The next Delegate Assembly is Wednesday, June 12

This Week's Focus

UFT borough offices open for business this summer

The UFT is open for business throughout the summer on a modified schedule. UFT borough offices will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, and Friday, June 28. UFT headquarters and borough offices will then be open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. from Monday, July 1, through Thursday, Aug. 9, except for Thursday, July 4, when they will be closed for Independence Day. Borough offices will be closed from Monday, Aug. 12 through Friday, Aug. 23 and will reopen the week of Aug. 26 on the summer schedule. UFT headquarters will remain open throughout August. Regular hours resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3, following the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 2. On Fridays throughout the summer, the UFT central switchboard will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a small crew will be on hand at 52 Broadway to manage union business. Security procedures require all members to check in at the reception desk at each office and show a photo ID and their UFT membership card.

Lead teacher program heralded for its impact

The work teacher leaders do every day in New York City public schools is so important — and it is being recognized. This week, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Institute for Educational Planning released a new study of New York City’s Teacher Career Pathways program, which was negotiated as part of the DOE-UFT contract. The study found that the program has a positive impact on teacher satisfaction and retention, teacher voice and collaboration, instructional practices, professional development and overall school culture. Among other things, the study found the program helps attract and retain valued teachers and a majority of teachers reported that their instructional practice improved as a result of working with teacher leaders. The program provides a number of lessons for other programs about the importance of teacher buy-in and trust; support and accountability; and consistent engagement with school leaders. As educators, we know that empowering the people in the classroom is the best way to invigorate school communities and create better conditions for teaching and learning. You can read the study results on the UNESCO website.

Peer Intervention Program offers professional support to tenured teachers

Celebrating its 31st year, the Peer Intervention Program (PIP) helps tenured teachers. If you are concerned about a teacher in your school who seems overwhelmed with classroom issues, make sure to share information about the Peer Intervention Program, a voluntary, confidential program that provides assistance for teachers who believe their teaching would benefit from such assistance. PIP has successfully helped thousands of teachers and is a proactive step toward professional growth for teachers struggling with their craft. Teachers interested in PIP can find more information, including an online request for assistance, on the Peer Intervention Program page of the UFT website.

Join us this Saturday for the PRIDE march in Brooklyn

Join the UFT as we celebrate our diversity and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising at the Pride Parade in Brooklyn on June 8. UFT members are invited to march with their union in the Brooklyn Pride Parade at twilight on Saturday, June 8. A UFT liaison will greet participants at the corner of Sterling Place and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope and direct them to the UFT delegation. Please arrive by 6 p.m. Use this UFT online form to sign up.

Join us this Sunday at the Puerto Rican Day Parade

It’s not too late to sign up to join the UFT contingent at the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade this Sunday, June 9, as we march along Fifth Avenue in celebration of Puerto Rican heritage. We will assemble at 8:30 a.m. on West 45th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Singer Ricky Martin will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal. Composer, musician, producer and educator Bobby Sanabria will serve as the parade’s Padrino. Singer La India will serve as the parade's Madrina. Singer and songwriter José Feliciano will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Music. For more information, see the Puerto Rican Day Parade flier. To sign up, please use our online form.

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Your Chapter Leader Checklist

