Last week the ATR advisory committee met with the UFT's Michael Sill on our first formal meeting to discuss the issues dealing with the ATR pool. Mr. Sill started the meeting by handing out the agenda and all the agenda items were discussed. The first item on the agenda was scanning and signing in. Mr. Sills told the committee that no ATR should be put through scanning if the teachers in the school don't need to and the ATR should only sign in on the first day at the school. The discussion expanded into ATR rights in the school and Mr. Sill made it clear that ATRs should only do one circular six assignment daily and only if the teachers in the school do it such as cafeteria duty, or hall patrol. ATRs should do only what the teachers in the school do, if its part of the contract. If a school is not following the rules then we should contact the Chapter Leader and call Michael Sill immediately and he will attempt to get the problem resolved.
The next item on the agenda was the status of contract negotiations. Michael Sill informed us that "Amy Arundell" is on the UFT negotiating team and has been assured that an ATR time limit is not a negotiable item. UFT President Michael Mulgrew has stated that time and again and according to Mr Sill, the UFT's position is that the ATRs should be back into the classroom and that the "fair student funding" should be eliminated with teacher salaries coming from DOE Central not the schools.
The third item was the the contentious issue of the ATR field supervisors. Mr Sill reported that there are 24 ATR field supervisors in the City and so far only 6 of them came to his attention as being unfair to the ATRs. Mr Sill told us that he and Amy have spoken to their DOE counterparts (unnamed) and complained to them about how some of the field supervisors are playing "gotcha" (my word) and "U" observing ATRs. According to Mr. Sill the DOE was receptive to the complaint and has instructed the people in charge to speak to the field supervisors about giving a fair observation. Nobody on the committee appeared satisfied that things will change and I stated that the process itself was unfair since we have no ownership or familiarity with the students and that "time and attendance" should be the only rating criteria for ATRs. Also many field supervisors are demanding "rigor" and higher level critical thinking instruction which we all believe is next to impossible to do without a detailed knowledge of the students.
The final item on the agenda was "other matters" and that dealt with the continuation of the weekly ATR rotation system for the next school year. All the committee members believed the weekly rotation was humiliating and should be discontinued. I ask for a show of hands and 9 of the 10 member committee voted to end the weekly rotation system if they could. The lone dissenting member didn't care either way.
I disagree, the weekly rotation is easier to handle. I am glad to leave a school after a week, especially middle schools.
ReplyDeleteName the 6 ATR AP supervision . Who are they? Let us know!
ReplyDeleteKind of response you get
ReplyDeleteChaz,
ReplyDeleteAt risk of sounding cranky, I was expecting more from the first report on the now only semi-secret, never formally announced, and conspicuously unelected, throw-them-some-crumbs, are-you-kidding-me ATR Advisory Committee. Apart from old and predictable complaints against rotation and gotcha field supervisors, the unnamed, and let me repeat, unelected ATR advisors (collaborators) did not appear to advise at all. Instead you/they appeared to serve Amy’s and Mike’s narrow agenda. The info on inappropriate work assignments is as old as Amy's denial of elected ATR reps. Complain first to Chapter Leaders? Aren’t these the people who were trained to greet us at school and provide keys, etc.? Yeah, right.
You have smartly criticized Mulgrew-the-Silent for letting the papers flog us ATRs unmercifully without protest, but you said nothing about this betrayal of solidarity at the meeting. Why not? Why are you speechless on the UFT’s failure to grant us elected representatives just like we had in our rubber rooms? Our liaisons met with the bigwigs at 52 Broadway monthly. But your committee convened only once in December and March! It is major disappointing to see you and the other anonymous members playing Amy’s and Mike’s game when they deign to schedule one.
If you were serious, you would advise your handlers to cut the crap and treat us with a semblance of democracy—like having elections, a perennial non-starter for the Jeffersonians of Unity, I know. At the least, you would demand (1) total transparency—post the dates, agenda, and minutes of Amy’s meeting with the ATR oversight committee, and the names of the DOE reps that Amy’s keeps under wraps; (2) monthly open meetings with all ATR comers; (3) newspapers ads extolling our talents and the DOE’s abuse of such; (4) pushback against Farina’s retro policy of letting ATRs twist in the wind. Finally, I urge you and the other advisors to disband when Amy and Mike tell you to shut up.
Winograd and Stark
ReplyDeletePhillip:
ReplyDeleteWe are usually on the same page on many issues dealing with the ATRs. However, we do have our differences and the union has repeatedly and firmly refused to have an ATR Chapter Leader. I refuse to beat a dead horse.
We need to look forward and deal with the changes coming down the road to help our brethren. We need to end the farce of the ATR pool and be treated with respect and that's what I'm trying to do.
Chaz,
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm not buying your let's move on attitude. The ATR committee is Amy's figleaf. You know it and the rest of us know it. Maybe if we kept beating the dead democracy horse, we'd win. However, there are other horses to ride as I mentioned. But it seems that you prefer your place at the table with Amy and Mike to real opposition. Don't be a tool. Be Joe Hill. Stop letting them use you along with the still anonymous "advisers." BTW, please name them. I prefer to know who's representing me, as it were.
I'm with you Philip. Sounds to me chaz has the if you can't beat them join them mentality. Sorry chaz but was expecting much more from a person who use to right such scathing articles that questioned the path our union was taking. Do I hear sell out anyone. Come on chaz tell us the real story and what is said in the meetings and by whom. We deserve and have earned through many years of service in this hell of an environment transparency. And if this is all that has transpired at these meeting shame on all of you!!!
