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Saturday, March 13, 2010
CHAPTER LEADER FROM FRANCIS LEWIS EXPLAINS WHY HE'S RUNNING WITH ICE-TJC
UFT High School Executive Board Candidate Arthur Goldstein's message to the staff of Francis Lewis HS:
Dear colleagues,
I’m running with ICE/TJC for the UFT High School Executive Board, and I’m asking for your vote. Given events of the last few years, like the disastrous 2005 contract, the union’s support of mayoral control, the erosion of seniority rights, the advent of perpetual lunch duty and hall patrol, and the inability to grieve letters in a file simply for their being incorrect, I’ve determined there’s a need for a new voice in the UFT.
I’d like to be that voice.
Unity is an invitation-only caucus that’s controlled the UFT since its inception. When people join, they agree not to vary from Unity positions in public. Whatever Unity tells them to say, they say. Essentially, it’s a loyalty oath. In recent times, many of Unity’s decisions, like those listed above, have not benefitted working teachers.
There is another caucus called New Action. It supports the top of the Unity ticket, pretty much guaranteeing more of the same. It was once an opposition party, but in 2003 Randi Weingarten bought them off with patronage jobs and a few seats on the UFT Executive Board. With your help ICE/ TJC can claim those seats and bring real independent voices and thoughts to our union leadership.
If elected, I will be your voice not only here, but also on the UFT. I will not support measures that hurt working teachers, or any UFT members. I will vigorously oppose measures that appease Bloomberg and Klein with vague promises of benefits to come. Such measures have not served us well.
I will fight for a fair contract, for professional treatment, the retention of tenure, and the concept that a raise means more pay for doing the same job—not for extra time, extra duties, and fewer benefits and privileges.
Please check ICE/TJC on your ballot. Vote for a change in the UFT.
After 50 years, it’s time.
Best regards,
Arthur Goldstein, UFT Chapter Leader
Francis Lewis High School
Dear colleagues,
I’m running with ICE/TJC for the UFT High School Executive Board, and I’m asking for your vote. Given events of the last few years, like the disastrous 2005 contract, the union’s support of mayoral control, the erosion of seniority rights, the advent of perpetual lunch duty and hall patrol, and the inability to grieve letters in a file simply for their being incorrect, I’ve determined there’s a need for a new voice in the UFT.
I’d like to be that voice.
Unity is an invitation-only caucus that’s controlled the UFT since its inception. When people join, they agree not to vary from Unity positions in public. Whatever Unity tells them to say, they say. Essentially, it’s a loyalty oath. In recent times, many of Unity’s decisions, like those listed above, have not benefitted working teachers.
There is another caucus called New Action. It supports the top of the Unity ticket, pretty much guaranteeing more of the same. It was once an opposition party, but in 2003 Randi Weingarten bought them off with patronage jobs and a few seats on the UFT Executive Board. With your help ICE/ TJC can claim those seats and bring real independent voices and thoughts to our union leadership.
If elected, I will be your voice not only here, but also on the UFT. I will not support measures that hurt working teachers, or any UFT members. I will vigorously oppose measures that appease Bloomberg and Klein with vague promises of benefits to come. Such measures have not served us well.
I will fight for a fair contract, for professional treatment, the retention of tenure, and the concept that a raise means more pay for doing the same job—not for extra time, extra duties, and fewer benefits and privileges.
Please check ICE/TJC on your ballot. Vote for a change in the UFT.
After 50 years, it’s time.
Best regards,
Arthur Goldstein, UFT Chapter Leader
Francis Lewis High School
Sunday, February 28, 2010
LONG DAY BETWEEN DA & PEP MEETINGS
UFT President Michael Mulgrew informed delegates last Wednesday, February 24 that the UFT has a very, very strong case in our lawsuit to stop school closings. That was the main highlight of last week’s Delegate Assembly meeting. There was also a Department of Education Panel for Educational Policy meeting on 24th Street in Manhattan that same evening so I rushed up to attend and speak there.
Mulgrew’s lengthy report covered the teachers in Rhode Island who were all fired, our contract struggle, the “rubber rooms,” closing schools and more.
On the lawsuit to stop closing schools, it appears that Mulgrew is confident because clearly the DOE did not follow the process outlined in state law when they closed nineteen schools including Jamaica High School in January. He added that there was a major public reaction to our rally at the January 26 PEP meeting where all of the schools earmarked for closure were represented. He then said that the lawsuit will proceed with all legal vigor. As soon as we have any further information, we will bring it to you.
To show that the friendship between the UFT and the NAACP is solid, Mulgrew asked for a special order of business to allow an NAACP representative, Dr. Anna Lee Martin,( I think that was her name but I am sorry if I am wrong) to address the DA. She told us that if someone were chancellor for eight years and twenty of the schools he is responsible for are failing, then the chancellor should be unemployed. This was received by a rousing ovation from the Delegates. Dr. Martin also talked about the history of the strong bond between the two organizations.
Mulgrew told us that the DOE contract demands were leaked to reporters by the DOE and not the UFT. The demands are awful.
The President also informed us that Chancellor Joel Klein is purposely emphasizing the rubber room so he can get the state to change the law on teacher due process. Mulgrew then stated that we can try to fix this. He asked if there was approval for fixing the problem and he also said things would be much better if the DOE would just adhere to the law.
There was a resolution in support of the NAACP that passed unanimously, a Staff Directors’ Report followed by some questions. I stuck around to hear the new motions. One was passed for next months agenda saying that the UFT should be involved in any GED program changes. The annual motion to make May Day a national holiday was rejected as was a motion for next month to support the March 4 demonstration at the Governor’s midtown office and other actions to stop school closings. However, after this was voted down, Mulgrew emphasized that the UFT will be on board for the March 4 day of action in support of public education.
(UFT support or not, I will be out there on Thursday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. after school at 40th Street and 3rd Avenue to protest school closings, charter invasions, the end of free metrocards for students and more. The more we show that we will not accept the closing of schools, the better chance we have of keeping this issue alive with the public. There are also City Council hearings Tuesday on school closings at City Hall where we should send representatives.)
After the new motion period ended, there were political endorsements that I didn’t really hear as I decided to rush to Chelsea to attend the PEP meeting and to try to get speaking time to talk about Jamaica High School. The agenda for the PEP revolved around charter schools being placed in public school buildings. I made it a little after 6:00 p.m. and the auditorium that seats well over 1,000 was packed with mostly charter school advocates. These people were well organized and enthusiastic as they praised their charter schools that were taking more space away from traditional public schools.
I do not understand how charter schools can be called public schools. They are selective as in general they take a lower percentage of special education and English Language Learners compared to public schools. To me this makes them basically private schools that use public funds. I will admit I was moved by their spirit but to hear stories about how selective some of these charters are and then hear about how public schools that teach everyone are so bad was unsettling. Any school that can select its students and then throw them out easily cannot be compared to traditional public schools. It’s not an apples to apples situation. We teach everyone.
I had to wait a long time to speak. I was able to take the mic at close to 10:30p.m. I told the Panel about “How the Other Half Lives” our lives at Jamaica High School where we are still starved of resources while we continue take in “Over the Counter” students even after we have been marked for closing. By that time the place was nearly empty as most of the elementary charter school pupils and their parents had gone home. Klein obviously supports the charters as their invasions into public schools were all accepted by the PEP. I left but it was reported to me that placing an Eagle Academy into IS 59 was rejected.
Mulgrew’s lengthy report covered the teachers in Rhode Island who were all fired, our contract struggle, the “rubber rooms,” closing schools and more.
On the lawsuit to stop closing schools, it appears that Mulgrew is confident because clearly the DOE did not follow the process outlined in state law when they closed nineteen schools including Jamaica High School in January. He added that there was a major public reaction to our rally at the January 26 PEP meeting where all of the schools earmarked for closure were represented. He then said that the lawsuit will proceed with all legal vigor. As soon as we have any further information, we will bring it to you.
To show that the friendship between the UFT and the NAACP is solid, Mulgrew asked for a special order of business to allow an NAACP representative, Dr. Anna Lee Martin,( I think that was her name but I am sorry if I am wrong) to address the DA. She told us that if someone were chancellor for eight years and twenty of the schools he is responsible for are failing, then the chancellor should be unemployed. This was received by a rousing ovation from the Delegates. Dr. Martin also talked about the history of the strong bond between the two organizations.
Mulgrew told us that the DOE contract demands were leaked to reporters by the DOE and not the UFT. The demands are awful.
The President also informed us that Chancellor Joel Klein is purposely emphasizing the rubber room so he can get the state to change the law on teacher due process. Mulgrew then stated that we can try to fix this. He asked if there was approval for fixing the problem and he also said things would be much better if the DOE would just adhere to the law.
There was a resolution in support of the NAACP that passed unanimously, a Staff Directors’ Report followed by some questions. I stuck around to hear the new motions. One was passed for next months agenda saying that the UFT should be involved in any GED program changes. The annual motion to make May Day a national holiday was rejected as was a motion for next month to support the March 4 demonstration at the Governor’s midtown office and other actions to stop school closings. However, after this was voted down, Mulgrew emphasized that the UFT will be on board for the March 4 day of action in support of public education.
(UFT support or not, I will be out there on Thursday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. after school at 40th Street and 3rd Avenue to protest school closings, charter invasions, the end of free metrocards for students and more. The more we show that we will not accept the closing of schools, the better chance we have of keeping this issue alive with the public. There are also City Council hearings Tuesday on school closings at City Hall where we should send representatives.)
After the new motion period ended, there were political endorsements that I didn’t really hear as I decided to rush to Chelsea to attend the PEP meeting and to try to get speaking time to talk about Jamaica High School. The agenda for the PEP revolved around charter schools being placed in public school buildings. I made it a little after 6:00 p.m. and the auditorium that seats well over 1,000 was packed with mostly charter school advocates. These people were well organized and enthusiastic as they praised their charter schools that were taking more space away from traditional public schools.
I do not understand how charter schools can be called public schools. They are selective as in general they take a lower percentage of special education and English Language Learners compared to public schools. To me this makes them basically private schools that use public funds. I will admit I was moved by their spirit but to hear stories about how selective some of these charters are and then hear about how public schools that teach everyone are so bad was unsettling. Any school that can select its students and then throw them out easily cannot be compared to traditional public schools. It’s not an apples to apples situation. We teach everyone.
I had to wait a long time to speak. I was able to take the mic at close to 10:30p.m. I told the Panel about “How the Other Half Lives” our lives at Jamaica High School where we are still starved of resources while we continue take in “Over the Counter” students even after we have been marked for closing. By that time the place was nearly empty as most of the elementary charter school pupils and their parents had gone home. Klein obviously supports the charters as their invasions into public schools were all accepted by the PEP. I left but it was reported to me that placing an Eagle Academy into IS 59 was rejected.
ICE Election Leaflet
Forward to your friends. Make a donation to the campaign. Make copies for your colleagues at schools. Stop by nearby schools to put some in the mail boxes (you have the right in the election season.) If you wish we will send you copies. Email ICEUFT@gmail.com with the number of copies you need. Or call Norm at 917-992-3734. ICE UFT Election Flyer http://www.scribd.com/full/27389047?access_key=key-1v1201we990j0wsemxwo
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Dueling Rubber Room Op-Eds Fail to Protect Students and Teachers
The New York Post has decided to become the cheerleader for Rubber Room reform and while the paper has publicized some of the more egregious cases they have left up to Mulgrew and Klein to come up with solutions. Predictably both miss essential points.
First, the record needs to be cleared.
Remember when the words "Rubber Room" were too awful to say and we were cajoled into renaming this area as the teacher reassignment center? Well, it is obviously ok for everybody to go back to calling it the rubber room because Mulgrew calls it that. In any case the Post has highlighted six claimed abuses of the rubber room system which both Klein and Mulgrew agree is a symptom of a complex, evolved system that needs to be changed.
Where does the abuse lie?
For years the DOE has removed teachers from their classrooms based solely on unsubstantiated allegations and forced students to be taught by day to day substitutes. As principals were given greater authority over hiring and firing thanks to UFT contract complicity the rubber room, predictably, became a dumping ground for teachers and other staff that principals and other administrators simply did not like. The numbers grew and the UFT stood silent.
The UFT refused to hire investigators or supplement teacher defense strategy except to assign a couple of untrained people to act as a liaison to an already overwhelmed and under-funded NYSUT attorney defense team. As a result new rubber room occupants know as little about their case and are ill-prepared for arbitration hearings as they have always been.
The DOE hasn't done much better either. Knowing that UFT attorneys will gladly delay cases there is little pressure on them to move cases along. Both Mulgrew and Klein cite the lack of arbitrators as one of the main causes of rubber room expansion but the dirty little secret allows both DOE and UFT incompetence to delay cases. DOE attorneys have no authority or discretion, unlike other agency prosecutors, to withdraw cases and are generally forced to, at least, seek some plea agreement so that principals don't have to take the removed teacher back. The pleas, for the most part, involve monetary fines, but almost always require the agreeing teacher to become an ATR. Even totally exonerated teachers are forced to become ATRs.
Who is in the rubber room?
