Wednesday, March 24, 2021

LIVE BLOGGING FROM MARCH DA

 Mulgrew Report

Moment of silence for Chapter Leader of school safety supervisors'  son who passed away tragically.

Two days until spring break. We are getting the week this year. We will be going to arbitration soon over compensation for last year.

COVID

No need to quarantine if traveling domestically. Contact Mike Sill if you are being asked if vaccinated. It is personal information. Administrators should not be asking you if vaccinated. Personal choice to come forward with whether you are vaccinated or not. The daily health screening we fill out is erased. HIPAA protects health information. We listen to doctors. 

CDC put out convoluted school guidelines last Friday. They are not mandates. States have to decide whether to follow them or not. We have two issues with what came out on Friday. NEA and AFT looked at studies that were all done in rural areas. We did a summit with the white house. Said that we get safety from medical people. We talked with Betty Rosa, the State Commissioner but Mayor de Blasio came out prematurely on 3 feet guidelines. Impossible to keep students that are 3 feet apart in the classroom 6 feet apart out of the classroom. Vaccines will change science. Drop in NY positivity rate. NJ is up. More students testing positive for COVID in schools. It is still at a low level. It is probably from the variants. This opt-in period was in the original plan we had last summer. 30% of the parents in NYC are comfortable with their children going into school buildings. 70% want remote. We need information on what parents currently will be comfortable with in terms of coming to school buildings. City will share numbers on who is coming in on a daily basis. 

(I lost the feed at this point. Sorry. I picked it up a couple of minutes later.)

Because of the recovery act, we don't have to worry about layoffs. Elections matter. Coalition forming around carbon-free green initiatives for school buildings. Ventilation now front and center in school buildings. Spanish flu changed building codes for decades. That's why old schools have big windows. MLK building on west side of Manhattan had nonexistent ventilation. We got that updated. We need that for every school building. NYS got about $9 billion for 3-k-12. City got billions for city expenses. State got $12.4 billion. Money is helping to move school systems forward. Money will go away; it is not permanent. Mayor is expanding 3-k. We want long term plans beyond this mayor's term. 

State Budget

State budget is moving along. Assembly and Senate have budgets taxing the rich. Struggle in Albany on this but no cuts. Budget may come quickly because of all the other political stuff going in Albany.

City

45 races. Andrew Yang is walking around like the reincarnation of Bloomberg attacking us. Still going through endorsement process. Some races have 2-4 friends. Big vote tomorrow on city police plan. School safety is a big issue. We are not comfortable with it going back to DOE because they will hide all incidents like they did when they had control. New chancellor Meisha has been working with us. We already had a meeting planning for summer and fall. We don't want preference sheets filled out now. People who did it early last year did it for nothing. We are not sure now how we will be able to program our schools. The calendar should be coming out shortly. We are on a tight calendar for next year with all of the holidays. We want to know. Science and medical advice could change. We don't know. Waiting for recommendations. Waiting for findings from trials on vaccines for 10-15-year-old children. UFT membership has been great. Look what we've done. We don't like hybrid, remote, or being in schools with masks. There will be learning loss and emotional trauma. We understand that without our work, problems would have been so much worse. It's been over a year but we have to keep pushing through this. We've done it better than anywhere else. We've been open and we kept people safe. We are trying to lock down some dates so we can make the program and SBO decisions in a timely manner. We will be flexible in things that are in our control. Chancellor doing quite well with us. No longer 39 DOE people showing up to meet with us. 

Operational issues: Over 2000 filed. Over 1700 completely rectified. A lot of compensation. We rectify things or people get compensation. Grievance department has done a great job. When there is compensation, it takes time. None of this has been fair. People at home doing things they haven't had to do and people in buildings traveling to work.

Reorganization grievances: Only 38 reached the central level. 24 resolved and 14 still in process. 42 reached the district level. 309 at the school level. Most resolved. Strategy of trying to rectify them at the local level is working for us. 

PSAL: Clear guidelines coming out. Some people like to jump the gun and make their own rules. These guidelines will be coming out shortly.

High schools: Great reopening Monday. Elementary schools open smooth as silk. D75 working. Middle schools moved ahead when they reopened on a cold day. High schools reopened. One school had balloons. We make sure kids are treated the way they should be. Thanks to everyone. Two reopenings for every division of this union. We made every educator who works in NYC proud. No dramas, no problems. Where there were issues, you dealt with them quickly. 

Relax on the break. It's been a long, difficult year. Take time and be safe. We are seeing results of vaccines being out there. 

Staff Director's Report
Leroy Barr said happy birthday to UFT. We are 61 years old as of March 16. We know our history. Chapter election process is underway. Make sure you have an election team with a chairperson whose name and contact information is forwarded to the UFT. April 7 town hall. Next DA is April 14.

Question Period:

Question: In-person opt-in period, for kids stable in their programs, is it possible for kids to be sent back to blended learning?

Mulgrew Answer: Mayor stopped opt-ins. Mayor wants to gauge parental interest. We have lots of schools with 20% in-person. Personally, don't want hybrid. We will fight over 3 feet rule. Most schools now eat in the classroom 6 feet apart. Asked in DC about this. Answer was to skip every other child. Every other kid eats. We got angry with that.

