With negotiations ongoing, Hite adds factors for teacher recall and assignment
by Dale Mezzacappa on Oct 16 2013 Posted in Latest news
Among the items that Superintendent William Hite included in this week's "status report" to state officials that preceded the release of a $45 million state grant was an explanation of how seniority is no longer the sole factor in determining where teachers are assigned.
"For the 2013-14 school year, the primary factor in making assignment and transfer decisions -- including decisions about recall from lay-off -- has been and will be the best interests of the students and the school's educational program," the superintendent's letter to acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq said. "Seniority will be among the relevant factors considered, but not the sole factor. For example, when restoring teacher, counselor, and secretarial positions in preparation for school opening this fall, decisions were driven by the best interests of school communities, including the need to have staff who are invested in the schools in which they were working."
Both Hite and state officials said this was only one of many factors that led to Gov. Corbett's decision to release $45 million in state funds Wednesday. But this hot-button issue, as well as others involving longstanding rules and working conditions, is a major point of contention in the ongoing negotiations between the District and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The District has long sought to mute the impact of seniority, which gives teachers the right to choose their job at the expense, many say, of allowing a school's leadership to build its own team.
What is happening now is that the District is, in effect, dictating terms on the teachers while at the same time negotiating with the union for a new agreement.
Hite said at a press conference that when the District moves teachers around -- after layoffs or as part of the so-called "leveling" process now underway -- the
One family's continuing search for adequate special education services
Follow #phillyeducation on Twitter from 6:30 to 7:30 tonight to discuss special education with McCorry and Sonia Kerr of the Education Law Center by Kevin McCorry for NewsWorks The Philadelphia School District has at least 20,000 evaluated special-needs students. Each year, the district pays millions in legal fees and lawsuit settlements based on its failure, both proven and alleged, to meet their
Film and photo exhibition about school closings debuts at Scribe Center
by Naveed Ahsan Videographer Amy Yeboah premiered her films Goodbye to City Schools and (Re) Inscribing Meaning Wednesday night at the Scribe Video Center. The screenings followed the opening of an exhibit of photos by Philadelphia School Closings Photo Collective, a project curated by photographer Katrina Ohstrom, which showcases images taken in the spring 2013 by 10 photographers, including Note
Watch: SRC to vote on two charter non-renewals
The School Reform Commission is scheduled to vote on the charter non-renewals for Community Academy of Philadelphia Charter School and Truebright Science Academy Charter School. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. read more
Program targeting African American boys launches an e-mentoring guide
by Naveed Ashan Urban Youth, a science and technology-based program that targets urban students by providing educational and mentoring opportunities, will release the What It Takes Lessons Learned E-Mentoring Guide at a panel discussion at High School of the Future today from 4 to 5 p.m. National commentator and former CNN news anchor Soledad O’Brien will moderate the discussion about e-mentorin
In the suburbs, conflicting emotions over new school mandates
by Sara Neufeld, The Hechinger Report Upper Dublin High School had the 10th highest SAT scores of any public school in Pennsylvania last year. It occupies a gleaming, just-completed $119 million building where a sushi chef supplements the cafeteria offerings on Wednesdays. Its graduation rate exceeds 99 percent, and more than 95 percent of graduates go on to two- and four-year colleges. Yet even h
Notes from the news, Oct. 17
With negotiations ongoing, Hite adds factors for teacher recall and assignment. Notebook Corbett to release $45 million that Pa. has been withholding; 400 jobs to be restored. Notebook Corbett releases funds to Philly schools, Nutter says not enough. NewsWorks Gov. Corbett releases funding for city schools. Inquirer State grant will bring back 400 school employees. Daily News Hite imposes work rul
