GRATEFUL FOR TOMORROW OFF BUT HOPEFULLY THAT'S IT FOR SNOW DAYS

My reading of the Department of Education Calendar for this school year says we won't have any room for further snow days after tomorrow to meet the State minimum of 180 aidable school days.

Let it snow all night but clean it up by Wednesday. Otherwise, we are in a Sandy type situation where we will have to start extending the calendar somewhere else to make up for any further snow days.

This is from the DOE Calendar for 206-17.

16. As a result of Chancellor Conference Days, shortened sessions for various purposes, and Regents Days, the total number of instructional days (days when students report to school) may be different from the number of state aidable days. 

17. For Grades 1 through 6, there are 182 aidable days (178 instructional days). 

18. For Grades 7 and 8 Citywide and Grade 9 in Middle Schools (including District 75), there are 182 aidable days (178 instructional days). 

19. For High School Level Grades 9 through 12, there are 182 aidable days in all boroughs, 165 of which are instructional (in District 75, there are 182 aidable days, 178 of which are instructional days).

Last time I looked 182 - 2 = 180 so that's it for snow days this year.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL WORK CLARIFIED

The UFT agreed in the 2014 contract to use part of the Tuesday teacher detention (extended time) for parent outreach and the remainder for other professional work (OPW). For those who do not know what OPW means, the UFT put out a list of what teachers should be doing during this self-directed time on Tuesdays (see below).

The UFT filed a grievance on the misuse of the OPW provision by one principal and subsequently  reached a resolution with the DOE on the issue.

This is from the March 10, 2017 Chapter Leader Weekly Newsletter:

Important new clarity on OPW time

The Department of Education has clarified to principals the use of Other Professional Work (OPW) time as a result of the resolution of an arbitration case the UFT pursued on behalf of members in a particular school where the principal was dictating on a regular basis how teachers and paras had to use the time. The DOE sent the following clarification to all principals in its Principals’ Weekly this week: “Please be aware that Other Professional Work that is done during time designated in the Teachers’ and Paraprofessionals’ Collective Bargaining Agreements for Other Professional Work should be self-directed by the teacher or paraprofessional from the menu of Activities set forth in Article 6 and Article 4B respectively. On an as needed basis principals can direct teachers or paraprofessionals to activities on the contractual list but as per the contract this direction cannot be done on a regular basis and must be the exception rather than the rule.” If the principal is not following these guidelines, file online OPW reporting form and speak with your principal — show a copy of the above DOE guidance at that meeting. Although a copy of the OPW reporting form is automatically sent to your district representative, we suggest you reach out to your district rep to discuss OPW issues at your school as well.

Here is the list of what the UFT considers acceptable for OPW:

Other Professional Work

Appropriate activities during the 35-minute book of time for Other Professional Work are:

• collaborative planning
• lesson study
• inquiry and review of student work
• measures of student learning (MOSL)-related work
• Individualized Education Program-related work (excluding IEP meetings)
• work with or related to computer systems/data entry
• preparing and grading student assessments
• mentoring
• responsibilities related to teacher leader duties for all individuals in teacher leader positions.

Teachers can choose from the activities listed in the contract over the course of the year. Principals can direct the teachers to an activity on the list “on an as-needed basis” to improve class instruction and meet the needs of the school as outlined in its Comprehensive Education Plan.

In addition to the activities listed here, a teacher or a group of teachers may propose additional activities that may include working with a student or students for any portion of the school year, which requires approval by the principal. In addition, a School Development Committee (SDC) may choose to meet to continue its work during times when other professional work is appropriate.


Any problems on this? Tell us in the comments.

STRONGER TOGETHER LONG ISLAND FORUM SUNDAY

ST Caucus could not have picked a worse day than March 12 for their Long Island winter forum as we lose an hour tonight with the start of Daylight Savings Time. However, I will do my best to get out to North Babylon High School on Sunday at 10 am to attend Stronger Together's Long Island forum.

ST Caucus is the statewide opposition to the Michael Mulgrew-Randi Weingarten-Andy Pallotta led Unity Caucus that runs our city, national and state unions.

We are looking forward to hearing from the ST leaders.

LABOR ON THE RADIO SUNDAY; MORE REPS DEMAND LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS STANDING UP TO DOE

Blue Collar Buzz is a program presented by LaborPress. It is heard on AM 970 the Answer on Sunday evenings from 9:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M. This Sunday's show will have as one of its guests Teamsters Local 808 Secretary Treasurer, Chris Silvera. His position on labor militancy has a great deal in common with what we have been saying on this blog for over a decade.

  
*Teamsters Local 808 Secretary-Treasurer Chris Silvera

 

“Right now, we are just an appendage to the Democratic Party — and we’re about to kiss up to the Republican leadership.”

“Militancy is important. We haven’t dealt with Striker Replacement legislation since Al Gore. We haven’t been able to get the Democrats to give us the Employee Free Choice Act. We haven’t been able to get any politician to be willing to bail out the working class with these pensions. We have not been willing as a country to do anything for these people — but we can do it for banks, we can do it for corporations, but we can’t do it for people.”

Hear-Hear brother! We're only going to move forward by acting like real labor unions again. We need to stop playing defense and go on a major offensive.

