UFT Executive Board Meeting Notes - 5/31/26
Updates: Class Size Implementation, Respect Check, Fix Tier 6,
Michael Mulgrew President’s Report
Class Size Law Implementation
Four-year implementation plan: Year 1 (planning), Year 2 (20%), Year 3 (40%), Year 4 (80%)
Years 1-3 were “easy years” with predictable compliance
City failed to develop capital plan and recruitment strategy despite warnings
Current Challenges
New administration took office; UFT maintains city accountable for implementation, regardless of the mayor
Committee assessment: City cannot reach 80% compliance without excessive exemptions
State budget budget delays further prevented implementation
City recruitment efforts unchanged for 15 years
Capital Plan Development
City finally created a comprehensive capital plan after two months of UFT pressure
List of schools needing capital projects (new buildings, extensions, annexes)
List of schools needing programming changes and small projects
Definition established: Projects must be “cited” (property owned, legally controlled, approved, design in progress)
Exemption Strategy & Teacher Protections
Two Types of Exemptions: Space exemptions (tied to capital projects), Hard-to-staff exemptions that are submitted to the state for approval after city, UFT and CSA determine list of proposed schools for exemptions.
New Differential Payment Structure: Teachers in non-compliant exempt classes receive differential pay. Space exemption differential: $8,500 (next year), $9,500 (following year). Hard-to-staff exemption differential: Same structure. Prorated if only a partial program is in an oversized class. Eligibility determined November 15th annually.
Rationale
Makes exemptions expensive for DOE, incentivizing compliance
Holds the city accountable for irresponsibility
Compensates teachers bearing the burden class sizes over the numbers in the class size law because of the city’s failures.
Prevents loss of state education funding
Two-Year Extension Agreement
UFT agreed to a two-year class size extension
Contingent on differential payment structure
Ensures accountability for project completion
Tier Six Pension
No questions or concerns raised
Appears to be resolved satisfactorily
Paraprofessional Bill
Now in the official costing process
Bill on aging list (not yet on aging desk)
Both sides acknowledge the bill is “real” and requires costing
City insists costs are double the actual amount (similar to the paid family leave dispute)
UFT is actively negotiating realistic cost figures
Meeting Approvals
May 22nd ADCOM Minutes: All in favor - Approved
May 29th ADCOM Minutes: All in favor - Approved
Question Period & Member Issues
Theodore Capodistrius – Toledo, Long Island City High School
Issue: School safety concerns with two loaded gun incidents (January and March)
Action Taken: Received funding from Donovan Richard for camera system improvements
Problem: Installation delayed until September/October 2027 instead of current school year
Request: Guidance on expediting installation process
Resolution:ACTION ITEM: Email Secretary Micahel Sill(msill@uft.org) re: Toledo LIC camera installs; CC Tabio DaCruz. Recommended contact: Diane or Jeff Povilaitis with Health and Safety Department
Cynthia Bennett - Nurse Functional Chapter Leader
Issue: Confusion about Friday clerical day remote status and nurse requirements
Question: Does remote day apply to all titles including nurses?
Context: Clerical day is for middle and elementary schools only (not high school)
Clarification: Nurses must be in-person to move medical charts and records. Co-located schools with high school/middle school require in-person attendance for nurses. Thursday = Anniversary Day (Brooklyn-Queens Day) - Remote. Friday = Clerical Day - Remote for eligible staff
Reports & Announcements
Leo Gordon, VP of Career and Technical Education: AI Ambassador Group Showcase (May 22nd)
Year-long developer journey celebrating educators creating AI solutions
Educators developed AI assets to address school-specific issues
ACTION ITEM: Email AI lookbook to Exec Board with participant information
Seung Lee: Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Month Celebration
Attended banquet and raffle event
Honored Secretary Emeritus Leroy Barr
Honored PS 42 educator Virginia Eng (longtime national representative)
Recognized the importance of professional committees and diverse representation
Sponsored by District 12 and the Chinatown community
Featured Lion Dance performance
Mary Vacarro, VP of Education: Three P-Credit Summer Class Program
Announcement: Reduced pricing from $650 to $450 for the Institute
Details: No union charge (union covers difference). ASDPD charging $ 125. Flyer to be distributed via email
Emily James: Students of NYC Project Celebration
Approximately 35-40 students celebrated
Students brought educators, friends, and families
The Chancellor attended and spoke
Project to continue with expanded participation (currently middle and high school)
Goal to broaden to elementary school
Danny Rodriguez-AFT Latino Caucus Soiree
Announced Angelina Gonzalez as the new AFT Latino Caucus President
Honored Delci from Queens
Featured food, raffles, and music
Included Hispanic Affairs Committee participation
Vincent Corletta-UFT 5K Run Event
Date: Saturday, June 13th
Location: Maimonides Park (Cyclones Park)
Features: Gifts, goodies, snacks, competitive running
Organizer: Vinnie Corletta, Middle School Exec Board
