The saga in Philadelphia continues. A few weeks ago, NCTQ reported that
the School District of Philadelphia would be unable to open schools on time
unless they received additional funding. Conditions have improved
ever-so-slightly since then. Mayor Nutter has committed to provide $50 million
to the district, and the School Reform Commission has suspended portions of the
school code to allow the district to call teachers back out of seniority order
and de-link pay and years of seniority. A total of 907
school staff members will be called back this week,
including 116 counselors, 45 assistant principals, and 50 teachers, and
Superintendent Hite has said he will be able to open schools safely.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia teachers’ contract expires on Saturday,
and there is no indication that the parties are near an agreement. The district
is seeking somewhere over $120 million in concessions in addition to changes in
contract language including the following:
·
Pay cuts
that range from 5 to 13 percent depending on teacher salary
·
Elimination
of pay raises based on degree and years of experience
·
Contributions
to healthcare benefits
·
Elimination
of seniority in teacher assignments
·
Increase the school day to 8 hours
The contract’s expiration date is an important milestone, but like their peers in many
other districts, Philly teachers are likely to work even
without a new agreement. In any case, since Philadelphia is a “distressed
school district of the first class” under state code, a teachers’ strike is illegal
in the City of Brotherly Love.
September 9th will
mark the beginning of the school year but there is no end in sight to the turmoil facing
teachers and students.
