Saturday, July 16, 2022

NO BUDGET CUT FOR BANKS LEADING 55 DOE STAFFERS TO FLORIDA CONFERENCE

Sue Edelman strikes again with help from Cayla Bamberger. 

From the NY Post:

The Department of Education sent 55 staffers, including Chancellor David Banks, to a four-day conference on STEM education at a swanky hotel near Universal Studios in Orlando last week — even as its schools are facing devastating budget cuts.

Further down:

Conference organizers said New York City and other school districts purchased $2,750 memberships in the Global STEM Leadership Alliance. That covered participation in the summit Sunday to Thursday, an “extremely discounted” rate of $259-a-night at the 4-star Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, breakfast and lunch, as well as webinars and professional development year-round.

That cost would total a maximum $151,250 for all 55 city attendees. Some expenses were covered by a grant, according to the DOE, which would not specify how much.

“So while the plebes subsist on bread and water, our DOE colleagues enjoy the best the Loews has to offer,” a school administrator in New York griped.

The Post also gets a teacher to comment:

"Stay at a Motel 6 or something,” said a Manhattan middle school teacher who last month was “excessed,” or let go from the former school due to fewer students enrolled.

“At a time where we’re cutting resources for students to get STEM education, to do science experiments and take field trips, this money is going toward adults,” she added. “Money should always be going toward student experiences in the classroom and outside of the classroom — not toward adults off on vacation.”

Optics are bad here with the Chancellor demanding that schools tighten their belts as he hosts receptions in Florida in a 4 star hotel in part with public money. 

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

You think soft music , incest and body oils were also involved at some point ? Wink wink.

Anonymous said...

Florida? I thought everybody who goes there dies of COVID.

Anonymous said...

First of all they all go to the state that doesn't allow an LGBQT curriculum. Secondly, they choose one of the most expensive hotels. $259 s night is not cost efficient. I bet you anything, they took advantage of the early entry into the parks and did that before they went to their conferences. I love the comment that they have a right to send them to a pd. How about next time you send them to Las Vegas and provide gambling money.

Anonymous said...

8:39 incest? You probably meant incense, but you just can't help yourself. Lol

Anonymous said...

I hope he has that same energy when he’s discussing the contract for the teachers. Inflation is a robust 9% right now. Also, they could have just allocated the funds to the STEM programs they’re supposedly advocating for. I would love to see a robotics program for the kids in every school or maybe updated textbooks for the scholars so they can have current events and updated information.

Anonymous said...

Murphy’s driving over from Boca and meeting them at Disney to give a personalized tour. Mulgrew, Sill, Arundel and Barr are hunting for last minute flights. ( I’m joking - I hope. Sometimes I say things like this in jest and it turns out to be true.)

Anonymous said...

Rahul Patel

I am a central employee and let me tell ya. This peeves me as well because we were told we couldn’t go to a conference bc travel to other states wasn’t allowed under Covid policy. And here these higher ups get to.

Anonymous said...

The UFT gang is too busy in Boston whooping it up on our dime.

Joey said...

Why havent we heard anything about the upcoming contract negotiations. We need multiple years of 9% pay hikes at the minimum. For a new three year contract we should get a 27% pay hike by the third year. That is 9% x 3 years = 27%.
Any less would be a crime and we will be losing to inflation. If you argue that inflation is transitory and will come down in future years, that is just a guess and one that was already proven very wrong when the administration and fed said inflation peaked in December 2021 and was just transitory. We need massive raises.
Also, we need our TDA fixed option to go back to 8.25%. The measly 7% that we get was the biggest scam ever and and even in the fixed TDA fund this year we are losing money to 9% inflation.
Why haven't any reporters scooped any good leaks on where raise % are looking from tge 400 person commitee. This is a disaster waiting to happen and Mulgrew and DOE will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Joey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Joey. Just accept it. We will get paltry raises that don’t come close to inflation. Mulgrew will blame Putin and say it’s the best we can do. Then we’ll be told we’re lucky to still have jobs. And finally we all vote blue no matter who and keep paying dues. It’s a pattern that keeps repeating itself. Yet we keep expecting different results. Insanity.

Anonymous said...

This hotel is part of the Universal Orlando complex. The benefit for staying at this signature hotel is special access to Universal Studios and fast pass to all rides. What are the chances tickets for the theme park were also purchased?

