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•Basic Fairness [pdf]
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FAQsDenver Classroom Teachers Association Agreement Review Committee (ARC) What is the Agreement Review Committee?The Agreement Review Committee is a forum for the District and DCTA to discuss issues of mutual interest in regards to the implementation of the Agreement. A major focus of ARC is to monitor the Agreement in the context of the DPS environment to determine if the relationship between teachers and the District is being maintained consistent with both the "letter and spirit" of the Agreement. ARC is also a place where the District and DCTA can identify emerging issues within the District that affect teachers. It also makes policy and program recommendations to the Superintendent and DCTA President. ARC also has the ability to assign working groups and committees to study identified issues and propose solutions that can be negotiated as a part of the bargaining process. In addition, the Agreement gives specific responsibilities to ARC. These include: - Monitor the grievance system including the number and types of grievance and the length of time it takes to resolve grievances. - Review on an annual basis the administrative leaves for the prior year to ensure that the procedures have been implemented appropriately. - Monitor and coordinate the joint activities of the District and DCTA committees including developing a calendar of joint activities. ARC also ensures that all goals, objectives and timelines are met by committees. Who is on the ARC and when does it meet? The ARC meets monthly and is a body comprised of: - DCTA UniServ Staff How do I get issues on the ARC agenda? ARC doesn’t hear or resolve individual issues. However, it is best to work through the DCTA office or the Department of Human Resources to raise issues or concerns that may affect a number of individuals. They can also be helpful in directing you to address individual issues or concerns.
Why was the Budget and Compensation Committee formed? In contract talks last spring, DPS and DCTA agreed to form a Budget and Compensation Committee that would serve as a collaborative body to address district fiscal matters. The committee’s charge is: - Define and monitor total teacher compensation within the district budget The committee would focus on both short- and long-term budget concerns. Who will serve on the Budget and Compensation Committee? Teachers appointed by the DCTA president and administrators selected by the superintendent. To whom will the Budget and Compensation Committee report? The committee will prepare reports to the Budget and Finance Committee of the DPS Board of Education and a similar body of the DCTA Board of Directors. In addition, the committee will act as partners with the Instructional Issues Council and the Joint Task Force on Teacher Compensation. Finally, it will support the negotiations team of both the district and the Association. How often will the Budget and Compensation Committee meet? The committee will meet at least monthly during the school year beginning in November 2003.
Article 24-1-3: The District and the Association will establish an Instructional Issues Council to collaborate, advise and review the planning and implementation of its existing and proposed instructional programs including professional development. The council will be co-chaired by a teacher, appointed by the Association President, and an administrator, appointed by the Superintendent. The co-chairs will agree annually on the council’s composition. The council should include teachers, principals and district administrative staff. The council may also bring additional representatives as needed to assist them with their duties. Why was an instructional council created? A motion was passed by Representative Council about the number of programs being implemented without much teacher input. The bargaining team brought it to the table and the result was the Instructional Issues Council (IIC). What is the purpose of the Council? This is an effort to address concerns like those associated with the development and roll out of the literacy program; math program; teacher-leader program; cuts to social studies, arts, music, specialized services, etc. It will also review and make recommendations to improve the staff development efforts in the district. The exact wording from the Agreement is "collaborate, advise, and review the planning and implementation of its existing and proposed instructional programs including professional development." Who will serve on the Council for the 2003-04 school year? The composition will be 12 teachers, 4 principals, 2 Area/Assistant Area Superintendents, the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction and the Chief Academic Officer. How frequently will the IIC meet? At least once a month, scheduled for the 4th Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. What is the process for getting the Council to address an issue of concern of a particular school principal or teacher? The process will be established by the committee and published in the DCTA Slate and DPS’ Tuesday Telegram.
