Mayor and City Council reach budget; state budget still outstanding
Late last night the mayor and the City Council shook hands on an agreement that slices $1 billion from the city budget with a variety of cuts in many services, but avoids teacher layoffs and many of the proposed cuts from the mayor’s initial budget. Teacher’s Choice, originally slated to be cut entirely, will receive at least $10 million (down from $13 million last year); the final figure is among the details not yet completely ironed out in the deal. While teacher layoffs were averted in this budget, the school system will still lose 2,000 teachers through attrition, with inevitable harm to students and classrooms. Firehouses, libraries and pools that were slated to be closed were saved, though some with cutbacks in service; some senior centers will close. City officials said that there would be some layoffs in other city agencies in the budget, though again there was a dearth of details. The city budget deal comes after months of advocacy and activism by UFT members, other city workers and community groups to stave off the most harmful cuts. A similar effort has been waged on the state level, where a final budget has not yet been passed.
UFT and DOE agree to career ladder, pilot of new teacher evaluation system in 11 schools
The UFT and DOE agreed to a new career ladder and a pilot of the new teacher evaluation system in the 11 schools on the state’s Persistently Lowest Achieving list that the DOE selected yesterday for implementing the transformation model starting this September. The UFT negotiated two new career ladder positions in the transformation schools: turnaround teachers, who will have a full teaching load with one period a day devoted to a lab classroom for colleagues, and master teachers, who will support instruction and mentor colleagues for two periods a day. Both teachers will earn a higher salary in compensation for the longer hours and additional duties they will have. The UFT has long called for new teacher leadership roles and a career ladder that will provide a way for teachers to grow professionally without moving into management. In these 11 schools, highly effective teachers — recruited from inside and outside — will have a chance to help make these struggling schools models of learning. The pilot evaluation system will follow the parameters set out in the new state law. There will be no negative high-stakes consequences for teachers participating in the pilot.
Information to answer your members’ questions about excessing
By June 15, members were either told verbally or given letters notifying them that they could be in excess (our contract requires this advance notification). It is important for members to know that nothing is official until the DOE approves the principal’s request to put a staffer in excess. Advise members not to panic. If they want to look for another position on the open market and find a job that they would like, they should apply for it, but no one needs to take a position on the open market in desperation before knowing if the excessing is official. Also, remind members that ATRs are NOT the first to be laid off. If layoffs were to occur, they would be in citywide seniority order by license. The DOE took down the “My Current Status” button on its Open Market website due to errors that had caused a great deal of confusion. The union has been told that it will reappear in the next few weeks. That’s the best way for members to determine if they are officially in excess. As soon as members find out they are in excess, they should put in writing that they want the right of return to their home school. Be aware that the DOE and the union disagree about whether the member forfeits the right of return if the member takes another job on the open market before Aug. 7, but the DOE does acknowledge that after Aug. 7, anyone who is still in excess has the right of return.
Members have limited time to grieve summer per session rights
Tell members to quickly assert their rights to summer per session jobs. Members denied a summer per session job contractually have only two days from knowledge of that denial to file a grievance. Since the DOE does not notify an applicant that they were not selected for a position, the deadline for filing a grievance would be no later than two summer school days after the first day of summer school professional development on June 29. Of course, if a principal advises the member that they are not on the list of selectees, or their application confirmation incorrectly informs them they don't have retention rights, and they can prove that they do, they should file immediately. Grievances can be filed on-line through their chapter leader while school is in session; otherwise they need to file their grievance at their borough office.
UFT’s borough office summer hours
UFT borough offices will be open June 29 to July 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On July 2, they will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On July 5, all UFT offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day. Beginning Tuesday, July 6 through Sept. 2, all borough offices will be open Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. All UFT offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. Regular hours will resume Tuesday, Sept. 7. Security procedures require you to check in at the reception desk at each office and to show a photo ID.
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To Do
- If your members wish to grieve their programs or assignments, they must act quickly. Within two school days of knowledge of their new program, the member must submit a Step I grievance using the online grievance procedure located in the grievance briefcase in the chapter leader section of uft.org. The principal has two days from the date that he/she was notified to meet with the member and render a decision. If the grievance is denied by the principal, you should contact your district representative immediately, because if the principal denies the Step 1, the grievant has two days to file a Step 2 with the superintendent. The superintendent then has three days to schedule and meet and four days to write a decision.
- You as chapter leader play a key role in the new teacher induction process. Before school ends, it is important that you meet with your principal regarding next year’s mentoring plan. The plan should lay out how your school will provide mentoring to all new teachers so that they can get the support they need from the first day they enter your school. Typically, principals must submit their school-based mentoring plans to the DOE by mid-August. All new teachers require school-based mentoring in order to meet the requirements for New York State. Mentors should be full-time school-based teachers in the subject area of the new teacher. The chapter leader is a required member of each school’s New Teacher Induction Committee. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your district rep or UFT Vice President Aminda Gentile at agentile@uft.org.
