COMPENSATION-SUMMER . If you are teaching summer school, working in security, or performing any other paid duties this summer, be sure to examine your pay stubs. There should be no deductions for insurance benefits, union dues, and tax-sheltered annuities (or the credit union unless you have made specific arrangements). We ran into this problem in the past where these deductions occurred and had to be reimbursed, which created upset and some confusion among our affected members.
THE CLEVELANDSCHOOL TRANSFORMATION PLAN. HB 225, the plan to transform Cleveland schools, has passed in both houses of the Ohio General Assembly. While the plan only applies to Cleveland, it has been touted by the governor as a model for urban districts throughout the state. This is an expansive reform plan that greatly impacts teacher contracts, evaluations, salaries, and layoff procedures. Here are some of the key provisions that we thought you should see:
· A review of a teacher's work samples must be part of teacher evaluations mandated by current law and specifies that (1) the required observations may be announced or unannounced and (2) "multiple measures" must be used in determining student academic growth.
· Requires only one annual evaluation (instead of two, as in current law) for a teacher whom the district is considering not reemploying.
· Requires evaluations to be used in decisions about compensation and layoffs.
· Requires a performance-based salary schedule for teachers.
· Requires the initial placement of veteran teachers on the salary schedule so that their salary is comparable to their pay under the previous salary schedule.
· Allows the district to decrease a teacher's salary during the term of the employment contract if the teacher will perform fewer or different duties.
· Specifies that the decision of the district to not renew a teacher's contract is not subject to appeal.
· Allows the district to terminate a teacher's contract for receiving an evaluation rating of "ineffective" for two consecutive years.
· Allows the district to unilaterally adjust the length of the school year or school day.
Obviously, these are provisions that would be unacceptable to us if they were to arise in contract negotiations. However, the state has mandated these changes. Our colleagues in Cleveland have struggled valiantly to protect their rights against a coalition comprised of business interests, foundations, charter school proponents, and politicians. We have nothing but the greatest respect for the leadership of the Cleveland Teachers Union as they weather this storm of adversity.
In Union,
Tom Schmida, President