Question: Housecleaning questions changed, why? If I'm vaccinated, am I still able to spread Covid?

Answer: City trying to be receptive to what was being asked from contact tracers. Vaccinated, clear to go into schools. Our own doctors have told us that. Saw that question and didn't answer it. If you had a close contact with someone with COVID but you've been vaccinated, you can go into a building. Information is not saved anywhere. 

Question: Thanks Mulgrew, medical accommodations are they good through June or can the mayor change his mind?

Answer: Few accommodations to work from home before this year. We won with underlying conditions but there is nothing about primary care accommodations in law. Medical accommodations will change sooner or later. When they change is the question. Nothing has been decided for this year. As vaccine gets us closer to herd immunity, we want to get students and staff back in the buildings. Small percentage of population cannot take vaccine. There will be a lot of discussions. We will be clear and transparent. As long as some crazy variant that is immune from vaccine doesn't take over, then we would have a whole new problem.

Question: Can the school AP call parents and encourage their kids to come back to in-person learning? Is there a budget incentive for kids to be in-person?

Answer: No rule that says they can't do it. Parents will bring kids back if they are comfortable schools are safe. Adults have access to vaccine. We know that a large number of our members have been vaccinated. Parents we are in contact with wanting a guarantee their kids won't get COVID if they come into school. Kids do not have access to vaccines. That should be a big part of the conversation. We can't give parents a guarantee. No financial incentive for kids to be in-person. School budgets will be held harmless and all debts will be wiped out for next year. 

Question: Elections of functional chapter and how much paid UFT time does each functional chapter get? When will functional chapter elections take place?

Answer: We are transparent. Nothing to hide. Each functional chapter makes decisions that are all different. It has to do with their history. People need to have all of the information. Leroy Barr says it is fine to give out information.

Question: Members asking about Early Retirement Incentive?

Answer: The ERI is in both the Assembly and Senate's one-house budget bills. If it is in the budget, we will have to get the city to agree. City says with federal money, layoffs not an issue. In the past, ERI not always to stave off layoffs. City must abide by agreement we made to delay half of the lump sum payments. We're not talking too much about ERI to not jinx it. 

Question: Do new CDC guidelines change capacity in each classroom?

Answer: They are guidelines and capacity would increase but state and city have to work it out. 3 feet distance in the classroom but 6 everywhere else including eating. Pod's purity is questionable at times. Pods do interact with other children. Long way still to go.

Question Open Market Transfer period?

Answer: Expect full funding from the city and state. There should be a lot of positions. We are working on this.

Question: Observations, admin not counting walkthroughs from fall. Do I have to persuade them or are they violating agreement?

Answer: Yes, it is a matter of persuasion. They can't use anything negative. Trying to get APPR waived through budget process at state level. Many districts in the state having trouble doing APPR. We might get another waiver for APPR. We will see where that goes. We will know by March 30 when the budget is due.

Question: Positive tests, if classroom shuts down but teacher is fully vaccinated, can teacher come in?

Answer: The situation room will tell everyone to quarantine. Administrators asking people if they are vaccinated. If a classroom is closed, elementary school will be remote anyway. CDC and our medical people say if you had close contact and you are vaccinated, you do not have to quarantine. 

New motion period

Motion for this month (needs a 2/3 vote to get on agenda) to urge City Council to vote no on transferring School Safety Agents to the DOE and urging more hiring of counselors and social workers and support personnel.

85% Yes and 15% No. It's on the agenda.

Motion for this month to support union organizers in Alabama at Amazon to form a union.

92% Yes and 8% No. It's on the agenda.

Motion for this month is time-sensitive. Resolution to support Columbia University graduate workers on their fight for a fair contract.

91% Yes and 9% No.

Special Orders of Business (ten resolutions on the agenda)

City Council endorsements. Motivated by someone. A second speaker supported the endorsements saying how the endorsements were interviewed by our colleagues. We ranked them and then political experts decided viability and rank order. The process is phenomenal. Daniel Alicea was to speak against but he was disconnected. 

85% Yes on endorsements and 15% No.

The next resolution was to nominate David Kazansky for reelection toTRS pension board. Fellow trustee Tom Brown spoke in favor of endorsing David who has 6 years of experience on the board. Two speakers supported the nomination. Nobody wanted to speak against.

97% Yes and 3% No

Janella Hinds motivated the resolution to cancel the NYSESLAT. State lengthening it and only allowing people in-person to take the test. Another speaker thanked Mulgrew and our wonderful union. She supports it and hopes everyone will vote yes. Then, Arthur Goldstein spoke in favor. It's particularly ridiculous this year. Worst exam on earth. Thanks Janella for helping him write it and for motivating it. Person said that they can't get the floor to move an important motion up. One speaker says there has to be something to test kids new to the country. Wants to amend to allow kids to get out of ENL.

87% Yes and 13% No.

Time ran out before more motions could be acted upon. Mulgrew wishes all a good vacation. Be safe if you travel. Travel domestically, no need to quarantine. Thank you for what you do. Happy Passover and Happy Easter.

