AFSA’s Triennial Convention in New Orleans. p.5

We AreNYC!

SAVE THE DATE!

‘We are NYC!’ is the theme for thisyear’s Labor Day Parade on Sat.,Sept.12. Join CSA as we march upFifth Ave. with our fellow union-ists to demonstrate labor’sstrength in the city. Check ourwebsite for details on where andwhen to meet!

Sept. 2015Volume 49, Number 1American Federationof School Administrators,AFL-CIO Local 1

NEWSCOUNCIL OF SCHOOL SUPERVISORS AND ADMINISTRATORS

BY CHUCK WILBANKS

For New York City educators, thesummer of 2015 brought key politi-

cal victories and some defeats as well.There was important action on thelocal, state and federal level.

In Albany, after a missed deadline,Gov. Andrew Cuomo, state SenateMajority Leader John Flanagan andAssembly Speaker Carl Heastieannounced a budget deal in late June.The Governor’s strong-arm tacticsyielded him only mixed results.

The so-called Big Ugly -- the euphe-mism among political cognoscenti forthe conglomeration of disparate piecesof legislation that New York’s leadersjam into one omnibus bill, featuredeverything from a rent-control exten-sion, to a tax break for developers, toproperty tax reductions around thestate.

On the education front, the dealgave educators at least some of what

they wanted. The education tax credit,also known as the “billionaires’ taxcredit,” did not survive. That measurewould have provided significant taxbreaks to people donating money to pri-

vate schools. Gov. Cuomo had foughthard for it, while CSA had opposed theproposal vigorously through publiccomment and a lobbying trip to Albanyby a group of CSA retirees.

The political football of mayoral con-trol of schools took a bad bounce forMayor de Blasio, who had sought anextension of seven years. CSA had sup-

PHOTO BY CHUCK WILBANKS

n CSA retirees on the steps of the Capitol building in Albany, about to meet with legislators.

Key Victories Greet City EducatorsEducators TakeLobbying Trip toState’s Capitol

Continued on Page 7

An Intensive Summer for ELI

8-9

BY CHUCK WILBANKS

CSA honored several graduating NYChigh school students, as well as the recip-

ient of an AFSA scholarship, at the annualend-of-the-year dinner on June 10 at theLaGuardia Marriott. The union awardedthe students with $2,500 scholarships as

they enter college, and also rec-ognized the New York City AFSAscholarship. The union bestowsthe scholarships not merely onacademic achievement, but alsofor community service and theobstacles the students had to facein their lives. The graduating sen-iors had truly inspiring stories.

Joshua Hastings of Brooklyn’sAbraham Lincoln High School,Ari Hoogenboom, Principal:Joshua, now entering SyracuseUniversity to study mechanicalengineering, was the captain ofLincoln High School’s Lacrosseteam, vice president of theschool’s National Honor Society,and secretary of the LincolnAmbassadors, who visit middle

CHUCK WILBANKS

n CSA President Ernest Logan with retiring ExecutiveBoard member Joyce Brown Bush. She was among severalretiring members who were honored at the event.

Recognition and Awards

6

Bronx SchoolRenamed forGifted Leader

13

INSIDE

Union Honors forGraduating Scholars

ANNUAL EVENT

Continued on Page 10

CSA NEWS 2 Sept. 2015

Council of SchoolSupervisors & Administrators

American Federation of SchoolAdministrators, AFL-CIO, Local 1

40 Rector St., NY, NY 10006Phone: (212) 823-2020Fax: (212) 962-6130www.csa-nyc.org

PresidentErnest A. Logan

Executive Vice President Mark Cannizzaro

First Vice President Randi Herman, Ed.D

TreasurerHenry Rubio

SecretarySandy DiTrapani

Vice PresidentsDebra Handler

Lois LeeChris Ogno

Ronald WilliamsNancy Russo, Retiree Chapter

Executive Director OperationsErminia Claudio

General Counsel David Grandwetter

Comptroller Phil Fodera

Executive Director Field ServicesSana Q. Nasser

Field Directors Juanita Bass, Stephen Bennett,Mildred Boyce, James Harrigan, Christine Martin, Daisy O’Gorman,

Mercedes Qualls

Assistant Field DirectorsEleanor Andrew, Mauro Bressi, LaverneBurrowes (Special Projects), Rosalie David,Charles Dluzniewski, Nancy Esposito,Martin Fiasconaro, Aura Gangemi, Ellie Greenberg, Ray Gregory, Robert Jeanette, Kate Leonard,

Monica McDonald, Dorothy Morris, Ralph Santiago, Shelli Sklar, Fran Walters

Grievance DirectorRobert J. Reich

Assistant DirectorsCarol Atkins, Robert Colon,

Jermaine Garden, Marlene Lazar, Ph.D,Steve Rosen

Assistant Director of CommunicationsCorey Bachman

Director of Political AffairsHerman Merritt

Assistant DirectorJohn Khani

Director of ITEgal Sanchez

Special Assistant to PresidentGary Goldstein

CSA Conference ChairPierre Lehmuller

CSA HistorianManfred Korman

CSA Retiree ChapterGayle Lockett, ChairMark Brodsky, Director

CSA NEWSEditor Chuck Wilbanks

Associate Editor Maria Smith

Design Consultant Michele Pacheco

Production Assistant Christine Altman

CSA News (004-532) is publishedmonthly except July and August for$35 per year per member by CSA, 40Rector St., NY, NY 10006. Periodicalpostage paid at Manhattan, NY, andadditional mailing offices. POSTMAS-TER: Send address changes to CSANews, 40 Rector St., NY, NY 10006.

Around February, I was surprisedby a surge of energy that mademe believe I could take on thewoes of the world. I wasn’t hold-ing a winning lottery ticket or

about to leave on vacation to an island para-dise. It didn’t take long to realize that thereality of our new contract had sunk in. I’dcaught up on my sleep and was enjoying oursuccess. The triumphs of the prior two yearswere dawning on me. The CSA’s leadershipteam and members had done well together.

Now, I’m ready to look at our achieve-ments and figure out where we want to takethe union over the next three years. First, let’slook back at some of what we’ve achievedtogether and start with the DOE contract.

So much good stuff is embedded in thenew contract; I’ll have to save some for later.Meanwhile, you can find information at www.csa-nyc.org. Butlet’s look at some highlights.

Salary Increases and Bonuses. You are about to receive 2percent of the payout that is due you as a result of the contract.Our agreement with DOE calls for a raise of more than 18 per-cent with compounding over the life of the contract. Thisincludes the two four-percent raises from the prior round of bar-gaining and 10- percent going forward. You received a $1,000ratification bonus already.

Lump Sum Payouts. This is the win that attracted somuch attention from the media. Whenever the negotiationsfloundered, the issue was over the city’s unjust position thatteachers who were promoted into CSA-represented jobs shouldlose the years of retroactive pay they’d earned in the classroom.Many didn’t see this as CSA’s fight, but we saw the city’s posi-tion as de facto punishment for your promotion and asked forthe support of the whole union in backing new members.Because we stood united, new members were made whole. Sowere former members who had been promoted out of CSA jobs.

Workplace Remedies. Many remedies were put in place,

from the amount of paperwork our membersmust handle to the length of the investiga-tive process. The DOE has agreed to review allinvestigations open for more than 180 days.When C-30s are being held up because of anopen investigation, the Chancellor can nowdirect the C-30 to go forward, if appropriate.

Steps for Education Administratorsand Career Ladders for Principals andAPs. Salary steps for EAs – a longtime CSAgoal – will be put in place the last year of thecontract. Career ladders for Principals andAPs will include Master, Model andAmbassador titles to provide you with oppor-tunities to earn additional compensation.

APPR Modifications. Starting in Sept.,Principals will receive written feedback from

Superintendents for any of ten indicators for which there’s a“developing” or “ineffective” rating. Principals will also begiven “next steps” to help improve practice. Common sensesays you should be entitled to such valuable professional devel-opment counsel, just as teachers are after you observe them.

Hard to Staff Schools. Thanks to CSA, the city will nowpay a differential to Principals and Assistant Principals inschools that the Chancellor designates “hard to staff.”

Work during Holidays, Vacations and Family Leave.From now on, 12-month represented CSA employees can reportto work during school holiday periods and defer the annualleave day to another date within the school year. To care for asick family member, all CSA members may now use up to threeCAR days a year.

When it comes to contract negotiations, there’s often alot of drama. In the day-to-day, the union is fightingless publicly but just as hard. Over the past year and all

the way back to the 2012-13 school year, we’ve made substan-tial agreements and advocated for you in all sorts of ways.

Incentive Pay for EducationAdministrators and Supervisors. EAs andSupervisors began receiving incentive payments of$2,000 each. The payments were awarded as aresult of citywide performance targets that weremet for the 2013-14 school year. The target-settingprocess was collaborative between CSA and DOEand focused on improving performance, but theywere also realistic and attainable.

Extended Work Day, Monday and Tuesday.We forged an agreement whereby the city willallow each school to adjust its work schedule foradministrators to accommodate regular day activi-ties and contractual teacher professional develop-ment.

Reduced Teacher Observations. We negoti-ated an agreement to reduce the burdensome num-ber of observations that school-based administra-tors were required to do. The city now allowsteachers who are rated “effective” to choose fourrather than six informal evaluations of their class-room work.

Landmark Court Decision Siding withCSA over SCI. The state’s highest court sided withCSA, determining that a tenured pedagogue couldnot be forced to testify in any interview where heor she is the subject of the investigation. In the lastof three rounds, in the NYS Court of Appeals, weenjoyed a victory that not only affects CSA mem-bers, but also educators across the state.

Another Court Decision. CSA and UFT joinedin a lawsuit and successfully prevailed against the

• • •

CSA Achieved Several Goals in 2015, including the Negotiation of

Looking Backwards PRESIDENT’S PAGE

Publisher’s 2015 Awards

‘Distinguished Leaders in Education’

CHUCK WILBANKS

n CSA President Ernest Logan, above with McGraw-Hill Education Advisor CharlotteFrank, was one of several top educators named 2015 Distinguished Leader inEducation by Education Update's Publisher, Dr. Pola Rosen. Chancellor CarmenFariña and Merryl Tisch, Chancellor of the New York State Regents were also amongthe honorees. Accepting his award, Mr. Logan credited public education for provid-ing him with a career and a pathway out of the projects. He also said that until edu-cators and the population talk about racism, true reforms in education cannot takeplace. "We don't talk about racism in school and we have to if we want to lead ourchildren forward," Mr. Logan said. "I am honored, however, to be here today and tobe working with educators and a Chancellor who get it."

city when the court recognized that the DOE was engaging insham school closings implemented for the sole purpose of replac-ing staff.

Halt the Rotation of APs. When, without any pedagogicalrationale, the Bloomberg administration began moving APs inexcess from school to school every month, CSA went to arbitra-tion. The arbitrator decided that the rotation policy was a viola-tion of CSA’s contract.

Earlier APPR Decision. In an earlier APPR negotiation, dat-ing back to 2013, CSA and DOE reached a decision that ensured afair distribution of outcomes on a new APPR in which Principalswould be rated according to the HEDI scale: Highly Effective,Effective, Developing and Ineffective.

Return to Geographically-Based Supervisors.Historically, our Supervisors of Speech and Psychology wereassigned to geographic community districts, but when networkscame along, their assignments shifted to non-geographic net-works. This created hardship for our Supervisors, who werespending half their days traveling. In separate decisions, the twogroups of Supervisors were switched back from network assign-ments to geographic districts.

There have been plenty of other victories, including satisfy-ing resolutions of snow day disputes, ongoing court victo-ries on parking space disputes, leave of absence agreements,

safeguards involving extension of probation and big wins in thesettlement of retirees’ pay disputes. But let’s also look at thefuture.

The will and whim of governors, mayors and secretaries ofeducation require a crystal ball. We can’t be sure all those playerswill remain the same over the next three years, let alone guesshow they’re going to challenge your leadership. Let me focusonly on the matters that are certain.

For years our early childhood education members and CSAleadership have advocated passionately for Universal Pre-K.Today, while I applaud the mayor’s successful UPK launch, I amalso disappointed by his insensitivity to our members. They’restill putting up with lower pay than some of their teachers, strug-gling with conflicting government licensing requirements andworking under a long-expired contract. It’s clear we’ll have tospend a lot of energy reminding the mayor that he’s duty-boundto bring equity to these educators, mostly women of color.