• New Summer grievance procedures: After the last day of the school year, the online grievance process is suspended; all grievances must be filed at your UFT borough office. Grievances relating to the regular school year can only be filed once school resumes. Chapter leaders may file Step 1 grievances online again starting the first day of school. If you have any questions, please contact your borough office. For UFT borough office contact information, see the UFT Borough Offices webpage. For UFT borough office summer hours, see the item in Salary and Personnel.
• New Encourage your school’s secretaries to attend the UFT’s School Secretaries Luncheon: Each year the UFT School Secretaries Chapter holds a year-end celebration at which school secretaries from each borough are honored. Please make sure your school’s secretaries are aware of this opportunity to celebrate the end of the year and honor the hard work of the 2019 Secretary of the Year Award winners. This year’s luncheon will take place on Saturday, June 15, from noon to 4 p.m. at UFT headquarters. See the event listing for registration details.
• Submit all your SBOs by Monday, June 10: The DOE deadline is June 10 for submitting DOE-approved extended-time SBOs that affect student arrivals and dismissals and changes to the 155 minutes in single-session schools. The UFT is asking chapter leaders to submit all other SBOs by June 10 as well. Since all SBOs sunset every year, with the exception of the 7/8 period day SBOs in elementary schools, you must conduct a new SBO vote for all other SBOs for the 2019–20 school year. As chapter leader, you are not required to conduct an SBO that your chapter does not want. SBOs should be conducted only if there is a willingness among your staff to modify the contract. An SBO requires the support of 55 percent of voting members for ratification. Keep your district representative informed at every stage of the SBO process and alert your rep to any problems. Your district representative should review and approve your SBO ballot before your members vote and will provide the link to the online SBO certification and ratification form after approval of the vote. Please use the following resources to assist you with the SBO process: the UFT’s SBO Manual, SBO PowerPoint and sample SBO ballots. For more information on the 2019–20 session time guidance, see the DOE memo on Session Time Reporting for the 2019-20 School Year.
• Guidance for June 11 clerical day: If you work in an elementary, middle or District 75 school, please assure your school secretaries and other members that the clerical day scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, remains a day for clerical work. This year, there is prekindergarten and no pre-K professional learning scheduled on the clerical day. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your district representative.
• UFT certificates for graduates: The UFT’s officers and the chairpersons of the Professional Committees have a long tradition of supporting and rewarding our schools’ graduates by awarding certificates for excellence in academic achievement. Certificates may be presented to the most deserving students in each subject area. Download the certificates of excellence in academic achievement from the chapter leader section of the UFT website (you must be logged in to gain access). For more information, you can contact the Office of UFT Professional Committees at 212-598-7772.
• Educate members about the need to rein in out-of-network hospital fees: The UFT is part of a coalition of labor, consumer, health and business organizations working to contain excessive “out-of-network” emergency hospital charges. When insurers pay more for exorbitant out-of-network costs, patients can end up paying more in the form of higher rates the following year. When government employers must absorb this expense (which is the case for members of the UFT and other New York City public employee unions), higher health care costs can mean less money for raises in the next contract round. That’s why the UFT is urging state lawmakers to pass bill A.264-A in the legislative session that ends in late June. The bill would extend the independent — and successful — arbitration process that has curbed “out-of-network” emergency room doctors’ bills in New York since 2014 and apply the same process to comparable sky-high emergency charges by hospitals for out-of-network services. We need to end this price gouging by hospitals. Read UFT President Michael Mulgrew’s op ed “Stop sky’s-the-limit hospital bills” in Crain’s New York Business and spend five minutes of your June chapter meeting talking about this bill with your members.

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Share with Your Members

Classroom Café Podcast Series for New Members flier

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You Should Know

English Language Learners

Certification opportunity for ENL and bilingual educators: ENL and bilingual teachers may attend an information session on National Board certification, the most respected professional certification available in K–12 education. This information session, presented by the UFT Teacher Center, takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 14, at Fordham University, Lincoln Center Campus, MacMahon Hall Lounge, room 109, 113 W. 60th St. (between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues). Participants will learn about the certification’s requirements; participate in professional development; and learn about the supports and resources available for candidates as well as the necessary qualifications for a second salary differential. Register online. For more information, please contact Gail Sookdeo at Gsookdeo [at] ufttc [dot] org (Gsookdeo[at]ufttc[dot]org).

Health and Safety

Protect yourself during mosquito season: Mosquitoes are active in the metropolitan region from April through October. During this time, mosquitoes lay eggs in slow-moving or standing water. Fight West Nile virus, Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by removing standing water around your home to discourage mosquito breeding. For tips on keeping mosquitos away from your home, see the Standing Water Checklist. For more information, see the Mosquito Control FAQ, Mosquito Control Brochure, Mosquito Bite Prevention Guidance and Insect Repellent Use and Safety Fact Sheet.

