From: "Lydia Howrilka" <lydia.howrilka@gmail.com>Date: Feb 13, 2014 5:20 PMSubject: Howrilka School-Based InvestigationTo: <aurena@schools.nyc.gov>, "Ehtan Ocean" <au9239@gmail.com>Cc: "bdeblasio@cityhall.nyc.gov" <bdeblasio@cityhall.nyc.gov>, "gethelp@pubadvocate.nyc.gov" <gethelp@pubadvocate.nyc.gov>, <mviverito@council.nyc.gov>, <volds@doi.nyc.gov>, <rcondon@nycsci.org>, <commissioner@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentbendit@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentbennett@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentbottar@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentcashin@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentcea@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentchapey@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentcottrell@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentdawson@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentjackson@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentphillips@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentrosa@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentsoffice@mail.nysed.gov>, <regenttallon@mail.nysed.gov>, <regenttilles@mail.nysed.gov>, <regenttisch@mail.nysed.gov>, <regentyoung@mail.nysed.gov>, <panel@schools.nyc.gov>, <fbaptiste@schools.nyc.gov>, <ecleveland@schools.nyc.gov>, <nfruchter@schools.nyc.gov>, <vleung@schools.nyc.gov>, <dperuggia@schools.nyc.gov>, <rpowell@bronxbp.nyc.gov>, <lpodvesker@schools.nyc.gov>, <rreffkin@schools.nyc.gov>, <lzingmond@schools.nyc.gov>, "chin@council.nyc.gov" <chin@council.nyc.gov>, "mweprin@council.nyc.gov" <mweprin@council.nyc.gov>, <gentile@council.nyc.gov>, <andy.king@council.nyc.gov>, <garodnick@council.nyc.gov>, "ddromm@council.nyc.gov" <ddromm@council.nyc.gov>, <jwilliams@council.nyc.gov>, <williams@council.nyc.gov>, <drose@council.nyc.gov>, <slevin@council.nyc.gov>, <mlevine@council.nyc.gov>, <deutsch@council.nyc.gov>, "Deutsch, Chaim" <cdeutsch@council.nyc.gov>, <amaisel@council.nyc.gov>, <reynoso@council.nyc.gov>, <flanagan@nysenate.gov>, <fcabrera@council.nyc.gov>, <finance@schneiderman.org>, <fidler@council.nyc.gov>, "Dan Halloran" <dhalloran@council.nyc.gov>, <nyag.pressoffice@ag.ny.gov>, <mhtisch@mhtisch.com>, <DeputyChancellorGibson@schools.nyc.gov>, <DeputyChancellorWeinberg@schools.nyc.gov>, <qualityreview@schools.nyc.gov>, <JMojica@schools.nyc.gov>, "Farina Carmen" <cgfarina@schools.nyc.gov>, <FPerkin@schools.nyc.gov>

Ms. Lydia Howrilka12-23 Main Street

Anytown, NY 12345 

Ms. Arisleyda UreñaAdministrative Services123 Kafka StreetBrooklyn, NY 11201 February 13, 2014

Dear Ms. Ureña:

I hope you are well.   Congratulations on your new position! As you were aware, on June 17, 2013, Mr. Viñales issued me a letter from Cristina Jimenez stating that I had been reassigned from my position as a teacher at ALT.  I spent the final eight school days of the academic year sitting in a reassignment center located at 1 Fordham Plaza.  Neither you, any staff member from ALT's CFN, nor any lawyer from DOE Legal told me why I was reassigned.  I did not speak with an investigator upon arrival or during my stay there. 

On July 15, 2013, I was discontinued from probationary service. Prior to this discontinuance, I had received a job offer from a secondary (6-12) school outside of District 9 in early July 2013.  The new principal's CFN HR Manager was unable to attach me to the job and informed me that I had been "red flagged" in the system.  I went to the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) on July 25th and spoke to Henry Gomez as a walk-in when Mr. Gomez was doing intake.  I wanted to know whether I was under investigation.  Mr. Gomez was very professional and looked up the case to see which OSI Investigator was handling my case.  He then informed me that OSI had no information as to what's going on with my case because it had been downgraded to a local School-Based Investigation.  

