UFT Executive Board November 16, 2020--Medical Accommodations to Be Resolved by Next Week, Working on Incentive, Going Remote at 3%, UFT Opposes NYSESLAT This Year

 

Roll Call 5:50

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr--All resolutions passed. BLM resolution, endorsing Julie Menin, and opposing NYSESLAT administration (text below) this year.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew--Watching numbers to determine whether or not we go remote. Some people question rate in schools, but our plan, designed with doctors, says we need to stop virus from re-emerging. We can't allow schools to be places where it spreads. Schools could spread virus into neighborhoods, and no one can deny we've done correct thing. Not changing course now.

Same folks who didn't want schools open now don't want schools closed. They can shut down restaurants instead of tweeting at us. We're one of few places able to come back using aggressive tactics. Sure you've seen lines at City MDs. This is not over, virus has nothing to do with election, and is running its own course.

Getting email from members who want to open, and members who want to close. We will follow the plan. We finally see a light at the end of the tunnel, real possibilities of major vaccines. We need to ge through the winter. Other states are completely out of hand. We remember March, and how we got through it. Everyone stayed in and that's what we had to do.

Hoping city will take this seriously. Saw good signs. NYPD great, breaking up house parties. We've done our part, but community spread rate needs to be controlled. Rules being followed in schools. Will be issues, but I will keep you informed.

National--been involved in meetings. There are two real problems--virus and economy. Economy is bad. City MD lines are one thing, but I've never seen food bank lines, which are now in every borough. At least now some people recognizing this at national level. We need to vaccinate and fix economy ASAP. 

At least now we are having conversations. Biden team quite serious about transition. Economy will take a much longer time than the virus. There will be debates about people not wanting to be vaccinated, but governor is bringing in panel of experts, something I'd like to see done in education. People will have strong opinions, but if independent experts say they're good to go, we have to make sure we and nurses get access to vaccine. 

Good we aren't a swing state, and don't need to wait on counting that many votes. Those states seem to be breaking toward blue side.

DA Wed. should be well attended. Will be more red zones likely. Many tests happening in NYC. Was holdup because nurses had to be trained. We made sure they had right equipment. Over 10K tests a day in city schools. Heard about games people are playing--let us know about issues. 

Membership has been phenomenal. Members puts selves on line, was a lot of hard work, COVID response teams have done good job. We have to maintain procedures. Ventilation improving, MERV should be finished within month. 

Will continue to meet with doctors. Told us October and November would be second wave, clearly happening nationally. Pretty bad, and getting tougher in NYC. Because we've been through this, causes real anxiety. Some nurses being told to report, or use sick days. In NY we are focused. UFT members have done their jobs. Now it's time for everyone else to do theirs. If you want to keep schools open, you have to keep city safe. If not, we're going remote. We rely on medical experts.

Operational complaints--Many are now being resolved. A menu of how to resolve them has gone out to principals. We have ways to resolve class size issues. Thanks CLs and DRs. Hope to have more competent administrators who don't feel they rule the world. 

Debbie Poulos--Progress on complaints sent out to DRs and will go out to CLs

Questions--

Teachers and counselors looking at mental health, not sure about DOE. There was training. Many principals tried to make members do it election day. We stopped them. This is big issue. Many students have acute issues. Much work to do after pandemic. Children isolated for months.

If Cuomo opposes school closings we will do what we need to do.

If we could get equity with all chapters, it would be great. When chapters came in, and what was in initial contract is key to where you can take chapter in future. Bargaining is two way street. If one group is in place A, other group might be at C. Always want to help all chapters.

Issue with testing is there's no criteria to go back. We wil have to work through this. Goal right now is to get us through next three months and then reassess. Initial vaccinations should be Feb. or March. Massive ones in April. 3% is 3%.

We don't have an evaluation agreement. Waiting on guidance from state. I don't believe you can administer a standardized test in a valid way. Administrators may enter classes, but not record without consent. If they interfere with teaching, report it to us. 

We are doing pension guidance. UFT offices will be open even if schools close. Pension dept. scheduling and doing counseling. We are working very hard toward early retirement incentive. We have city's written support, but not yet in place.

If you need remote teaching training contact Mary Vaccarro. 

If anyone is filling a program as sub we want them kept on if schools close, and are talking to DOE about that. Working hard to make sure they continue. Remote would likely be temporary, as long as we can get rate back down. Evidence says procedures work. 

Joe Biden will try to dismantle what Betsy DeVos did. Many schools closed throughout country, but largest system in country open, because we worked together with city.

Rashad Brown--Member having hard time getting mentor hours--Teachers still have time during day and need to meet. 

Mary Vaccaro--Haven't discussed with state.

Mulgrew--Tell CL to arrange virtual time. 

Medical Accommodations--Believe it will be December 1st through Jan 1st. Not finalized yet. Trying to see if people with chronic conditions can bypass reapplying. Say we will have answer by next week.

We'll talk on Wednesday. Be safe and stay strong.

