Full Menu

Meeting Minutes for June 12, 2012

Agenda: Personnel Issues - Michael Mendel, UFT Secretary; Turnaround Schools - Gene Mann, UFT Organizing Committee; U-Ratings - Nick Schkrutz, UFT Organizing Committee; Functional Member s- Ruth Levine, UFT Organizing Committee; Year End Summary - Leroy Barr, Michael Shulman, Co-chairs, UFT Organizing Committee; Good and Welfare.

Attendance: Barr, Bayor, Blackwell, Brandle, Callahan, Cumba, Curcio, Dehler, DiStefano, Einbinder, Feingold, Franzese, Friedman, Gottlieb, Greenberg, Gross, Halstead, Hoffman, Johnson, Karwowski, Kellerman, Leventon, Levine, Lowenfels, Mann, Martin, Masur, Nobles, Pagnozzi, Rattien, Ristorucci, Rosenstein, Rosenstrauch, Schkrutz, Shulman, Silvera, Singletary, Smith, Spielvogel, Stulberg, Tokar, Weinstein,

Agenda: Personnel Issues – Michael Mendel fielded questions from the group. The rating of ATR’s and buy-outs were brought up. Michael said the UFT was in negotiations with the city about a buy-out for those who have been ATR’s for at least a year. He said that ATR’s should be warned about attendance. Excessive absences can lead to a u rating for any teacher. Michael explained the law regarding turnaround. He said that we are in court but that the city is following the federal guidelines.

Evaluation System – If the new evaluation system is not approved by Jan. 2013 there will be a four hundred million dollar loss. The entire package has yet to be negotiated. Michael Mendel said, “We want a fair evaluation system that benefits teachers and students and is not a GOTCHA.”

The UFT is getting bad press concerning sexual abuse. The contract states mandatory firing for anyone convicted of sexual abuse. The team should remind members that the UFT protects the members right to due process.

Handouts:

  • Teacher Evaluation: Setting the System Straight

Turnaround – Gene Mann gave an overview of the status of the 24 Turnaround schools.

The UFT is waiting for an arbitration decision about the legality of these schools being designated Turnaround. He said that there are seven full-sized high schools in Queens that are on the list. Turnaround means that the schools will be closed and renamed with the same student population. The staff members must reapply and need to have:

  • Resumes
  • Cover letters
  • Letters of reference
  • Portfolios

These documents are being read in many instances by a $20-an-hour college student employed by Talent Acquisition Associates.

Gene said that the union is showing tremendous support in the Turnaround schools by offering workshops to assist members with the required tasks.

U – Ratings – Nick Schkrutz gave the team a copy of a rating sheet and explained the appeal process He said the new director is Jo Ann Rabot. He said that the rating sheet must have the principal and superintendents signatures. Members should be reminded to keep copies of all documents. It is very important to write educationally sound responses to negative material in files. This is used very effectively at appeal hearings. Nick said that there have been more extensions and fewer denials of tenure than in the past. The u rating numbers are about the same

Handouts:

  • Personnel Memorandum # 7, DOE
  • Annual Professional Performance Review and Report on Probationary Service

Functional Members – Ruth Levine showed the list of 25 issues that chapter leaders should be aware of. The concerns of members from functional chapters was 24 on the list. She said that chapter leaders should reach out and include these members in school wide activities. With the new special education reform she feels that clinicians will be under attack.

The functional chapters are:

  • Guidance Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Psychologists
  • Nurses/OT/PT
  • Attendance Teachers
  • Paraprofessionals
  • Secretaries

These members have their own contracts and all chapter leaders should have copies of them. It is a good suggestion to have these members as part of the school consultation committee.

Leroy Barr – On Aug. 29, 2012 there will be a borough wide chapter leader meetings (“Nuts and Bolts”) and team members should try to attend. Leroy reminded the team that the DR and Borough Reps decide if they want the team or not. The teams are directed by the Borough Reps and DRs. The teams are not to initiate actions without discussion with the DR.

Michael Shulman – On June 17, 2012, there will be a Stop and Frisk Silent March at 2:00pm. Go to UFT.org for information on the action.

Good and Welfare – The committee members who went to Wisconsin were thanked for the effort that they put into the recall of Governor Walker. The next meeting is tentatively set for Sept. 11.

The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m.

Respectfully,

Judy Rosenstein

Close