103 comments:

  1. I'm glad someone else thought Yang was the next Bloomberg besides just me. How is he so sure all high schools opened smoothly. There have been a lot of issues at high schools especially with students having the option to opt in until April 7th which will lead to program changes. I don't like how he just makes assumptions that everything is going honky dory.

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  2. Anything on Early Retirement Incentive?

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  3. Omg, arbitration "soon."

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  4. Lol. High schools iff to a good start. Mine was shut after 1 day.

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  5. How the fuck is this smoothly?

    272 NYC school buildings closed tomorrow, 3/24.

    31 new 1-day closures (total 46)

    40 new 10-day closures (total 226)

    110 new classroom closures (total 973)

    145 more cases, 96 students/49 staff

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  6. : are remote accommodations safe until June?

    Mulgrew: Not the accommodation to work remotely. Moving forward things will change. Goal is to get people back to the building

    Comment: This is new. It's the 1st time he's indicated there was any question

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  7. Q: are remote accommodations safe until June?

    Mulgrew: Not the accommodation to work remotely. Moving forward things will change. Goal is to get people back to the building

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  8. I am waiting for early retirement incentive info.

    I hope it includes 25/55
    And 10/55

    Let’s see if this is another slight of hand trick by the decision makers.

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  9. I am greatly concerned about the eri. Way back, mulgrew said the city submitted a letter stating that they are indeed behind it, why now the backpedaling??? this is nonsense.

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  10. I'm shocked Mulgrew hasn't found a way to install background applause every time he speaks.

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  11. So when will teachers stop milking the accommodation if already vaccinated? Everyone has had months to get it, why isn't everyone ordered to return?

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  12. I want to understand.

    They will have 100% of teachers return but give students the option? Students aren't showing up on the hs level until at least September, and likely very few next year as well.

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  13. UNITY/UFT: Our Safety, Our Priority
    March 24, 2021UNiTY CaucusNewsletter, Safety
    Over a year ago, the UNITY/UFT Caucus, under the leadership of President Michael Mulgrew, pushed Mayor Bill de Blasio to close our schools at the onset of this pandemic. The mayor was reluctant but UNITY/UFT worked tirelessly fighting for the health and safety for every UFT member, and we got the schools closed. Today, the fight continues.

    The Centers for Disease Control recently announced new social distancing guidelines for schools. Immediately, the mayor announced he would increase the number of students attending schools in person. Of course, as has been the case time and again, de Blasio makes these proclamations without any thought or plans or even the authority to move forward. So, doing what UNITY/UFT has done for over a year, we push the mayor to correct his course as he steers for the cliff again.

    We are consulting with medical experts, scientists and doctors who are reviewing the CDC’s latest guidelines. We believe experts should drive the conversation, not a politician. Expanding in-person learning at this time is not quite as simple as the mayor thinks. We have to analyze the schools, classroom by classroom, to determine if the space exists to do this safely. We know some schools and sites have the capacity, of course, but others do not. To make a blanket statement about expanding in-person instruction is disingenuous to say the least.

    UNITY/UFT will fight to make sure that any expansion of in-person instruction is well planned, based upon both science and fact. Doing it any other way is a disservice to all of our school communities.

    President Mulgrew, responding to the mayor’s latest announcement, said that “. . . while we wait for the state and medical experts to weigh in on the new CDC guidance we do what we have done for over a year – support our students and keep our school communities safe in these uncertain times.”

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  14. 6:12- A) I'm not milking anything. B) I can't take the vaccine.

    In other news, I'm in a K-8. Since middle school returned on 2/24 we were open 2/24 - 3/1 (and 3/1 was a mistake, because the principal was notified too late)- closed through 3/12; classroom closure on 3/19 and building closed now until after the break. This is not smoothly.

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  15. Went to the DA today, but I had to call in because they never called me.
    I could not vote when there was voting.
    I always voted (not always the way they want) when they called me.
    Has anyone else have that problem?

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  16. In their drive to shutter classrooms, leftwing teachers’ unions are constantly revealing new depths of venality, selfishness and callous disregard for the wellbeing of the children in their care.

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    Replies
    1. 659 our union leadership is not left wing. we'd be much better off if they were.

      Delete
  17. New union playbook:

    1-Take $ from teachers' paychecks
    2-Use $ for elections/politicians
    3-Get more tax $ from politicians they control
    ...($ doesn’t go to teachers)
    4-Get teachers mad that they aren’t paid enough
    5-Ignore science / keep schools closed

    Repeat. (As James encourages teachers who've had nothing but failure from the uft to continue paying)

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  18. Mildew got very slippery when asked about the accommodations.

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  19. Open market is a freaking big joke. Don't expect a lot of openings. If there are openings, they will just fill them with new teachers or untenured teachers.

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  20. I think he's saying.. They are giving the option to opt in for 2 weeks. When the option closes.. They will look at the numbers. If they are small, they will try to accommodate.. If the numbers are big. Nothing is off the table and they will try to get teachers back. They already gave out instructions to prinicpals on what people need to do to come back voluntarily... Have to write a couple letters and you're cleared to go back to building.

