CPE1 Chapter Leader Marilyn Martinez CLEARED of ALL CHARGES - Estrella and Garg Should be Removed Immediately for Criminal Act

After a baseless and retaliatory investigation and termination hearing based on trumped up charges, Central Park East 1 teacher (and union chapter chair), Marilyn Martinez, was CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES! This is an extremely rare decision as only 4% of NYC teachers who go through these hearings are fully exonerated. But we need your help to tell the Mayor that the DOE needs to bring Marilyn back to her classroom immediately and that the campaign of harassment against teachers and parents must be stopped.... #Savecpe1 committee, http://www.savecpe1.org

Let's remember that Marilyn was suddenly removed from the classroom by the District 4 Elementary and middle school superintendent: Alexandra Estrella, (212) 348-2873. In an unprecedented move she was brought up on 3020a charges to fire her just a few weeks later which brought out an enormous parent response at her hearings. (And for those NYSUT lawyer bashers, she used one.)

How about that CSA call for the DOE to support yet another lying principal (YALP)? CSA Calls Abusive Principal Garg "an outstanding educator".)  Shame on the so-called union that supports attacks on other union members. The UFT should cut all relations and cooperation with these slugs.

Just think of it -- little kids, some with special needs, suddenly were cut off from the teacher who had given them so much support so early in their school lives -- one of the very best and dedicated teachers you can find -- the kind of teacher who writes 10 page individual analysis and reports for each child in addition to creating a vibrant classroom experience. I consider this a criminal act --- administrative and educational malpractice at the very least.

Also think of those 3 untenured teachers and 4 parents who showed up at the UFT Ex Bd meeting the other night to support Garg and in essence to endorse Garg's actions -- and was greeted with warmth and showered with love by UFT District Rep Servia Silva for engaging in what some termed the act of scabs who made statements attacking their fellow teachers. (From the first time we met with CPE1 teachers 15 months ago they were telling us she was pro-Garg and Estella.) See Arthur's Executive Board Takeaway.

The main complaint of these teachers who were hired by Garg against the vets were that they wouldn't meet with them other than offsite because Marilyn could not be in the school due to the charges. Now there's the union spirit of support. No wonder Garg hired them. 

Apparently Garg, who had lied about having anything to do with Marilyn's removal, was in it up to her ears, secretly taping a parent. Can anyone maintain trust in keeping her as principal? The UFT must call for Garg's immediate removal (and Estella with her) and Marilyn's immediate reinstatement to the classroom as of this Monday.

In the meantime, would we be surprised to see them try to file additional charges against Marilyn to keep her out of the school since her return would throw a serious monkey wrench into the Farina plan to undermine the school?

Parents are asking people to blitz de Blasio with calls today calling for Marilyn's immediate return.

We don't know how quickly she will be reinstated or if they will try to mess with it; at our SLT meeting today, Monika refused to say that she would support her return and looked really angry at idea of her returning.

So we want to get out ahead of it and build public political pressure for her immediate return and an end to the harassment; we're doing another call-in action tomorrow am around it. I know it's really short notice but anything you can do to get the word out would be much appreciated - it made a big difference last week.

Charter Schools Rip-Offs and Paul Ryan Visit

I guess you all heard about the protests yesterday over Paul Ryan's visit to Success -- MORE's Mindy Rosier originally broke the story he was going to come -- and they forced Ryan to actually visit a class in Mindy's school -- Leonie has a great report ---

NYC Public School Parents

Angry New Yorkers protest Paul Ryan today at Success Charter school in Harlem -
Gary Rubinstein has an excellent series of reports debunking KIPP claims --- 4th Best High School In New York Is A KIPP School That Doesn’t Exist

And if you believe any report from conservative think tanks like the Manhattan Institute first peek under the slimy covers. From some old pals:

From my old colleague at PS 16, Pete Farrugio:
The exec summary of a report from the NEPC debunking the latest bogus study from the right wing think tank, the Manhattan Institute, that "proves" that NYC charters do not cream for students.

http://nepc.colorado.edu/newsletter/2017/05/examination-new-york
Any time we peek under the covers of so-called successful charters (test scores), we find creaming for good test takers in the admission/recruitment process as well as pushing out those students who don't fit. What a shame that we have to play the neoliberals' game of comparing test scores instead of looking inside the schools for critical thinking, creativity, and socioemotional development.

MORE MUST READ BELOW

Shades of Unity Caucus: Palm Beach County Teachers Union Refuses to Recognize Newly Elected Leader

If by some miracle Jia Lee or Julie Cavanagh had managed to get more votes than Mulgrew, do we actually think Unity would have accepted that outcome? So read the story on Palm Beach (and Syracuse and remember Hawaii) where someone not connected to the organization apparatchiks wins a teacher union election and is challenged. But first a reminder of what Unity did over 30 years ago.

Back in the mid-80s, Michael Shulman, the New Action Coalition of 3 caucuses' candidate for High School VP-- this was before the current New Action formed--- actually got more high school votes than George Altomare, the Unity candidate. That would have put an opposition person on the AdCom which runs the UFT for the first time. Unity protested the election that they ran and refused to seat Shulman for 8 months, going to court to call for another election - which they got and which Shulman won again. Years later Unity changed the constitution to make the VP positions open to votes by everyone in the union - at-large voting. So the high school VP now gets votes from retirees, elementary teachers, nurses, etc.

That is why I refer to James Eterno, who got more high school votes in last year's election than Janella Hines, as the defacto HS VP.

I first noticed the Palm Beach story in a post from my friend Schoolgal in Florida where some progressive teachers were posting about this story. Then Mike Antonucci posted on EIA:

Union Election Dispute in Palm Beach County; What Else Is New?

Dateline – Palm Beach County, Florida:

Palm Beach County’s teachers union declined Monday to certify the results of its presidential election after the losing candidate called for a recount.
Results tallied Saturday showed that Park Vista High teacher Justin Katz narrowly edged out Pahokee Jr./Sr. High teacher Gordan Longhofer by 28 votes out of 1,356 cast, a 2 percent margin of victory.
…But Katz, 33, said that the company that oversaw the voting process has already handed over the ballots to union leaders, many of whom opposed Katz’s outsider campaign.
“The ballots have been in the possession of the current CTA executive director (a supporter of my opponent) since the initial, objective third-party counting this past Saturday,” Katz wrote. “The lack of security and integrity surrounding any recount, given that fact, is of great concern to me.”
…Union leaders had tried to block Katz from running, removing him from the race in January after ruling that he was ineligible because his dues lapsed in 2015 when he took family leave to care for his dying grandmother.
He was reinstated later after the state teachers union called for him to be permitted to run and said that the county union’s leaders lacked “sufficient evidence to support their position.”