I understand that on November 1st, 2013 you resigned from your position as principal of the Academy for Language and Technology and that you are now working in “Administrative

Services.”  How does that impact my case?  Is it still open?  Were my "charges" found to be substantiated or not? As the I.A. Principal of ALT, did Mr. Viñales “take over” my investigation from you or was the investigation concluded prior to November 1st?

On November 8th, Katherine Rodi sent me an email explaining to me that my termination from the DOE will "trigger" a review if I have a "valid job offer." A copy of Ms. Rodi's email is below (rest of letter continues beneath the second dashed line).----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: KRodi@schools.nyc.govTo: lydia.howrilka@live.com; rhearn@doi.nyc.gov; rcondon@nycsci.orgCC: koppell@council.nyc.gov; jlappin@council.nyc.gov;ESchlenoff@schools.nyc.gov; pkoo@council.nyc.gov; kkoslowitz@council.nyc.gov;ecrowley@council.nyc.gov; joddo@council.nyc.gov; vignizio@council.nyc.gov;sgonzalez@council.nyc.gov; avann@council.nyc.gov;OPIProblemCode@schools.nyc.gov; OPIReassignedStaff@schools.nyc.gov;FPerkin@schools.nyc.gov; lander@council.nyc.gov; blander@council.nyc.govSubject: Re: Open School-Based InvestigationDate: Fri, 8 Nov 2013 15:03:45 +0000

Ms. Howrilka,

Mr. Hearn and Mr. Condon are not involved with the clearance process within the DOE.

As I have told you and your representatives before, your termination from the DOE will trigger a review if you have a valid job offer. Until you have a valid job offer, your file will not be reviewed. There is no "flag" on your record beyond your termination.

Sincerely,Katherine RodiDirector of Employee Relations

NYCDOE----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Katherine Rodi, Lawrence Becker, and the Office of Personnel Investigation (OPI) are unwilling to respond to my questions regarding my School-Based Investigation.  However, during an interview with OPI Investigator Laurie Vazquez, she informed me that the reason why I had been unable to accept a job with another DOE school in early July was because of the OSI/School-Based Investigation which had placed a "block" on my record and prevented the second principal from hiring me. This “block” made it impossible for the principal to enter my credentials through Galaxy and trigger OPI to re-open and reevaluate my case. It has been over seven months since an investigation was first opened on me.  I have not received any charges nor have I spoken to you, Mr. Viñales, any DOE lawyer regarding my case, or one of the investigators from OSI.  I understand that in a school-based investigation, OSI no longer has jurisdiction over how the case proceeds. I am requesting a meeting with you, Ms. Brennan (the then-Chapter leader while I taught at ALT), Mr. Viñales, Ms. Watts, and Carol Harrison regarding my OSI and School-Based Investigations.  Or, if you prefer, you and I could meet with our respected legal representatives. Since I have neither met with an investigator, an administrator, or another DOE official regarding my charges this is a gross violation of my constitutional right of due process. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I can be reached at 123-456-7890

I look forward to hearing from you shortly. Sincerely, 

Lydia Howrilka

 Copied:Claire Brennan, Lead Teacher and UFT Chapter Leader of ALT (2011-2013)Carmen Fariña, Chancellor of NYCDOEMaria Cristina Jimenez, Children First Network Leader #402Carol Harrison, Bronx UFT District 9 RepresentativeGillian Kost, Senior Field CounselCandace McLaren, Director of the Office of Special InvestigationCarron Staple, Bronx HS Superintendent (Districts 8, 9, and 11)Jose Viñales, I.A. Principal, ALTStephanie Watts, UFT Chapter Leader of ALT (2013-present)