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Chapter Leader UpdateMarch 15, 2024

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Jonathan Fickies

MAKING THE CASE: UFT members from District 6 in Manhattan talked to Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos from Inwood about the union’s legislative priorities on Lobby Day on March 11.

This Week's Focus

Prepare to hold school chapter elections this spring

UFT members in your school will vote this spring to determine who will represent them for chapter leader, delegate and paraprofessional representative in your chapter for the next three years, starting July 1, 2024. Elections for these school-based positions will once again be held in school buildings. Only UFT members have a right to run for office, nominate other members and vote for candidates. All UFT members in your school vote for school chapter leader; only teachers vote for delegates; and only paraprofessionals vote for paraprofessional rep. We are mailing an election packet to your school. When you receive it, please read the materials carefully and post the Notice of Election on your school's UFT bulletin board. The school chapter leader should assemble an election committee to oversee the chapter's elections. Candidates for chapter leader, delegate and para rep may not serve on the election committee. Give the election packet to the election committee once it is in place.

Please inform UFT members who are also members of functional chapters that they will also vote by mail for their functional chapter leadership this spring.

We appreciate your help in ensuring a smooth and fair election process. You'll find detailed information about the elections in the special Chapter Elections 2024 section of the UFT website. If you have questions about the procedures or if any questions arise during the election process, please call the UFT election hotline at 212-331-6310.

Our voices were heard on Lobby Day

Nearly 1,000 UFT members and public school parents converged on Albany this past Monday for UFT Lobby Day to tell state lawmakers to revamp mayoral control, fix Tier 6 and increase state foundation aid for New York City schools. The members heard from union and political leaders at the Albany Convention Center before meeting in small groups with their state representatives. Meanwhile, in scores of schools across the city this week, UFT members have gathered to send emails to their state legislators (nearly 2,000 sent so far) and are tagging them in social media posts for the union's first Virtual Lobby Day. Just as negotiations on the new state budget shifted into high gear, we came together as a union to show lawmakers that union legislative priorities must be taken seriously. We are nothing without our participation, and because we choose to show up, we are a force in Albany. See photos from the day and our Facebook and Instagram reel.

SBO process, timelines and Election Buddy voting

It's time to begin discussing possible school-based options (SBOs) for next school year with your chapter and your principal. To determine if your chapter would like to recreate an SBO or implement a new SBO, you should discuss options at your next chapter meeting and conduct surveys to gauge interest. Chapter leaders can view last year's SBO ballots and the ballots from the 2022-23 school year in the Chapter Leader Hub.

All SBO voting is conducted only through the secure Election Buddy online voting system. Schools must vote on all modifications on ONE day. SBO voting opens this year on April 8. If one of your school SBO modifications includes a ballot on your school's session time, the SBO vote must be conducted no later than June 14. Schools with proposed modifications that do not include session time have until June 26 to conduct the vote. An SBO allows UFT members at a school to collaboratively modify certain contractual work rules, such as the dates of parent-teacher conferences, or create positions not included under the contract. The principal or the chapter leader may propose an SBO. However, a principal cannot force the chapter leader to modify the contract and hold an SBO vote. Chapter leaders should only conduct an SBO vote for a modification that your members want and has been approved by the UFT district representative. For an SBO to pass at the school level, at least 55% of the UFT members who vote must support the modification.

Find comprehensive information about the SBO process, including the SBO manual, a PowerPoint presentation, pre-approved ballot templates and other sample SBO ballots. If you have questions, reach out to your district representative.

UFT spotlights the DOE's remote learning failures

In testimony submitted for a New York City Council Education Committee oversight hearing on March 6, UFT President Michael Mulgrew lambasted the DOE for its failure to plan for and properly execute a pivot to remote instruction on Feb. 13. "It was the virtual equivalent of children and educators showing up at a physical school building only to find the doors locked, the lights off and no information about where to go or what to do," he said. To avoid a repeat of that day's meltdown, the union made these recommendations:

  • Make the decision to go remote as early as possible to give families and school communities the maximum amount of time to prepare.
  • Immediately create and share a crisis remote learning management plan.
  • Run at least one true stress test of the system before a remote day is needed, including a full simulation.