I know we’ll have to vigilantly protect APs to ensure thatteacher career ladder positions don’t replace their positions. CSAExecutive Vice President Mark Cannizzaro, who doggedly led ourcontract negotiations, set off the warning flares last June whenthe Chancellor implied that guidance counselors and social

workers might take precedence over APs. I join Mark and the restor our leadership in vowing to protect our skilled APs from anykind of end run.

We’re also going to sustain our effort to reduce C30s so ourmembers won’t sit around with interim-acting titles. On May 1,we filed a lawsuit against the DOE over its failure to complete theemployment process for APs and Principals within the six-monthperiod set by state law.

While we can never eliminate the herculean amount of paper-work our Principals and APs do, we can help make it more man-ageable. Our paperwork committee started meeting with DOE toestablish system-wide standards for the amount of paperworkyou’re required to do.

Ensuring school leader autonomy means cultivating profes-sional development opportunities for the next generation ofschool leadership. After years of advocacy by groups like

CSA and our national union, AFSA, Congress is recognizing theneed to dedicate funding specifically to support principal prepa-ration and ongoing professional development. This acknowl-edgement comes in the bipartisan Senate proposal to reauthorizeESEA. Locally, CSA’s stellar professional development arm, theExecutive Leadership Institute (ELI), will have greater opportu-nity to expand its preparation of next-generation Principals.

Foremost, our advocacy in Albany must center on protectingyour pensions and healthcare. Plunging state revenues during therecession challenged these benefits, but the solidarity of organ-

ized labor has allowed us to continue receiving benefits that helpoffset our more modest salaries compared to private sector com-pensation. If you’re following news stories, you know that thewar is still on. Among others, Republican presidential candidatesScott Walker is determined to obliterate these benefits and bustthe unions.

Since 2012, we’ve won innumerable victories, survived a cata-clysmic hurricane, watched Principals take to the streets to com-bat an exploitive testing industry and begin to triumph. Most ofthe time, my team was able to work collaboratively with two dia-metrically different mayoral administrations without ever com-promising our members’ values. We’re stronger than ever beforeand I’m ready to march forward with you.

CSA NEWS 3Sept. 2015

)COMINGEVENTSEvents are at CSA’s ManhattanHeadquarters, 40 Rector Street

unless otherwise noted. (SEPT 2, 1 PM: ALPAPMentor -- Mentee pro-gram

SEPT 3, 5 PM: ExecutiveBoard

SEPT 9, 11:30 AM: RCEducational/CulturalCommittee

SEPT 10, 1 PM:Chancellor’sConsultation

SEPT 16, 3:30 PM:NYCESPA ExecutiveBoard

SEPT 29 -- 7:30 AM: ELIMentor ProfessionalDevelopment

SEPT 29, 1 PM: CSA/NYPDSchool Safety Meeting

OCT 1 , 3:30 PM: APIFacilitation Meeting

OCT 2, 9:30 AM: EarlyChildhood EducationGeneral Meeting

OCT 5, 11:30 AM: RCEducational/CulturalCommittee

OCT 7, 10 AM:Chancellor’sConsultation

OCT 13, 5 PM: SchoolSafety Reception

Confirm the above meetingtimes and dates with the eventcoordinator before attending.

• • •

• • •

a New Contract. But There’s Still More To Do. By Ernest A. Logan

and Moving Forward

The CSA team’s advocacy in Albanymust center on protecting members’pensions and healthcare.

CSA’s 48th Educational LeadershipConferencewill be held on Nov. 14, 2015at the NY Hilton Midtown. Make sure youplan ahead and reserve professionaldevelopment funds for this wonderfulday of networking, workshops, speakers,our gala luncheon and CSA PresidentErnest Logan’s report to the membership.

CSA will host its next Meet andGreet reception for new members onThurs. Oct. 15, from 5 to 7 pm.

The Association of Black Educators ofNew York will march in the AfricanAmerican Day Paradewhich will takeplace in Harlem at 1 pm on Sun., Sept. 20.

Parents, educators, students and com-munity organizations are invited to joinABENY in the march.

ABENY will also host its FallEducation Conference at FrederickDouglass Academy in Harlem on Sat.,Nov. 7, from 9 am until 3 pm. This year'stheme is "Transforming Lives ThroughLiteracy." The special guest speakers willbe Principal George Patterson of PS 308Kand Ms. Shauntee Burns Simpson,President of the New York BlackLibrarians Caucus. The Caucus will alsocollaborate in the presentation of severalworkshops. There will also be numerousinstructional vendors. Educators, parents,

students and community-based organi-zations are invited to attend.

The Municipal Credit Union, in con-junction with CSA, will be holding itsFinancial Expo on Saturday, Sept. 26 atthe New York Marriott at the BrooklynBridge. Representatives from MCU willdiscuss purchasing automobiles withinterest free loans, leasing vs. buying,preparing to apply for a mortgage andother home financing questions.

The Association of AssistantPrincipals (AAP) will have its 73rdEducational Conference on Sat., Oct.17. The conference will again be at the

LaGuardia Marriott Hotel in Queensfrom 8:30 am to 3 pm. The theme will be“Educating 21st Century Leaders.” Wewill be honoring Mark Cannizzaro, VicePresident of CSA and Dr. NancyWesterband, the newly retired Directorof the Supervisory Support Program(SSP). Assistant Principals celebratingtheir 5th, 10th, 15th or 20th Anniversaryand new AAP members will also be hon-ored. Various workshops will be pre-sented. There also will be a vendors’exhibit. For information check the web-site: www.aapnyc.nyc or contact BobKingsley at aapexecdir@earthlink.net. E-mails will also be sent to all AssistantPrincipals in August.

Upcoming Events: Save the Dates!

CSA NEWS4 Sept. 2015

Be certainto knowwho yourCSA FieldReps are.They areyour firstcontactsfor mostsituations.

Grievance Corner Bob Reich

Welcome back, members! Ihope the summer providedeach of you with time to rest,relax and prepare for anotherschool year.

This summer was extremely busy at CSA.We represented members at investigationsand worked with the Department ofEducation to bring closure to outstandingcases.

The collective bargaining agreementrequires the Department to notify both youthe member and CSA when a case is closed. Ifyou’ve received such a notification, pleaseforward it to me so that I can insure that allsystems reflect the closure.

Meanwhile, many members making atransition to new positions availed them-selves of help during the summer, as well.Remember, before resigning and taking a newposition you should consult with the CSA.

As the school year begins, I want to remindyou of several important points:

• Investigators have been visiting ingreater numbers. The good news is thatmost of you knew to ask for Union rep-resentation. Do not speak with an inves-tigator without union representation.You must provide the investigator withany documents requested. If originals arerequested, make a copy and have theoriginal signed for. If you reported theallegation, you should answer questions

as to what you reported. If you areuncomfortable, ask for Union represen-tation.

• While network attorneys are a resourcefor you, remember that there is no attor-ney client privilege between you andthem. They are a good resource for guid-ance on Chancellor’s Regulations, griev-ance procedures, and other matters, butif you discuss possible wrongdoing onyour part, they may report you. It is yourunion that represents you and personalquestions should be sent to me.

• Any CSA member who received anadverse rating should have already filedan appeal. If you have not, you must doso immediately. Principals have receivedor will be receiving their APPR ratingssoon. If you received a rating of ineffec-tive you must submit an appeal. Pleaseemail me and I will forward an appeal

packet to you.• The DOE erred and some 12-monthAssistant Principals were not paid begin-ning July 2015. If you worked as a 12-month Assistant Principal and have notbeen paid properly, you must notify me.

• If you are newly hired as an administra-tor or have been promoted to a newtitle, please review your paycheck toinsure that you are being paid properly.If you find any discrepancy in yoursalary, contact me immediately.

• New CSA members should completeyour membership package, includingyour health and Welfare enrollment. Ifyou were paying COPE funds to a differ-ent Union you must request that this bestopped from that Union.

• Principals, Assistant Principals andEducation Administrators should be cer-tain to learn who their CSA FieldRepresentatives are. These men andwomen as well as your DistrictChairpersons are your first contacts whenyou have a question or an emergency.

Should you have any questions aboutyour contract, your pension or are justpuzzled by a DOE policy or statement,

don’t hesitate to contact me.

If you have any questions or concerns, emailme at bob@csa-nyc org.

Points To Consider as the New School Year Begins

• • •

Investigators have beenvisiting CSA members ingreater numbers. It’simportant to know theguidelines for handlingthese encounters.

Remembering a Student

To the Editor: I was saddened to readof José Filpo’s untimely death. He was aterrific human being and a good student.Anyone who ever came in contact withhim would add to the encomia writtenof him. I last saw him when I took thecourse on defensive driving for retiredadministrators. He was as thoughtful andpleasant as always when he saw me.

I would like to point out that heattended Sarah J. Hale High School and Iwas his Principal. Mr. Quiroga was thePrincipal of the school where José did hiscooperative studies.

–ALBERT VÁZQUEZHigh School Principal (retired)

Retiree Chapter member Richard G.Braithwaite recently wrote to CSA PresidentErnest Logan and attached this “letter tothe editor” that appeared in Newsday onNov. 8, 2014.

Recalling School Days inEast Flatbush Circa 1950

To the Editor: East Flatbush of the1950s was one of Brooklyn's many ethnicneighborhoods. Its population was pre-dominantly Jewish, with some Italian anda dab of others. Many of its children ofthat time would become the retired doc-tors, lawyers, accountants and educatorsof today's Long Island and South Florida.

It was also the neighborhood in whichI grew up during those years, and Newsday,through an anniversary announcementin LI Life in Sept. last year, sent me backin time and place. It stated that Francena

and Richard Braithwaite of Queens, werewed on July 19, 1952, and had celebrated61 years of marriage. They were bothretired NYC Principals.

During the later part of the 1950s, Iwas a student at the brand spanking newMeyer Levin Junior High School 285.Levin was an Army Air Corps hero, killedduring World War II. Little did we kidsknow that, in a few years, many of ourclassmates would also serve, and some die,in a place then called French Indochina,later renamed Vietnam.

Back in that day, all of us kids wererequired to take shop classes ("industrialarts" in '50s education speak), and eachshop was for one semester. The shops werealso segregated by gender. There were boys'shops and girls' shops. In an embryonicequality gesture, all boys had to take onegirls' shop, and girls had to take one boys'shop for a semester.

The shop I enjoyed most was electricalshop. I was assigned to it in the fall. Wemade two projects in that class. One wasa wooden skeleton head pin, made beforeHalloween, with little bulb eyes that litup when we pressed a button attached toa battery. The other was a lamp madefrom an empty Mott's apple juice jug thatwe were all required to bring in.

The teacher was a young man of color,a relative rarity at that time. He was tall(at least compared to us), always immac-ulately dressed under his shop coat, withshoes brightly shined. He was a modelteacher – strict, kind and patient – espe-cially with zero-shop-talent students likemyself. His name was Richard Braithwaiteand, as it happened, he also knew my dad,who ran a newspaper wholesale businessin the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of

Brooklyn, where Mr. Braithwaite resided.That semester, I often spoke to my dad

about that class and Mr. Braithwaite. Thosediscussions gave me an early understand-ing of the abuses people of color sufferedin America during those years and before.

Many years later, I ran into Mr.Braithwaite at Brooklyn school District19's office, and we had a brief chat. Bythen, he was a supervisor, and I a teacherin that district. In the early 1980s, I heardthrough the grapevine that he had retiredfrom the school system.

The late historian Henry Adams wrote,"A teacher affects eternity; he can nevertell where his influence stops." And so itis. No doubt Mr. Braithwaite has little orno recollection of any of this!

–BERNARD A. BILAWSKY ��North Massapequa, NY

In Praise of Former Staffer

To the Editor: I just read in the CSANews that Debbie Festger has retired fromCSA after 13 years of service. As the CSAHigh School Director, I remember whenDebbie started in 2002. She had tremen-dous enthusiasm and energy, taking onwhatever tasks she was given. The word“no” was just not part of her vocabulary.

Debbie was a bright, loyal and hard-working person who was a tremendoushelp to me in particular and CSA in gen-eral. Clearly, she was the ultimate teamplayer. Finally, Debbie was (and still is)the most pleasant and agreeable personyou will ever want to meet. Her retire-ment is clearly CSA’s loss.

