Does the resolution below go far enough for you? Does it need some teeth such as a mobilization in support of these goals? At least the Absent Teacher Reserve issue is alive and many members are pushing the union into action. Should we be satisfied that the issue is on the union's agenda? Please tell us what you think.
Resolution on Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) placements
WHEREAS the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) crisis is a clear and direct result of New York City Department of Education (DOE) policies and mismanagement; and
WHEREAS even though efforts to resolve the crisis have been partially successful, the DOE still has not kept its promises nor met its moral and professional obligations to ATRs and has thereby wasted valuable human and economic resources; and
WHEREAS maintaining fairness and increasing productivity in the city’s teaching force require that the talents of all educators be utilized in service to students, parents and school communities; and
WHEREAS solutions to the ATR crisis need to be proposed and implemented without delay in order to maximize productivity, teaching and learning in New York City public schools; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) call upon the DOE to create a recertification program for ATRs for designated shortage areas and allow participating ATRs to take the requisite course work at the City University of New York (CUNY) free of charge or be reimbursed for the related costs of attending a private college or university at the CUNY rate per credit; and be it further
RESOLVED that the UFT urge the DOE to require that all ATRs be given an opportunity for permanent placement in vacancies in their license areas in their district or high school superintendency before the DOE approves any new hire in a license area where an ATR has not been given an opportunity for permanent placement; and be it further
RESOLVED that the UFT urge the DOE to place all ATRs into vacancies in their district or high school superintendency after September 15 of any given year on a provisional basis; and be it further
RESOLVED that the UFT urge the DOE to allow principals and ATRs at the end of the school year to either mutually agree to have ATRs as permanent staff members or allow them to return to the ATR pool.
3 comments:
While I agree it's good that the UFT has finally come up with a resolution that's more than just treating ATR's with "dignity", it does lack force and is almost begging the DOE by calling upon and urging them to do the right thing. What about insisting that all ATR's be placed.
The part about giving ATR's an opportunity for permanent placement in vacancies in their license areas in their district or high school superintendency seems to be nothing more then what is currently going on. Yes, ATR's have the opportunity but the principals also have an opportunity to not hire which is what is being done now. Finally, there needs to be some concrete and strong actions on the part of the union to force the DOE to place the ATR's into positions such as a rally, picket or other ongoing mobilizations. We are a strong union and we should not be afraid to use this strenght for our students and for our members!
Thanks Gloria.
The union resolution is toothless and unenforceable. The union must go after principals who hide vacancies and embarras the DOE to live up to their agreements.
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