New Members

New Check the UFT website daily: Stories of interest and importance to UFT members break every day, so we’re updating the UFT website daily to keep pace. If you haven’t recently visited our website, you’re missing education and labor news clips; photo albums of UFT events; videos; and more. Take the opportunity to also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. All this is in addition to our online events calendar and, of course, the forms, contracts and in-depth information about your rights and benefits as a UFT member.

New UFT podcast series provides support to new members: New members sometimes experience challenges and stresses in their personal and professional lives and may need the support of a helping hand from time to time. The UFT’s Member Assistance Program (MAP) has created "Classroom Café," a podcast series tailored to the needs of new members. Each podcast focuses on an aspect of well-being: mindfulness and compassion, making classrooms happy places, ways to eat healthier, time management, and creating safe, welcoming and inclusive schools. The full series of "Classroom Café" podcasts is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and SoundCloud. For more information, contact MAP at mapinfo [at] uft [dot] org (mapinfo[at]uft[dot]org) or by telephone at 212-701-9620. For more information, see the Member Assistance Program Podcast Series flier.

Opportunities

New The CUNY Creative Arts Team's expo for careers in music: Middle and high school educators may bring their students to Sound Thinking, an exposition that will show participants how to turn a passion for music into a possible college and career path, especially in music production. This expo will spotlight New York City’s vibrant music scene, music/arts organizations and educational institutions. It will take place on Wednesday, June 19, from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Viacom Building, 1515 Broadway, between West 44th and West 45th streets. For more information and to register online, see the Sound Thinking website.

Student Debt Relief Program information: The Student Debt Relief Program, an exclusive UFT member benefit, has helped many members to lower their student debt. As an educator working in public service, you may be eligible to participate in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness and federal Title I Loan Forgiveness programs. Navigating your options and applying for the right programs is complicated but we can help. The first step is to attend one of our upcoming free information sessions, where you’ll receive an overview of the range of debt forgiveness programs. After attending a session, you may make an appointment to speak by phone with a loan specialist to discuss your individual needs and create an action plan. To see the upcoming dates and register for a session, use the online form.

Political Action

Take Action Help with phone-banking in Queens for Melinda Katz: Please join fellow UFT members at a union phone bank to help elect Melina Katz as the Queens district attorney in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, June 25. Katz is in a heated seven-way race to replace the late district attorney, Richard A. Brown, who died on May 4 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Read the UFT resolution in support of endorsing Melinda Katz on the UFT website. The phone banks, which will run Monday through Thursday until Monday, June 24, will take place from 3:30 to 8 p.m. at the UFT’s Queens borough office, 97-77 Queens Blvd., 4th floor. Use this online form to sign up to volunteer.

Take Action Help with phone-banking in Brooklyn for Farah Louis: Thanks to the volunteer efforts of many UFT members, Farah Louis won the election to represent Council District 45 in a special election on May 14. But now she has to compete again in the Tuesday, June 25, Democratic Primary. Please join fellow UFT members for one of our union phone banks, which runs from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on select weekdays throughout June at the UFT’s Brooklyn borough office, 335 Adams St., 24th floor, room 1. Use this online form to volunteer. For more information about volunteering to elect Farah Louis, please reach out to the UFT’s Brooklyn borough office at 718-852-4900.

Recognition

New Shoutout to Susan E. Wagner HS Chapter Leader Lillian Palladino: We’re giving a shoutout to Susan E. Wagner HS Chapter Leader Lillian Palladino for using the DOE-UFT contract to resolve a paperwork issue quickly. When her principal instructed staff to upload documents, including agendas, minutes and logs, onto Google Drive and to write and upload the minutes of the common planning group’s sessions and samples of learning targets on a daily basis, Palladino promptly filed a complaint that the new work requirements were in violation of the paperwork reduction standards in the DOE-UFT contract. Read more about Lillian Palladino’s achievements as a chapter leader on the UFT website.