–NORM SHERMANAssistant Principal, Queens (retired)

‘Truckloads of BooksWere Carted Away…’

To the Editor: After reading the Mayissue of the CSA News, I feel compelled tocomment on two articles. The first, "Oursis Not a Crisis of Numbers, but of Neglect",does not reflect the situation of more than70 of us who retired by March 2; I am suremost were ATRs like myself who retiredto take advantage of the severance dead-line. Combine that number with at least100 Principals and 150 AP’s expected toleave by this summer and the total jumpsto approximately 325 of us who will notwalk the halls in September.

I am sure the numbers are not exclu-sive of neglect but the result of it! Theheadline should read, "Ours is a Crisis ofNumbers and Neglect."�

�The second article was "The BattleOver Cell Phones.” While there were ele-ments that addressed the lifting of theban, it was really an article pitting booksagainst phones. The author laments thathis teaching has been undermined bymass media. Unfortunately, mass mediais not the only culprit. When my school,Adlai Stevenson High School, was divided,one of the first locations to be renovatedwas the library. Truckloads of books werecarted away never to return. Also, as anATR, I had the opportunity to work inmany schools and in quite a few thelibrary was either nonexistent, trashed ornot utilized since there was no librarian.No wonder books are not as relevant! �

�We lost the battle over books beforewe lost the battle over cell phones.��

–DENNIS MERCORELLI��High School Principal (retired)

Letters

CSA NEWS 5Sept. 2015

Officials were elected and re-elected, resolutions wereapproved, many speakers were heard, and afterwardscame the sampling of New Orleans culture and cuisine.

BY CSA STAFF

The sweltering humidity ofNew Orleans in July didnot stop members of the

American Federation of SchoolAdministrators from conductingimportant business and celebrat-ing as well, Big Easy style, at thenational union’s triennial con-vention in July.

Diane Woodard, fromDetroit, was reelected AFSA pres-ident and will serve her thirdterm as the head of CSA’snational union. CSA PresidentErnest Logan was elected execu-tive vice president while MarkCannizzaro, CSA’s executive vicepresident, was elected generalvice president, replacing formerCSA executive vice presidentPeter McNally.

Convention delegates alsoapproved several resolu-tions. Among them:

• Encouraging adequatefunding for professionaldevelopment programsand a variety of suggestionsfor effective principal eval-uations and restricting fed-eral mandates on statesregarding assessments;

• Advocating accountabilityfor charter schools and pre-venting money beingdiverted from traditionalpublic schools.

• Supporting educating mem-bers regarding student dataprivacy and security issuesand backing legislation thatbalances protecting studentdata with promoting per-

sonalized learning throughdata and technology.

• Opposing the arming ofeducators.

• Opposing passage of theTrans-Pacific Partnershiptrade deal.

• Supporting curriculumabout the importance ofvoting.

• AFSA, along with AFL-CIO,is withholding for nowendorsing any particularpolitical candidates.Meanwhile, it was resolvedthat members should com-mit to making regular con-tributions to the union’spolitical action committee.

Several dynamic speakersgraced the convention, includ-ing Newark, N.J. Mayor Ras J.Baraka, a former Principal, whogave a rousing speech aboutrevitalizing community schools.Dr. David J. Schonfeld from theUniversity of SouthernCalifornia spoke of the role edu-cators play in helping studentscope with grief and shock. AndDr. Tyrone Howard, a professorat the UCLA Graduate School ofEducation, spoke of racism inAmerica and the huge burdenseducators face in their jobs. Ahost of seminars were availableto conventioneers as well.

And since the conventionwas held in the Big Easy,attendees did not focus

attention on work all the time.Lighter moments included atour of a swamp, close encoun-ters with gators, and of coursethe sampling of local cuisine.

Engaged Leadership, Brighter Future, andAlligators At Triennial Union Convention

n LEFT: FormerRC OutreachCoordinatorFelice Hannah,center, and RCLegislativeLiason RichardOppenheimer,with black andblue umbrella,were amongrevelers makingtheir way to apaddleboat.

n BELOW:Newly-electedofficers weresworn in.

n LEFT: CSAPresident ErnestLogan, left, DistrictChair BeverlyLogan, Steve Rosen,and ExecutiveBoard member DaleKelly visited withother union dele-gates in downtownNew Orleans.INSET: Some atten-dees found time toventure out of thecity to exploreLouisiana’s bayousand swamps.

2015 Election Results

Diann Woodard, President, National Office, Washington, DC

Ernest Logan, Executive Vice President, Local 1, New York, NY

Leonard Pugliese, Secretary/Treasurer, Local 20, Newark, NJ

Clarice Berry, General Vice President, Local 2, Chicago, IL

Crystal Boling-Barton, General Vice President, Local 10, Buffalo, NY

Mark Cannizzaro, General Vice President, Local 1, New York, NY

Wendi Caporicci, General Vice President, CSFSA, California State

Lauran Cherry, General Vice President, Local 83, Oakland, CA

James Dierke, General Vice President, Local 3E, San Francisco, CA

Carver Farrow, General Vice President, Local 101, St. Thomas, VI

Jimmy Gittings, General Vice President, Local 25, Baltimore, MD

Sandra Inga, General Vice President, Local 22, Hartford, CT

Aona Jefferson, General Vice President, Local 4, Washington, DC

Dwayne Jones, General Vice President, Local 109, PG County, MD

Domingo Madera, General Vice President, Local 105, Puerto Rico

Gary Maynard, General Vice President, CFSA, Connecticut State

Steve Murphy, General Vice President, Local 8, Yonkers, NY

Dominic Sacchetti, General Vice President, Local 6, Boston, MA

Cynthia Warren, General Vice President, Local 44, St. Louis, MO

THE BIG EASY

CSA NEWS6 Sept. 2015

Althoughmore support isneeded,we sawprogressin thebudgetand theprocess

LegislativeAgenda Herman Merritt

It was a busy summer on the politicalfront. The City Council’s approval of theExecutive Budget for New York City inJune contained great news. This budgetwas passed early without the traditional

"budget dance" of cuts, demonstrations thenrestorations. Although more support ofschools is needed, we saw progress in thebudget as well as the process.

There was the Executive LeadershipInstitute’s allotment of $770,000, and all ofthe City-Funded Early Education Centersreceived continued funding. (Bear in mindthat some centers are faced with expiringleases in early 2016 and may be in jeopardybecause of rising rents.)

In other big moves, the Council grantedpublic libraries across the city funding toopen six days a week, and funded an initia-tive that CSA supported to provide universalfree breakfast for all students.

How the breakfast initiative turns outdepends on the implementation. The unionswho represent cafeteria workers and the cus-todians have complained that adequate staffhas not been allocated to support this initia-tive. We are meeting with representatives of

these unions to brainstorm about how wecan ensure that there are enough staff mem-bers present so that all students can eatbreakfast without disruption to the educa-tional program.

We also have to look closely at how NewYork City early education centers are fundedand operated. Currently, there are 196 ECEmembers working in more nearly 140 centersaround the city. Our centers are operated bycommunity-based organizations that wereawarded contracts from the city. They areoverseen by the Department of Health andthe Agency for Children's Services (ACS).With the upcoming expiration of the Early

Learn contract, it is time to look at how thissystem is working with an eye for improvinghow services are delivered.

New York City is a pioneer in providinglow- or no-cost services to families whoneed a safe educational experience for

their children while parents are working or inschool. For many people, these centers arethe only option. Families are eligible for sometype of subsidy if they meet the income

requirements. For a family of four, the maxi-mum income is $49,000. Today, many cen-ters are having trouble recruiting studentsbecause of the changing demographicsaround the city. As families are forced to relo-cate because of rising rents, they are forced totake their children out of the centers, whichface the same rent problem as well. As leasesexpire, landlords are choosing to sell to devel-opers or charge market rents and centers arebeing closed or forced to relocate. Our mem-bers who work as Directors and AssistantDirectors of these centers have not had a raisein pay for over ten years and have been with-out a contract offer over four years. The lastcontract forced them to pay 15 % of theirhealth care costs. It is their dedication andlove for the children that sustains thesemembers.

The City recently published the results ofa Task Force on EARLY education. CSAintends to be vocal in expressing the con-cerns of our members advocating for achange in how the city delivers services forECE. There is a big gap in educationalachievement for children in low incomeareas evidenced by the low numbers of themwho are admitted to Gifted and TalentedPrograms in Pre-K. ECE can be the first stepin reducing this gap.

CSA will be working with the City, otherunion and parent groups over the next fewmonths to begin the conversation of how tobest organize city-funded ECE centers.

Herman Merritt is CSA’s Political Director.You can email questions or concerns to him atherman@csa-nyc.org.

It’s Crucial That Implementation Support Our Gains

New York City is a pioneerin providing services tofamilies who need a safeeducational experience.

We can, whenever and wherever wechoose, successfully teach all childrenwhose schooling is of interest to us. Wealready know more than we need to dothat. Whether or not we do it must finallydepend on how we feel about the fact thatwe haven't so far.

—RONALD EDMONDS

AWARDS/HONORS

BY CHUCK WILBANKS

Inspirational Leader AwardAssistant Principal Andrew Cataneo

of IS 51, Staten Island, received theInspirational Leader Award for NYCfrom WISE, or Working in Support ofEducation, on June 1 at the Museum ofFinance on Wall Street.

WISE (See ‘Good Things for YourSchool’ column on facing page) runs acompetition called Quality of LifeImprovements in which students areasked to come up with an idea to makean improvement in the community orin the city. The group honored Mr.Cataneo for his work with the March ofDimes and a few other groups, whichthe school supports.

Top FundraisersIn fact, IS 51 has been the top

fundraising school in the nation for theMarch of Dimes for five years in a row.(One sixth-grade student raised morethan $1,000 this year!) And last week, IS51 students were invited to meet withStaten Island Borough President JamesOddo, to receive his congratulation fortheir work on behalf of babies.

CSA member Cynthia Harris-Frederick, EA Administrator of SchoolImprovement, Curriculum, has beenawarded the Broughton GraduateFellowship Award in Creative andApplied Sciences. Ms. Harris-Frederick is

currently a doctoral candidate at SageColleges. The award is meant to furtheradvanced scholarly research by graduatestudents that may be part of their disser-tation at The Sage Colleges. Dr. CynthiaHarris-Frederick, has received this high-est scholarly distinction for her researchstudy, School Leadership Practices inSingle Gender Middle Schools thatPrepare Urban Students for College andCareers

Susan E. Wagner Hall of FameOn June 2, CSA Executive Director

Erminia Claudio, whose career hasincluded stints as teacher, Principal andSuperintendent, was inducted into theSusan E. Wagner Alumni Hall of Fame.Ms. Claudio is an alumna of the class of1975.

Student Scholarships, AwardsAt the Association of Assistant

Principals’ (AAP) annual Award andScholarship Dinner at the RosieO’Grady’s Restaurant, AAP recognized15 students from elementary, intermedi-ate and junior high schools who havedemonstrated service and leadership intheir community and/or schools. Therecipients received the Martin SafranCitizenship Award and other prizes.Three graduating high school studentsof our active members were also hon-ored and received the Stewart WeinerScholarship Award ($1,000). Cheryl

Wills, a news anchor for NY1 Newsaddressed the students, their family andAssistant Principals. She spoke aboutwhat she had learned after researching

her family tree and what it meant toher. She congratulated the students ontheir service and encouraged them topursue their dreams for the future.

Well-Earned Scholarships and Recognition

Proclamation

Cooperating to Register Voters n CSA partnered with 15 members of the New York City Council, the UFT, and theLeague of Women Voters to pilot a Student Voter Registration Drive (SVRD) in about 25high schools throughout the five boroughs. In May, the Council issued a proclamationhonoring CSA and the other members of the SVRD coalition.