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because the last election led to a takeover of the local by the Florida Education Association.

And here is the story from the Palm Beach Post

PBC teachers union won’t certify outsider’s win after opponent calls for recount
Andrew Marra
May 9, 2017

Palm Beach County’s teachers union declined Monday to certify the results of its presidential election after the losing candidate called for a recount.
Results tallied Saturday showed that Park Vista High teacher Justin Katz narrowly edged out Pahokee Jr./Sr. High teacher Gordan Longhofer by 28 votes out of 1,356 cast, a 2 percent margin of victory.

NEW: PBC teachers union defends decision not to certify outsider’s presidential victory

But Kathi Gundlach, president of the Classroom Teachers Association said the results “are unofficial at this time.”
“A recount has been requested as the vote differential was 28 votes,” she told The Palm Beach Post in a text message Monday evening.
The union’s elections committee will meet on Wednesday, she said, and “at that time a determination will be made how to handle the requested recount.”
Katz said in a statement on Facebook Monday night that Longhofer, who is a member of the union’s board of directors, had called for the recount.
In his statement, Katz said that the union has no policy about recounts in its rules and bylaws, but that he was told that the recount was being requested due to the “closeness of vote margin.”
One problem: the company that oversaw the voting process has already handed over the ballots to union leaders, many of whom opposed Katz’s outsider campaign, Katz said.
“The ballots have been in the possession of the current CTA executive director (a supporter of my opponent) since the initial, objective third-party counting this past Saturday,” Katz wrote. “The lack of security and integrity surrounding any recount, given that fact, is of great concern to me.”
 
ORIGINAL STORY:
Palm Beach County’s public school teachers have narrowly chosen a 33-year-old high school instructor as union president, according to preliminary returns, handing the leadership role to a young newcomer to union politics who ran an outsider campaign and was initially blocked from running by union leaders.

According to unofficial results tallied on Saturday, Justin Katz, a Park Vista High School teacher who is also a Boynton Beach city commissioner, narrowly defeated Pahokee Jr./Sr. High School teacher Gordan Longhofer, according to two officials familiar with the vote tally.
The union’s board of directors will meet today to discuss the results.
Katz ran for union president as an outsider, hoping to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the county Classroom Teachers Association’s recent track record. Billing his relative youth and lack of prior union experience as assets, he vowed to bring “fresh blood and some more youthful leadership” to an organization that advocates for the county school district’s roughly 12,000 teachers.
Longhofer edged him out in a crowded field in the first round of voting but Katz pulled out a narrow victory in the runoff. Out of roughly 1,300 votes cast, Katz won by a less than 60, two people familiar with the results said.
Union leaders had tried to block Katz from running, removing him from the race in January after ruling that he was ineligible because his dues lapsed in 2015 when he took a family leave to care for his dying grandmother.
He was reinstated later, after the state teachers union called for him to be permitted to run and said that the county union’s leaders lacked “sufficient evidence to support their position.”
All told, union leaders tried to disqualify four of the eight candidates who filed to run for president. All four, including Katz, were reinstated after the state union criticized their actions.
In a message posted on Facebook Saturday, Katz expressed gratitude to his supporters. The high school government teacher, who declined to comment for this article, is believed to be one of the youngest teachers to be elected president of the county’s teachers union.
“I’d like to thank all those that ran and put in the time and energy fighting for CTA to improve moving forward,” he wrote.

UFT Ex Bd: UFT members, parents and students demand removal of Interim Acting Principal Michael Weinstein High School of Applied Communication

Hey, CSA, here's another slug for you to defend. 

Last night's Ex Bd meeting brought out another batch of teachers from a school under assault by an abusive - and incompetent - and creepy - principal. In the pre-meeting we heard tales of sexual harassment and misogyny, a gift trip to Disney World for certain teachers, in addition to the list of grievances below. Some of them have been at the school since its founding a dozen years ago. Both previous principals had been excellent. To put a monster like Weinstein into this school is criminal. But the Supt is Elaine Lindsey, the very same who installed Rosemary Jahoda into Townsend Harris HS.

Also the sad situation where the chapter leader is in the pocket of Weinstein. A recall petition got over 50% of the vote, but not the required 2/3. I was told that the CL installed someone to monitor the vote, which was not secured. I'm checking to see if the CL is in Unity Caucus to see if there is any coverup.

As I say often -- I didn't expect much from being on the EB this year but being able to raise these issues with the schools and getting rank and filers involved is true grassroots organizing. And even if on the surface, the leadership is forced to respond.
What the UFT misses - intentionally I believe -- is the pattern -- the blueprint principals are following while the UFT doesn't prepare its people for the arrival of a new principal who could turn into a monster -- what are the immediate signs to look for and intervene in the process?

With the big court cases coming up, the major thing the union can do to keep people from not paying dues is to defend them. At the very least we can keep shaking the tree.

• See EB reports at: NYCEducator: UFT Executive Board May 8, 2017 and ICE: HIGH SCHOOL OF APPLIED COMMUNICATION EXPOSES ABUSIVE IA PRINCIPAL AT EXEC BD

UFT members, parents and students demand the removal of

Interim Acting Principal Michael Weinstein

High School of Applied Communication

3020 Thomson Avenue, 5th floor

Long Island City, NY 11101

UFT members from Weinstein’s school testified at the UFT Executive Board meeting Monday 5/817 on the abusive conditions they are forced to work under since his arrival. They are receiving the support of elected high school representatives from the MORE caucus: Schirtzer,  Goldstein,  Gupta, McArthur, and  MORE/NA VP candidate James Eterno, in addition to Halabi and Ahluwalia of New Action.

