|
Cyber charter teachers OK pact
Aug 13, 2010 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit and the union representing the 47 educators who work for its PA Learners Online Cyber Charter School have agreed to a one-year contract -- an agreement both sides claim is the first of its type in the state and possibly the nation.
The contract is unique not only in the fact that it covers cyber charter employees, but it also includes incentive pay in the form of bonuses for teachers if the school achieves Adequate Yearly Progress on the state Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams and it has just three salary categories rather than numerous steps.
"For us, this is a historic moment and we are really glad that cyber teachers now have a voice in their working conditions," said Carol Mintus, president of the PA Learners Online Education Association, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
PALO has about 600 students from throughout Pennsylvania who take classes online in grades K-12. The contract covers 44 teachers and three guidance counselors who decided to unionize in June 2009 because of what they perceived as a lack of job security.
The contract provides them with a grievance process to address issues and disputes and protects them from arbitrary dismissal, said Mrs. Mintus, a 10th-grade English teacher.
While teachers will receive bonuses if the school makes AYP, they will be required to attend an additional 10 hours of professional development if the school doesn't make AYP.
The contract calls for a work week of 41 hours and 15 minutes and a work year of 200 days. In addition, teachers will be required to develop a personal professional development plan that includes 10 hours of continuing education.
The salary levels include entry level, for teachers with one to three years of experience in PALO, and instructional level, which provides an additional $2,000 for those entering their fourth or higher year of experience at PALO.
The third level -- distinguished level -- provides an additional $2,000 and is for teachers entering six or more years of experience with PALO, who hold a master's degree, conduct professional development training sessions and serve as mentors.
The agreement calls for an across-the-board cost-of-living increase of $863, which brings the starting salary for new hires to $39,500. Salaries now range from $40,363 to $53,172.
The teachers union approved the pact July 23. The PALO board approved it unanimously on Thursday.
Mary Niederberger: mniederberger@post-gazette.com; 412-851-1512.
To see more of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go
to http://www.post-gazette.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information
about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
(MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or
call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).
[ Back To Call Center Software Community's Homepage ]
|
TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
