IN DISPUTE
JOB SECURITY
What Mayor Rahm Emanuel says are the two key issues in the ongoing CTU contract talks:
CPS says principals need to be able to hire whomever they want, but they have put some sweeteners into the deal for teachers who get laid off in the future.
A small category will be guaranteed jobs; some may be entitled to an interview and an explanation of why they weren’t hired; some may elect to get a three-month lump sum severance.
The union objects that the CPS offer doesn’t provide job security for most teachers expected to be displaced as CPS closes more schools; only a limited number have firm recall rights; most teachers with acceptable ratings who are displaced because of economic reasons only get interviews; and time spent in a paid “reassignment pool’’ is reduced from 10 to five months. standing with her husband, Rory, “and we’re both union with the fire department, and we’re firm believ-
CPS wants to implement a new teacher evaluation system with some teachers this year and look over the kinks with the union before the rating system starts counting against teachers.
The union says that, based on a CPS pilot, the new CPS teacher rating plan would put nearly 30 percent of teachers in a rating category that could put their jobs in danger if they don’t improve the following year. And the union says evaluations put too much stock in tests, are not fair to teachers who do not teach tested subjects and will lead to even more test-prep and test obsession. ers in the rights of the students and teachers. Maureen O’Donnell, Rosalind Rossi, Lisa Donovan, Lynn Sweet, LeeAnn Shelton, Francine Knowles, Jon Seidel