What Does New One-Year Contract Between SEA and SPS Mean?
The Seattle Times reviews what's new from the new SEA contract created in June. Because of the district's issues, teachers agreed to something of a carryover contract until a full 3-year contract is negotiated next year.
It does feel like this is hitting a pause button and next year's negotiations may have fireworks.
The two sides did not open up the full agreement for bargaining. Instead, the union sought changes to staffing, leave, and compensation. It didn't get everything it asked for.
The one-year contracts will cost the district $18M, nearly $7M of which is unfunded in the district's general fund, according to the district's analysis.
The union asked for higher raises for support works like instructional aides, secretaries, and paraprofessionals. They will see a 2.5% pay raise.
What else?
- More safety safeguards.
This section has some wins for teachers and staff who were concerned about building safety, student discipline, and classroom disruptions.
Principals will need to go over "school's discipline standards, protocols, and expectations with staff in August."
Any changes to those past expectations have to be shared with staff by Dec. 15.
Teachers, including Head Start teachers, "can remove disruptive students from class for part of or the rest of the school day, for up to two days or until the principal or their designee discusses the issue with the teacher. Except in emergencies, the teacher first has to try other 'corrective action,' before removing the student from class, the contract states."
The student can't just be sent back to class by the principal now, without talking first with the teacher.
- Safe and healthy workplace.
Staff who provide medical care to students will get protective gear and equipment to do their jobs, according to the contract.
- One other tweak:
Domestic partners are also now treated in the same way as spouses, considered family members for whom employees can take leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave.
I note that many of the comments support swifter action on students who do not behave in class but, as well, they wonder about kids who are bullied by other kids.
Plus, some ask if parents are going to be part of the solution. I'll be interested to see what is sent home to parents in the first-day packets on these discipline changes.
Comments
Some of the updates were meant to bring the contracts in line with state law, while others codified existing practices that were not yet written into policy, said Sarah Pritchett, the district’s assistant superintendent of human resources. She said there was joint interest from the union and district to clarify the language related safety.
Principals, for example, must now set aside time to review their school’s discipline standards, protocols and expectations with staff in August, when teachers return to school for several professional development days before students return Sep. 3. They’re also expected to provide staff with the school’s handbook, which includes student discipline, at or before the meetings.
Principals or program managers also have to share annual changes to the discipline and enforcement standards with staff by Dec. 1. The school’s updated handbook, including its rapid response plans created by the principal and the school’s safety staff, must be available by Dec. 15. The December date gives the principal enough time to launch the school year, meet with the staff and discuss the plan ahead of time, Pritchett said.
The teachers’ contract has new language, in accordance with state law, that says teachers — including those in Head Start programs — can remove disruptive students from class for part of or the rest of the school day, for up to two days or until the principal or their designee discusses the issue with the teacher. Except in emergencies, the teacher first has to try other “corrective action,” before removing the student from class, the contract states.
Once a student has been removed, the principal can’t send the disruptive student back to class without first discussing it with the teacher.
Montejo-Thompson said that’s a big change. In many cases, students were returned to class without any meaningful consequences or follow-up, which undermined the teacher’s ability to maintain a safe classroom, he said.
Now, the principals must confer with teachers to ensure there’s a plan to address the situation, he said. Montejo-Thompson said the union has seen an increase in the number of teachers asking for help to deal with cases where disruptive students returned to class without any consequences.
Staff who do not feel safe or who are assaulted, threatened or feel intimidated can ask the school’s principal to create a safety and support plan and seek a reassignment.
Pritchett said the district already works with staff members to develop safety and support plans, and takes requests for relocation from those who have been assaulted, threatened or otherwise intimidated. Adding the language to the contract lets the staff know that they have the right to ask for those supports, she said.
Just FYI