More NYSUT Internals: Valley Central TA President Supports Iannuzzi

Capital Tonight reports that an NYSUT analysis shows 69% of school districts will be receiving less aid in Cuomo's proposed budget than they got in 2009.... Reality-Based Educator

One hundred and seven (107), approximately 25% of teaching staff positions, have been cut in the past 5 years and it is Governor Cuomo who is primarily responsible for establishing, promoting or continuing the policies that have caused this student neglect..... there is no one I have met in this world that I respect and admire more than Dick Iannuzzi. I often tell my friends and colleagues that I long for a leader that does not have a price-tag on his/her advocacy—one that will do the right thing every time simply because it is the right thing to do. Dick models these criteria wonderfully. He is a leader that I would follow into hell to do battle for what is right because he has proven himself to have a strong moral compass and an effective work ethic in the most difficult political climate that NYS education has ever faced.... Tim Brown, President, Central Valley TA.

I never thought much about NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, assuming he was a made front man pushed by the local NYC Unity Caucus machine (reminder: there is also a NY state Unity Caucus that does not seem as tightly locked down given the emerging criticisms from the inside.)

But over the last year I began to notice some surprising divergences from the Mulgrew/Randi line on evaluations, common core, NY State Ed, and most importantly, Cuomo. I assumed that given the enormous criticism directed at Iannuzzi from people upset with his agreeing to so much bad stuff, that people were going to either sit out the battle with Andy Pallotta or hold their noses and vote for Dick. But Tim Brown's email certainly has caught my attention. I wonder how many other locals out there are feeling the same and whether they have the ability to cobble together a broad based caucus on the state level. MORE I believe would be ready to assist in any way possible despite out limited resources.

Note this point by RBE at Perdido Street School:

Capital Tonight reports that an NYSUT analysis shows 69% of school districts will be receiving less aid in Cuomo's proposed budget than they got in 2009.

Then  RBE goes on to talk about all the bullshit testing, common core, eval mandates eating up school budgets. Will those districts begin to revolt over a Cuomo endorsement or will Mulgrew be able to keep them in line?

Thus, this fascinating email sent to me by Valley Central TA President Tim Brown with copies of emails he sent to Andy Pallotta months ago - who from what I hear was raised up from District 10 (Bronx) Rep to NYSUT VP and from reports, seems to have gone way beyond the Peter Principle -- now to be renamed the "Andy Principle."

If all this is new to you here are some catch-up pieces in reverse order of publication.

• Internal President's Letters Expose NYSUT Rift and...
• Duking it Out in NYSUT - At the Top
• Strange Bedfellows On Cuomo Team: Eva, DFER and Mi...
• EIA Picks up Our NYSUT Story
• Looming Battle: Mulgrew vs Iannuzzi For NYSUT Lead...

To: Norm Scott

From: Tim Brown, Valley Central TA President

I followed the link to your blog from the “Revive NYSUT Slate Lies” Facebook page and read the letters you posted from some local presidents. Following are two emails I sent to Andy Pallotta, one in October and the other in December, to share my disillusionment with Andy’s support of the IDC (Independent Democratic Caucus) and Governor Cuomo via the “Birthday Bash.” 

It was not my intent to share these emails outside my local union family, but recent events have changed my attitude regarding this. You are welcome to use them in any way you choose and I am certainly not concerned about my name being attached to them. I have the utmost respect for Dick, Maria, Lee and Kathleen. In fact, there is no one I have met in this world that I respect and admire more than Dick Iannuzzi. I often tell my friends and colleagues that I long for a leader that does not have a price-tag on his/her advocacy—one that will do the right thing every time simply because it is the right thing to do. Dick models these criteria wonderfully. He is a leader that I would follow into hell to do battle for what is right because he has proven himself to have a strong moral compass and an effective work ethic in the most difficult political climate that NYS education has ever faced. 

It is sad to note that difficult political times also provide opportunities, on an organizational level, for institutionally ambitious members to attack their own leaders for the purpose of advancing their own career/positions. This type of motivation does not fit the moral or practical parameters of leadership for which I am looking. I am willing to stand up and defend what I know to be correct and desirable and Dick, Maria, Lee and Kathleen are definitely the correct team to be leading NYSUT during this crisis. They have been effective and their motivation is selfless as opposed to ambitiously selfish and opportunistic.

Tim

PS: Feel free to call me. My local's website is vcta.net.

October Email to Pallotta Regarding IDC

>>> "T Brown"  10/29/2013 2:59 PM >>>

To: Andy Pallotta, NYSUT Executive Vice-President

From: Timothy Brown, Valley Central Teachers’ Association President

It is with great frustration that I write regarding the recent article published by Jessica Bakeman titled “NYSUT head says I.D.C. alliance ‘didn’t work,’ gets corrected.” I fail to understand how our head of legislation can fail to see how the I.D.C has been a major obstacle to productive teacher political action? In sharing this article with some of my executive council I received nothing but gasps of shock and dismay that you would publicly defend elected officials that have consistently voted against NYSUT supported legislative issues while publicly siding against your own president who was/is willing to take a stand against these democrats who are in the pockets of senate republicans.

Even if you disagree with your president, although I fail to see how any logical person could in this case, your public statements are damaging and show a lack of concern for NYSUT membership as a whole. I note that the article indicates that I.D.C. members Jeff Klein and Eric Soufer asked you to “clarify” NYSUT’s position. Perhaps it would have been better to have the individual involved, President Richard Iannuzzi, clarify his own words.

The truth and reality for those of us who have had to live with the devastating impact of the I.D.C.’s resistance to our political concerns is a lack of funding that has caused my district to lose approximately 25% of its teaching staff. Valley Central has lost $24 million due to gap elimination. This resulted in the loss of music, art and library at the elementary level and a regression from full to half-day kindergarten. What have these I.D.C. vultures such as David Carlucci gained from their anti-NYSUT voting record? They have gained the loyalty of republicans who have promised no serious republican challenge to I.D.C. members. Now there’s ethics we can all trust… Those of us who are suffering from the I.D.C.’s voting record know the score.

Andy, I hope you will seriously reconsider your support of I.D.C members.

Tim Brown

December Email to Pallotta Regarding Cuomo Birthday

>>> "T Brown" 12/15/2013 9:01 PM >>>

To: Andrew Pallota, NYSUT Executive Vice-President

From: Tim Brown, Valley Central TA President

CC: NYSUT Officers

Re: Governor Cuomo Birthday Celebration

I write to you with serious concerns regarding the monetary support being offered to Governor Andrew Cuomo, perceived by many public school teachers as the number one enemy of public schools and teacher unions. Governor Cuomo’s two percent tax cap combined with his continued use of the Gap Elimination Adjustment has devastated many New York State schools. My school, Valley Central, has lost $24 million due to GEA resulting in the loss of elementary library, music and art, as well as a reduction from full to half day kindergarten. One hundred and seven (107), approximately 25% of teaching staff positions, have been cut in the past 5 years and it is Governor Cuomo who is primarily responsible for establishing, promoting or continuing the policies that have caused this student neglect.