Meanwhile, the seven UFT High School Executive Board Members wrote an email to union leadership demanding that they publicly support JHS 145 in their fight to stay open and the Chapter Leader of Central Park East 1 Marilyn Martinez as she battles 3020a (dismissal) charges.

March 9, 2017

Dear President Mulgrew, Vice Presidents Alford, Hinds, and Mantell and Assistant Secretary Barr:

As you know, our union, and the labor movement as a whole, is under major threat by the anti-labor initiatives promised by the Trump administration, as well as by the inevitable return of a case like last year’s Friedrichs to the Supreme Court.  

In such an environment, it is crucial that the rank and file members of our union see that the UFT is at the front lines fighting to defend members publicly at every available opportunity.

There are two important opportunities to do so in the coming days that our union leadership must act on.

First, the Chapter Leader of Central Park East I, Marilyn Martinez, is facing 3020A charges which are clearly retaliatory from the abusive principal Monika Garg.  Fifty parents and UFT members attended the first two days of hearings last week.  We ask that you or Elementary Vice President Karen Alford attend the final day of the hearing this Friday, March 10 in order to send a clear message to the DOE, the arbitrator, and UFT rank and filers that the UFT supports this chapter leader. We further ask you to offer the assistance of the UFT press office in publicizing this defense.  We further ask that you intervene personally with the chancellor around this case. If we do not defend our chapter leaders publicly and strongly, we may soon not have a union to defend at all.

Second, JHS 145 in the Bronx is facing a closure vote at the Panel for Educational Policy meeting on Wednesday March 22nd. The largely immigrant school community has mobilized to oppose the closing. As unionists committed to defending public education, we must join our voices with those of parents, students and teachers in opposition to this proposed closure. The Delegate Assembly scheduled for that day should adjourn early to allow Delegates, Chapter Leaders and the union leadership to attend the nearby PEP Meeting en masse.

In Solidarity,

UFT Executive Board members high school division

KJ Ahluwalia

Arthur Goldstein

Ashraya Gupta

Jonathan Halabi

Marcus McArthur

David Rosen

Mike Schirtzer

Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE caucus UFT)

New Action Caucus UFT

Great email folks. A union that operated like a real labor union would not even hesitate to use the full weight of the Union to publicly support these members and their friends. Chris Silvera of the Teamsters noted labor's lack of militancy problem quite well. I wonder what the UFT leadership's response to the High School Executive Board' s email was.

Here is Gloria Brandman's latest Facebook post on today's Marilyn Martinez hearing.

Gloria Brandman They are not letting anyone else into the waiting room because there are too many people here!!

Mike Schirtzer from MORE texted this: At 3020a today for the CL 80-100 supporters, including some MORE and a couple of NAC retirees. No decision yet. No UFT leadership.

YONKERS TEACHERS DO OK

Ever wonder why NYC Teachers get so angry with their working conditions? One reason is many of us know and speak to our colleagues who work in surrounding districts.

Let's do a comparison of our salaries in NYC to our friends just north of the Bronx border in Yonkers, NY. As of the 2011-14 contract, here is the Yonkers starting salary (Step 1), their top salary after fifteen years (16) and then the longevity pay for 20, 25 and 30 years.

2013-Yonkers                                                                                          
Step 1-$59,518                                    
Step16-$130,088                              

Longevity: 20 years   $2,447   25 years   $1,071   30 years   $1,371

This information is readily available at See Through New York for most school districts and for other public sector employees in the state.

At the end of  2016, the Yonkers Federation of Teachers signed a new agreement with the their mayor. What was their salary increase?

14.5% over 7 years.

They didn't publish the salary figures but by my simple math calculations it would mean by around 2020 (the last school year of the contract) their starting salary will be $68,148 and the top salary after 16 years but before longevity will rise to $148,951.

Yeah I know they have to pay for some of their medical coverage but that's quite a bit larger salary than we have in the city. I am also aware that their schools might have an at risk student or two, but I think you can see my point on salaries.

When the NYC teachers contract has its final raise in June of 2018, our starting salary will be $56,711 which does not even equal where Yonkers teachers started at in 2013.

Our top salary at the end of this contract in 2018 for someone who has completed 22 years in NYC will be $119,472. That is almost $11,000 behind where Yonkers teachers were in 2013 after only 16 years of teaching (but with more graduate credits than we have to obtain to reach maximum). Add in how we won't be receiving money we worked for from 2009-2011 in full until 2020 and you can see in part why I am opposed to Michael Mulgrew and his Unity Caucus.

We will need a successor contract with around 25% over three years to catch up to Yonkers.

I think a NYC teacher has more of a chance of winning the mega-millions jackpot than we have of the UFT catching up to the Yonkers salary schedule in the near future.

What percentage of Yonkers teachers voted to approve their recent contract?

96% yes vote. Can you blame them?