Our union sisters and brothers, many of whom have been at that high school for over 10 years, have come under attacks from day 1 of his reign, which began in Sept. 2016. Weinstein was formerly an AP at Leon Goldstein HS and MORE members there have been advising the teachers.

The school is a Title I school; 406 students,, 17% Special Education, 7% ESL

• Students had 3 sit ins (December 13, December 16, March 22 ) and 1 walk out (February 15)
• PTA meeting was cancelled February, March and April. Last PTA meeting was in January although parents have requested the meeting be scheduled… PTA President states she is given “the runaround” by Interim Acting Principal Weinstein.
• Teacher received a letter to file for publicizing the SLT meeting in accordance with Open Meetings Law. Meeting is not publicized and the teacher received directive in disciplinary conference not to inform school community about SLT meetings.
• Two teachers have Article 23 harassment cases in process
• Two UFT Special Education complaints filed due to IA Principal Weinstein’s refusal to follow compliance in mandates. This resulted in vicious retaliation toward the Special Education department.
• 19 grievances filed to date for the school year
• UFT members testifying against other UFT members during harassment meetings
• 4 Chancellor’s A830 complaints filed for retaliation and sexual harassment
• teacher and student programs changed 3 times this year resulting in one 10th grade ICT/ESL ELA class having 7 different teachers this year
• under the direction of Interim Acting Principal Weinstein, ICT classes were amended to include up to 50% Special Education students exceeding the maximum allowable ratio of 40% or 12 students. Students did not receive services and parents were sent P4 letters for the mistake of missing services and costing the city thousands of dollars for his poor leadership
• constant harassment and following of students in the hallway. Pulling students in for meetings threatening their transcripts and potential for college. These “meetings” are conducted without parental consent.
• Teachers followed and watched by IA Principal Michael Weinstein: followed the perimeter of the school, at their classroom doors, outside the bathroom, at the time clock when they enter the building

Requests to UFT:

• visit by President Mulgrew and leadership to our school to speak for and on behalf of UFT membership
• motion to support our school
• public pressure by UFT on IA Principal Weinstein to cease and desist harassment and intimidation of students, staff, and parents
• review of all internal memos, regulations, directives, and protocols to assure they comply with school, city, state, and federal law
• facilitation of PTA meeting at a neutral location free from the abuse and manipulation by IA Principal Weinstein
• immediate removal of Weinstein from the school

Video - CPE1 Parents Speak at Strike/Rally - May 5, 2017

Parents point out why they are taking this drastic step. One goes after DOE for trying to break a school with an integrated, diverse parent and student population -- "they don't want integrated schools," she says.

https://youtu.be/cJ5ArgeJsco

Welcome Paul Ryan to Eva's Success Academy - Tuesday 11:30 AM

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito called on New Yorkers to protest Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz and House Speaker Paul Ryan during the GOP lawmaker’s planned visit to a Harlem charter school on Tuesday.

Ryan will visit the Harlem Success Academy on West 118th Street on Tuesday, according to Politico and the New York Daily News at the invitation of Moskowitz, whom President Donald Trump briefly considered appointing Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. That role ultimately went to billionaire heiress Betsy DeVos, another proponent of publicly funded, privately run learning.
“So when Speaker Ryan comes to New York City, we let him know what we think about his agenda, right?” Mark-Viverito said during a panel discussion about the city’s plan to close Rikers Island this afternoon. “And we should be denouncing and holding Eva Moskowitz responsible and accountable for bringing him here to our community.”

If you'd like to welcome Speaker Paul Ryan to NYC, please come to 34 W 118 st tomorrow by 11:30 am.

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170508/central-harlem/success-academy-charter-paul-ryan-visit?utm_source=Breaking+News&utm_campaign=b3891df1d0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_05_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2d7fd7fa28-b3891df1d0-132775313

Paul Ryan to visit charter school in Harlem: sources - NY Daily News

www.nydailynews.com/.../paul-ryan-visit-charter-school-harlem-sources-article-1.31478...

7 hours ago - House Speaker Paul Ryan plans to visit a Harlem Success Academy ... The high-performing charter school operated by Eva Moskowitz is the ...

NYC Council Speaker Slams Charter School CEO for Inviting Paul ...

observer.com/.../council-speaker-mark-viverito-eva-moskowitz-paul-ryan-success-cha...

2 hours ago - "We should be denouncing and holding Eva Moskowitz responsible and ... Speaker Slams Charter School CEO for Inviting Paul Ryan to Visit.

House Speaker Paul Ryan To Visit Harlem Success Academy ...

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/.../central.../success-academy-charter-paul-ryan-visit

6 hours ago - CEO Eva Moskowitz reportedly invited Ryan to visit the W 118th St. charter school Tuesday.

Paul Ryan to visit Success Academy school in Harlem - Politico

www.politico.com/.../paul-ryan-to-visit-success-academy-school-in-harlem-111879

19 hours ago - House Speaker Paul Ryan is planning to visit a Success Academy charter ... Success CEO Eva Moskowitz was briefly on a short list to serve as ...

Paul Ryan To Visit Success Academy In Harlem: Reports - Harlem, NY ...

https://patch.com/new-york/harlem/paul-ryan-visit-success-academy-harlem-reports

6 hours ago - Ivanka Trump took a surprise visit of the Harlem charter school in November, and Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz was an early ...

MORE Action on Abusive Principals at Tonight's UFT Exec Board Meeting

From the first Ex Bd meeting this school year, the newly elected MORE/New Action members (Jonathan Halabi is the lone returnee), there has been an emphasis on raising the issue of abusive principals, superintendents and DOE officials, including Chancellor Carmen Farina and the general lack of response on the part of the union. The idea is to keep the issue front and center and hold the leadership accountable. Bringing people to these meetings to speak during the 10 minute opening period before the meeting and having the EB members raise questions has been part of the process.

I've been covering the Central Park East 1 situation, which is unique due to the massive parent involvement in defending their teachers. Note that while Mulgrew at the last EB meeting said a law suit would be filed (just keep waiting) and an order of protection (keep waiting), they have not yet called for Garg to be removed. As for an article in the NY Teacher, we don't want to interfere with the all is sweetness and light mantra.