Yet, despite all of this, NYSUT chose to attend a birthday party celebration for a governor that misleads the public by “decrying the influence of money in politics” while simultaneously organizing a birthday bash that, according to bothLittleSis Blog and The Post Standard at Syracuse.com, cost $50,000 per table for the privilege of seeing Billy Joel while adding “to Cuomo’s $28 million campaign chest.” Did NYSUT purchase a table? How much money did we add to Andrew Cuomo’s political war chest?

Several years ago I was part of a Committee of 100 delegation that helped to change an entrenched NYSUT practice that unfairly favored incumbents. It was also decided that candidates must clearly earn our endorsement and, as a result, many elected officials lost our support following the short-sighted and politically motivated Tax-Cap and Tiers V and VI votes in Albany.

I refuse to believe that NYSUT would even entertain discussions regarding an endorsement of Governor Cuomo. Nevertheless, NYSUT is essentially providing a de facto endorsement of Governor Andrew Cuomo by providing him with what I assume is a sinful amount of our VOTE-COPE contributions. I have been successful in my local VOTE-COPE campaign, but it has been necessary to constantly remind my members that NYSUT did not endorse Andrew Cuomo in the last election.

Members have shared articles and photographs from Cuomo’s Birthday Bash Fundraiser placing me in the position of trying to defend NYSUT to my members. According to one of my executive council members, one Facebook photo included a NYSUT ED Director boasting that she had attended this birthday bash. I can only assume that this posting was an implicit endorsement of our Governor. Should I assume that this member was in attendance on our VOTE-COPE dime, so to speak? If so, I find this to be a serious breach of trust. My members and I expect complete transparency with regard to VOTE-COPE expenditures and NYSUT endorsements.

A response would be appreciated.

Tim doesn't report if he received a response from Andy. Most people report they don't receive responses from Mulgrew (as opposed to Randi who would respond to you if you sneezed) so maybe something was added to the water at the UFT since she left.

Danny Dromm Gives Us All a Voice

Can the ed deform world be coming apart any faster? I just loved this piece from Eliza Shapiro at Capital.

Dromm echoes educational philosophy of de Blasio, Fariña

By Eliza Shapiro
4:25 p.m. | Jan. 22, 2014

Daniel Dromm's immediate priorities as the City Council's newly appointed education committee chair reflect the tone of the de Blasio administration: More pre-K, less testing, and a focus on progressive education.
In an interview with Capital on Wednesday afternoon after his appointment, Dromm, a close ally of Melissa Mark-Viverito and a longtime opponent of the Bloomberg administration's education policies, said his philosophy aligns with school chancellor Carmen Fariña's in part because they are both longtime educators.
"During the Bloomberg administration we lost the emphasis on dealing with the whole child, the child being more than just test scores," he said.
Dromm, a member of the Council representing Jackson Heights and Elmhurst since 2009, was a longtime teacher and day care center director.
His appointment was widely expected; last week, before he was appointed, Dromm invited his colleagues in the Council to a hearing on the priorities of education activists opposed to Bloomberg's policies.
Dromm said he will push for a reduced emphasis on testing, improved teacher morale, and reduced class size, among other issues, that drew daylight between his educational philosophy and that of the previous administration's.
Dromm said a focus on the whole child will also require more art, music, physical education and foreign language instruction and options in school, and said that as a teacher he taught social studies by taking his students on relevant field trips and incorporating literature and cultural instruction to enrich curriculum.
Compared to the sports and arts instruction wealthy students in New York's suburbs get, New York City students still lack options, Dromm said. "To me, that is the piece that is missing in the D.O.E.," he said. "It was cut out during the Bloomberg administration because of an emphasis on testing." He added that be believes test scores in general are "valid and important" but are only one part of a student's performance.
Fariña has also emphasized the importance of holistic social studies instruction and, in her limited public comments thus far as chancellor, Fariña has repeatedly said she wants to bring "joy back" to classrooms, an indirect criticism of the previous administration, which had a renewed focus on data accountability, and standardized testing, which Dromm has tacked onto.
Dromm also said he'll focus on "ensuring teachers have a role in the decision making process"; a hallmark of the Bloomberg administration's education agenda was handing a great deal of responsibility over to principals.
Dromm has distinguished himself from his peers by focusing on the need to support and protect LGBTQ students in the city's schools, particularly in high schools.
Dromm, who came out as gay while he was a teacher, said he gets calls from students every day complaining about anti-LGBTQ language in schools.
He said making "high schools a safe environment for all students," not just LGBTQ students, is an immediate priority of his. 
Last week, before he was appointed, Dromm convened a group of his colleagues in the Council and education activists to listen to priorities of his fellow councilmembers.

Internal President's Letters Expose NYSUT Rift and Support for Iannuzzi?

The inaction of the legislative office has forced Dick's hand to move the discussion in our favor. He has twice sued the state (APPR and Tax Cap) and pushed the June 8 rally (despite Andy's opposition).... The leader, as I see it, of this insurrection is E. V. P. Andy Pallotta. ... President, Westchester union local

Unity began as a vehicle to represent all members of the State but in Washington last year it became very obvious that it was functioning as an arm of the UFT....  I stood up at Guerneys and tried to politely tell Andy that I believed now is the time for a united NYSUT attack against the death grip that Cuomo has on NYS education... this is not the time to show the politicians that we are not united... Andy has done nothing to stop Cuomo's tax cap agenda that is killing everyone in the State except the UFT... at least Dick filed the lawsuit..... President of a Long Island local

If you've been following the saga of the split in NYSUT, here is a chapter I've had for a few weeks but never got to publish it. It might -- or might not -- explain a few things. What it does do is indicate there is a growing insurrection outside NYC against the undue influence of Unity Caucus in NYC -- there is also a broader Unity Caucus at the state level that functions fairly loosely compared to the UFT version of Unity. (All it takes is 10 buck to join NYSUT Unity instead of the pint of blood and robotic control of your tongue you get in UFT Unity.)

Here are my previous posts if you need to get up to speed.

• Duking it Out in NYSUT - At the Top
• Strange Bedfellows On Cuomo Team: Eva, DFER and Mi...
• EIA Picks up Our NYSUT Story
• Looming Battle: Mulgrew vs Iannuzzi For NYSUT Lead.

I blotted out most of the names in these communications because I'm not sure I have everyone's permission though I do have permission to publish these emails from the
LONG ISLAND PRESIDENTS' COUNCIL INTRANET.

The following message has been posted to the LIPC Intranet's Discussion Board:

Subject:
Re: LIPC DID YOU KNOW
Date:
1/3/2014 10:37:24 PM
Message from a Long Island union president

I believe that at this time it's important for LIPC members to know that across the State many local presidents are talking about the situation in NYSUT..... I can not abide these "secret" meetings and agendas... I am assuming that you all are just as interested as I am so I'm posting an email from a local President in Westchester... I will continue to post the correspondences that come to me from other areas of the State to keep you all up to date on what's happening... xxxxxx wrote the email below and told me I could include his name... I will only include author's names when they give me permission to do so...

Email from a local President in Westchester

......... Presidents, I have been mulling this communication over for the last several days trying to formulate a sense of my feeling on the issue because I admire both xxxx and yyyyy and agree with both their positions. If this were any other time, I would fully endorse yyyyy's perspective that using this forum to air grievances with leadership would be inappropriate and undermine our unity. The unity that has served us incredibly well over the years. But, these are times unlike any I have seen in my years as a Union leader. 