NYSESLAT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS: NY State has canceled January Regents exams due to safety concerns, as well as systems that will ensure administration that is fair and equitable for all students, and;

 

WHEREAS: the safety of our students is paramount, and;

 

WHEREAS: the COVID situation is unlikely to improve dramatically between January and April, and;

 

WHEREAS: since the COVID shutdown, schools have transitioned to in-person, blended, and remote course instruction which has resulted in a diversity of student educational experiences, and;

 

WHEREAS: we cherish our newcomers just as we cherish all our students, be it therefore;

 

RESOLVED: that the United Federation of Teachers opposes the administration of the NYSESLAT exam during school year 2020-2021, and be it further;

 

RESOLVED: that we will seek the support of our brothers and sisters in NYSUT, and be it further;

 

RESOLVED: that we will seek the cooperation of the NY State Regents and our state representatives in the cancellation of this year’s NYSESLAT.

NYC School COVID Testing Is a Scam

We can argue about how effective testing plans are. Should we do it weekly? Every other week? Monthly? Which percentage do we need to test at a time? Should we vary depending on the rate of positivity? These are all valid concerns. I'm not an expert or a medical professional, and I'd defer to the opinions of those who are. 

Everything I hear, though, tells me that however we answer the above, things are far from kosher in the Big Apple. Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza are constantly paying valuable lip service to just how much they care about the safety of students and staff. Carranza writes us flowery letters saying how much he cares about us even as he tries to pick a billion dollars from our collective pocket. Meanwhile, I can only suppose we aren't supposed to pay attention to actual conditions on this astral plane.

It's my understanding, from multiple sources now, that those who do the testing have numbers they need to hit. I'm not sure exactly how they arrive at these numbers, but once they reach whatever their quotas happen to be, they are gone. That's fine. If we have a hundred people and they need to do 20% a week, they therefore need to test 20 people a week. 

In fact, in our school, they initially favored coming in on Fridays. There are very few people in our building on Fridays. That's a day we reach out to students with special needs or issues, and the pool of students and staff in our building is by no means representative. It took them weeks to remedy that, though it should've been one simple conversation. While that may be representative of their lack of competence, that's not even the main issue.

The main issue is they're supposed to be testing at random, and they simply are not. In multiple settings, including my home school, they first seek volunteers. If they get enough of them, they don't bother calling on people at random. This means that samples are self-selected, and therefore not random at all. If you don't feel like having someone stick a q-tip in your nose, no matter how far it may be, you don't get a q-tip in your nose. 

On the other hand, if you're the sort of person who wants to get with the program, whatever it may be, you might get tested every single week. Now sure, you have a great attitude and you're loved by many. This notwithstanding, you're allowing at least one person, and likely more, to never get tested. This skews the results tremendously. How is it that the city rate of positivity approaches 3% while the school level is well below 1? This explains it.

And hey, let's not forget that the city did not come to an agreement with DC37, If you're UFT and you decline mandatory testing, you're on unpaid leave. If you're DC37, you just go back to work. Are you sick? Are you well? Who knows? Certainly not anyone in your school building. It boggles my mind to imagine how the city could make such a huge omission. Last I looked, DC37 members were just as susceptible to catching the virus as UFT or CSA. Try telling that to Carranza, who's likely as not still searching for those 108,000 epidemiologists to tell him which way is up.

These omissions and juked stats also open the door for an opportunistic tinhorn politician like Andrew Cuomo to get up on his hind legs and proclaim buildings should be closed based on individual school results, rather than city or statewide ones. Is he doing it because he thinks keeping schools open is the right thing? Is he doing it to prolong his juvenile sandbox battle with de Blasio? To divert attention from his tremendous failure in nursing homes? All or none of the above? Unless someone out there with psychic powers wants to share a reading, we'll never know.

In any case, sit while you wait for Cuomo to tell Eva Moskowitz to open her charter buildings. After all the suitcases of cash her BFFs sent him, that's not happening any time soon. It doesn't really matter, though. The current testing system is unreliable at best. And the results are out there for everyone to see.

There has been NO student testing in #D75 schools. NONE! @NYGovCuomo is WRONG! Why is our district the LAST for everything yet our district NEEDS the MOST support. @DOEChancellor @NYCMayor @MarkTreyger718 @JumaaneWilliams @JustinBrannan @bradlander @DianeRavitch @TeacherArthurG

— Mindy Rosier-Rayburn (@MindyRosier) November 15, 2020

That's absolutely credible. Once the geniuses from Tweed meet their quota, why would they bother to test the D75 students. They got their 20%, their 20 tests, or whatever the bare minimum requirement may be, and they're on their merry way.  Not enough testing? Not a random sample? Not my job, dude.

I am continually amazed by the rampant ineptitude of Bill de Blasio's Department of Education. He had every opportunity to clean house. Instead, he just Bloomberg's machine in place. He then failed to maintain it, let alone improve it. This crucial error is just one by-product of his utter lack of vision.

Mayor de Blasio had better wake up, or the consequences could very well be deadly.