CSA NEWSSept. 2015 7

NATION

Education

Four elementary schools are devel-oping students’ native talents andspecializing in specific areas such asSTEM, computer programming, artand dual language. The specialtyschool system is being designedwith an eye to easing students’ tran-sition to the revamped exploratoryprogram in middle school, thatfocuses on project-based learning.(siouxcityjournal.com)

IOWA:

Specialty Schools

Students at Norwalk High Schoolhad an unconventional Englishfinal – creating podcasts from theperspective of memoirists theyread during the year. The assign-ment not only included a grouppodcast presentation, but also afive-minute biographical presen-tation on the memoir author and atwo-page reflection on the overallexperience. Students became pro-ficient in Google Classroom,Google Forms, Edublogs andSoundtrap.com. (ww2.kqed.org)

CONNECTICUT:

Podcast Final

The 9th US Circuit Court ofAppeals, based in San Francisco,ruled in favor of the state in Floresv. Arizona, a 23-year-old lawsuitchallenging the state’s requirementto provide English LanguageLearners (ELLs) with more than halfof the school day in English instruc-tion. The case is not over, though,as investigations have been ongo-ing since 2010 to address the issueof whether a four-hour block ofdaily English illegally segregatesstudents. (Education Week)

— COMPILED BYCHRISTINE ALTMAN

The State Board voted unanimouslyto make Arkansas the 14th state toadopt the K-8 Next GenerationScience Standards. The high schoolstandards will likely be adopted nextyear. The wording of the standardson climate change and evolutioncaused controversy in other states,but was not an issue in Arkansas.Arkansas did not change any per-formance expectations of the stan-dards, but it did add some examplesand clarification. (Education Week)

ARKANSAS:

Science Standards

ARIZONA:

ELL Debate

Students are using tablets and asimulated Senate Chamber to expe-rience Senate Immersion Modulesthat teach them how the legislatureworks, and to hone students’ abilityto interpret, evaluate, argue andmake decisions. Students enter areplica of the US.Senate; take a seatin the chamber and, depending onthe module, proceed as an histori-cal senator or as a “Senate selfie”.New Senators are sworn in and goon to participate in various commit-tees. No two students have thesame experience. (thejournal.com)

MASSACHUSETTS:

Simulated Senate

GOOD THINGS FOR YOUR SCHOOL

BY CHUCK WILBANKS

The Congressional Award ProgramIn 1979, the US Congress established the Congressional Award

Program (CAP) to recognize initiative, service and achievementamong young people. Open to 14 to 23-year-olds, CAP is a non-academic course of study which challenges youths to set personalgoals through volunteering and other actions.

“School is important, but CAP pushes youngsters beyond aca-demics,” said Mitch Draizin, the president of Longview CapitalAdvisors Inc. and a CAP board member. “CAP’s goal is to helpyoung people grow so that they know how to set and meet goalsand learn the importance of civic duty and responsibility.”

Recipients of the award don’t get cash or a scholarship, butthey receive important recognition. The different phases a youngperson must complete are: Voluntary Public Service, PersonalDevelopment, Physical Fitness and Expedition/Exploration. Whileworking with a mentor, (who does not have to be an educator)youths work toward a bronze, silver or gold medal. The culmi-nation of these efforts is a medal ceremony with Senators andCongressional representatives in Washington, D.C. each June.

There is no minimum grade point average. The programaccommodates young people with special needs or disabilitieswho are willing to take the challenge and invest the time.“Congress created this award so young people could become moreengaged citizens while exploring their passions and interests,”said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “I am optimistic these future lead-ers will go on to do great things for New York and our country.”

To learn more, visit: www.congressional award.org. Or for moreinformation about the program, call Maria Smith, Associate Editor,CSA News at (212) 823-2053, maria@csa-nyc.org.

PublicolorStudies have shown that the colors around us affect moods.

So what better way to invigorate a student’s ability to learn thanto change that gray hallway or beige auditorium with a splash ofpaint? Since 1996, nonprofit Publicolor, has painted city schoolsin bright and engaging colors. The thing is, schools get more thana new coat of paint: The organization engages at-risk students by

making them part of the design and implementation process.Once a school signs on, volunteers (many from the private sector)paint with youngsters during weekends. Students learn the craftof painting, adhere to schedules, and see the result of their laborswith a beautifully renovated space. There is no cost involved.

For information contact Cara Spitzer, Paint Club andCommunity Relations Manager at 212-213-6131 or send an emailto caras@publicolor.org, or visit publicolor.org.

Financial Literacy Most students drop out of college not because of academic fail-

ure but because of personal debt. Working In Support of Education(w!se), a NYC-based nonprofit, is trying to address that. The groupis dedicated preparing students for college and the global work-place, and helping educators teach financial literacy and socialentrepreneurship. Among the programs it offers: The FinancialLiteracy Certification Program (FLCP), in which w!se helps schools

address the urgent need for financial literacy and education. The programs are meant to serve urban secondary school stu-

dents in low-to-moderate-income areas, providing high schoolstudents with access to financial education and the opportunityto become certified financially literate.

For more information, send an email to info@wise-ny.org orcall (212) 421-2700.

Know of a grant or program that can help you help kids? ContactChuck Wilbanks, editor of CSA News, at chuck@csa-nyc.org.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: ‘Congresscreated this award so that young people could become engaged citizenswhile exploring their passions.’

Diverse Opportunities Designed toFoster Growth, Interest Students

ported de Blasio on that front. While theAssembly had voted to extend control bythree years, the final bill gave the mayoronly a year. The snub prompted an angryreaction from New York schools chancel-lor Merryl Tisch, at an awards banquethonoring her, CSA President ErnestLogan and Chancellor Carmen Farina,among others.

“I apologize to Carmen, I apologize tothe school system of the city of newyork, that the reauthorization of mayoralcontrol was for only one year,” said Ms.Tisch. She promised to fight for the mat-ter in the coming year.

Locally, the City Council supportedCSA’s priorities.

For Fiscal Year 2016, the Council onceagain provided the Executive LeadershipInstitute with $450,000; the City DOEalso allocated $320,000 for a total of$770,000. This funding allows ELI tooperate Educational Leadership Centersin all five boroughs and provide schoolleaders with superior professional devel-opment.

The City Council also provided morethan $6 million in funding for child careprograms that did not receive anEarlyLearn contract, or sufficient child-care slots.

“This is a good thing because oncecenters close they never open again,”said CSA First Vice President RandiHerman. “This money made the differ-

ence between survival and extinction.”Another big win for CSA: $1.1 million

from the NYPD budget for 80 new schoolcrossing guards throughout the city. CSAhad been pushing for school crossingguards to be hired and that was theamount the union had been seeking.

In Washington, years of inaction gaveway to Congressional passage of legisla-tion reauthorizing the Elementary andSecondary Education Act of 1965. Seekingto correct the perceived flaws in the 2002iteration known as No Child Left Behind,the House and Senate passed bills withsignificant differences between them. Thetwo houses will have to iron out thoseconflicts in a conference committee thatobservers expect to conclude sometimelater in the year. One indication of howdifficult that will be may be found in thenarrow party-line support for the Housebill, compared to the Senate’s overwhelm-ingly bi-partisan vote for its version. Afterthat is the biggest wildcard of all: TheAdministration’s view on the final bill.One area of agreement between the twohouses is a sharp reduction in the powerof the Secretary of Education and a returnof these powers to the states.

The group of CSA retirees who trav-eled to Albany in May met with morethan two dozen lawmakers and theiraides in the Assembly and the Senate. Inaddition to pressing their case on mayoralcontrol, they presented CSA’s positionson a variety of other issues as well, not all

of them affecting only educators. Forexample, their lobbying helped gain pas-sage of the “Veterans’ Buy Back” measure,that would allow all combat veterans tobuy up to three years’ credit toward theirretirements. The proposal had passedboth houses before, only to be vetoed byGov. Cuomo.

Another bill would have mandatedthat hospitals maintain a safe ratio of reg-istered nurses to patients. There was no

action on that measure. And the failure ofthe “Billionaire Tax Credit,” which theretirees had opposed strenuously, wasextremely welcome news.

“The trip went really well,” said RichOppenheimer, CSA Retiree Chapter’s leg-islative liaison, who organized the event.“It was a seasoned group of retirees, whohave the luxury of lobbying two separatedays, so they have a more effective inter-face with legislators. They’re not con-frontational and they’re very focused inspeaking to the issues at hand.”

With additional reporting by MariaSmith and Pierre Lehmuller

Lobbying Effort to Push CSA’s AgendaContinued on Page 7

‘We have a seasonedgroup, very focused onthe issues at hand.’

CSA NEWS8 Sept. 2015

An Intensive Summer for the Ex ELI Kicked Into High Gear in July Beginning with the School-Based Sup

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BY CHUCK WILBANKS

It may have been vacation days for someeducators, but for the ExecutiveLeadership Institute it was a summer ofintense but satisfying work. Kicking offthe summer was the School-Based

Intermediate Supervisors Institute, held atFordham University. Seminar topics rangedfrom how to use data to promote studentachievement to promoting effective teams.

ELI kicked off its summer program onJuly 14 at Fordham University with anaddress by MaryEllen Elia, New York’s neweducation commissioner.

In response to a question by CSAPresident Ernest Logan about widespreadpublic opposition to the emphasis on test-ing, she told the crowd that a pause is inorder.

“I think we ought to review the tests,”she said. “They should match the standards,and we should review the standards too.”She noted that she announced in July thatPearson LLC would no longer administerCommon Core testing and said she wantsteachers to play more of a role in designingthe tests.

McGraw Hill executive Charlotte Frankasked what role business should play in edu-cation. “We all need to invest in kids,” Ms.Elia responded. “We have done a great dis-service to the educators in this country bybashing them. I don’t believe the peoplewho are bashing them have ever been in aclassroom.”

Ms. Elia also stressed the importance ofschool administrators in any effort toimprove education. “The emphasis onPrincipals becoming great instructional lead-ers is absolutely right,” she said.

n ELI instructors Steve Cucchia and Mary Hughes leading a seminar on how to buildeffective teams during the SBISI conference at Fordham University in July.

n After her address, Commissioner Elia opened the floor to a spirit-

ed question and answer session.

PHOTOS BY CHUCK WILBANKSn From left: CSA President Ernest Logan, NY Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, and NY Regents Kathleen Cashin and Lester Young.

n Executive Leadership In house at Fordham Univers

CSA NEWSSept. 2015 9

ecutive Leadership Institute ervisors Institute at Fordham University

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

For the second plenary, Dr. AndreaHonigsfeld, author of several books on effec-tive ways to teach English Language Learners,gave a large crowd at Fordham on Tuesday anequally large homework assignment.

“All teachers and Administrators have tolearn 20 sentences in each language spokenin your building,” she said.

Perhaps predictably, the notion drewgasps from the crowd of educators, many ofwhom work in schools where spoken lan-guages can range from Mandarin to Russianto Urdu. Not to worry though: A few min-utes later, she led them through some relax-ing yoga moves.

Ms. Honigsfeld is a professor of educa-tion at Molloy College in Rockville Centre,NY, and teaches courses in cultural and lin-guistic diversity, among other topics. She isan engaging speaker with a lot to teach: Anative of Hungary, she draws on experiencesand her own hard work in becoming fluentin English, an accomplishment that hasinformed her empathetic approach to help-ing kids attain fluency themselves.

“I will never forget the day that I wasreading the New York Times and I realized Ino longer had to consult my dictionary,”she said.

She discussed at length her newest book,Beyond Core Expectations – ASchoolwide Framework for Serving the

Not-So-Common Learner, and offered sug-gestions about adapting lesson plans, engag-ing a school’s entire faculty and promptingall of a child’s senses to help them breakthrough and become proficient.

Dr. Dick Jones, a senior consultant withSuccessful Practices Network, gave the fol-lowing week’s plenary address at ELI’s

Summer Institute. Dr. Jones emphasized hismodel for educators to move from authori-tarian leadership to a more adaptive and

collaborative approach. “Students changeconstantly so schools have to accommodatethese changes,” he said.

ELI’s summer concluded on a global note,with an exciting seminar for SouthKorean educators who teach gifted and

talented students. Nearly 50 instructors anda dozen administrators from around SouthKorea participated in four days of seminarswith noted New York educators, includingPrincipals Randy Asher from Brooklyn Tech,Jie Zhang of Stuyvesant High, and KarenDitolla of Mark Twain Intermediate School,as well as Professor Denise Mahfood ofColumbia University and NYC AssistantSuperintendent Joseph Zaza. One highlightof that confab was when participants had aseminar with teachers from the LincolnCenter Education program. They were askedto create abstract sculptures using emptyspaces, and then later decamped to LincolnCenter to see one of the granddaddies ofempty space sculpture, by Alexander Calder.

With additional reporting by CoreyBachman.

n ABOVE TOP: Korean teachers working together to create a model rainforest. n ABOVE MIDDLE: The group visited Lincoln Center for a seminar with leadersof it’s Education Program.n ABOVE: ELI Executive Director Dr. Eloise Messineo, Lincoln CenterEducation’s Director of Operations Alex Sarian and Teaching Artist BarbaraEllmann, TKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTK....