Klein wants you believe (and Mulgrew tacitly, by his silence, agrees) that the rubber room is made of totally incompetent teachers. Nothing could be further from the truth. The vast majority of teachers in the rubber are senior teachers with misconduct allegations, with a sizeable portion of the allegations coming from outside of the school system. Administrators have known for a long time that removing allegedly incompetent teachers from the classroom via charges of incompetence was extremely difficult because it required that these administrators actually prove their incompetence. While it easy to "U" rate a lesson thankfully most arbitrators recognize that 3020-a incompetence is not just a series of bad observations.
The Klein/Mulgrew Solution
Reading their op-eds you would think the rubber room "problem" (as they term it) could be easily solved. They want to suspend the accused (they already have this power in sexual allegation and felony cases conceded to by the UFT), hire more arbitrators or make them full time and put them to work doing administrative assignments (we will finally get those lunch forms in).
Just how would these "solutions" have changed the Post's so-called dirty dozen? Almost imperceptibly. They can't be suspended because they all had their hearings…just the DOE didn't like the outcome. More arbitrators would do nothing as they had timely hearings (unless you mean more arbitrators that didn't bother to listen to the facts) and putting them to work in administrative assignments is something that is routinely done for certain removed teachers and except for DOE ineptness could have been done for the teachers cited by the Post.
It is clear both the DOE and the UFT don't really care about the disruption to students' education or due process for tenured employees. The removal process is too swift and effectively unchallengeable. As long as the DOE permits principals to remove less favored employees and as long as the UFT refuses to effectively represent them the rubber room or whatever you want to call it will remain. It's a shame and we all lose.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
3 POINT PLAN TO STOP SCHOOL CLOSINGS
At the February High School Committee meeting, UFT Academic High School VP Leo Casey asked for ideas about how we should proceed in the school closing fight after the Mayor's rubber stamps on the Panel for Educational Policy voted to shut down 19 schools on January 27 at 3:00 a.m., despite enormous public pressure opposing the closures.
I introduced a three part plan that could keep the mobilization efforts moving ahead in defiance of that vote. It was received positively but as of today, I have yet to hear any follow-up from the UFT so let’s see what the readers of this blog think of these proposals. Of course you are welcome to add ideas but understand that this is a public blog and the Department of Education does read this cite. If you have a confidential idea, email Jeff, Norm Scott or me privately.
To begin, I totally support the lawsuit that the UFT, NAACP and others filed earlier this month saying the school closures did not follow the school governance law. We hope it succeeds but people with knowledge of history are aware that a legal strategy on its own without a supporting mobilization plan has less chance of success.
For example, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity suit that said New York City kids are shortchanged by New York State was filed in 1992 and was won years ago. We are still waiting for the lower class sizes promised in the settlement and will probably not be seeing them in the near future. While the courts can be a good place to go, Joel Klein and the DOE basically try to work around court decisions or grievance losses so the legal strategy must be one part of an overall strategy. Here are three ideas to start.
1. Change the tone of the UFT advertising campaign
I know the cynics are out there saying that the UFT put on commercials the last few weeks because it’s election time and they want to show how wonderful they are to increase Unity Caucus (Michael Mulgrew’s party) vote totals in the upcoming UFT election. Even if that is true, the commercials must change. The tone of the cartoon advertisement that has been on the air is way too friendly. The UFT tells us we are at war with the Department of Education but you wouldn’t know it by these ads.
They should be replaced with hard hitting spots showing video from the recent protests in the schools that followed the DOE's announcements that they wanted to close 20 schools and their pronouncement that charter schools would continue to be allowed to invade public school space. This footage is out there already on You Tube and it is powerful stuff. If anyone wanted to see the public outrage with the way the schools are run on display, look at some of the video. It could be edited into a strong 60 second commercial showing real rank and file union activity along with parent, student and community activism. A tough ad would show the public and our members that we are outraged and we are not going to lie down and accept what is being done to our schools.
If the UFT would like, they can take some of the footage from Jamaica High School. We are not at all ashamed of the fight we have put up, with UFT support, to save our school . Show it to the world.
2. PICKET THE PEP MAYORAL APPOINTEES AT THEIR PLACES OF BUSINESS
Targeted picketing of these “rubber stamps” might make them realize that there is a price to pay for their vote at Brooklyn Tech on January 27th to ignore the will of the public and close schools. Virtually nobody during the nine hour public comment period spoke in favor of closing the schools while thousands of people at the public hearings and the PEP meeting on January 26th-27th came out in support of the keeping the schools slated for closing open. Let’s take the fight to where the Mayor’s appointees make their livings. Let them know that we are not going away quietly and that they must be held accountable for ignoring the will of the communities. A roving group of protestors should shadow them at their places of business and other public appearances.
3. LOBBY THE STATE TO CHANGE THE LAW TO TAKE SCHOOL CLOSING AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE CHANCELLOR
Let’s make our number one state legislative priority this year a change in the school governance law that would take the Chancellor’s power to close schools away from him and compel the state to review the current list slated for phase out too. Many people at a number of schools claimed that the DOE was misrepresenting state statistics so the state legislature should step in to reclaim state power over the schools. If the DOE won't follow the will of the people and their elected representatives, the politicians need to assert their authority. Education has been a state function since the 10th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1791. New York State has basically ceded the power to the mayor in 2002 and again last year; there is no need to wait six years to reclaim some of it when the will of the people is being ignored.
For those who want to take it a step further, maybe now is the time to try to convince the state to no longer allow a waiver from state certification regulations for a Chancellor who lacks proper education credentials.
Just as with a legal battle, a legislative campaign needs to be supported with huge actions. Let’s mobilize the UFT, the parents, the students and the community groups behind this lobbying campaign to amend the school governance law.
To move ahead we should then start to merge the campaign against school closures with the fight for a contract that will hopefully improve teaching and learning conditions.
This is just my three cents. What do you think? All ideas are welcome.
I introduced a three part plan that could keep the mobilization efforts moving ahead in defiance of that vote. It was received positively but as of today, I have yet to hear any follow-up from the UFT so let’s see what the readers of this blog think of these proposals. Of course you are welcome to add ideas but understand that this is a public blog and the Department of Education does read this cite. If you have a confidential idea, email Jeff, Norm Scott or me privately.
To begin, I totally support the lawsuit that the UFT, NAACP and others filed earlier this month saying the school closures did not follow the school governance law. We hope it succeeds but people with knowledge of history are aware that a legal strategy on its own without a supporting mobilization plan has less chance of success.
For example, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity suit that said New York City kids are shortchanged by New York State was filed in 1992 and was won years ago. We are still waiting for the lower class sizes promised in the settlement and will probably not be seeing them in the near future. While the courts can be a good place to go, Joel Klein and the DOE basically try to work around court decisions or grievance losses so the legal strategy must be one part of an overall strategy. Here are three ideas to start.
1. Change the tone of the UFT advertising campaign
I know the cynics are out there saying that the UFT put on commercials the last few weeks because it’s election time and they want to show how wonderful they are to increase Unity Caucus (Michael Mulgrew’s party) vote totals in the upcoming UFT election. Even if that is true, the commercials must change. The tone of the cartoon advertisement that has been on the air is way too friendly. The UFT tells us we are at war with the Department of Education but you wouldn’t know it by these ads.
They should be replaced with hard hitting spots showing video from the recent protests in the schools that followed the DOE's announcements that they wanted to close 20 schools and their pronouncement that charter schools would continue to be allowed to invade public school space. This footage is out there already on You Tube and it is powerful stuff. If anyone wanted to see the public outrage with the way the schools are run on display, look at some of the video. It could be edited into a strong 60 second commercial showing real rank and file union activity along with parent, student and community activism. A tough ad would show the public and our members that we are outraged and we are not going to lie down and accept what is being done to our schools.
If the UFT would like, they can take some of the footage from Jamaica High School. We are not at all ashamed of the fight we have put up, with UFT support, to save our school . Show it to the world.
2. PICKET THE PEP MAYORAL APPOINTEES AT THEIR PLACES OF BUSINESS
Targeted picketing of these “rubber stamps” might make them realize that there is a price to pay for their vote at Brooklyn Tech on January 27th to ignore the will of the public and close schools. Virtually nobody during the nine hour public comment period spoke in favor of closing the schools while thousands of people at the public hearings and the PEP meeting on January 26th-27th came out in support of the keeping the schools slated for closing open. Let’s take the fight to where the Mayor’s appointees make their livings. Let them know that we are not going away quietly and that they must be held accountable for ignoring the will of the communities. A roving group of protestors should shadow them at their places of business and other public appearances.
3. LOBBY THE STATE TO CHANGE THE LAW TO TAKE SCHOOL CLOSING AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE CHANCELLOR
Let’s make our number one state legislative priority this year a change in the school governance law that would take the Chancellor’s power to close schools away from him and compel the state to review the current list slated for phase out too. Many people at a number of schools claimed that the DOE was misrepresenting state statistics so the state legislature should step in to reclaim state power over the schools. If the DOE won't follow the will of the people and their elected representatives, the politicians need to assert their authority. Education has been a state function since the 10th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1791. New York State has basically ceded the power to the mayor in 2002 and again last year; there is no need to wait six years to reclaim some of it when the will of the people is being ignored.
For those who want to take it a step further, maybe now is the time to try to convince the state to no longer allow a waiver from state certification regulations for a Chancellor who lacks proper education credentials.
Just as with a legal battle, a legislative campaign needs to be supported with huge actions. Let’s mobilize the UFT, the parents, the students and the community groups behind this lobbying campaign to amend the school governance law.
To move ahead we should then start to merge the campaign against school closures with the fight for a contract that will hopefully improve teaching and learning conditions.
This is just my three cents. What do you think? All ideas are welcome.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
NAACP MAKES THE CASE AGAINST SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Benjamin Todd Jealous and the legendary Hazel Dukes wrote a fantastic op-ed in the Daily News against school closings. It is powerful stuff. Everybody involved in the fight to stop school closings should read it closely.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
UFT Election: Victory won’t be Easy
Gothamschools.org and Ed Notes are reporting on the upcoming UFT election. UFT Elections 2010 blog is also reporting on the issue. As the ICE-TJC presidential candidate, I would like to put out a call for assistance to everyone who reads this blog.
At the January Delegate Assembly meeting, I couldn’t understand why it was so crowded. There was standing room only in the auditorium at 52 Broadway and the overflow had to go on the fifth floor to watch on closed circuit TV.
The main resolution to pass at the DA said that we would support relief for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. That one was an obvious no brainer to pass. Building for the January 26th rally at the PEP meeting was also discussed as was the usual reminder of how bad the budget is. A resolution from the floor to support the march at the Mayor’s home on January 21st was defeated and some questions were asked but there was nothing on the agenda that would account for such an unusually large turnout. Alas, looking around the back of the room I discovered what was so important: multitudes of Unity Caucus members were circulating their nominating petitions for the UFT election.
For those who are new to this blog, Unity Caucus (Michael Mulgrew’s faction of the UFT) is the closed, invitation only group that has controlled the UFT since the sixties. They rule the UFT with a top-down corporate style system that one time AFT President David Selden said made the union function more like an insurance company rather than an organization that is part of the labor movement. His book, The Teacher Rebellion should be required reading for anyone who wants to become involved in UFT politics. Selden’s description of the UFT under Unity rule forty years ago is as applicable today as it was then.
The Unity machine is one of the last huge political machines to remain potent in the US. Here is how it works. The leadership (Mulgrew, Randi Weingarten or whoever) dispenses patronage to its followers in exchange for complete loyalty. If a UFT member wants a free trip to AFT and NYSUT conventions or a UFT job, one has to join Unity Caucus or their wholly owned subsidiary since 2003, New Action. Unity makes a big pitch for newly elected chapter leaders to join them. After someone is accepted to the caucus, they have to drum up 100 signatures to get on the ballot for the UFT election to win those free trips to conventions.
A friend informed me that the leadership is asking that Unity members submit an officer petition along with their own petition. Therefore, the Unity faithful will circulate a petition for Mulgrew along with their personal one. They are able to link themselves with Mulgrew so he gets school level recognition and support. In return, he dispenses the patronage. The system works very well for Unity and it explains why so many of the Unity believers were at the DA in January. They were exchanging their nominating petitions.
For a Unity member, showing loyalty to the Caucus is the main goal. Caucus obligations require that Unity followers support the decisions of the caucus in union and public forums. People who dissent are liable to be thrown out of the caucus and lose their perks. These perks include the aforementioned convention trips as well as part time union jobs after school and the ultimate goal which is a full time UFT job with a salary well over a senior teacher coupled with a union pension in addition to the DOE pension. The main requirement for the jobs is that one stay loyal to Unity and not the membership in the schools. They must sell the party line in their schools.
This breeds cynicism and mistrust among the rank and file in the schools as when the Unity crowd sold the awful giveback laden 2005 Contract (longer day, extra small group class, return to cafeteria and hall patrol, loss of ability to grieve letters in file, loss of seniority rights which created the ATR situation and more). Most UFT members respond by not voting in UFT elections. This is a mistake.
Norm Scott and I have written extensively about how the Unity machine operates. To watch them function at the DA last month was something I observed with a combination of grudging admiration mixed with frustration as so few UFT members are aware of how their union really operates.