For the reader who wants two observations per year and a parking placard, Yonkers has a minimum of three but it's still better than our minimum of four for most teachers in NYC. I didn't find anything on parking in their contract (Update: A comment stated they have parking lots). Class size from grades 2-12 is capped at 30 in Yonkers. We have a class size limit of 34 in New York City high schools with loopholes the Department of Education can drive a fleet of trucks through. The school day in Yonkers is 6 hours and 45 minutes for elementary and 7 hours and 4 minutes for secondary; ours is 6 hours and 50 minutes for elementary and secondary. They are entitled to 12 sick days a year while we have 10.

In terms of salary and working conditions, New York City teachers rightfully should compare ourselves to what our peers in surrounding communities earn.

I chose Yonkers because it is a city and it certainly is close by.

We will do comparisons with other communities in future posts if readers would like.

TOWNSEND HARRIS SCHOOL COMMUNITY SUPPORTED BY LOCAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

New York State Assembly Members Nily Rozic and David Weprin have written a letter to Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina defending Townsend Harris parents, teachers and students and calling on the Department of Education not to hire Interim Acting Principal Rosemarie Jahoda as the permanent principal of the school.

They also called out Superintendent's Representative Frances DeSanctis for criticizing the school community for putting out "fake news."

The student journalists in the school newspaper called The Classic are defended by the Assembly Members and by a member of the local Queens press.

Here is part of an article from DNA Info on the Townsend Harris controversy concerning their Interim Acting Principal.

In a letter addressed to Department of Education Chancellor Carmen Farina, Mayor Bill de Blasio and District 26 Superintendent Elaine Lindsey, the top editors of Townsend Harris High School's paper, The Classic, rebutted DOE accusations that their coverage of the controversy over Rosemarie Jahoda since she was appointed the school's interim principal last fall was "fake news."

"We agree that our reporting has been negative about Jahoda, but that doesn’t mean it’s fake," said high school senior and The Classic's Editor-in-Chief, Sumaita Hasan, 17, "We spend so much of our day in school and after school to ensure accuracy in all aspects of the story, but when it’s generalized as 'fake news,' it’s upsetting."

"To label our reporting as 'fake' is to disparage all the hard work we do," Hasan and The Classic's Managing Editor, Mehrose Ahmad, 17, wrote in their Mar. 5 letter to the mayor and schools chancellor. "If we were fabricating our material, we would be able to leave school far earlier than we do."

Among their coverage, the paper has live-streamed a school sit-in against Jahoda, published a secret recording of Jahoda cursing while discussing a meeting with students and reported on accusations that she spends little time observing teachers in the classroom. 

The allegations that the paper was disseminating "fake news" came out during a meeting Friday between the DOE and representatives for State Assemblymembers David Weprin and Nily Rozic, an alum of the school. The elected officials had written a letter on Wednesday calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina to intervene in the school's hiring process and oust Jahoda immediately.

During Friday's meeting, Frances DeSanctis, a representative for Superintendent Elaine Lindsey, said that while some people oppose Jahoda's principalship, the controversy around Jahoda's potential appointment was "the result of "'fake news' being widely circulated," according to a Mar. 3 letter written by Weprin and Rozic obtained by DNAinfo New York.

"While Ms. DeSanctis acknowledged community concern [about Jahoda], she did so while referencing the current environment in which "fake news" is being widely circulated. To insinuate that the community's shared concerns could be equated to 'fake news' further demonstrates the lack of transparency and understanding that has guided the" school's hiring process, Rozic and Weprin wrote.

"Dismissing the concerns of the Townsend Harris community as 'fake news' goes against the call to action we as community representatives, we as public servants must foster in our current political climate," they added.

While DeSanctis didn't single out the Classic, the assembly members cited the "students, teachers and parents" at the school who have been willing to speak out publicly about Jahoda's actions, most of which were first reported by the school paper.


In the current political climate, I would not be surprised if "my way or the highway" Chancellor Farina appointed Jahoda permanently just to show everyone who is boss.

As for the student editors of the Classic, Sumaita Hasan and Mehrose Ahmad, we salute you. You are a credit to journalism. No surprise that the Chancellor did not answer your emails looking for comment.

This picture is from DNA INFO.

Sumaita Hasan and Mehrose Ahmad, the top editors of The Classic

MORE EVIDENCE THAT CUOMO=TRUMP ON EDUCATION

Last week we  posted the Alliance for Quality Education's first rate TV ad showing that Governor Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump have very similar positions on education.

We now have further proof. Governor Cuomo was speaking to students for the Orthodox Union last week when he made the following statement:

"My opinion is I aggressively support the religious schools," Cuomo said. "My budget reflects that. I’ve given the religious schools in my budget more money than ever before in history. We did that last year, and we’ll do it again this year."

Politifact confirmed the $238 million Cuomo is putting in his budget for private, mostly religious, schools is a record.

OK it's not much compared to what public schools get from the state but why is it anything at all? Private schools are supposed to be private.

So much for the 1st Amendment separation of church and state.

For the Governor to boast about his private school spending in public shows a little about his thinking on education.

I would argue Cuomo is not now and never has been with the public schools and I doubt if he will ever be in our corner.

SCHOOL CLOSING BATTLE IN BRONX TONIGHT

The common perception from the UFT is that school closings are not a real problem under the current Mayor Bill de Blasio and his Chancellor Carmen Farina. While closing schools is not as widespread as it was under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, it is still occurring and it is very troubling. The Department of Education still fails to provide proper resources for schools and then calls them failures.