To remain silent would be to maintain an illusion that we are not on the precipice of a leadership battle in our organization, one with statewide ramifications. 

The leader, as I see it, of this insurrection is E. V. P. Andy Pallotta. 

Clearly we have been a house divided for some time. The legislative office and President have had their issues and it has become clear to me that this internal battle is a mask that Andy has used to cover for his failure to deliver in the legislative arena. The independence that the legislative office has historically had may have worked for Alan Lubin and Tom Hobart, but Alan could consistently deliver for our members. That independence is not working now. Andy has not been using his resources in an effective way he has not been pushing our agenda, they have been silent on the tax cap and ineffective on issues of testing. 

The inaction of the legislative office has forced Dick's hand to move the discussion in our favor. He has twice sued the state (APPR and Tax Cap) and pushed the June 8 rally (despite Andy's opposition). While I may not agree with everything that Dick has done I recognize and respect his commitment to unity and our core purpose. The fact that Andy would be working to undermine the strength of NYSUT at a time when we have so much opportunity to advance our agenda in the legislature speaks volumes to me. So I applaud xxxxx for initiating a discussion none of us will be able to avoid for long.

zzzzz President, zzzzzz Federation of Teachers

On Saturday, January 4, 2014 12:17 PM, a follow-up from Long Island President:

I too would rather have a discussion about this startling news and am hoping that every president will be at Guerneys later this month... but at this time, this forum seems to be the only vehicle for disseminating this information to all LI presidents...

bbbbb you know as well as I do that midnight tonight is the deadline for submitting ones name to Unity for endorsement consideration and your meeting was last night.... Unfortunately, for far too long the Unity Caucus has enjoyed the distinguished honor of being the only caucus with teeth at the RA... many of us paid our $10 to sit in the room and see what was going on... Unity began as a vehicle to represent all members of the State but in Washington last year it became very obvious that it was functioning as an arm of the UFT... I want to believe that you would never allow an endorsement of Cuomo. But you did not stand up at that NYSUT Board meeting and tell Karen Magee that under no circumstances should NYSUT endorse Cuomo... You could have rose and given the room a Ron Smith rendition of, "NYSUT needs to spend all its time and money finding candidates to run and win against Cuomo and his lackeys", but you chose not to.... When I heard that you all were at the Cuomo fundraiser I called Dick... He told me that he was unaware that Andy had reserved a table and that none of the other officers were invited...Dick and Andy may have needed to be at the Cuomo event, but all of the rest of you should have told Andy not to waste our vote cope money to fill Cuomo's war chest... Karen Magee shouldn't have needed a local president to tell her her "giddy" facebook post about the event was inappropriate before she removed the thread from her facebook page... She shouldn't have posted it to begin with and if she's really interested in running for NYSUT President why did she run for rather than retire from the TRS last year.... I stood up at Guerneys and tried to politely tell Andy that I believed now is the time for a united NYSUT attack against the death grip that Cuomo has on NYS education... this is not the time to show the politicians that we are not united... 

Andy has done nothing to stop Cuomo's tax cap agenda that is killing everyone in the State except the UFT... at least Dick filed the lawsuit.... 

Everyone knows that I don't agree with Dick's position on a three year moratorium because I have continuously stated that I believe in a full withdrawal from RTTT and that the common core is crap... with that said, let me be very clear, I will vote for and work to get Dick elected because he did not endorse Cuomo last time and he has stated that he will not support or recommend NYSUT endorse Cuomo in November... as I see it Cuomo, Flanagan, LaValle, King, Obama, et al are our enemies not Dick or Lee or Kathleen!!
below is another letter from an upstate president that is traveling around for everyone to see... the president's name has been removed...

..... fellow presidents,

I chose to send this to everyone for a couple reasons; first, because I raised the MAC question at our Presidents’ meeting and feel we should all have the answer. Given that the Diane Ravich Forum falls on our next meeting and several of us will attend that (forum) rather than our meeting, I chose to copy all. 

Secondly, I’ve listened, for at least the last two years, to very public criticism of NYSUT officers at our meetings and conferences, so with equal deference, I do not understand why you would question me the first time I express my opinion. Lastly, I actually had this note sitting in my draft folder waiting until after the holiday. Given that my teachers and students will return to their classrooms on Thursday still faced with the threat of high stakes testing and the CC roll out nightmare which has been foisted upon us all, I couldn't stand to let any more time tick by. I’ve said nothing in this note that I wouldn’t say at our presidents’ meeting or that I will not say to EVP Pallotta himself, but again I fear that we will not all meet again for quite some time. I believe the time is now and the momentum is on our side for our legislative department to follow through, work with our lawmakers, and deliver the 3 year moratorium. 

Dick has laid out a clear plan and message as to why the moratorium makes sense. The rally and the statewide forums have set the stage, we finally have parents engaged and lawmakers from one end of NY to the other listening; let’s close the deal for our kids and our teachers! On January 3 rd I go to the bargaining table as many of you have done, are doing, or will do shortly and bargaining with this Cap is just one of the issues we all face. The Tax Cap also leaves our members facing layoffs each year and in some schools there is talk of insolvency. Yes, I do want more fire from the legislative department because I do see the fire from Dick and Maria and I want it to be matched by Andy. I agree with you, yyyyy, why go to a rally or participate in a Day of Action if there is to be no follow through? That is exactly why I hit send. That is exactly why I will call Andy’s office by days end. 

Lastly, what rings hollow for me yyyyy, is why so much of our VOTE-COPE dollars would be spent on this Governor, period! Leaving the door open is sending an officer or two and no one else. Making a small contribution also sends the message that we are not happy with him or his policies while still leaving the door open. I do not feel that there is anything wrong with my questioning why so many were sent or questioning who was sent. My fear is that it is about politics. There is an election around the corner and I certainly hope we will not endorse this Governor. 

 If anyone out there has something to add, leave a comment and give me time to get to a computer to moderate as I have to keep all the spam away.

Saturday Jan. 25: Stop and Reverse the Disappearing of Black and Latino Educators in NYC

Sean Ahern has led the efforts to bring this issue to the fore almost since I met him when we helped form ICE 10 years ago. He has moved steadily forward by building coalitions with all the groups named below.

This Saturday the Ad Hoc committee for Teacher Diversity is sponsoring a meeting to address the issue.

If this were only happening in NYC we would be able to look at the local conditions alone. But this is going on nationwide in urban areas where ed deform has reared its ugly head. You know, those people claiming they are involved in the civil rights issue of our times while somehow reducing the numbers people of color who are teaching in the areas that need them the most. Today we saw Boston highlighted:

A decline in the number of black teachers in Boston public schools has put the city in violation of a federal court order, prompting officials to step up efforts to recruit and retain teachers of color.

Officials in Boston seeking black teachers More diversity is recruitment goal; imbalance could bring litigation

Stop and Reverse the Disappearing of Black and Latino Educators in NYC
 

Please come to this important event and distribute the flyer below: 

• Testimonials from those pushed out and shut out
• An update on Gulino vs BOE (lawsuit against the NYS LAST exam)
• What we can do now

Saturday, January 25, 2014

3-5 PM

The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew’s Parish Hall

520 Clinton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238 (C train to Clinton/Washington)

A 42% decline in the number of new Black and Latino teachers hired to teach in NYC public schools since 2002 is movement in the wrong direction.