How can we beat this well oiled political machine? It won’t be easy. We need your help.
If the UFT rank and file really wants to see change within the Union, members should help ICE-TJC. This means voting for us of course. It also involves distributing literature (you have a right to distribute in letter boxes) in your school and in neighboring schools. We also must spread the word on line and through word of mouth that there is an alternative to Unity Caucus. Please get in touch with ICE and become involved in our campaign. Without organizing from the bottom up, we will have no chance and the Union will more than likely continue on its current downhill trajectory no matter who the leader of Unity is.
ICE stands for a democratic union with an involved membership. We will go back to union basics if elected. Our people running for office have proven track records of activating their chapters. If we had the resources of the UFT at our disposal, we know we could activate the members throughout this city. Our public relations campaign on day 1 will be much more hard hitting. No more cartoon commercials; we will show the public the protests that have been occurring at closing schools. Elected officials and PEP members will also be held accountable for what they are doing to us.
This election is too important to sit out. Please join our campaign.
At the January Delegate Assembly meeting, I couldn’t understand why it was so crowded. There was standing room only in the auditorium at 52 Broadway and the overflow had to go on the fifth floor to watch on closed circuit TV.
The main resolution to pass at the DA said that we would support relief for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. That one was an obvious no brainer to pass. Building for the January 26th rally at the PEP meeting was also discussed as was the usual reminder of how bad the budget is. A resolution from the floor to support the march at the Mayor’s home on January 21st was defeated and some questions were asked but there was nothing on the agenda that would account for such an unusually large turnout. Alas, looking around the back of the room I discovered what was so important: multitudes of Unity Caucus members were circulating their nominating petitions for the UFT election.
For those who are new to this blog, Unity Caucus (Michael Mulgrew’s faction of the UFT) is the closed, invitation only group that has controlled the UFT since the sixties. They rule the UFT with a top-down corporate style system that one time AFT President David Selden said made the union function more like an insurance company rather than an organization that is part of the labor movement. His book, The Teacher Rebellion should be required reading for anyone who wants to become involved in UFT politics. Selden’s description of the UFT under Unity rule forty years ago is as applicable today as it was then.
The Unity machine is one of the last huge political machines to remain potent in the US. Here is how it works. The leadership (Mulgrew, Randi Weingarten or whoever) dispenses patronage to its followers in exchange for complete loyalty. If a UFT member wants a free trip to AFT and NYSUT conventions or a UFT job, one has to join Unity Caucus or their wholly owned subsidiary since 2003, New Action. Unity makes a big pitch for newly elected chapter leaders to join them. After someone is accepted to the caucus, they have to drum up 100 signatures to get on the ballot for the UFT election to win those free trips to conventions.
A friend informed me that the leadership is asking that Unity members submit an officer petition along with their own petition. Therefore, the Unity faithful will circulate a petition for Mulgrew along with their personal one. They are able to link themselves with Mulgrew so he gets school level recognition and support. In return, he dispenses the patronage. The system works very well for Unity and it explains why so many of the Unity believers were at the DA in January. They were exchanging their nominating petitions.
For a Unity member, showing loyalty to the Caucus is the main goal. Caucus obligations require that Unity followers support the decisions of the caucus in union and public forums. People who dissent are liable to be thrown out of the caucus and lose their perks. These perks include the aforementioned convention trips as well as part time union jobs after school and the ultimate goal which is a full time UFT job with a salary well over a senior teacher coupled with a union pension in addition to the DOE pension. The main requirement for the jobs is that one stay loyal to Unity and not the membership in the schools. They must sell the party line in their schools.
This breeds cynicism and mistrust among the rank and file in the schools as when the Unity crowd sold the awful giveback laden 2005 Contract (longer day, extra small group class, return to cafeteria and hall patrol, loss of ability to grieve letters in file, loss of seniority rights which created the ATR situation and more). Most UFT members respond by not voting in UFT elections. This is a mistake.
Norm Scott and I have written extensively about how the Unity machine operates. To watch them function at the DA last month was something I observed with a combination of grudging admiration mixed with frustration as so few UFT members are aware of how their union really operates.
How can we beat this well oiled political machine? It won’t be easy. We need your help.
If the UFT rank and file really wants to see change within the Union, members should help ICE-TJC. This means voting for us of course. It also involves distributing literature (you have a right to distribute in letter boxes) in your school and in neighboring schools. We also must spread the word on line and through word of mouth that there is an alternative to Unity Caucus. Please get in touch with ICE and become involved in our campaign. Without organizing from the bottom up, we will have no chance and the Union will more than likely continue on its current downhill trajectory no matter who the leader of Unity is.
ICE stands for a democratic union with an involved membership. We will go back to union basics if elected. Our people running for office have proven track records of activating their chapters. If we had the resources of the UFT at our disposal, we know we could activate the members throughout this city. Our public relations campaign on day 1 will be much more hard hitting. No more cartoon commercials; we will show the public the protests that have been occurring at closing schools. Elected officials and PEP members will also be held accountable for what they are doing to us.
This election is too important to sit out. Please join our campaign.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
UFT SHOWS ITS TRUE COLORS AS IT CONTINUES TO ABANDON OUR MEMBERS IN THE RUBBER ROOM
With the recent smearing by the New York Post of Alan Rosenfeld, a teacher assigned to the rubber room since Levy was Chancellor, the UFT has demonstrated, once again, it has abandoned any sense or responsibility of being a labor union and is content to cash our dues but afford no real protection to us.
As reported in Sunday and Monday's Post Rosenfeld was charged almost 10 years ago while teaching at IS 347 in Queens, a school which was sharing space with other schools in District 75. The allegations concerned statements that certain female students made about him that were considered lewd. Rosenfeld went through a 3020a hearing and the arbitrator threw out all of the allegations as not credible with the exception of one double hearsay statement relayed to the arbitrator in an investigator's memo.
The arbitrator found that Rosenfeld may have made the one student uncomfortable, dismissed the other allegations as not credible and refused to discipline him except for a one week suspension. Rosenfeld "served" his suspension by staying out of the rubber room for a week.
What was left out of the Post story was the fact that Rosenfeld, at the time of the allegations was supervising Teach for America teachers and had been provisionally appointed as an Assistant Principal. His promotion was blocked and it was decided, according to Klein in Monday's NY1 interview, that "he didn't belong back in the classroom."
So the story breaks in the Post and now the Chancellor and the Mayor team up to make Rosenfeld the poster child of what is wrong with the teacher termination process. The UFT remains silent.
Since Rosenfeld has been in the rubber room he has been instrumental in helping teachers in the rubber room get their jobs back and advising them how to proceed while the Union and NYSUT lawyers ignored them. Several years ago when ICE and TJC had elected members of the UFT Executive Board Rosenfeld was invited to speak to the Executive Board about teacher maltreatment by the DOE and neglect by the Union. Rosenfeld brought other rubber room teachers to address the Board and has continued to argue on behalf of them at most meetings.
You would think that a person who remains in the rubber room through no fault of their own; who regularly fights for and advises accused teachers; and is well known by Mulgrew and Howie Schorr and the UFT top brass would get some kind of help, some communication…a phone call, some defense in the media.
How does one teacher counter a concerted press, Mayor and Chancellor lynching?
Mulgrew..at least SAY SOMETHING........I guess your silence says it all.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
I'll Be on WBAI Monday Evening
Mimi Rosenberg and Ken Nash host Building Bridges on 99.5 FM radio: WBAI. I will be one of three guests talking about school closings. The program airs between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tune in. Here is the lineup for the program.
WBAI Radio's Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor ReportProduced & Hosted by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken NashMonday, February 1, 2010, 7 - 8 p.m. EST, over 99.5 FMor streaming live at http://www.wbai.org/
*************** Stand With Haitians For Reconstruction By Haitians & Against Foreign Exploitation And OccupationAt 4:53 pm the time of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, which left 200,000 dead, some 2 million homeless and thousands more wounded and dying very day from infections, embolism and a lack of medical care and supplies, a broad coalition organized by Haitian activists marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to rally in Foley Square. Their message resounded over the freezing winds - support the Haitian people with services and supplies, not troops. Cease the US military occupation of Haiti and support Haiti’s reconstruction by Haitian workers and respect its sovereignty. Demand that the US and France return the wealth, extracted from Haitian labor, cancel the debt and France repay the reparations extracted from Haiti for its liberation. **********
Instruction, Not Destruction: Protesting Proposed School ClosingswithCarmen Applewhite, Teacher, Candidate for UFT President, Chancellor, International Assocation of Educators for Peace.andJames Eterno, Teacher, Jamaica High School, UFT Chapter Chair, Candidate for UFT Presidentand William Hargraves, Member Coalition for Pubic Education, Parent
The Department of Education’s Panel for Education Policy was meeting at Brooklyn Technical High School, and thousands of teachers, parents, students and concerned community members were out on a chilly January evening to protest the D.O.E.’s plan to close at least 19 city schools this year. All 21 of the schools slated to close are in largely Black and Latino areas and overwhelming populated by students of color. We’ll talk with parent and teacher representatives who were chanting “Instruction, not Destruction”, and claim there’s no justifiable reason for closing the schools and even raise the spectre of privatizing the public school system. **********
Tribeca’s Amish Market Accused Of Wage TheftThe NYS Department of Labor announced a $1.5 million enforcement action against the Amish Market, Park Place store among a number of others over stolen wages. To protect themselves from this and other abuses, the Amish Market’s low wage workers have been trying to unionize, but have been met with firings, harassment and intimidation from the store's management. Local 1500 of the United Food and Commercial Workers who the workers have been seeking to unite with rallied in protest and support of the workers, calling for a boycott of the store. *************** Building Bridges and most WBAI Programs are now being archived for 90 Days. They are also being PodCast. These links will be live ca. 15 minutes after the program ends. To listen, download or pod cast archived shows go to http://archive.wbai.org/allshows.php?sort=nameaz Visit our web site - http://www.buildingbridgesradio.org/
To listen to the segment on closing schools, you have to get to about 25 minutes into the show. We are the remainder of the hour.
WBAI Radio's Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor ReportProduced & Hosted by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken NashMonday, February 1, 2010, 7 - 8 p.m. EST, over 99.5 FMor streaming live at http://www.wbai.org/
*************** Stand With Haitians For Reconstruction By Haitians & Against Foreign Exploitation And OccupationAt 4:53 pm the time of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, which left 200,000 dead, some 2 million homeless and thousands more wounded and dying very day from infections, embolism and a lack of medical care and supplies, a broad coalition organized by Haitian activists marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to rally in Foley Square. Their message resounded over the freezing winds - support the Haitian people with services and supplies, not troops. Cease the US military occupation of Haiti and support Haiti’s reconstruction by Haitian workers and respect its sovereignty. Demand that the US and France return the wealth, extracted from Haitian labor, cancel the debt and France repay the reparations extracted from Haiti for its liberation. **********
Instruction, Not Destruction: Protesting Proposed School ClosingswithCarmen Applewhite, Teacher, Candidate for UFT President, Chancellor, International Assocation of Educators for Peace.andJames Eterno, Teacher, Jamaica High School, UFT Chapter Chair, Candidate for UFT Presidentand William Hargraves, Member Coalition for Pubic Education, Parent
The Department of Education’s Panel for Education Policy was meeting at Brooklyn Technical High School, and thousands of teachers, parents, students and concerned community members were out on a chilly January evening to protest the D.O.E.’s plan to close at least 19 city schools this year. All 21 of the schools slated to close are in largely Black and Latino areas and overwhelming populated by students of color. We’ll talk with parent and teacher representatives who were chanting “Instruction, not Destruction”, and claim there’s no justifiable reason for closing the schools and even raise the spectre of privatizing the public school system. **********
Tribeca’s Amish Market Accused Of Wage TheftThe NYS Department of Labor announced a $1.5 million enforcement action against the Amish Market, Park Place store among a number of others over stolen wages. To protect themselves from this and other abuses, the Amish Market’s low wage workers have been trying to unionize, but have been met with firings, harassment and intimidation from the store's management. Local 1500 of the United Food and Commercial Workers who the workers have been seeking to unite with rallied in protest and support of the workers, calling for a boycott of the store. *************** Building Bridges and most WBAI Programs are now being archived for 90 Days. They are also being PodCast. These links will be live ca. 15 minutes after the program ends. To listen, download or pod cast archived shows go to http://archive.wbai.org/allshows.php?sort=nameaz Visit our web site - http://www.buildingbridgesradio.org/
To listen to the segment on closing schools, you have to get to about 25 minutes into the show. We are the remainder of the hour.
Queens PEP Member Statement Opposing School Closings
The Queens representative on the PEP asked if I could post his statement opposing school closings and here it is.
Good morning Chancellor Klein, members of the Panel and members of the public. First, I want to thank my colleagues, parents and everybody at the DOE for their dedicated time on this delicate, but necessary topic. I’ve dedicated many hours to this matter. I listened to the community outcry during their public hearings. I held parent meetings in Queens in order to get a better understanding of the school community concerns and the effect this decision would have on those Queens communities. It was important to understand the topic in order to make an informed decision.