‘Emphasis on Principalsbecoming great instructional leaders is absolutely right.’

For South Korean Educators

nstitute Executive Director Dr. Eloise Messineo speaking to a full sity.

n Peter McNally, NYSFSA Executive

Director, introducing Dr. Elia

CSA NEWS10 Sept. 2015

NATION

Labor

NEW YORK:

NYPA ContractNew York Power Authority’s union-ized workers at its Queens naturalgas plant are seeking assistancefrom Albany to obtain a contract.Last month, the NYPA approved acontract with upstate workers athydropower plants near NiagraFalls and elsewhere in the state.The Queens workers have beenwithout a new contract for sixyears. (Times Union)

OREGON:

Sick Days

The California Labor Commis-sioner’s Office ruled that drivers forUber are employees, not independ-ent contractors. The ruling pertainsto one employee who, it said,should be reimbursed for costsincurred as a driver. Uber hasappealed the decision. Courts haveruled in favor of Uber in at least fiveother states by adhering to its defi-nition of drivers as independentcontractors. (The New York Times)

— COMPILED BYCHRISTINE ALTMAN

New rules governing union elec-tions were blocked by Republicansand budget cuts of the US Dept. ofLabor and National Labor RelationsBoard (NLRB) were proposed in theUS House of Representatives. Abudget bill for fiscal year 2016 thatwould prohibit the NLRB from issu-ing a new standard on joint employ-ment (which is anticipated next yearand which impacts major sectors ofthe economy such as franchisingand subcontracting) was alsounveiled by the AppropriationsCommittee. (reuters.com)

A bill requiring five days of paidsick leave to employees passedOregon’s state House. It now goesto the Governor, whose signaturewill make Oregon the fourth stateto pass a guaranteed sick day law.The bill applies to businesses withten or more employees and allowsworkers to accrue an hour of sicktime for every 30 hours worked.Workers would be allowed time tocare for themselves, a family mem-ber, or donate to a coworker. Some47% of workers in Oregon do nothave paid sick days; 70% of low-wage workers. (thinkprogress.org)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:

Blocking Unions

CALIFORNIA:

Uber Ruling

In an effort to reduce health carecosts, United Auto Workers is con-sidering grouping the threebiggest US-based automakers foradded leverage. Negotiations areset to begin with General Motors,Ford and Fiat Chryslers FCS US unitfor contracts that will expire inSeptember. There are 155,000salaried employees and 140,000 UShourly workers between the three,in addition to 607,000 people inthe union retiree health-care trust.(The Salt Lake Tribune)

UTAH:

Health-Care Pool

n Shirley H. Matthews, 14-Year Principal ofHigh School for Environmental Studies,Manhattan, has retired. Ms. Matthews is cel-ebrating her 35 years of educational serviceon Fri., Sept. 11 with a dinner dance atTerrace on the Park, Queens. Cocktails beginat 6:30 pm. To obtain tickets and for moreinformation on her retirement dinner, visit:rcornelius@schools.nyc.gov or shmretire-mentcelebration@gmail.com.

RetirementPrincipal for a Day

New YorkCity andthe NBACareAboutKidsn PS 64 in Manhattanhad a special gueston May 21 forPrincipal for a Daythanks for New YorkCares and NBA Cares:former NBA starDikembe Mutombo.Pictured here withthe All-Star arePrincipal MarlonHosang and AssistantPrincipal DanielaD’Arcangelo.

MARIA SMITH

Teachers’ Retirement

SystemJuly 2015 Unit Values

Diversified Equity Fund: 81.738Bond Fund: 17.616

International Equity Fund: 10.170Inflation Protection Fund: 10.807

Socially Responsive Equity Fund: 14.760

www.trsnyc.org

schools around the city, and a UBS Next-Gen leader.

Isatou Kebbeh of the Bronx Academyof Health Careers, Dawn Santiago,Principal: The sudden death of her motherfrom a heart attack in 2008 promptedIsatou to aim for the medical profession.She studied hard and was accepted to theYouth Scholars’ Program at Weill CornellMedical College. Isatou, now enteringMarymount Manhattan College, was thetreasurer of the National Honor Society, cap-tain of the Evander Childs Step Dance Teamand President of the 12th Grade GraduatingClass.

Lauren Ibrahim of Staten Island’sSusan E, Wagner High School, Gary M.Giordano, Principal: Lauren watched hermother, an immigrant and cancer survivor,overcome many struggles to raise her threechildren. Lauren, entering Pace University,did her part by working throughout highschool – first delivering newspapers beforeschool hours, and later as a cashier. Shebegan ice skating at age 9, and now coachesyoung figure skaters, encouraging them tonever give up, no matter how difficult life

may seem. Besides coaching, Lauren hasvolunteered at P.S. 54 Latchkey Program,and has been a member of the NationalHonor Society and the Academy of VisualArts.

Reyna Solano of Manhattan’s GregorioLuperon High School, Juan Villar,Principal: Reyna, whose family came to theUnited States from the Dominican Republicfour years ago, is seeking a career in medi-cine to help Latinos who have struggled likeher family has. In the summer of 2014, sheworked as an intern at Columbia UniversityMedical Center, working with hospital staffin a newly created medical Spanish class forstudents who were future hospital staffmembers. Reyna was a member of theschool’s robotic team and she plans to focuson biomedical engineering when sheattends New York University in the Fall.

Cliff-Simon Vital, Academy of MedicalTechnology, Jose Merced, Principal: Cliffwas president of the student body and vicepresident of the Health OccupationStudents of America, participated in theWriter’s Club, the Guitar Club and was amember of the Swimming and Footballteams. He spent as much time as possiblevolunteering at the Cambria Heights PublicLibrary, is a Sunday school teacher, aRegents tutor, and has participated in theMarch of Dimes walk and the Alex’sLemonade Stand Walk. As he watched hismother struggle through breast cancer, hedecided to pursue a career in healthcare, soat SUNY New Paltz, Cliff will major in biol-ogy with a minor in public health. Hehopes to attend medical school and becomea Neonatologist.

Jozie Schroder of Tottenville HighSchool, winner of the AFSA Scholarship,Joseph Scarmato, Principal: Jozie is a grad-uate of Tottenville High School, studyingat the University of Miami. Her thirst forknowledge helped her finish her senior yearin the top 2% of her class. She was a mem-ber of the National Honor Society, theVarsity Cheerleading Captain, and Presidentof the Tottenville High Passport Club.Among her many accomplishments, shevolunteered for Toys for Tots, Treats forTroops, the Thanksgiving Food Drive, Jeansfor Teens, and Project Homefront. She isworking toward a degree in finance.

Jozie’s mother is CSA Member LisaMazzarisi, Assistant Principal at Franklin D.Roosevelt High School in Staten Island.

CHUCK WILBANKS

From left: CSA Executive Vice President Mark Cannizzaro, CSA First Vice President RandiHerman, Awardees Jozie Schroder, Cliff-Simon Vital, Lauren Ibrahim, Isatou Kebbeh, RaynaSolano, Joshua Hastings, and CSA President Ernest Logan.

Honors and Awards at Annual Event

Continued from Page 1

YOUNG SCHOLARS

YourGenerosityMakes ThisPossible!

Thanks to everyone who madedonations to the CSA LeadershipScholarship Fund. Without your help,we wouldn’t be able to help thesedeserving kids. To support the fund,make a check out to the CSALeadership Scholarship Fund and sendit to: CSA Leadership ScholarshipFund, 40 Rector St., 12th Fl., NY NY10006. The contribution is taxdeductible. To donate online, go tohttp://www.csa-nyc.org/pages/2

CSA NEWSSept. 2015 11

QUESTION: I am an AssistantPrincipal in Staten Island. Myhusband’s diabetic medicationwas not approved byCatamaran either for the phar-

macy or for mail order. The medicationis glyburide. When I spoke to theCatamaran pharmacist, I asked if therewas another medication he can take inits place and I was told that none wereapproved. We have been having troublewith my husband’s prescription coveragefor a while now. Can you please assistme with this matter?ANSWER: Certainly. Diabetic

medications (and testing supplies )are provided by your basic healthplan (in your case, GHI-CBP) underyet another NYS mandate. In orderto get diabetic medications and test-ing supplies, go to any pharmacy andshow your GHI card. The benefits areprovided through Express Scriptsgroup GH3A, and you will only haveto pay a small co-payment.

QUESTION: I became Medicareeligible in February. I have myMedicare card, which I sent you

for submission to GHI and the CityOffice of Labor Relations. I remember you saying that I will bereimbursed for my Medicare Part-B premiums. When do I startgetting the checks – it has been 3 months already!ANSWER: I guess I was a bit unclear when I explained the

way the reimbursement works. Reimbursement is done the fol-lowing August. In your case, since you were Medicare eligible inFeb. of 2015, you will receive a check for the standard MedicarePart-B deduction ($104.90 in 2015) for the 11 months you areeligible in Aug. 2016.

If you have been notified by the Social SecurityAdministration that you must pay an extra mount for Medicare

Part-B (and Part-D) under the IRMAA ( Income RelatedAdjustment Amount ) assessment, once you receive the stan-dard reimbursement in Aug. 2016, you will receive instructionson how to claim the IRMAA reimbursement. Additional paper-work is required, which is sent to the City Office of LaborRelations. This information is manually processed for each per-son (over 9,000 for 2014 reimbursements) and reimbursementchecks will be sent in April of 2017.

QUESTION: I am an active assistant principal. I went to thepharmacy to fill a prescription and the pharmacist saidthat my coverage was terminated. I am on a leave of

absence for health reasons and I was told that my coveragewould continue for several months. Why was I cut off?ANSWER: If you are on a leave of absence without pay for

health reasons (also known as a SLOAC – Sick Leave of AbsenceCoverage leave), you may be authorized for a leave of up to 12months. The Department of Education and City continue tocover you for the first four months, and the CSA Welfare Fundwill pay for your City Health Plan and provide you withWelfare Fund coverage for up to another eight months withoutcost. However, we don’t know if you are on SLOAC leave unlessyou tell us. We terminated your coverage because you went offpayroll. Send us a copy of your 1054 form, or HR ConnectLeave Authorization letter, which authorizes continued cover-age. We will be happy to cover you for up to 12 months andpay the premium for your City coverage for you.

One CSAmemberasks us:‘Whereis mycheck?’

The WelfareFundQuestions Arise atthe Pharmacy

Dr. DouglasV. Hathaway

If you are on leave of absence withoutpay for health reasons, notify us inwriting to keep your coverage in effect.

Old Pattern: Fake Crises,Big Money Solutions

BY BERNARD GORDON

Why are American educators,whose reputation has always beenamong the highest of society's pro-fessionals, now regularly vilified bythe media and public? This phe-nomenon prompted DanaGoldstein, a historian and a journal-ist who grew up in a family of pub-lic educators, to search for its cause.

In The Teacher Wars: A History ofAmerica's Most Embattled Profession,Ms. Goldstein looks back almost tothe beginnings of the American pub-lic schools. She finds that wheneverpolicymakers or business giants havewanted to increase their power orprofit in the world of education, theywould identify a problem or, findingnone, would fabricate one. Theywould then create what she calls a“moral panic” in which a specificgroup of educators would be targetedas the cause of the so-called crisis.The pattern is repeated to this day.

Thoroughly researched and well-written, the book explores reformmovements and struggles over thecourse of American history, and thehysterias they engendered. She cov-ers the fight by early feminists to lib-erate women from dead-end domestic jobs andget them into the teaching profession (a noblecause, but one that led to the demonization of

male teachers). She provides asolid account of the 1968racial struggle and strike thatensued from NY City’s com-munity control of schools, ulti-mately pitting Al Shanker’sUFT against former civil rightsallies. Then there is the ReaganAdministration’s polarizingreport, A Nation at Risk, whichwarned of “mediocre educa-tional performance” that in thewords of Fortunemagazine, was“producing a nation of illiter-ates.” The report’s findings

were refuted by evidence, but that didn’t stop itfrom becoming a founding document for variousreform movements, including charter schools andunion-busting efforts by politicians such as ScottWalker and Rahm Emmanuel who argued that itwas the unions that protected lifetime employ-ment for supposedly incompetent educators.

This most current ginned up crisis has openeda door for big business to bring standardized test-ing programs into the schools. Reformers say such

tests are necessary becauseschool supervisors are too ineptto properly evaluate ineffectiveteachers. Perhaps it is no sur-prise that such tests generatenation-wide revenues of nearly$2 billion a year for private edu-cation companies.