UFT Resolution in Support of Black Lives Matter at School

I voted yes. I expect this will come to the Delegate Assembly this Wednesday night. Resolution is below:

 

WHEREAS, the United Federation of Teachers reaffirms Black Lives Matter, and

 

WHEREAS, the statement Black Lives Matter means that until people of African descent are treated with dignity, humanity, and respect in all areas of our society and the barriers to their safety and health and full participation in the economy and wealth creation are dismantled, all lives do not matter, and

 

WHEREAS, our work is grounded in the fight for fairness so that every person we serve achieves their highest good, and

 

WHEREAS, throughout our history, our union has demonstrated that belief, time and time again, through our collaboration with and support for local and national organizations working toward the equity, access, and empowerment of every student and family we serve, and

 

WHEREAS, representation of and participation in heterogeneous communities allow each of us to grow in our understanding of the human condition and establish our role in the improvement of our society, and 

 

WHEREAS, anti-Black police violence continues to take place in the United States without accountability; and

 

WHEREAS New York City represents nearly 60% of NY state’s total population of Black students, and

 

WHEREAS, we recognize that our students are harmed in our schools as the result of ongoing systemic problems, including segregation, funding disparities, and lack of equal access to academic, artistic, professional and cultural opportunities, and

 

WHEREAS, we know that these systemic barriers consistently, disproportionately impact Black students; and

 

WHEREAS, the UFT supports culturally responsive educational practices, including but not limited to, efforts to diversify New York City’s educational staff so that it more closely reflects its student population, and the expansion of Black studies as well as Asian, Latinx, Native American studies programs and LGBTQ history in our Pre-K-12 classrooms, and

WHEREAS, the UFT has supported recruitment, training and retention initiatives including, but not limited to, NYC Men Teach, the NYC Teaching Fellows, the Success via Apprenticeship Program, Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Teachers, and the Young Men’s Initiative; and

WHEREAS, we are personally and professionally committed to the health and well-being of every student and staff member in our schools; therefore, be it

 

RESOLVED, the UFT reaffirms our commitment to policies, initiatives and movements that promote respect for and inclusion of Black students and educators and move affirmatively to make it a reality, and, be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the UFT continues to urge its members to amplify our demand for justice, change and equity by supporting Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action scheduled for February 2021 and other activities in the schools throughout the year and, be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the UFT will bring the 13 Guiding Principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement* to the entire school year by participating in and sharing resources from the National Black Lives Matter at School Steering Committee’s new initiative, its Year of Purpose; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will join annually with the AFT, NEA and NYSUT and proactively encourage its members to invest in critical reflection and honest conversation in school communities, for people of all ages to engage with issues of racial justice; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will call for members to: participate in the planning of community forums and the creation and implementation of age-appropriate Pre-K-12 curricular resources; utilize the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework (CRSE); and initiate school and community discussions around the actions needed to affirm racial justice; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT continues to recruit, develop and retain a membership that reflects the demographics of the city in which we work and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will call for members to: use tools such as the AFT “Share My Lesson” website, including titles such as, Teaching About Bias, Diversity and Social Justice; exchange lesson ideas, instructional materials and resources about these socially relevant topics with one another; use the tools of the NYSUT Civil and Human Rights Committee and of the BLM at School Curriculum at www.blacklivesmatteratschool.com (in the public domain); and share resources from Teaching Tolerance, NEA Ed Justice during Black History Month and beyond, and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the UFT reaffirms its past, present and future commitment to providing inclusive educational opportunities including, but not limited to scholarships, community partnerships and events that support the advancement of students of color, and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the UFT seeks reapportionment of city and state funds to bring resources into Black communities to foster self-determination and awareness through education, entrepreneurship, home ownership and the means to reverse generational economic disparities and, be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the UFT proactively engage in the necessary work to dismantle inequities in our systems through its coalition partners so that our students and families have access to employment, affordable housing and quality healthcare and, be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the UFT will continue to work with local, state and federal elected officials to secure permanent housing for our homeless students and students in temporary housing, and be it further

RESOLVED, the UFT stands in solidarity with Black students and educators as well as all communities of conscience, in the struggle for a more supportive, equitable and fair school system and society, and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the UFT will commit to making demands along with student groups such as IntegrateNYC and Teens Take Charge and call on the NYC Department of Education and City Council to work towards undoing systemic racism and in so doing to:

1. End Zero Tolerance discipline in schools

2. Mandate Black and Ethnic Studies in schools

3. Hire more Black educators

4. Fund more counselors, social workers, and mental health specialists

5. Fully integrate our schools with proper and equitable funding for librarians, PSAL sports, and access to technology.

 

*The 13 Guiding Principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement

1. Restorative Justice

We are committed to collectively, lovingly and courageously working vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension, all people. As we forge our path, we intentionally build and nurture a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle that is restorative, not depleting.

2. Empathy

We are committed to practicing empathy; we engage comrades with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts.

3. Loving Engagement

We are committed to embodying and practicing justice, liberation and peace in our engagements with one another.

4. Diversity

We are committed to acknowledging, respecting and celebrating difference(s) and commonalities.

5. Globalism

We see ourselves as part of the global Black family and we are aware of the different ways we are impacted or privileged as Black folk who exist in different parts of the world.