Behind the scenes, de facto High School president James Eterno, who got the most high school votes for UFT HS President but can't serve because the Unity leadership has rigged the election to have non high school members vote for VPs, has been working with people, especially in Queens, to defend their rights. Some have even asked James instead of the UFT reps, handle their cases in grievances.

Tonight, teachers from one of the schools James has been working with are coming to the meeting to press their case. Their principal had been the AP at one of the key MORE schools, so our people know this guy real well.

The CSA is getting nervous about the pressure as we call on the UFT to abandon its consideration of the CSA as another they cannot attack. We say bullshit to supporting our enemies.

Yesterday James wrote (CSA DRAWS SYMBOLIC LINE IN THE SAND WHILE UFT WILL NOT CONDEMN ADMINISTRATORS WHO ABUSE OUR MEMBERS) about our post (CSA Calls Abusive Principal Garg "an outstanding educator" While Revealing Farina Role in Hit Job at CPE1 For High Opt Outs) on the CSA defense of CPE1 principal Monika Garg and they included Dewey principal Elvin, Towsend Harris' Jahoda and Clinton's Taveras Santiago -- as principals worth defending. Ugh! What a farce. They should be policing their own incompetent principals instead of defending them.

Garg apparently threw Farina under the bus by telling the CSA that Farina herself asked Garg to do a wipe out at CPE1, which the CSA letter emphasized in calling for her to defend Garg at any cost.

Today, James talked about tonight's EB meeting and posted the following at the ICE blog:

UFT MEMBERS READY TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST PRINCIPAL ABUSE SEEK UFT LEADERSHIP BACKING

There were family functions that took up most of the time this weekend but almost every spare minute (except for some baseball) was spent fielding questions to help UFT members who want to step up to assert their rights. One of the sources of reluctance is they have little faith that UFT President Michael Mulgrew and the rest of the UFT leadership will give more than token support for their efforts to stand up for their rights.

One school will take their case against an abusive principal to the UFT Executive Board tonight. Another is planning on appealing to a prominent politician in addition to the UFT. Others are organizing as well. The common theme is they want UFT leadership to help them but aren't sure they will receive strong support. 

Ground-up organizing is the way to go. The MORE-NEW ACTION high school representatives will continue to publicly support the rank and file. All of us can then continue and expand the pressure on Mulgrew/Unity Caucus to publicly endorse the movement against abusive administrators and not just negotiate behind the scenes.

My guess is there are many principals from hell out there in NYC but members are not confident that they can succeed in fighting back. Many won't come forward because they are fearful that UFT leaders will leave them hung out to dry. It's time to organize anyway. 

Supervisors are concerned that the sleeping giant just might be waking up.The UFT will be compelled to climb on board and pick up the fight if there is a loud roar from the schools instead of just a buzz. 

Video: CPE1 Strike Rally - Zakiyah Ansari and Cordell Cleare

I will be posting short videos as they are processed. About half the students were kept out of school on Friday.

https://youtu.be/kGqiQgvwnY8



Zakiyah Ansari of Alliance for Quality Education makes a strong statement of support, as does Cordell Cleare.
I've seen Zakiyah at so many events over many years. She was one of the leaders of the takeover of a PEP meeting in August 2010 - forcing them to cancel the meeting. It was the first day Julie Cavanagh and I began shooting (https://theinconvenienttruthbehindwaitingforsuperman.com/watch-the-film/) and we caught some great footage that evening. She has been a consistently strong voice for justice.

We met Cordell Cleare in the summer of 2009 when we (GEM) went up to Harlem to take a stand against Eva Moskowitz. Cordell was State Senator Bill Perkins' Chief of Staff and she offered us space in Bill's office to hold meetings. In the spring of 2010 Bill Perkins held 10 hours of hearings on charter schools, which inflamed the charter industry and led them to running Basil Smikle against Bill Perkins (Political Strategist Basil Smikle Will Challenge Harlem State Sen. Bill ...)
in the fall of 2010 - Bill smashed him. Smikle is the NY State Director of the Democratic Party - just goes to show how much in bed the Dems are with the charter industry.

Excuse the poor sound. It was raining and I had to cover the camera.

CSA Calls Abusive Principal Garg "an outstanding educator" While Revealing Farina Role in Hit Job at CPE1 For High Opt Outs

The DOE must support Mrs. Garg, who is an outstanding educator, as she comes under undeserved fire for doing the job she was asked to do.... Clem Richardson, CSA

The statement by Clem Richardson of the CSA is a laugh riot. Really, Clem, show us one example of Garg's history as an outstanding or even a semi-competent administrator. Her history working for the racist Minerva Zanca where all black teachers were targeted (Garg praised Zanca as a mentor recently).
{It you need to catch up on the school Garg was an AP at --

That's CSA head Ernie Logan to right of Mulgrew

The CSA, which apparently condones its members lying to parents and teachers, engaging in witch hunts against teachers and using children for their own political ends. Should the CSA which is OK with attacks on members of other unions, be allowed to be an AFL/CIO member? Our own UFT cowtows to the CSA by refusing to issue an open call for Garg's (or pretty much any principal's) removal.


But this comment in the CSA call for Farina to stand by Monika Garg is the most revealing:

We repeat: Chancellor Farina PERSONALLY asked Mrs. Garg to “right the ship” at CPE by helping it remain a beacon of progressive education, but one with standards, accountability and measurable outcomes. ... Statement from CSA

We knew it all along. That Farina ordered a hit job on CPE 1, as she's ordered on a number of schools, at times making Joel Klein's and Bloomberg's tenure look benevolent. Why else put in a high school person into an elementary school with a culture so out of sorts with Garg's history? Because they knew Garg would be ruthless -- her career track is to be a Supt and she will step on anyone to get there.

But let's parse this comment a bit. Can you remain a beacon of progressive education ... one with measurable outcomes -- meaning testing -- when the very process of gaining such outcomes degrades progressive education? One would ask why the elite private schools which offer progressive education don't stress measurable outcomes -- and parents pay up to 50 grand a year for that type of education.

In Garg's first weeks as principal she put forth the idea that the progressive education offered at CPE1 was not appropriate for poor children of color. So we know that the intent was not to maintain CPE1 as a beacon of progressive education but to degrade the very idea.

Let's be clear --- there were issues at CPE1 before Garg came on board. The solution would have been to put in a principal with a background in elementary schools and in progressive education, not a hit woman.