Ms. Goldstein argues that itis imperative to expose theseexamples of mass hysteria as theexaggerations or falsehoods thatthey are, not only in the nameof truth but in the mission toimprove the schools. Instead offocusing on high-stakes testing,she offers other ideas, such aspaying educators better salaries,a proposal championed bySusan B. Anthony in the 1840s.“Higher pay is absolutely asso-ciated with better student out-comes,” Ms. Goldstein writes.On the other hand, she dis-misses as nonsensical the notionof incentive pay for individualteachers based on test scores atthe same time that teachers arebeing asked to engage in teamteaching, group lesson planningand peer coaching.

Society should also focus onhiring the highest quality Principals, she says,echoing the mantra of CSA, and noting surveysshowing that teachers consider the quality oftheir Principals as important as their salaries. Shecalls the recent fad in recruiting Principals fromother lines of work a misstep, and instead encour-ages picking them from the ranks of skilled andwell-organized teachers. Government, mean-while, “shouldn't overburden Principals withreams of paperwork (since) paperwork is a majorreason that historical attempts to improve teacherevaluation failed.”

Ultimately, she acknowledges the inherentlimits of what we can expect of educators. “Weconsistently expect teachers and schools to closeachievement gaps and panic when they fail todo so,” she writes. “But we do not provide fam-ilies with the full range of social supports childrenneed to thrive academically, including living-wage employment and stable and affordablechild care, housing, higher education, and voca-tional training, in addition to decent nutritionand health care.”

Those are welcome, if familiar, sentiments toany public educator.

Bernard Gordon is a retired Assistant Principal,and former Vice President of CSA.

BernardGordon

THE TEACHERWARS, AHISTORY OFAMERICA’SMOST

EMBATTLEDPROFESSIONBY DANA GOLDSTEINILLUSTRATED 349 PAGESDOUBLEDAY $26.95

Early Childhood Education

ECE’s BusySummern On the steps of City Hall, CSAVice President Randi Herman(bottom, right) gave NYCDeputy Mayor Richard Buery abox with several hundredsigned, personalized postcardsfrom directors, parents andteachers urging the mayor tokeep Early ChildhoodEducation centers funded andto provide our members with acontract and a raise.

COREY BACHMAN

CSA NEWS12 Sept. 2015

n DANIEL JUSKO, 64, husband of CSA mem-ber Cathy Myers-Jusko died on April 23 aftera long illness. Ms. Myers-Jusko is currently anAP at PS 51, Manhattan.

n HOWARD JUSTIN, 95, of Jackson Heights,Queens, died on May 20 after a short illness.Mr. Justin retired as AP-English at Forest HillsHigh School, Queens in 1984. After retire-ment, he continued to teach Bible as litera-ture at the United Federation of Teachers

office in Rego Park.A decorated WWIIhero, Mr. Justin andnine other crewmembers survived aplane crash behindenemy lines inDenmark on April17, 1944. The Danishunderground smug-gled the Allied crewto neutral Sweden

in a fishing boat. Fromthere, the men were taken to England. Onceback in the United States, Mr. Justin servedthe remainder of the war as a navigationalinstructor in Louisiana. He was a graduate ofCity College and earned a master’s degree in

English Literature from NYU. He spent hisentire educational career at Forest Hills HighSchool, said his wife Esther. “His passion wasteaching and reading,” Mrs. Justin said. “Heloved all the classics, but Tolstoy was hisfavorite author.” In addition to his wife, Mr.Justin is survived by a son, Richard.Condolences may be sent to: Mrs. HowardJustin, 35-20 Leverich Street, #722B, JacksonHeights, NY 11372.

n WILLIE MOORE, JR., 74, a longtime Harlemresident, died May 14. A Principal of MS 229,Bronx, Mr. Moore retired in 1999. Born inBlounts Creek, NC, Mr. Moore’s family movedto Harlem when he was a child but many fam-ily members remained in the state, said hisniece Priscilla Bats. “He spent a lot of time inNorth Carolina. He was very close to his niecesand nephews,” she said. Mr. Moore obtaineda degree in English at North CarolinaAgricultural and Technical State University,Greensboro. Upon graduating, he returned toNew York and began teaching. He obtained amaster’s degree in education from TeachersCollege, Columbia University. Mr. Moore issurvived by his sister, Dorothy and brotherAnthony. Eight nieces and nephews also sur-vive him.

n DAVID SLAVIN, 93, of San Leandro, CA,died May 8. He retired in 1978 as Principal ofCommunity School 92, Queens. Mr. Slavinwas a WW II Army Veteran, stationed in Riode Janiero as a weatherman. After the war,he used the GI Bill to obtain a Master’sDegree in Education from ColumbiaUniversity. Mr. Slavin is survived by his thirdwife and business partner, Ethel. Together,they operated a jewelry business catering toclients in senior centers and nursing homeswho are physically limited and cannot visitstores. He enjoyed golfing. In addition to hiswife, he is survived by a niece and nephew.

n MARK YOHALEM, 92, Roslyn, NY, diedJune 25. He was a retired AP–Biology atBayside High School, Queens. A 1943 grad-uate of Harvard University, with a degree inBiology, Mr. Yohalem served in the Armyduring WWII, seeing action in Normandyand Battle of the Bulge. He became a highschool science teacher when the war endedand obtained his master’s degree fromTeachers College. He was a member of theQueens College Choral Society, serving astreasurer and president. He also recordedtext books for the blind and was the presi-dent of the Bryant Library in Roslyn. Mr.Yohalem is survived by his wife Hilda, a sonand daughter, two grandchildren and agreat-grandchild.

n RICHARD WEXLER, 60, of Sun City Center,FL, died June 1. He retired in 2007 asAssistant Principal of Ebert IntermediateSchool, Staten Island. Mr. Wexler had beennamed to "Who's Who Among AmericanTeachers" several times. He earned his bach-elor's degree in English from the formerRichmond College, now the College ofStaten Island, and obtained his master'sdegree in supervision and administrationfrom Kean University, NJ. While living onStaten Island, Mr. Wexler had been an activemember and past vice president of theWesterleigh Improvement Society, which heserved on its board of directors. He wasinvolved in the 2001 publication of thebook, "Westerleigh...The Town thatTemperance Built," a history of the commu-nity. Mr. Wexler was an avid motorcycle buff.He also enjoyed traveling and upon hisretirement he and his wife, Marianne, spentthree years journeying all over the world,including to New Zealand, Australia, Italy,and Great Britain. He also was a skilled musi-cian and played lead guitar in "oldies"bands. In addition to his wife, Mr. Wexler issurvived by a son, Jason and a daughter,Sarah.

Send obituary notices to CSA News AssociateEditor Maria Smith at maria@csa.nyc.org.

In Memoriam

Australia and Indonesia Oct. 22-Nov. 6, 2015

The Diamond of Princess Cruise Linessails Oct. 22 from Sydney for PortDouglas, Darwin, Bali (Indonesia),Geraldton and docks in Perth (Fremantle)on Nov. 6. Airfare and extensions areavailable for this program. Please note:This is a great destination for using airmiles.RATES: Cruise rates begin at $2,519

per person per double, all taxes included.

Panama: Between SeasJan. 7-15, 2016

Escorted land tour including theGamboa Rainforest, Anton Valley, PlayaBlanca Beach Resort and Panama City.Rates below include round-trip airfarefrom JFK, hotels, 15 meals, sightseeing,transfers and tour manager.RATES: $2,649 per person for a dou-

ble room; single rate, $3,399.

Sail to the CaribbeanFeb. 13-20, 2016 President’s Week Sail

We sail from San Juan to St. Croix,St. Kitts, St. Martin, Martinique andBarbados. Enjoy the luxury of theAdventure of the Sea, Royal Caribbean’spopular cruise ship. RATES: Call for rates. Very limited

space.

2016 Spring BreakApril 23-May 1

We’ll fly to elegant San Juan andboard the fabulous Celebrity Summit.We’ll sail back to the states stopping inSt. Martin, St. Thomas and Bermudabefore we arrive home in Bayonne, NJ.RATES: Rates begin at an astounding

$628.09 for inside cabins (plus one-wayairfare to San Juan.) Rates won’t last.

Cruise the YangtzeTour China by landAug. 13-25, 2016

This will be a magical trip as wecruise on the Viking River CruisesEmerald for six days and explore partsof Xian and Shanghai by land. In Xian,we’ll see the famous Terracotta Army,which includes 8,000 soldiers, 130 char-iots with 520 horses and 150 cavalryhorses. We’ll spend two nights in Xian,board the Emerald, which will be homefor six days, and then spend our last twonights in Shanghai.RATES: $2,767 to 3,067, although

Loyalty Passengers may receive addi-

tional savings. Rate includes most meals,sightseeing, deluxe lodging, intra-Chinaairfare. Airfare to China and insurancenot included, but please note thatViking offers deep discounts on airfare.

Sirena-Oceana CruisesSept. 20 - Oct. 4, 2016

Includes FREE airfare! Depart U.S.Sept. 19, and arrive in Barcelona Sept.20. Sail the brand new Sirena to:Cartagena, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon,Madeira, Tenerife, Arecife, Agadir-Morocco, Casablanca, Gibraltar (UnitedKingdom), Palma de Mallorca

Rates begin at $5799 per person dou-

ble interior. Porthole$6299 per person;Window $6799 perperson; Verandah$7799 per person.Gov’t. fees, taxes areincluded. Optionalinsurance available

America’sMusic CitiesApril 22-29, 2016

Tour Nashville,Memphis and NewOrleans! Visit theGrand Old Opry andRCA Studios inNashville, Memphis’Graceland and BealeSt. and in NewOrleans, enjoy theFrench Quarter, aSwamp Tour, theFrench Marketplace,and the New OrleansSchool of Cooking.

Rates: All inclu-sive with air $2579

per person double; $3279 triple. Loyaltydiscounts available.

GARY GOLDSTEIN

TravelDeskHead Down Under or Sail Away!

Howard Justin

Attention CSA MembersThe Travel Desk needs your

input! What are your top threedestinations? Send me three landtour ideas and three cruise sug-gestions. Don’t be shy! Email meat ggoldstein@csa-nyc.org.

ELEANOR GOLDSTEIN

n CSA members flew into Jackson Hole, WY for a visit to America’s cowboy country, where they exploredthe Snake River (above), national parks, the Crazy Horse memorial, and more.

CSA NEWSSept. 2015 13

NATION

Education

Four elementary schools are devel-oping students’ native talents andspecializing in specific areas such asSTEM, computer programming, artand dual language. The specialtyschool system is being designedwith an eye to easing students’ tran-sition to the revamped exploratoryprogram in middle school, thatfocuses on project-based learning.(siouxcityjournal.com)

IOWA:

Specialty Schools

Students at Norwalk High Schoolhad an unconventional Englishfinal – creating podcasts from theperspective of memoirists they readduring the year. The assignmentincluded a group podcast presenta-tion, a biographical presentationand a reflection on the overall expe-rience. Students became proficientin Google Classroom, Google Forms,Edublogs and Soundtrap.com.(ww2.kqed.org)

CONNECTICUT:

Podcast Final

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals,based in San Francisco, ruled infavor of the state in Flores v.Arizona, a 23-year-old lawsuit chal-lenging the state’s requirement toprovide English Language Learners(ELLs) with more than half of theschool day in English instruction.Plaintiffs argued the state’sapproach violates the EqualEducational Opportunities Act andshortchanges ELLs. The case is notover, though. Investigations havebeen ongoing since 2010 to deter-mine whether a four-hour block ofdaily English illegally segregatesstudents. (Education Week)

— COMPILED BYCHRISTINE ALTMAN

The State Board voted unanimouslyto make Arkansas the 14th state toadopt the K-8 Next GenerationScience Standards. The high schoolstandards will likely be adopted nextyear. The wording of the standardson climate change and evolutioncaused controversy in other states,but was not an issue in Arkansas.Arkansas did not change any per-formance expectations of the stan-dards, but it did add some examplesand clarification. (Education Week)

ARKANSAS:

Science Standards

ARIZONA:

ELL Debate

Students are using tablets and asimulated Senate Chamber to expe-rience Senate Immersion Modulesto teach them how the legislatureworks, honing students’ ability tointerpret, evaluate, argue and makedecisions. They enter a replica ofthe U.S. Senate; take a seat in thechamber and, depending on themodule, proceed as a historical sen-ator or as a “Senate selfie”. New sen-ators are sworn in and go on to par-ticipate in various committees.(thejournal.com)

MASSACHUSETTS:

Simulated Senate

BY CHUCK WILBANKS

The Bronx school was renamed lastSpring for its longtime Principal, MiltonFein, who served in that role for 27 years.

