Chapter Leader UpdateJan. 28, 2019
Chapter Leader UpdateJan. 28, 2019
Photo of the Week
A LEARNING MOMENT: Students at the Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School in Forest Hills, Queens, who were locked out of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge because of the government shutdown, turned their disappointment into a civics lesson and staged a rally at the shuttered park on Jan. 17.
This Week's Focus
Use the new process under the contract to resolve workplace issues quickly
Ratifying the new DOE-UFT contract that gives members new voice was an important first step. Now the real work begins. As chapter leaders, you play a critical role in exercising that voice, organizing and empowering your chapter, and resolving school-level workplace issues by building on the success of the paperwork reduction process. The DOE and the UFT have finalized the system-wide standards covering the operational issues of paperwork, curriculum, professional development, basic instructional supplies, workload and space. Use this new process at your disposal to quickly resolve workplace issues; it’s not a tool to harass principals. You should submit an online paperwork and operational issues report (you must be logged in to the UFT website to access it) the day you attempt to resolve the issue with your principal through a one-on-one conversation, an email or your UFT consultation committee. From that day, your principal will have five days to rectify the issue. If the issue has not been resolved in that time, the issue may be escalated to the District Paperwork and Operational Committee. If it is not resolved at the district level, the central committee will review the complaint. At that point, the UFT can take any unresolved issues concerning paperwork, curriculum, professional development and basic instructional supplies to arbitration. Unresolved workload and space issues affecting functional chapter members can be escalated to the UFT president and the schools chancellor, or their designees. Superintendents received these same standards today and they will be included in next week’s issue of The Principals’ Weekly. Please contact your district representative if you have any questions.
New issue-resolution process can also be used for school safety issues
New System-wide Standards for Safety that incorporate existing rules and regulations on school safety have been finalized. You are encouraged to use these standards to develop and improve the awareness and understanding of existing laws, regulations and resources that address matters concerning school safety, culture and climate. It is the expectation that issues around these matters can be addressed and resolved at the school level. You can submit an online paperwork and operational issues report (you must be logged in to the UFT website to access it) the day you attempt to resolve the violation of any of these safety standards with your principal through a one-on-one conversation, an email or your UFT consultation committee. Like with paperwork and operational issues, your principal will have five days to rectify the issue. If the issue has not been resolved in that time, the issue may be escalated to the Borough-based Safety Committee. If it is not resolved at the borough level, the central committee will review the complaint. At that point, the UFT can take any unresolved safety issues to the UFT president and the schools chancellor, or their designees. Superintendents received these same standards today and they will be included in next week’s issue of The Principals' Weekly. Please contact your district representative if you have any questions. Here’s the School Safety Meeting Summary template.
UFT’s TV ad campaign celebrates educators’ voice
The UFT on Jan. 23 launched a television ad campaign featuring New York City public school educators, parents and students and celebrating teachers’ voice in the New York City public school system. The spot, “Voice,” will run from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1 as part of a broadcast and cable campaign expected to reach more than 11 million broadcast and cable viewers and make 4 million impressions in streaming services. The ads are appearing on programs such as “The Late Show with Steven Colbert,” “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” “Morning Joe,” “Good Morning America" and cable television including CNN, MSNBC, NY1 and the Food Network. In addition, the spot will run on Hulu and other streaming services. You can view the UFT TV ad and read the news story about the ad on the UFT website.
Teacher evaluation bills pass in state Senate and Assembly
In a huge victory for the UFT, both houses of the state Legislature on Jan. 23 voted overwhelmingly to end the requirement that state test scores be used in rating teachers in New York State. “This bill would not exist without us flipping the state Senate,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “Our progress shows the power of a union, when members act collectively in pursuit of a common goal. Working together, public school educators and parents are helping to bring sanity, common sense and good educational policy back to New York State.” It was a dramatic turnaround from eight months ago, when the same bill was held hostage by Senate Republicans who demanded the lifting of the charter cap and more money for charter schools in return for passing it. UFT election volunteers in the city, working in concert with NYSUT members in the suburbs and upstate, got voters to the polls in November to elect more Democrats to the state Senate. In the 24 hours leading up to the crucial vote in Albany, many UFT members responded to union text messages by calling their state senators, assuring the landslide vote in favor of the legislation. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign the bill into law. Under the new legislation, the question of whether to use state standardized tests in teacher ratings will become a subject of collective bargaining in each school district. The new guidelines apply not just to state English language arts and math tests in grades 3–8, but also to social studies and science exams, the NYSESLAT and high school Regents. Read the full story on the UFT website.
Your Chapter Leader Checklist
- Jan. 31 deadline for state Seal of Biliteracy program: Speak with your principal about applying for the New York State Seal of Biliteracy program. The seal is a diploma endorsement students receive upon graduation that recognizes attainment of a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. You can put the New York State Seal of Biliteracy program on the agenda for your next consultation. The principal must apply online by Jan. 31. If your school participated in the program last school year and you would like to participate again this year, you must reapply. For more information, see the New York State Seal of Biliteracy website.