As many of you know, I take my role seriously, and have done so since being first appointed to this board 2 years ago.
I believe that is why I was selected by Borough President, Helen Marshall, to serve as her representative and the communities’ advocate during these public meetings.
We are here, whether appointed by the mayor or by different borough presidents, and together we face monthly decisions that at the end of the day affect more than a million students. We need to be mindful of that role, whether it’s in front of a standing room only auditorium like tonight, or in the near empty rooms that are far more common for these meetings.
Our task is still the same.
To safeguard student interests without making a hasty decision.
I don’t believe that simply following the letter of the law is what was expected of the Department when our state elected officials called for the public hearings on these major matters of concern.
I don’t believe the intent of that legislation was for a DOE official to sit in the front of the room, simply to let those most affected vent their frustrations.
I also don’t believe the intent was for families and community members to have none of their concerns addressed, while answering none of their questions.
That can’t be what the legislature envisioned these hearings to be.
Communication is a key component to a successful proposal and listening goes along way too…
The DOE needed to consult and listen to those who would be most affected by these proposals.
I went to those school hearings to listen and to learn.
And I believe I did.
There very well may come a time when I will raise my hand in support of one of these schools being closed.
But I am not there yet, not because I think closing a school should never be a considered choice, but because I think in order to get to that point, we must first ensure it is THE LAST CHOICE.
And, so Mr. Chairman, on behalf of Queens and the Borough President, tonight I vote No and urge my colleagues to do the same.
Thank you.
Dmytro Fedkowskyj
Panel for Educational Policy
Queens Representative
Good morning Chancellor Klein, members of the Panel and members of the public. First, I want to thank my colleagues, parents and everybody at the DOE for their dedicated time on this delicate, but necessary topic. I’ve dedicated many hours to this matter. I listened to the community outcry during their public hearings. I held parent meetings in Queens in order to get a better understanding of the school community concerns and the effect this decision would have on those Queens communities. It was important to understand the topic in order to make an informed decision.
As many of you know, I take my role seriously, and have done so since being first appointed to this board 2 years ago.
I believe that is why I was selected by Borough President, Helen Marshall, to serve as her representative and the communities’ advocate during these public meetings.
We are here, whether appointed by the mayor or by different borough presidents, and together we face monthly decisions that at the end of the day affect more than a million students. We need to be mindful of that role, whether it’s in front of a standing room only auditorium like tonight, or in the near empty rooms that are far more common for these meetings.
Our task is still the same.
To safeguard student interests without making a hasty decision.
I don’t believe that simply following the letter of the law is what was expected of the Department when our state elected officials called for the public hearings on these major matters of concern.
I don’t believe the intent of that legislation was for a DOE official to sit in the front of the room, simply to let those most affected vent their frustrations.
I also don’t believe the intent was for families and community members to have none of their concerns addressed, while answering none of their questions.
That can’t be what the legislature envisioned these hearings to be.
Communication is a key component to a successful proposal and listening goes along way too…
The DOE needed to consult and listen to those who would be most affected by these proposals.
I went to those school hearings to listen and to learn.
And I believe I did.
There very well may come a time when I will raise my hand in support of one of these schools being closed.
But I am not there yet, not because I think closing a school should never be a considered choice, but because I think in order to get to that point, we must first ensure it is THE LAST CHOICE.
And, so Mr. Chairman, on behalf of Queens and the Borough President, tonight I vote No and urge my colleagues to do the same.
Thank you.
Dmytro Fedkowskyj
Panel for Educational Policy
Queens Representative
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
19 Schools Rubber Stamped Down the Drain by PEP
Obviously, many of us were up very late last night for the 3:40 a.m. massacre where the Panel for Educational Policy closed down 19 schools. I left around midnight to take care of a family matter; hundreds of people including 7 from Jamaica High School stayed until the bitter end. In the nine hour public comment period, not one speaker spoke out in favor of the closures. Juan Gonzalez wrote an excellent piece on closing schools in the News.
I will try to write more about this later. Today, it felt like we were attending a funeral at Jamaica High School.
I will try to write more about this later. Today, it felt like we were attending a funeral at Jamaica High School.
Monday, January 25, 2010
ARTHUR GOLDSTEIN HAS DONE IT AGAIN
Francis lewis High School Chapter Leader Arthur Goldstein has written another great piece on school closings at Gotham Schools.org.
You can also see video of five of my colleagues at Gothamschools.org
We hope to see everyone at the PEP meeting at Brooklyn Tech tomorrow. It's going to be a long day and evening.
You can also see video of five of my colleagues at Gothamschools.org
We hope to see everyone at the PEP meeting at Brooklyn Tech tomorrow. It's going to be a long day and evening.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Diane Ravitch Hits one Out of the Park
Professor Ravitch really is on the money talking about how the education privatization movement's use of the name Martin Luther King is wrong on so many levels.
It's at the Huffinton Post.
It's at the Huffinton Post.
Friday, January 15, 2010
EMERGENCY COMMITTEE TO STOP SCHOOL CLOSINGS WINS RIGHT TO RALLY ON BLOOMBERG'S BLOCK IN COURT
Press Release
Parent, Student, and Teacher Protesters Win Right to Rally on Bloomberg’s Block
Victory for the first amendment and for those struggling to protect public schools from closures and charter school invasions!
Today, Judge Alvin Hellerstein delivered a ruling granting parent, student, and teacher protesters, who are members of The Emergency Coalition to Stop School Closures, the right to protest on Mayor Bloomberg’s block in New York City. Judge Hellerstein ruled that we live in a democracy, and to the greatest extent possible, we have to find ways to protect our citizens, while not compromising the constitutional rights of others, to demonstrate and express their views. He went on to say that in assessing those values, he found that First Amendment rights support the kind of orderly and peaceful protest the plaintiffs sought to organize. Judge Hellerstein also added that the plaintiffs have the right to a peaceful picket to express their views in relation to important educational policies, particularly the increase in charter schools in the city. Attorneys Norman Siegel and Herbert Tietelbaum successfully argued the case.
“We are very pleased with the Judge’s decision. It is a major win for the right of New Yorkers to peacefully protest including on East 79th Street where the Mayor resides,” attorney Norman Siegel.
“This is a victory not only for the plaintiffs, but for all who want to express their views to elected representatives,” attorney Herbert Tietelbaum.
“I am proud our efforts were successful and that we can take a stand in front of the city and the mayor to prevent the closing and phasing out of our school. Most of all I am happy we can voice our opinion on the city pushing out students in need in order to make room for charter schools and small schools that are very selective,” Khalilah , student, Maxwell High School.
“I am humbled that a homemaker from Red Hook, Brooklyn can take a stand against City Hall and win. The struggle to save our schools and public education is just beginning. Please join us on January 21st on the Mayor’s block to send a message that says no, to the expansion of charter schools in schools like my children’s, P.S. 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn. We also say no, to the ill defined school closings that pave the way for more charter schools and continue the dismantling of public education,” Lydia Bellahcene, parent, P.S. 15.
“Today is historic for protesting in the City of New York. I am so proud to stand with the parents and students I serve as we fight not only for our right to organize, but as we advocate to protect and preserve public education in our great city. It is not lost on me as an educator that this decision was made on Martin Luther King’s birthday. His legacy of peaceful and loving activism captures the culture of our school, P.S. 15. It is in this spirit that we bring our voices and concerns to the Mayor’s block in the hopes that there, we will be heard,” Julie Cavanagh, teacher, P.S. 15, “We want to thank, with much admiration and respect, Mr. Siegel, Mr. Tittelbaum and their staff, for their tremendous hard work and their dedication to protecting not only our rights, but the rights of all New Yorkers. I also want to thank the amazing parents and students I am so proud to stand behind and support.”
“The decision reaffirms the rights of citizens to protest on a city sidewalk, and prevents the mayor from turning a public city street into his own private front yard. Furthermore, it will allow parents, students, teachers, and members of the 22 communities affected by school closures to have their voices of discontent heard by the Mayor,” Seung Ok, Teacher, Maxwell High School.
“The right to demonstrate is not a given, it must be fought for, and we must be vigilant,” Gustavo Medina, retired teacher, Jamaica High School.
Parents, students, and teachers will hold their peaceful protest on both the North and South side of Mayor Bloomberg's block; East 79st, between 5th and Madison Avenue on Thursday, January 21st, between 4-6:30 pm. Protesters will meet at 5th avenue, on the southwest park side of the block, which will be the staging area and starting point of the protest. In the event of an appeal from The City of New York, the protest will continue on January 21st, in compliance with the NYPD.
Link to a news report.
NY Times
Parent, Student, and Teacher Protesters Win Right to Rally on Bloomberg’s Block
Victory for the first amendment and for those struggling to protect public schools from closures and charter school invasions!
Today, Judge Alvin Hellerstein delivered a ruling granting parent, student, and teacher protesters, who are members of The Emergency Coalition to Stop School Closures, the right to protest on Mayor Bloomberg’s block in New York City. Judge Hellerstein ruled that we live in a democracy, and to the greatest extent possible, we have to find ways to protect our citizens, while not compromising the constitutional rights of others, to demonstrate and express their views. He went on to say that in assessing those values, he found that First Amendment rights support the kind of orderly and peaceful protest the plaintiffs sought to organize. Judge Hellerstein also added that the plaintiffs have the right to a peaceful picket to express their views in relation to important educational policies, particularly the increase in charter schools in the city. Attorneys Norman Siegel and Herbert Tietelbaum successfully argued the case.
“We are very pleased with the Judge’s decision. It is a major win for the right of New Yorkers to peacefully protest including on East 79th Street where the Mayor resides,” attorney Norman Siegel.
“This is a victory not only for the plaintiffs, but for all who want to express their views to elected representatives,” attorney Herbert Tietelbaum.
“I am proud our efforts were successful and that we can take a stand in front of the city and the mayor to prevent the closing and phasing out of our school. Most of all I am happy we can voice our opinion on the city pushing out students in need in order to make room for charter schools and small schools that are very selective,” Khalilah , student, Maxwell High School.
“I am humbled that a homemaker from Red Hook, Brooklyn can take a stand against City Hall and win. The struggle to save our schools and public education is just beginning. Please join us on January 21st on the Mayor’s block to send a message that says no, to the expansion of charter schools in schools like my children’s, P.S. 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn. We also say no, to the ill defined school closings that pave the way for more charter schools and continue the dismantling of public education,” Lydia Bellahcene, parent, P.S. 15.
“Today is historic for protesting in the City of New York. I am so proud to stand with the parents and students I serve as we fight not only for our right to organize, but as we advocate to protect and preserve public education in our great city. It is not lost on me as an educator that this decision was made on Martin Luther King’s birthday. His legacy of peaceful and loving activism captures the culture of our school, P.S. 15. It is in this spirit that we bring our voices and concerns to the Mayor’s block in the hopes that there, we will be heard,” Julie Cavanagh, teacher, P.S. 15, “We want to thank, with much admiration and respect, Mr. Siegel, Mr. Tittelbaum and their staff, for their tremendous hard work and their dedication to protecting not only our rights, but the rights of all New Yorkers. I also want to thank the amazing parents and students I am so proud to stand behind and support.”
“The decision reaffirms the rights of citizens to protest on a city sidewalk, and prevents the mayor from turning a public city street into his own private front yard. Furthermore, it will allow parents, students, teachers, and members of the 22 communities affected by school closures to have their voices of discontent heard by the Mayor,” Seung Ok, Teacher, Maxwell High School.
“The right to demonstrate is not a given, it must be fought for, and we must be vigilant,” Gustavo Medina, retired teacher, Jamaica High School.
Parents, students, and teachers will hold their peaceful protest on both the North and South side of Mayor Bloomberg's block; East 79st, between 5th and Madison Avenue on Thursday, January 21st, between 4-6:30 pm. Protesters will meet at 5th avenue, on the southwest park side of the block, which will be the staging area and starting point of the protest. In the event of an appeal from The City of New York, the protest will continue on January 21st, in compliance with the NYPD.
Link to a news report.
NY Times
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A LONG WEEK OF MEETINGS ON SCHOOL CLOSINGS
The week is coming to an end and it's time to do a little review. Two teachers and two students from Jamaica attended the Joint Public Hearing at Norman Thomas in Manhattan on Monday. I was able to speak in defense of that school.
On Tuesday night, my wife, my mother in law, about seven teachers from Jamaica and another student went to Campus Magnet in support of our friends at BCEA High School there. Calvin Whitfield from Jamaica spoke, one of our students took the floor and I had to follow my wife Camille who was excellent.
On Wednesday evening, five teachers from Jamaica, a counselor and two students were at the Citywide Council for High Schools meeting where they unanimously passed a resolution calling for a moratorium on school closings. The UFT was well represented as the Chapter Leaders attending a High School Committee meeting walked to Tweed from UFT headquarters to attend the council meeting.
Later that night I hurried back to Queens to attend the Planning Board 8 meeting where there was a great deal of discussion on Jamaica and that board is planning on adopting a resolution in support of the school. There was a contingent from the school including parents, students and teachers at that meeting also.