“He fought like crazy for what hebelieved in,” said Manny Korman, theretired Principal of IS 25 in Queens, andformer District 25 Chair. The two menserved in the union during the same era.

“It’s very, very rare for a school to berenamed after a Principal,” Korman said.“We’re not considered important enough.But Milton served PS 7 a very long time.”

Mr. Fein a dedicated educator and alsoa staunch unionist who served as CSA’sDistrict 10 Chair for many years.

“Milton understood the importance ofpublic education. We are living in a timewhere many of our leaders, including thosein Albany, do not understand that,” saidcurrent Principal Frank Patterson. “Butgreat leaders know it. Milton was a greatleader and no one deserves this honormore than him.”

The renaming ceremony featured a hostof speakers who knew Mr. Fein, includingelected officials, former staff and family

members. Mr. Fein was the second gener-ation of his family to attend PS 7, locatedin the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx.His father, a first-generation American, alsoattended the school. The family emigratedfrom Germany in 1904.

“PS 7 was more than a job, more thana place to go to work,” , said Mr. Fein’s son,Skylar Fein. “It was home.”

Mr. Fein, who died in 2012, was a grad-uate of Michigan State University, wherehe majored in political science. He served

as an army lieutenant. He was one of thefirst teachers hired at the David A. SteinRiverdale/Kingsbridge Academy. He movedto JHS 141, when it opened in 1959, andeventually became Assistant Principal. In

1971, Mr. Fein was appointed Principal ofPS 7.

During his tenure, Mr. Fein imple-mented innovative programs including apartnership with Columbia TeachersCollege that presented a new way to teachreading and writing. He also obtained asubstantial grant from the AnnenbergFoundation for a school-wide arts program.

“Milton was innovative and open-minded,” said Ditta Wolf, former PS 7teacher, AP and Principal. “He establishedpartnerships long before that became com-mon practice.”

Mr. Fein was known for his open doorpolicy and ability to hear and accept crit-icism.

“He was a gifted leader. Milty wasn’tafraid of differing opinions,” said Ms. Wolf.“However, if he wanted something done,boy, he went after it like a bulldog. Thatwas his strength: he could listen and pursuewhat was best for the staff and the stu-dents.”

Mr. Fein was also known throughoutthe Bronx as a tenacious union leader. Heserved many years as chairman of CSA’sDistrict 10.

Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Assemblyman,presented the school and family with anofficial proclamation renaming the school.

“He was known throughout the com-munity as a fighter. An attack on publiceducation or Principals and teachers wasan attack on him. Principals and teachersbenefited greatly from his leadership.”

GIFTED LEADER

Mr. Fein was known forhis open-door policy andhis ability to hear andaccept criticism.

A School Takes On a New NameIt’s official: PS 7 is now called ‘The Milton Fein School.’

MARIA SMITH

n ABOVE: Anita Ross-Fein, Skylar Fein, PS 7 Principal Frank Patterson, Former PS 7 PrincipalDitta Wolf, and State Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. ABOVE, RIGHT: A new sign now hangsoutside the school’s main entrance.

BY CHUCK WILBANKS

It’s Been Busy! There was alot of movement among CSAstaff this summer. Besides fieldpersonnel changes, 40 RectorStreet had its own comings andgoings. To all our colleagues

whether starting out or sayingadieu, we wish them every suc-cess.

Field StaffPhyllis Buillon retired as

Director and Mary Aloisioretired as an Assistant Director.

Communications StaffAnne Silverstein, who

arrived in 2004 as CSA NewsEditor, left in June. While atCSA, she oversaw the transitionof the union's newsletter intoits current tabloid form (herfather, legendary New YorkTimes art director LouisSilverstein, designed the publi-

cation). Anne also produced allthe printed materials for theCSA Conference. More recently,as Communications Director,she was responsible for launch-ing the union's new website.

Administration StaffRetiree Chapter Assistant

Alana Segura has moved to theExecutive Corridor workingwith CSA’s Officers. JessicaJeudy is the new member of theRetiree Chapter team reportingto Director Mark Brodsky.

Welfare FundGeneva George has joined

the Welfare Fund as an Office

Assistant. She replaces IeishaGrayson.

SSP StaffSSP Coordinator Nancy

Westerband retired to spendtime with her family in NewJersey and also to travel theUnited States in an RV! She isbeing replaced by colleagueSonia Nieves. Ms. Westerbandcame to the SSP in August of2007 as an intervener. Shebecame coordinator in 2010.During her tenure, SSPexpanded workshops to all CSAmembers. The unit also pro-duced a marketing brochureabout its unique services.

Comings and Goings at CSA Headquarters40 RECTOR STREET

Nancy Westerband was with SSPfor nearly a decade.

LOBBYING

CSA NEWS14 Sept. 2015

Welcome back and a spe-cial welcome to ournewly retired members.We urge all retirees toparticipate in our work-

shops and the many activities plannedfor this fall, (see fall Education andCultural brochure on the CSA Website).Please join one of our 16 regionalretiree units. Get involved!

While attending the 2015 Alliancefor Retired Americans LegislativeConference in Washington D.C. in Julywith Stanley Wilson, the RC Treasurer,we met Donald Singer, former CSAPresident representing NYCARA, andBarry A. Kaufmann, President of theNYS Alliance for Retired Americans,ARA. Along with other with othermembers of the New York delegation,we met with aides to Sens. KirstenGillibrand and Charles Schumer, andRep. Jerrold Nadler, all New YorkDemocrats.

W e discussed supporting,strengthening and expandingSocial Security benefits, pro-

tecting Medicare by rejecting any pro-posal to cut funding through the use of a voucher system. Wealso asked them to reject any proposal that shifts more Medicarecosts to seniors and to reject raising the Medicare eligibilityretirement age to 67. We asked that Congress enact the Medicaredrug rebate program that would require drug companies to pro-vide discounts for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Weexpressed our opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TTP,that could limit the government's ability to price and list pre-scription drugs and give more power to pharmaceutical compa-nies. Finally, we emphasized our support for the Department ofLabor's proposed fiduciary rule, which would require financialadvisors to put their clients' interests first when giving retirementadvice. Too many times, workers and retirees are steered intoinvestments that are lucrative for the advisor, but deplete retire-ment savings.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sens. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt.,and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also addressed the conference.Forceful speakers, they laid out the problems we face in Congressand the importance of our continued support and activism tosupport those who support us. It may not be easy, but we mustpersevere. That is why it is imperative that all CSA members giveto CSA's Political Action Committee.

Nearly forty members of the Retiree Chapter attended theAFSA conference in New Orleans in July. In addition,approximately 50 family and friends went as well, a signif-

icant demonstration of commitment to our union. Thank youagain to our union’s past and present leadership for giving ourretirees not only a vote, but a strong voice.

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

Gayle Lockett

Challenges forRetirees, Unionists

BY DEE-DEE GOIDEL

The May lobbying trip to Albany by CSAretirees brought CSA’s point of view to the atten-tion of lawmakers. We spoke forcefully on behalfof the union in support of mayoral control andin opposition to granting tax credits for privateschools. We also raised issues not only relatedto education, such as veterans’ retirements andhealthcare staffing ratios.

The trip was only the latest in a tradition dat-ing back nearly 20 years. Retirees began lobby-ing in 1996 when they were part of RSSA. I hadjust retired and Len Blumberg, RSSA president,appointed me as the legislative coordinator forthat Association's political activities. Althoughwe did not at that time belong to CSA, weattended CSA's lobby day events as volunteers.Then, we focused mostly on protecting benefits

and acquiring a permanent cost of living adjust-ment, or COLA. Retirees were only receivingperiodic supplements without any regular sched-ule, while inflation was hitting retirees hard.Some of our members who retired in the 1940sand 1950s were almost at poverty level. Manyof us knew legislators personally because of ourcareers as educators and unionists. That’s veryhelpful when setting up lobbying visits.

In 2000, New York Comptroller Carl McCallproposed a COLA bill. At first he planned to tiethe COLA to a performance level, but manyunions and the legislature preferred to tie it toa negotiated cap. The original union proposalwas to cap the COLA at the first $25,000, butthe law that passed provides a COLA only forthe first $18,000 of a person’s pension. Manyretirees who retired long ago needed a supple-mental to get to $18,000. It has been 15 years

since the permanent COLA was passed– it is time for at least a supplementalfor those who retired before supervisorsreceived a better pay scale.

As healthcare costs soar, retirees worryabout the erosion of health benefits.Every few years a law protecting retirededucators’ health benefits needed to berenewed. In essence, the law prohibitedany school district from diminishingretiree health benefits unless in-serviceeducators also took a cut. We always wereconcerned that at negotiations, activemembers might trade health benefits forhigher salaries, leaving retirees at themercy of the school district. Instead, law-makers made the protection permanentin 2010.

It’s easy to forget these successes, andthat they only became realities after sev-eral years of lobbying. The lesson is thatretirees should never take what they havefor granted. They must become watchdogsand proactive members of their union.

C h a p t e r

Nearly 40membersattendedthe AFSAconferencein NewOrleans!

RETIREE

n Above: Retiree Juanita Johnson, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio,RC Legislative Liason Richard Oppenheimer.

PHOTOS BY CHUCK WILBANKS

n Ready for action! Left: CSA Political Director steps off the bus at the Capitol in Albany. Right: Ron Imundiand Regional Unit Leader Janice Imundi are prepared for discussions with lawmakers.

Proactive Unionists,Taking The Long View

• • •

• • •

CSA NEWS / Retiree ChapterSept. 2015 15

RC Regional Units

On Oct. 20, we will hold our annual lunch-eon at Terrace On The Park. Keynote speakerwill be Scott Stringer, NYC Comptroller. Also,vendors will display their wares and offer sam-ples. Watch for a flyer early in Sept. with details,or go to our website, www.csaqueens.org. Thereis still time to register for our wine tasting tripto the North Fork of L.I. On Wed., Sept. 30,we’ll visit three vineyards. This trip includesmotor coach travel and lunch. The flyer, whichyou should have received in June, can also beseen on our website. If you have any questionsyou can contact me at: stermanlen@aol.com.

— LEN STERMAN

QUEENS

We have planned the following events. Savethe dates! Oct. 14: Medicare Workshop, 10 – 12am, South County Civic Center, 6700 Jog Road,Delray Beach, FL; Jan. 25: Health and WelfareMeeting 1:30 pm, South County Civic Center6700 Jog Road, Delray Beach; Feb. 5: Meetingand Luncheon, 10 am, Benvenutos Catering,1730 N Federal Highway, Boynton Beach;March 4: Health Fair, The South County CivicCenter, 6700 Jog Road, Delray Beach. We areplanning more and will announce the dates.

— LOIS TURETZKY

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

This month, expect information about ourfall 2016 trips. Irma Schonhaut is planningthree interesting and educational events. If youhave not paid your 2015-16 dues, please senda check for $15, made payable to theManhattan Unit-CSARC, to Stanley H. Wilson,400 E. 56th St., Apt. 8M, New York, NY 10022.

— STANLEY WILSON

MANHATTAN

The fall meeting will be held Nov. 4 at 11am at a new location: Mimi's, 22651 Lake ForestDr., Lake Forest, CA 92630. Check your emailfor menu and RSVP details, or contact me atlamesagramsey@gmail.com or (619) 667-0759.

— CAROL RAINEY

PACIFIC COAST

LOWER HUDSON VALLEY

The Unit had a successful luncheon on June3 at the Lobster Box on City Island. Speakerswere Bronx Deputy Borough Pres. Aurelia Greeneand NYC Council member Andrew Cohen. Ourfall general Membership meeting will be Oct. 27at 10 am at the Riverdale YM-YWHA. A comple-mentary lunch will be served following the meet-ing. Our featured speaker will be a representativefrom the NYS Attorney General's Office, whowill address the issue of identity theft, an issuethat affects many retirees. Our dining, library,cultural and social events clubs are also planningevents. We are looking for new members to joinand participate in these activities. Our new fiscalyear for membership starts at the end of Sept.You can contact our Unit at: CSA-RC-Bronx Unit,P.O. Box 6, Bronx, NY 10471

—MARVIN GOODMAN

BRONX

The Annual Fall Luncheon will be on Sept.25 at the Davenport Country Club in NewRochelle at noon. Our guest speaker will beCongressman Elliot Engel. We plan to attendthe Westchester Broadway Theater in Nov. andhold a holiday party in Dec. For information,contact LoHudCSA@aol.com or write to me atCSA/Lower Hudson Valley Regional Unit, 26First Street, P.O. Box 8545, Pelham, NY 10803.