The Daily News article on the boycott had this quote affirming the line coming out of the DOE:

But Education Department spokeswoman Toya Holness said officials have met with families to discuss specific concerns and solutions. “We are committed to delivering a high-quality, progressive education with academic rigor, and doing what’s best for CPE 1 students,” Holness said.

Rigor? That's the buzzword used by ed deformers. More like rigor mortis.

The CSA and DOE are lined up in the attack on progressive education at CPE1 -- and their "freewheeling ways", which in the culture of that school, is necessary for democratically based progressive education.

In the world of oppressive top down administration, teacher/parent control - and often student centered decision making on what they will learn - is "freewheeling." Now I know many teachers are not comfortable with this idea, which is why only certain types of teachers  - and parents -- would enter a school like CPE1. Thus teachers who had basically been helping to run the school since its inception had to conform to the new top-down or be gone.

As to CPE2 -- its offshoot also founded by Debbie Meier - principal Naomi Smith has changed the culture of that school to conform to the DOE demands and has supported Garg all the way - in fact her daughter is a parent at CPE1 and also is among the few parents who support Garg -  and all of Smith's grandkids go to CPE1. (We'll deal with Smith and her personal vendettas another time.) But do note what Deb Meier, founder of both CPE1 and 2 posted tonight on FB:

Let NYCs mayor and school chancellor know that what they've allowed to happen to Central Park East (CPE) I, one of the first progressive democratically governed public school-opened in 1974-is an education crime. A vindictive and authoritarian principal placed in the school almost two years ago continues to threaten teachers and parents alike. They need to hear from the world. A petition signed by two thirds of the families, rallies, sit ins, reports by neutral observer's and much more has had no effect except to create an untenable educational climate. As one of the original founders of the school watching this happen breaks my heart.two very vulnerable children's families have been banned from the school because of their protests. Thanks for any help you can give them.

Note the schools Clem Richardson mentions -- Dewey, Harris, Clinton -- all with cheating, lying principals, who alienated their entire staffs. The CSA believes, along with Farina, that destroying a school by any means necessary is OK,

Here's the complete CSA Statement - go have a good laugh.


The DOE Must Not Abandon CPE Principal Monika Garg!!
New York, NY – May 5, 2017 – 

For Further Information contact:

Clem Richardson, Of: 212-823-2052, Cell:  718-207-2260

Email: clem@csa-nyc.org

We’ve seen what’s happening to Central Park East Elementary School Principal Monika Garg before.

John Dewey High School. DeWitt Clinton High School. Townsend Harris High School.

Mrs. Garg is a proven leader who, like the besieged former principals of those schools, is being scapegoated by the Department of Education.

CSA knows that Chancellor Carmen Farina, who asked Mrs. Garg to take the CPE job, understands that leaders are often required to make unpopular decisions because that is what leaders need to do.

But leaders attempting to orchestrate change need to be supported in the face of criticism, not abandoned.    

The DOE must support Mrs. Garg, who is an outstanding educator, as she comes under undeserved fire for doing the job she was asked to do.

The failure to do so sends the message to any person or group who disagrees with a school leader that they only need a camera, a petition, and gather a few disgruntled teachers or parents to complain for a television crew and Tweed will do their bidding.

School leaders expect and deserve more.

“The DOE recruits principals to take on tough assignments, then abandons them at the first grunt from affected teachers, staff members and an antagonistic press,” said Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Ernest A. Logan

“How can a school leader change a school without making changes? And how can Chancellor Farina ask educators to take on tough assignments then look the other way when they come under attack?”

The Chancellor appointed Mrs. Garg to run CPE in 2015 to right a school that was not meeting the academic needs of all students.

Disgruntled CPE teachers, staff members and parents who disagree with Mrs. Garg’s methodology have since made it their mission to disrupt the educational process for all CPE students, first by occupying the school auditorium overnight and on Friday by holding a boycott which disrupted the school day for dozens of students.

We repeat: Chancellor Farina PERSONALLY asked Mrs. Garg to “right the ship” at CPE by helping it remain a beacon of progressive education, but one with standards, accountability and measurable outcomes. 

And that is what Monika Garg has tried to do. 

CSA says it is time for Chancellor Farina to publicly proclaim her support for this outstanding educator and show school leaders citywide that Tweed supports them in their work.

CPE1 Update: Half the Students Stay Out of School Today

I'm still in the city but wanted to get this out before heading back to Rockaway to process some of the tape I got at the rally/press conference this morning outside CPE1 where over 50 parents and supporters rallied in an often driving rain. No one from the UFT was present - I will address the UFT tepid response in another post and it is addressed in the upcoming MORE DA newsletter coming out May 10.

Ninety students, about half, were kept out of school and housed at a local community center where they had day care take care of them while the parents were at the rally.

There was press present - WNBC, WINS, NY1 - the wonderful Lindsey Christ still covering ed for so many years - first time I'd run into her in years. She and her camerawoman did interviews and I am looking forward to seeing how she deals with the story. In giving Lindsey some background info it was clear that she knows the history of CPE1 and all about Debbie Meier -- the benefit of hiring former teachers like Lindsey to cover education. The press feels they have to give both sides of a story even if one side is distorted so I imagine conventions will be followed with the DOE side - which is pretty funny-- like there is another group of parents who like Garg -- yes-- a tiny group but in DOE reports they make it sound equal.

Matt, one of the parents standing in the rain, called into Brian Lehrer to talk to de Blasio -- who gave a bullshit response but Matt wasn't allowed to counter -- listen - Matt is 2nd caller -
http://www.wnyc.org/story/askthemayor-about-affordable-health-care-act-vote-pontes-getaways-and-fair-fares ---

I love Brian Lehrer but not when it comes to covering ed deform -- very unbalanced.

I have so many blogs to write on ed deform, the Democrats, the left, social justice unionism, etc. but the CPE1 story has so many complexities that I haven't even touched on yet, I can't shake it.

Here's a section of the press release this morning:

CPE 1 Parents to Wage Strike Demanding Mayor de Blasio Remove School’s Principal

Scores of Students to Stay Home Friday as Protest Against Monika Garg Escalates

The logical next step. Watch the DOE goons charge parents with neglect for keeping kids out of school. With a day of bad weather we'll see how this tuns out. Ed Notes will be there.

