The second day of the Local and Retiree Council Presidents Conference began with coffee with the NYSUT officers before local leaders dove into their work. The morning session featured a slew of updates from the New York State Education Department. Deputy commissioners addressed recent uncertainties around federal funding, testing — the good, the bad, and the bungled — as well as alternative pathways to graduation.
The morning panel included Daniel Morton-Bentley, counsel and deputy commissioner for legal affairs, and deputy commissioners Jason Harmon and Angelique Johnson-Dingle. The discussion touched on educators’ most pressing concerns, beginning with the rash of recent executive orders and the federal government’s attempt to claw back unspent COVID-19 funds. NYSUT Executive Vice President Jaime Ciffone moderated the panel and reiterated members’ willingness to support issues near and dear to their hearts, like learning standards.
“I always say, ‘Whenever you need us, we are here.’ Our voices are here,” said Ciffone.
In April, two days of glitches in computer-based state tests thwarted students in many districts from logging on; causing frustration across the state. Today, Harmon, who leads the Office of P-12 Operational Support, equated the system failures to “too many people trying to walk through a door with their suitcases at the same time,” he said. Ultimately, the platform added “25 extra-wide doors” and was able to successfully accommodate all the students.
Teachers were forced to pause testing, making an already stressful time of year that much more stressful, he acknowledged, and that’s not acceptable.
“We've had the opportunity to have this conversation, but again, it means so much to our leaders to be able to hear it from you, so they can pass that word to the members,” said Ciffone.