Press release on filing for mediation with the EAW

 with of course no comment

WORCESTER – Friday, May 5, 2023 – Today, the Worcester School Committee filed a petition for the appointment of a mediator from the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations to assist in reaching a contract settlement with the Educational Association of Worcester (EAW), the union for teachers in the Worcester Public Schools (WPS). The current offer would provide an average salary increase of 18.3% for teachers.

The district’s latest offer, made on Tuesday, included significant wage increases and longevity benefits for teachers by offering an additional $40.5 million over four years. This will result in wage increases between 15% and 19.4% for all teachers, including additional compensation for educators with more than 10 years of experience; and a substantial increase in hourly pay for after-school and summer work, from $37 to $60 an hour.

The 15% across-the-board increases would take place over four years. There would be a 4% raise for year 1, 4% for year 2, 3% for year 3, and 4% for year 4.

EAW rejected the School Committee’s most recent teachers’ contract offer without a counterproposal. The EAW has also not moved forward with a contract agreement for paraeducators even though the major wage terms of that deal have been established since January.

For paraeducators, the district is proposing an entry-level (step 1) salary increase of up to $14,000 annually, one-time payments of up to $1,500 each for all paraeducators, an increase in hourly pay for summer work from $17.50 to $25 an hour, and newly created stipends for additional work during school hours.

“The Worcester School Committee has repeatedly proposed sizable wage increases for our dedicated teachers and continuously engages in good-faith bargaining,” said Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty. “We are requesting a state-appointed mediator so that our hard-working educators do not wait any longer for the fair and competitive compensation package they truly deserve.”

For a current educator at the top of the salary scale with a master’s degree who works 185 days a year:

Their salary will increase from $85,647 now to $99,232 over four years.

If they have an additional 30 college credits, their salary will increase from $89,276 to $103,436 over four years.

In addition, the district is proposing significant increases in longevity payments as outlined below:

• For teachers who have worked for WPS for 10 years, their longevity payment would increase from $1,144 now to $2,000.
• For 15 years, it would increase from $1,665 now to $2,500.
• For 20 years, it would increase from $2,185 now to $3,000.
• For 25 years, it would increase from $2,705 now to $4,000.
• For 30 years, it would increase from $3,225 now to $6,000.

Additional proposed increases and benefits include:

• An hourly wage increase for after-school and summer work from $37 per hour to $60 per hour for instructional work, and from $37 per hour to $40 per hour for non-instructional work, such as professional development training.
• Establishing new stipends for paraeducators for high-needs, specialized work during school hours.
• Increase stipend payments to compensate for elementary class sizes and educator mentorship.
• Increasing elementary teacher preparation periods from four to five per week.

The district has proposed that teachers work an extra two days per year outside the classroom for professional development. Currently, Worcester educators work 183 days per year while many nearby districts work between 184 and 186 days. The district also requested new employees, who are hired after the ratification of the contract, to contribute 1% of their earnings to the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund to address the City’s growing cost of supporting retiree health insurance; the proposal would not impact current union members.

The Worcester School Committee and WPS have conducted more than 20 bargaining sessions with EAW since January 2022.

To read this vacation week

 Here are some longer pieces to read as you have a chance this week:

• The L.A. Times on the school nutrition program: great internal look at what it means to feed 107 million meals a year while juggling multiple sets of regulations, supply shortages, and the palates of lots of different students.
  
  
• Rachel Cohen's deep dive for Vox on after school programs (and the lack thereof): 
  About 8 million kids are enrolled in after-school programs today, but that’s less than a quarter of

  total demand, according to the nonprofit Afterschool Alliance. Research it led in early 2020, just before the pandemic, found that nearly 25 million more children would be enrolled in an after-school program if one were available to them, up from 19 million in 2014.  

• This New York Times piece (oddly in the Opinion section) covering what it means to be a parent of a trans young person in a state which thinks such children shouldn't exist. The family spoken with is in Missouri; you might also read this piece speaking with parents in Florida.
  
  
• The first of what will be ten pieces for the next ten years of school finance from Jess Gartner and Jason Becker at Allovue, this one on teacher compensation. I wish I could make everyone involved in any aspect of negotiations, including public perception, read this one:
  

  Because teacher compensation makes up such a large percentage (over 60%) of district budgets overall, meaningful teacher compensation increases are nearly impossible strictly through reallocation of existing resources. Reallocating dollars from student transportation, nutrition, facilities, student support services (counselors, nurses, psychologists, etc), professional development, and technology cannot close the teacher wage gap. 