    So once again.. All depends on the numbers that you will never see but have to believe

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  21. 6:02
    I agree with you. I do remember Mulgrew saying the City was in agreement with an Early Retirement Incentive.
    Back peddling is the Mulgrew way.

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  22. Minnesota reports 89 COVID-19 cases in vaccinated individuals

    "Minnesota has identified 89 "breakthrough" cases of COVID-19 in which people contracted the infectious disease after being fully vaccinated."

    https://kstp.com/coronavirus/mdh-reports-89-breakthrough-cases-of-covid-19-after-becoming-fully-vaccinated-ehresmann-says-its-not-surprising/6052507/

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  23. 649 pm, do you intend to ever return, or teacher remotely forever? Serious question.

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  24. What condition would one have to be unable to take the vaccine? What happens in that case?

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  25. As much as I hate Mulgrew, I am very happy that the UFT is not taking any shit when it comes to the DOE daily questionaire. The DOE does not have the right to ask us if we have been vaccinated AND the DOE now has to allow non vaccinated teachers the right to travel domestically without having to quarantine. Cuomo made this change and the city must follow along. And don't give me hell for stating this. Getting a vaccine is not mandated so nobody has the right to tell others to get the shot.

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    Replies
    1. Ok, but when will people with accommodations return to the building?

      Delete
  26. You go back when mayor orders it.

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  27. I have an accommodation, but my son’s school doesn’t have afterschool right now. If I’m told to go back to the building, which I could care less about, how am I going to get my son if I’m in the Bronx but my son goes to school on the UWS?

    I’m sure there are a million variations on this issue.

    I hope all you UFT idiots are reading this because if I go back and I have to worry about my son getting picked up by who knows who, I will definitely drop my dues. F the UFT at that point.

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  28. Saw the news today where the DC37 President was questioning DeBlasio’s decision to send workers back to their city office buildings on May 3. Just curious to see how his union members will react.

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  29. Test and trace just called me a full SIX days after an in-school exposure. This is not a functioning system.

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  30. @David Suker

    I mean, that doesn't really seem like it is the union's problem. They aren't responsible for your child care issues. I mean, eventually we have to go back. What did you do before?

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  31. @David Suker

    I mean, that doesn't really seem like it is the union's problem. They aren't responsible for your child care issues. I mean, eventually we have to go back. What did you do before?

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    Replies
    1. The reason it is a union issue is because they told us we’d have accommodations until the end of the school year and now they are backtracking. In a normal year my son would have afterschool until 6 and I’d have plenty of time to get him, but this year there isn’t afterschool.

      Plus, I haven’t even attempted to get a vaccine because I thought it was the right thing to do to wait and let those with more exposure than me to get one first.

      This union sucks.

      Delete
  32. Multiple teachers at my school have medical accommodations but have both (1) contracted COVID anyway and (2) gotten vaccinated. Honestly, I don't understand why teachers in situations like that shouldnt't have to return. I know some people genuinely need the accommodation, but quite a few I know are just milking it at this point for their own convenience related to childcare, commuting, etc. It's not a good look to families or co-workers.

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  33. HIPPA doesn’t protect teachers medical privacy if the DOE is using a third party contractor, as it has been doing in testing teachers and students. I haven’t heard the outcome of the lawsuit from teachers back last fall. It should be a concern and should not be gaslighted by the UFT. You should not trust anything anyone tells you unless you see it in writing; and definitely not in passing from one of these executive board or DA song and dance parties. Five years from now you may be wondering why you can’t get health insurance or life insurance.

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  34. Closed again, emailed at nearly 8 PM.

    To all of the teachers with accomodation, consider yourself lucky. Many of us have been going in for months to teach remotely from a half empty school building. The administration likes to have us around for coverages. It hasn't been exactly easy for any of us and we get nothing in return except added responsibilities like bulletin boards for our remote classes.

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    Replies
    1. Bulletin Boards for remote classes! 😂😂😂

      Delete
  35. My son, blah blah.. No one care about your situation... Welcome to adulthood. No one told you to have a kid. Put your big boy pants on go to your payroll secretary get released take an Uber downtown or do what a lot of people do... The kid waits until you get off work.. I mean, are you serious??? This is your biggest problem??? Wow

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    Replies
    1. Yea, my son means the world to me and I’d do anything for him, including taking time off to make sure he was cared for properly. Why don’t you concern yourself with your own pathetic life. I was just pointing out my situation. Tell us a little bit about you so I can make fun of you too.

      Start with your name.

      Delete
  36. Remote learning works for some kids better that in person learning.. Fact! This needs to be a permanent part of educational model in NYC. In house suspensions... Kids go remote... Snow days.. Excessive heat... Remote.. Overcrowded schools.. Blended learning staggered schedules until normal capacity is reached... Under credited, over aged... Citywide remote.. Remote teaching learning is a valuable option, needs to stay.

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  37. I'm a life long union gal. However, I have NO RESPECT for any teacher out on a medical leave who is traveling and out and about all the time. I hope that SCI investigates any and all who are "milking" the system. (And yes, it is only a handful that are milking the system, but screw them!)

