Teachers' Union Is Urged to Fight Plan

Instead, the union should immediately assemble a negotiating team and agree on a platform for the contract talks, Saunders wrote.

"We must enter into formal negotiations now, as required by law, in order to protect our members' rights," Saunders wrote.

Parker said full-fledged contract talks between the school system and the union's negotiation team would begin in November and could last several months.

The union's executive membership endorsed Fenty (D) during the mayoral campaign and supported the mayor's takeover of city schools. Since the June 12 transition, Parker has enjoyed a good rapport with Rhee. He said he speaks to Rhee weekly, in person or by phone, to discuss various ongoing issues. He was among the invitees to a private screening Rhee held earlier this month of a documentary about the Ballou Senior High School band.

As the debate continues, teachers and parents wait out the changes.

Tracy Zorpette, a Ward 3 parent with children at Alice Deal Middle and Murch Elementary schools, said she supports Rhee's efforts to weed out underperforming teachers.

"The only teachers who are under siege are the poorly performing ones," said Zorpette, who closely follows education issues. "High-performing teachers have nothing to fear, and in fact, only have something to gain with the changes."