It was good to see that Gotham Schools published a piece I co-wrote with Francis Lewis High School Chapter Leader Arthur Goldstein.
Tonight I am catching up on emails and getting reacquainted with my daughter Kara. I understand students from Jamaica are going again to one of the schools proposed for phase out in the Bronx to work with pupils there on their student alliance. That's great stuff.
Saturday morning, I will be speaking at the emgergency parent meeting on school closing and charter invasions of public schools at the School for the Future in Manhattan.
There were a couple of negative points that were a little depressing. School closings were relegated to pages 26-30 in the NY Teacher. That's not exactly a priority story. Also, at Wednesday's UFT High School Committee a new Chapter Leader suggested that the UFT was capable of shutting down all the schools and he was met with a response of, "Grow up." When a call for some kind of major union action is dismissed as blasphemy by a member of the ruling caucus, it shows you the state of our union better than anything I can say.
On Tuesday night, my wife, my mother in law, about seven teachers from Jamaica and another student went to Campus Magnet in support of our friends at BCEA High School there. Calvin Whitfield from Jamaica spoke, one of our students took the floor and I had to follow my wife Camille who was excellent.
On Wednesday evening, five teachers from Jamaica, a counselor and two students were at the Citywide Council for High Schools meeting where they unanimously passed a resolution calling for a moratorium on school closings. The UFT was well represented as the Chapter Leaders attending a High School Committee meeting walked to Tweed from UFT headquarters to attend the council meeting.
Later that night I hurried back to Queens to attend the Planning Board 8 meeting where there was a great deal of discussion on Jamaica and that board is planning on adopting a resolution in support of the school. There was a contingent from the school including parents, students and teachers at that meeting also.
It was good to see that Gotham Schools published a piece I co-wrote with Francis Lewis High School Chapter Leader Arthur Goldstein.
Tonight I am catching up on emails and getting reacquainted with my daughter Kara. I understand students from Jamaica are going again to one of the schools proposed for phase out in the Bronx to work with pupils there on their student alliance. That's great stuff.
Saturday morning, I will be speaking at the emgergency parent meeting on school closing and charter invasions of public schools at the School for the Future in Manhattan.
There were a couple of negative points that were a little depressing. School closings were relegated to pages 26-30 in the NY Teacher. That's not exactly a priority story. Also, at Wednesday's UFT High School Committee a new Chapter Leader suggested that the UFT was capable of shutting down all the schools and he was met with a response of, "Grow up." When a call for some kind of major union action is dismissed as blasphemy by a member of the ruling caucus, it shows you the state of our union better than anything I can say.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
School Closings
Over at ED Notes, Norm has a piece on Alfred E smith's protest. Go over there and see the video of their protest.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Save our Schools Fight Continues
In case you have been wondering what we have been doing lately, we are fighting with every ounce of energy we have to try to save 22 schools slated for phase out including Jamaica High School where I am the Chapter Leader. Please join us by emaling the Chancellor and the members of the Panel for Educational Policy. The final decisions will be made on January 26,2010 at Brooklyn Tech.
ny1
WNYC
you tube
Gotham Schools
Ed Notes from Beach Channel, Jamaica and Columbus
you tube Jamaica hearing
The rally
ny1
WNYC
you tube
Gotham Schools
Ed Notes from Beach Channel, Jamaica and Columbus
you tube Jamaica hearing
The rally
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
DATES AND TIMES FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS ON ALL SCHOOLS PROPOSED FOR CLOSURE
The following list came from the Indypendent who received it from Ed Notes. Indypendent has a good piece on school closings.
Here are the dates and times for upcoming hearings at schools designated for closure:
5-Jan 6pm School for Community Research and Learning HS 1980 Lafayette Ave, Bronx5-Jan 6pm Academy of Environmental Science and Renaissance Charter 410 East 100 Street, Manhattan6-Jan 6pm Frederick Douglas Academy III (6 -8) 3630 3rd Ave, Bronx6-Jan 6pm Beach Channel HS at Beach Channel HS7-Jan 8pm Columbus HS 925 Astor Ave, Bronx7-Jan 5pm Global Enterprise HS 925 Astor Ave, Bronx7-Jan 6pm Paul Robeson HS 150 Albany Ave, Bklyn7-Jan 6pm Jamaica HS 16701 Gothic Drive, Queens8-Jan 6pm Choir Academy of Harlem HS 2005 Madison Ave, Manhattan11-Jan 6pm Norman Thomas HS 111 E 33st, Manhattan11-Jan 6pm Kappa II (6-8) 144-176 East 128 st, Manhattan
11-Jan 6pm Alfred E. Smith HS 333 East 151st, Bronx12-Jan 6pm William H. Maxwell Vocation HS 145 Pennsylvania Ave, Brooklyn12-Jan 6pm Business, Computer Applications and Entrepeneur HS 207-01 116 Ave, Queens13-Jan 6pm Academy of Collaborative Education (6-8) 222 West 134 St, Manhattan13-Jan 6pm PS 332 (k-8) 51 Christopher Ave, Bklyn13-Jan 6pm School for Academic and Social Excellence (6-8) 1224 Park Place, Brooklyn14-Jan 6pm New Day Academy HS 800 Home St, Bronx14-Jan 6pm Metropolitan Corporate Academy 362 Schermerhorn St, Bklyn19-Jan 6pm Monroe Academy of Business Law HS 1300 Boynton ave, Bronx26-Jan 6pm PEP meeting Brooklyn Tech High SchoolSource: Ed Notes
Here are the dates and times for upcoming hearings at schools designated for closure:
5-Jan 6pm School for Community Research and Learning HS 1980 Lafayette Ave, Bronx5-Jan 6pm Academy of Environmental Science and Renaissance Charter 410 East 100 Street, Manhattan6-Jan 6pm Frederick Douglas Academy III (6 -8) 3630 3rd Ave, Bronx6-Jan 6pm Beach Channel HS at Beach Channel HS7-Jan 8pm Columbus HS 925 Astor Ave, Bronx7-Jan 5pm Global Enterprise HS 925 Astor Ave, Bronx7-Jan 6pm Paul Robeson HS 150 Albany Ave, Bklyn7-Jan 6pm Jamaica HS 16701 Gothic Drive, Queens8-Jan 6pm Choir Academy of Harlem HS 2005 Madison Ave, Manhattan11-Jan 6pm Norman Thomas HS 111 E 33st, Manhattan11-Jan 6pm Kappa II (6-8) 144-176 East 128 st, Manhattan
11-Jan 6pm Alfred E. Smith HS 333 East 151st, Bronx12-Jan 6pm William H. Maxwell Vocation HS 145 Pennsylvania Ave, Brooklyn12-Jan 6pm Business, Computer Applications and Entrepeneur HS 207-01 116 Ave, Queens13-Jan 6pm Academy of Collaborative Education (6-8) 222 West 134 St, Manhattan13-Jan 6pm PS 332 (k-8) 51 Christopher Ave, Bklyn13-Jan 6pm School for Academic and Social Excellence (6-8) 1224 Park Place, Brooklyn14-Jan 6pm New Day Academy HS 800 Home St, Bronx14-Jan 6pm Metropolitan Corporate Academy 362 Schermerhorn St, Bklyn19-Jan 6pm Monroe Academy of Business Law HS 1300 Boynton ave, Bronx26-Jan 6pm PEP meeting Brooklyn Tech High SchoolSource: Ed Notes
January 7 is the Public Meeting for Jamaica
We urge everyone to attend and comment at all of the hearings on the proposals to close schools. For Jamaica High School, the meeting will be in our huge auditorium. All are invited.
January 7, 2010, Jamaica High School - 6 PM - Sharp!! Calling all Alumni and friends of Jamaica High School!
Join the Hundreds of others there showing the passion ---this has just begun. - Save Jamaica High School - Calling all Jamaica High School alumni! Calling all those tired of the politicians lying to us and making horrible decisions!
Council member Leroy Comrie told us to e-mail every day Joel Klein,jklein@nycboe.net and Mike Bloomberg at mbloomberg@Bloomberg.com and say that the people will not let them close Jamaica High School. That they cannot justify this action.
The funding for Jamaica HS went to other schools. Keeping the school open didn’t mesh with the plans to revitalize Jamaica and its shopping district…. so this grand and one time glorious institution will be shuttered forever and this was decided a long time ago.
Help keep JHS alive and return it to the crowning jewel it once was. Help ensure that the funds are spent here instead of closing it down and opening up 2 other smaller schools. JHS will not accept 9th graders in 2010 and those who are there will still graduate….but, with what funding?
What skills will they graduate with? What attention will these students receive? It is apparent that not only do these decision-makers not care about these students but they have deceived us by planning this move a long time ago and keeping silent about it.
The building is land marked. If the bulldozers come to take it down, I would not be alone in lying in front of the machines daring them to move.
Check out the Save Jamaica High School on facebook and see the momentum.
PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND BARRAGE THESE ELITISTS WITH EMAILS, CALLS AND LETTERS DEMANDING THAT THEY KEEP OUR SCHOOL OPEN.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A JAMAICA 2009 GRADUATE COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSAL TO CLOSE JAMAICA
To Whom it May Concern,
I write not only in defense of my Alma matter, but to take a stand against the injustices that the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is committing on both our children and our communities. I firmly believe it is an issue when the leadership that is supposed to be looking out for the needs and interests of people in this city don't answer emails or telephone calls. If your life is so encompassed with more important aspects I think you should reconsider your career. Start listening and caring about what people like myself have to say, for this is a democracy not a dictatorship.
As a proud graduate of Jamaica High School, I am currently in my first year at Adelphi University double majoring in International Studies and Adolescent Education. I return to Jamaica High School at least once a week, for it is regarded by myself and many as our home away from home. It is the place that instilled within us the strong morals and values of education and learning. For that I am eternally grateful to it's supportive teachers, staff and administration.
It was Albert Shanker that once said, “Some of our teachers are incredible, some of them are quite good and some of them should not be teaching.” Jamaica High School is definitely a school full of the most incredible educators that try their utmost best to teach their students. To phase out Jamaica High School is almost an insult to them and their hard work. They have strived to not only help students understand the subject matter, but express the value of education and invest in their students education. They do not have the “I'm here for a paycheck” attitude. The quality of our teachers is what in the Chancellor's words is responsible for the tone of a school.
On Wednesday December 16th, 2009 a rally was held at Jamaica High School. Hundreds of students, staff and alumni all alike came out to vouch for and support their home. What my mind can not fathom, is despite the angry comments and statements given by people that know this school and community the most, is why is this proposal still in consideration? It is the plan of the Mayor and Chancellor that only seem to view the business and legal perspective of the matter. Quite frankly, I believe that our schools only fail because the NYCDOE handicaps them into failure.
If more and more students are suffering, why would you take away more funding? It makes little or no sense. The numbers show it. At a typical public high school in New York City, $17,696 is spent per student. At Jamaica, only $15,691 is allotted per pupil. Our resources and materials are in poor standing only because it has been allowed to turn this way. Instead, money has been flowing to create small new high schools which simply can not reach the needs of students.
One of these small schools is Queens Collegiate, a College Board School that has invaded the Jamaica High School campus. These students receive funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. They have state of the art equipment and technology. Jamaica High School students however, suffer from an academic apartheid. In decades after Brown v. The Board of Education, equal education opportunities are supposed to be at our doorstep. Instead, Jamaica High School continues to suffer and be neglected by the NYCDOE.
I have seen Jamaica HS transform into a building of 2,500 to nearly 1,500. This was because the NYCDOE sent out letters deeming it as “persistently dangerous.” In other reports and statements it has been called “dysfunctional and non-performing.” This again is an insult to every student, teacher and administrative official that has walked the halls of that beautiful building. When we got off the “persistently dangerous” list, where was the letter notifying parents about that?
Jamaica High School is the centerpiece of the largest community in Queens with over 200,000 people. It is a part of the most diverse county in the nation with 73% of the residents as non-white. Nearly 104,000 are Black-with either rich roots in this nation or hailing from various parts of the Caribbean and as far as Africa. Almost 44,000 are Hispanic, and 24,000 are Asian, an estimated 18,000 of those from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan in direct proximity of the school building. They line the streets of Hillside Avenue flowing from block to block in unity and diversity. Why is it that these are always the communities considered as “high-needs?” The blatant truth is that this is an issue of demographics, and the failure of the NYCDOE to understand how to meet the needs of minorities in city schools.
Jamaica High School is a comprehensive learning environment that give students exposure to many different programs and courses. Small schools won't do that, but instead force a child into a subject matter they may not necessarily like. A school of Jamaica's size is ideal for the mayor's plan for small academies. However, it is ridiculous to envision three, four or even more schools housed in a building with separate principals, assistant principals and administrations. A New York City School Principal makes close to $150,000 and an assistant principal makes over $100,000. I am not prepared to see our hard earned tax dollars go to waste. The solution is to create the programs foreseen under the existing Jamaica High School; under a single leadership. The students should be broken into academies but still have flexibility to explore areas out of their interests.