Rights and Grievances

New APPR complaint procedures: During the summer, APPR complaints may not be filed. APPR complaints may only be filed once school resumes in September. If you have any questions, please contact your UFT borough office. For UFT borough office summer hours, see the item in This Week’s Focus.

New ICT and ENL teachers can grieve excessive class preps and room assignments: Co-teachers in integrated co-teaching classes and English as a new language teachers who provide stand-alone and/or integrated instruction have the right to file reorganization grievances if they are programmed for an unreasonable number of class preparations or to teach in multiple rooms. Reorganization grievances must be filed within two days of receiving the program through the chapter leader. When filing the grievance, the teacher should indicate the contract article that was violated and provide a description of how it was violated. Relevant articles in the DOE-UFT contract are 7A (high schools) and 7B (intermediate and junior high schools). Reorganization grievances are eligible for expedited arbitration at the end of June through the first week of October. Read more guidance on the UFT website.

Salary and Personnel

Remote teaching pilot job posting: The Remote Teaching pilot is up and running in high schools across New York City. If you are interested in participating as a remote teacher, please review the job posting and apply for the position. If you have any questions, please contact Vice President of Academic High Schools Janella Hinds at teamhighschool [at] uft [dot] org (teamhighschool[at]uft[dot]org).

Summer pay and paid parental leave: If you are a UFT-represented DOE employee and were on paid parental leave during the school year, the check you received from the UFT Welfare Fund for the parental leave period included your regular compensation and also your pro-rated summer pay. As a result, you will see a reduction in your DOE vacation pay for the summer, which is calculated based on the number of weeks that you were on DOE payroll. Please refer to the letter you received with your paid parental leave check from the UFT Welfare Fund for more details.

Special Education

Update on 2019-20 IEP/Intervention Teacher job postings: According to the May 14, 2019, issue of the Principals’ Weekly, schools that received a centrally funded IEP/Intervention Teacher position for this school year should only post the position for the 2019-20 school year if they have or anticipate having a vacancy for the upcoming school year. As reflected in the current posting, the IEP/Intervention Teacher position is a four-year position only for teachers who started in the 2016-17 school year. Newly hired IEP/Intervention Teachers will continue to be on a three-year cycle. The allocation of IEP/Intervention Teacher positions will be reassessed next year to ensure that the DOE is accounting for enrollment trends, school openings and closings and other factors. If you have any questions about your school’s eligibility for an IEP/Intervention Teacher position, see the DOE’s Fiscal Year 2018 School Allocation Memo.

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This Week in Education and Labor News

Nevada teachers union promises to strike: Members of Nevada’s Clark County Education Association on June 3 announced that their proposed teacher strike is still on, according to Governing.com. Union members voted in May to strike at the start of the 2019-20 school year if education funding falls short, maintaining they won't accept budget cuts or pay freezes. John Vellardita, the union’s executive director, said the state Legislature failed to allocate sufficient funds for promised teacher raises without cutting resources in the classroom. The district has threatened legal action against the teachers and their union if teachers walk off the job.

Joe Biden unveils education policy: Former Vice President Joe Biden on May 28 revealed his first major education plan of the 2020 presidential election, according to Politico. Biden focused on increasing teacher pay, making preschool universal and boosting investments in K-12 school support services such as mental health. The centerpiece of Biden’s proposal is a tripling of the federal Title I funding that’s allocated to low-income school districts, including New York City. Biden would also increase funding for special education and bilingual education.

A student’s advocacy inspires Holocaust curriculum: An Oregon student’s activism against anti-Semitism and other prejudices has prompted legislation to require the study of the Holocaust in all schools in the state, reports the L.A. Times. Claire Sarnowski, who was moved after meeting a Holocaust survivor in the 4th grade, testified to bullying and stereotyping at school — and the lessons the Holocaust can offer. “Learning about genocide teaches students the ramifications that come with prejudice of any kind,” Sarnowski told lawmakers. The law will take effect in 2020, with details to be worked out by Oregon education officials, schools and teachers.

