Francesco Portelos Challenges Superintendent Erminia Claudio On Taping A Disciplinary Meeting

UPDATE on Francesco Portelos' meeting with Superintendent  Erminia Claudio  Dear Superintendent Erminia Claudio,          I was summoned to your District 31 office for a disciplinary meeting last  Friday May 3rd. At the meeting I indicated that I would like to exercise my  right as a citizen and record the conversation. You indicated that I cannot.  The meeting was postponed. I thought due to pending attorney review of the  matter. This Wednesday I received another letter (attached), indicating I should  meet you again today. In addition you wrote I "have no right" to record as  per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  You never cited an article or section. I believethat is because one does not  exist and that was just another false statement made to me.      After being greeted by three School Safety Agents, I entered your office  and stated that I'm again exercising my right to record. I also stated that the  UFT told me to "stick to my guns".  You stated there is a policy against it. You failed to reference any law, policy,  regulation or article of our contract that prohibits me from recording. I thought you had a week to discuss with attorneys. You tried to imply that I  did not want the meeting to take place. That is not true. I always want to explain  what is happening and have done so many times on my website   www.educatorfightsback.org. The meeting ended and I left, but not because I wished it to. I'm more than  happy to address the SCI report, without recording, if you can show me something  that states I legally can't. I'm all about following the law. On my 380th day of wrongful exile, I will drive 20 miles from my community school,  and sit at an empty cubicle. The taxpayer will continue to cover that bill. This parent  and educator is waiting to see when someone will step up to resolve this issue that  has negatively affected countless children and adults. Keep in mind that I'm still uncovering more allegations of financial misconduct  on Principal Linda Hill. $40,000 in unsupervised overtime? Using the school  credit card for personal items? Breaking down payments so she doesn't need  authorization?  Your signature appears to be missing from all time cards. Why?   http://protectportelos.org/all-down-hill/ Sincerely, -Francesco Portelos Parent Educator IS 49 Chapter Leader www.educatorfightsback.org	6:31 AM (1 hour ago)

I'm recording...openly. Let's see what happens.

-Francesco Portelos

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Claudio Erminia" <eclaudi@schools.nyc.gov>
Date: May 9, 2013 1:44 PM
Subject: RE: May 10, 2013 Disciplinary Hearing
To: "Francesco Portelos" <fportelos@gmail.com>
Cc: 

Dear Mr. Portelos,

As we discussed, you are not permitted to record the disciplinary conference.  I expect to see you tomorrow at 9:00am in my office without any recording devices.  Should you prevent the conference from going forward for a second time, we will take whatever actions we deem appropriate.

E. Claudio

Erminia Claudio

Community Superintendent, District 31

715  Ocean Terrace, Building A

Staten Island, New York 10301

Telephone #: 718 420-5667 

Fax #:  718 420-5677

eclaudi@schools.nyc.gov

From: Francesco Portelos [mailto:fportelos@gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 12:36 PM
To: Claudio Erminia
Cc: Adam Ross; mmendel@uft.org; epietromonaco@uft.org; Sean Rotkowitz
Subject: Re: May 10, 2013 Disciplinary Hearing

Ms Claudio and UFT Leaders,

       

        The information I received ,from Ms. Claudio, states that I cannot record and also falsely states that I "refused to meet without recording". It's less than 24 hours before this disciplinary hearing and I am telling all parties that the second I get out of my car, at Petrides, I will flip on the record button on one, or more, devices. I will not turn it off until I get back in my car. There is no hiding it. I do not trust Ms. Claudio and I believe I have every right not to trust her. I am exercising my right to audio record. Ms. Claudio also falsely claimed I cannot record as per the CBA. what article was that again? 

I'm awaiting a response from anyone showing me in writing and referencing a regulation, policy or law stating I cannot record. Actually there seems to be a growing number of people waiting to see the outcome. 

More information can be found here: http://protectportelos.org/audio-recording-doe-encounters-a-real-doelemma-for-the-robins-and-friends/

Also I hope Ms. Claudio has more information about the allegations and any substantiated claims than what is in that extremely vague report.

Thank you.

Francesco Portelos