No seniority? No water fountains? More on the contract
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
No seniority? No water fountains? More on the contract
Kristen Graham
I’ve read the Philadelphia School District’s full list of demands from teachers, and it’s a doozy. (That’s on top of details reported last night and in this morning’s Inquirer.)
Some bullet points:
First, the financials - as already reported, pay cuts 13 percent for those who make $55,000 and above, with lesser cuts for those who earn less. (Employees who make under $25,000 would take a 5 percent cut.)
But there would also be benefit givebacks. Teachers and other Philadelphia Federation of Teachers members who are paid over $55k would have to pay 13 percent toward their benefits, and so on - same percentages as the pay cut.
Employees whose spouses or domestic partners are eligible for health coverage through their employer but take district insurance instead would pay a $70 surcharge. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Health and Welfare Fund, which has long administered benefits, would cease to exist; the district would administer benefits.
There would be no more sabbaticals for teachers who’ve worked 20 years. Termination pay for employees who leave or retire would be reduced to $160 per day, as opposed to the current daily rate teachers are paid.
There would be no more “steps” - graduated salary levels within categories of employees. There would be no more elevated pay categories for teachers with master’s degrees, master’s plus 30 credits, doctorates, and “senior career teachers” - those at the highest pay scale.
There would be no more bonuses for those achieving prestigious National Board Certification. There would be no more extra pay for teachers who miss prep periods to perform other work as directed by their administrators.
Layoffs and recalls would be subject to the superintendent’s discretion, and would only require seven days notice, much less than the current notification period.
On top of the longer work day (eight hours for teachers as opposed to the current seven hours, four minutes), teachers would also have to lead professional development, attend meetings, perform bus, yard and lunch duty and be available for parent meetings outside work hours with no extra pay. That’s a big change to the current contract language. Teachers wouldn’t be able to leave the building during the work day, either, without principal approval. Nurses who are called in early or tend to emergencies during their lunch periods wouldn’t be given comp time.
Seniority would be eliminated; all teacher vacancies would be filled by site selection, with the principal given final say in picking teachers. If there are vacancies on August 1, teachers could be transferred to fill them; the district would have discretion over this.
Schools with more than 1,000 students would no longer be required to have librarians or librarian assistants.
Schools would no longer be required to have counselors, and counselors’ caseloads would no longer be capped.
Teachers could be assigned to unlimited classes outside their subject area, and high school teachers could be assigned an extra class without pay. There would be no limit on amount of consecutive time taught in a school day.
There would be no limit on class size. (Current limits are 30 for the lower grades and 33 for the upper grades, large class sizes by anyone’s measure.)
There are some major work rule changes, too - the one that jumped out at me was teachers no longer being able to use reasonable force to defend themselves. The district would no longer be required to provide copy machines, or “a sufficient number of instructional materials and textbooks.”
The district would no longer have to provide a teachers’ lounge, water fountains, parking facilities, desks for teachers, a designated room for speech and language staff and psychologists or “accommodation rooms” for students with special needs. Counselors would no longer be guaranteed to have rooms with privacy and confidentiality, a telephone, a locked filing cabinet and a door.
The district retains the right to subcontract, outsource or assign PFT bargaining unit jobs. Does that mean outsourced teachers? Temp secretaries?
It’s quite a list. Of course, it’s the very first proposal, and the contract expires in August, so we’re in for months of talks. And there’s a question of whether the School Reform Commission has the power to impose terms on the PFT, and whether the PFT can strike, etc.
What do folks think? Please, keep it civil!
- It's difficult to believe you are hard working carla when you have time to comment yourself. That basis for an argument could go on and on infinitely. Your circular logic is sad and pathetic just like your boxed-in life probably is.
— person19107 - Lunch break? They only get a half an hour...are they allowed to spend it the way they want. Why don't you go back to work, Carla, or are you unemployed? — wilcowaits
- Well, when they eliminate lunch and prep time you may have a point.
Were they under the influence of an illegal substance when they came up with this? Teachers shouldn't have desks? They should bring in their own copiers? They don't deserve to have water? Does that mean the kids don't have water either?
Are parents OK with having their child in a class of 55?
And what does any of this have to do with budget constraints?— pachysandra - Maybe you should heed what the teacher is saying. Your tax dollars at work? — lalaw9833
- This is the problem when money that should be used for the children is being used to overpay administrators and to pay retirees pensions and healthcare. Too many people that no longer do any work in the classroom are the ones getting the money. Blame those that came before you.
— jp8899 - Blame no one... Identify and solve the problem. jp8899, what is your SOLUTION... Blame never stopped a leak... — Kate_the_Teacher
- You took the words right out of my mouth. Fortunately for me I just retired teaching 8th grade but I certainly feel your pain and stand with you. I invite every nay sayer to attempt to spend one hour in a middle grades classroom by themselves. Some wouldn't come out alive yet we have to take a pay and benefits cut and can no longer defend ourselves. Now we're really going to be punching bags! — bagelguy
- It seems from this language that the SPD is purposely trying to drive out the most experienced and capable (high-earning) teachers and paraprofessionals, before a new contract. Unfortunately that just means more or what is already happening -- new and inexperienced teachers and non-teaching staff in positions in schools where you would typically want the most experienced and capable staff. All to save $$. More short-sighted planning. When will the band-aid and ductape mentality ever stop? Afterall, Philly teachers and staff already make well below state average, and defiantly well below area school districts. Are they expecting decent results if they become bottom feeders?— heybiff
- No supplies, no water fountains, no counsellors, no textbooks or materials for students, no desks, no libraries, no prep time, no rewards for professionals who better themselves through education, etc.
Do they care about students at all?
Only a tea party whacko can like this proposal. When did Philly go from whacko left to whacko right?— carols - Better education through fiscal responsibility. — heybiff
- Like John Wayne use to do it?
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When the GI Bill financed the college education of hundreds of thousands of suburban men, the Middle Class and our American civilization grew with exponential speed.— Cuddles - Yep, it really seems that the district considers teachers to be their "greatest asset". What a joke.— mike c
- They are an asset. Now they are attempting to liquidate them. Duh. — heybiff
- They are an asset. Now they are attempting to liquidate them. Duh. — heybiff
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.