ReplyDeleteChaz:
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of your blog and check it daily for new posts.
Although my comment today does not correlate to today's particular article.... I still HAD to post it:
Last March, I was informed that a complaint was lodged against me and I was under OSI investigation. However, I was not re-assigned.
I met with the CI (Confidential Investigator) in March and then again in September. After reading EVERY single one of your posts regarding OSI corruption, I thought I had zero chance. For the last 12 months, I literally went out of my mind with the thought of losing my job. This is my 17th year in the system, and my first experience with OSI.
Long story short, the allegations were UNSUBSTANTIATED!!! I guess I am one of the FEW lucky ones. I posted this to let your readers know that it is POSSIBLE to get a fair investigation.
I had tons of proof (thank goodness) to discount the allegation. Instead of making up additional charges and ignoring my proof, the CI was in accordance with the rules and standards, and conducted a legitimate investigation.
I consider myself very lucky and hope others have the same luck.
Anon 4:02
ReplyDeleteYou can believe what you want but what I wrote is how I remember the meeting. Sorry if I didn't live up to your expectations but I believe providing input to the union through the ATR advisory committee is a step forward from what was done in the past.
Anon 4:30
If you read carefully, I said if the Principal is against you. The fact you were not reassigned tells me that the Principal was in your corner and that's why OSI gave you a favorable decision.
Windograd and stark are only two. I want to know who are the other 4. We have the right too know. Who are they?
ReplyDeleteJustin Stark gave out 25 u ratings to ATRS he needs to be fired -mostly to people why had never received a U ever before and mostly to people why have been in the system way longer than he has
ReplyDelete1. I prefer the weekly rotations if I am not placed in a school I want. 2. How about ATRs traveling 2-3 hours EACH WAY to their school for the week. Why is the 90 minute clause in the contract repeatedly ignored?
ReplyDeleteI had my dealing with Winograd last year. He rated me unsatisfactory knowing that I Had FMLA. It took the DOE 5 MONTHS to approve my leave. He wanted all my doctors notes submitted to him. He didn't tell me this until May 2nd. Then he lied at my U rating hearing stating he knew nothing about my leave when he was the one that I suggested I take one. He even came and got the paper work from me and submitted it for me. I told him point blank in my hearing he was unprofessional and a liar.
ReplyDeleteI met the man and he is a piece of crap. thank god he wasn't my field sup
ReplyDeleteJustin Stark is just as bad.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had my U-rating hearing Winograd said almost nothing. He had his supervisor Mark Ryan speak who I didn't even know existed. I sat there looking like an idiot and said nothing. He was asked why he didn't have any prior conferences with me concerning my attendance and his response was I don't know. It is such crap. A U-rating with FMLA. I'm sure my U-rating will be up held. It is all pure nonsense.
ReplyDeleteHorrible job chaz. you write on and on about other topics but when it comes to the atr meeting you are very short. is that all that goes on at these meetings? what a waste of time. nothing ever gets done. people love to talk but not do anything.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:43
ReplyDeleteSorry that the information doesn't satisfy you but that's what was discussed at the ATR advisory meeting.
the info you gave us shouldn't satisfy you. you talk a great game but just like the rest you have nothing to show for it but a lot of hot air. you should be ashamed at what doesn't go on at the atr meetings.
ReplyDeleterefuse to post my last comment about being ashamed or what?
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:37
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of cowards, why do you post anonymous rather than your name? WHO's The COWARD? Why you are!
in this gotcha environment its good to be anonymous. I didn't say coward I said shameful. atr meetings are a waste. please post who is at the meetings and a transcript of what is said. shouldn't we have the right to hear what goes on. or is anonymous also. lol
ReplyDeleteTo the one and the same person (Your comments come from the same ISP address}. Call Michael Sill if you want to be on the advisory committee.
ReplyDeleteInstead of whining and complaining why don't you join?
Ok great we now have 1 name, who else is on the committee and what are the specific topics and what was said. you keep writing articles about other topics but for most atr's we would like to hear what is said at the meetings. i will call this person and tell him you recommended me to sit and take notes so that I can go back and truly report what goes on. and if nothing goes on I will report that also. us atr need info not more long stories. and who cares which ip address my message comes from we are all in the same union and have the right to voice our opinion. have a good day sir
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:55
ReplyDeleteLet's start with your name? Stop the whining and tell me who you are, then we can talk about the alleged secrecy you're complaining about.
that is your go to excuse. doesn't matter who I am what matters is what takes place at the atr meetings. another one of your go to excuses is that I must be an administrator or something like that. I am an atr and would just like the people who may be speaking about my future to be clear and open. and if nothing is getting done at least be honest about it. you rail on people all the time about not getting things done. well maybe you should ask yourself what is getting done. you whine all the time with all your blogs why cant I!!!!!!!!! by the way we have been at the same schools as atr's. in a free society the right to privacy is protected. thanks chaz
ReplyDeleteMy husband was an ATR for the past 2 years. Last June he was U rated Discontinued due to lesson observations. If it's deemed the criteria for rating ATR's is "time and attendance" would he have any leg to stand on for reinstatement. We are still waiting on his U rating appeal. 3 months now!!
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:24
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid the union allows for this even when they shouldn't. Unfortunately, your husband's chances of getting his job back is 0.2% based upon "U' rating appeal statistics.