6. Queer Affirming

We are committed to fostering a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual unless s/he or they disclose otherwise.

7. Trans Affirming

We are committed to embracing and making space for trans brothers and sisters to participate and lead. We are committed to being self-reflexive and doing the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence.

8. Collective Value

We are guided by the fact all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status or location.

9. Intergenerational

We are committed to fostering an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism. We believe that all people, regardless of age, show up with capacity to lead and learn.

10. Black Families

We are committed to making our spaces family-friendly and enabling parents to fully participate with their children. We are committed to dismantling the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” that require them to mother in private even as they participate in justice work.

11. Black Villages

We are committed to disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, and especially “our” children to the degree that mothers, parents and children are comfortable.

12. Unapologetically Black

We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position. To love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a necessary prerequisite for wanting the same for others.

13. Black Women

We are committed to building a Black women affirming space free from sexism, misogyny and male‐centeredness.

The End of the Trump Era--or Is It?

I was a little disturbed by a post in Diane Ravtch's blog about how to appeal to rural voters. Of course we ought not to ridicule them, and of course we ought to treat them with respect. I'd argue that's what Joe Biden is doing right now, and that Hillary blew it big time by calling them, or at least all Trump voters, "deplorables." 

This notwithstanding, I'm not sure at all how to appeal to Trump voters. Right now, their man is openly rejecting democracy and a whole lot of them are buying it. Anything he lost is "rigged," because it's impossible for him to lose anything.

Clown on demand Rudy Giuliani got up in front of Four Seasons landscaping and ridiculed the networks calling the election. This is simply unheard of, he suggested. Rudy said the networks don't call elections. The courts do. In essence, Rudy said the people don't call elections.

Over and over, Republicans went to court and were tossed out for lack of evidence. This isn't Bush v. Gore, and it isn't even close. But that's the way things go in Trumpworld. Whatever Trump wants, Trump gets. It's that simple when you have the sort of personality flaw that can never admit a mistake, that can never admit defeat. (I actually knew someone exactly like that, and if I saw that guy today I'd walk across the street to avoid him, even if there were no pandemic.)

If you don't believe they're selectively looking at facts on the ground, take a look at this:

BREAKING: President Trump and Senate Republicans win Alaska, overwhelmingly and by a massive 20 point spread!

Put AK in the books for @realDonaldTrump! Congratulations Senator @DanSullivan_AK!

Thank you Alaska! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/pr7Gz0S7q1

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) November 11, 2020

When they win, it's in the books. When they lose, it's rigged. So how do you appeal to people who are taken in by obvious lies? How do you appeal to people who turn away from Fox News when it veers too close to reality? Do you offer them things that actually benefit them? Do you turn away Trump's tax cuts so the federal government can invest in the country instead of the people who least need help? Do you offer universal health care so Americans don't go broke paying hospital bills? 

Well, it turns out things like that are socialism, or Marxism, or something, and to America, that's really scary. America isn't exactly sure what socialism is, but we know it's bad somehow. We know that because Republicans win by labeling anything that might help us as socialism. Maybe we ought not to let them label what we do, but it's hard rolling back years of stereotyping and name-calling.

As if that's not enough, last time Democrats controlled the country they simply did not do a whole lot to help us. Obamacare is an improvement but not a cure-all. In education, they were outright hostile to public school teachers and unions, following Bill Gates' hurtful test and punish philosophy. Arne Duncan was just inches away from Betsy DeVos, and he was a whole lot more effective in demeaning public education than she was.

A good first step for Democrats would be to stop taking suitcases full of cash from health insurance interests and education privatizers. If they can persuade me they're 100% on the side of We, the People, it will be a good first step toward reaching the Trumpies in red states.

Nonetheless, the Trumpies are on board with the Conman-in-Chief. How do you persuade people taken in by the likes of him? To support him even as he blatantly undermines democracy is unconscionable, but it works for them. I'm sure not all his supporters are fanatical ideologues, but I know people who are, including teachers. There's clearly no sense of right or wrong in a party that won't put up a Democratic SCOTUS nominee months before an election, but nominates Amy Coney Whatever eight days before Trump's given his walking papers.

And the big con doesn't end with Trump's whining. They're actively talking about subverting electors in the swing states controlled by Republicans. A whole lot of them have no issue overturning a democratic election that didn't go their way. I don't think they'll ultimately do that, but they're absolutely unscrupulous. If they could manage it, if they could get away with it, they'd do it.

The Democrats need great tactical minds, and they need to consistently support us. It's uphill now, with the need to take two GA Senate races. But alienating those of us who stuck with Biden despite our reservations if foolish at best. We need to move forward, and bring along all the Americans we can.

Stacy Abrams has proven relentless in registering and empowering voters. She can continue her work right up until the election. People are tired of being erased and disenfranchised by absolutely anyone. There's a chance here, but the nonsense has to stop.

This Week in Apocalypse Video--Gomorrah

You have to credit the chutzpah of guys who run around killing everybody and then cross themselves, hoping that no one returns the favor. Of course, kiss your crucifix before you murder a little girl. That's the only way, of course.

