The new contract is expected to save the Cleveland Metropolitan School District millions of dollars by cutting teacher pay and requiring them to pay more for health insurance. On the bright side, the contract could allow the district to call back hundreds of laid off teachers.
There are compromises on both sides, though.
When district CEO Eugene Sanders unveiled his much-heralded transformation plan early this year, he wanted the freedom to pick and choose teachers at each school based on their talents.
As is a trend in school reform nationwide, Sanders has been critical of seniority rules that require districts to favor staff with the longest tenure, not necessarily those with the most talent.
This contract does nothing to overhaul seniority rules. State law would have to change for that to happen.
But, the district and the union did reach an agreement on one traditionally contentious point. Under the new contract, teacher evaluations will be more directly tied to their students’ academic improvement.
Union members have until the middle of next week to vote on the proposed contract.