Friday, 16 September 2011
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Tricky Issue(s)?
I really like information.
I just read the most recent proposal from the Tacoma Education Association (dated 9/15/11) to the Tacoma School District. It was provided by the Tacoma School District.
One of the biggest hints that I might be getting "PR"'d or "spun" is when I'm not allowed to compare apples to apples. So, here I have the TEA's apple provided by the Tacoma School District. What do I compare it to? The District hasn't offered to share their proposals.
It seems there are 3 major issues: Class size, pay and the evaluation plan. I was told by the TEA that the school district will not bargain the first two until the TEA accepts the evaluation plan (without any changes).
This made me wonder. When asked, "What are the issues?" Someone could honestly say, "Pay, class size and evaluations." The first two are a lot easier to understand and wrap up in a sound-bite.
I was told by a negotiator that the Union has offered compromises, including creating committees to create rubrics for the subjective points, therefore making them objective and acceptable. It was denied.
If you have more information to offer me, please contact me. I'll pass on more information as I get it!
Update on the pay section:
My friend Erin Sand explains it like this:
Our current contract has a 1% increase built in each year. The proposal asks for .5% next year, not 1.5%, which makes it a decrease. The district is cutting 1.34% due to state budget cuts, so the proposal will, in effect, decrease our salaries by only .34% instead of 1.34%. Next year it would be a .84% decrease. No raise.
But wait! There's more! (Updated 9:14pm)
Below is the most recent Union proposal for dealing with teacher transfers.
MOU For Displacement Study
During the 2011-2012 school year a joint committee of administration (three members), TEA (3 members + 1 UniServ Director) and two outside experts (one chosen by each party) will undertake a thorough study of an alternative process for displacement. The committee will meet at least 6 times during the 2011-2012 school year. At the end of the 2011-12 study the committee will provide a report to be distributed to the Association membership for ratification of any further action regarding displacement.
The committee’s charges will include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Research best practices around displacement using data including data from districts around the nation.
2. Develop a draft displacement criterion program including (process and tool(s)) based upon above research.
3. Create a job description, training materials, and training timeline for the development of a displacement review committee. It is important that the review committee not be peers so that certificated employees may speak to their appeal.
4. Recommend training of principals to provide the following outcomes:
a) an increased understanding of the contractual issues related to this section
b) an opportunity to test with hypothetic teacher data to prove all principals can rank the same using the same data.
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