Tonight there will be a Joint Public Hearing to save Junior High School 145 in the Bronx. JHS 145 is slated for closure. Eva Moskowitz has already claimed the building for one of her Success Academy charter schools.

The only trouble with this arrangement is the school community at 145 is waging a valiant fight to save their school. Tonight is their Joint Public Hearing, a public meeting required before a school can be closed. If you can make it to the Bronx this evening, I suggest that you attend the hearing to show your support for 145. Get there before 6:00 p.m. to sign up to speak. Schools targeted for closure need the public to be behind them to have any chance of surviving.

I certainly know how the JHS 145 people feel as Jamaica High School, where I taught for 28 years, was phased out and then closed in 2014.

Here is an email from MORE leader Jia Lee on tonight's JHS 145 hearing.

Colleagues, 

An injury to one is an injury to all. Success Academy is slated to take over the building where JHS 145 has been for generations. Incredibly, SA has advertised for their new middle school even before the vote has taken place at the March 22 PEP. 

The staff and families of JHS 145 are fighting to keep their school open. They serve students who have been mislabled based on faulty test score metrics. A large showing of support for the school and resistance against charterization will send a message to the DOE that we will not stand by while they destroy public schools. 

Please join me at this joint hearing with JHS 145 and Success Academy

JHS 145

1000 Teller Ave. Bronx NY

Take any train to Yankee Stadium or 

take the A or 1 train to 181 Street in Washington Heights, then take the Bx35 bus toward the BX. 

MARCHES FOR EDUCATION JUSTICE THROUGHOUT NYS

Plenty of media and social media coverage of today's Marches for Educational Justice throughout NYS.

NY1 has a story on the New York City March.

Here is a further report from PIX 11:

MANHATTAN — Teachers, students, parents and supporters are marching Saturday for better educational resources in the state of New York in the People’s March for Education Justice.

The group aims to “defend public education from federal attacks by Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos… defend here in New York from Governor Andrew Cuomo,” according to the group’s Facebook page.

They’re marching from Trump International Hotel to Cuomo’s office on Third Avenue. The group’s demands include a use of $4.3 billion owed to the public “statewide” which includes $1.9 billion owed to New York City; to ‘Raise the Age’ and end youth criminalization; to end the state’s reliance on “high stakes testing”; to demand that the state invests in pre-K and childcare; to ensure that all public schools, colleges and universities in the state are sanctuary schools; to demand that SUNY and CUNY schools are truly made free when Cuomo’s proposed free tuition plan takes effect this fall; and to extend and expand the millionaire’s tax, which would potentially bring billions of dollars in funding to schools.

The group’s page says both Cuomo and President Trump have “attacked” public education and “called public schools a ‘monopoly.'”

This picture from MORE's Mike Schirtzer is from the NYC March.




Here is some coverage of the Buffalo, NY March for Educational Justice.

These photos comes from Bianca Tanis at the Kingston, NY March.






Anybody know where the official UFT was? Oh yeah, they can't offend Governor Cuomo.

SHOUT OUT TO JAMAICA HS

From Facebook:

Javon Williams at Jamaica,New York.

· 2 hrs · Instagram ·

Best high school in NYC...period!! Miss Jamaica High School

I saw this posted on Facebook today from a former student and then saw the likes from alumni and teachers so it made me a bit nostalgic.

Joel Klein, Cathy Black, Dennis Walcott, John White, Michael Bloomberg, Carmen Farina, Bill de Blasio and anyone I missed: You were all totally wrong about this great school and the many others that you murdered.

PRESS RELEASE ON PROTECTING TEACHER MARILYN MARTINEZ AT CPE1

Sorry this is going up a little late but I do have to teach all day and I just saw it. What these parents are doing in supporting teacher-chapter leader Marilyn Martinez is so amazing. If only this type of action could spread.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2017

Contact:

Jen Roesch (917) 319-7008; jenroesch@gmail.com

Kaliris Salas-Ramirez (718) 704-7387

Kenya Dilday (917) 288-3378

Parents Support Beloved Teacher at Termination Hearing

Claim DOE retaliation against Union Leader and disregard for young children, including students with special needs

Who: CPE1 Public School Parents

What: Support for Teacher at Termination Hearing

When: Friday March 3, 2017 at 9:30am

Where: 100 Gold Street in Manhattan, Legal Services 3rd FL Room 3400

Parents at Central Park East 1 in East Harlem are reeling after one of their most beloved teachers was removed from the classroom. Nearly 70 parents showed up at DOE Legal Services at 100 Gold Street to support Marilyn Martinez, a widely respected, tenured, early childhood teacher, on the first day of her termination hearing. Parents will return on the second day of the hearing to demonstrate their support for Martinez and their demand that she be reinstated immediately.

Martinez is CPE1’s UFT chapter chair for the school. She sits on the School Leadership Team, the Hiring Committee, and she has been a vocal defender of the school’s progressive and democratic legacy. Many parents believe Martinez is being targeted for her leadership.

