Hite: need a more modern, professional teachers' contract
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
Hite: need a more modern, professional teachers' contract
Kristen Graham
A great deal has been said about the Philadelphia School District's initial contract proposal to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. So far, little of that has been said by district officials, who have declined to go into specifics.
On Thursday afternoon, I sat down with Superintendent William R. Hite Jr., who very much wants the public to know that he's first and foremost an educator, that he values teachers, and that he does not want to drive anyone out of the district.
“We believe teachers are professionals, just like architects, lawyers, doctors,” Hite said. “We want a contract that reflects that. I truly believe that in order for teachers to be effective, there needs to be some flexibility and we need to treat them as professionals.”
Hite said he wants to clarify some misconceptions about what's out there about the proposal, which The Inquirer obtained and detailed this week. The contract of 10,000 teachers and 5,000 secretaries, nurses, counselors and other support staff expires in August.
That proposal calls for a 13 percent pay cut for those making over $55,000 and an end to seniority-based positions and to a guaranteed adequate supply of textbooks, among other provisions.
It infuriated teachers and PFT leaders, who said it seemed the district was attempting to penalize and drive out veteran educators. Many said they felt disrespected.
But Hite said that was the opposite of the district’s intention.
“We have a great deal of respect for what teachers do each and every day; we think that teachers are key to our strategy of improving educational outcomes for all of our students,” he said.
The superintendent said he would not neogtiate in public and declined to go into details on the financial terms of the proposal, beyond emphasizing the district’s dire fiscal situation, its projected $1 billion deficit over five years, etc.
"We're really trying to save this district," he said.
The proposal asks for salary reductions and benefits givebacks of 13 percent for those making $55,000 and above, but also increases teachers’ workdays, to eight hours. (They currently work a seven hour, four minute day.)
That’s just a recognition of what most teachers are already doing, Hite said.
“Many of our teachers work beyond eight hours — they work on weekends, they work nights, and they work on holidays. We value that. This is not a longer school day — this is more time to plan and collaborate,” he said.
Now, Hite said, for teachers to advance, they must move out of the classroom; the superintendent wants the new contract to help them progress in their careers while remaining in the classroom. “Distinguished” teachers should be paid accordingly, their classrooms used as models, and their experience used to help new and struggling teachers.
“We want more support for teachers,” Hite said.
As for provisions that call for an end to mandated water fountains, private rooms for nurses and counselors, and an adequate textbook supply, the superintendent was clear: “there is a difference in eliminating a provision and eliminating the thing that is being provided.”
Translation: the superintendent does not want to take away teachers' water fountains or desks or counselors' and nurses' right to private rooms to see their students.
When he was a teacher, his contract didn’t call for Hite to have chalk and a chalkboard, he said. But he had them; his district still had a responsibility to provide them, even though they weren’t spelled out.
“Many of those things are listed in our contract,” he said, pointing to a bound copy he keeps in his desk. “In terms of a professional contract, they have no business being there. Those are kind of ridiculous. In order for us to provide a high quality education, naturally we have to provide those things.”
What he wants, Hite said, is a “more modern document that speaks to the type of things that we think are really important, like growth and evaluation and development and teachers being part of the conversation.”
Flexibility is also key, he said.
Remove a class size maximum, a current proposal, helps with things like concurrent high school and college courses and “blended learning” opportunities — with a cap of 33 students, if 10 students at five district high schools wanted to take an Advanced Placement class, that would be difficult to achieve.
More in tomorrow's Inquirer...
How about you swap things and give me a 13% raise and call me a laborer. Hite's comments make as much sense. Hite is lying to us all.— fubar-philly
November 4, 2014— Cuddles- Is Hite going to take a 13% cut in pay and a 13% cut in benefits? Otherwise his words are pure BS!!— Pete H
- He just forgot to mention that he is basing his theory on Major League. Give 'em the heater, jobu!— AreaMan
- This is why he was the wrong man for the job. This is why we need an elected school board like every other district in the country. Those water fountains and textbooks are mandated because, historically, the district hasn't provided them unless forced. He doesn't know anything about Philadelphia and he doesn't know anything about teaching. Name a school in Philly where chalk (whiteboard markers) are provided. You don't even provide copy paper.— juliec224
- What a load of garbage. If anyone had any hope that this guy would do the right thing by teachers and students, you can forget it.
We honor teachers, we want them to be treated as professionals...? By making them bus monitors? By not guaranteeing them a desk? He knows that if it is not spelled out in the contract, then the SD will not do it. If you are going to take responsibility for it, then why not keep it in the contract? Simple--so when you don't, you won't have a grievance filed against you. So you can do whatever you want.
— pachysandra - Also, what he said about lifting class size caps is a lie. If there are special circumstances or a class is going to be co-taught, there are ALREADY allowances in the contract. There is a list of acceptable reasons to go over 33 students, one of them is: "A larger class size is necessary and desirable for specialized, assembly or forum type classes (e.g. library, music) or experimental instruction." Same goes for teaching outside of certifications. You are already allowed to teach out of your certification if you and your principal agree-- Hite wants to make it so they can force you to do so.— juliec224
- Is it me or does this guy Hite look like Ru Paul.— MWW-54
- Who called for this interview?
Ms. Graham or Mr. Hite?
See a need for a little spin Mr. Hite?— Cuddles - Don't think for a minute that this is Hite's handiwork. The SRC, Vallas, Ackerman, Knudsen, Nutter and Corbett have been concocting this mix for 10 years now. Hite's just the fresh face henchman to dish it up. He knew exactly what he was getting into when they signed him and he's getting well paid to speak out of both sides of his mouth (a prerequisite). Eli Broad will guarantee Hite plenty of more urban districts where the expertise he gets these next months will be of great profit to all of them. And all these players will be long gone before Philadelphia parents even know what hit(e) them!— hmmm
- hmmm--
Nailed it.
Let's have interviews with all of the SRC members--the ones who are voting on this. Make them explain their reasons for closing schools and backing this steaming mess of a contract. It is so easy for them to sit there and watch people speak (won't say listen) and not have to explain themselves.
How about this--each one of the SRC members writes an op-ed giving their reasons for closing schools and endorsing a contract which takes away all employees' protections. Let's hear why they do not believe a teacher should be allowed to protect him/herself from physical attack.
Do they have the courage to come before the public and defend their positions?— brinsley 
Comment removed.- @gemini48 hit the nail on the head. hite was brought here as a rubber stamp to do what ackerman inevitably began to rebel against. i.e. pass out psd contracts to vendors and promote political connected favored charters like they were chiclets to nutter's, rendell's, evans and other philly pols buddies. the nutter admin has been handing out no-bid contracts like john street never could. this city(be it it's underfunding pension plans to prop up developers to build stadiums with taxpayer $$$ to land grabs going on in regentrified areas ...etc.)has been for sale since the rendell admin.— ihatenewyorkers
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.
