As the year comes to an end, I would like to wish each and every one of you happy holidays and a healthy 2016.

A number of you have raised concerns about a recent proposal being considered by the Board of Regents that would restructure and rename the guidance counselor position. This proposal, which is strongly supported by the NYS School Counselor Association, does not adequately reflect the critical importance of collaborative relationships between guidance counselors, school social workers and school psychologists in our schools.

The UFT is not in agreement with this language and is working hard to correct it. The change is not being driven by UFT guidance counselors, who are working to make sure the language is inclusive. Any language that could diminish or eliminate our roles in counseling and assessment services to students is unacceptable to the union leadership.

If this amendment is presented for public comment with language with which we don’t agree, it is imperative that all of our members provide feedback through letters. We will send you an email with suggested points to make, but we would want individual to send emails or letters as it has a greater impact than a petition.

The UFT is currently working on a resolution at the state level that will strengthen the role of school social workers and school psychologists as well as advocate for an increase in their numbers to handle the extensive case loads we now carry. Stay tuned.

Chapter News:

• Per session postings are online. The form to apply for per session positions has been changed to align itself with the UFT contract. A problem had been created by the old form in which school employees were invited to list their choice of schools at which to work per session. This resulted in assignments that violated the UFT contract because the contract specifically gives clinicians the right to take a per session assignment in their district before others may be offered it. This created numerous grievances around the city. The new form resolves this issue.
  
  To review: Clinicians appointed in a district have first rights to a per session position in that district, and they are assigned by seniority. After those members have been placed, and there are still openings, those outside the district may be offered positions.

• The DOE plans to hire more psychologists and social workers for school-based support teams (SBST). This is an unprecedented move as the DOE has not created new lines for the SBST positions in more than 20 years! Hopefully, with the change in leadership, this signals a new era of greater professionalism and improved service to our students. Plans now call for the hiring of 29 psychologists and 10 social workers.

I want to thank those of you who are active in our chapter and participate in union events. Our union needs your support and your voice is vital to the success of our chapter.

Sincerely,

Anurag Singh
Social Workers & Psychologists Chapter Leader

Teacher Union Day

Teacher Union Day. From left: Anurag Singh, chapter leader; Bonnie Brody, social worker; Lisa Murphy, psychologist; Mary Rader, Bronx borough representative and social worker; and Jackie Washington, psychologist.

I would like to thank those who attended the UFT’s annual Teacher Union Day on Nov. 1 at the New York Hilton in Manhattan. It was wonderful to see so many of our chapter’s members from the Bronx taking time to enjoy each other’s company. It was also a great opportunity for us to help honor those whose efforts have made a difference in people’s lives. For those of you who missed it, we hope to see you at the UFT’s May 7 spring conference!

PD day for new clinicians

New psychologists and social workers at our PD day for new clinicians on Dec. 8 at the UFT Brooklyn borough office.

Tenure extension for new hires

Eligibility for tenure is four years for those hired July 2015 or after. A member must have received an “S” rating in three out of their first four years including an “S” rating in their fourth year to be considered for tenure.

Welcome to our new clinicians!

If you are working with, or know, a new clinician, take a minute to welcome them to the workplace and provide guidance. Please also make them aware that they need to sign up on the UFT website to receive emails from the UFT.

If they are new, they also need to complete UFT membership form.

Professional development for all clinicians

Jan. 29, 2016: Plans are underway for our professional development day. Please save the date and get permission from your principal to attend this annual chapter event. For those of you who wish to receive continuing education credits, social workers can pay for continuing education units and NCSP-credentialed school psychologists can pay for continuing professional development credits. Social workers and psychologists who wish to attend without receiving credit, may come for free. 

March 17, 2016: The DOE is planning to offer Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition training. (Note: St. John's University is doing a similar session on March 18). 

Work schedule clarification

I continue to receive questions about how many hours we’re required to work during a week and related concerns. I’m also hearing that some of you are confused about the number of parent-teacher conferences you’re required to attend. Below, I’ve outlined some basic information that I hope clarifies these issues for you. Please use them as a reference for the rest of the school year.

• Our contract calls for us to work six hours, 50 minutes, exclusive of lunch, five days a week, strictly between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (3:45 p.m. in single-session schools). For example, a half-hour lunch with a work day starting at 8 a.m. means the day ends at 3:20 p.m. Any time worked before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m. is not part of our contractual work time.

• The only exception to this rule is in the event that a school psychologist or social worker requests to start a work day before 8 a.m. to ensure arriving on time at a per-session site. We follow an individual school’s customary time-keeping procedures. Clinicians are not required to punch in or out, with the exception of per-session work.

• Teachers and paraprofessionals are working longer on some days but our work day ends at the usual time for us. When the teachers’ day is shorter, we do not leave early. We work our contractual time and leave at the end of our work day.
   
• Social workers and psychologists in single-session schools, where everyone reports to work at the same time, do not have to attend faculty conferences and departmental meetings. In lieu of them, we are required to attend two additional parent-teacher conferences (see below). This applies only to single-session schools; you should report to the payroll school with regard to these evenings.
  
  This does not apply to District 75 and District 79 schools or multi-session schools, unless the staff voted on a school-based option to repurpose time in the school day.

• All school-based support team psychologists have 20 hours of per-session available to them per year for case management. Supervisors should only approve scheduling requests and should not unreasonably deny your preferences.
   
• If you need to come in early or stay late, you can ask your supervisor to approve your per-session request. Please keep in mind the DOE directive that states you should not work on SESIS outside your work hours unless you have been granted permission by your supervising administrators. If needed, ask your supervisor to approve work on SESIS outside your work day and get paid for your time. If you work on SESIS without permission, you may not get paid!

The parent-teacher conferences for single-session schools take place in the following months:

• September: We attend for the full three hours.
• November: We attend for the first two hours and 10 minutes.
• March: We attend for the full three hours.
• May: We attend for the first two hours and 10 minutes.

If you have any questions, please contact your UFT borough office and ask to speak to a salary representative.

UFT holiday party

UFT President Michael Mulgrew and Chapter Leader Anurag Singh at the UFT holiday party on Dec. 15.

Happy holidays and a happy New Year from all of us at the UFT!

Chapter calendar

Please review our chapter calendar for upcoming meetings and events:

Upcoming events include:

UFT Men in Education Symposium
Date: Saturday, Jan. 30
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. Directions »

9th annual Early Childhood Conference
Date: Saturday, March 5
Time: all day
Location: UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. Directions »

Social Workers and Psychologists' General Membership Meeting
Date: Tuesday, March 15
Time: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. Directions »