CPE1 Update: Evil Monika Garg Bans Two Active Parents - Sign Petition to De Blasio

Garg makes mockery of process for dealing with parents and teachers.

Monika Garg

Jen was accused of recording on her cell phone in the school. However, she was not videotaping. Instead, she took photographs of hallways to document the absence of mandated materials about the Department of Education's anti-bullying program. There is no stated policy against filming or taking photographs at the school and many parents have done both. The day after Jen was banned from the school, the mandated materials were finally posted, two months before the end of the school year.

Kaliris was accused of bringing press onto school property without authorization. The person in question was a graduate student who represented herself to Kaliris as conducting a school project. Kaliris arranged to meet with the student offsite but took her to the school briefly when she needed to drop off her son’s glasses. She signed in a presented ID to security. Visitors frequently tour the school. When alerted to concerns about this visitor, Kaliris accompanied the student to the exit.

Petition: https://www.change.org/p/bill-deblasio-let-banned-parents-back-in-their-childrens-school?recruiter=2143683&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
 
Just woke up at midnight from a 5 hour nap after spending part of Sunday at the big anti ed deformer film shoot. Before I go back to sleep, I wanted to get this lingering story up and running. Not a lot of people get my "evil" designation (I'm considering Naomi Smith, the principal of CPE2, who supports Garg.)

The CPE1 story gets uglier and uglier. Really, you have to question Garg's sanity at this point, given the flimsy excuses for limited access letters, considering that the major purpose of these letters is to address parents who might be physically dangerous to staff. And don't forget the charges against Catlin Preston and Marilyn Martinez, Delegate and Chapter leader at the school. Catlin has been in the rubber room for a year and his hearing completed months ago. Marilyn was yanked from the school in February 2017 before the mid-winter break and brought up on 3020a dismissal charges just weeks after, unheard of in the DOE. The charges against Marilyn (Catlin too) are so flimsy - in her case based on admission of a child to the school - even if she did goof on procedure, when does that lead to 3020a unless there is a political vendetta? When someone talks about teacher tenure, bring up Marilyn, Catlin and Peter Lamphere who got 2 U ratings from the equally evil Rosemarie Jahoda at Bronx HS of Sci -- (I wonder where Jahoda will land next?)

People above Garg's level at the DOE are claiming they didn't know this was going to happen. Does anyone believe that? Does anyone believe that apparatchik principals don't check with DOE legal before making a move? Or Farina, who is very close to getting the Ed Notes "evil" designation herself - (which I may just throw down at her at the May 17 PEP meeting.) Farina has said that the parents at CPE1 must be punished for their outspokenness.

There comes a point where it is clear that what Garg and the DOE are trying to do is make the school such a toxic environment for the kids, that the active parents will pull them out of the school. With the strategy of  driving out the tenured teachers, the school will be left to be run like the DOE wants -- a clone of a charter school.

The alternative at this point may be some kind of boycott with retired and inactive teachers volunteering to work with the kids during the school day offsite. I am ready to join in if called upon.

Here's the skinny from the Save CPE 1 crew.

========

This past week Principal Garg has issued "limited access letters" to two parents who have vocally opposed her, trying to shut down parent voice. Please click on the link and please read the story. Spread the word and help us overturn this decision. Stop Abusive NYC Principal from Banning Parents Save CPE 1 Tell the NYC Department of Education and Mayor De Blasio to protect families at Central Park East 1 Elementary School and remove retaliatory bans on parents enacted by Principal Monika Garg  WHAT HAPPENED? On April 27, 2017, Jen Roesch was banned indefinitely from her son’s elementary school in East Harlem, NY. On April 28, Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, another parent at the school, was also banned. Each mother received a “limited access letter” signed by Principal Monika Garg. As a result, neither mom is allowed to drop off or pick up her child with the other children at the school. The mothers are also banned from important meetings with teachers and parents and other school events. Other parents at the school fear that they may be next. WHAT IS A “LIMITED ACCESS LETTER”? The NYC Department of Education theoretically uses limited access letters to keep out parents who pose a significant security threat in a school; for example, a parent who has threatened or perpetrated violence. However, DNA Info reported that these letters are used to silence and intimidate critics of school administrations, particularly in low-income Black and Latino communities. WHY JEN AND KALIRIS Jen and Kaliris have both been outspoken critics of Principal Garg's leadership. They strongly advocated for teachers who were harassed by Ms. Garg. In the last year, Ms. Garg removed two beloved veteran teachers from their classrooms based on trumped-up charges. Jen and Kaliris have also spoken up about the harmful effects on children created by this environment of intimidation and fear. Kaliris is also the elected co-chair of the Parent Association at CPE1 and has supported parents in that capacity. WHAT ARE THE CHARGES? Jen was accused of recording on her cell phone in the school. However, she was not videotaping. Instead, she took photographs of hallways to document the absence of mandated materials about the Department of Education's anti-bullying program. There is no stated policy against filming or taking photographs at the school and many parents have done both. The day after Jen was banned from the school, the mandated materials were finally posted, two months before the end of the school year. Kaliris was accused of bringing press onto school property without authorization. The person in question was a graduate student who represented herself to Kaliris as conducting a school project. Kaliris arranged to meet with the student offsite but took her to the school briefly when she needed to drop off her son’s glasses. She signed in a presented ID to security. Visitors frequently tour the school. When alerted to concerns about this visitor, Kaliris accompanied the student to the exit. ARE THESE BANS RETALIATION? Yes. Neither parent poses a security threat nor has either mom had previous incidents or warnings. The limited access letters are pure retaliation. There is no right of appeal or due process for parents who receive such letters. There is no end date to the bans; they are indefinite. By targeting two of the most visible critics of the principal, in a way that causes harm to their vulnerable children, these bans have a chilling effect on the majority of families who oppose Garg's leadership. WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS?The bans will have a heartbreaking effect on two young children with documented special needs. Jen’s 8-year old son has significant anxiety and is currently creating a formal IEP (Individualized Education Program) after having been evaluated and approved for services. An IEP is a legal document that spells out the learning needs of a student with a disability. According to professionals who care for Jen’s son, this punitive ban will increase his fears, are detrimental to his emotional well-being, and will inhibit his ability to learn. When Jen informed Principal Monika Garg of her upcoming IEP meeting, Garg stated that she refused to speak with her and that she was banned from the school. Kaliris’ 5-year old son also has special needs that are documented on his IEP, including the need for one-to-one paraprofessional support and for undisrupted, predictable routines. These routines include his mother’s practice of bringing him directly to the classroom each morning. He already exhibited distress in response to his teacher’s abrupt, unexplained removal from the school earlier this year. The ban on his mother will compound his distress. OUR DEMANDS Jen Roesch and Kaliris Salas-Ramirez must be allowed access to their children’s school immediately.  The NYC Department of Education and Mayor Bill De Blasio must stop Principal Monika Garg’s continuing abuse of power and protect CPE1 families from future bans. The NYC Department of Education must address the abusive use of limited access letters by principals. Every parent in NYC must be entitled to immediate due process and the right to appeal when issued a limited access letter. To find out more about the long-standing and deeper issues that precipitated this latest act of retaliation, please see www.savecpe1.org or find us on Facebook at Save CPE1.

