Quolke Corners

QUOLKE’S CORNER

FINAL TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS RATINGS

I hope each and every one of you had time to relax and enjoy your summer in between classes, professional development, work around the house, etc.  Although it is hard to believe that summer is gone, there is always something about the start of school that is new and optimistic.  I don't know if it’s the sense of starting anew or the smell of new supplies - but each year signals the beginning of a new chapter.  However, I do want to take this opportunity to look back at last year and report something that is important for all CTU members to

Quolke’s Corner #158

TDES Nightmares Continue

The Teacher Development and Evaluation System (TDES), a foundation of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, a cornerstone of our Race to the Top Grant, a collaborative process for the better part of the past 4 years, and one of the few things that seemed to be moving forward in the District, has been dealt a huge blow.

By now, many CTU members have received notification from the state regarding their Student Growth Measures (SGMs).  This notification came after the district input the data by hand, submitting to the state on Thursday, May 29 instead of

I am David Quolke and I am the President of the Cleveland Teachers Union.  There are many issues that I could talk to you about today.  Many issues that I - and my members - think should be brought to your attention.  However, today, I need to talk about Non-Reappointments. 

The first week in May, 70 of my members received notice that they were being recommended for non-reappointment.  Now that number could be off because these were the numbers that I was given by the media after they spoke with CEO Gordon or someone from the District.  When talking to the media – I explained that many of my

Quolke's Corner  #157

Dear CTU Brothers & Sisters,

I want to take the time to congratulate all of the candidates that ran for a seat on the CTU Executive Board for putting in the time, effort and commitment to serve this great organization of teachers, paraprofessional, and related service providers.  Thanks also to all of the members who took their time to vote in this important race.  Thanks also to everyone for all of your support over the past 6 years.  These have been some of the most challenging times, not just here in Cleveland, but throughout the country.

I look forward to working with

A lot of new news has come out in the last few days that has an impact on CTU members.  Here is a brief overview of some of these. 

• On Wednesday, the State Legislature approved the addition of 4 calamity days for Ohio schools.  However, they did not pass it in the way that was originally called for by Governor Kasich.  Yesterday, both the House and the Senate approved a compromise bill that does give Ohio school districts 4 additional calamity days; however, these calamity days are only given AFTER a district has used the 5 normal calamity days, then 4 make-up days.  If a school district has

Student Based Budgeting is really Schools Being Broken

Join your CTU brothers and sisters at the next meeting of the Board of Education to let the Board Members and the community lrnow how Student Based Budgeting is really going to impact our students.

Let us all stand together for our schools, our students, and our community.

CMSD Board of Education Meeting

 Tuesday, February 25

Buhrer School

1600 Buhrer Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio

Board Meeting begins at 6:30

Q Corner #156

SBB…Student Based Budgeting or Schools Being Broken?

The CMSD’s newest approach to what they call decentralization/greater Principal autonomy is what is being referred to as Student Based Budgeting or SBB.  Unfortunately, SBB is anything but funds being focused on students or our schools.   From our initial data the CMSD seems to be using the guise of SBB to slash almost every school’s budget in the name of decentralization and throw principals and school teams under the bus by forcing them to decide what to cut.  DON’T BE FOOLED…SBB seems more like Schools Being Broken.

Every time

Quolke Corner 155

Credentialed Evaluator Arbitration Victory!

            The end of January not only brought a close to one of the more frigid/calamity day-filledmonths in recent history, but it also brought a victorious end to a lengthy, and often bitter CTU/CMSD battle on the credentialing of TDES evaluators.  While I will spare many of the details of the eight-month long battle, I want to give a little background while explaining will occur in the upcoming weeks.  While this is a huge step forward for us in Cleveland, it is an issue that has been problematic across the State of Ohio as all

Quolke Corner 55

Credentialed Evaluator Arbitration Victory!

            The end of January not only brought a close to one of the more frigid/calamity day-filled months in recent history, but it also brought a victorious end to a lengthy, and often bitter CTU/CMSD battle on the credentialing of TDES evaluators.  While I will spare many of the details of the eight-month long battle, I want to give a little background while explaining will occur in the upcoming weeks.  While this is a huge step forward for us in Cleveland, it is an issue that has been problematic across the State of Ohio as all

QUOLKE’S CORNER #154

FUNDING FOR CLEVELAND SCHOOLS

     Quite a while ago, I read an editorial written by the Plain Dealer editorial board declaring that the ODE should grant Cleveland Schools their request for $13 million from the Straight A Fund (Cleveland Schools Need a Boost from the Straight A Fund).  Yes, I hope that Cleveland does get the money that they requested.  The funds being asked for would upgrade Internet access, provide additional technology to 3^rd-8^th graders and help create a digital high school.  However, simply getting $13 million dollars is short sighted.  There are 2 big