Parents say that they have not been given clear answers for Martinez’ removal. They've only been told that it has nothing to do with her treatment of children, teaching, or classroom behavior. Parents are worried about the effects the abrupt removal is having on their young children and students with special needs. Guidance support provided by the DOE mistakenly told parents that they were there because a teacher had died, creating even more chaos and confusion. A rotation of substitutes have been sent into the classroom with no consistent assignment to date. In the first week of the teacher’s removal from the school, the principal is off site for the hearing for almost half the week while teachers are left alone to cope. The special-education teacher in this integrated classroom now has primary responsibility for the entire class, many of whom have IEP's and special needs.

Cindy Chau has a child with multiple disabilities, including Down syndrome and hearing loss, in Martinez' class. “Because Marilyn has believed that my daughter can do the same activities as the other students she has risen to that challenge. My daughter's developmental pediatrician and behavioral psychologist have documented that she needs consistency. The removal of Marilyn will harm my daughter’s well being and cause regression in her educational goals.”

CPE1 has experienced major turmoil since Monika Garg was appointed principal almost 2 years ago. Another respected veteran teacher was removed pending investigation during the 2015-2016 school year and 1/3 of the staff resigned at the end of the year. Teachers who left the school cited an atmosphere of intimidation. Parents have actively petitioned the DOE for Garg’s reassignment.


Norm Scott chimes in on Facebook.

Happy Birthday Norm!

Norm Scott

· 5 hrs ·

Wonderful morning with over 40 cpe1 parents at Marilyn Martinez hearing. Got to hug Marilyn who is STRONG. And after they gave me chocolates for my birthday look for my belly to grow into the next size tee.

50 PARENTS & MORE-UFT SUPPORT TEACHER-CHAPTER LEADER IN TROUBLE

This story of parents coming out to support teacher-chapter leader Marilyn Martinez from Central Park East 1 is so encouraging that it almost leaves me at a complete loss for words.

This is from MORE's Gloria Brandman's Facebook page.

Gloria Brandman added 3 new photos — with Norm Scott and Lisa North.
· 6 hrs ·

Marilyn Martinez, the chapter leader of Central Park East 1, where the staff and parents have been fighting the appointment of principal Monika Garg for the past year, was suddenly removed from her classroom on orders of the Department of Education just before the midwinter break. Her 3020a hearing started today. Over 50 parents are here to support her along with members of MORE- Norm Scott, Lisa North and myself

This is solidarity at its finest.

It would be inconceivable just a few short years back to think a teacher could be brought up on 3020a (termination) charges if that teacher had the support of the school community.

However, in the Bloomberg-de Blasio era, it is open season on teachers and union activists.

If DOE is bringing 3020a charges against a popular teacher who has an army of her school's parents backing her up at her hearing, then truly none of us have any job security.

MORE was there. Where in the hell was the official UFT? Where was the District Rep?

Additional coverage of this extraordinary outpouring of support from parents for a teacher is over at Ed Notes.

No one from the UFT was there. Ho-hum. They are working hard behind the scenes you know -- even when principal Monika Garg had 10 teachers put under investigation within months of her arrival at the school, put in as a hit woman. Ho - hum -- we endorsed de Blasio without asking for these outrages to stop -- but you know the UFT has to weigh stuff - and make sure they don't lose their little stool at the table. 

Parents were not saying very good things about the UFT.

IBO SAYS MORE CITY MONEY GOING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS

One doesn't need to be a genius to see that the New York City Department of Education is spending more money on charter schools. The Independent Budget Office in a new report does a review of the spending and they conclude there is a steady increase for charter schools. Thanks to Harris Lirtzman for sending this out.

Here is a part of the IBO report:

Payments to non-DOE schools continued to grow in absolute  and in relative terms during the de Blasio Administration as existing charter schools continued to fill out their complement of grade levels and new charter schools opened. The increase in charter school payments has been partly offset by a decrease in spending on special education private schools in recent years. The preliminary budget anticipates payments to non-DOE schools in 2018 of $3.6 billion, or 43 percent more than in 2013, the last full year of the Bloomberg Administration. In absolute terms, the increase in funding for non-DOE schools during the de Blasio Administration budgets (2014–2018) is similar to the increase over the last few Bloomberg Administration budgets (2009-2013): $1.1 billion versus $1.2 billion, respectively.

IBO continues further down:

Payments to charter schools are expected to continue to increase through 2021 due to both increasing enrollment and likely future increases in tuition levels. Generally, charter school tuition is based on DOE per-pupil spending with a two year lag, increased by a factor determined by statewide per-pupil spending patterns in recent years. This formula was superseded in 2015 through 2017 by an act of the state Legislature, which substituted fixed per-pupil increases for those years rather than the formula-driven amounts. IBO anticipates that the Legislature will reapply the charter school formula for 2018 and subsequent years. This will likely result in an increase in charter school tuition as DOE’s recent per-pupil spending increases are reflected in the charter tuition formula.


The city has experienced continued growth in charter school enrollment in recent years with growth expected to continue steadily in the near future. Currently, over 100,000 students, or 10.5 percent of the total enrollment in DOE-managed schools, are enrolled in charter schools. Enrollment and the related spending on charter schools grew steadily through Mayor Bloomberg’s last term and has continued to grow through the de Blasio Administration. 