"We need the flexibility of short-term remote instruction for emergencies," Mulgrew concluded. "It is the DOE's responsibility to make the transition as seamless as possible."

Read the testimony

Chapter Leader Checklist

To Do #1
Collect signatures to elect Christina McGrath to the pension board
The UFT Delegate Assembly on Feb. 7 voted overwhelmingly to endorse Christina McGrath for election as a teacher-member on the Teachers’ Retirement System board. Please collect signatures from in-service UFT members who belong to TRS on her nominating petition form. Make sure that each petition sheet is properly certified and is returned to the UFT by Tuesday, March 26. Please post this notice on your UFT bulletin board. Christina has over 20 years of experience working as a UFT pension representative. She will be a vigilant guardian of our pension rights and a strong supporter of Tier 6 pension reform.

To Do #2
Nominate your chapter for a Trachtenberg Award
The UFT's Ely Trachtenberg Award honors UFT chapters and their leaders who show strong member engagement and advocacy. Hallmarks of award-winning chapters include holding regularly scheduled chapter meetings, empowering members to ensure contractual rights are respected, and having a high or growing proportion of members who contribute to COPE. See the online nomination form for more information about the selection criteria. We will honor winning chapters at the 2024 Teacher Union Day ceremony in the fall. Please note: Chapters that received a Trachtenberg Award in the past three years are ineligible this year.

Nominate your chapter

To Do #3
Send us photos of your celebration of the UFT’s 64th anniversary this month
Saturday, March 16, marks the 64th anniversary of the union’s formation. It’s important to reflect on how the union’s founders fought for the rights we have today, and how we are part of a historical continuum of struggle for dignity and respect in the workplace. You can show this two-minute video about the UFT’s founding to set the tone for a conversation with your members at this month’s chapter meeting about why the union matters. If you bring a cake or make a card to celebrate, please send a photo to uftphotos@gmail.com

To Do #4
Lead teacher assistant positions application deadline is March 31
Remind paraprofessionals the deadline to apply for the lead teacher assistant and bilingual lead teacher assistant special education positions for next school year is Sunday, March 31. This annual position for in-service, full-time paraprofessionals enables them to play a more diverse role supporting instruction in the classroom under the supervision of the classroom teacher. If hired in one of these positions, the paraprofessional will receive additional compensation of $5,000. For more information, read the Lead Teacher Assistant Q&A for paraprofessionals on the UFT website or see the DOE’s Lead Teacher Assistant posting.

To Do #5
Fliers to share with your members
Print and distribute these fliers in member mailboxes or post on your school’s UFT bulletin board.

Hub Highlights

View all your consultation summaries in one place

Chapter leaders told us that having a record of all their consultation meeting summaries at their fingertips was important to them, so we built a feature in the Chapter Leader Hub so you have that record now. You can see when you first raised an issue in a consultation meeting and track your progress in resolving it. Remember you can access the hub using your UFT website username and password.

Enter the hub

Work in progress

The UFT is working on the following issues with the DOE and other city, state or federal entities as appropriate:

  • Working with the DOE to create additional pre-approved SBO options.
  • Pushing the city and the DOE to invest in class size reduction.
  • Discussing with the DOE an expanded role for the UFT Teacher Center in training on the new reading curriculum for the Phase 2 elementary schools.