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Events Calendar

Featured

Saturday, June 8: UFT members are invited to march with their union in the Brooklyn Pride Parade. Use this UFT online form to sign up. A UFT liaison will greet participants at the corner of Sterling Place and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope and direct them to the UFT delegation. Please arrive by 6 p.m. For more information, including online registration, see the item in This Week’s Focus.

Sunday, June 9: A UFT contingent will march in the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in celebration of Puerto Rican heritage. We will assemble at 8:30 a.m. on West 45th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. For more information, including online registration, see the item in This Week’s Focus.

This Week

Tuesday, June 11: You are invited to a free film screening of "Backpack Full of Cash," narrated by Matt Damon, with Spanish subtitles, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UFT’s Bronx borough office, 2500 Halsey St. The film examines the real cost of privatizing the nation’s public schools. A panel discussion with the filmmakers will follow the viewing. Register online. For more information, see the Backpack Full of Cash flier.

Tuesday, June 11: The Attendance Teachers Chapter meeting takes place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway.

Wednesday, June 12: The Delegate Assembly takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway.

Wednesday, June 12: Staten Island-based members are invited to a maternity and child care workshop from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UFT’s Staten Island borough office, 4456 Amboy Road. Participants will learn about their rights concerning maternity/child care, parental and FMLA leaves. Register online.

Wednesday, June 12 and Thursday, June 13: Student Debt Relief Program information sessions take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the UFT’s Brooklyn and Queens borough offices on June 12, and at the UFT’s Manhattan and Bronx borough offices on June 13. See the Student Debt Relief Program page on the UFT website for more information and to register for all remaining sessions. See the item in Opportunities.

Thursday, June 13: Bronx-based members are invited to a maternity workshop from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UFT's Bronx borough office, 2500 Halsey St., rear entrance. Register online. For more information, see the Baby on the Way flier.

Thursday, June 13: The Supervisors of School Security Chapter meeting takes place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway.

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 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.

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In Case You Missed It

Press Release: Study shows UFT-DOE teacher leader program is a model to follow

Photo Gallery: School Counselor Recognition Day

Photo Gallery: Let’s Talk About It kids’ conference

Photo Gallery: Better Speech and Hearing Month Celebration

Photo Gallery: District 24 Scholarship Dinner Dance

Photo Gallery: Science Exploratorium at PS 84, Brooklyn

Chapter News: An inspiring occupational therapist

Queens Parent Newsletter – June 6, 2019

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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.

Association of Teachers of Social Studies/Jewish Heritage

• Monday, June 17 – Wednesday, June 19: “Jews and Muslims of Morocco: Uncommon Commonalities.” For more information, see the Jews and Muslims of Morocco: Uncommon Commonalities flier.

Irish Heritage

• Thursday, June 13, 4:30 p.m., eighth annual Frank McCourt lecture. For more information, see the Eighth Annual Frank McCourt Memorial Lecture flier.

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Editor: Peter O’Donnell

Executive Editor: Bernadette Weeks

Contributors include: Karen Alford, George Altomare, Amy Arundell, LeRoy Barr, Jackie Bennett, Hannah Brown, Rashad Brown, Emelina Camacho-Mendez, Carl Cambria, David Campbell, Evelyn DeJesus, Crystal Deoraj, Alison Gendar, MaryJo Ginese, Anthony Harmon, Sarah Herman, Janella Hinds, Lynne Kilroy, Anthony Klug, Katherine Kurjakovic, Junior Linton, Charles Lobello, Jennifer Long, Joe LoVerde, Samantha Mark, Deidre McFadyen, Michael Murphy, Gabriel Nott, Suzanne Popadin, Debra Poulos, Jeff Povalitis, Cassie Prugh, Nadine Reis, Michael Sill, Anne Silverstein and Liz Truly.