Share with Your Members
Men in Education Symposium flier
MSK Talking with Children about Cancer flier
Sign Up for UFT Text Messages flier
Early Childhood Conference flier
You Should Know
English Language Learners
Updates to bilingual glossaries: As in prior years, English language learners can use approved bilingual glossaries and translated directions for the SAT School Day exams. The DOE website has an expanded list of approved bilingual glossaries that includes more than 100 languages. Updated versions of the translated test directions will be uploaded to the Accommodations for English Language Learners page of the DOE website as they become available. The DOE will soon release additional information regarding supports for English language learners.
Evaluation
Know your MOSL: Teachers evaluated under the DOE’s Advance teacher development and evaluation system must know the courses and measures included in their Measures of Student Learning (MOSL). To avoid future complications, teachers should log into their Advance web page, navigate to the MOSL tab and review the information to ensure the measures listed there reflect their school MOSL Committee’s decisions. If the measures are other than the committee’s selections, the teacher should contact the chapter leader and the principal immediately.
Functional Chapters
Learn about UFT functional chapters: The UFT has more than 37,000 functional chapter members including paraprofessionals, social workers, psychologists, school counselors, occupational and physical therapists, and education officers and analysts. If you hold one of these job titles, visit the Our Chapters section of the UFT website to learn how your functional chapter leader is supporting you and the role you can play in your chapter. If you aren’t receiving email alerts from your functional chapter leader, please sign up online. For more information, read “What You Need to Know about Functional Chapters” on the UFT website.
Health and Safety
Support for families struggling with mental illness and addiction: Beginning this March, the UFT Member Assistance Program will be offering a new support group called Families Weathering the Storm. It’s for families struggling with mental illness and/or addiction. Participants will share coping strategies and practical information. All Member Assistance Program support groups are led by a trained mental health professional and are held in a safe and confidential space. Each of the six-week sessions of this group will meet on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. The first meeting will take place on March 13, at the UFT’s Member Assistance Program office at 50 Broadway, 9th floor. Register online.
Opportunities
Come to a UFT film series exploring African-American history: In celebration of Black History Month in February, the UFT invites members to a film series exploring African-American history. Following the screening of each documentary, we’ll hold a discussion. These free events take place on Thursdays at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. You are welcome to attend any or all of them. Here are the choices:
- Feb. 7: “The Infamous Future,” a documentary on the inspiring educators and exceptional students of the Eagle Academy for Young Men schools in New York City
- Feb. 14: “Pioneers: Reginald F. Lewis and the Making of a Billion-Dollar Empire”
- Feb. 28: “Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin”
- March 7: “Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities”
For descriptions of each film and to register, go to the online sign-up form.
Comic book convention: All educators, families and students are invited to the Art and Design High School Parent Teachers Association’s 2nd annual comic book convention, FanfaireNYC, on Saturday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 17. FanfaireNYC celebrates creativity, entrepreneurship and technology in the arts from cartooning and animation to architecture and fashion. Art Spiegelman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author/illustrator of Maus, and Neal Adams, the renowned comic book artist of Batman, Green Lantern and X-Men, will be the guest speakers. The event features more than 125 artists and exhibitors in the Creator’s Marketplace. Admission is $5 per day for teachers and students and $15 for other visitors. For more information, see the FanfaireNYC flier.
Political Action
UFT elections this spring: The UFT is holding elections for president and other officers, executive board members and convention delegates. All the positions are three-year terms, effective July 1, 2019. The nominating petition deadline is Feb. 15. Balloting will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association. The ballots will be mailed on March 25. If you are interested in running for one of the positions, please read the 2019 UFT Election Notice for details. You can find the candidate statement form and the nominating petitions in the UFT Elections 2019 section of the UFT website.
Professional Learning
Become a school librarian: Teachers interested in becoming school librarians may attend an information session about the Teacher2Librarian program. The workshop, presented by the Astor Center for Public School Libraries at New Visions, the DOE Department of Library Services and Syracuse University iSchool, will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at New Visions for Public Schools, 205 E. 42nd St., 4th floor. Program participants may earn a master’s degree in library and information studies from Syracuse University and NYSED school library certification. A partial scholarship is available for 75 percent of the tuition. Refreshments will be served. Register online.
