Council In the News Index

New Coalition to Call for Simpler Teachers Contract (The Boston Globe)

By James Vaznis
Globe Staff / August 26, 2010 

Nearly two dozen business, civic, and grassroots organizations will announce a new coalition today to push for dramatic changes in the Boston Teachers Union contract that would permit such initiatives as teacher bonuses and extended days at all schools.

The group, “Put Students First Coalition for a 21st Century Contract,’’ says the union’s existing contract is so prescriptive that it impedes efforts to improve student achievement — an assertion the union contests.

At more than 250 pages, the current contract spells out an array of rules, covering such areas as daily work hours, the process of evaluating teachers, and which veteran teachers a principal must hire. The coalition believes union and school district leaders should create a much shorter document.

“These are the most important teacher contract negotiations in generations,’’ said Paul Grogan, president of the Boston Foundation, a coalition member. “Our hope is that union leadership is coming into this with pragmatic accommodations.’’

Richard Stutman, the union president, defended the current contract, saying it offers protections for both teachers and students, such as a provision that prevents class sizes from being too big.

“I have confidence the school department and the (teachers union) will end up with a contract that is good for schools, students, and our members,’’ Stutman said.

The new coalition is the latest community effort seeking to influence the outcome of the negotiations. In May, several organizations representing parents, students, and community activists held a public forum on the issue. Next month, the City Council will hold a public hearing.

The high interest shows the community’s frustration with a public school system that has too few quality schools, advocates for contract changes say.

The new coalition is seeking a number of contract changes that mirror Superintendent Carol R. Johnson’s negotiation proposals.

In addition to teacher bonuses, the coalition seeks greater flexibility for administrators in hiring teachers and changing staffing assignments. The group also believes that academic performance of students should play some role in teacher evaluations.

However, the coalition and the superintendent differ somewhat on how much to lengthen the school day. Johnson has proposed an extra hour, while the coalition believes more time will be necessary.

The union supports a longer school day as well but has said it wants teachers to be compensated for the additional work. Johnson has noted that the city’s teachers are among the best-paid in the state but has said she is willing to give some extra money, although probably not as much as the teacher union wants.

Matthew Wilder, a school department spokesman, said the superintendent welcomes the public interest in the contract negotiations and was pleased that many of her proposals appear to have broad community support.

“The bottom line is, that from what we’ve heard, the Put Students First group’s vision pretty much aligns with what the superintendent would like to see,’’ Wilder said. “We feel we can have a productive discussion with the teachers union.’’

Although the contract expires next Tuesday, negotiations will continue into the fall. It is not unusual for contract negotiations to persist well after a contract’s expiration.

In addition to the Boston Foundation, the coalition members include the African Community Economic Development of New England, Black Leaders for Excellence in Education, The Black Ministerial Alliance, Boston Asian Youth Essential Services, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Association, Boston Leaders for Education, Freedom House, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, La Alianza Hispana, Leaders for Education, MassAlliance, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services, Massachusetts High Technology Council, MassInsight, National Black College Alliance, Stand For Children, Bessie Tartt Wilson Initiative for Children Inc., and Urban Pride.

James Vaznis can be reached at jvaznis@globe.com.