You don't expect these things. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll be entirely on board for Gomorrah, streaming on HBO Max in either Italian or English--your choice. Highly sensitive types need not apply.

A friend of mine from Italy tells me he's never seen this show, but that it's the offspring of a film of a book describing the crime scene in Naples. Evidently the book was so offensive to some that the author is now living under protection somewhere. I haven't seen the film yet, so this is about the show.  I've watched the first season.

Imagine The Sopranos, but largely devoid of humor. Imagine a boss who has none of Tony's endearing idiosyncrasies.  Imagine his cruelty as a constant, rather than something that pops out when he loses his composure, or when he's stricken by an inexplicable whim. Imagine the corners in The Wire, set in Naples, rather than Baltimore. There you've got a snapshot of Gomorrah.

This show revels in violence. Someone I'd anticipated as a key character was dead by episode 2. And death is just an everyday occurence. There are no apologies, no Godfather-style rationalizations of only business, not personal. There's little romanticism or noble gestures. In fact, there is no particular wisdom attached to Don Pietro, or any of the crime bosses. For them, it's just hang tough, be tougher than the next guy, and their word of honor is no more reliable than the support NYC teachers get from Richard Carranza's DOE.

I'd originally compared his son Gennaro to AJ, Tony Soprano's son, but older, and in a position to take over. Of course, Gennaro, like AJ, has led a privileged life, and starts out in no way prepared to handle Don Pietro's brutal business. Unlike Tony Soprano, Don Pietro couldn't care less how unqualified his son is, and sees him as eventual boss no matter what. Don Pietro is king, his offspring will rule, and that's it thank you very much. Gennaro's character develops, but I don't find myself liking him very much.

Gennaro's character lacks charm. He has little capacity for introspection beyond reptilian desire.  In these respects, he's a lot more like Donald Trump than AJ. Who cares what my advancement costs, or who I step over to get there? Who cares how many hundreds of thousands drop dead from a pandemic? I'm okay, that should be good enough for anyone, and let's keep working on Making My Crime Syndicate Great Again. 

For part of the series, Don Pietro is out of commission, and Ciro, "The Immortal," is actually running the day to day affairs of the gang. T.  I'm not clear where he originally got the name, but he survives various improbable situations, and earns the title. He's not quite Omar in The Wire, but close to it. For reasons that elude me, he's fond of Genaro. He props him up in the eyes of his father, and pays for it in one of the most stomach-turning scenes of the series, and the competition for that title is pretty stiff. 

Ciro is ambitious, but faces  competition everywhere he turns. Lady Imma, Gennaro's mom, appears to be a doting housewife at first. But in the absence of husband Don Pietro, she looks at everything and makes her own decisions. It's a man's world in Gomorrah, and it's not easy for a woman to take charge. But as usual, brain triumphs over brawn, and Ciro's path is not clear at all. Lady Imma manages to look evil while walking with a priest to introduce a statue of the Madonna.

Much of Gomorrah seems to take place in the darkness. If Ciro's out during daylight, he's wearing sunglasses, and if it isn't night yet, most scenes seem to be indoors. Daylight is for riding around on motorbikes and murdering your enemies with machine guns. It's easier to pick them out that way. Darkness is almost a character here. You feel it in every scene and situation. No one seems to have any fun except for Gennaro's idiot friends when they him how wonderful they think he is. 

This show isn't for everyone. You won't find yourself identifying with these characters, and you won't find any lovable villains. I'm hooked on it nonetheless. European video doesn't seem to have the need to be as optimistic as what we see in the USA. Maybe they weren't raised on Disney, and maybe that's ultimately for the better. There are two more seasons available in Europe, and I understand they're coming to HBO Max sooner or later.

UFT Executive Board November 9, 2020--City Not Saying When Members Need To Reapply for Accommodations

Roll call 

Minutes--approved

UFT Middle School VP Rich Mantel--Reports that Thanksgiving Drive requests donations online for coats and scarves for children in temporary housing. Asks we share flyers in schools to help more kids.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew--We've been involved with politics last week, thanks retirees and volunteers for all the work they did. Though Biden didn't win Florida, we have organizing efforts down there. PA efforts were important. Educational platforms were very much in conflict. Trump wanted privatization, tax credits, protecting predatory lenders. Biden wants to expand Title One, add psychologists in schools. Wife's influence important. Started as special ed. teacher before moving on to college level. Will work as teacher while First Lady. Focus will be on education. 

We will at least have people who understand substance of challenges we're facing. Still haven't received stimulus package. Focus is on GA. Over 100 million will be spend. We have people there. 

We have a lot of races over our state that haven't been called. NY doesn't count absentee ballots until next week. May take three or four weeks. Then we go into largest election cycle in NYC. We have aggressive plan on City Council, Mayoral Race. Will have group of people interviewing candidates. Will organize our members. Number of races very large. 

Thanks Anthony Harmon and those who helped with parent conference on Saturday. Parents frustrated at lack of info and callbacks from DOE. We want to work with parents, help when we can and direct anger in right place. DOE likes to blame union which is nonsense. 