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    Replies
    1. Just because you have an accommodation doesn’t mean you have to stay locked up in your house 24/7. You just have to be cautious and mitigate exposure.

      Delete
  38. Good morning.

    An announcement from Payroll:

    Staff who get the vaccine and have symptoms the next day, will only get the day free, if they provide medical documentation stating they have symptoms.

    Thank you.


    Our Principal sent this today, is this ok?

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  39. AMAZING THERE IS MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL DISTRICTS TO OFFER SOME 3K BUT

    NO MONEY TO PAY US OUR BACK PAY ON TIME....

    WHERE IS THE MONEY FOR OUR 2020 SPRING BREAK PAY?????

    NORTH EAST QUEENS HOUSE TAXES ARE THREW THE ROOF-THEY MUST BE FUNDING OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY. TAXES $10,000 PLUS IN MANY HOMES. THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JUMP SHIP AND GO TO LONG ISLAND.

    THE MAYOR IS A LIAR, CHEAT..

    WHY IS OUR UNION NOT DEMANDING OUR PAY FOR LAST SPRING NOW????THIS IS A LATER DATE. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING 1 YEAR-NO INTEREST, NO PAY-MULGREW NEEDS TO GROW SOME BALLS OR GET THE HELL OUT OF THE UFT

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  40. So March 16 of this year was the 61st anniversary of the UFT? Well, I’d have to say it’s actually their first anniversary, not really the UFT something much less. The UFT died, sick and diseased, of greed on their 60th anniversary on March 16, 2020. It sat silently while well-meaning teachers marched into infected schools for a useless training which cost lives, all to save that automatic to check off. What say you, Leroy Barr, about that? We know our history too, and better than you.

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  41. In this world of remote learning —what are the stats on lateness to school, lateness to class, and cutting the full day of instruction.
    For in per instruction—lateness to school —especially in high schools and middle schools—has been quite high .... for many years —especially due to travel delays or stopping for breakfast, etc.

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    Replies
    1. They pass with 0% attendance. What else do you need to know?

      Delete
    2. @117 pm...
      Someone is passing them,right? Wtf. What do you folks expect from the DOE/UFT? That they respect you? Hell they have already showed you how they feel about you and the students. You should be pushing back by now. Everyone should try grading students accurately. Folks are Bit$%ing about Mulgrew the students the school building. At some point you have to show people how to treat you: No justice. No peace.

      Delete
  42. Any teacher over 50 (there is alot) with 20 or more years (there is alot) should be thinking about the status of the Early Retirement Incentive. These do not come along very often. If it's not offered and in the budget by April 1st, probably never see it again in our work lifetime.

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  43. Hey David Suker, I don’t think many people know your story. I give you a lot of credit, I think you’re a string person for all the shit that you had to go through. One thing I know for certain is that UFT let you down in a major way. I don’t really think many people could have gone through what you did without giving up. At least you know what’s important in life. Family. Many of us traded our relationships for this ridiculous job and are paying the price even years later. Good luck to you, always.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. That was the lesson that I took from the 3 years I was out of work. I spent those 3 years taking care of my son when he was 1-4 and that made the situation bearable.

      My son will always come first. Without him I wouldn’t be here today.

      Delete
    2. That's how it should be. I just think i can do my best without sacrificing my mental psychological and physical health. At the end of the day, it's a job.
      The DOE/UFT couldn't care less about you or me so why help their efforts to fu@k up your life or the lives of students?
      Self preservation

      Delete
  44. I think any teacher on accommodation should wear a GPS device during school hours.

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  45. On the issue of the ERI:

    Yes, we may be getting this option - still unclear what will happen with it in Albany and at City Hall, but we know it was part of the budget proposals for both houses of the NYS legislature, and we have been "told" the Mayor agreed to support it. What will this really mean? We may know more by April 1st or thereabouts.

    I agree, anyone eligible for it should take a careful look at it, if it becomes a reality. This is probably a one shot deal, and we cannot expect to get another chance.

    Good luck to all!

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  46. Listen to all you jealous idiots. I can’t have so neither can you. Children. I want my 25 year old ass back. If my 40 something ass sags despite regular exercise then I demand every 20 something women lay on the couch eating corn chips until their ass looks like my mine.

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  47. I'm not jealous of people who have medical accommodations. The point of the medical accommodation, though, was to allow people who are higher risk to stay home and prevent exposure to covid. If those people have not only contracted covid in the fall but also been able to get the vaccine this spring (at least 4 teachers and staff that I'm aware of just at my small school)...why should they be allowed to stay home for the next 3 months? It makes programming and coverages harder for those of us who are in person, and gives credence to all the "Open Schools!" advocates who think teachers aren't actually concerned about safety and just don't want to report to reopen.

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  48. 10:12 you can actually get up to 8 days. The payroll memorandum #15 and the "covid related timekeeping" memo both mention this. Get it off Payroll portal and send it to your Principal, CL and Payroll Secretary

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  49. 10:45: My experience has been that the in-person students have great (north of 95%) attendance and the remote students have abysmal (as in under 10%) virtual attendance. The same goes as far as lateness. This week I had only 1 absence out of over 100 possible, and the student emailed me since it was a childcare issue. We know that never happened before. However I suspect that there is selection bias at play. The motivated students who like school opted in to come to school. All I heard this week was how happy they are to be back, that the work is so much easier to understand and do in person. Meanwhile the students who would cut class, do no work, etc. got their parents to put them in remote. I also think smart admin put the LTA's remote so that they didn't take up in-person spots.