The DOE hires graduates from private universities over those from CUNY and SUNY.

A NYS teacher certification exam is not validated yet disproportionately excludes Black and Latino applicants.

Over 100 public schools have been closed in NYC’s Black and Latino communities.

Mayoral control over the DOE with its $25 billion yearly budget shuts out the voices and accountability to parents – over 80% of whom are Black, Latino and Asian.

Privately run charter schools are given a free ride to crowd existing public schools and to divide parents against parents.

The absence of DOE or mayoral oversight or direction to monitor and promote diversity in the teaching staff provides a cover for growing indifference and hostility to demands for equity.  “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”

The undermining of teacher tenure, seniority and due process disproportionately impacts Black and Latino teachers, denigrates the teaching profession, inhibits student advocacy and contributes to chaos and demoralization in our public schools.

The disappearing of Black and Latino educators removes the most consistent advocates for a historically accurate, culturally relevant and inclusive curriculum.

Join with educators, parents and community leaders to stop and reverse the disappearing of Black and Latino educators.  Let’s organize for a real change at Tweed and City Hall.

Organized by the Ad Hoc committee for Teacher Diversity

Contact information: Peter Bronson (917) 453-3666, (718) 805-6341 Email:TeacherDiversity@gmail.com

Endorsers (list in formation) Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence, Coalition for Public Education, Movement of Rank and File Educators, National Black Education Agenda, New York Collective of Radical Educators, People Power, Progressive Action Caucus, Teacher’s Unite.

Stop and Reverse the Disappearing of Black and Latino Educators in NYC

Portelos Update - Clear Evidence of support for him

My bad back prevented me from attending recently but this report was sent from two of the MOREistas there observing and some anon comments from what appear to be parents.
 - I was hoping to go today but have to drive a friend to the doctor. And there's another session scheduled for Weds though the snowstorm may kill that.

These are the 2 MOREista retirees who have attended most of the hearings.

Retiree 1 - Jan. 10:

All things considered, it was a *really* good day for the " respondent".

I thought the impeachment of Ms. Cavalleri backfired in the sense that her reappearance had the effect (on me, at least) of underscoring her basic truthfulness. Long story short... she used the wrong word ("lied") in her " private " (Facebook) email when she should have said " I forgot to mention", or "I just realized I left out.... " etc.

This led to a long jumbled cross examination by JS ... kind of reminiscent of the scene from the The Verdict where James Mason badgers the witness about whether or not she understands the legal meaning of the word "perjury". CC , on redirect, got Cavalleri to use the word "dyslexic"... getting it I suppose, into the record". God knows whether or not either hearing officer or JS understand the communication implications of the term but it least it's in the record. I don't know about Ms. Busto, but the only thing I took away from Ms. Cavalleri's appearance was the image of the DOE fiendishly scouring the internet for every and any mention of this case that might conceivably help them win. ( Who exactly does all this....errrrmmm... "research"? The mind boggles.)

Ms. Jesino... parent co-ordinator... was a delight. 10 plus years on the job, kids went to school at I-49, etc. In other words: superb credentials, credibility-wise. Basically she underscored defense version of events from beginning to end. JS tried to impeach her by establishing that she was still friends w. FP's sister. ( She is.) Not clear what she achieved beyond that. Loooooong series of "Isn't it true that..." questions, the answer to all of which were "no." The difficulty is Ms. Jesino seems to take the "WHOLE" truth part of the oath *very* seriously and answers in paragraphs, providing both antecedents to simple facts, as well as their consequences. . Most of the details of which helped the defense narrative. JS kept (I thought) circling and circling, ready to pounce.

Rare moment of levity: Ms. J appended the term "Sweeetie" at the conclusion of a long answer to one of JS's "isn't it true that" questions. JS admonished her and Ms. Busto commented that that was probably the "friendliest" cross-examination response that JS would ever elicit.

Jesino was cool, calm, collected, natural, appealing. And very credible. She was calmly reading a tattered paperback while we were waiting for DOE to come back after lunch break to begin cross exam. (Do they time these "delays" to try to psych the witnesses? If so.. it didn't work.) I stood-up to catch the a glimpse of the cover, saw it, made a mental note to write it down but got distracted and it is lost for all time. It was non-fiction

Retiree 2 - January 10, 2014

Norm,

The former parent coordinator was excellent, so matter of fact and in control while describing just how toxic and inept the the admin is. Said it straight: AP ------- was drunk and disgusting. Parents, students and staff all agreed that AP –––– clothing was revealing and she would gape her legs so folks could see her polka dot underwear. She contradicted emphatically and convincingly all the words that the previous witnesses claimed she said.

     [DOE Legal Slugette] Jordana was at a loss about how to cross examine. At one point [NYSUT Attorney] Chris actually coached her how to phrase a question, which she then used. Clearly she was flustered and unsure of herself. Her attempts to badger the witness failed to throw the witness off. The narrative the DOE has tried to seamlessly orchestrate now looks more like cover-up fiction than some version of reality.

The staff crying to coordinator that they feel they would be retaliated against by administration if they even speak Portelos' name. The SCI investigator Matthew Martucci that told Hill everything that was said about her...

-------

3 Anonymous comments on your post "Francesco Portelos: Teacher Under Assault by Princ...":

I was a member of SLT at IS49 as the title 1 rep. If Ms. Hill didn't like my questions and didn't want to answer them, she would act like a 12yr old and say, "you know ms. wright, i'm really trying to get along with you." if she made a face or disliked any of my questions then she had her puppets chime in and attack me with negative comments and discouraging me from asking or speaking my mind. she demanded 1500 dollars from the title 1 money ASAP. I told her I needed to speak with higher ups and she quoted me again with, u know ms. wright, i'm really trying to get a long with you. and asking me who do I need to speak with and when will I get back to her. I told her Tuesday, which was two days later and she huffed and puffed like she was going to blow me down. when saturday rolled around she sent me an email telling me to disregard her request.


====
I was the title 1 rep and when I asked a question at the PTA meeting about the safe room, I was told at an executive meeting that was set up to intimidate me from asking negative questions in front of parents. I was told by sherina peterkins the so called president of the PTA and the so called leader in charge, Ms. Hill, that I am to stop whatever I am doing and ask ms. hill these questions in her office. that if my question is personal that I am to go to the principal in private. you stupid clowns, my son goes to your school and everything that happened or happens in this school is personal to me. I told them whatever. that if I want to ask a question I will ask it at the PTA.

====
I was harassed by ms. hill's security officers. she had only two black females escorting me around like I was a criminal. everyone else walked in that school with no escorts except me. I called mike riley to complain. it stopped for 2 weeks and started up again. this was all because ms. hill didn't like that I was asking a lot of questions about the budget, the title 1 funds, questioning the CFN and just asking positive questions about the kids' welfare when it came to education. as a title 1 rep I was treated like shit. but I didn't care because I knew that heifer couldn fire me. one time even one of the officers interpreted for me in English back to English. go figure. I have a lot of stories about this piece of shit school

PS 106 Update: Instead of Holding Bloomberg Accountable, NY Post and Eric Cantor Calls For Vouchers

If you tried to write the most bizarre stories you can imagine it is really hard to match the NY Post. Chalkbeat lists loads of NY Post PS 106 stories (see below for links), including Cantor's call for vouchers as the answer to the PS 106 neglect. Cantor says, "Decisions over educating our kids should start at the home with parents."
Well parents at PS 106 did ask for a voucher but to have a school leader who would act in their interests. Cantor wants to remove that choice from those parents.