— JANICE IMUNDI

BY MARIA SMITH

On a warm, sticky day inJune, a small gathering of CSARetirees and guests touredManhattan’s Central Synagogue,courtesy of the planning effortsof the CSA Retiree CulturalChapter.

Escorted by members BarbettaKrinsky and Mark Kaufman, thegroup entered the cool basementlobby and ascended to the mainsanctuary where a knowledge-able docent greeted them. Sittingon ornate wooden pews, sur-rounded by arches and mosaictiles, a rapt audience learnedabout the temple’s history.

Dedicated in 1872 asAhawath Chesed, by 200 fami-lies of Bohemian Jewish her-itage, the congregation moveduptown from the crowdedLower East Side. The original price of theland was $75,000. The synagogue, whichreminded some in the group of Spain’sAlhambra, was designed in the Moorish-revival style typical of the late 19th cen-tury.

The original congregation wanted to

build a synagogue reflecting the develop-ing Reform Jewish movement in America:There is a large balcony where, unlike inconservative sects, men and women sattogether. As the years passed, the congre-gation grew. Today, Central Synagogue(renamed in 1918) has a membership ofmore than 7,000 individuals and is a lead-

ing congregation of the ReformJewish movement. In 1975, thesanctuary was deemed anational landmark.

In 1998, a five-alarm firenearly destroyed the landmark.The pews, interior and roof suf-fered extensive damage. Thebimah (pulpit) and Torah scrollsdid not. The restoration, whichclosely resembles the originalinterior and exterior was reded-icated on September 9, 2001 –two days before the 9/11 attackon the World Trade Center.

“I've visited synagogues allover the world but never camehere,” said Steve Meyer, a retiredAP. “This synagogue is absolutelyinspiring.”

This tour is only a sample ofwhat is available to CSA Retirees.“From touring Chelsea galleriesto learning tennis, we have

something for everyone,” said Lucie Elio,CSA’s Educational, Cultural Coordinator.“Get out of your comfort zone and trysomething different!”

Registration for courses is available onlineby visiting www.csa-nyc.org.

MARIA SMITH

n Manhattan’s Central Synagogue was deemed a landmark in 1975.

Visit to a Historic SynagogueA Sampling of the Retiree Chapter’s Cultural Offerings

Aboagye, LascellesAdams, KimAllen, YvetteAllman-Manning, Rosalyn

Alvarez, AlinaAnazagasti, SandraAnderson, EvettAnesta, AnnAnthony-Blair, Hazelene

Arroyo, DorothyAscolese, SusanBalkcom, JoanBallester, YvonneBarrientos, EstebanBarry-Black, LisaBeharry, PaulBiester, GaryBlock, ClaudiaBobo, SheilahBonano, MariaBonnick, KarenBoyer, StevenBradshaw-Tyson, Althea

Brady, DianeBrossmer, Catherine

Bulluck, IdaCacioppo, CasperCalzolaio, PhyllisCarlisle, EllenCarannante, Angela

Carroll-Dawkins, Lorraine

Castillo, MaribelChang, Shun FangCharles, PatrickChin, ShirleyChung, JinnyCohn, NormanCollins, DeborahConason, JulieConevery, CarolineCruz-Cardoza, Georgina

Curtis, AureliaDance, AlphonsoDaniels, CarmenDavenport, Roberta

Delluomo,DeborahDelluomo, LindaDeluca, NoreenDemarco, Steven

De Martino, Barbara

De Paola, GerardDiamond, LeahDickson, DeborahDifolco, CynthiaDilorenzo-Coscia, Madeline

Dilorenzo-Kearon, Maria

Dimeglio, LucilleDriscoll, KathleenEdelman, MichaelEdwards, PamelaEdwards, ReneeEskenazi, VickiEstrada, LorraineFabozzi, VincentFederman, ElayneFeldman, EliseFerrara, MaryannFord, MarioFord, RandolphFriscia Brussel, Catherine

Fulford, CarmenGaither, LarryGeli, ElizabethGoldstein-Harnett, Ilene

Gordon, JaniceGottlieb, MilagrosGreen, LindaGriffiss, LindaGriffith, StanleyGiuliano, JoanneHaberman, CarneyHannibal, MariaHargett, NancyHarris, AnthonyHarris, BryantHibbert, LeonieHill, LindaHeymont, PaulHorowitz, BarbaraHornsby, RhenayeHunold, GeorgeHussey, SamuelIorio, JosephIsaia, JacksonJamison, DeniseJohnson, SandraJones, MarieKaur, RajinderKeith, ElizabethKendall, BarbaraKendall, EnricKessler, Luis

Khan, LornaKolb, RosemarieKrotick, MindyLabetti, DeborahLagaros, ChristinaLamar, JuliaLandesman-Marrero, Karla

Latto, SariLawrence, Margaret

Leimsider, YvonneLevine, KathleenLevy, FredericLevy, RhondaLindy, LinoreLipkowitz, SusanLlinas, KennethLubrano, VincentLuger, TheresaLynch, PenelopeMagdalena, PaulaMannetta, MariaMarcial-Medina, Irma

Markowitz, Chanah

Marmer, HeleneMarsella, JosephineMatthews, ShirleyMckain-Brown, Monica

Mcnamara, DeniseMessina, BonnieMills-Kittrell, JoyceMoncrieffe, VeronaMopper, AvaMoreno, GinaMoses, RubyMullin, ThomasNewman, JeanetteNunez, RamonOrtiz-Schumeyer, Zulma

Padilla, MaryPaolucci, PaulaPaul, ArleenPeters, JoannPhillip-Yalley, Verna

Plant, AlanaPiotrowski, AnnePopoff, LesliePoyser, JoyceRahman, DianaRamos, AlexanderRayder, DanielRedner-Cohen,

MerrylRobbins, DebraRobinson, DeniseRobles, EverlidysRochelle, MadelineRogers, MarlynRotbard, JaneRudolph, BethSalkin, SusanSarro, LillianScarpinato, Thomas

Schafenberg, MaryScott, CarrollSheeran, PriscillaShiels, RichardShraga, EstherSias, AmoteSinger, ShoshanaSmith, DeborahSoto, WandaSteele, HillarySteinbach, BonnieSullivan, Gwendolyn

Szczerba, MaryTaddeo, JosephTalamo, ElenaTeele, LecounteThomas, KennethThorne-Figueroa, Jacqueline

Thornton, LarryTilves, MariaTucker, Mary AnnTyner, LydiaVaccaro, SusanVail, LarisaVerga, CatherinaVerstandig, VivianeVitiello, JoanneWade, LucyWakal, WandaWalker, DavidWalsh, JeannetteWang, NancyWatts, PamelaWeinstein, MartinWesterband, Nancy

White-Jones, Delois

Williams, JennethWong, EdwardWoods, WilliamZanca, MinervaZaragoza Maher, Judy

Welcome New Chapter Members

Members in the News

The Community Council forMedgar Evers College, Inc. hon-ored Retiree Chapter members

Mable W. Robertson and DeaconClarence A. Robertson with theCommunity Service Leadership Awardin April. Both have served their com-munities in too many ways to enumer-

ate here: Ms. Robertson, a formerDeputy Superintendent, is a longtimemember of the Brooklyn Public LibraryBoard of Trustees. Mr. Robertson is thePresident of the Bedford StuyvesantLions Club. They were also featured ina front page story about the ConcordChristhouse Clothing Exchange in“Our Time Press.” The Robertsons areco-directors of the exchange.

n Clarence and Mable Robinson,Community Service Leadership Awardees.

The Pennsylvania Retiree Unit was established on June 24, 2015. The officers are Denise SandraLevinsky, Unit Leader, Cheryl R. Glenn, Assistant Unit Leader and Dr. Irene Livingston, Treasurer. Thefirst meeting will be Sept. 28 at 12 pm, in the Hideout in Lake Ariel, PA. Dr. Doug Hathaway will be theguest speaker. We invite CSA retirees and spouses who reside in PA or neighboring NY counties to join theunit. Applications will be available at the meeting, and on our Facebook page @ PA Retiree Chapter.

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US POSTAGE PAID ATBrooklyn, NY 11201and Additional Mailing Office

Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, NYCNew York State Federation of School AdministratorsLocal 1 AFSA, AFL-CIO40 Rector St., NY, NY 10006

Printed on FSC certified paper

Borough Briefs / In The Schools Compiled byCorey Bachman

Brooklyn (DIST.13-23,32)

Media Programs

Manhattan (DIST. 1-7)

In the summer of 2014, MS 266applied for and received a grant fromVH1’s Save the Music Foundation, whichprovided the school with instrumentsand resources to establish a music pro-gram. To ensure the sustainability of theprogram, the foundation also providedpartnerships and mentorship opportuni-ties. “The support provided by VH1 Savethe Music is tremendous and has alsoresulted in our chorus being featured onGloria Estefan’s original song ‘America’which will be the soundtrack for 2015Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks show,”said Glenda Esperance, Principal. Edward R. Murrow High School

Principal Allen Barge is working to bringthe school’s once-thriving television pro-gramming back on. He plans to bringthree area high schools together to poolresources and create new instruction. “Wehave partnered with Midwood HighSchool and James Madison HighSchool to review proposals for recon-structing our studio and creating a col-laborative program,” said Mr. Barge. “Wehave the space. Now we need the fund-ing.” Mr. Barge has met with the SchoolConstruction Authority and appealed toseveral local elected officials for support.

Fun, Exercise, and a Worthy Cause

Bronx (DIST. 7-12)

PS 304 held a Flag Day Ceremonyand “Liberty Lawn” dedication on June12. During the collaboration between PS304, MS 101, and P10x, The Edward R.Byrne Campus Schools, studentsplanted an American flag on the “LibertyLawn.” Veterans, active military person-nel and first responders from the schoolcommunity attended the event to rep-resent their branch of service. “We areespecially acknowledging the sacrificeour Armed Services Personnel and FirstResponders make for our country,” saidJoseph Nobile, PS 304 Principal.

The Global Learning CollaborativeHigh School held a fundraiser for theEarthquake Nepal Relief effort on May 8.Students and staff members participatedin a basketball and volleyball tournamentwhich included a staff versus studentsbasketball scrimmage. Community mem-bers and the high school staff sponsoredmore than 60 students to play in thetournament. The event was a huge suc-cess raising more than $1,200, which wasthen donated to UNICEF.

Have news to share about your school?Contact Corey Bachman, Assistant Directorof Communications, at Corey@csa-nyc.org.

The ‘Liberty Lawn’

Staten Island (DIST. 31)

On March 4, PS 4 participated in “RedNose Day,” created for people across thecountry to have fun while helpingimpoverished children around the world.Principal Suzanne Dimitri creditedParaprofessional Laura Reina for organ-izing the event, purchasing the nosesfrom local Walgreen’s stores. For eachnose purchased, 50 cents goes to the RedNose Day Fund, which distributes moneyto charities benefitting young people insome of the world’s poorest communities.

Red Nose Day

Queens (DIST. 24 - 30)

Nathaniel Hawthorne MiddleSchool 74 held their Annual G.S.

Challenge to Cure Cancer on June 10.The day began with a Walk-a-Thon toraise awareness about the deadly dis-ease. Afterwards, the students enjoyed

classic carnival games. “This event isan inclusive experience; all students,staff and families are involved in afull day of competition, fun, exerciseand giving back to the community,”said Anthony Armstrong, Principal.

The event concluded with a checkpresentation to the American CancerSociety. Mr. Armstrong said theyraised more than $30,000 for theAmerican Cancer Society over thepast three years.

n MS 74 students show off their team spirit during their June 10 Annual Challenge to Cure Cancer.

n Students and staff at the Global LearningCollaborative High School in Manhattan raisedmoney for earthquake victims in Nepal. ThePrincipal is Karla Chiluiza

Nepal Aid Effort