Executive Board Meeting — November 9, 2026
Opening business
October 19 Executive Board minutes were approved.
On behalf of Michael Mulgrew, members were thanked for phone banking, canvassing, and encouraging voter participation in last week’s mid-term elections.
Contract survey — deadline November 10 at midnight
District and functional chapter representatives were asked to encourage every member to complete the survey.
Several thousand members had started but had not submitted their responses.
Members can reopen their original email link and continue from their saved progress.
Paraprofessional updates
Leadership reported a PERB victory arising from a subcontracting complaint at PS 1 in District 7.
The PERB ruling prohibits DOE from subcontracting paraprofessional bargaining-unit work to outside agencies.
The Paraprofessional Chapter introduced Zoom office hours across boroughs, D75, and high schools, allowing members to ask chapter officers questions.
Approximately 25 paraprofessionals attended the Albany School-Related Professionals conference.
High school events
Approximately 1,500 students attended the college fair at Borough of Manhattan Community College. Students explored colleges and universities in New York City and New York State.
Future in Focus: November 13, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., at York College.The event will introduce students to union careers in the building trades, healthcare, entertainment, private industry, and education.
Janella Hinds, VP Academic High Schools, thanked members for supporting her participation in the NYC Marathon.
CTE Awards
The awards ceremony is planned for February 2027.
Award nomination links and information were expected in members’ inboxes by the end of this week.
Schools that do not receive the information should contact Sade Strickland, sstrickland@uft.org..
Brooklyn and district tenure updates
Brooklyn High Schools/District 73: Held a pension clinic at Prospect Heights High School and recognized more than 110 newly tenured educators at James Madison High School.
District 73: Virtual tenure workshop scheduled for November 10.
District 20: More than 100 members attended a tenure workshop; more than 140 newly tenured educators were celebrated.
District 15: More than 100 members attended a tenure workshop; more than 75 educators were recognized at a celebration at PS 24.
District 5: Approximately 50 teachers attended an October 29 tenure workshop held with the superintendent’s office.
District 9: More than 120 educators were recognized at a tenure celebration at PS 132, organized with the superintendent’s office.
Queens High Schools North: Tenure workshop scheduled for November 17 and tenure celebration for December 5.
Districts 14 and 15: An upcoming pension workshop will feature Christina McGrath.
School secretary updates
The October 19 Manhattan meet-and-greet provided opportunities for secretaries to connect with colleagues and union representatives.
November 12: Virtual tenure meeting with Janella Hinds; members were urged to reach every untenured secretary.
November 19, 4 p.m.: Brooklyn meet-and-greet at Fogo de Chão. Registration is full; interested members should contact the chapter, Sheryl Pender, spender@uft.org about cancellations.
December 3: Citywide virtual secretary meeting.
December 7: Virtual meeting for D75, D79, and high school secretaries.
Early childhood assessment deadline
The Teaching Strategies GOLD checkpoint deadline for 3-K and pre-K teachers was extended from November to December and then to January.
The extension followed DOE delays in providing necessary information.
Leadership emphasized holding DOE accountable when its delays affect educators’ work.
SOMOS Conference and Puerto Rico service
UFT representatives met with elected officials to advocate for funding for union-supported educational programs.
Representatives called for increased funding, noting that some grant amounts have remained unchanged for decades.
The Disaster Relief Committee presented $20,000 to a school to create shower facilities for students lacking access at home.
AFT locals helped paint, plant, clean, replace sports equipment, and distribute supplies, printers, ink, backpacks, books, toys, and food.
Speakers described serious resource shortages and unresolved storm damage in Puerto Rico schools.
A labor panel addressed conditions facing Puerto Rico workers, including water-system and correctional employees.
Washington Sanchez was thanked for providing Spanish-language assistance during a colleague’s medical emergency.
Heritage and professional committee events
Asian American Heritage Committee: Sandy Wong was recognized as co-chair.
An October 30 event honored 70 Filipino American educators recruited to NYC public schools in 2003 and 2004.
Divine Nine Committee: November 10 gathering at Row House in Harlem to collect gloves, scarves, and hats for the middle school drive.
Pride Committee: World AIDS Day commemoration on December 1 at PS 41 in District 2.
December 10: Virtual Dolores Huerta documentary screening in collaboration with the Women’s Committee, AFT Latino Caucus, and Hispanic Affairs Committee.
A Coquito fundraiser at the Queens office was also announced to support disaster relief.
African Heritage Committee: Kwanzaa celebration on December 11 at the Queens office; admission $40, with members and guests welcome.
Coat drive and holiday support
The middle school coat drive has distributed more than 10,000 coats over the years.
Donations of new coats, hats, and scarves can be left at borough offices; monetary donations are also accepted.
The drive supports students living in temporary housing, including additional distributions beyond the main event.
Members were also encouraged to support the toy drive. Gift wrapping: November 23 and December 7, 4–6 p.m. at UFT headquarters; volunteers may participate for part of the session.
Holiday celebration: December 12 for children ages 3–17 living in temporary or emergency housing.
Event volunteers are needed 8 a.m.–3 p.m., with different shifts available.
School-related professional recognition
Members were encouraged to recognize paraprofessionals, secretaries, counselors, nurses, and other school-related professionals.
Recognition events were announced for:
Queens: November 17.
Staten Island: November 20.
Bronx and Manhattan: December 4.
Brooklyn: January 8.
School psychologists were celebrated at an appreciation event.
Members were encouraged to recognize their school psychologists during National School Psychology Week.
District engagement and fundraising
Manhattan events promoted contract survey completion, including a downtown contract action event and a Districts 5 and 6 high school karaoke gathering attended by more than 80 members.
Queens High Schools reported meetings and social events connecting chapter leaders, delegates, and paraprofessional representatives.
A District 24/Queens High Schools gathering attracted approximately 100 members.
Districts 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 22 are planning a paraprofessional bingo night.
District 9 raised $14,176 for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, with additional donations pending and a goal of $20,000.
Legislative report
Vanecia Wilson, Legislative Director thanked members for their role in election organizing and turnout and further reported Democratic gains in Congress and continued Democratic majorities in the New York State Legislature.
The report emphasized labor’s organizing strength and continued support for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Next meeting
The next Executive Board meeting is November 23.