How much has changed about CDM? It is now established by Board policy and referenced in the Agreement. The composition of the new Collaborative School Committee (CSC) remains the same as the CDM (except for one additional student member at the high school). The method of decision-making is still by consensus with the principal making impasse decisions. Decisions must be in compliance with the Agreement. The scope of decision-making of the new CSC will: - Act as the School Improvement and Accountability Committee (SIAC) - Improve school climate - Improve student achievement/approve the School Improvement Plan (SIP) through strategic planning - Recommend school design to the BOE - Review student discipline and safety measures - Approve the annual school budget to insure its alignment in the SIP and the school’s program design - Provide input into the evaluation of the principal’s role as it relates to the CSC. WILL NOT: - Participate in matters related to individual staff or the day-to-day operations of the school - Make decisions concerning teacher workload, lunch, meetings, etc. These are now made by the Professional Standards Committee (PSC) - Provide input into the evaluation of school performance or the central administration When does the transition to a CSC happen? Upon approval of the addendum to the Agreement. Now that the Addendum has been ratified and approved by the DCTA Board and the Board of Education, CSC’s are in effect. Can we just keep the same CDM representatives? That would be left up to the decision of each constituency. For teachers, we suggest that either an affirmation of the current representatives be done and/or an election of new representatives occurs. It might be that some individuals could change due to the change in scope or would rather serve on the PSC. For more information, refer to Board of Education Policy and Procedure BDFH Collaborative Committees and the DCTA and DPS joint website http://dps-dcta.dpsk12.org/
In many ways the Personnel Committee is the same body as the Personnel Subcommittee but it does have a different name and some new duties. In the new Agreement and Partnership, this body was given an independent identity and is not a subcommittee of the new CSC. Has its composition or method of decision-making changed? No. It is still three teachers (elected by the teacher constituency) plus the principal and up to two parents selected by the CSC. Decisions are still by consensus with the principal allowed to make an impasse decision. Are its duties any different? They have changed somewhat. The PC still interviews and selects those who may have to leave the building due to a Reduction in Building Staff (RIBS). What is the relationship of the PC to the CSC? The PC is not a subcommittee of the CSC. The CSC approves the annual school budget to insure its alignment with the SIP. In the event of a RIBS, the CSC decides if fewer teaching assignments are needed in a department, grade level or ELA/specialty area. The CSC will consult with the PC about the proposed RIBS, its effect on the current staff, and the best way to implement the reductions. The PC applies the process for conducting a RIBS as stipulated in Article 13.
What is it? It is a body of building professionals who will make decisions regarding the professional working conditions of teachers. Who is on the PSC? The Association Representative, the principal and a minimum of three teachers serve on the Committee. The AR and the principal can mutually agree to expand the number of teachers on the Committee due to the size of the faculty or other considerations. How are the teachers chosen? The teachers are elected by a majority of the faculty voting by secret ballot. Do the teachers have to be members of DCTA? With exception of the Association Representative, non-members can serve if elected. What is the PSC to do? The PSC makes decisions specified within Articles 8-1-4; 8-5-1-2; 12-1-1; 25-1-5; and 32-5. Decisions regarding secondary teacher load (Article 8-5-1) and alteration from a standard 45 minute duty-free lunch period (Article 8-2-a) require a four-step process. What is the four-step process? The introduction to Article 8 requires a PSC, when making decisions regarding secondary teacher load or an alteration from a standard 45-minute duty-free lunch period, to: - Apply decision-making standards which will be supplied for this process; - Conduct a confidential vote of the majority of the faculty; - Reflect on the process on a supplied form; - Send information about the changes to the Instructional Issues Council for tracking purposes. What are the decision-making standards? Is there adequate information available to make the decision?What options are available? What would be the impact on teacher workload? Has the above-information been shared with the faculty? What is meant by secondary teacher load? Article 8-5 specifies that the PSC is to consider the range of teaching loads, number of preparations and number of student contacts "for effective instruction and meaningful teacher-student interaction." Specifically, PSC may consider an alteration from the standard of a five period teaching day. The alteration must be approved by a positive majority confidential vote of the faculty. How are the decisions made that are not by confidential majority vote? The committee must reach "mutual agreement." If that does not occur, interventions will be provided by the District and the Association. If the intervention fails, the principal will make the decision. What are the other decisions that it makes? - Evening meetings (Article 8-1-4) - Equitable distribution of instructional budgeted dollars for departments (Article 12-1-1) - Approval of job share arrangements (Article 25-1-5) - Calendar of extra-curricular activities and fund dispersal related to extra-curricular activities (Article 32-5) - Decision regarding music and PE, more specifically increasing daily class size limits (Article 8-15-1-2). How long will teachers serve on the PSC? The Core Team recommends two-year terms, with the possibility of being re-elected for one more term. Is the PSC involved with scheduling of classes? The PSC would not be involved with master scheduling unless the master schedule alters secondary teaching load or the 45 minutes duty-free lunch. The principal may choose to have the PSC involved with schedule development. How often should it meet? As often as needed. How do we get it started? The AR and the principal should consult with the teacher constituency about the preferred size of the Committee. The AR should sit down with the principal and review the Agreement language. The AR and the principal should decide on the size of the PSC. The AR and the principal should call a meeting of the teacher constituency for the purpose of electing the teacher members on the Committee. Can the PSC review decisions made last Spring 2003 regarding the operations of the school? No. Any decisions made by the CDM Committee stand for the 2003-04 school year. The PSC will make decisions not previously addressed for the 2003-04 school year and any alterations for future school years.
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