COVID numbers are inching up. We're ready if we have to go remote. Can we improve it? Yes, but that would require a citywide plan which they've never done. Rates low, but once it goes higher schools could become spreaders. 

Numbers high across US, Jersey having issues, and we will watch NYC very carefully. We will stick to plan. We will act with an abundance of caution and put safety first. 

We have so many challenges. At least we won't have someone in White House trying to destroy union and public education. This was an easy call for us, perhaps the easiest ever because it was so stark. Of course members may vote as they wish, but in terms of public ed. and workers' rights this was the way to go. Saturday was a special day. At least we will now have an admin more focused on what we do every day. If you read educational platform you will see they meet our needs.

Questions--

Ventilation-City putting out its guidelines, we will put out ours. You do not need MERC 13 necessarily but we like it as its very effective. Schools will be a little bit colder than normal. Custodians need to keep outside air and heat blasting if there's no other ventilation. If I were teaching I'd keep windows slightly open. We are checking ventilation and doing CO2 checks. That part has been working well, unlike most of DOE. 

Grievance process--We will reinstate ASAP.  We will help people who have issues with lump sum payments.

We will get through this. You've heard about vaccine, and we will go back. We need to decide how we think tech will be used.  

We are still waiting for DOE to say how much lead time we need for medical documentation. We understand people will need to reapply. Not all conditions are permanent. Waiting on appropriate time. We will keep pushing them. 

Content specialists--City hasn't hired anyone yet. Will keep you posted.

Operational complaints moving quickly. We are seeking special compensation for members burdened with improper programming. If DOE had come out with clear guidance schools would've been programmed properly. Has been a mess all the way through. We have stayed focused and are now getting results.

Early retirement--It's out there. City in complete support. We will see where it goes. It's a process and we will keep negotiating.

Attendance procedure--Some schools saying if students complete work they must be marked present--

Mulgrew--There should be one simple process for each school. Did they participate in class that day is what state wants to know. City should have put out a single way to do this, they have not, and this is turning into a mess. 

Thanks for all work and help, especially those who helped on elections. Let's respect all our veterans this Wednesday. 

Hallelujah!

 

January Regents Canceled--What Does That Mean for Us?

Acting NY State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa did something right the other day. She canceled the January Regents Exams. That's a good idea, considering the chaotic school year we're having. Some of us are teaching remotely. Others are teaching small groups of students inside schools. Yet others are doing different things on different days.

This is an odd year for me. I have students who simply don't show up. You call their homes, and sometimes you get a response. Sometimes you don't. I called a student yesterday, and a young child answered. I spent many minutes trying to get the child to get his mom on the phone. When I finally did, she said she didn't know what to do. She tells him to go to class, but he just doesn't want to.

This student, like many others, would be coming into school every day if we were regularly showing up. I know this because he was in my class last year. Why isn't he coming? I can't tell you, exactly, but I kind of understand. This is a very social young man, and remote instruction isn't particularly motivating him. It's too bad. He's very bright and would do as well as anyone if only he'd show up. My bag of tricks is very attuned toward discouraging negative behavior, but I can't just drive into Queens every morning to throw this kid out of bed, or drag him home, or whatever it takes.

That brings us to the question of teacher observation. We have an agreed upon system that relies upon test scores that do not even exist. The ostensible reason for this is a lack of reliance on administrators. While I'm not in love with this system by any stretch of the imagination, I agree that many administrators are unfit to judge teaching. I'd guess that 25-40% of administrators ought not to be school leaders, and the only upside is that at least they aren't teachers. Alas, while that's good for kids, it sucks for us.

Given that tests aren't even a thing, and given that whatever the other criteria for MOSL may be is muddy at best, the only thing left on which to rate us is supervisory observations. Consider this--there are virtually no supervisors who have ever taught remotely. There are absolutely no supervisors who've taught under the bizarre hybrid conditions we may or may not be using now.

So where do they come off criticizing us, or saying they know how to do it better? The very word principal is short for principal teacher. It's hard to imagine a principal teacher who has never done the contemporary teacher's job, but we have a city full of them. 

I'm not stereotyping administrators. I know some great ones. I know administrators who are supportive and helpful. If all were that way, we'd have a system we could work with. Supportive administrators make supportive teachers. Unfortunately we have a DOE created by and for Mike Bloomberg, and support is not even a priority over there, 

I could easily imagine this DOE putting out a directive on observations. Someone recently asked me about a "remote Danielson" program. I could imagine that. The thing is, Danielson was not designed to be an evaluation system. It was meant to be something to strive for. As an evaluation system, it gives way too much leeway to 30-year-old Boy Wonder supervisors. Furthermore, even if that were not a factor, it's not suited to remote instruction, let alone socially distanced classrooms in which normal human interactions are hobbled. Am I ineffective because I can't motivate a student to log into my class?

If I'm doing something really awful, my AP or principal ought to let me know about it. If I'm going to classes drunk and on drugs, they should respond appropriately. But honestly, looking for groupwork and the sort of interactions we'd have pre-pandemic is absolutely unreasonable. It's not at all the same observing groups on Zoom. I'm sure there's a better way to do it, and I'm sure I'm far from the best at it, but the fact is I have eyes and ear everywhere in a real classroom. My students know that, or learn to. In a virtual classroom, I can visit only one breakout room at a time. I'm horrified to enter these rooms and see students doing absolutely nothing. In fact, I'm disinclined to bother with breakout rooms right now.