Hawaii Teachers Union Strikes Deal: 4 Years, 13.6% Pay Hike

The union is run by a former reform/opposition caucus- Amy Perruso is the secretary of their union, and part of UCORE.


Teachers’ union reaches 4-year contract deal with state
By Nanea Kalani
April 22, 2017

Hawaii public school teachers would see multiyear pay raises totaling nearly 14 percent under a tentative four-year contract deal reached with the state today.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association’s board of directors unanimously voted to recommend the proposal to its 13,500 members for ratification next week.

The pay raises — which HSTA says would amount to 13.6 percent — include a combination of pay grade step increases and across-the-board 3.5 percent raises in alternating years.

The average annual salary for a 10-month teacher for the current school year is $58,959, according to the Department of Education.

“I am pleased that after nine months of negotiations, the state and the HSTA have reached a tentative agreement on a contract that will benefit Hawaii’s teachers and their students. … This raise will help stabilize the teaching force, which we know will improve teaching and learning conditions,” HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said in a statement issued Saturday night. “This package is the best we could do for our teachers, in spite of the state’s difficult fiscal outlook.”

Under the deal, Rosenlee said, the state also would increase its share of health insurance premiums. Currently the cost split varies among plans for teachers, but under the most popular health plan, the state covers 59 percent of the premium.

Rosenlee added that the tentative deal allows for HSTA to renegotiate health plan contributions and professional development in years three and four of the contract.

The proposed deal is significantly higher than what state negotiators had proposed in earlier rounds of contract talks. The state had offered teachers annual 1 percent lump-sum bonuses that would have been paid out in October of this year and next year.

The union had balked at the earlier offer, which would not have amounted to a raise because the bonuses wouldn’t be rolled into teachers’ base pay. HSTA said at the time that the average bonus would have been approximately $500.

Rosenlee credited Gov. David Ige’s involvement in negotiations for the more generous offer.

“The governor really worked hard to make this contract happen,” Rosenlee said in a phone interview Saturday. “He was working with us late at night and I think it really showed that education is a big priority to him.”

By comparison, under HSTA’s existing 2013-17 contract, the union secured annual raises of at least 3 percent, with alternating step-ups and 3.2 percent across-the-board raises. The union used what’s known as a re-opener clause to negotiate additional compensation for the final two years of that contact, including a one-time $2,000 bonus and a 1.8 percent raise that will kick in June 30, when the contract expires.

If a simple majority of teachers — 50 percent plus one vote — who vote on the proposed contract Thursday approve the agreement, the contract will begin July 1. A successful ratification vote would allow for the Legislature to fund the settlement by its April 28 fiscal deadline.
=====

New Hawaii Teachers Contract: 4 Years, 13.6% Pay Hike

The deal will also increase the state’s contributions to teachers’ health insurance premiums.

http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2017/04/24/new-hawaii-teachers-contract-4-years-13-6-pay-hike/

Harlem Charter Sues DOE Over Closure Citing Misuse of Data - Where R U UFT?

Let's do as charters do.

We have found that putting a stake in the heart of a charter school is tougher than killing off Dracula. While the UFT dilly dallies over what to do about JHS 145 whose closing this June was announced at the March PEP meeting, charters that are closed resist.

The charter is making many of the same arguments JHS 145 and other schools being closed made. See more on the JHS 145 story

• DOE Fails Renewal School: It's Class Size, Stupid
• Can They Close a Zoned School Without CEC 9 Vote?

• JHS 145 Hearing: DOE Incompetence Exposed as Crowd...
• Leonie: The egregious failure of DOE's Renewal pro...

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170424/central-harlem/opportunity-charter-school-department-of-education-closure-injunction

Charter School Marked for Closure Can Still Host Enrollment Lottery: Judge

By Dartunorro Clark

HARLEM — A judge is allowing a charter school that serves students with learning disabilities to move ahead with its enrollment lottery, after the school sued the city in response to its decision to shutter the charter due to poor performance.

Mulgrew Promises Action to CPE1 Parents (some with children) Who Flood UFT Ex Bd Meeting

Mike Schirtzer—MORE--Resolves to remove resolution on CPE 1 from table.
No debate.
Voted down on party lines [Unity Party voted it down, only MORE in favor].....  NYC Educator, UFT Executive Board April 24th, 2017 CPE 1 in the House -

CPE1 Parents in shock at Apr 24 UFT Ex Bd as Unity refuses to take reso of support off the table.

In his brief report, Michael Mulgrew promised action on CPE1. We'll wait and see -- the UFT refuses to publicly call for Garg's removal despite the massive accumulation of evidence. Even her own CSA seems to be raising issues -- a rep asked Farina to publicly defend Garg with reasons and all she said was that there was another side. (Some of the real reasons for resisting were laid out in my post last night that personal pique may be playing a role -- Deb Meier, Jane Andrias, Two Former CPE1 Principals Question Farina/DOE on Intentional Destruction.

The UFT Exec Bd meetings, moribund for so many years, have  turned into high drama at times this year as MORE/New Action have teamed with various groups to bring their grievances directly to the UFT Ex Bd meetings, often using a combo of the pre-meeting speaking time for non-EB members and the question and motion period by the MORE/NA high school reps.