- More than 16,000 New York City children are currently sleeping in emergency shelters tonight. Supporting these children has never been more important, and a great way to do that is through Project: Back to School, an initiative organized by the Coalition for the Homeless. Back to School helps thousands of homeless children start off the school year right by giving them backpacks and school supplies donated by caring New Yorkers and organizations like the UFT. Schools can get involved by collecting school supplies at the beginning of the school year. Teachers can also nominate deserving children to receive the supplies. For more information, please e-mail the Coalition for the Homeless atbacktoschool@cfthomeless.org.
- The UFT Green Schools Committee reminds you to recycle during your end-of-year cleanouts! As you know, at the end of each school year when teachers clean out their classrooms, large quantities of paper and cardboard are removed. To make sure that all of this paper is properly recycled, we remind you to request clear bags from your custodial staff. Paper or cardboard that is placed in black bags ends up being discarded as garbage rather than recycled. Make sure your unwanted cardboard and paper of any kind go into clear bags during your classroom cleanouts. Check with your school’s Sustainability Coordinator or custodian to find out how your school recycles. Go here to read answers to your questions about recycling in school.
- Please make sure that the related service providers in your school have a copy of an important May 26 memo issued by District 75 Superintendent Bonnie Brown that clarifies two longstanding issues regarding travel time and location of service for related services.Go here to read or print out the memo. According to the memo, travel time may not be included as part of the direct service time for students receiving related services and students with disabilities who receive instruction in special (self-contained) classes may receive related services in a location outside of the special education class. If your school is not following these policies, please notify the union by filing an online Special Education Complaint. The memo is directly addressed to District 75 principals and staff, but the same rules apply to ALL district schools. If you or a related service provider in your school has any questions or concerns, please contact your district rep.
- Remind members that if the DOE asks to extend their probation, they can have a union attorney review the extension agreement. Their UFT district rep can make the arrangements.
- Help support bills in the U.S. House and in the Senate that would provide $23 billion in new emergency education money specifically to prevent layoffs of educators. Our national union, the American Federation of Teachers, is asking members to use this webpage to send an e-mail to their senators and congressperson to ensure their support for this desperately needed measure. Nearly 250,000 education jobs were saved through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act last year. Now, we need to make sure we keep them. Tell your members the job they save may be their own.
For your information
Grievance victory means no notes for consecutive self-treated sick days: A union-initiated grievance maintaining that members should not need to produce a doctor’s note after taking three self-treated sick days consecutively has been resolved in our favor. You may take up to 10 self-treated days a year without a doctor’s note. This is true whether the days are taken separately or some — or even all — are taken consecutively.
Summer camp for homeless kids saves spots for UFT teacher referrals: If you know a child who might enjoy a break from the city this summer, we urge you to let them know about Camp Homeward Bound, the nation’s first summer sleep-away camp specifically designed for homeless girls and boys (age 7-13). Alongside the traditional camp activities — swimming, kayaking, arts & crafts, campfire sing-alongs — the camp has a strong educational component. Sponsor the Coalition for the Homeless is currently taking applications for the Harriman State Park camp. You can download a flier here to give to families you think would be good candidates. Please have parents or guardians reach out to Donna MacGregor, at 212-776-2144 or campregistrar@cfthomeless.org. Ask the parents to be sure to mention that they were referred by a UFT teacher, as the Coalition is setting aside several placements in each session for our students.
Payroll voice response system for those without computers: For employees who do not own a computer, the DOE implemented a new Payroll Interactive Voice Response System (IVR). This system is for the Q Bank, per diem, per session and H Bank payrolls. All of our members will now be able to access their payroll check information by telephone as well as the DOE’s employee information system via the Payroll Portal. Unlike the online system, employees will also be able to submit a payroll inquiry that will be forwarded to the appropriate payroll office for follow-up. If employees do not have an e-mail address, they must leave a phone number where they can be reached during the day. The number for the IVR telephone system is 718-935-3300. The inquiry access hours for the online Payroll Portal and the IVR System are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On telephone payroll inquiries, you will only be contacted during the day from Monday through Friday.
Final warning for those in danger of losing their jobs over certification issues: About 740 educators are still in danger of losing their job at the end of the school year for failure to complete certification requirements. There is very little time to get their situation corrected. They should follow the directions in the letter immediately. If there are questions, please contact the educational liaison in your borough office.
UFT summer courses: UFT Members can register online now for UFT summer courses. See the new course catalog.
“Young adult” extension of health coverage: Recent healthcare legislation will provide extension of coverage for young adults. There is the New York State Age 29 coverage and the federal Affordable Care Act – Age 26 law. The UFT Welfare Fund is preparing a fact sheet and Q&A for members to learn about which alternative will work best for their “young adult children.” UFT President Michael Mulgrew and the Welfare Fund Trustees have taken immediate action in creating coverage, some of which is not mandatory for the dependents of Fund members. For more information, see our Welfare Fund Benefits page. The New York City Health Benefits Program will be announcing the health plan options for the dependent children over the coming weeks. This information will be posted on its website.