Anonymous said...

Nobodys forcing you to pay dues @ 7:56

Anonymous said...

Leonie Haimson
Today
Wow. First Adams claimed there were no cuts. Then he blamed them on Albany. Now he's calling them rumors? Take responsibility for these horrible cuts, @NYCMayor. What happened to your so-called #MayoralAccountability? cc @LiuNewYork @SenatorRJackson

Jessica Beck
today @NYCMayor is trying to control the narrative and calling the budget cuts "rumors." he refuses to hear the voices of families, educators, students, voters, anyone who isn't a donor. he must not be allowed to conduct business as usual while children suffer. #RestoreTheCuts

https://www.amny.com/police-fire/lawsuit-school-budget-cut/

Anonymous said...

4:13 wishful thinking

Anonymous said...

Joey-your raise amounts are correct but Mulgrew is garbage and has no balls so we will get 2% raises and cuts to medical. Hopefully more and more people will NOT GO INTO EDUCATION. This is my saving grace. I screwed myself working for the shitting DOE but if I can prevent others from doing the same. People can work without degrees and earn the same salary or more

Anonymous said...

Nobody is forcing any UFT member to pay dues, 1:21. Regardless, the pattern is still the pattern. The result will be the same. Low raises and give backs. It’s insane to expect anything different when nothing has changed. Just like James can rattle off a handful of negatives in the 2005 contract I’m sure any old timer can rattle off the same old same old excuses. I’ll start. The cupboards are bare. The last guy in charge is still screwing us. It’s the best we could get in these tough financial times. Be grateful we avoided layoffs. And soon to be a repeated line… This new health coverage is just as good if not better than what you currently have (even though it’s much worse).

Anonymous said...

https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2022/7/18/23269154/lawsuit-filed-to-halt-hundreds-of-millions-in-nyc-school-budget-cuts?_amp=true

Anonymous said...

There is plenty of money for extravagant conferences in Orlando Florida
for their cronies.

But the clowns do not have money to reduce class size or to provide
a sound education for children of color.

These clowns are racists posing as anti-racists.

Mayoral control is the problem , not the solution to the education gap.

Adams and Banks are the clowns.

Anonymous said...

When autocratic folks wreck our public schools in exchange for their political campaign contributions, their transactions have bad consequences for our democracy.

Publics school provide the education that is essential and foundational for a stable democracy. Sadly, the bad consequences, whether intended or unintended are political outcomes that we have experienced. Namely, for New Yorkers they are the Trump presidency, the Biden presidency, the Cuomo governorship, the de Blasio Mayoralty and the Bloomberg mayoralty. All of these folks have harmed democracy by their crackpot notions about education, their vanity expressed though their ignorant autocracy, their lack of respect for the law, their hyper-emphasis on transactional politics and their gross incompetence.

Democracy in America cannot survive the wanton destruction of our public education. Democracy in America cannot survive the malfeasance
of our politicians. For the most part, these politicians are white males who are hyper-sexualized creeps.

Anonymous said...

There are reasons, monetary, political and ideological, to apply what is basically a business model to education, schools and communities, and to dump union and community voice. And there are so many reasons why that tends not to work, especially when the money and political ends are emphasized and when the ideologies are especially off. Education is deeper than test scores and even jobs. Many who are highly trained, highly educated in terms of degrees, still can’t really think, very deeply, are not truly educated for the purposes of their own existence. We’ve seen this quite clearly as a country recently. We can see it here on this board.

Anonymous said...

Mayoral control is irrelevant. Bad students plus fraud teachers with no expectations… That’s your problem.

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of the story of Life Sciences around 2017 when the new Principal and AP threw out the textbooks and then went to a junket in Cali. That AP (Premo) later resigned in disgrace after accused of making a move on a teacher at the holiday party. The Principal (Swanson) totally destroyed that school and their friends in the Supe's office (Rosales and Orlen) have been shown the door. Coming Attractions, people.

Anonymous said...

Susan Edelman
"If 41 city council members can sign a letter asking to restore the cuts, then 41 members should’ve voted no,” Tajh Sutton, a parent of two kids in @nycschools, said of the mea culpas.

Anonymous said...

https://nypost.com/2022/07/18/progressive-nyc-council-members-admit-they-were-wrong-to-vote-for-school-budget-cuts/amp/

Anonymous said...