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  50. Two of the teachers I work with who both have accommodations are traveling across country on planes for visits, yet they are too vulnerable to go to school. Don't tell me people aren't milking this.

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  51. So a white family making $20K won’t be able to participate but a black family making $58K will? Restricting access to public programs based on skin color is wrong. It was wrong in 1951 and it’s still wrong today. These people have us on a path to open tribal warfare.

    Oakland to give $500 checks to low-income families - but not if they're white https://trib.al/mTczwBm

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  52. 2:52, If you can milk the DOE, do it and don’t begrudge those that do. Remember the DOE would have you working as slaves, if they could. That’s the value of a union, even the corrupt, cronyistic sham of a union that is the UFT.

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  53. my experience in high school is students would rather stay home. They don't want to come in. And when they offer families either full in person or full remote in september. Guess how many will opt for remote in high school? And get ready for this to be the norm going forward. The next contract will stipulate teaching students remotely. NYS is already creating a new teaching license for online instruction.

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    Replies
    1. Love that there will be a requirement tog at asynchronous approved. That’s how it should be. If not, you should live and on the computer the entire time.

      Delete
  54. Then all teachers should be returning, not some. Everyone has access to the vaccine. Either it is safe, or it is not.

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  55. So I should have to travel from Staten Island to Brooklyn to talk to a computer screen?

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  56. Mayor will open schools in September, students will refuse to go which will cause a remote option.

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  57. 4:32: I milk the doe too, but not at the expense of other teachers. They make it harder on the teachers who come in and have to cover classes.

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  58. Maybe we can get spring break pay with this.

    Democrats push for $7B in new taxes to boost 'fragile' NYC economy https://trib.al/MSzsCsG

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  59. @Dvaid Suker
    It is 5:25 AM.

    I see. I completely understand. And I apologize. I was just jaded since I got a really nasty email from two parents this morning who were complaining about why I didn't respond to their kids email (which they sent at 2 AM). The kids do nothing and I call and email these parents frequently about their child's performance. I am just so tired of my students parents expecting us to be a second parent to their kid.

    I searched up your story after another poster mentioned it. I apologize for venting at you.

    And David, take the vaccine - don't put yourself on hold. It is a noble thing you are doing, but as you can see, a lot of teachers here are ready to eat each other live if it means getting an upper hand (be it seniority in remote assignments, etc.).

    You are doing the right thing putting family first. I didn't do that and I almost destroyed the relationship with my sister.

    I would use my real name, but am on the younger side. I know the DOE sucks. My first school was a nightmare and it was a miracle I was able to leave. New school isn't much better though as the stress is high and the parents are aggressive. The kids are apathetic.

    I'm just doing this job at this point to continue saving money. I'm starting my grad degree this Fall (undergrad was in Applied Math). Once I have an opportunity to leave teaching, I'm gone.

    The DOE is so focused on kids this and that, we gave up accountability along the way.

    I hope your son and you are doing well and that things work out for you! And thank you for your service! You don't deserve this shite treatment after putting your life on the line.

    It is really aspirational to see a male be so family oriented, bonding with their kids, and assuming the role of being a teacher to be support underserved students. You are a true hero!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words 7:17. I hope you have success in your future. You sound like you’re a good person and it’s a shame that the system doesn’t support the ones with their hearts in the right places.

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  60. I've been a teacher for over 20 years and when it comes to kids passing I really think there is little the teacher can do. The longer I teach, the more I firmly believe that the kid needs to find his/her motivation him/herself. We can call the parents and the parents can force them to go to school or do their work, but if they are not doing it for the right reason, then it is a futile endeavor. I get so tired of calling homes too. We do the same things over and over and all we do is go in circles. I think we should just let the kids fail, let them drop out and let them find out for themselves how hard it is in the real world without an education. All this preaching, mentoring, action planning, phone calling, interventions are really useless and is just smoke in mirrors that hide the real issue.

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  61. Make sure you read the article in Chalkbeat where Chalkbeat asks all the mayoral hopefuls how they would handle the education crisis in the city when they take office. The best one was the guy who said he would make teachers work longer school years and an hour longer each day. He said this would all be negotiated in the new contract. I'd like to see this hit the fan.

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    1. Yeah he sounds like a Hillary--someone who perfects the pander

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  62. @8:28pm...accountability is mandatory.
    Students
    Parents
    Teachers
    DOE
    UFT
    Everyone has a job. Anyone not doing their job must be held accountable.
    Don't blame failing students for your passing them. Accountability.
    Why the DOE is allowed to get away with bullying educators into giving fake grades for decades is odd.

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  63. @ David Suker...
    Damn. I just read your story. You went thru hell. Sometimes we go through stuff and hopefully come out stronger wiser and better. You spoke up and out. Kudos brother. You're a wonderful example of resiliency. This is a job. Do your honest best but always remember that you and your family come first. IMO the DOE fears those who speak up. They prefer people who they can walk over and bully into doing their dirty agenda.