Has the UFT's so called friend Mayor de Blasio and new friend Governor Cuomo done anything to slow charter expansion to invest more in public schools that must educate every child that comes through the doors?

The remainder of the increases in education spending are coming our salary increases and expanded programs such as pre-K. Here, it should be pointed out that the IBO report expects costs for our retroactive payments to continue to take up more DOE money but an expert from the IBO has already explained how payments to us will not be a huge drain on the city's treasury.

REPORT SHOWS LARGEST EXPANSION IN JOBS IN CITY'S HISTORY SINCE 2009

State Controller Thomas DiNapoli has released a report showing that New York City's economy is at record high levels. This is from the Daily News.

The number of workers employed in offices reached a record 1.5 million in 2016, accounting for about a third of all jobs in the five boroughs, according to the report released Monday from state Controller Thomas DiNapoli.

"New York City's office properties are an important part of its economy, attracting businesses and workers from around the world," DiNapoli said.

DiNapoli’s report found that the city has added more than 620,000 jobs since the end of the Great Recession in 2009, the largest employment expansion in New York City’s history.

During that span, the number of workers employed in offices has grown 15% or 202,000 jobs.
The business services sector — including accountants, lawyers and administrative employees — and the technology, advertising, media and information sector accounted for 87 percent of the growth in office jobs. 

Many good jobs here in these sectors. Just remember that UFT President Michael Mulgrew in 2014 claimed the cupboard was bare when accepting our sub-par contract that established the lowest pattern for city workers that anyone can remember along with healthcare cost increases while the city was in the midst of record job creation.

Someone will find a way to show that the job creation has slowed to a crawl or ended when our contracts are up for renegotiation in the near future.

MAGEE OFFICIALLY NOT RUNNING; AQE AD SAYS CUOMO=TRUMP ON EDUCATION; EVENTS TUESDAY AND SATURDAY

Three stories caught my eye as I was scanning the Monday news. First, it is now official that Karen Magee won't seek reelection for President of New York State United Teachers. She made that announcement in a Member Briefing. This was expected after Andy Pallotta was anointed by Michael Mulgrew-Randi Weingarten's Unity Caucus to be the next NYSUT President. Read Magee's announcement below. She clearly is getting a golden parachute in the form of an AFT-AFL-CIO position.

Also at the State level, The Alliance for Quality Education, often accused of being a front group for the teachers unions, has a magnificent ad that goes way farther than our unions would dare to go as it compares the education policies of President Donald Trump and Governor Andrew Cuomo and finds them almost identical. Great stuff AQE.

On Saturday, March 4 AQE is holding Marches for Educational Justice around the state. The NYC march starts at Trump Hotel on 59th Street and Columbus Circle at 9:30 a.m. Attend a march if you can.

For those looking to be active at the Panel for Educational Policy meeting at Prospect Heights Educational Campus in Brooklyn, MORE will be there in force on Tuesday, February 28 supporting immigrant rights and attempting to prevent the closing of JHS 145.

There will be a press conference at 5:00 p.m. at the park across the street and the meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. Get there early if you want to sign up to speak at the PEP meeting.


Karen Magee says farewell:

Karen's notes: Looking forward

With my heartfelt thanks for all you do and will continue to do for our great union, I want you to know that I have decided not to seek a second term as NYSUT president in order to accept an exciting opportunity with the American Federation of Teachers and the New York State AFL-CIO.

In this position, which will begin after the RA in April, I will be advancing an initiative to increase economic opportunities for women — a cause near and dear to my heart. It was a hard decision to move on from the work I love as NYSUT president, but it was made easier by the realization of all we have accomplished together.

We still have much to accomplish in the days ahead as we prepare for the “Speak Up, Stand Up, Step Up!” conference next weekend and the NYSUT Representative Assembly in April.

I embrace this new opportunity to carry forward the mission of the labor movement at the national level, knowing that NYSUT, our leaders and members will be supportive partners in this essential work.
For more, here’s my column in the upcoming issue of NYSUT United.

Thank you again for all you do.

WASHINGTON POST'S JAY MATHEWS ASKS FOR CREDIT RECOVERY STORIES

The worst kept secret in the schools is how credit recovery scams courses boost graduation rates. As we return from break, Jay Mathews, veteran education reporter at the Washington Post, is asking for more of the evidence.

The title of his latest piece is: "Teacher Sees how Cheating Can Boost Graduation Rate." To which many high school teachers in America, particularly those working with at risk populations, can respond by saying, "Duh."

Mathews' conclusion:

I have yet to find a school district that has data to show its credit recovery classes improve learning and help students achieve the mastery they failed to get the first time they took a course. Because graduation rates are such a popular measure of school quality, and credit recovery such a cheap way to raise those percentages, districts cannot be trusted to shake their addiction.

If there are other teachers and students with stories about credit recovery, good or bad, my email address is jay.mathews@washpost.com.

This information can certainly be used against us but let's face the reality that when credit recovery takes hold so students receive bogus credits and subsequently meaningless high school diplomas, nobody wins.