It is the DOE Office of Portfolio and Plannings mission to “strive to create a portfolio of schools and to meet the needs of the diverse student body in this city.” Why is there a need to create schools? Why can't we work with the schools we have? If starting fresh is the thing to do maybe we should consider that with the Education Department's leadership. From our interaction on December 16th, 2009 it is my understanding that they really don't care what anyone has to say. When members of the panel are on their blackberry's and chatting with one another how do they expect to gain the respect of the audience? These are people with experience in the charter school environment. Of course, they will only think that way. They spoke as if this proposal was already etched in stone, forgetting to mention the creation of “28Q325” and “28Q328” as mentioned in the Amended Public Notice. There needs to be an open minded approach towards this situation.
It was stated that the community would have a say in the new schools. On December 16th, we spoke out. We don't want a say in new schools and don't want new schools for that matter. We want our school to remain alive, and the New York City Department of Education to accept responsibility for its “failure” in the past. Just because something isn't working how you want it to, you simply just don't “throw it away,” you work to fix it. Closing Jamaica HS would only reflect the epic failure of the NYCDOE under mayoral control in the past eight years. I hope that a decision that best reaches the needs of this community is reached and understood by the city so that it, and our children can prosper in this flourishing area of Jamaica, Queens in the future.
-Reaz N. Khan
I write not only in defense of my Alma matter, but to take a stand against the injustices that the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is committing on both our children and our communities. I firmly believe it is an issue when the leadership that is supposed to be looking out for the needs and interests of people in this city don't answer emails or telephone calls. If your life is so encompassed with more important aspects I think you should reconsider your career. Start listening and caring about what people like myself have to say, for this is a democracy not a dictatorship.
As a proud graduate of Jamaica High School, I am currently in my first year at Adelphi University double majoring in International Studies and Adolescent Education. I return to Jamaica High School at least once a week, for it is regarded by myself and many as our home away from home. It is the place that instilled within us the strong morals and values of education and learning. For that I am eternally grateful to it's supportive teachers, staff and administration.
It was Albert Shanker that once said, “Some of our teachers are incredible, some of them are quite good and some of them should not be teaching.” Jamaica High School is definitely a school full of the most incredible educators that try their utmost best to teach their students. To phase out Jamaica High School is almost an insult to them and their hard work. They have strived to not only help students understand the subject matter, but express the value of education and invest in their students education. They do not have the “I'm here for a paycheck” attitude. The quality of our teachers is what in the Chancellor's words is responsible for the tone of a school.
On Wednesday December 16th, 2009 a rally was held at Jamaica High School. Hundreds of students, staff and alumni all alike came out to vouch for and support their home. What my mind can not fathom, is despite the angry comments and statements given by people that know this school and community the most, is why is this proposal still in consideration? It is the plan of the Mayor and Chancellor that only seem to view the business and legal perspective of the matter. Quite frankly, I believe that our schools only fail because the NYCDOE handicaps them into failure.
If more and more students are suffering, why would you take away more funding? It makes little or no sense. The numbers show it. At a typical public high school in New York City, $17,696 is spent per student. At Jamaica, only $15,691 is allotted per pupil. Our resources and materials are in poor standing only because it has been allowed to turn this way. Instead, money has been flowing to create small new high schools which simply can not reach the needs of students.
One of these small schools is Queens Collegiate, a College Board School that has invaded the Jamaica High School campus. These students receive funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. They have state of the art equipment and technology. Jamaica High School students however, suffer from an academic apartheid. In decades after Brown v. The Board of Education, equal education opportunities are supposed to be at our doorstep. Instead, Jamaica High School continues to suffer and be neglected by the NYCDOE.
I have seen Jamaica HS transform into a building of 2,500 to nearly 1,500. This was because the NYCDOE sent out letters deeming it as “persistently dangerous.” In other reports and statements it has been called “dysfunctional and non-performing.” This again is an insult to every student, teacher and administrative official that has walked the halls of that beautiful building. When we got off the “persistently dangerous” list, where was the letter notifying parents about that?
Jamaica High School is the centerpiece of the largest community in Queens with over 200,000 people. It is a part of the most diverse county in the nation with 73% of the residents as non-white. Nearly 104,000 are Black-with either rich roots in this nation or hailing from various parts of the Caribbean and as far as Africa. Almost 44,000 are Hispanic, and 24,000 are Asian, an estimated 18,000 of those from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan in direct proximity of the school building. They line the streets of Hillside Avenue flowing from block to block in unity and diversity. Why is it that these are always the communities considered as “high-needs?” The blatant truth is that this is an issue of demographics, and the failure of the NYCDOE to understand how to meet the needs of minorities in city schools.
Jamaica High School is a comprehensive learning environment that give students exposure to many different programs and courses. Small schools won't do that, but instead force a child into a subject matter they may not necessarily like. A school of Jamaica's size is ideal for the mayor's plan for small academies. However, it is ridiculous to envision three, four or even more schools housed in a building with separate principals, assistant principals and administrations. A New York City School Principal makes close to $150,000 and an assistant principal makes over $100,000. I am not prepared to see our hard earned tax dollars go to waste. The solution is to create the programs foreseen under the existing Jamaica High School; under a single leadership. The students should be broken into academies but still have flexibility to explore areas out of their interests.
It is the DOE Office of Portfolio and Plannings mission to “strive to create a portfolio of schools and to meet the needs of the diverse student body in this city.” Why is there a need to create schools? Why can't we work with the schools we have? If starting fresh is the thing to do maybe we should consider that with the Education Department's leadership. From our interaction on December 16th, 2009 it is my understanding that they really don't care what anyone has to say. When members of the panel are on their blackberry's and chatting with one another how do they expect to gain the respect of the audience? These are people with experience in the charter school environment. Of course, they will only think that way. They spoke as if this proposal was already etched in stone, forgetting to mention the creation of “28Q325” and “28Q328” as mentioned in the Amended Public Notice. There needs to be an open minded approach towards this situation.
It was stated that the community would have a say in the new schools. On December 16th, we spoke out. We don't want a say in new schools and don't want new schools for that matter. We want our school to remain alive, and the New York City Department of Education to accept responsibility for its “failure” in the past. Just because something isn't working how you want it to, you simply just don't “throw it away,” you work to fix it. Closing Jamaica HS would only reflect the epic failure of the NYCDOE under mayoral control in the past eight years. I hope that a decision that best reaches the needs of this community is reached and understood by the city so that it, and our children can prosper in this flourishing area of Jamaica, Queens in the future.
-Reaz N. Khan
Monday, December 21, 2009
FIGHT TO SAVE SCHOOLS SLATED FOR CLOSING CONTINUES TO GAIN MOMENTUM
For those of you who have been following the fight to save our schools, there were so many positive developments last week.
Jamaica had our rally and "information session" last Wednesday and we nearly filled our thousand seat auditorium. You can read all about it here.
Seung OK was on the radio opposing the closing of Maxwell.
Beach Channel and Norman Thomas also had meetings and there was a rally at Norman Thomas. The UFT is supporting a demonstration at the January 26 Panel For Educational Policy meeting where our fates will be determined. The PEP met on Thursday and there was an auditorium filled with people opposing the school closings.
Get involved and organize. This is not just about the schools that are closing. It's about the future of education in New York City.
Jamaica had our rally and "information session" last Wednesday and we nearly filled our thousand seat auditorium. You can read all about it here.
Seung OK was on the radio opposing the closing of Maxwell.
Beach Channel and Norman Thomas also had meetings and there was a rally at Norman Thomas. The UFT is supporting a demonstration at the January 26 Panel For Educational Policy meeting where our fates will be determined. The PEP met on Thursday and there was an auditorium filled with people opposing the school closings.
Get involved and organize. This is not just about the schools that are closing. It's about the future of education in New York City.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
From the Legal Side
Two issues and three cases are dealt with today. The first deals with successfully suing a student for assaulting or otherwise injuring a teacher. The second deals with an Assistant Principal who won a U rating appeal by going to Court.
Zelinda Dinardo v. City of New York. 2009 NY Slip Op 8853; 2009 N.Y. LEXIS 4144, (NY, Dec. 1, 2009)
There has been a rumor going around that teachers can no longer sue students for assault due to this Court of Appeals decision. While winning has been made more difficult there still are circumstances you can sue.
Ms. Dinardo, a special education teacher, was injured by one of her students. She claimed that she had notified the school's administration about the violent propensities of the student and received verbal assurance that something would be done about him. After she was injured she commenced a lawsuit and won a $500,000 judgment against the Board. (She also sued the child in a separate action but it is unclear what happened with that case).
The Board appealed to the Appellate Division and the State's highest court, the Court of Appeals and in a decision with a sharp dissent our State's highest court ruled that the judgment would not stand. While the Court conceded that the assurances were made they found no special duty existed between the Board and Dinardo to make the Board liable for her injuries.
While it is difficult to define the special duty must be such that the teacher can reasonably rely upon. Just what Dinardo could do in a situation that she was in is puzzling. She can't refuse to teach the potential dangerous child but should have obtained more specific assurances that the administration knew of the child's dangerous propensities and that they were doing something about it. While not the normal teacher practice several well placed memos and a proactive Union could have prevented the loss of this judgment.
No sooner was the Dinardo case reported that a school safety officer met the same fate. Maria Rollins also injured by a special education student could not recover her damages because the Appellate Division found no special duty. Maria Rollins v. Board of Education, 2009 NY Slip Op 9292; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 9125, (AD 1st Dept, December 15, 2009)
In the Matter of Gloria Blaize, appellant, v Joel L. Klein, etc., et al., 2009 NY Slip Op 9021; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8848 (AD 2nd Dept., Dec. 1. 2009)
Gloria Blaize was U rated in 2003 by District 22 Superintendant John T. Comer. The original case sought reinstatement to her position and reversal of the U rating but by the time she started the case the 4 month statute of limitations ran on her reinstatement claim (remember the time starts to run when you are terminated or demoted not after your U rating hearing or appeal).
In any case the Appellate Division noted that her claim for the U rating was still viable and sent it back to the Supreme Court for a determination. The Supreme Court affirmed the DOE and on appeal the Appellate Division reversed.
The Appellate Division cited several irregularities which required reversal similar to Jill Budnick's case reported below. These included the fact that Blaize was not provided a complete set of documents on which the U rating determination was based within three weeks of her challenge as mandated by BOE by-law 5.3.4A. The hearing took place over two years after her challenge which also violated BOE procedures.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Help Save Norman Thomas, Maxwell, Jamaica & all Schools that could be Closed
Jamaica High School received some good press this weekend with a fantastic feature on our school and one of our former athletes from George Vecsey in the NY Times. If you really want to help support schools that DOE is trying to close, come to the rally Thursday afternoon to save Norman Thomas and Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m. to save Jamaica. There is also a PEP meeting Thursday in the Bronx. We should lend a hand to any other actions supporting members in the 22 schools that could be closed.
Go to the PEP web page for information on how to comment on the proposals. For Jamaica, Norman Thomas and Maxwell, it's Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4414
Here is the complete list from the DOE web page. We hope people go to as many rallies as they are able to.
proposals here
**Please note that the meeting time and date is pending confirmation from the Community Education Council and the respective School Leadership Team(s).
BRONX
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
Location of Hearing
P.S. 11 (09X011)
Expansion of a K-4 to K-5. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D9Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 12, 2010 at 6:00pm
1257 Ogden Avenue, The Bronx
I.S. 22 (09X022)
Truncation of a 5-8 to a 6-8. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D9Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 20, 2010 at 6:00pm
490 Hudson Street, Manhattan
P.S. 114 (09X114)
Expansion of a K-4 to K-5. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D9Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
1155 Cromwell Avenue, The Bronx
P.S. 195 (12X195), P.S. 196 (12X196), and P.S. 197 (12X197)
Unification of campus schools. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D12Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 19, 2010 at 6:00pm
1250 Ward Avenue, Bronx
P.S. 204 Morris Heights (09X204)
Re-location of an existing school into a new building. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D9Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 22, 2010 at 6:00pm
108 West 174th Street, Bronx
New Day Academy (12X245)
Phase out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
800 Home Street, Bronx
New School MS D10 - Building X115 (10X363)
New school. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D10Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 13, 2010 at 6:00pm
120 East 184 Street, The Bronx
Christopher Columbus High School (11X415)
Phase-out without replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 7, 2010 at 6:00pm
925 Astor Avenue, Bronx
School for Community Research & Learning (08X540) & New School (08X432)
Phase-out & co-location. See Public Notice.