Teacher evaluations need to move into the background for now, right along with the Regents exams. There's no good way to do it, and making things up as we go along simply isn't effective (let alone highly effective).

Who Are We?

It's remarkable what Donald Trump gets away with. He can say the most vulgar and offensive things and America says, "I'm good with that." He can separate children from their parents. He can send these children back, alone, to Mexico, even if they aren't Mexican. America says, "No problem. That's what they get for being rapists and drug dealers."

Trump can view a neo-nazi rally and declare there are good people on both sides. America says, "Yes sure, there's good in everyone." He can continue to insist on the guilt of the Central Park Five, even after they've been demonstrated to be innocent. America says, "Well, maybe that DNA evidence was false. After all, Biden might listen to scientists instead of the voices in Donald Trump's head, and we all know what that means."

Trump can get up from his television at 2:30 AM and declare that he's won, though there's absolutely no evidence to support his contention. He can tell us he wants to halt counting in states where he's ahead and continue it in states where he's behind. He can say he's going to his hand-picked Supreme Court to make sure that happens. America says, "Yeah, let's allow the court to decide. After all, they have those black robes so they must know what's right."

Trump can discount foreign meddling in US elections. He can blame it on his opponents. He can express admiration for vicious dictators in North Korea and Russia. He can look the other way when it appears Russia has placed a bounty on US soldiers. He can then stand in front of an American flag and declare his support for the troops, and America says, "Wow. Look at all those flags. This guy is really patriotic."

Trump can preside over the deaths of well over 200,000 Americans. During a pandemic, he can drop out of the World Health Organization. He can ignore the recommendations of his own CDC. He can hold massive indoor rallies that turn out to be super spreader events. He can actually catch the virus himself and force Secret Service agents to be with him so he can drive around and wave to people. He can say don't fear the virus. America says, "Gee what a gutsy guy he must be," and continues to follow the idiotic practices that have led us to become the worst COVID casualty in the entire world.

Trump can claim to be protecting the health of Americans with pre-existing conditions even as he is in court trying to stop Obamacare, absolutely the only protection there is for such conditions. It doesn't matter that he's repeatedly tried to stop it. It doesn't matter that, for years, he's promised a great plan that would cover absolutely everyone. It doesn't matter that for just as many years, he's failed to produce one. America says, "He's an outsider. He tells it like it is."

Trump can take the most middle-of-the-road Democrat, Joe Biden, and cry socialism to the high heavens. Oh my gosh, it's socialism! Maybe we won't have to pay outrageous co-pays for medicine and treatment. Maybe we won't go bankrupt due to catastrophic medical emergency. Maybe we won't stay at jobs we despise for decades rather than risk losing our health insurance. America says, "Well, we stand on our own two feet and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps." Never mind that Trump himself gets the best care available, all at our expense, and that socialism for him is just fine.

Trump can be outrageously inappropriate, racist, bigoted, xenophobic. America says, "Hey, that means it's okay if I'm racist, bigoted and xenophobic too! Who cares if this guy puts my life and those of my family and community at risk? I can be racist again. Whoopee!"

Then we all put on our red hats and the world laughs at us, if only because it's too horrible to face us and cry.

UFT Executive Board November 2, 2020--Elections, Elections, and Elections

UFT President Michael Mulgrew-- Operational issues getting resolved. DOE couldn't just keep saying "What could we do?" so they are moving along with various issues. 

Big focus on election. Coordinating very tightly with Florida. 80% of registered voters have voted. Majority who haven't voted are independent. Votes are counted before election day, and tomorrow eve they will report voting. Contingency plans--Governor may try and stop counting if Biden is ahead. Florida S. votes Dem and N. votes GOP. 

Will have more on governor next week. NYC won't open in red zones. We don't have the capacity for that much testing. Medical monitoring program--if student or adult says no you are going home. For adults it's a leave. 

Over two years ago we started in Florida, working with AFL-CIO and local federations. NY is blue state. We have some important races. Overall, it's PA, Nevada, FL, NC, and we're working in all those states. 

Tom Murphy--Worked on 8 UFT presidential campaigns. Since hanging chads, we've had to focus on FL. You'd think this campaign would be angst-laden, given 2016, but we're just putting noses to grindstone and working. 

Shows PowerPoint on FL phone banks--Made 9654 calls, 2282 conversations. Left messages for those with whom they didn't connect. 

Targeted friendly voters, dems and unaffiliated. Shared endorsed candidates and reminded them to vote. Over 94% had their ballots accepted. 

83% of registered Dems voted. 72% of registered GOP voted. 52% of independent voted. Will follow up on all sympathetic voters. 

In Florida, they can take rejected ballots and correct them so they are counted. 

Mulgrew--Great work being done in FL. We didn't meet goals because of COVID, but coordinated phone banks are helpful. Close to nine million voted before election day, and that's incredible. 