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    1. Thank you Waitingforsupport. I attach my name to these posts because with all I’ve been through I want all those embarrassments at central who are reading this blog to know that I will never hide in the shadows. Every time they send me as an ATR into a different school I’m looking for newsworthy violations that I can send to my friends over at the NY Post. I’ve had at least a half dozen stories published there that had nothing to do with me. I think all of us need to expose this corruption at every turn.

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    2. Thank you Waitingforsupport. I attach my name to these posts because with all I’ve been through I want all those embarrassments at central who are reading this blog to know that I will never hide in the shadows. Every time they send me as an ATR into a different school I’m looking for newsworthy violations that I can send to my friends over at the NY Post. I’ve had at least a half dozen stories published there that had nothing to do with me. I think all of us need to expose this corruption at every turn.

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    3. @ David. Youre welcome.
      Yes. Exposure is needed. Too many educators are sleeping with the enemy and then wait for the enemy to treat them with respect. It's not gonna happen. Expose the corruption teachers!!!
      I too went thru the fire. Long story short The doe tried to bury me and the uft stood by when i blew the whistle about grade/testing fraud, verbal abuse, etc at my school.
      The UFT is useless to me but i wasn't surprised.If not for my faith, confidence in self, family and keeping detailed notes and recordings--i'd have given in. However when it was all said and done--I won. They lost. I'm now retired but am called upon by one admin to help their school. Some of the people who tried to ruin my good name experienced a major major comeuppance. I respect you. I love standing with people when they go through the fire. I don't tolerate bullies or nasty folks AT ALL. Keep remembering that you are a dad first. As long as you are preparing your children to be independent strong loving honest intelligent compassionate confident resilient,etc then all will be okay. Those MFers don't know you so they can kick rocks. Lol.Be well

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  64. @10:15 1 year no interest awwwwww. Been waiting 12 years for our retro no interest.

    I asked all my live classes how many are glad to be back maybe 1/4 raised hands. They love the remote option no screen on no accountability and the power in the students hand where teachers are more at their mercy.

    After watching Biden nobody on this blog can convince me he does not have dementia, nobody on this blog can tell me he is not weak and making our country a laughing stock. Nobody in this blog can convince me Biden receieved 81 million votes. Skeletor went to Ohio for visit and literally had 14 people there, Trump has miles of people lined up, cannot wait until truth is exposed to you sheep.

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  65. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  66. The truth? Can you handle it? Trump lost by 7 million votes nationally. If the Dems were there to stuff ballots, why didn't they stuff the congressional ballots to get a bigger majority in the House? They lost seats in the House.

    Did Ossoff and Warnock cheat too in Republican GA in Senate races in January?

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  67. Don't know where the obsession came from that you're suppose to glorify the president... Trump made it all about him and interfered in every govt agency.. That's not how govt is suppose to work. The president works for the people, he puts people in charge of govt agencies and they are suppose to carry out their duties without interference or the Trump red tape... Even with the Skelton in the white house, it's refreshing to see agencies work on their own again without influence... It's great to see not All the attention is on one man. It never was intended to... And I'm so glad we are past that awful stage. Now we get to listen for 4 years about everything Biden is doing wrong.. But I'll take that over the constant firing of people who wouldn't be coerced into doing things the wrong way. Can't wait for the tax returns to show how much of a liar and scam artist he was... People will even try to rationalize why it's ok for him to defraud the government and people...

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  68. BECAUSE TRUMP WON JAMES!!! IT LOOKS SHADY HOW REPUBLICANS WOULD PICK UP ALL THE SEATS YET TRUMP LOSES. THey used hacked dominion machines James. Mainstream media had all the stories on Warnock running over ex wife foot and children having pee thrown on them in his camps kept quiet as a mouse. lol biden got 30 million at best. End of day, they didn't need to stuff ballots they just needed to get georgia even after republicans won not getting 50%. Optics would be even worse if dems won all seats.

    The truth will be exposed and no I cannot handle a fraudulent election with irregularities and mathematical improbabilities that people 100 times smarter than you or anyone on this blog will ever be have said was impossible for Biden. I cannot wait until you see the truth.

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    1. "...biden got 30 million at best." George McGovern got almost 30 million votes with a smaller electorate in 1972. Many more voters in US now. Anyone with a D after their name starts with upper 40s in terms of percentage. Relatively few are swing voters.

      I know people who voted Biden and Republican for Congress as a check. Biden won. Look at the lawsuit and how Powell is defending herself saying her claims weren't meant to be taken seriously.

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  69. 22 people were shot in Chicago this past weekend alone, including an 11-year-old. Zero national coverage. Zero outrage.

    At the NYPD press conference on anti-Asian hate crimes today, they show booking photos of suspects apprehended & those they're continuing to search for. The hate crime suspects appear to all be people of color.

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    1. @11:17pm...
      During a press conference, some family members of the murdered parishioners of Emmanuel AME church forgave Dylan Roof. Others have stated that they no longer feel safe in church. Did you see the news? The terrorist who slaughtered 8 human beings blames a sex addiction. They both appear to be people of color: white.