Then the Post reports how letter after letter was ignored by the Bloomberg run Tweed over the years. Sure, Eric, vouchers. Not support for another Stalag Leadership Academy graduate, people who were encouraged to engage in the kinds of practices Marcella Sills engaged in in an assault on teacher and parent interests.

I charged the Post with withholding this story until Bloomberg was out of office so he and Walcott could walk away free. In Sue Edelman's story I'm printing below there is no seeming attempt to interview the people mentioned -- Supt Lloyd-Bey, Dennis Walcott, Joel Klein, or Bloomberg himself -- or even a call for them to be investigated. Or for Richard Condon to be called to account for starting an investigation NOW.

You want to know why? Because they all were very happy Sills was doing to teachers and parents exactly as she was trained to do in the Leadership Academy-- only she didn't do it with the skill others did.

The Lead Acad principal of my old school PS 147 did exactly the same type of stuff Sills did and she is now a high official at Tweed.

Here is the full Post story on the complaints of teachers - and Ed Notes in 2008 also had complaints of parents too.

Note the headline: City Ignored -- not Bloomberg, Klein, Walcott --

City ignored pleas to ax ‘lunatic’ principal

They knew.
Teachers begged city officials to investigate “School of No” Principal Marcella Sills soon after she started in 2005 — citing her constant tardiness, harassment of staff and extravagant spending on parties while the school lacked books, pencils and paper.
“Get rid of her before it’s too late,” a 2007 letter urged District 27 Superintendent Michelle Lloyd-Bey, who oversees Queens principals.
Letters describe Sills as a tyrant and “rude lunatic administrator” who spurred an exodus of excellent teachers and failed to provide basic student supplies and services while handsomely furnishing her own office and squandering funds on catering and decorations.
“You need to examine Ms. Sills’ inability to lead,” says a 2006 letter from a “concerned teacher” to top Department of Education officials, including Carmen Fariña — now the city’s newly installed chancellor — and then-Chancellor Joel Klein. “Teacher morale is at an all-time low.”
A 2006 letter to Special Commissioner of Investigation Richard Condon — with copies to then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Klein and other officials — said Sills “comes in late on a daily basis” and does not record her absences, but calls staffers at home if they call in sick.

The Post revealed last week that Sills for years has arrived hours late, and often failed to show, school sources said. Over the previous week, Sills missed all but one day.
The Far Rockaway school had no math or English textbooks for the rigorous new Common Core curriculum, no gym or art classes — kids watched movies instead — and no nurse’s office. Kindergartners sit in trailers that reeked of animal urine.
Fariña sent a deputy to inspect the school last week but has not publicly acknowledged any specific problems, citing only “significant room for organizational improvement.”
Last week, kids suddenly had gym and art. Dozens of boxes of books were delivered, including the grade-by-grade series, aimed at parents, starting with “What your Kindergartner Needs to Know.”
Condon has launched a probe.
Former teachers gave The Post 10 letters sent since 2005 to Condon, Klein, Lloyd-Bey, Fariña and former Queens Superintendent Kathleen Cashin — now a member of the state Board of Regents. Most of the letters are anonymous, because the teachers feared retaliation by Sills. Some kept a “harassment log.”
The teachers also showed more than two dozen letters and e-mails to reps at the United Federation of Teachers, including then-President Randi Weingarten, now a national union president, but said even she could not help.
Among the complaints, a 2006 letter to Condon, copied to Bloomberg and DOE officials, says Sills threw an elaborate buffet lunch for staff as a “thank you” but asked teachers to sign forms stating — falsely — that they attended a “professional development” workshop. A spokesman for Condon said last week he had no findings to report.
The letter also describes a “fifth-grade extravaganza,” including a dance at El Caribe banquet space, a Broadway show and dinner at a trendy Manhattan restaurant — at an estimated cost of $24,000. Parents had to cough up $90 each.
It was also alleged Sills used a grant from the Alvin Ailey Dance Studio to pay herself overtime, even as school aides went without OT because the school budget had run out of money.
A 2006 letter to Klein called Sills “vicious,” saying she “humiliated” children who were emotionally disturbed and punished school aides who complained about “unsafe, deplorable conditions” in the cafeteria.
Sills, 48, was a graduate of the DOE’s “Leadership Academy,” which trains principals, and had little teaching experience. Insiders said she lacked literacy skills, noting her invitation to a Nov. 23, 2005, holiday buffet “in honor of my gradutitude” to employees, including “security personel” and “custodially staff members.”
Sills ruled by threats and intimidation, ex-staffers complained. She “yells at a volume that resounds throughout the building, slams doors and uses foul language,” a 2006 letter to Condon claims.
That letter also accuses Sills of racism: “She has hired only black teachers and has targeted white teachers and a secretary.” Many left or were forced out.
One former teacher charged that Sills fabricated several observations, rated her “unsatisfactory” and then forged her signature on the documents.
Another red flag was raised in 2009, when the family of a girl student filed a $2 million negligence suit charging staff failed to stop beatings and a sex assault and that Sills did not report the incidents. The family’s lawyer, Adam Thompson, told The Post the city has yet to produce a single witness for deposition. The city Law Department declined to comment.
The DOE would not answer questions on PS 106 or Sills.

Chalkbeat list of articles.

"School of No"

Teachers at P.S. 106 sent at least 10 letters to city officials since 2005 complaining about Principal Marcella Sills.

• New York Post

Sills spent thousands of dollars sprucing up her office and ordering food for staff functions.

• New York Post

A fifth-grader describes the school's wanting conditions from a student's perspective.

• New York Post

Republican Congressman Eric Cantor says P.S. 106 is evidence that voucher programs are necessary.

• New York Post

After de Blasio stepped in, P.S. 106 pre-K students now have a real classroom with real furniture.

• New York Post

Loretta and Gene Prisco 70th Birthday, Jan. 19, 2013

Photo from the Goldfine/Rashal wedding 2 years ago. Loretta and Gene back row. We all gathered at Gene's memorial on Jan. 5. (video to come)

We all met in the early 70s and have remained a tight group politically and socially since. Gene Prisco's memorial a few weeks ago reminded us of the ties - and Loretta struggles with a very serious illness. Here is something to remember from happier times just a year ago when we celebrated both of their 70th birthdays.

In August 2012 we also gathered for the wedding of their daughter Gabrielle to Ra -- somewhere we have a picture of that too.

A year has passed since this festive event and what has occurred to this amazing family pushes against the boundaries of belief. Excuse the very bad sound and camera work -- I was in the back of a crowded room and using a phone-like camera.