The first goal in reforming education should be to bring some integrity back to the schools. Unfortunately, that would almost positively lead to lower graduation rates and some politician would suffer the political fallout so expect the scams to multiply, not decrease. Mathews calls it an addiction. I have to agree.

School choice also accelerates the push to cheat as schools need to look good on paper to attract quality students.

NYSUT VP CANDIDATE BIANCA TANIS METICULOUSLY CUTS THROUGH UNITY CAUCUS "STRETCHING THE TRUTH"

Bianca Tanis is a parent activist who is one of the founders of New York State Allies for Public Education. She is one of the leaders of the highly successful opt-out from standardized testing movement in New York State. She is also a teacher and union activist. Bianca is running in the New York State United Teachers election this April for the position of Executive Vice President on the Stronger Together slate.

Bianca is new to politics and the messy world of Andy Pallotta, Michael Mulgrew, Randi Weingarten's Unity Caucus where Unity takes credit for basically everything but the parting of the Red Sea and putting a man on the Moon. Bianca on her blog writes a thorough analysis of Unity's many claims of victory and she debunks them in scrupulous detail. Her piece should be required reading for every public school teacher in the country, particularly for Delegates to the NYSUT Representative Assembly who can vote in the election.

Some highlights:

First the introduction:

The essential work of our public schools is being undermined by a “test and punish” agenda whose intent is to dismantle the teaching profession and subject our schools to free-market reforms. NYSUT has the power to lead us away from this dead-end, towards a child-centered model that empowers teachers and provides students and schools with equitable resources and opportunities for success. My experience as an educator working under the current test and punish policies and as a founding member of NYSAPE has led me to believe that in order for NYSUT to accomplish this and truly mobilize the collective power of its membership, new leadership is needed. That is why I am running for Executive Vice President of NYSUT as part of the Stronger Together Slate along with Mike Lillis (President), Megan DeLaRosa (First Vice President), and Nate Hathaway (Secretary Treasurer). We are running against a slate that includes members of the current NYSUT leadership on behalf of the Unity Caucus.

The Unity Caucus has released their campaign platform as well as pleas for a “clean campaign.” I would argue that a clean campaign does not include remaining silent when your opponent attempts to stretch the truth. This is especially true when these murky “truths” lay claim to the efforts of the parents and rank and file teachers who have spent numerous lunch hours, late nights, and weekends devoted to advocating for the needs and well-being of children with little to no support from the current NYSUT officers on the Unity slate. Even more concerning, several of the achievements highlighted by the Unity Caucus serve to perpetuate the myth that legislative tweaks have ameliorated the negative impact of high stakes testing for students when the opposite is true.

This is followed by the details on Unity's exaggerations on legislative achievements, changes at the Board of Regents, student data collection and then Bianca gets to opting out from testing. Here, she knocks it out of the park:

Unity lists the following platforms:

“We fully support a parent’s right to opt their children out of the state ELA and math assessments, including a member’s right to opt-out their own children.”

A Unity leaflet was made public in June of 2016 calling educators supporting opt out “reckless and feckless.” The public release of this letter resulted in an open letter from NYSAPE, a grassroots coalition of fifty parent and educator groups, rebuking this position. Additionally, on December 13 , 2016, NYSAPE leaders met with Andy Pallotta, Michael Mulgrew, and Randi Weingarten in an effort to seek out common ground that would allow us to work together to push back against the escalating attacks on public education. We urged them to support the opt out movement as it has been the most effective means of effecting change that benefits both teachers and students. NYSAPE leaders explained that students in NYS were still suffering under the weight of high stakes testing and we urged them to take a stronger stand for our children. At a delegate assembly meeting one day later, Michael Mulgrew called opt out “dangerous.”

That's everything you need to know about Unity Caucus in one paragraph. Bianca is way too kind in saying they are just stretching the truth.

In NYC, we have to expose Unity's bought and paid for UFT Representative Assembly Delegates. NYC Educator noted they are being given over $600 each to travel from their homes in and around the five boroughs to Manhattan to attend the RA to obey their loyalty oath by voting for Unity. Find out if your Chapter Leader is Unity and demand he/she represent you and not Mulgrew.

Please read Bianca's entire piece. I only hit on some highlights. Then, tell anyone you know who has a vote in this election to vote for Stronger Together.

THREE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IN DE BLASIO FUNDRAISING SCANDAL FOR TEACHERS

Mayor de Blasio met yesterday with federal prosecutor Preet Bharara to discuss his fundraising. Reality Based Educator has been on this for the last couple of days. First, RBE examined the lack of real competition in the mayor's race for this year. He then followed up with a post on the meeting between de Blasio and the US Attorney.

It is mind boggling how the corruption scandal over the Mayor's fundraising never came up before the UFT endorsed the Mayor's reelection bid earlier this month.

I see three possible outcomes for the UFT and its members in all of this:

1-The Mayor is not indicted. He rewards the UFT for our early endorsement by replacing Carmen Farina, who retires, with a new teacher friendly Chancellor. This is a best case scenario. Believe it or not, there are qualified school superintendents in this country who are not hostile to teachers. We just haven't had one in NYC in the 21st Century.

2-de Blasio is indicted and/or close associates go down in a corruption scandal. The UFT has egg all over its face with another in a long series of poorly done mayoral endorsements. 

