Summary of Joint Committees and Projects between Cincinatti Federation of Teachers and the Cincinatti Board of Education

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paOJEC:~ BE:WEE~ CINC!N~A:l ?EDERATIO~ OF TEACHERS AND
CINCINNATI BOARD OF EDUCATION

JOINT COMMITTEES k~D PROJECTS ESTABLISHED BY COLLECTIVE BA.~GAINING

CONTRACT:

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1. Peer As~istanc~ and Apprdisal.
Pilot pt"ojec;t established by Collective BZ!rg.::dning agreement February
':'935. ,Joint Committee developed program guidelines by June '85. On-goin
Pe~, Review Panel (5 teachers, 5 a~ministrators) governs the program. It
s,,!lectsconsulting teacher-s who assist and evaluate both first year \
tedcher~ (interns) and some veteran teachers believed to be having seriou
performance problems. It also review~ Consulting TeacherD work and vutes
on their recorr~endation~ regarding contract renewal or termination. Th~
panel's vote constitutes an effE:ctive recommendation to the
superintendent, who, by law, retains tinal authority to retain or dis~iss
teachers with Board of Education a~proval.

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2. Heal th & Safe t y CO!TLm 1. t t I~e. t10n 1. tu r s hazel. rds, educa tes elflp 1oyees . Canl I
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!:L.:J.ke inspection~, initlated Employo:!e Assistance Program.

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! 3. Grade Appeal Committee resolves disputes between teacher and principa
l" over student grades or teacher-'s decision to promote or retain a student.
Consists of two teachers and two principals from schools other than where

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~"i.5pute
arose.

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4. Teacher Allocation Committeeadmin':'sters class size pr-ovisions of
contract and monitors compliance. Issues guidelines (i.e. rules)
interpreting or amplifying contract provisiohs or to resolve unanticipate(
issues. Allocates a reserve pool of teaching positions to reduce
overcrowded classes. Also allocates Instructor Assistants to overload
classes and administers overload pay as provided in the contract.

ON-GOING JOINT COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED BY INFC~MAL AGREZMENT

1. Employee Benefits Committee. All Unions represented as well as
administration. Oversees all fringe benefit programs. Studies and
implements cost containment measures. Studies and implements new
benefits, where this can be done, by reducing costs elsewhere or at some
cost (e.g. new dental plans, improved Rx plan) or with School Board

approval {e.g. Employee Assistance Plan}. Also paves the way for more

informed bargaining regardi~g benefits with less conflict by exploring al:

benefit
options. Educates employees regarding options and intelligent usc

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of benefits. Established guidelines and oversees Employee Assistance
Program.

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2. Calendar Committee. Recommends annual school calendar to
Superintendent.

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JOINT PROJE~TS/SERVleES

1. Dial-A-Teacher
eFT in cooperation
luc~l corporations
lJy CFT. Now funded
contribution:3 by 2
-Homework Hotlin~ estdbli~lled early 1983 dS ~ervice of
with Cincinn<lti Public Sclluol~. FUlldt!d initicilly by
and foundations in respon~e to grant proposal written

lJy Cillc.inrldti BO.lrd of Educdtion witl! :;l1ldll
~ulJurb.ln lli!.jtric:L~. lO le....L-:ll\;~.c:J st....Lff 6 phonl.!s lines

on fotatin,:] bdsis Honday -Thursday, 4 -8:00 1?lll. Huu:.;eJ at di::;trict's
Pr"ofessiondl Library.

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2. Social & Academic Skill:::; DeHtt}nstratlon 3c:lUols
Two elementary school:J h.:tve been selec::t!G for d pilot program aim~d at

finding mort:!
L t:! d u c i n g d r 0 p
persistently
autonomy and

An ad hoc

Superintendent
developed the

A Central
ddministrators

effective :JtL:itegi~s for improving stuC!ent dchieven:I=nt and

0 u t r .l t; t;! S • !3 0 :. h d. r (; Ii i 5.1 d v d:1 t d '::i" ~d n e i ':1 h b 0 rho0 d 5 C 1"1 u() 1 s with
low achievement dnd high drop out rates. Local school
participatory management ar~ cornerstones of the project.

committee con~~3tlng of C;::-?rt:!!jiJ~nt., a.~1 Assistant

and AdministratiVe Assistant to the Superintendent
pro~osal.

Advisory Committee with three CE'T reps and several
refined it and selected the two schools through a

competitive application process. E.Jch schoo~ ha3 been allocated $50,000
p~anning funds this year and SlOO,OOO in progr.Jm funds fur 1987-88 school
tear. In addition, a local corporation will fund pre-school classes,
which state law prchibits the school bOclrd Etum sub~idizing. The
prinCipals and teachers along with parent and community r~presentatives
will make decisions collaboratively. They are free tc spend money in ways
they believe will be most effective. They hav~ been given complete
autonomy within the law to redesign tht:! school program and organization.
The central administration has even offered to s~e~ waivers from state
re,:]ulations, if necessary, to implement promiSing ideas or strategies.
CFT President has offered to seek waivers fro~l contract provisions.

A trainer and facilitator experienced in partiCipatory management and

school-based decision making has
to train the staffs, parents and

3. Carnegie Forum -both CFT and
a broad based consortium of local
that sponsored a series of events
Director of the Carnegie Forum on
1987.
been selected by the Advisory Committee
community l-epresentatives.

school district played leading roles in
education organizations and institutions
featuring Marc Tucker, Executive
Education and the Economy, in March

SPECIAL COMMITTEES FORMED IN RESPONDE TO SPECIFIC
PROBLEMS (ACTIVE CURRENTLY OR WITHIN PAST YEAR)
POLICY ISSUES OR
1. Middle School Committee (joint committee) -
organization, curriculum, ~taffing, Gervice~ for
district.
Will recorr~end
middle schools in the


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':t i~_l_~.~_~.~_i~_y. Rec~~~.~.~. Develupil1Y 1Jl~n!.J rut illL'J..ecJ~.i.il':l ui.~Lrlcl'~

~l 11 .i r 1 IIY u [ III i IIU r" i L Y L t c..l c: 11e L tj b Y HI0 r e e ;<. tenS i v e d nJ <::: (" f e c t 1v t! r e C C U 1ting d n (
by t2IICouldying our own high ::)cho01 sluJeats tv p:,,:~:,;ut! te...lc;L.i1Y C...lll!t!l!j.
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3. Core curriculum -documented inequities and deficiences in advdl1ced
dnd/uc college prep courses at high school level dnd rl:!comml:!nued IIldjor
iwpruvements. Middle/Junior High School and Elementary Level Committees

dr"e ,lVW being fOLlileLl.

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4 . Gr ad HtS & Pr-0mot ion
[ l stanJdrJs dnd criteria,
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5. Student Mobility r1
during school year and
t J enrollment.
CFT plays a major
Superintendent, some in

Pol i c i e5 (j0 i n t committee) -Wi 11 reV i e w
K-12, and rec:oa~end c:hdnyes.


do~umented extremely high rate of student transfer
recommended new policy designed tu :.:;t...lblize

rvll:! in other committees which are initi.J.ted by the:
response to issues raised by CFT. A few recedL or

current examples dce described below_
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to district-wide

TOM MOONEY,

CINCINNATI

LOCAL 1520,

committees.

PRESIDENT

FEDERATION OF TEACHEaS
AFT/OFT/AFL-CIO



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