Duking it Out in NYSUT - At the Top

On Saturday evening PJSTA (Port Jefferson Station) President Beth Dimino delivered the following message to the members of the PJSTA… For the record, the PJSTA will NOT endorse a slate of NYSUT Officers, led by Andy Pallotta, that endorse and use our vote cope money to pad Cuomo’s war chest! The PJSTA is leading the charge against this heinous act and will support individuals that oppose Pallotta and Cuomo!.. Beth Dimino, President PJSTA, More on Andy Pallotta

Someone asked me what is the relevance of the battle at the top in NYSUT we have been reporting about for the rank and file teachers in NYC and the state and for MORE as a caucus? Basically not much because this struggle does not involve the rank and file.

Bogs addressing the NYSUT issue:
http://thepjsta.org/
Perdido: More on The UFT/Mulgrew Machinations In The NYSUT

 NYC Educator
On Reviving NYSUT
My posts:

• Strange Bedfellows On Cuomo Team: Eva, DFER and Mi...
• EIA Picks up Our NYSUT Story
• Looming Battle: Mulgrew vs Iannuzzi For NYSUT Lead...

The internal NYSUT election takes place every 3 years at the NYSUT convention which revolves every year to a different location but the UFT leadership makes sure is at the local NY Hilton in election years (2014) so they can make sure all 800 Unity slugs get a free room and meal money at our expense and even a day or 2 off from school. Only delegates elected in their locals throughout the state get to vote and that vote will take place on Saturday, April 5. In the UFT winner-take-all version of democracy MORE gets NO delegates - and Unity even shuts out their buddies in New Action from that gravy train.

The statewide Unity Caucus will meet Friday evening, April 4, to endorse the Unity slate and that outcome is pretty clear -- it will be for the Andy Pallotta slate and not include the Iannuzzi crew which will be left to run on an ad hoc slate of sorts. Call it Un-Unity.



Remember-- this is all about who controls the COPE money going to politicians and Dick put a freeze on how much Andy can spend - mostly on the other Andy. And of course it also seems to be about the Cuomo endorsement -- Mikey and Randi want that little stool at the table -- and all they will get is the kind of stool a dog leaves on the street.

Let's do some analysis for a bit starting with exactly what kinds of local unions are we talking about. Most locals are very small with a few hundred teachers -- think of each town un Long Island and upstate as a separate local.

Then there is the big enchilada - the UFT with at least a third of the NYSUT membership and through that alone it pretty much decides things. Even if there was a coalition forming to fight it there would be enough fear -- think of the Christie story -- to keep even unhappy locals from venturing too far -- except for some very brave small union leaders -- apparently like Beth Dimino of PJSTA. There are others like her I imagine but I'm waiting to hear where they are coming from. Even if they all banded together they would still not have enough delegates to put up their own challenge.

Then come the smaller big cities --- Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, which if in revolt with the more active smaller locals could create a bit of a stir. I think for instance it Phil Rumore of Buffalo put himself out there as a third choice there might be some shaking of the tree even if the result will be the same. But from what I hear there are no signs yet from the other bigger cities of any action.

And then there is also PSC - Professional Staff Congress -- a nice chunk of more left-leaning people at the city university - CUNY. No idea where they are coming from yet.

Here's the problem. While Iannuzzi has made some movements lately -- probably in response to the attack on him -- many in the state had him lumped with Mulgrew and Andy Pallotta until this all broke. Left with a poor set of choices what do people do? They begin to look at Iannuzzi as the lesser of two evils.

Oh, and then where is Randi on all this? I believe Iannuzzi does not become president of NYSUT without her OK. But we hear she is siding with the Mulgrew camp on this -- just a rumor.

Where all this intrigue has a possible impact is at the AFT Convention in LA this July where we will see more anti-Randi and anti UFT dominance emerge. NYSUT was always a solid block for them in the past but this time we may see some of this fracture play out on the national stage where Chicago will be sending a strong contingent pushing for some pretty heavy hitting resolutions. The battles between Unity and CORE will play out in committee rooms not in the national elections since I can't see Karen Lewis running against Randi. So what we will probably see is a leftish fringe group that will garner almost no support from even others on the left.

Unless... a real anti-Randi broad-based national coalition begins to form that can challenge the national version of Unity, the Progressive Caucus - which anyone can join for 25 bucks -- and I do every time just to be in the same room and laugh at the Unity slugs playing their usual roles.

Given that a batch of us met in Chicago this past summer with well over a hundred people from various social-justice oriented caucuses around the nation, there is a nascent movement forming and Randi is trying to get as far out ahead of it as she can -- thus her recent VAMping.

While MORE has a hell of a lot on its plate just trying to organize here in NYC and a long way to go - and I as a senior adviser keep stressing that -- not to stray too far into every single issue that comes up locally, nationally and internationally, we do think it important that we put some resources into helping build the national movement and if there is a state movement building, help support that too, but never losing site of the prime directive --- build strong school and district level MORE offshoots to challenge Unity at its core while also building the chapter leader and delegate MORE support network to begin to play a bigger role at the DA.

It seems that one of the major MORE strategies will be lots of local happy hours. Urp!

Afterburn
I still have to write about my tough last 2 weeks of time spent dealing with the health care system after I took a bad fall on my back and also have been helping a friend out who has cancer.

But I do want to say that shlepping to a vibrant MORE meeting Saturday with well over 60 people - and so many of them young - and new - certainly perked me up. So much so that today I shlepped out again to go to a joint MORE/Change the Stakes phone banking and button making party at Rosie's place for our big Feb. 1 event which I will tell you about soon. Again, a mixture of people in their 20s, 30s, and me.

Oh, and I also have to tell you that I was asked by the Rockaway Theatre Company to be part of the ensemble (chorus) in How to Succeed in Business.... where I actually sort of dance and pretend to sing and where one of my jobs is to ogle the young and very pretty fellow chorus gals playing the secretaries, who range in age from 15 to 29. Nice work for an almost 69 year old fossil. Bad back, hell. I'd crawl to do some serious ogling.

Strange Bedfellows On Cuomo Team: Eva, DFER and Mikey

Guess who is joining Cuomo's list of privateers?

MEMORANDUM

TO:        NYSUT Board of Directors

FROM:  Andy Pallotta, Executive Vice President

DATE:   January 15, 2014

RE:        NYSUT's Legislative Reception

On Monday evening, January 27, 2014, NYSUT will host a Legislative Reception and briefing in the Observation Deck of the Erastus Corning Tower at the Empire State Plaza.  The reception will be held between6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

The Governor and his executive staff, members and the executive staff of the Senate and Assembly will be our invited guests.

Light refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available. 

A copy of the invitation is attached.  If you are interested and your schedule allows, please RSVP to Karen Rhatigan at (518) 213-6000 x6626 or by e-mail, krhatigan@nysutmail.org.

cc:        NYSUT Cabinet

By the way -- this is being done without the approval of NYSUT president Richard Iannuzzi. Andy Pallotta is from the UFT/Unity Caucus wing and represents Mulgrew -- who is running a slate against the Iannuzzi slate in the upcoming NYSUT elections according to our sources. Ed Notes wrote about it in depth:

Looming Battle: Mulgrew vs Iannuzzi For NYSUT Leadership - Split Over Cuomo Endorsement?

And Mike Antonucci from EIA pointed out in this story

EIA Picks up Our NYSUT Story

that

This is a BIG DEAL because NYSUT not only ran a $24 million deficit in 2011-12, but the largest state union affiliate in the nation has a net worth of negative $303 million. If Revive NYSUT is telling the truth, there ought to be red flags going up from Albany to Washington, DC.

