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Hiring halted in turnaround schools as legal battle takes shape

Responding to a lawsuit filed by the city teachers and principals unions on Monday, the Department of Education pledged today not to make any hiring decisions about 24 schools slated for “turnaround” for at least a week.

Under the turnaround process the city is trying to use, all of the teachers at the schools would be “excessed” and then at least half — but very likely more — would be hired back by a committee of administrators and union representatives. After the city school board approved the turnarounds late last month, the city planned to convene the committees quickly and set them to work.

But under a stipulation agreement registered today in State Supreme Court, the department said it would refrain from telling teachers at the 24 schools that they had been cut loose — or rehired. The committees will begin considering candidates but can make no offers until after a judge rules on the unions’ lawsuit, which charges that the turnaround process violates their contracts with the city.

According to the agreement, the department must respond to the unions’ claims by Friday. Then the unions will respond to the department’s defense by the end of the day on May 15 before the two sides argue their cases before a judge the following day.

A teachers union official said the timeline had been accelerated both because the unions and city wanted the suit resolved quickly and in order to accommodate the schedule of the judge assigned to the case, Joan Lobis. Lobis is the Supreme Court justice who in 2010 ruled in the UFT’s favor in the first round of an ultimately successful lawsuit to halt 19 school closures.

The complete stipulation agreement between the city and the unions is below.

Supreme Court of the State Of New York County of New York Stipulation

Index # 600002/2012
May 8, 2012

Michael Mulgrew et al.
v.
Board of Education et al. 

It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between the below-named attorney(s) as follows:

Parties agree to the following briefing schedule:

1)      Respondents serve response to petition May 11, 2012;
2)      Petitioners respond May 15 (close-of-business);
3)      Oral argument May 16, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.

Parties agree that pending oral argument May 16, 2012, Respondents (or any member of an 18D committee) will not make or further communicate any hiring decisions in connection with the 24 subject schools, except as provided below.

This includes any decision or communication that any employee represented by UFT or CSA has been excessed or hired.

As to a May 7, 2012 letter, Respondents will use best efforts to ensure no dissemination.

As to John Adams H.S., Respondents may name a proposed new leader for purposes of the 18D committee only.

Signed:
Judge Joan B. Lobis
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Attorneys for Defendant

  • Turnaround Teacher

    Well as far as I could tell there way no way to make hiring decision within a week yet, since no posting for the schools are listed yet… http://schools.nyc.gov/community/planning/newschools/Hiring

  • Turnaround Teacher

    Corrections “was” no way…to make hiring “decisions”

  • R.I.P. Richmond Hill

    If I hear Bloomberg or any other politician call the teachers in these schools “underperforming” again, I’m going to lose it.  Most teachers in my school tutor zero period, teach five classes, have a smaller learning community meeting one free period every day, have a meeting with E.P.O.’s one free period a week, staff and department meetings, curriculum mapping meetings, I.E.P.  meetings, etc., and now we have to spend time creating a resume, cover letter, education statement, and a portfolio so we can try to keep our jobs in schools where the students are primarily learning needs or English Language Learners.  We’re lucky to have five minutes to use the bathroom, much less actually have a lunch break!  And instead of being appreciated for all this time and effort while working with some of the most difficult students (I bet the number of gang members and the criminals in my school number in the hundreds) and the students who need the most help, we are called “underperforming”.  Hey Mayor Bloomberg, Mr. Steinberg, or Mr. Walcott, why haven’t you ever even stepped foot in my building?!  How do you have a clue what’s really going on?  After dedicating my life for almost 20 years to this career in this great city, I’m done.  I’ve never received an unsatisfactory lesson, I’m never absent, I’ve even held off on starting a family due to my dedication as a teacher, coach, and supervisor.  I would rather find a new career where I’m not a scapegoat for selfish and corrupt politicians.  What an utter disgrace. 

  • Gotta Luv This

    I LOVE IT.  I MEAN SERIOUSLY, I LOVE THE WHOLE CHAOTIC MESS.  NO ONE CAN FIGURE ANYTHING OUT.  MAYOR BLOOMBERG, WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS THE ALL TIME WORST EDUCATIONAL MAYOR.  THERE IS NO DENYING IT.  IT IS A MESS!!!!!  JUNE 12, LAST DAY OF CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOLS —- SEE YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

  • Former Teacher

    Well said.  Thank you for your service. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tommy-Calderon/100000263260717 Tommy Calderon

    Wish you the best but please don’t let these fools push you out if you are not ready.  Like every other incompetent in the last 12 years they will all be gone and we will all still be here to continue serving the children of this city.

  • A Brooklyn Turnaround Victim

    This is killing us in our schools. The constant uncertainty, the different messages you get from the Principal….you don’t know if you are coming or going….

  • TeachmyclassMrMayor

     Turnaroud, do you know of any schools that is being “turned” by Mayor Napoleon that has even posted the “jobs” for the in-house applications yet? Not where I work.

  • NY 2

    This is exactly how I feel too.  Enough said, thanks!

  • Turnaround Teacher

    At Lehman, we were told that they would be posted on the new schools page (as I linked above) and that when they went up our admin will inform us. So far nothing, and the same seems to be true at several other turnaround schools. I do know that the DOE submitted postings to the UFT for approval.

  • turnaround teacher #2

    I have zero desire to stay in my current “turnaround” school.   No one has given me the indication that they want me to, and I am too good to wait for the DOE and the union to get their crap together–something tells me I am not the only teacher to feel this way.  So, good job, DOE, UFT and CSA.  You are driving away the good teachers this city needs and keeping the ones who don’t care.

  • Cheers to the High Life

    Stop crying ….. make a change in your daily schedule.  Begin drinking on your prep periods in your car.  This will make you feel a little better.  If not, try some Hennessey during your preps BUT please do not let these morons drive you out.  This is an awesome job.  Hey, we need people like you!  Cheers (clink/clink).  Enjoy the high life my good friend!

  • Turnaround Observer

    If turnaround is stopped everyone wins:  Bloomberg gets credit for being an innovative education mayor without the risk of the turnaround process (3,000 teachers, interviews, committees, etc.) blowing up in his face and the UFT gets credit for standing up to the purely political decision of the mayor.  Both sides should reach this agreement out of court!

  • FuktheDOE

    I’ll drink to that!

  • Save our schools

    The turnaround model is just discrimination against experienced veteran teachers, and this where we need to have our focus. Next year Bloomberg will complain that ATRs need time limits if they cannit find a job, then he will lay off ATRs. It is time we fight the turnaround model as discriminatory against teachers.

  • JoJoK

    I am with you on all but one point. The teachers who retained their jobs at my school do care, but so do the more than two-thirds of our teachers who were let go. We need unity more than ever, and if you choose not to go back to your school, you are giving Bloomberg exactly what he wants. This is a much bigger issue than whether a school “wants you” or not. It’s about saving public education from bureaucrats who know little about education. I say put on your armor and go back to your school with your head held high. Principals come and go, and Bloomberg will be out soon enough as the walls of the DOE come crumbling down. Fight for yourself, for your students, for your colleagues, for your school, for public education, and for truth.

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