   

• And finally, if you're feeling worn out this February, read "You are not okay and tomorrow will come [and you should eat a banana]" from Emily Kingsley: 
  

  ...idiot or optimist, I still come home with hope each day. 

  It’s because of this one little word: and. 

  Everything is terrible and I can still change the clock battery.

  
  

But wait, there's more!

I feel as if I am back in the days when I started this blog, when there'd be the single article about the School Committee meeting, and anything else that happened, you didn't hear about. While admittedly both voting to move to fully in-house transportation and voting to start a national search for a new superintendent are news of the headline making sort, there are other things that happened at our meetings in the past two weeks. 

Here's a rundown on the highlights:

Over the past number of weeks, we've ratified contractual agreements with EAW units A&B (that's anyone classified as a teacher plus assistant principals and the like); drivers and monitors; custodians; computer technicians; 52 week administrative secretaries;  and educational secretaries. In every case, those contracts brought them at least up to date as of the close this past fiscal year OR brought them up through the end of this one (this last is the case with the teachers). As a result, the School Committee this past week voted an increase for the non-represented (non union) employees, which is everyone from administrators to crossing guards. 
I can't talk out of turn on the units that are outstanding save to say that negotiations are ongoing. 

We had an update on the dual language program at the August 26 meeting, which, among other things, noted that the state assessing our dual language learners only in English doesn't accurately assess their actual knowledge and skill in subject matters. We asked to be apprised of which districts are running dual language programs, so we might work with them on advocacy, though this obviously is larger than the dual language program.

While the report out on the August 18 Finance and Operations subcommittee meeting attracted attention largely due to the recommendation to move fully to in-house transportation, I don't want to overlook the closing of the fiscal year. Worcester had, remember, a $372M budget for FY21, after we cut $16M once we finally got a state budget. For municipal districts, anything that isn't spent--down literally to the penny--goes back to the municipality to be certified as free cash for the end of the year. That is a difficult and complex process. 
And how much did the Worcester Public Schools give back this year?

$3. 

Thus, if a dollar went to the Worcester Public Schools for education last year, that's what it was spent on. 

And so when folks ask "how can you have confidence in the projections for transportation?" the answer is this: when you have a finance office that has been doing this (and the associated budget transfers) and the back and forth with RTTT and grants that disappear during budget seasons and all the other swings that we've seen over the past more than a decade, and yet year after year, these are the results, you trust your people and their work.

At our August 26 meeting, on Mr. Monfredo's motions, we voted to send mandating vaccinations of our employees to executive sessions to take up as part of negotiations. I'd note that the EAW leadership has already been public on their agreement with this, so it's largely a matter of working out the how and when. There are negotiations going on now regarding bargaining around issues related to back to school. 

Several of us have received concerns about how lunch is being eaten in this return to school in the pandemic time, so I had filed an item at the August 26 meeting, urging outdoor as possible and creativity everywhere. While some schools are doing some very neat things, I've continued to get heightened concerns from families around what looks a lot like regular operations at some schools, however. 

I had also filed at the August 26 meeting a request for the list of outstanding contracts the superintendent has with employees; that is, the employees whose contracts are not collectively bargained but are directly with the superintendent. We have a number of them that are expired for a year or more. That report was due back at our meeting on September 2, but we did not receive it. 

At our August 26 meeting, Ms. Clancey filed an item regarding the concerns the neighborhood around Lincoln Street School has had with community homelessness impact on the school. We heard something of an update at the meeting of attendance at the community meeting regarding this, as well as work going forward. 

At our September 2 meeting, Ms. McCullough filed an item regarding parking for students at Doherty during construction, which there are a few things going on with.

Also at our September 2 meeting, the Committee on a 6-1 (Biancheria opposing) vote agreed to send a letter to our delegation requesting that the state Department of Public Health mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students as it is permissible, and, if that does not happen, request that the Legislature do so.

We also asked the administration to look into the recently released update that districts may provide remote education to students who are ill or quarantining due to COVID. We were told, however, that the Department recently said that they'd bar districts from using remote learning for snow days. 

Next meeting of the Committee is September 23 (moved from September 16, which is Yom Kippur). 