You Should Know

Contract Empowerment & Enforcement

Bronx chapter leaders vindicated in labor board ruling

DOE-employed UFT members recently received an email from the DOE with links to two required postings from the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) based on cases in which the UFT prevailed over the DOE on improper practice charges. Both of these cases involved teachers who served as chapter leader at PS 1 in the Bronx at different times. The state labor board found that the principal’s actions constituted “deliberate and intentional interference with the rights of the UFT and its members at PS1X.” While both chapter leaders had different individual circumstances, both were retaliated against by their principal, Jorge Perdomo, for their union activity. PERB determined that the DOE had committed an improper practice, as Perdomo, interfered with the exercise of their rights as chapter leader and “used his authority over (one of the chapter leaders) to threaten and harangue her about her chapter leader duties.” PERB also determined that Perdomo tried to interfere with the SBO process by undermining its integrity and attempting to persuade one of the chapter leaders to distance herself from her UFT district representative. The DOE sent the email to all UFT-represented employees because part of the PERB award required the DOE to “post” notices to all members of the UFT bargaining unit.

Medical & Wellness

Be BRAVE Against Bullying video contest

Please tell your members about the UFT's Be BRAVE Against Bullying video contest for middle and high school students. The contest is a wonderful way to showcase students' hard work while sparking discussions about positive social behavior and mental health. Invite middle and high school students to create videos lasting three to five minutes on an anti-bullying topic for a chance to win cash prizes and receive an award from the UFT. Contest entries are due by Tuesday, May 14. Download this flier to post on your UFT bulletin board. The awards ceremony is on May 28 at UFT headquarters. If you have any questions about the contest, please email Nick Cruz, the UFT director of community and parent engagement, at ncruz@uft.org.

Political Action

Remembering the victims of the Triangle factory fire

Let teachers in your chapter know that they are invited to bring their students to the annual remembrance ceremony for the 146 garment workers who died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911. The UFT is among the sponsors of the event, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, March 25, in Greenwich Village. Public outrage over the fire, which was one of the deadliest workplace disasters in U.S. history, led to new workplace safety laws, the growth of unions and a surge of political action around labor issues. Translation at the ceremony will be provided in Spanish, Mandarin and American Sign Language. The commemoration will take place at the corner of Washington Place and Green Street. No registration is required. Visit the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition website for more information.

Salary & Personnel

Updated mandated reporter training requirements

Chapter leaders should speak with their principal or their school’s professional development committee to make sure they arrange a time for school staff to receive additional child abuse training mandated by the state. Information about this updated training was recently included in the Principals Digest so your principal should be familiar with it. New York State requires all mandated reporters, including classroom teachers, educational administrators and pupil personnel service providers, complete the updated training by April 1, 2025. Chapter leaders may also direct members to the state Office of Children and Family Services for the free, two-hour online training course that satisfies this updated requirement. For information about approved training providers, please see the Office of Teaching Initiatives website.

Tax deductions for UFT members

Union members in New York State can deduct the full amount of union dues from their state taxes if they itemize deductions on their state tax return. Here are your UFT dues for 2023. Eligible educators can also deduct from their federal income taxes up to $300 of unreimbursed expenses from 2023 for books, supplies, computer equipment (including related software and services), other equipment and supplementary materials they use in the classroom, according to the IRS. For courses in health and physical education, expenses for supplies are qualified expenses only if they are related to athletics. The educator-expense deduction is an “adjustment to gross income” so you can use it whether you use the standard deduction or itemize on your tax return. You should keep documentation, such as receipts, for any deductions you take. If you are not sure whether you are entitled to a deduction, or you have any other questions regarding your tax returns, consult a tax adviser.

Assist paraprofessionals who have received termination notices

The DOE sent termination notices to paraprofessionals who have not completed their certification requirements. Please tell these paraprofessionals to carefully read the notice for next steps and then log into their TEACH account on the State Education Department’s website to find out what they are missing. Paraprofessionals who received a termination notice because they lack college credits can apply through March 31 for the summer semester of the Career Training Program. The program pays for three to six credits per semester for undergraduate study at participating colleges and universities. Participants also are given 2½ hours per week of release time and/or a summer stipend to support their studies. Paraprofessionals who received a notice of termination and have specific questions should contact UFT certification specialists Monica Christie or Jeremiah Bornemann at 212-331-6311. Paraprofessionals with questions about CTLE requirements can find more information on the State Education Department website.