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  70. Accountability? Hahahaha. It’s a buzzword used to screw teachers whose students don’t give a shit about anything but creating chaos in their schools and abusing their peers and teachers. There is never any real accountability. If there was accountability lazy people wouldn’t have tax payers paying their bills while their kids destroy their neighborhood schools. Why the obsession with kids earning a pass? A nyc high school diploma doesn’t mean shit anyway. We could pass them all with high grades and honors but the ones who didn’t earn it will never amount to anything anyway. We’re giving them a meaningless diploma that for some reason some people think is a meaningful piece of paper.

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  71. @thursday 828

    if they fail and drop out the government/nanny state will take care of them. many on the left want guaranteed income for all. just more government handouts designed not to help them but control them. and the scary thing is educated people are falling for it..scary times in many ways

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  72. 818.. UBI is a right wing capitalist concept. It was supported by Milton Friedman, the man who delivered us our awful economic ideology. A lot of the true left see it as a way to circumvent welfare programs and avoid any real systemic changes.

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  73. W4S. Did you dig deeper than the fake news? According to the FBI stats 55% of murderers in 2019 were black and 41% were white.
    Here’s your source James. https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/expanded-homicide.

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    1. @7:21am...
      According to the FBI? The same FBI that spied on black activists and artists? The same FBI who had a racist in charge? The same FBI that focused its energy on destroying a US citizen over a song? YOU need to really dig deeper. In a way I don't blame you because if you were taught in USA schools, your frame of reference is probably based on what you learned in your history books. NEWSFLASH: Sometimes two people can commit the same crime but receive different sentences. One can get a pass and the other gets to visit the clinker for the duration of their glamor years. On the one hand you claim the news is fake and then in the other hand you cite "real" stats about the bad black people. I get it. Only the news about blacks is correct. Got it. Your stats prove that whites are less dangerous than blacks. Why don't you dig deeper into your bag and find information about black towns being burned down and its inhabitants being murdered. Do you have any stats on how many times white women yelled rape so that black men were hung from trees? Where is your info about the US government dumping crack into black and brown communities in order to finance a war? How many generations have been destroyed because of that behavior? Hey how many lazy black Americans worked for FREE in order to build this country? Come on. Pull em out. Let's here those stats. Puh-lese. Move on with the bulls%^t. If you want to have a discussion, begin by explaining to me why some people in MY country won't acknowledge when I say racist acts have happened to me and my family. The DEMS and REP leaders continue to allow certain people to more likely than not receive the benefit of the doubt. This means they will have different experiences.I know you know that White people aint better or worse than ANYBODY. All people deserve the benefit of the doubt: black white asian Hispanic gay straight bi trans, etc. HUMAN BEINGS are HUMAN BEINGS. So unless you have the ENTIRE story, I say no thank you on your FBI stats. Maybe you should take your stats and show them to your neighbors because in all honesty they really don't mean sh^/ to me. Byeeee.

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  74. No chain of custody for 400000 ballots in GA. No American should be ok with this.

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  75. I like Andrew Yang. He’s a better human than Bloomberg and more competent than DeBlasio. But those are low bars.

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  76. 11:17 Fake news doesn’t care about dead black people unless the killer is white. With Trump gone they need a new evil entity to help their lagging ratings and that’s white folks. Don’t take it personally. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about being labeled evil because of my skin color. The white and black and other liberals running nyc are still paying me to ruin their children’s shot at a real education by doing exactly what they tell me to do. I’d say I have the candy end of the loyally pop in comparison. All they do is talk shit while I continue to make some decent coin and get good benefits. Keep talking. Keep paying. Works for me.

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    1. @10:51...
      Lol...Seems like you're doing your part as usual. Hey you have some decent coin and your benefits. All is well.

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  77. Racist NYT stirring up Asian hate with hit piece on Andrew Yang. Only anti Asians hate Andrew Yang. 60% of the nyc Asian community supports Yang but the NYT doesn’t think he represents Asians. At least the NYT didn’t sing praise for KKK Byrd like Biden did. Btw..kids still in cages. We only know this bc Republican reps took video. Biden banned the press so he could abuse migrant children and lie about it.

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  78. Our FBI’s stats were used to show that whites aren’t as dangerous as you, W4s, claim them to be. You made it a point of pointing out white criminals. All your whining over past history is an attempt to distract from cold hard facts that prove white people aren’t as dangerous as you race baiting crazy leftists claim. So the FBI is lying about stats is your argument? Almost as ignorant as me arguing the number of black kids killed in a church is one big lie too. Is the CDC lying about the COVID numbers too. Lol conspiracy theorists. Gotta live ‘em.

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  79. Having minimal decency standards (stay somewhat close to the topic [no hijacking posts], no racial, ethnic, sexual orientation or religious derogatory terms, and no direct personal attacks on other commenters) hardly qualifies as censorship.

    We printed the W4S comment and replies. What is the issue? If W4S has an issue, I get an email from W4S. I know W4S's real name. I wish all of you had the same decency to email me with a real name and your regular email address if you have an issue with me.

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