Audio Recording DOE encounters. A real DOElemma for the Robins and friends.
“This conversation may be recorded for quality control purposes.” In this modern-day David vs Goliath, my smartphone is my sling and I wield it very well.
A very vague and confusing SCI report came out on April 25, 2013. In case you have not seen the report it is 15 pages, mentions 35 complaints, took fourteen months and investigated by over ten investigators.
Conclusion?
Taken from the last page of the Special Commissioner of Investigation’s report on Berta Dreyfus IS 49
In any case, a few days later I received a disciplinary notice and I was summoned to meet with District 31 Superintendent Erminia Claudio.
“Why does that name sound familiar Mr. Portelos?“
Superintendent Erminia Claudio is who called my house on Sunday January 29, 2012. Just three days after I informed SCI that I believed Principal Hill was engaged in financial misconduct. This was after I reached out to her because of the many issues going on at school. Within just 24 hrs of reaching out to Superintendent Erminia Claudio I had my firstTHREE investigations started on me and my first TWO disciplinary notices. Yes, I contacted my bosses boss and within 24 hrs my clean record was besmirched with FIVE negative items. I repeat FIVE in less than 24 hours. It later turned to almost THIRTY in just three months and Superintendent Erminia Claudio was there at ever step including reassigning me and subsequently moving me twenty miles away from my school, chapter, home, wife and kids.
As you could imagine, I feel as though certain employees in the DOE, including Ms. Claudio breed mistrust. Therefore I went into the meeting on the morning of May 3rd ready to legally record the conversation. I just did not trust her and I waived my right to bring union representation (That’s another story).
Read this email to see how things went down. The meeting lasted a total of three minutes. Actually 3 minutes 13 seconds to be exact. 
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From: Francesco Portelos
Date: Fri, May 3, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Subject: Francesco Portelos Disciplinary Meeting for May 3, 2013
To: eclaudi@schools.nyc.gov
Cc: AHorowi@schools.nyc.gov, RSinger4, RGreenf@schools.nyc.gov, Sean Rotkowitz , epietromonaco@uft.org, Bryan Glass , mmendel@uft.org
Date: Fri, May 3, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Subject: Francesco Portelos Disciplinary Meeting for May 3, 2013
To: eclaudi@schools.nyc.gov
Cc: AHorowi@schools.nyc.gov, RSinger4
Dear Superintendent Erminia Claudio,
This morning I met you, and District 31 HS Superintendent Aimee Horowitz, at your office. Before I could speak to you about audio recording the conversation, for quality control purposes, you started to address it. You indicated that I cannot record. I indicated that I would like to for quality control purposes and as is my legal right. You again indicated I could notand I excused myself to make a call outside. Upon my return I reinforced my right to record the conversation. You stated that we cannot have it recorded and I believe Ms. Horowitz made reference that “this is not a legal hearing.” I mentioned that the DOE is still within the confines of NY State and I referenced the respective NYS Law and penal code. What was not referenced, by you, was anything that stated I could not legally exercise my right to record for quality control purposes or otherwise.
You also indicated that “we are here to address this [SCI] report from April 25th and if you do not want to do that without recording….” I responded “that is not what I said. I recommend we postpone this meeting until Robin Singer or Robin Greenfield can speak or put something in writing.” You said “OK” and the meeting ended.
I await a response from you or anyone else who can put in writing that I cannot exercise my right to record this or any other meeting.
Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
Sincerely,
-Francesco Portelos
-Francesco Portelos
Parent
Educator
IS 49 Chapter Leader
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So what’s the problem? Why are they afraid to have this conversation or any other recorded? No accountability? I rarely take part in any meeting now without a DOE attorney or representative asking me if I am recording. It may sound sneaky to record, but we are not playing with people who are fair, rational or just. In this modern-day David vs Goliath, my smartphone is my sling and I wield it very well.
Imagine every educator, who is being bullied, walks in to every disciplinary meeting and states “I’m recording this as per NYS law. Go ahead…write me up for something frivolous.”
I eagerly await a response from Robin Greenfield. “Who is Robin Greenfield Mr. Portelos?” Robin is the Deputy General Counsel and runs the Senior Field Counsel. Taxpayers pay her her a salary of about $146,000 according to http://seethroughny.net/payrolls/city-of-ny. She reports to top DOE lawyer Courtenaye Jackson-Chase and has a whole office of attorney’s who guide all the administrators in NYC DOE working under her. She has two additional Robins who work in the office. Three Robins in one office? Twenty Five percent of the Senior Field Counsel is named Robin. http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/GeneralCounsel/Legal/SFC/default.htm
One, Robin Merrill, used to be Principal Linda Hill’s attorney. Not sure what happened, but when I was still in school Linda was asked if she still has Robin Merrill, she responded “No, I have someone better.” I assume she was referring to Marisol Vazquez, her current counsel. I think it was poor judgement to make a statement like that. The other Robin is Robin F. Singer. I’ve spoken to Robin Singer on the phone for my defamation of character case and met Marisol Vazquez at Small claims Court. I have not met the other two Robins. In any case, I definitely gave them some work to do over the last sixteen months. . How did the UFT put it? Ah yes “Portelos, you are breaking rules they have not even created yet.“
Two of the Robins were invited to that great happy hour party to celebrate the closing of 22 failing schools. Remember that? http://gothamschools.org/2011/07/22/top-doe-official-proposes-happy-hour-to-celebrate-lawsuit-news/
More recently Robin Greenfield appeared in the famous Cathie Black emails that were recently released. http://protectportelos.org/cathie-black-emails-searchable/ Apparently she helped draft the document sent to Albany. Nice fluff piece Ms. Greenfield. Did you also come up with “Francesco Portelos breeds mistrust and stability in the school” and the DOE should move to terminate?
Stay tuned…
From Betsy Combier:
By the way, Teaching For The 21st Century, a document still used by the DOE and UFT, mentions voluntary videotaping of lessons on pages 13 and 32. Why not allow teachers to tape important meetings?
Here are articles which refer to secret recordings in schools:
http://kdvr.com/2013/03/27/
From Betsy Combier:
By the way, Teaching For The 21st Century, a document still used by the DOE and UFT, mentions voluntary videotaping of lessons on pages 13 and 32. Why not allow teachers to tape important meetings?
Here are articles which refer to secret recordings in schools:
http://kdvr.com/2013/03/27/
http://chalkandtalk.wordpress.
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