Quolke’s Corner #45
Transfers at Neighborhood/Innovative Schools, 5:00 AM Phone Calls and Giant Eagle
Sorry for the lengthy title of the Quolke’s Corner, but as I put together the pieces of recent events, it became pretty clear that the process of decision making and informing CTU has now sunk to a new level. One of almost a bizarre level which would be quite comical if it were not for real!
When we last left the September 30 Necessary Transfers, CTU was emphasizing to the District the importance of staffing neighborhood schools with the same passion and commitment that they provide at our Innovative Schools. This occurred after CTU fought to have our neighborhood schools staffed at the same level as our Innovative schools. We identified a number of schools where the District was transferring staff out of schools and creating classrooms of 35:1 and 33:1 and pleaded to have the same commitment that was shown at our Innovative schools, where the same scenario maintained 2 teachers. Rather than discuss the benefit, support, and resources that should be provided to both neighborhood and innovative schools; the district responded by telling the CTU that this was an oversight and the district identified a teacher at the innovative school to be transferred. The teacher came to the transfer meeting, selected a new school, and signed her right to return.
Now, this is where it gets interesting. As I mentioned in my previous Quolke’s Corner, concerns were raised at the Board meeting by an SPO President that the district promised lower class sizes at the innovative schools than the neighborhood schools. Additionally, CTU expressed frustration regarding the Districts complete backtrack from the negotiated commitment to the K-3, 20:1 staffing and lack of urgency for support at our TurnAround schools. At 5:15 AM or so, Friday October 2nd, I get a voice mail message from Dr. Sanders asking for reconsideration regarding the transfer of the teacher from the Innovative school. I returned the call and left a message indicating, while CTU believed the CMSD should show the same passion and commitment to all other our schools…neighborhood and innovative alike…the district did have management rights to staff and treat schools unequally. However, I did emphasize that since the Necessary Transfer meeting had occurred, the District needed to utilize the Special Transfer Process in order to transfer the teacher at this time. Additionally, I indicated the CTU supports staffing our Innovative, TurnAround, and neighborhood schools that have 33 students in a specific grade level with 2 teachers in that grade. I thought I was pretty clear and expected a return call indicating the special transfer would be scheduled.
I never heard back from the district regarding a special transfer conference, so my assumption was that they decided the teacher would stay at the school she selected. Then as I was shopping at Giant Eagle last Sunday morning to get my cookout ready for the Browns/Steelers game, I ran into one of our Chapter Chairs in the frozen food aisle. During our discussion, she asked me if I knew that the District never transferred the teacher from her school in the first place. The CTU President gets to hear in the frozen food aisle of Giant Eagle that the District arbitrarily decided to leave a teacher who chose a position at the Necessary Transfer Meeting at her original school. And the President gets to hear it from a Chapter Chair and not the District “Leadership”!
Now the CTU will file a Grievance regarding the misuse of the transfer process and staffing levels. The Grievance will likely be denied by the District, and taken to Arbitration. At Arbitration dozens of man hours and thousands of dollars in legal fees will be paid by both sides because of stubbornness and a complete disregard for the procedures that have been negotiated and agreed to by both sides. Another example of spending energy “fixing” things that never should have been broken in the first place.
I just hope that I don’t have to learn about negotiations by shopping at Target!
In Union,
David