New York State United Teachers budget deficit

-$24,065,575 -$302,863,241.. Educational Intelligence Agency

One must ask at some point how anti-union and public education groups and the UFT/AFT/NYSUT can so often find themselves on the same side.

This below was posted by Leonie:

A lot of these guys also support the test-based teacher eval system—even though charters don’t have to adopt it.

http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2014/01/17/success-academy-donors-flood-cuomos-coffers-filings-show/

Success Academy donors give big to Cuomo campaign

by Geoff Decker on January 17, 2014

Backers of a top charter school network that Mayor Bill de Blasio has singled out in his plans to curb charter school growth are filling Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign chest.

Cuomo’s reelection bid has so far received  nearly $400,000 from a cadre of wealthy supporters of Eva Moskowitz’s Success Academy Charter School network, according to an updated tally of newly-released campaign filings. Some money has even come from Moskowitz’s political action committee, Great Public Schools, which has given $65,000 to Cuomo since 2011.

A broader analysis of the filings shows just how much the charter school sector and its education policy allies have embraced Cuomo, a Democrat, during his first term as governor. It also shows how much support from the state’s powerful teachers union, a more traditional ally, has waned.

By one tally of the 2014 filings, Cuomo racked up at least $800,000 in donations from 27 bankers, real estate executives, business executives, philanthropists and advocacy groups who have flocked to charter schools and other education causes in recent years. 

The totals far exceed what the same group gave him for his first run in 2010: $136,000. The union, meanwhile, has donated one-quarter of the sum it gave Cuomo in 2010.

After having a close friend in City Hall for 12 years, the flood of contributions is a sign that charter school backers in New York City may have found a new powerful ally in government at a time when they need one badly. Mayor Bill de Blasio has taken aim at the charter management organizations with well-heeled donors, singling Success Academy out as one whose schools should pay rent for operating in city-owned buildings.

Cuomo’s education policy decisions during his first term in office have been more aligned to former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a supporter of charter schools. This year, Cuomo is pushing a merit pay proposal and his education reform commission recently recommended that charter schools should be eligible for state pre-kindergarten funds.

Success charter schools, where three of four students qualify for free or reduced lunch, are considered the city’s highest-performing, though critics argue that Success doesn’t replace students who leave or serve a high enough population of students with disabilities (Success’ special education population is 15 percent, slightly less than the citywide average.)

John Petry, a Success founder and board member who has given $35,000 to Cuomo since 2011, said he was won over in early conversations with Cuomo, an attorney general who had a sparse record on education as a candidate in 2010.

“It’s really impressive how he’s thrown himself into education policy over the last four years and developed into a leader on the issue,” Petry said.

Petry was one of at least 10 Success board members, along with two spouses, who donated to Cuomo in recent years. (Success has 66 board members serving seven boards, each of which oversees a small number of schools — some oversee just one — in the 22-school network).

Topping the list is board member Jill Braufman, a philanthropist who is married to Daniel Nir, another board member who heads Gracie Capital, an investment firm. Braufman, who also chairs the Center for Arts Education board, gave $57,500 over the past two years, while Nir chipped in another $35,000.

Joel Greenblatt, a Success co-founder, and his wife, Julia, contributed $75,000. Moskowitz’s PAC donated to Cuomo four times in less than a year between 2011 and 2012.

As a nonprofit organization, Success Academy Charter Schools is barred from engaging or coordinating in political campaign fundraising activities for candidates, although employees may volunteer on their own time. A spokeswoman said that any donations by board members or through Moskowitz’s PAC were not coordinated through Success.

“They are committed to helping children gain access to high-quality educational options, but they serve many communities and causes; their decisions about political donations are purely personal,” said the spokeswoman, Ann Powell. 

As governor, Cuomo doesn’t have direct power over many policies to help the charter school sector. He can’t authorize new charter schools and it’s up to de Blasio to decide if they will pay rent.

But Cuomo does pull strings in budget negotiations and has a say over how much per-pupil state funding charter schools receive, which is less on average than district schools. Cuomo could give them a boost in the event that de Blasio chooses to charge rent or evict them altogether.

“He kept charter funding level during the recession and did not allow the already existing gap to get worse,” said Bill Phillips, whose PAC, the Coalition for Public Charter Schools, donated $10,000 to Cuomo.

Joe Williams, who has helped fundraise for Cuomo as head of Democrats for Education Reform, said that the flood of support is more a testament to Cuomo’s overall performance as governor than any specific education initiative. He noted an improved budget process, same-sex marriage legislation and “smart gun-control legislation” as notable highlights that have impressed donors.

“He came to us in 2010 and pitched himself as a grownup who could get state government working again,” Williams said. “Some people in our orbit thought it was impossible, but he proved he was up for it.”

A Cuomo spokesman declined to comment.

One group that has cooled considerably on Cuomo since he took office, if campaign donations are any indication, is the state teachers union. The PAC for the New York State United Teachers has offered just $10,000 so far this campaign cycle compared with more than $40,000 in 2010.

In the last four years, Cuomo has fought the union over teacher evaluations and aggressively pushed districts to adopt the systems after implementation had stalled. He also cut pension benefits for state workers, including teachers, which infuriated public employee unions.

A union spokesman declined to comment.  

Though Success board members were most-represented among Cuomo’s education donors, they were hardly alone. Below is a complete list of Success’ and other education donors, their contributions and their affiliations. 

— Sam Cole, Success board; JerseyCan board: $30,000

— Bryan Binder, Success board: $15,000

— Great Public Schools PAC, Eva Moskowitz’s PAC: $65,000

— Jill Braufman, Success board; Chair of Center for Arts Education: $57,500

— Dan/Margaret Loeb, Success board and wife: $29,367

— Joel/Julia Greenblatt, Success co-founder; Say Yes to Education board member, and wife: $75,000

— John Petry, Success co-founder and board member; Democrats for Education Reform co-founder and board member: $35,000

— Dan Nir, Success board, $35,000

— Charles Strauch, Success board, $15,000

— Jarrett Posner, Success board, $2,500

— Kelly Posner, Turnaround for Children chair; founder of Speyer Legacy School: $20,000

— Andrew and Dana Stone, Success board: $75,000

— Larry Robbins, KIPP board, RELAY Graduate School of Education board, $50,000

— Brian Olson, Chairman of ConnCan, Civic Builders board, New Schools Leadership Council, $45,000

— Brian and Tania Higgins, Harlem Children’s Zone board: $45,000

— Jon Sackler, Achievement First board; 50Can; NewSchools Venture Fund: $26,000

— Winston Fisher, Civic Builders board, $47,500

— Bruce Kovner, Bronx Preparatory Charter School board, $40,000

— Carl Icahn, founder of Icahn Charter Schools, $50,000

— Ken Langone, StudentsFirstNY board, $50,000

— Whitney Tilson, co-founder of Democrats for Education Reform, KIPP-NYC board, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools board, $12,000

— Bryan Lawrence, Public Prep board, $10,000

— Democrats for Education Reform, $35,000

— Coalition for Public Charter Schools, $10,000

Is PS 106 Better Run When the Principal is NOT There?- Norm in The Wave

Is PS 106 Better Run When the Principal is NOT There?

