one time, I'm going to kick it 20x. I could be wrong so chalk it up to my needing to grow. Some of you teachers need to battle the monsters because the monsters have shown you time and again that they don't care about you and your family. They are banking on you taking their kicks. As for @ 7:33am, it is clueless so I will leave it at that.

Anonymous said...

Uft sends us to die and you care about bad words. You're the ignorant one. Townhall? You mean the one where the UFT screens out all the difficult questions? FU (does it make you feel better that I just used the letters instead of the words?

waitingforsupport said...

@6:46 am...save all of your huffing and puffing for your fight with your boss. 32 years with the DOE. Your old azz isn't retired yet? You are close enuff to it im sure. Figure out your next steps instead of tuff talking on a blog. Bye.