Resigning? Give notice: The DOE has revived a longstanding Chancellor's regulation that pedagogical employees who are resigning must give 30 calendar days' notice. Therefore, if a teacher wants to resign (not retire) effective Sept. 7, the first day of school this year, he or she has to submit a letter of resignation by August 7. According to the DOE, those employees who resign without providing 30 calendars' day notice will be given a problem code in their personnel file that will flag them for review should they wish to return to teaching in the future. There is no notice requirement for retiring teachers. Giving plenty of notice also helps ATRs find positions. Although it is not mandatory and there will be no penalties if you do not do so, the UFT is encouraging all staff who plan to either retire or resign before the beginning of the next school year to inform their school administration as soon as possible. As we all know, the current fiscal situation requires schools to carefully plan how they will be staffed for next year. The recent restrictions set by the Department of Education offer current staff the first opportunity to secure available positions in schools for next year.
AFT Advantage: AFT Advantage is a new online benefit available to members. Use your UFT membership card to get members-only discounts from online retailers on electronics, jewelry, women’s clothes and accessories, children’s clothes, wine, travel, and more. When asked for your member number, type in the NYSUT ID# on your card. The local is “0002.”
Q&A on teacher evaluation and improvement plan: To answer the many questions your members may have about the teacher evaluation and improvement plan agreed to by NYSUT, the UFT and New York State, see the Q&A.
COBRA continues health benefits: Are members of your chapter or their family — because of a change of job or college graduation — going to lose their Department of Education-provided health insurance and UFT Welfare Fund benefits? For Termination and Leave of Absence, they and their family have the right to buy health coverage from their former employer for up to 36 months (which includes 18 months of federal COBRA coverage). Dependents that lose coverage may purchase up to 36 months of COBRA coverage. As set by the law, the DOE and the UFT Welfare Fund allow you to buy health coverage at a rate of 102 percent of the actual cost. But you must file a COBRA application within 60 days of losing your health insurance. Call HR Connect at 718-935-4000 for a COBRA application. On that form, indicate that you wish to continue your basic medical/hospital insurance. There is a separate COBRA application for UFT Welfare Fund benefits which is available from the Fund office at 212-539-0500.
Theater, Concerts, Dance, and Events for only $4.50 a ticket: TheaterMania.com’s Gold Club offers UFT members its best discount — 40% off — $59.00 for the entire year (regular price $99.00.) Join now and receive a complimentary pair of tickets to “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit in Times Square” Broadway, Off Broadway, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, comedy, dance, drama, concerts and more for only $4.50 a ticket. How? Theaters and producers need to fill up seats with excellent, attentive audiences to help build excellent buzz and word of mouth. For more information and to join, go to theTheatermania website or call toll-free 866-899-1895 and speak with Scott or Josh.
In the News
LA budget means thousands of layoffs: Despite a March agreement approving a 12-day furlough, the fiscally straitened Los Angeles Unified School District officials approved a 2010-2011 budget that they say will cost 2,700 jobs but unions estimate at up to 4,000, says the Los Angeles Daily News. On the block are the jobs of teachers, custodians, office workers, and other staff members. Even with all the cuts, the district still faces a budget gap of at least $260 million for the following year, 2011-2012.
New charter oversight in Minnesota becomes a deterrent: A new Minnesota law shifting the accountability for charter schools from the schools themselves to their authorizers is causing some of those authorizers to back out of the charter business, reports EdWeek. The legislature acted after a state auditor’s report concluded that “charter school oversight responsibilities are not clear, leading to duplication and gaps in oversight.” Some authorizers have already announced plans not to apply to authorize again, complaining of the time and money involved in the new accountability process. Among those considering joining the move is the City of St. Paul, home of the country’s first charter school.
Class size reduction may reverse layoff notices in Florida: Though hundreds of layoff notices had gone out to teachers in budget-strapped Broward County, Florida, a state law strictly governing class sizes may actually require hiring 700 more teachers, according to Florida’s Sun-Sentinel. The final phase of a state law passed in 2002 could result in penalties of up to $72 million for noncompliance, since, starting in October, even one extra child in a classroom will trigger expensive sanctions. Though Florida voters will have a chance to modify the law in November, administrators are taking no chances and are looking at measures such as combining undersized classes even if they are on different grades to free up teachers, asking teacher to teach extra periods for extra pay, and encouraging student “distance learning” with online classes.
Events Calendar
Save the Date: Thursday, Nov. 18: Michael Mulgrew will be honored by the Jewish Heritage Committee.
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 at 52 Broadway. Check the lobby for exact locations. For further information, contact us at 212-598-7772 or visit us online.
NYCAFLT/UFT (NYC Assn. of Foreign Language Teachers)
- Saturday, June 26, 9 a.m., Planning Committee Meeting.
Editor: Paul Schickler
Contributors include: Amy Arundell, LeRoy Barr, Iris Cabral, Jessica Cepeda, Mark Collins, Aminda Gentile, Brian Gibbons, Ron Isaac, William Levay, Samantha Mark, Nyree McCray, Deidre McFadyen, Chris Proctor, Ann Rosen, Howard Solomon, Ellie Spielberg, and Linda Vila-Passione.