It’s not a white male problem in NYC. Black mayor, black chancellor, many poc on city council and in administrative positions in the doe and a women in Albany. Schools cannot force a leftist ideology that race and gender baits and not expect non leftist parents to just accept it. We won’t.

Anonymous said...

How many democrats failed to vote NO on cuts then pandered by writing a letter? Teachers will vote the letter writers back into office. The pattern continues. Status quo remains intact.

Anonymous said...

Lol @ 7:02 oh sure, the black mayor and chancellor are the reason for all the troubles that have existed for DECADES. I'm Liberal, but I didnt accept anything. I paid to put my children through private school. Best investment I ever made.

Anonymous said...

Did Lightfoot get elected? Are people happy there? Will they vote for her again?

waitingforsupport said...

702... Are you new to Earth? White men have overwhelming been presidents, senators, mayors, governors, and Supreme Court justices since the founding of this great nation. Using your logic, they are the fu^k ups. They are the reason why we are doing "so well" on the world stage. I mean we're talking for over 200 years of white men. Also what's a leftist parent? Are you a right-wing ult right parent? I believe they think all white is always right. Do you have so little confidence in your children that you think they may have breakdown if they learn about ALL of US history? Why shouldn't they know the history of what transpired. You don't want them to be ignorant--do you? I hope they aren't that fragile. Besides, so many commenters have mentioned that they don't feel guilty about slavery. So if you don't feel guilty, why would your children feel guilty? Im just asking for a friend.

Anonymous said...

ROFLMAO @ "Are you new to Earth". They're so fucking ridiculous blaming DOE problems on a black mayor who was appointed only 7 months. It's so utterly stupid, there are no words.

Anonymous said...

11:12 I should have specified that my comment was in response to the person who said, “Democracy in America cannot survive the malfeasance of our politicians. For the most part, these politicians are white males who are hyper-sexualized creeps.” @10:22

It can’t be a white male problem in nyc. White males are not running this city. Let’s see what Adams and Banks and the city council does. So far not promising.

Waiting For Support, 6 white males and a black male gave us a favorable Roe v. Wade opinion. Bunch of whites gave us the civil rights act too. Plenty marched with Dr. King. Lumping all white men into one category is bigoted. I’m merely pointing out that nyc ills, specifically doe ills, are not caused by white males. It’s 2022 NYC. White males in government are not in power in NYC. The ills of the school system now lies with Adams and Banks. Will they make things better? I hope so.

waitingforsupport said...

@1131 am. Therein lies the problem: you think you control the narrative. You want everyone to use your formula. You mentioned the current state of the city and I'm mentioning the state of our nation for hundreds of years. So if we had to live with the mess white men created for centuries, we can give some grace to the black folks trying to fix the mess left by the last white mayor. We could have fixed the mess created by Mulgrew (white) and Weingarten (white) too but too many people didn't vote. Ps. White men didn't "give" civil rights. If black folks don't march, sh^t remains the same. Civil rights are human rights--no man can give it. Black folks hit the wallet of the wealthy via boycotts. When the wealthy feel the pain, change happens. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I agree waitingforsupport. The poster originally responded to at 10:22 even said this "Namely, for New Yorkers they are the Trump presidency, the Biden presidency, the Cuomo governorship, the de Blasio Mayoralty and the Bloomberg mayoralty. All of these folks have harmed democracy by their crackpot notions about education". So they put the blame at the feet of both parties, yet 11:31 went right to "black Mayor and black Chancellor" - people who were elected not quite 7 months ago, because the 10:22 said "for the most part", which is absolutely true.

And you're right that civil rights can't be given. It was Frederick Douglass who said "power concedes nothing without a demand, it never has, and it never will". And Dr. MLK said "I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure. Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral than individuals."

James Eterno said...

Very thoughtful comment, 5:08.

Anonymous said...

“The mess white men created.” Did the color of their skin make them create the mess? What exactly is the mess? NYC isn’t run by white men anymore. Was DeBlasio a shitty mayor because he is white? Or because he’s progressive? Let’s see where Adams and Banks take this school system.My bet is in 3 years you’ll still be complaining and somehow blame whitey again. Leftists see nothing but color and now their latest obsession sexual identity. You can form your own narrative as can those who do not agree with you. Plenty of white people marched with King. The demonization of white men is not virtuous. It’s racism.