EIS
Kim WongHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 5, 2010 at 6:00pm
1980 Lafayette Avenue, Bronx
Frederick Douglass Academy III Secondary School (09X517)
Grade truncation. See Public Notice
EIS
Kim WongD09Proposals@Schools.nyc.gov718-935-4158
January 6, 2010 at 6:00pm
3630 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY
Global Enterprise High School (11X541)
Phase-out without replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 7, 2010 at 6:00pm
925 Astor Avenue, Bronx
Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School (07X600)
Phase out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 11, 2010 at 6:00pm
333 East 151 Street, Bronx, NY
Monroe Academy for Business/Law (12X690)
Phase-out with no replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 19, 2010 at 6:00pm
1300 Boynton Avenue, Bronx
BROOKLYN
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
Location of Hearing
New School ES #4 D20 - Building K989 (20K264)
New school. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie OndiakD20Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4390
***January 11, 2010 at 6:00pm
415 89 Street, Brooklyn
P.S. 332 Charles H. Houston (23K332)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD23.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4390
January 13, 2010 at 6:00pm
51 Christopher Avenue, Brooklyn
Middle School for Academic and Social Excellence (17K334)
Phase-out with no replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD17.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4390
January 13, 2010 at 6:00pm
1224 Park Place, Brooklyn
Metropolitan Corporate Academy (15K530)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
362 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn
Paul Robeson High School (17K625)
Phase-out without replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 7, 2010 at 6:00pm
150 Albany Avenue, Brooklyn
PAVE Academy Charter School (84K651)
Co-location of an existing school into a existing building. Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D15Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 19, 2010 at 6:00pm
71 Sullivan Street, Brooklyn
W.H. Maxwell Career and Technical Education High School (19K660)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 12, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
145 Pennsylvania Avenue, Brooklyn
New School MS D23 - Building K263 (23K671)
New school. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak
D23Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4390
***January 20, 2010 at 6:00pm
210 Chester Street, Brooklyn
New School ES D17 - Building K398 (17K748)
New school.
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D17Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
60 East 94 Street, Brooklyn
MANHATTAN
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
Location of Hearing
KAPPA II (05M317)
Phase out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD05.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4415.
January 11, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
144-176 East 128 Street, Manhattan
Academy of Collaborative Education (05M344)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD05.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4415.
January 13, 2010 at 6:00pm
222 West 134 Street, Manhattan
Choir Academy of Harlem (05M469)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD05.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 8, 2010 at 6:00pm
2005 Madison Avenue, Manhattan
Academy of Environmental Science High School (04M635) and Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation
Phase-out and co-location. See Public Notice
EIS
Kim WongHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov.718-935-4414
January 5, 2010 at 6:00pm
410 East 100 Street, Manhattan
Norman Thomas High School (02M620)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 11, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
111 East 33rd Street, Manhattan
Greenwich Village Middle School (02M896)
Co-location of an existing school into a existing building. SeePublic Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D2Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4415
January 12, 2010 at 6:00pm
490 Hudson Street, Manhattan
QUEENS
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
School
Beach Channel High School (27Q410)
Phase-out and co-location. See Public Notice
EIS
Kim WongHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov.718-935-4414
January 6, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Beach Channel High School (27Q410)
Business, Computer Applications, and Entrepreneurship High School (29Q496)
Phase out with replacement. See PublicNotice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 12, 2010 at 6:00pm
207-01 116th Avenue, Queens
Jamaica High School (28Q470)
Phase-out without replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 7, 2010 at 6:00pm
Jamaica High School (28Q470)
STATEN ISLAND
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
School
New School ES D31 - Building R831 (31R071)
New school.
EIS
Kim Wong, D31Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov718-935-4397
***January 20, 2010 at 6:00pm
211 Daniel Low Terrace, Staten Island
Go to the PEP web page for information on how to comment on the proposals. For Jamaica, Norman Thomas and Maxwell, it's Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4414
Here is the complete list from the DOE web page. We hope people go to as many rallies as they are able to.
People power only works if there are a whole lot of people out there.
proposals here
**Please note that the meeting time and date is pending confirmation from the Community Education Council and the respective School Leadership Team(s).
BRONX
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
Location of Hearing
P.S. 11 (09X011)
Expansion of a K-4 to K-5. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D9Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 12, 2010 at 6:00pm
1257 Ogden Avenue, The Bronx
I.S. 22 (09X022)
Truncation of a 5-8 to a 6-8. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D9Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 20, 2010 at 6:00pm
490 Hudson Street, Manhattan
P.S. 114 (09X114)
Expansion of a K-4 to K-5. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D9Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
1155 Cromwell Avenue, The Bronx
P.S. 195 (12X195), P.S. 196 (12X196), and P.S. 197 (12X197)
Unification of campus schools. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D12Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 19, 2010 at 6:00pm
1250 Ward Avenue, Bronx
P.S. 204 Morris Heights (09X204)
Re-location of an existing school into a new building. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D9Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 22, 2010 at 6:00pm
108 West 174th Street, Bronx
New Day Academy (12X245)
Phase out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
800 Home Street, Bronx
New School MS D10 - Building X115 (10X363)
New school. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D10Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 13, 2010 at 6:00pm
120 East 184 Street, The Bronx
Christopher Columbus High School (11X415)
Phase-out without replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 7, 2010 at 6:00pm
925 Astor Avenue, Bronx
School for Community Research & Learning (08X540) & New School (08X432)
Phase-out & co-location. See Public Notice.
EIS
Kim WongHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 5, 2010 at 6:00pm
1980 Lafayette Avenue, Bronx
Frederick Douglass Academy III Secondary School (09X517)
Grade truncation. See Public Notice
EIS
Kim WongD09Proposals@Schools.nyc.gov718-935-4158
January 6, 2010 at 6:00pm
3630 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY
Global Enterprise High School (11X541)
Phase-out without replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 7, 2010 at 6:00pm
925 Astor Avenue, Bronx
Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School (07X600)
Phase out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 11, 2010 at 6:00pm
333 East 151 Street, Bronx, NY
Monroe Academy for Business/Law (12X690)
Phase-out with no replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 19, 2010 at 6:00pm
1300 Boynton Avenue, Bronx
BROOKLYN
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
Location of Hearing
New School ES #4 D20 - Building K989 (20K264)
New school. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie OndiakD20Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4390
***January 11, 2010 at 6:00pm
415 89 Street, Brooklyn
P.S. 332 Charles H. Houston (23K332)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD23.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4390
January 13, 2010 at 6:00pm
51 Christopher Avenue, Brooklyn
Middle School for Academic and Social Excellence (17K334)
Phase-out with no replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD17.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4390
January 13, 2010 at 6:00pm
1224 Park Place, Brooklyn
Metropolitan Corporate Academy (15K530)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
362 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn
Paul Robeson High School (17K625)
Phase-out without replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 7, 2010 at 6:00pm
150 Albany Avenue, Brooklyn
PAVE Academy Charter School (84K651)
Co-location of an existing school into a existing building. Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D15Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 19, 2010 at 6:00pm
71 Sullivan Street, Brooklyn
W.H. Maxwell Career and Technical Education High School (19K660)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 12, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
145 Pennsylvania Avenue, Brooklyn
New School MS D23 - Building K263 (23K671)
New school. See Public Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak
D23Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4390
***January 20, 2010 at 6:00pm
210 Chester Street, Brooklyn
New School ES D17 - Building K398 (17K748)
New school.
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D17Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4158
***January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
60 East 94 Street, Brooklyn
MANHATTAN
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
Location of Hearing
KAPPA II (05M317)
Phase out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD05.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4415.
January 11, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
144-176 East 128 Street, Manhattan
Academy of Collaborative Education (05M344)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD05.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4415.
January 13, 2010 at 6:00pm
222 West 134 Street, Manhattan
Choir Academy of Harlem (05M469)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesD05.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 8, 2010 at 6:00pm
2005 Madison Avenue, Manhattan
Academy of Environmental Science High School (04M635) and Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation
Phase-out and co-location. See Public Notice
EIS
Kim WongHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov.718-935-4414
January 5, 2010 at 6:00pm
410 East 100 Street, Manhattan
Norman Thomas High School (02M620)
Phase-out with replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414
January 11, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
111 East 33rd Street, Manhattan
Greenwich Village Middle School (02M896)
Co-location of an existing school into a existing building. SeePublic Notice
EIS
Natalie Ondiak D2Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4415
January 12, 2010 at 6:00pm
490 Hudson Street, Manhattan
QUEENS
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
School
Beach Channel High School (27Q410)
Phase-out and co-location. See Public Notice
EIS
Kim WongHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov.718-935-4414
January 6, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Beach Channel High School (27Q410)
Business, Computer Applications, and Entrepreneurship High School (29Q496)
Phase out with replacement. See PublicNotice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 12, 2010 at 6:00pm
207-01 116th Avenue, Queens
Jamaica High School (28Q470)
Phase-out without replacement. See Public Notice
EIS
Samuel SlovesHS.Proposals@schools.nyc.gov718-935-4414.
January 7, 2010 at 6:00pm
Jamaica High School (28Q470)
STATEN ISLAND
School
Type of Change & Proposal
Educational Impact Statement
Comment
Date & Time of Hearing
School
New School ES D31 - Building R831 (31R071)
New school.
EIS
Kim Wong, D31Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov718-935-4397
***January 20, 2010 at 6:00pm
211 Daniel Low Terrace, Staten Island
Thursday, December 03, 2009
JAMAICA HS SLATED FOR PHASE OUT
We've been worried about it for a long time but it still was a shock today when the DOE announced to us that the 117 year old Jamaica High School would be phasing out.
I spent the afternoon meeting with the Chapter, union officials and the press to make the case for our school.
We hope the readers of this blog will join us and all of the other schools that are on the chopping block to work to organize to oppose these crazy school closings.
I spent the afternoon meeting with the Chapter, union officials and the press to make the case for our school.
We hope the readers of this blog will join us and all of the other schools that are on the chopping block to work to organize to oppose these crazy school closings.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
DOE HANDED STUNNING DEFEAT IN “U” RATING APPEAL
In a sharply worded decision, yesterday, Justice Walter Tolub of New York Supreme Court rebuked the DOE for affirming a "U" rating given by an elementary school principal to a 20 year veteran when few of the procedural safeguards were followed. Jill Budnick, represented by private counsel, decided not to accept the rating and had claimed that she was targeted by the principal due to her seniority.
Justice Tolub found that the teacher evaluations and appeals of unsatisfactory ratings must be conducted in compliance with the formal procedures set forth primarily in two handbooks prepared by the Division of Human Resources, namely, "Rating Pedagogical Staff Members" and "The Appeal Process." The Handbook requires a Rating Officer (in this case, the school principal) to complete a thorough performance review for the academic year before rating the teacher (Section 11, at 3-4).
The Handbook states that the Rating Officer should make informal and formal classroom visits in order to improve and sustain effective teaching (Ex. 4, Section 1, A, at 1). A formal observation may consist of one full-period observation or a series of short visits by the principal (Section II, E, at 7). Discussion with the teacher before and after an observation must be built into the formal observation process, along with a post-observation conference and a written report, which should include prescriptive recommendations for professional growth where appropriate.
The Rating Officer must characterize each formal observation of the employee's performance Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory and indicate why this is so (Section 1, A, at 1). In arriving at the rating for a school year, the Rating Oficer should take into account all events and incidents manifesting professional growth, pupil guidance and instruction, and classroom management (Section, II, C, at 4). A U rating has serious implications, as it is a compelling reason to file charges against a tenured teacher and may affect the teacher's ability to obtain additional licenses and salary increments (Section II, G, at 9).
Reports of observations must be included in a teacher's official file and a teacher is permitted to append a letter or note of explanation or rebuttal to documents placed in the file (Ex. 4, Section 11, I, at 9-10). This appended material is considered part of the original document and should be permanently attached thereto (Section II, I, at lo). Any material to be placed in a teacher's file must include a notation that it is being placed in the file and a space for the teacher to sign and to indicate when he or she received a copy of the material.
Justice Tolub found that the rating officer did not provide pre and post observation conferences or any meaningful way to correct Budnick's alleged deficiencies. Additionally the Court noted that documents appended to the file letters were not included in the record on appeal and the appeals officer refused to mark into the record supportive letters from colleagues and other teachers.
The irregularities, according to the Court required that the U rating be vacated, an S rating be substituted and the DOE ordered to make the changes.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
BLOOMBERG'S TURKEY DAY WAR DECLARATION AGAINST TEACHERS
On the day before Thanksgiving, Mayor Mike Bloomberg went to Washington DC and gave a speech in which he basically declared war on teachers.
He said he is seeking state legislation that will fundamentally end the UFT as we know it. Teachers could be fired after one year if they are excessed and can't find a new job, excessing and layoffs would be based on principal evaluations rather than seniority, ten percent of schools would be closed, tenure decisions would be made based on student test scores, the process to fire teachers would be expedited and the charter school cap would be lifted.
The mayor added that he can tie tenure decisions to pupil test scores now even though the law says teacher tenure decisions should not be made based on student test scores.
Ultimately, he would turn us into employees who could be fired at will to kill the UFT. Lifting the charter school cap would in essence be a step toward killing the public schools by turning them over to private operators.
In response, UFT President Michael Mulgrew emailed a statement to us that was negative but did not rule out any specific proposal emphatically. He said in part, "Many of these measures would require either state legislation or negotiated changes in the DOE/UFT contract. The Department of Education created many of the personnel issues like the ATR pool and the rubber rooms that the Mayor now cites as problems. The Mayor needs to take responsibility for what he and his Chancellor have created. Our members should not have their lives and well-being put at risk because of mismanagement."
"We stand willing to work with anyone who wants to work constructively on these or any other educational issues, but we will not work with those who choose to scapegoat the people who have dedicated their lives to children. It’s the hard work and commitment of our members that has moved this system forward despite the mismanagement."
