Monday, June 30, 2008

NEA Convention...


Yesterday concluded the summer conference of the National Council for Urban Education Associations. DCTA Treasurer, Lawrence Garcia and I spent time discussing many urban issues with our colleagues from across the country. "Team NEA" is 100% behind DCTA in its quest for a fair and equitable contract that attracts and retains teachers in Denver. Thanks to NEA President Reg Weaver, and Bill Raabe from NEA Collective Bargaining for their support and assistance!

Today, Mark Chavez (Boulder Valley EA) and I are representing CO on the NEA Resolutions Committee. So far, we have discussed many issues including drop out prevention, salaries and compensation, quality teachers,and undocumented children, to name a few...

We're still waiting to hear if Barack Obama will be coming to speak to us later this week...

Thursday, June 19, 2008

So how is DCTA’s proposal better?

There are three main reasons:
• There is a larger increase for all teachers, traditional and ProComp.
• The existing bonuses in ProComp are larger but not so large that they require disrupting salary building.
• These existing bonuses would be available to teachers on the traditional salary schedule through a limited opt in basis.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

What does DCTA’s offer do for me as a new teacher?

What does DCTA’s offer do for me as a new teacher?
I am a new teacher and a person who does not intend to spend a career in teaching.
DCTA’s proposal would increase the ProComp index which would increase the amount of all of the ProComp elements. Our offer would begin to close the compensation gap between DPS and the surrounding Metro districts in a meaningful way for ALL new teachers regardless of their assignment. Check out the www.denverclassroom.org for more data.

Additionally, DCTA has proposed a meaningful and comprehensive induction and mentoring program that would provide support new and veteran teachers. To date, the district has not responded to this proposal.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

$160,000! Do veteran teachers really make 3 ½ times that of beginning teachers?

No! Currently new teachers earn $35,568 and a teacher at the end of their career has the potential to earn $50,000 - $80,000, depending on education and completing salary building elements of ProComp.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Why should we keep the ProComp structure intact?

Through ProComp we broke the “glass ceiling” on teachers’ salaries. ProComp allows Denver teachers the potential of a salary increase every year until retirement. That means a starting teacher would have the ability to earn salary building increments every year for as long as they continue teaching in DPS.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Would I get a $9000 bonus??



Only a few of you would.
If you teach in a Hard to Staff position, AND
If your school was designated as Hard to Serve (though we are unsure what criteria the district is planning on using this fall), AND
If your school is a Distinguished School,(though we are unsure what criteria the district is planning on using in the future)
then you may be eligible for three bonuses, but will sacrifice some increments that are salary building elements to get these annual bonuses.

DCTA's proposal follows clear criteria that are jointly agreed upon, and does not replace salary building elements with annual bonuses. Check it out here.

Monday, June 9, 2008

A+ Denver Presentation

Last Thursday, DCTA Leaders presented to the Finance and Facilities Sub-Committee of A+ Denver. Check out the presentation created by Henry Roman, Margaret Bobb, and Lawrence Garcia

http://www.denverclassroom.org/Bargaining_2008/Presentation_Aplus_Denver.html

More "FAQ's" coming tomorrow...

Friday, June 6, 2008

Not yet.

Everywhere I go, I get the same question: "Did you settle yet?" Which gets the same answer~ "No, not yet; we're trying to get a mediator scheduled." Fortunately, we are just waiting confirmation of dates. We're pleased with the mediator that was selected, and look forward to getting a good settlement for our members.

Let me give you some more Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Will the starting salary for new teachers really be $44,000 a year?
A: Not really. Teachers, under the district's proposal would start at around $37,000. IF they qualified for a hard to serve, hard to staff, or distinguished schools bonus, they would receive the annual bonus at the beginning of their second year of teaching. They could also "lose" this bonus in future years if they no longer qualify for one of these categories. The district isn't clear about what criteria will be used to qualify as a distinguished school.

Q: Who will get the "Master Teacher" bonus that the district is offering?
A: The district says that the principal will pick a teacher!

Q: What is DCTA offering?
A: DCTA has made a competitve offer that will attract and retain teachers in Denver. Check out our proposals on the DCTA Website! http://www.denverclassroom.org/Bargaining_2008/LongVersion_DCTA_DPS_Bargaining_Proposals.pdf

All is well!


My brother was sent "up North" somewhere in Iraq for a few days. He had emailed me saying that he would try to be safe- something he has never said before. Last night, he emailed saying "all is fine" and sent this picture.
Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Congrats, Christina!


One of my students from 2nd and 3rd grade (1997-1999), invited me to her graduation party last weekend. As an elementary teacher, it's so nice to be remembered after so many years! What a touching and humbling surprise for a student to recognize the influence of a teacher in their lives-especially so many years later. Congrats, Christina on your graduation from West HS, and good luck in school next year. You make me proud!


When/ how should ProComp be changed?

Just to set the record straight-

Here's the language from the ProComp Agreement that talks about when ProComp should be changed, and that it shall be based on data. The complete ProComp Agreement is on the website at:
https://webmail.coloradoea.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.dpsk12.org/manila/programs/denverprocomp/ProCompAgreementrev12008.pdf

4.3 The District and Association Shall Jointly Commission Both an Annual Internal Evaluation and an Evaluation by an Independent, Third Party Evaluator of the Professional Compensation System for Teachers. In addition to the items specified below, both internal and external evaluations shall examine the effectiveness and appropriateness of all guidelines, rules, policies and procedures specified by this agreement or otherwise created for the implementation and administration of ProComp.

4.3.1 Internal Evaluation. The Department of Human Resources shall develop or commission the development of measures of performance of the elements of the Professional Compensation System for Teachers to be used in the annual evaluation and recommend them to the District, the Association and the Trust Board. This evaluation shall include analysis of the implementation of the system and its effectiveness at achieving District and Association mission and goals and in keeping with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the ballot language approved by the voters in the mill levy override election, and the goals and elements of the Professional Compensation System for Teachers. Based on this annual evaluation, the Transition Team shall review and approve findings and recommendations for improvement to the Board of Education, the DCTA Board of Directors and the Trust Board. The evaluation shall be completed annually no later than November of each school year.

4.3.2 Third Party Evaluation. According to District procurement procedures, the District and Association shall jointly charge an independent, third party evaluation of the Professional Compensation System for Teachers. This evaluation shall examine the implementation of the system and its effectiveness at achieving District and Association mission and goals and in keeping with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the ballot language approved by the voters in the mill levy override election, and the goals and elements of the Professional Compensation System for Teachers. This evaluation shall offer findings and recommendations for improvement of the system. This evaluation shall be presented to the Board of Education, the DCTA Board of Directors and the Trust Board in November 2009, prior to when the District and Association commence negotiations on the Professional Compensation System for Teachers, thus ensuring that those negotiations shall be supported by data.

4.3.2.1 The Transition Team of the Professional Compensation System for Teachers shall recommend the evaluator to the District and Association no later than April of 2008.
4.3.2.2 The Department of Human Resources shall develop measures of performance of the elements of the Professional Compensation System for Teachers to be used in their evaluation. The Transition Team will review these measures and, once approved, recommend them to the evaluator.