Countdown, Day 9: Teachers' union prepared to negotiate through the weekend
by Paul Socolar on Aug 31 2013 Posted in Countdown to calamity?
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the School District's bargaining team returned to the negotiating table on Saturday, the day the union's contract is set to expire.
Neither side has reported progress. Union spokesperson George Jackson said the PFT "plans to continue negotiating through the weekend," but also said the District has not offered any kind of contract extension.
District spokesperson Fernando Gallard said the District will continue negotiating up to Saturday night's deadline. A statement from the District is expected Saturday night at the expiration of the contract.
The union has a membership meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, and teachers are scheduled to be back at school on Tuesday, with classes starting Sept. 9. Union president Jerry Jordan said this week he does not plan to call a strike vote at Monday's meeting.
He may not have a draft agreement for members to vote on either. An Inquirer report on Saturday quotes a union lawyer saying the two sides are "very far apart."
The District is asking the PFT for sweeping changes in work rules and the compensation system as well as $103 million in salary and health care concessions as part of its effort to cut its overall payroll and benefits costs by $133 million, or 10 percent. Three smaller unions have also been asked for concessions.
The union is currently working under a one-year extension of a three-year contract with the District that originally expired in August 2012.
Countdown, Day 10: Citywide, number of school secretaries is down by 30%
As the School District secured the first installments of desperatedly needed new revenue this summer, one of the first steps taken was to rehire one secretary for each of the 213 schools -- a recognition of the vital role they play in school operations. The cost was $17.6 million. As schools prepare to open for staff members on Tuesday and for students on Sept. 9, those secretaries are back on the
Cash-strapped School District considers selling prized art collection
by Holly Otterbein for NewsWorks Before Marilyn Krupnick was a science teacher at Northeast Philadelphia's Wilson Middle School, she was a student there. When she stepped through the building's doors for the first time in 1956 with her mother, she was shocked by what she saw. "I said, 'Mom, this school is an art museum.'" About 70 pieces of art lined the walls, including works by painter Henry Os
Notes from the news, Aug. 30
Countdown, Day 11: What is the story with counselors? Notebook C'mon teachers. There's some room to give. Daily News Cash-strapped Philly school district considers selling prized art collection. NewsWorks Nutter administration announces reuse plan for closed schools. PlanPhilly See also: Trying to flip shuttered schools quickly. NewsWorks Nutter's plan for shuttered schools rubs Council the wro
AUG 29
Countdown, Day 11: What is the story with counselors?
The District has said that, so far, it has recalled 126 of the 270 counselors that it had laid off, all but 10 of them by using some of the $50 million in additional funds that the city has promised to deliver as a contribution to helping close the District's budget gap. Although officials have not confirmed this, it appears that schools with fewer than 600 students were not allotted a full-time
Trying to flip shuttered schools quickly
by Elizabeth Fiedler for NewsWorks The city of Philadelphia and its cash-strapped School District are joining forces to sell some shuttered school buildings. The new partnership is moving forward now that the School Reform Commission has approved a policy to repurpose some of the city's defunct schools. Under the new policy, the most marketable properties will be identified and fast-tracked for sa
Safety first? District's plans for getting students safely to school are lacking
by Maurice Jones One of the initial statements parents make to their children when teaching them how to ride a bike is safety first. We all know, or have some idea about, the data on brain injury for children who get into an accident and do not protect their heads when riding a bike. There is a reason for this concern, considering that the brain is at the core of all our functions as human beings.
Notes from the news, Aug. 29
Mayor, school district say union call to forgo raises falls short. Inquirer Nutter offers 'streamlined' plan to sell 31 school buildings. Inquirer In Philly schools, can sports and arts be saved as an afterschool refuge? NewsWorks Jordan offers one-year pay freeze, benefit changes. Notebook See also: Philly school district says teachers' union giveback offer not enough. NewsWorks PFT recommends wa
In Philly schools, can sports and arts be saved as an afterschool refuge?
by Kevin McCorry for NewsWorks Under a bright-blue North Philadelphia sky, Coach John Sullivan runs around a grassy field in gym shorts and a T-shirt, teaching the Dobbins High School football team lessons in follow-through. Two players shuffle side-to-side separated by a line of small orange cones. Dobbins' imposing facade towers high above them. In the far distance, beyond a maze of train tracks
We moved!