Last night was another remarkable event, made so by the largest group of parents yet to show up --- as Arthur wrote after the MORE meeting on Saturday - "I have sat with some of the most intelligent and persuasive people I've ever met, and I'm persuaded that this school was created with a mission that's being perverted by its current leadership." Amen.

As a skeptic about the worth of winning these EB seats - after all, you are speaking to Unity Caucus -  I must say that the MORE/New Action reps have made these meetings worth attending again. Real debate has taken place, which you don't see at Delegate Assemblies. And the leadership has been responding, sometimes in positive ways. Our crew pre-meeting an hour before the EB meeting gets everyone ready - these pre-meetings are open to anyone and there is lots of back and forth.

A key has been Arthur Goldstein's blogging full minutes of the meetings, often within hours, the first time where an open airing is taking place. (This is tedious work and kudoos to Arthur -- I once tried to do it and gave up.)

Another aspect has been doing what ICE began to do a decade ago -- bring various  constituencies to these meetings -- sign up for speaking time and have our people ask pertinent questions or bring up resos -- all turned down, severely modified or tabled by the leadership --- see Arthur's great blog post:  Contrary where he points out that our people have supported almost all Unity resos while they automatically turn down ours -- sort of like the Republicans saying they won't give Obama any victories.

But nothing has galvanized these recent meetings until large numbers of CPE 1 parents began to show up, some with very young children. Now let's say right out that they have been treated with the utmost respect and courtesy by union leaders. The other angle has been bringing current and former CPE1 teachers to sign up for the 10 minute pre-meeting speaking time (parents as non-UFT members don't get to speak). In fact, UFT Secretary Howie Schoor who chairs the meeting gave people 18 minutes to speak yesterday. Howie has shown a lot of sensitivity and flexibility. EB meetings have (mostly) remained civil.

I believe the fact that Mulgrew only shows up to give his report and then leaves has made these meetings more civil. But in response to the CPE1 parents and teachers yesterday, Mulgrew spent some time chatting with them before and after his report. Whether he will take action is up in the air but they were very happy to have some conversations with him. After the meeting Leroy Barr remained to talk to them for some time.

A group of current and former CPE1 parents spoke before the meeting last night and were very effective.

But one of the most unusual was a speech by a teacher from another school who worked under Garg when she was an assistant principal at Pan American HS and repeated a list of admin atrocities. She told me she has proof of every one and I hope to publish some of them. She told me she never speaks in public but once she heard stories about Garg as principal of CPE1 she felt she had to speak out. She had never expected Garg would rise to the level of principal. Before reading what Garg has been doing, she assumed Garg's actions were based on following orders by the horrible Pan American HS principal Minerva Zanca, who by the way is still working in the DOE as a guidance counselor. She said she had to speak out to stop people like Garg.

By the way, at the SLT meeting, Garg said she worked for great Principals and learned a lot -- from Zanca she sure learned how to play the race card and divide people.

Check out Garg's mentor:

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Sues New York City Department Of ...

https://www.justice.gov/.../manhattan-us-attorney-sues-new-york-city-department-edu...

1. 
   

Jun 9, 2016 - ... And Retaliation At Pan American International High School ... States has filed a lawsuitagainst the NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF ...

In Lawsuit, U.S. Says Queens School Discriminated Against 3 Black ...

https://www.nytimes.com/.../in-lawsuit-us-says-queens-school-discriminated-against-3-bl...

Jun 9, 2016 - Pan American International High School, in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, where a federal lawsuit claims that three teachers suffered a ...

Federal lawsuit claims NYC allowed discrimination at Queens high ...

abc7ny.com/education/federal-suit-claims-nyc-allowed...high-school/1378606/

1. 
   

Jun 9, 2016 - It said the discrimination occurred during the 2012-2013 school year at Pan AmericanInternational High School. The lawsuit said the victims ...

Queens principal targeted 3 black teachers for poor reviews - NY Daily ...

www.nydailynews.com/.../queens-principal-targeted-black-teacher-poor-reviews-article-...

Jun 10, 2016 - The civil rights unit Bharara's Manhattan office filed the lawsuit accusing ... Pan AmericanInternational High School in Queens, where Zanca no ...

U.S. Attorney Sues DOE in Alleged Discrimination Case at Queens ...

www.ny1.com/.../u-s--attorney-sues-doe-in-discrimination-case-at-queens-school-.ht...

1. 
   

Jun 10, 2016 - The U.S. Attorney announced a lawsuit against the city education ... and retaliation at Pan American International High School in Elmhurst.

Lawsuit Alleges Queens High School Principal 'Ruthlessly Targeted ...

atlantablackstar.com › National

1. 
   

Jun 9, 2016 - A bombshell lawsuit, released Thursday, reveals the appalling ... teacher” at the Pan American International High School in Queens, New York.

NYC School Discriminated Against Black Teachers: Federal Lawsuit ...

www.nbcnewyork.com/.../NYC-Discrimination-High-School-Black-Teachers-Pan-Am...

1. 
   

Jun 9, 2016 - A New York City School is in big trouble with the Feds. The U.S. Attorney claims in alawsuit that the Pan American International High School in ...

Feds sue DOE over alleged discrimination of black teachers at ...

www.timesledger.com/stories/2016/25/elmhurstsuit_2016_06_17_q.html

1. 
   

Jun 16, 2016 - The school, the Pan American International High School, is in the ... The lawsuit also says allegations Zanca engaged in discrimination and ...

Principal who said black teacher 'looked like a gorilla' sued for ...

nypost.com/.../principal-who-said-black-teacher-looked-like-a-gorilla-sued-for-discri...

1. 
   

Jun 9, 2016 - ... as black teachers at a Queens high school were tormented by a kind of ... black educators at the Pan American International HS in Elmhurst, ...

Feds sue former principal of Elmhurst high school and city for racist ...

qns.com/.../feds-sue-elmhurst-principal-and-the-city-for-allegedly-making-racist-rema...

1. 
   

Jun 9, 2016 - The lawsuit alleges that Minerva Zanca, who led the Pan American International High School at 45-10 94th St. for three years, filed negative ...