3-de Blasio is not indicted and emerges more arrogant than ever. He takes the UFT for granted as he continues the war on teachers that he inherited from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and has not relented on for three plus years in office. I do admit de Blasio talks better about us than Bloomberg but in terms of policy, it has been more of the same basically.

Does anyone see any other possibilities?

FORMER NYSUT PRESIDENT DICK IANUZZI & HIS TEAM SUPPORT STRONGER TOGETHER AS DOES NORM SCOTT

I checked the internet this morning and there are two interesting endorsements for Mike Lillis and the Stronger Together team for the New York State United Teachers election coming this April. One is from former NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi and his officer team that included Lee Cutler, Kathleen Donahue and UFTer Maria Neira. The other more tepid support comes from Ed Notes, AKA Norm Scott.

First, the former officers:

Norm Scott takes a different approach but still comes out in favor of ST. I am a little surprised here because Norm and I sometimes argue vociferously on union and other education matters. Norm essentially agrees with my position on ST and is not aligned with some other NYC bloggers and activists.

Norm writes:

Now the UFT is pulling its biggest power play since the Shanker merger by openly taking over the presidency and installing Pallotta -- and I imagine they will also keep tight control of the Ex VP money position. They will win of course.

But ST by putting itself out there as the opt out movement vs Unity is a very smart move. Now there is the Jia Lee conundrum -- ST is not running 5 candidates but 4 and there was pressure to include Jia as the 5th candidate. What voice has been stronger for opt-out than Jia? The current leadership of ST is still nervous about being associated with the only direct opposition to Mulgrew. And they did try to make a deal (with Unity Caucus) but were rejected. I get the picture.

Some of my good friends do not agree and have smashed Lillis. However at this point I don't see why not back ST against another Unity Caucus power play? Given the reality of state politics, at this point MORE is not a relevant player. On the other hand, ST leadership was shortsighted not to give MORE a seat - we signed up a lot of people to join ST -- I can't vote in this election and can only give moral support to ST -- but if they make this election about opt out, in a state with the highest opt out numbers in the nation out of NYC, they can inflict some damage on Unity even if ST can't win.





Do people want to have some say in this discussion? Stronger Together is having its winter conference close by on Long Island on March 12, 2017 at North Babylon High School at 10:00 am. The address is 1 Phelps Ln, North Babylon, New York 11703.

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE THAT SCHOOL PRIVATIZATION WORKS?

HR 610, which would privatize education, has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Maybe the sky isn't falling and this bill will never see the light of day but it is worrisome. Here is some of the text of the bill to kill or at least badly wound public education

a) Education voucher program.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall distribute funds received under this title among the local educational agencies in the State based on the number of eligible children enrolled in the public schools operated by each local educational agency and the number of eligible children within each local educational agency's geographical area whose parents elect to send their child to a private school or to home-school their child.

(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that States should distribute non-Federal funds for elementary and secondary education in a manner that promotes competition and choices in education.

How has so called school choice worked? We have evidence. At the New York Review of Books, there is a review written by Diane Ravitch of two books that analyze school privatization, what choice really is, in detail.

Samuel Abrams' book called Education and the Commercial Mindset covers school privatization both here and abroad. He demonstrates how so called school choice failed in the USA regionally and on a grand scale how it flunked in Sweden and Chile.

From Diane's review:

Abrams reviews the experience of Sweden and Chile, which embraced school privatization under conservative leadership. In both countries school performance declined, and segregation by race, class, religion, and income grew. The result of school choice was not increased school quality but increased social inequity.

Ravitch also looked at a book by Mercedes Schneider, a Louisiana teacher-researcher-blogger who we frequently go to for in depth analysis on public schools.

Schneider writes that the greatest threat posed by school choice is the “systematic defunding of the local-board-run public school in favor of underregulated charter schools.” Even though most charter schools are technically nonprofit, she believes that the profit motive is the main engine behind the charter movement. She offers a simple proposal for those who want to stop “charter school churn” and resist the “parasitic squandering of taxpayer money in the name of charter choice.”

Whenever a charter school fails because of a financial scandal, she proposes, the school should lose its charter and be restored to the local school district. If the charter fails to meet its academic promises, or if it is found to have selected a student population that was not typical for its neighborhood, it should get one more chance, then lose its charter and be returned to the local school board if it fails again. One do-over only.

Ravitch concludes:

At present, proponents of school choice have the upper hand because they are backed by some of the nation’s richest people, whose campaign donations give them an outsize voice in shaping public policy. The issue that the American public must resolve in local and state as well as national elections is whether voters will preserve and protect the public school system, or allow it to be raided and controlled by the one percent and financial elites.

As these two fine books demonstrate, there is no evidence for the superiority of privatization in education. Privatization divides communities and diminishes commitment to that which we call the common good. When there is a public school system, citizens are obligated to pay taxes to support the education of all children in the community, even if they have no children in the schools themselves. We invest in public education because it is an investment in the future of society.

There is not much proof that charters or vouchers work but the deep pocketed supporters will fund them anyway. Maybe there will be some irony in the age of Trump if people are mobilized to oppose HR 610 and actually save public education in the USA.