By Norm Scott

published in Rockaway's newspaper, The Wave, Jan. 17, 2014, www.rockawave.com

The NY Post branding of PS 106 as the “No School – No books, library, gym, etc.” and “The Worst School in the Nation” with a focus on principal Marcella Sills has captured the attention of local and even national media. George Mathis writing from Georgia (http://blogs.ajc.com/news-to-me/2014/01/13/report-worst-school-in-u-s-has-no-books/) attacked the Post for its reporting and placed the blame on the Sandy storm and for an unfair attack on Sills. “Where (other than the Post) does it say good principals can’t drive expensive cars or wear animal pelts?” Hmmm. Too bad author Mathis didn’t Google the school or Sills and he would have turned up a trove of articles about Sills and PS 106 in The Wave and on my blog ednotesonline.org from as far back as 2007-8 when Sandy wasn’t even a puddle.

Some local politicians also neglected their googling, blaming Sandy for conditions at the school. The fact that almost since the day Sills took over about a decade ago, parents and teachers have been lodging complaints at levels above the school with little response. Sills whose teaching experience was always somewhat of a mystery came out of the principal training ground known as The Leadership Academy, affectionately referred to by teachers working for these grads as Stalag training camps where principals are taught how to destroy the lives and careers of teachers while shutting down parent involvement in the school – unless the parents are hand-picked by the principal.

Let’s review the “brilliant” organization structure instituted by NY Post darling, former Chancellor Joel Klein that allowed a Marcella Sills to become an “empowered” principal free to go what she wanted – even show up late to school or not at all, a major charge the Post makes. Klein combined school districts 23 and 19 from Brooklyn with our own District 27 into what became Region 5, headed by Kathy Cashin. Michele Lloyd-Bey has been the Superintendent.

I thought it interesting that reporter Sue Edelman who knows how to google posted her story 2 weeks AFTER the Bloomberg administration left the field and wouldn’t have to field questions about PS 106. That was left to new Chancellor Carmen Farina, who the next day sent a team to the school to check it out. BloomKlein and Walcott had no interest when the complaints flowed in the past. It certainly didn’t surprise me that Edelman did not include the way Sills degraded and even destroyed the careers of experienced educators. In the world of the Rupert Murdoch NY Post that would make Sills a hero and she could drive a Ferrari and wear fur pajamas and that would be OK. Well, Edelman did make this point: “Staffers won’t speak up or even file a grievance with their union because Sills will retaliate.” The union? Someone ask UFT District 27 rep Marilyn Cooper what she has been doing all these years.

Teachers chimed in with comments on my blog:

“As a former teacher at this school.....it's about time that the public knew what was going on. It was obvious to everyone who has worked there that the Principal's connections to those in higher places has made things progressively worse. I hope the dam is about to crack at this school. The extent of the problems that have been created by this Principal since she took over were well known by everyone associated with the workings of this school but when those who you think can correct the situation are looking the other way a monster is created. Perhaps now, those who can attest to what has been happening at PS 106 will have their voices heard!”

Another: “Harassment and data fudging for years. Good teachers have been run off and or ruined and the current teachers who work their busts off work in fear. Teachers do so without any books or any of the CCLS aligned curriculum that was free for NYC schools.”

On my blog I placed the blame on Supertindent Lloyd-Bey which led to this comment: “I am sure the parents spoke up but I'm also sure the district office took up for the principal. I am infuriated that this is happening to our black and brown children. hen will real change occur? Norm please keep the spotlight on. I am willing to protest for the removal of ALL superintendents, crazy principals, and other powers that be. They are ruining the careers of good teachers as well. You know this is not the only school.“

Even Lloyd-Bey had a defender: “If the parents, and more so, the teachers are not forthcoming now with the investigators – do not seek them out themselves and spill all the beans, then they may be blowing their only chance to get rid of this monster lady. I am thinking that Ms. Lloyd-Bey's hands were tied due to her being given hands off directive. What makes anyone think that teachers are the only one who are intimidated!! Someone above Ms. Lloyd-Bey is responsible for this one.”

And a parent chimed in:

“Ms. Sills has not really cared about students’ well being or academic progress. She has a political hierarchy she has developed to intimidate teachers and parents. Meetings were held by parents to address the over-priced graduation clothes and venue. She assured us she would help those who would not have the money. However she would only help parents that she believed would be an advantage to her. At the graduation of my daughter two years ago she told her graduating class her teacher didn't care about her right in the middle of the ceremony. Children were crying I personally knew the teacher had been very ill and went through radiation and severe changes. She not only did not have empathy for the teacher but she hurt the students feelings saying that in front of their peers during her elaborate production. You can't claim to care if your capable of hurting children as a means of retaliation. Hopefully things will change soon.”

Hmmm. Exactly who is protecting Sills all these years? Certainly not PETA.

Look for follow stories on Norms blog: ednotesonline where we report how Cashin and Lloyd-Bey tried to bribe a teacher with another job to protect Sills.

EIA Picks up Our NYSUT Story

This is a BIG DEAL because NYSUT not only ran a $24 million deficit in 2011-12, but the largest state union affiliate in the nation has a net worth of negative $303 million. If Revive NYSUT is telling the truth, there ought to be red flags going up from Albany to Washington, DC.

New York State United Teachers budget deficit

-$24,065,575 -$302,863,241.. Educational Intelligence Agency

Is “Revive NYSUT” Viable?

---

Is “Revive NYSUT” Viable?

Posted: 17 Jan 2014 10:34 AM PST

Norm Scott alerts us to some internal division and a burgeoning movement within the New York State United Teachers over the direction of the organization. An opposition caucus calling itself Revive NYSUT launched a Facebook page with this call to arms:

It’s Time…
Over the last five years we have taken hit after hit to our profession. We have suffered through budget cuts, layoffs, Race to the Top, APPR, Tier V, Tier VI, a property tax cap, loss of teacher privacy and the botched rollout of the Common Core. While this has been happening, NYSUT has appeared rudderless, indecisive and unable to successfully fight for our members in a meaningful way.

The effort appears to be led by NYSUT executive vice president Andrew Pallotta and Karen Magee, who is challenging incumbent Richard Iannuzzi for the NYSUT presidency.

Norm has all the dirt on this, including the notion that this is a proxy power struggle between Iannuzzi and United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew.

My first reaction is to get myself a bucket of popcorn and watch the show. Revive NYSUT describes itself as a grassroots group. If it were, it would be either ignored or quickly squashed by the NYSUT leadership. What makes it worth noticing is its apparent inclusion of “local Presidents, members of the NYSUT Board of Directors and even a current NYSUT officer.” Insiders give it heft that a bunch of outside rock-throwers would lack.

There is another thing that makes this particular uprising more significant than past ones:

We are for Transparency. Have you ever seen the NYSUT financials? For nine years, local presidents, NYSUT Task Force and Committee members and even members of the NYSUT Board of Directors have been refused access to NYSUT expenditure information.

This is a BIG DEAL because NYSUT not only ran a $24 million deficit in 2011-12, but the largest state union affiliate in the nation has a net worth of negative $303 million. If Revive NYSUT is telling the truth, there ought to be red flags going up from Albany to Washington, DC.