Rights and Grievances
Know your rights about legal assistance: Occasionally a Department of Education employee is sued (for example, by a parent) because of something he or she allegedly did at work. When the New York City Corporation Counsel finds that the employee broke no rules or laws in carrying out their duties at work, it will provide legal representation to the employee and, if the employee is found financially liable, will reimburse the employee the amount the employee is required to pay. To be entitled to this defense, the employee must provide to Corporation Counsel a copy of the summons, complaint, notice, demand or pleading within 10 days after the employee is served with any of these documents and then fully cooperate with Corporation Counsel in its defense. Corporation Counsel may refuse to provide representation until any disciplinary action is resolved and the employee has been exonerated. In addition, the UFT may provide UFT members with legal representation if a member is facing criminal charges as a result of disciplinary actions taken against a pupil while the member was doing their job. The member should immediately contact their district representative or UFT borough office for assistance in this situation. At the same time UFT members contact the DOE and Corporation Counsel, they should also get an application for the NYSUT Legal Defense Fund. Contact the office of the NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer by calling 800-342-9810 for the form. If a UFT member is fully exonerated of all charges, the fund will reimburse the member for up to $25,000 in legal fees.
Salary and Personnel
Check your W-2s for accuracy: W-2s will be delivered to schools and offices on Thursday, Jan. 31, for those who did not register for electronic W-2s. Members who are no longer in service (as a result of retirement, resignation or termination) or who are on a leave will have W-2s mailed to the home address currently on file with the DOE. W-2s for pedagogic per diems also will be mailed. W-2s for substitute paraprofessionals will go to the school in which the substitute para received their last December 2018 paycheck or pay stub. ATRs who pick up their checks at 65 Court St. will get their W-2s there as well. Members can request copies of their W-2s for the last three years or request a correction by logging on to the DOE’s payroll portal beginning in the middle of February. If an address correction is needed, the member must contact HR Connect at 718-935-4000 before the duplicate and/or corrected W-2 is requested. If members have questions regarding their W-2s, they should call HR Connect. Members will get a 1095-c (proof of health insurance through their employer) with their W-2s. In-service members may view and print their W-2s by logging into NYCAPS Employee Self Service. For more information, see the DOE memo.
Special Education
Students with disabilities section of UFT website: Did you know an entire section of the UFT website is dedicated to the rights and responsibilities of educators serving children with disabilities? Teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related professionals who provide services to students with IEPs will find a wealth of information and resources in the UFT website section for students with disabilities.
This Week in Education and Labor News
President promises to pay federal workers as shutdown ends: President Donald Trump promised to ensure that workers are compensated for the last five weeks as he agreed on Jan. 25 to reopen the federal government for three weeks as negotiations over the border proceed, reports The New York Times. “I will make sure that all employees receive their back pay very quickly or as soon as possible,” he said. “It will happen fast.”
Education funding plummeted in Michigan, Betsy DeVos’ home state: Michigan is ranked “dead last” among all states in tax revenue growth for K-12 schools for the last 25 years, according to the Detroit News. A new report by researchers at Michigan State University reveals that a 1994 constitutional amendment to raise the state sales tax and cigarette tax to replace property taxes as the means of supporting the state's schools resulted in school tax revenue in 2015 that was roughly 85 percent the amount in 1995, the lowest in the nation. The report points to tax cuts, breaks and a cap on annual property tax growth that have slowed a recovery from the Great Recession that peaked in 2008 as primary causes for the funding gap.
Denver teachers' strike postponed: A strike planned for Denver teachers on Jan. 28 has been postponed, reports the Denver Post. The Denver Classroom Teachers Association’s vote on Jan. 22 to strike was interrupted by the district’s request for intervention by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The decision could force a delay of the strike for up to 180 days. The strike vote was the culmination of 14 months of unsuccessful negotiations over teacher compensation between the union and the Denver school district.
Events Calendar
Featured
Friday, Feb. 8: Career and Technical Education teachers may honor their colleagues at the 2019 CTE Awards Recognition Ceremony at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 2nd floor, 4 p.m. See the CTE Awards Recognition Ceremony flier for more information. Register online.
Saturday, March 2: The 4th annual Men in Education Symposium will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. Former New York City Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew will facilitate the morning plenary session and Bronx teacher Alhassan Susso, the New York State Teacher of the Year, will deliver the keynote speech. Workshops will be offered on mentoring, fatherhood and empowerment. Breakfast and lunch provided. Register online. For more information, see the Men in Education Symposium flier. This is a free event.
Saturday, March 9: The 15th annual School Counselors Conference will be held at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The keynote speaker will be the Department of Education’s Cheryl Hall. The theme is School Counselors Are the Heart of the School. Register online.
Saturday, March 16: The UFT’s 12th annual Early Childhood Conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. The conference will feature a plenary greeting from UFT President Michael Mulgrew and a welcome address from UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford. For fee breakdown and to register, see the online form. For a full listing of workshops, see the Early Childhood Conference flier. The registration deadline is Friday, March 8.