Yesterday morning, the Notebook staff, with the help of professional movers, took all of our earthly belongings from our old offices in East Falls and moved to our new home in Center City. For its entire 19-year history, the Notebook has been housed at a location operated by Resources for Human Development. We have many fond memories of our years in the East Falls office, but we outgrew the space
AUG 28
MLK High sends alerts after maintenance worker contracts Legionnaires' disease
by Aaron Moselle for NewsWorks A maintenance worker who performed duties at Martin Luther King High School is recovering from a case of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. The employee, whose identity is being withheld, worked on heating and air conditioning units at the West Oak Lane school and McKinley Elementary School in North Philadelphia, according to a statement re
Countdown, Day 12: Jordan offers one-year pay freeze, benefit changes
[Updated, 3:30 p.m. with additional quotes from Charles Zogby] Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan held a press conference Wednesday morning to announce that the union is willing to forgo a salary increase -- at least for one year -- and "make changes to our health care and benefits" in order to find savings that will allow positions to be restored to the schools. "We know t
Not the same public schools I went to
by Kia Hinton I live in the same house in Southwest Philadelphia that I grew up in. My kids go to the same public schools I did. But even though the buildings are unchanged and some of the teachers I had are still around, going to public school in Philadelphia is just not the same as it was when I was a kid. It’s never been as bad as it is now. Four thousand teachers and school support staff were
Philly schools chief again appeals to teachers for salary, benefits concessions
by Kevin McCorry for NewsWorks Staff shortages. Classrooms packed to the brink. Scarce money for basic school supplies. This is the current reality for the Philadelphia School District. As of Tuesday, District officials said they can count on only $83 million of the $304 million they said they needed in the spring: Image: Image Caption: William Hite, Philadelphia school superintendent,
Notes from the news, Aug. 28
Philly school union head recommends forgoing raise. Inquirer See also: Teachers’ Union willing to accept pay freeze, pay into health care. CBS Philly Schools set to open with no end in sight to crisis. Inquirer Who is the mother in the anti-Nutter PFT ads? Daily News Phila. School District, teachers union still at odds. Inquirer Penn Alexander wait list abolished; parents asked to contact school.
AUG 27
Federal indictment fuels concerns about Pa. cyber charters
This is a reprint of an article that originally appeared at Education Week. by Benjamin Herold for Education Week Federal investigators recently unveiled a grand jury indictment of Nicholas Trombetta, the founder and former CEO of Pennsylvania's largest cyber charter school, now alleged to have stolen nearly $1 million in public money and improperly diverted a total of $8 million to avoid federa
Countdown, Day 13: District redraws its school boundary map
In time for the new school year, the District has redrawn its school catchment areas that determine which schools students are eligible to attend. The new boundaries were needed after the closing of 24 schools this year, sending thousands of students to new neighborhood schools. The new catchment maps are viewable using the District's School Finder tool. According to a District spokesperson, the r
Nutter urges teachers and School District to focus on negotiations and kids
by Tom MacDonald for NewsWorks Mayor Nutter says an ad paid for by the teachers' union that contends that he's siding with Gov. Corbett in not funding the city's schools is distracting and wrong. "The fact of the matter is that there are desperately needed reforms and changes that need to be made. Many are economic and will help us save money," he said Monday during a news conference. "Those savin
Notes from the news, Aug. 27
Most noontime aides rehired; asst. principals to be recalled soon. Notebook The Notebook is moving! Notebook Phila. schools have lots to do before class starts. Inquirer The pros and cons on school plans from Nutter, Council. Daily News Two school plans, two gambles. Daily News Nutter urges teachers, school district to focus on negotiations and kids. NewsWorks See also: Nutter bristles at teacher