Hispanic Affairs Committee Open Mic
Date: June 26th, 6-9 PM
Location: Queens Office
Features: Poets, dancers, authors, and educators showcasing arts
ACTION ITEM: Email the Hispanic Affairs Committee open-mic flyer to Exec Board
Tanisha Franks: School Secretary Soiree
Date: Friday, June 5th
Purpose: Celebrate school secretaries and functional chapters
Organizer: Tanisha Franks, Executive Board at Large
Note: Emphasizes UFT inclusivity for all titles
Chapter Leader: Sherelle (School Secretary Chapter Leader)
Tracy Ivanic-UFT Fourth Annual Family Day
Date: Saturday, June 6th
Location: Global Sports Center, Garden City
Sessions: 11 AM-2 PM and 3-6 PM
Activities: Music, food, bouncy houses, face painting, giveaways, raffles
Special Feature: Puppies available for adoption (Happily Ever After Rescue)
Fundraising: All money raised goes to the UFT Disaster Relief Fund
Organizer: Deshauna Barker (on behalf of)
Sterling Roberson-Memorial Recognition
Person: Christine Carter (Chapter Leader at Samuel Gompers, Union Librarian)
Legacy: Longtime librarian dating back to the Al Shanker era. Created Success Via Apprenticeship Program (SVA). Mentored many CTE educators and union advocates. Known for supporting new union members
Moment of Silence: Observed in her honor
Special Orders of Business
1. Mike Sill- Hybrid Delegate Assembly Rules Extension
Motion: Extend hybrid DA rules (done annually in June)
Amendment Proposed: By Janela Hinds-Added resolved clause: “UFT will continue to look for best methods to safeguard Delegate Assembly participation. “Rationale: Ensure security, safety, and proper participation in a virtual environment
Vote: Amendment passed
Vote: Resolution as amended sent to DA. Motion to move to first item on June DA agenda. Approved.
2. City Office Endorsement Contingency Resolution
Purpose: Allows UFT to make unexpected city endorsements if needed
Current Status: No city endorsements needed at this time
Contingency: Prepared in case unexpected situations arise
Vote: Approved to send to DA. Motion to move to second item on June 10th DA agenda. Approved.
3. AFT Convention Resolutions
Purpose: Resolutions to be sent to the AFT convention in July
Status: Resolutions previously distributed to board members
Vote: Approved
4. Carl Cambria- Election Task Force Recommendations
Charge: Make recommendations for next officer election voting methods before the end of this school year.
Task Force Members: Dana Fosiglia, Doreen Krinigan, James Vasquez, Michael Heron, Nancy Armando, Nina Tribble, Priscilla Castro, Sean Rotkowitz, Servia Silva, Ariel Arroyo, Daniel Alicea, Katie Anskat, Chad Hamilton, Olivia Swisher, Michael Schulman
Election Task Force Findings & Recommendations
Research Process:
Examined electronic voting (REVS/Remote Electronic Voting System) across the nation
Consulted with subject-matter expert re: airline unions (pioneers in electronic voting) experience with REVS
Reviewed Department of Labor compliance requirements
Analyzed federal court challenges to union elections
Key Findings:
REVS elections face legal challenges and Department of Labor complaints
UFT’s mail ballot elections have consistently withstood DOL scrutiny
The Biden administration issued non-binding guidance (December 2024) on REVS compliance
New federal administration (January 2025) changes the political landscape and uncertainty if a REVS result is challenged.
Too many unanswered questions and legal risks
Recommendation:
Continue mail ballot voting for officer elections
Expand in-person voting options (third-party vendor oversight)
Do NOT use REVS/internet voting for officer elections
Somewhat outside the scope of the taskforce, consider REVS for non-LMRDA elections (non-officer elections not governed by the Department of Labor)
Rationale:
Protects the union from the election being overturned
Maintains proven compliance path
Reduces legal vulnerability and ensures election integrity
Dissenting Members:
Some task force members voted against the recommendation
Disagreement not on the recommendation but on process and desire for more discussion
Concerns about the email communication process, where one task force member was inadvertently left off an email. Matter fixed quickly and email sent to the task force member.
Vote: Recommendation accepted by Executive Board (Linked below)
Administrative Notes
Event Calendar Planning
ACTION ITEM: Collect next-year event dates from chapter leaders; lock calendar
Reason: Prevent scheduling conflicts (currently experiencing 6+ events on single Saturdays)
Timeline: Planning already underway for next year
Final Executive Board Meeting
Date: June 15th
Format: Executive session (closed to non-board members). Only executive board members permitted to attend
Meeting Adjournment
Motion to adjourn approved
Next meeting: June 15th (Executive Session)
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 5th: School Secretary Soiree (Union Hall)
June 6th: UFT Fourth Annual Family Day (Global Sports Center, Garden City) - 11 AM-2 PM & 3-6 PM
June 13th: UFT 5K Run (Maimonides/Cyclones Park)
June 15th: Final Executive Board Meeting (Executive Session)
June 26th: Hispanic Affairs Committee Open Mic (Queens Office) - 6-9 PM
NOTES
Two remote days this week: Thursday (Anniversary/Brooklyn-Queens Day) and Friday (Clerical Day)
Class size differential payments to be determined on November 15th annually
All event dates for next year should be submitted to prevent scheduling conflicts