Worcester School Committee this week

A quick post as there are two posted Worcester School Committee meetings this week:

• There's a posted executive session for this evening in the Mayor's office to discuss collective bargaining for teachers. One assumes that this is to update the committee on the tentative agreement that was announced yesterday; the teachers vote on it on Thursday. It appears the outline is 7% over the next three years, plus 1% for last year, with the health insurance changes that other units cityside have taken.
• There's also a regular meeting of the school committee on Thursday night. The executive session is for teachers (possibly to ratify the contract, I'd assume), custodians, nurses, and computer techs, plus a grievance. They're honoring Dave Perda, who was recently appointed the superintendent of the Roman Catholic diocesan schools. They're hearing the reports from Governance and TLSS earlier this month.The first item looks like an effort towards a consent agenda, though that falls apart over the course of the rest of the agenda.There are a series of donations and prior year payments, including one "in the amount of $2,082.59 for the Secretary to the School Committee," and I don't know who that is (the School Committee has a secretary?!). Mr. Monfredo suggests updating the staff cell phone policy in light of changes in school safety procedure; he also wants the City Manager to discuss bus passes for students involved in activities with the WRTA. Mr. O'Connell is requesting energy audits for non-WPS-owned buildings (so...St. Casimir and the YMCA?), would like a list of Know Your School nights and site council meetings. Miss Biancheria is looking for another round of advertising, plus possibly lights at Belmont Street School (that's the one that has the pedestrian bridge). Miss McCullough is requesting consideration of the use of work at home during snow cancellations; you can read more about such efforts here.  

Oh, and about the July Worcester School Committee meeting

...The only agenda posted is one for executive session at 4:30 pm (for collective bargaining with the teachers).

Retroactive pay

O'Connell concerned that we voted retroactive pay "some months ago"
we voted December 19, for the record
Allen: recent round of conversation of negotiations were harmonious
EAW newsletter that went out yesterday indicated that retroactive pay would go out in March
increase in pay in checks that go out tomorrow
"We've met with the new city auditor recently to ask for a process to pay the retroactive"
"working cooperatively with City Hall...in the manner he is able to do it"
"To suggest anything else would be misleading to our teachers"
Boone: payroll doesn't begin and end with us
"it is our goal to do it as rapidly as possible"
Mayor: if I remember, this has to happen every contract
Allen: only thing outstanding is retroactive
O'Connell requesting that it be expedited further
Novick: motion to file which takes precedent
O'Connell asks for it on a roll call: motion to file passes 5-2

Contracts, contracts

With the EAW--the teachers!, with tradesmen, and with plumbers and steamfitters, plus our non-represented employees.
All through (and pass reconsideration) tonight.
I saw Jackie Reis taking notes, so I'll leave it to her to get the details out.

School Law 201

School Law 201: current issues

Still going...

The Chicago teachers' strike entered its sixth day today and now will go at least through Tuesday. Yesterday, the Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegations declined to vote to end the strike, wanting to give the teachers they represent sufficient time to read the proposed contract language. When this led Monday morning to aldermen zinging the teachers for not getting back to work, there were some pointed references to the Board of Aldermen not reading contract language themselves. Sunday night, Mayor Rahm Emanuel filed for an injunction ending the strike, on the grounds that the teachers were striking for reasons other than salary and benefits (the only reasons allowed under Illinois state law), and further that the health of children was being compromised by the strike. Today, the court refused to hear the order on an emergency basis; it will be heard Wednesday morning, after the House of Delegates meets again on Tuesday afternoon.
And today's Chicago strike Revolutionary War history tee-shirt.

Chicago teachers ON STRIKE: link round up

I'll do a round-up of links later today.
____________________________________________
NOON UPDATE:
The Chicago Teachers Union press release is here (I don't know if the administration didn't issue one; I can't find one); You can read NPR 's coverage here; the New York Times here; the Chicago Tribune here and what's going on with the kids in the meantime. You might also listen to Democracy Now. You can get a progressive perspective here.

Teacher Beat points out that much of what's being negotiated isn't about money; in fact, as Professor Naison writes, this is a strike against Race to the Top.
Mirriam Webster has seen a spike in "union" being looked up today.

If you're looking for something to do to support the teachers, you can find suggestions (including how to send pizza) here.