Murphy--Our folks couldn't travel as they used to but our connections have paid off.

Mulgrew--We have great connections in FL and Nevada. Everyone in FL comes to thank UFT for our work.

Cassie Prugh--CNN says 98 million votes cast nationally, 72% of votes cast in 2016. We may hit 150 million. Nine mil in Texas now, and it is a toss up. Biden up nationally by 10.  2.3 million early votes in PA. GA close to 2016 total, as is NC. Biden favored in many swing states.

Trained 194 retiree volunteers virtually. Our RTC chapter to local for AFT.

Angel Vasquez--Our 194 volunteers are here, and trained in house. We have been calling since 9/21. Focus on NYC priority races, LI, Hudson Valley, FL and PA.  Made over 8K calls.

Donna Coppola--Working for Max Rose, very optimistic, know it's very tight, watching closely. Tough, vicious campaign. Lots of lies spread. Hard to get a pulse on what's working. They feel good in Brooklyn and have more Dems than GOP registered in SI. Will have virtual gathering at end of night. Hopefully all will be well. Thanks retirees and volunteers.

Prugh--Began calling, texts, emails day after Labor Day. Sent mail in NYC priority races, used digital ads last month for Rose and Gounardes since early October.  Polls open tomorrow 6 AM to 9 PM.

Mulgrew--We get polling data, track everyone in pivotal states. Looks strong, but no one knows what will happen or how people will react. This is not something I've experienced--politics being such a straight up conflict. This is new. There is real fear about what will happen. I don't believe it will be anything horrendous, but people are preparing for it. Best thing is high percentage of voting. Will see where it goes. No predictions. We recommend based on protecting our families and professions. Confident we are supporting the right people on that criteria. Some people are upset, but based on that we are protecting families and professions. 

If FL goes one way early, that could end the election. FL already hearing crazy things about governor, and with such large early voting they fear he will stop counting. Fewer than 20% of registered voters can now vote tomorrow, amidst terrible COVID outbreak. Rose and Gounardes have been good for us. Gounardes helped with early retirement.

First day ever with 100,000 positive cases. No country ever hit that number, and we have to deal with this.

Questions--

No layoff guarantee for this school year. With stimulus over 5 bil, we will get 2nd year.

Governor has shifted to micro targeting. He will shut down if it gets bad, but this seems to have worked. City and state still not doing well. Businesses have been open and we are improving. 

Budget constraints affecting special education--We are working on that. Issue for me is special ed, services already in budget. Problem is they need three different kinds of teachers. If they want more staff, have to tell us what they need. We have schools trying to double up teachers that have 13 comp time positions. They don't need them with fewer students in buildiIfng. I appreciate operational complaints. We have to stop shenanigans. Schools are scrambling. If teachers are doing too much, operational complaint is remedy. Problem that principals don't know how to manage.

If member visits loved one in hot zone, or state on our list--highly recommend against it. We may be able to protect you, but there is no guarantee. When you come back, you would need two negative tests in five days, or two week quarantine. Could be a fight. UFT nurses told if they leave state, it's on them. If you get COVID working here, it's a different issue. Please be very careful. I would appreciate it if you refrained from travel.

Hopefully we have very peaceful election. As soon as it's over, we'll plan to move forward. 

LeRoy Barr--Minutes passed, and resolution honoring work for Teacher Union Day has been passed, Thank you for calling in and don't forget to vote. 6:46

Change Your Clocks Today and Your President on Tuesday

 Just a brief reminder that Donald Trump is on the ballot this year. While a thousand Americans die daily from COVID, the worst disaster in my living memory, there's still no national program or mask mandate. While Trump lies that he'll protect Americans with pre-existing conditions, a concept most developed countries don't face, the SCOTUS he packed eight days before the election is ready to kill Obamacare, the only actual protection there is.

If you're union, remember it was Trump's court that passed Janus, and remember that those who hate us and everything we stand for aren't finished. Remember the only reason we have rights at work is union.

Remember his choice for Secretary or Education hates public education and will do anything in her power to end it, solely to create profit for her BFFs. Remember that they want to open schools all over the country and don't give a golly gosh darn what the COVID rates are.

Remember they're trying to eliminate votes every way they can, so that We, the People do not prevail.

Trump advisers said their best hope was to try and steal the election https://t.co/tmyBloTLGR

— 😱 Endless Zoom Meeting 😱 (@AdamSerwer) November 1, 2020

Remember all the young children separated from their parents, and remember he's dumping them all in Mexico, no matter where they come from.

Remember people of color being murdered on the streets, and remember that Trump stands with the people doing the killing.

Remember the inclination of religious zealots to deny rights based on sexual orientation. 

Remember the fine people on both sides of the nazi rally. 

Remember the relentless attacks on the media as "fake news" because they dare tell the truth about this would-be dictator, and remember his public admiration for actual dictators.

Remember a woman's right to choose, in deep peril because of Trump's SCOTUS

Remember that this President is a self-centered, self-serving, malignant narcissist who couldn't care less whether or not you and your family drop dead of COVID.

Don't forget to vote.