NEWS
Tentative Agreement Reached
January 27 - United Teachers of Dade reached a tentative agreement with M-DCPS for the 2011-2012 contract re-opener. The highlights of the agreement include a 100% employer paid premium option for employees, a leave provision that protects teachers holding a Professional Service Contract, language to negotiate the impact of test scores on teacher summative evaluations prior to their final use for 2011-12, and an agreement to distribute $14 million dollars under the Race to the Top grant based on 2011-12 test scores.
At the conclusion of bargaining, President Aronowitz addressed the superintendent and his team saying, "The members of United Teachers of Dade told us that the terms of Race to the Top are demeaning, divisive, and degrading to teachers and that what should be a positive work environment has been altered for the worse. Even so, they are practical people and want the $14 million dollars to be distributed to teachers and, therefore, directed us to negotiate the terms of the Race to the Top grant for this year. In fact, our members will be making calls to the White House this week to convey their distress over the terms of Race to the Top as educational policy.“
UTD and the district also agreed to maintain the healthcare sub-committee which will continue its work into the future to provide quality affordable healthcare for employees of M-DCPS.
A ratification vote will be held for all members of the bargaining unit prior to the School Board meeting of February 15th. If ratified, open enrollment for health insurance will begin. Details on the ratification will be posted by February 1, 2012.