Best quote so far, from CTU president Lewis: “I think the whole idea of an imperial mayoralty where you wave a magic wand or cuss someone out and things happen is untenable.”
More to come!

Claremont vote

By now you will have seen that I voted with the majority on the 5-2 vote to impact bargain involuntary transfer of teachers at Claremont Academy.
Because I don't think it's fair to any teacher that he or she end up in a school undergoing radical transformation with new expectations without getting a chance to opt out, I voted for the motion to impact bargain.
I would not have done so without knowing and having great trust in the new leadership and the emphasis Mr. Hall places on collaborative leadership (he's the only principal I know of who insists on teaching as well). Claremont (as Clive McFarlane covered well yesterday) has a history of a new great idea or person coming in with energy, but that having now backup or support from anywhere else, and it then fading away. That's not fair to anyone.
Note (again) that no teacher at Claremont is losing his or her job. They are being asked to reapply to Claremont or to teach at another school in the system.
I understand that this is upsetting for teachers reapplying for jobs at Claremont or elsewhere. Every time we do reshuffling of people into positions--which happens every year--it's upsetting.
It's also upsetting to have a new administration come in with sweeping changes--summer PD, no more tracking--and be expected to simply adapt. That's not fair. If that isn't a system that teachers want to participate in, it's fair that they be given a chance to say "no thanks" and get it before the first round bid list comes out, so they can get the clearest shot of where they'd like to go. The principal gets some choice; the teachers get some choice. No August surprises.
And that's why I voted for this.

I'll also add that there are projected to be jobs lost this year. They're elementary jobs, 19 of them, and it will result in over 50 classes of 27 to 29 kids. That is something that is even more upsetting than any of the above. 

Obedience and negotiation

Really interesting article in the New York Times over the weekend on Catholic teachers negotiating a new contract. It's a whole different universe when the management with whom you're negotiating is one to which you profess a measure of obedience.

Migration savings from health insurance: Committee meeting notes

Agenda is here
Boone: positions restored and textbook spending

Worcester Public Schools budget hearing

...has just opened. following the approval of the two (one one year, one three year) EAW teacher contracts. (Note that Biancheria was recused, the City Manager voted no, all others voted yes)

Boone reviews focus, priorities, in setting budget. "There are no good choices..." in budgeting under these constraints.
The budget "does not reflect any potential savings based on the ratification of the EAW contract"

Teachers are discussing their contract tonight

The information about it is here.

Providence lays off ALL their teachers

The City of Providence, Rhode Island has given pink slips to all city teachers this week in anticipation of massive layoffs (necessitating contract changes) for the coming school year. Rhode Island law requires that teachers be notified of potential changes in their positions by March 1. Superintendent Tom Brady (yes, that is his name; he's also a Broad Academy graduate, for those keeping track) says it was necessary to close a projected $40 million budget gap for FY12.

UPDATE: And yes, Providence did attend the Union-Management Collaboration Jamboree in Denver last week.

Questions on fiscal crisis

"there's also a terrible problem...steps and levels..those numbers are unsustainable"
8% growth in salary with no raises
"we have got to collective get our heads together and get sustainable public sector salaries"
Widmer: "it's clear to me that from what I've laid out a lot of the assumptions need to really be looked at..all basic assumptions need to be examined"

another member points out that the huge bump in pay goes to younger teachers

state aid and what is the potential percentage in reduction for FY12?
10% says Widmer
he pulls this back to 5%, upon consideration, IF revenues continue to rise

I asked him afterward if he thought the state would hold Ch.70 harmless, or risk a lawsuit by cutting it. He said that he thought that the state would cut Ch.70 only as an absolute last resort FOR THIS YEAR, but that he thought there was a good chance that they'd have to do it--and subsequently get sued--in coming years.

School Committee: President of the EAW

Zaluskas: Packed room tonight on the top floor of the admin building
Talk about a living wage; IA's don't make enough money to support their families
Brought some with him to tell their story

A few clarifications on my notes tonight

• This is the real news of the evening.
• The innovation item is in TLSS subcommittee. Watch for it to show up on that agenda. If there are updates to share from tomorrow's School Committee letter, I'll put them up here over the weekend.
• The vocational education item also went to subcommittee.
  

Mayor responds

...now as we face the most challenging times since the Great Depression...we the members of the Worcester School Committee have requested the appointment of a mediator
..as of tomorrow morning we will be filing for mediation with the state