Saturday, March 23: The UFT’s 38th annual Paraprofessional Festival and Awards Luncheon celebrating the 50th anniversary of the UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New York Hilton Midtown at 1335 Sixth Ave. This year’s theme is Uplifting Hearts and Minds: Pathways to Social Emotional Learning. The registration fee is $25. For a full list of workshops and to register, go to the online form.
This Week
Monday, Jan. 28: Queens-based members are invited to a paid parental leave information meeting from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the UFT’s Queens borough office, 97-77 Queens Blvd., 8th floor, Rego Park. You must register online.
Tuesday, Jan. 29: Queens-based parents are invited to the Queens Parent Workshop: Vision Boards. This event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the UFT’s Queens borough office, 97-77 Queens Blvd., Rego Park. Child care, dinner, coffee and tea will be provided. Register online. See the Vision Board Workshop flier.
Thursday, Jan. 31: REGISTRATION CLOSED — Manhattan-based members will attend Money Moves: Financial Wellness Workshop for UFT Members. This event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UFT’s Manhattan borough office, 52 Broadway.
Thursday, Jan. 31: Bronx-based members are invited to a sabbatical workshop from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UFT’s Bronx borough office, 2500 Halsey St., rear entrance. Participants will learn about the 2018-2019 sabbatical guidelines. Register online. For more information, see the Bronx Sabbatical Workshop flier.
Thursday, Jan. 31: Queens-based members are invited to a sabbatical workshop from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UFT’s Queens borough office, 97-77 Queens Blvd., 8th floor, Rego Park. Participants will learn about the 2018-2019 sabbatical guidelines. Register online.
Thursday, Feb. 7: The UFT’s Staten Island borough office is hosting new member check-in, a gathering for new members, at Rinconcito Paisa, located at 1976 Forest Ave., Staten Island. New members can enjoy refreshments, check in with union representatives and chat with colleagues. New members who have worked in any UFT title with three years or less service may attend. Please register online for this event.
Save the Date
Saturday, March 30: The UFT’s 6th annual Middle School Conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. For more information, see the Middle School Sixth Annual Conference flier.
Upcoming LearnUFT workshops
LearnUFT, the UFT’s professional development institute, offers an array of affordable workshops and professional learning opportunities for UFT members. The cost to register, unless otherwise indicated, is $30 for teachers seeking CTLE hours and $15 without CTLE hours. The cost for all paraprofessionals is $15. Participants will earn two CTLE hours for each workshop, unless otherwise specified.
These workshops will take place at UFT borough offices, unless otherwise indicated:
See LearnUFT courses in the Bronx »
See LearnUFT courses in Brooklyn »
See LearnUFT courses in Manhattan »
See LearnUFT courses in Queens »
See Learn UFT courses on Staten Island »
For a full listing of upcoming LearnUFT workshops, see the LearnUFT page on the UFT website.
For more events, go to uft.org/calendar.
In Case You Missed It
Call to elect more women to office at pre-Women's March forum
Resolution to support the expansion of voting rights in New York
Resolution on Medicare's right to negotiate drug prices
Resolution on offering training to chapter leaders and delegates
Resolution to support New Museum employees in joining a union (UAW)
Pathways to Graduation Chapter Newsletter
Photo Gallery: Social Workers and Psychologists Clinician Appreciation Day 2019
Photo Gallery: Meet the President with District 79 members
Photo Gallery: Michael Mulgrew visits PS 107 in Brooklyn
Professional Committees
UFT Professional Committees offer a wide range of workshops, presentations and exchanges, enabling all members to take an active part in their professional growth. Unless indicated, meetings are at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, Manhattan. Check in the lobby for exact locations. For further information, contact us at 212-598-7772 or visit us online.
Send us your feedback
We are committed to making the Chapter Leader Update as interesting and relevant as it can be. Please fill out this online form to let us know what you found most valuable in this week's newsletter and how we can improve the Chapter Leader Update.
Editor: Peter O’Donnell
Executive Editor: Bernadette Weeks
Contributors include: Karen Alford, George Altomare, Amy Arundell, LeRoy Barr, Jackie Bennett, Jeffery Bernstein, Hannah Brown, Joseph Colletti, Evelyn DeJesus, Crystal Deoraj, Paul Egan, Christina Gavin, Alison Gendar, MaryJo Ginese, Kathleen Guilbert, Anthony Harmon, Sarah Herman, Janella Hinds, Katherine Kurjakovic, Junior Linton, Joe LoVerde, Samantha Mark, Deidre McFadyen, Michael Murphy, Gabriel Nott, Suzanne Popadin, Debra Poulos, Jeffrey Povalitis, Tina Puccio, Briget Rein, Nadine Reis, Sterling Roberson, Michael Sill, Anne Silverstein, Dermot Smyth, Geofrey Sorkin, Rosemarie Thompson, Miriam Vega, Vanesia Wilson and Shelvy Young-Abrams.