"Be assured the UFT will protect your rights and continue to fight for what we know is best for our students. We will not allow the DOE’s inadequacies and mismanagement to be put upon the backs of the members of this union or be allowed to hurt the children of this city."
In the NY Times account, President Michael Mulgrew used the words "very, very disappointed" in describing his reaction to the tone of the Mayor's remarks.
I would use words such as angered and outraged to react to the entire proposal. I would declare that this union will fight with our last breaths these virtual death threats that would destroy our profession, our union and the public schools. When an employer declares war on the union and on public education, it is up to the union to mobilize us to fight with every tool at our disposal.
We can't be afraid of negative editorials from the Daily News or the Post. The time for soft collegial diplomacy is over.
He said he is seeking state legislation that will fundamentally end the UFT as we know it. Teachers could be fired after one year if they are excessed and can't find a new job, excessing and layoffs would be based on principal evaluations rather than seniority, ten percent of schools would be closed, tenure decisions would be made based on student test scores, the process to fire teachers would be expedited and the charter school cap would be lifted.
The mayor added that he can tie tenure decisions to pupil test scores now even though the law says teacher tenure decisions should not be made based on student test scores.
Ultimately, he would turn us into employees who could be fired at will to kill the UFT. Lifting the charter school cap would in essence be a step toward killing the public schools by turning them over to private operators.
In response, UFT President Michael Mulgrew emailed a statement to us that was negative but did not rule out any specific proposal emphatically. He said in part, "Many of these measures would require either state legislation or negotiated changes in the DOE/UFT contract. The Department of Education created many of the personnel issues like the ATR pool and the rubber rooms that the Mayor now cites as problems. The Mayor needs to take responsibility for what he and his Chancellor have created. Our members should not have their lives and well-being put at risk because of mismanagement."
"We stand willing to work with anyone who wants to work constructively on these or any other educational issues, but we will not work with those who choose to scapegoat the people who have dedicated their lives to children. It’s the hard work and commitment of our members that has moved this system forward despite the mismanagement."
"Be assured the UFT will protect your rights and continue to fight for what we know is best for our students. We will not allow the DOE’s inadequacies and mismanagement to be put upon the backs of the members of this union or be allowed to hurt the children of this city."
In the NY Times account, President Michael Mulgrew used the words "very, very disappointed" in describing his reaction to the tone of the Mayor's remarks.
I would use words such as angered and outraged to react to the entire proposal. I would declare that this union will fight with our last breaths these virtual death threats that would destroy our profession, our union and the public schools. When an employer declares war on the union and on public education, it is up to the union to mobilize us to fight with every tool at our disposal.
We can't be afraid of negative editorials from the Daily News or the Post. The time for soft collegial diplomacy is over.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Help the At Risk Queens Schools
The Queens section of the Daily News reported on three schools in Queens that received D ratings. One of those schools is Jamaica High School.
The grading system the DOE uses is a joke as it penalizes schools who take in the most at risk students. Please help us rally support to save schools like Jamaica that have incredible histories and do not deserve to be shut down.
Happy Thanksgiving all.
The grading system the DOE uses is a joke as it penalizes schools who take in the most at risk students. Please help us rally support to save schools like Jamaica that have incredible histories and do not deserve to be shut down.
Happy Thanksgiving all.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
DA REPORT ON IMPASSE, SCHOOL GRADES AND MORE
President Michael Mulgrew at yesterday's Delegate Assembly convinced the DA to approve, by the usual large margin, a resolution to give the UFT the authority to declare, if necessary, that there is an impasse in bargaining. Our contract expired without fanfare on October 31. (Anna Phillips' piece at Gotham Schools.org sums up the resolution fairly well.)
If the UFT seeks an impasse declaration, the state Public Employees Relations Board would then have to agree that there is an impasse and then they would appoint a mediator to try to help the parties settle differences. Fact finding and non binding arbitration would come next if mediation fails.
Many UFT members, including me, are very skeptical about fact finding because of how badly we did in this process in 2005. At that time, the fact finders set the framework for the horrible giveback laden 2005 contract that gave us the whole ATR mess as they had the UFT give up seniority and SBO transfers among many other concessions such as a longer day, weaker due process and a return to hall and cafeteria patrol for teachers.
Do we want to go down this road again?
What are the alternatives? The answer is to organize and mobilize.
In other DA news, we heard a report on organizing the community; we heard about special education complaints and there was a passionate plea from somebody speaking in support of Honduran teachers and the Honduran people. A resolution in support of their cause passed unanimously.
Welfare Fund Director Arthur Pepper told the delegates that the UFT will be improving welfare fund benefits.
One last item that is of great importance to those of us who work in D graded schools. President Mulgrew said that the progress reports that were just released don't mean crap. He didn't show up at the press conference where Klein announced them. Mulgrew explained a number of factors that proved the progress reports are unreliable measures of schools. We agree with the president here.
We hope that the UFT will follow our 2007 resolution and not allow any school to be closed based on the progress reports.
Finally, time ran out at the DA without there being a new motion period. We hope this is not a trend that will continue.
If the UFT seeks an impasse declaration, the state Public Employees Relations Board would then have to agree that there is an impasse and then they would appoint a mediator to try to help the parties settle differences. Fact finding and non binding arbitration would come next if mediation fails.
Many UFT members, including me, are very skeptical about fact finding because of how badly we did in this process in 2005. At that time, the fact finders set the framework for the horrible giveback laden 2005 contract that gave us the whole ATR mess as they had the UFT give up seniority and SBO transfers among many other concessions such as a longer day, weaker due process and a return to hall and cafeteria patrol for teachers.
Do we want to go down this road again?
What are the alternatives? The answer is to organize and mobilize.
In other DA news, we heard a report on organizing the community; we heard about special education complaints and there was a passionate plea from somebody speaking in support of Honduran teachers and the Honduran people. A resolution in support of their cause passed unanimously.
Welfare Fund Director Arthur Pepper told the delegates that the UFT will be improving welfare fund benefits.
One last item that is of great importance to those of us who work in D graded schools. President Mulgrew said that the progress reports that were just released don't mean crap. He didn't show up at the press conference where Klein announced them. Mulgrew explained a number of factors that proved the progress reports are unreliable measures of schools. We agree with the president here.
We hope that the UFT will follow our 2007 resolution and not allow any school to be closed based on the progress reports.
Finally, time ran out at the DA without there being a new motion period. We hope this is not a trend that will continue.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
JAMAICA TELLS PEP ABOUT BUDGET CUT IMPACT
We appeared before the Panel for Educational Policy (replacement for Board of Education) last Thursday night to complain about the impact of severe budget cuts on Jamaica High School.
This was the third time that we have addressed the PEP. Our first appearance before the Panel was back in 2008 when 89 people from Jamaica went to advocate for our school. The second time was in June of that year when three of us went back trying to get more favorable funding for our school. This time, I was accompanied by a colleague as well as my wife and daughter. The meeting was held at an elementary/middle school in Maspeth Queens.
Our main focus was to tell the Panel that it is November and yet we are so short of money that ten of our classes do not have a regular teacher. We find this to be incredibly unsound educationally. Even as we can’t cover our classrooms, the DOE will allow us to hire a replacement assistant principal for one who recently retired. We questioned their budget priorities. We also told the Panel about how records have piled up in the general office as our records’ secretary was excessed and there is no money to replace her. We called it a dire situation.
Our friend Arthur Goldstein, the Chapter Leader from Francis Lewis High School, also addressed the PEP objecting to severe overcrowding that will eventually break his school. We closed our presentation by asking for help for Jamaica so we can alleviate overcrowding in neighboring schools such as Francis Lewis. Hopefully, we will hear a response.
The meeting started at 6:00 p.m. but we were not able to speak until around 9:30 p.m. because the PEP was handling a very heavy agenda. Patrick Sullivan from Manhattan is now joined by Anna Santos from the Bronx in questioning much of what the DOE is doing.
The part of the meeting that was covered by the press was the ravioli controversy. The DOE is paying $3.8 million for a contract with a company to provide beef ravioli to the NYC schools, an increase of 40% from last year. They were the only company who bid for the ravioli contract. Panel members questioned the $3.8 million deal. Go to NY 1 to see video of this.
As for Chancellor Joel Klein, he spent some time outside of the auditorium and hit it off very well with my four month old daughter Kara. If only I had Kara’s personality, Jamaica might actually receive equitable funding from the DOE. We will keep trying.
This was the third time that we have addressed the PEP. Our first appearance before the Panel was back in 2008 when 89 people from Jamaica went to advocate for our school. The second time was in June of that year when three of us went back trying to get more favorable funding for our school. This time, I was accompanied by a colleague as well as my wife and daughter. The meeting was held at an elementary/middle school in Maspeth Queens.
Our main focus was to tell the Panel that it is November and yet we are so short of money that ten of our classes do not have a regular teacher. We find this to be incredibly unsound educationally. Even as we can’t cover our classrooms, the DOE will allow us to hire a replacement assistant principal for one who recently retired. We questioned their budget priorities. We also told the Panel about how records have piled up in the general office as our records’ secretary was excessed and there is no money to replace her. We called it a dire situation.
Our friend Arthur Goldstein, the Chapter Leader from Francis Lewis High School, also addressed the PEP objecting to severe overcrowding that will eventually break his school. We closed our presentation by asking for help for Jamaica so we can alleviate overcrowding in neighboring schools such as Francis Lewis. Hopefully, we will hear a response.
The meeting started at 6:00 p.m. but we were not able to speak until around 9:30 p.m. because the PEP was handling a very heavy agenda. Patrick Sullivan from Manhattan is now joined by Anna Santos from the Bronx in questioning much of what the DOE is doing.
The part of the meeting that was covered by the press was the ravioli controversy. The DOE is paying $3.8 million for a contract with a company to provide beef ravioli to the NYC schools, an increase of 40% from last year. They were the only company who bid for the ravioli contract. Panel members questioned the $3.8 million deal. Go to NY 1 to see video of this.
As for Chancellor Joel Klein, he spent some time outside of the auditorium and hit it off very well with my four month old daughter Kara. If only I had Kara’s personality, Jamaica might actually receive equitable funding from the DOE. We will keep trying.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
PARENTS REJECT BLOOMBERG
The surprising closeness of the mayoral election (Bloomberg 51% -Thompson 46%) has to be studied closely. Many people missed seeing how much anger is out there directed towards the mayor.
The UFT passed up on a real chance to influence the outcome by staying out of it. My colleague at Jamaica put it best when she stated, "The UFT never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity." If the unions and the Democratic Party establishment rallied behind Thompson, Bloomberg could have been defeated in this very Democratic town.
The most interesting statistic for us to view is how parents with children in New York City public schools voted last week. According to a NY Times exit poll, parents voted for Thompson over Bloomberg 55% to 43%. That's a huge twelve point spread that proves that those who have kids in the schools know what's going on and they don't buy the mayor's education spin.
Will Tweed get the message and at least consider changing course? I know you think not but let's push them anyway. Now is the time to speak up.
The UFT passed up on a real chance to influence the outcome by staying out of it. My colleague at Jamaica put it best when she stated, "The UFT never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity." If the unions and the Democratic Party establishment rallied behind Thompson, Bloomberg could have been defeated in this very Democratic town.
The most interesting statistic for us to view is how parents with children in New York City public schools voted last week. According to a NY Times exit poll, parents voted for Thompson over Bloomberg 55% to 43%. That's a huge twelve point spread that proves that those who have kids in the schools know what's going on and they don't buy the mayor's education spin.
Will Tweed get the message and at least consider changing course? I know you think not but let's push them anyway. Now is the time to speak up.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
NO SCHOOL LEFT BEHIND
Jamaica High School and Francis Lewis High School are featured in an amazing Sunday OpEd piece by Angela Montefinise in the NY Post. What a pleasant surprise that this was published in the Post.
UFT CONTRACT EXPIRES EXTREMELY QUIETLY
Having an on-time contract used to matter. The deadline for when our contract expired used to mean something to the UFT back in its early years. I will concede that the UFT worked beyond the expiration date of the contract twice in the nineties and then again in 2000 and 2003.
However, as recently as after the disastrous giveback filled contract in 2005, then UFT President Randi Weingarten talked about us returning to a no contract=no work policy. Those days seem like long ago as yesterday the contract expired and the UFT didn't seem to even take notice.
I just looked at the current UFT Chapter Leader Update. There is not a word about the contract ending on October 31, 2009. We don't even get lip service any longer.
Of course the old contract continues in full force until we have a new agreement because of the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law. However, to not even note the expiration of a contract and have some kind of mobilization ready to put pressure on the city and the DOE for a new one shows just how weak the UFT is.
However, as recently as after the disastrous giveback filled contract in 2005, then UFT President Randi Weingarten talked about us returning to a no contract=no work policy. Those days seem like long ago as yesterday the contract expired and the UFT didn't seem to even take notice.
I just looked at the current UFT Chapter Leader Update. There is not a word about the contract ending on October 31, 2009. We don't even get lip service any longer.
Of course the old contract continues in full force until we have a new agreement because of the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law. However, to not even note the expiration of a contract and have some kind of mobilization ready to put pressure on the city and the DOE for a new one shows just how weak the UFT is.
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