Assist pedagogues with certification problems

The city DOE sent termination notices to teachers, school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists who have not completed their certification requirements for their professional or permanent state certificates. These members should log in to their TEACH account on the State Education Department website to determine their next steps to become fully certified. Pedagogues can find more information on the State Education Department’s website as well as the certification section of the UFT website. Pedagogues who have received a notice of termination and have specific questions should call the union at 212-331-6311 and ask to speak to a certification specialist or an educational liaison. Chapter leaders can use this school visit request form to request a speaker from the union’s Certification Services Department at their school.

Special Education

AIM Pathways training for selected special education intervention teachers

Principals and centrally funded Special Education Intervention Teachers in elementary schools in Phase 1 of NYC Reads and certain middle and high schools should receive an email from the DOE this week with an updated schedule for the AIM Pathways coursework. In addition to providing the revised schedules, the email identifies time allocated by the DOE’s special education office for part of the training and additional time that must be made available at the school to complete training requirements. The email also clarifies that teachers’ scores on the end-of-course assessments will not be used to evaluate them or make funding determinations for schools. The email reminds principals that centrally funded Special Education Intervention Teachers should not have out-of-class assignments such as special education liaison, Section 504 coordinator, IEP coordinator or the like. Please support centrally funded Special Education Intervention Teachers at your school if they have difficulty securing time and space to complete the AIM Pathways training or if your principal is requiring them to perform impermissible out-of-class assignments. Contact Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese at mginese@uft.org if you have any questions.

Everything Else

Multilingual FAFSA guide for high school seniors now available

Multilingual guides to help students apply for federal student aid for college will be shipped to all high schools by the end of March. The guide is already available online here: Understanding FAFSA & Financial Aid: Your Guide to Paying for College. Please ensure that a staff member (counselor, advisor or teacher) reviews the FAFSA guide with each graduating senior. This review can happen during class time, parent-teacher conferences, during homeroom or advisory sessions, or during a scheduled event for seniors. For more information, UFT members may contact James Rodriguez at jrodriguez2@uft.org.

Encourage your School Leadership Team to host a table at our Spring Education Conference

Online registration will soon open for the UFT Spring Education Conference, our premier annual conference that celebrates, supports and inspires our work as public school educators. School Leadership Team members may draw on funds allocated to the team by using a school purchase order, but they must submit the purchase order by Wednesday, March 27. We'll gather at the New York Hilton Midtown on Saturday, May 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. As always, we’ll host a morning town hall at breakfast, CTLE workshops, an exhibit fair where career and technical education students display their skills, and a gala luncheon. The registration fee is $50 per person with an additional $30 fee for teachers/$15 fee for paraprofessionals and others who take a workshop for CTLE credit. For more information about using a purchase order to cover fees, see the UFT Purchase Order Memo.

Recent Guidance and Agreements

Key Events & Deadlines

  • Delegate Assembly

    The monthly meeting of the union's highest decision-making body. This date is subject to change.

    Registration
  • Paraprofessionals Festival & Awards Luncheon

    At this year’s Paraprofessional Annual Festival and Awards Luncheon, paraprofessionals can network with colleagues from across the city. The day includes an awards presentation, CTLE workshops, a carnival, raffles, a gala lunch and a continental breakfast, and plenty of time to network with your colleagues. 

    The keynote speaker, Dr. Gloria Boseman, a registered nurse and board member of the New Jersey Center for Collaborative Nursing, will bring a powerful message on caring for underserved communities. Plus we’ll feature a special performance by paraprofessional James Burris, aka Petawane, a three-time Showtime-at-the-Apollo winner.

    Online pre-registration has closed, but walk-ins on the day of the event will be accommodated.

    Registration
  • Pathways to Parenthood workshop

    The UFT invites you to attend a virtual Pathways to Parenthood workshop to learn about your parental leave benefits. These workshops are open to DOE-employed members in any borough. This workshop is an excellent opportunity for members who are about to give birth or adopt to get crucial information about the paid parental leave benefits that we fought so hard to win for UFT members.

Contact the UFT

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