The June Delegate Assembly was highlighted by Jia Lee from the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE) introducing a resolution for the UFT to vote no confidence in Mary Ellen Elia, the controversial new State Education Commissioner. Elia was fired by the school board from her previous job in Hillsborough, Florida.
The resolution didn't carry but you can judge it for yourself (see below).
The entire DA Report is over at NYC Educator.
This was my last DA in exile. I will be an elected Delegate again next school year.
Resolution: No Confidence in New State Education Commissioner Mary Ellen Elia
Whereas, the top down education policies under No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top and high stakes accountability tied to Common Core Standards have had disastrous effects on whole child education and democratic, school-based decision-making in New York State
Whereas, there was no transparency in the selection process, no public vetting of candidates, no opportunity for public input in the appointment of the new State Education Commissioner Mary Ellen Elia
Whereas, Ms. Elia’s record makes it clear she is a strong supporter of the Common Core State Standards (even though Florida has pulled out of Common Core) and high-stakes testing; she was an early proponent of using test scores to evaluate teachers, complete with $100 million in funding from the Gates Foundation. She also negotiated a merit pay system and supports school choice
Whereas, last January, the Hillsborough Board of Education voted 4-3 to dismiss her. Members who voted her out have been on record as criticizing her for board-superintendent tension, her salary and benefits, and constituent complaints about too much high-stakes standardized testing, some said her tough disciplinary policy disproportionately affected black students and employees who said her management style was heavy-handed
Whereas, she failed to notify the district immediately that a 7-year-old girl had stopped breathing on a school bus and died later; she said she didn’t know the scope of the tragedy until the family sued the district.
Be it Resolved, that UFT will hold a press conference and issue a press statement of no confidence in the appointment of Ms. Elia, because it does not serve the best interests of our children, educators, or public schools
Resolved, that the educators of the UFT seek public vetting and member discussion before the leadership of the largest local in the state supports the appointment of any state chancellor.
Resolved that our union leadership will organize meetings at the beginning of the 2015/16 school throughout the boroughs, for working UFT educators to discuss this appointment , state educational policies and develop our own vision of statewide educational policies that will best serve all our children
Be it further Resolved that the UFT will fight for a renewed statewide emphasis on the arts, music, libraries and physical education for all of our children
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