Anonymous said...

8:23 give it a rest. Aren't you on a whole 'nother thread bringing up the same thing (and pretending you're not the same fraud who collects a paycheck without working). How many times do you have to bring it up. Stop obsessing over waitingforsupport. If you haven't noticed she's very unbothered by your elementary tactics. The demonization of black and brown parents and constantly harassing them online for not protesting for change, because there were George Floyd protests that they may not have had anything to do with, and when you know nothing abou them, is not virtuous it's RACISM. I've know parents who write letters, make calls, go to meetings, have gone to Albany. What the fuck do you know about anything. You're too busy with your head far up Admin's ass. You fake it all day, don't teach, and go back to your suburb, and you've got the gall to demonize black and brown parents for the failures of the NYC educational system.

Anonymous said...

Heavy issues. The attempted personalization of the anonymous attacks on the anonymous works against the weight of arguments and rebuttal, works against credibility. Same if it were not all anonymous, but the anonymity makes it all bizarre. Why not just argue on merits and relevant stances? I know the weight of issues can really charge things, but all the more
important that the corrections are executed for full impact, not less.

waitingforsupport said...

823 needs an outlet so this is it. On Monday it's back to being "Admins Arce, Ashley" the school's mascot.

waitingforsupport said...

Stick to the topic set by the James and all will be well. Divert to race and it will be addressed--by any means necessary. Period.

waitingforsupport said...

And might i add the parents of NYC are NOT issuing fake grades. Even if these parents did NOTHING, it is the responsibility of TEACHERS to teach assess and grade STUDENTS. Fix yourself. Im still waiting for someone to show me where in the academic policy it says EVERYONE passes. Tell me which page it is on. If you can't cite the page--stop telling us your assumptions or what your big bad admin intimated to you.

Anonymous said...

12:22 ever heard of syntax? How many people do you think are on this board claiming that they've conned their admin into giving them good observations because they're furthering their "woke agenda".

How many are saying that "I'll care when George Floyd protestors (parents of children of color) protest for change". It's the same tune all over the blog, so it's really not that hard to figure out. Maybe it is for you but some of this is not as "anonymous" as you think it is. It's only anonymous in that we don't know who the person is in real life, but we can detect the poster on this blog. Even when it's unclear, it doesn't take long before they tell on themselves anyway.

Anonymous said...

waitingforsupport @11:53, exactly. They want to hurl their jabs, insult parents of children of color, black men, laugh that children of color sit before them but they just throw papers at them, or ignore them, brag about not working but still collecting a paycheck. Fuck 'em. If those things are posted, we'll reply as we see fit. Frankly I stopped posting for a while because I couldn't believe this trash was allowed in. Stopped by again and there it was, nothing changed, same poster still talking about faking "woke" and trashing people of color. I think it's funny that they are being used to spread an agenda they don't believe in, yet they think they're winning. Couldn't pay me enough to spread, let's say" QAnon trash. What a dope. So I should say GREAT, if nothing else they're spreading the liberal agenda. Carry on fool.

waitingforsupport said...

157...you got it. If it it's posted, it's open for discussion. Unlike the little lady poster who is her school's jester, I stand on my feet--not on my knees. You know this is her outlet. For 8 hours a day she's playing a character for $140,000. Morally bankrupt and somewhat mentally ill. Oh wait. You said the poster is a male. Hard to believe. Anyway At least we dont tolerate the BS. Stay safe!

Anonymous said...

It’s surprising they all flock to Florida where there’s a republican governor. Didn’t AOC do the same thing? Go maskless in Florida while children were masked in school. They are all hypocrites! In this world of zoom meetings, why couldn’t this conference be held virtually? They had students learning remotely. Surely, would have saved a lot of money to perhaps use to support our students. But they wouldn’t be able to experience Universal virtually. They probably used money from the salaries of teachers who were terminated or put on LWOP due to the vaccine mandate to pay for this gala/meeting. What a disgrace! “Do as I say, not as I do.” Hope they enjoyed the Tower of Terror at Universal. Pathetic! Like another commenter stated “look whose in charge?” Need we say more? Shocked to see my principal at this even -NOT!

Anonymous said...

Maybe after all was said and done, these staff members met with UFT leaders at the “It’s a small world ride.”