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The NYSUT Representative Assembly – 2014

This past weekend, April 4-6, the 42nd Annual NYSUT Representative Assembly (RA) was held in New York City. The “RA” is the yearly opportunity for all the NYSUT affiliated local delegates to gather together to discuss issues, propose resolutions for adoption and NYSUT action and to vote in the leadership elections. Over 2300 delegates from across the State, including NCCFT Executive Committee members and At-Large Delegates, participated in the RA this year.

As many of you may have already heard from news accounts, the election has resulted in a significant change of top leadership for NYSUT. The incumbent Richard Iannuzzi slate was defeated and replaced by a new team including:

  • Karen Magee-President (Harrison Assoc. of Teachers)
  • Andrew Pallotta-Executive VP (incumbent)
  • Catalina Fortino-VP (United Federation of Teachers-Teacher Center)
  • Paul Pecorale-VP (Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers)
  • Martin Messner-Secretary-Treasurer (Schoharie Teachers’ Assoc.)

While a more detailed account of the RA business can be found on the NYSUT website, a few are worth mentioning here. Of much importance to us at NCC, the RA unanimously adopted a resolution regarding the de facto core curriculum being imposed by SUNY.  The NCCFT played a major role in crafting this resolution. As adopted, the resolution directs NYSUT to oppose mandated de facto core curricula that have not been approved through a shared governance process; calls upon the SUNY Board of Trustees to direct SUNY System Administration to suspend implementation of Seamless Transfer Requirements as delineated in the memorandum to Presidents dated 6/13/2013; NYSUT respectfully calls upon the SUNY Board of Trustees to direct SUNY System Administration to engage in established state and local campus shared governance processes prior to implementation of Resolution 2012-089: Seamless Transfer Requirements.

On a more general note, the RA overwhelmingly supported a “no confidence” resolution in State education Commissioner John King Jr., calling for his immediate dismissal.