Two DPS schools gain freedom in hiring

By Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Denver Public Schools and its teachers union on Tuesday announced a compromise that will grant historic freedoms in hiring, staffing and scheduling for two city schools that sought to break free of union and district rules.

Bruce Randolph and Manual schools in northeast Denver will be able to post job vacancies and hire at will, among other freedoms outlined in the agreement.

"It was a very positive resolution and came rather quickly after we all sat down together to talk about it," said Kim Ursetta, president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.

Bruce Randolph Principal Kristin Waters said she was "ecstatic. It's great for kids, for the teachers, and I think it's good for the union."

The news came as the principals of 18 schools in far northeast Denver put the final touches on their own autonomy proposal, which they'll present to DPS board members Tuesday. Any agreements also must be OK'd by the union governing board.

"We definitely want to begin this conversation," said Montbello High School Principal Antwan Wilson, one of the 18 schools in Montbello and Green Valley Ranch that have been working together.

Waters and her staff made the first autonomy request in December, saying they needed waivers from some district policies and union rules to improve student achievement.

DPS board members said yes, but teachers union board members delayed a vote, then issued limited approval of some waivers.

That prompted the Bruce Randolph staff to consider other options, including conversion to a charter school. The delay also helped shape a bill that would have allowed schools to gain autonomy without union approval.

"We didn't change our minds," Ursetta said. "We just have had continual conversations trying to get clarity about what Bruce Randolph and Manual were asking for."

Waters said she will now talk with her staff to see who wants to stay. What happens next in DPS, as more schools are expected to seek autonomy, is less clear.

The superintendent and school board have pledged support for such efforts. But some union board members say they need to set some common criteria by which to evaluate such bids.

Freedom for Bruce Randolph, Manual

Denver Public Schools and its teachers union on Tuesday announced an agreement on autonomy bids from Bruce Randolph 6-12 School and Manual High School. Both schools had sought waivers of union and district rules. Some examples:

Hiring teachers

* The two schools now can post job openings for teachers and hire as vacancies become known. Other schools typically must wait until the spring staffing cycle begins. This "rolling" posting system will apply to all schools next spring.

* Bruce Randolph teachers will work on annual contracts, meaning they can be asked to reapply for their jobs every year. Manual did not request this waiver.

Working overtime

* Both schools can select their own summer school teachers and can deviate from the contract pay rates for summer and evening work. Randolph school leaders had objected to rates that were higher for curriculum developers than after-school tutors.

* Bruce Randolph and Manual can decide their own school calendars. Before the spring staffing cycle, teachers must be notified of the time requirements for the following year so they can request transfers.

Time in school

* Both schools can decide their own teaching loads or class sizes.

* The two schools can decide how to allocate teacher time during the school day and how to use time on days when students do not attend school.

What wasn't waived

* Bruce Randolph and Manual are still subject to employee grievance procedures.