Teachers reject pact proposal

Netcoh says language on class weighting, co-op formula is critical

By John Howell
Posted 9/29/16

By JOHN HOWELL Saying language that protects the teaching and learning environment is most important to them, the Warwick Teachers Union has turned down an offer that would, among other things, give them raises in line with other city employees and,

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Teachers reject pact proposal

Netcoh says language on class weighting, co-op formula is critical

Posted

Saying language that protects the teaching and learning environment is most important to them, the Warwick Teachers Union has turned down an offer that would, among other things, give them raises in line with other city employees and, according to Superintendent Philip Thornton, move Warwick teacher pay into the top five in the state.

Thornton disclosed the action in an email Wednesday following talks on Monday and Tuesday. He said the district presented a package proposal at the suggestion of mediator Vincent Ragosta.

While Thornton did not disclose the contents of the full proposal as examples of the administration efforts, he cited common planning time for teachers and the wage offer.

Warwick Teachers Union President Darlene Netcoh was not surprised the administration disclosed its wage offer and she made a point that increased wages is not the critical issue separating the parties.

“Their proposal is not acceptable at this time,” she said, citing the co-op formula and weighting that determines whether a special education teacher is added to a class based on the number of students with individualized education programs in that class.

In an interview last week, Thornton made it clear he is looking to removing class weighting that has been a part of the contract for years. He has pointed out that other school districts don’t have weighting and that Warwick follows federal regulations in providing services to students with IEPs. He said he and the union have “philosophical differences” over weighting and the co-op formula.

Netcoh said, “Our language that protects the learning and teaching environment in the classroom is most important to us.” She said the co-op formula is being used in the staff of math and English classes but not for social studies and science.

“They don’t follow our formula for weighting,” she said of the administration. “They’re not doing what’s right for kids right now.”

In his release, Thornton listed common planning time for teachers as an “example of our efforts.”

“This is an opportunity for teachers and educators to share best practices, discuss what is working and not working, and map out approaches to teaching in the coming semester. We want a principal or other administrator to be able to join these sessions, a commonplace practice, to discuss and collaborate on best educational practices for our students,” he said.

He said the union said “no” to that proposal.

He also said the union rejected the wage proposal that would give teachers an immediate wage increase comparable to other city employees.

“The subsequent six [6] percent raise for the following two years would further elevate the Warwick salary scale in relation to other school districts,” he said.

Netcoh said the union would have a counteroffer and the parties agreed that the next scheduled meeting is Oct. 14.

Yesterday afternoon, Netcoh issue a press release under the title “Spin Doctor Phil Needs to Tell the Truth.” She said the

superintendent and the School Committee submitted a proposal with no significant changes from their past proposals. She said Thornton fails to point out that the teachers are fighting to preserve language that protects students.

“Superintendent Thornton needs to get a second fact straight when he claims that the union did not make a counter-offer.  They demanded that the union ‘take it or leave it’ because they submitted it with the condition that the union either accept it in its entirety, or they would immediately withdraw it. Therefore, the condition they imposed precluded the union from making a counter-offer,” she wrote.

Thornton countered, “My priority as superintendent is to protect students and the teaching and learning environment. The current contract language is in no way in the best interest of the students. This flies in the face of current best practices of teaching.”

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    Congratulations to the School Committee and the Warwick Teachers Union, not for succeeding, but for the obvious level of effort both parties are presently extending. Please keep it up. Our students, our parents and our 80,000 taxpayers who ultimately have to pay the tab, are counting on you.

    Please vote for what is best for them. Getting a new contract before the November 8th elections I think is in everyone's best interest.

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat or Mayor

    Thursday, September 29, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Low student scores, high teacher salaries and benefits. Whats wrong with that picture? By the way Rick, do you know how much money is in the healthcare account? Just asking?

    Thursday, September 29, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Rob,

    The truth is, according to Anthony Ferrucci the Finance Director, there is $3.3 million in the cash reserve for the health benefits (as of about April, 2016 when we spoke). They have been growing that account for over 17 years and when I asked how many time they tapped into it he said "Never!". So I said "Anthony, it will cost about a million dollars to buy the remaining students (about 30% at that time) Chromebooks. Why don't we take a million out of that reserve that CLEARLY doesn't need 3.3 million in it, leave 2.2 million as a cash reserve and go to Best-Buy and buy those Chromebooks TODAY!" What he explained to me Rob, would take an hour to type and it would resemble something like a description of ballroom dancing. He "danced" for about 20 minutes and when he was done I said "Anthony! Can I ask you just one more question? Why can't we take a million dollars out of that account and go down to Best-Buy and buy those Chromebooks TODAY!?? He laughed. He knows that he was "dancing around the question". He knows that I won't allow that once elected. He knows that once I sign a check over to the School Department for $160 million dollars there is absolutely nothing I can do to guide, advise, request or suggest how they spend "their" money. Here is what he is missing. Before that $160 million dollars becomes "theirs" it belongs to the "taxpayers", and before I turn over $160 million dollars of "taxpayers-money" to them I am going to ask for some accountability. I am going to ask a few questions like "Why do we have a $3.3 million dollar cash reserve when in the last 17 years we haven't needed any of it." Maybe we will give them an alternate of choice. One dollar amount "with accountability-to-the-taxpayer" and another one (much smaller) the way they have it now, "completely autonomous". With Avedisian, they were able to take the money and run. With me that will not happen. I have a responsibility to you and the other 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab.

    Your new boat looks awesome. Fish safe.

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Friday, September 30, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Rob,

    Typo.

    The accurate figure is "$2.3 million"

    Rick

    Friday, September 30, 2016 Report this

  • ThatGuyInRI

    November 8th cannot come fast enough. Maybe after the election Dick Corrente will stop commenting on every story in the Beacon.

    Good God Dick, this forum is not for your political campaign.

    Monday, October 3, 2016 Report this

  • patientman

    ThatGuy,

    The nerve of Mr. Corrente. Everyone knows that the Beacon is the free propaganda arm of the Mayor's office.

    Tuesday, October 4, 2016 Report this