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Rhee Bypasses Talks, Imposes Dismissal Plan
"Where we are now is an incredibly unfortunate place," Rhee said of dropping talks on her teacher pay package.
(Sarah L. Voisin - The Washington Post)
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The chancellor drew national attention for the potentially groundbreaking pay proposal, which would be funded for the first five years with $200 million in private foundation grants. She frequently described it as a top priority in her long-term plans for overhauling the city's troubled school system.
But the package -- especially the one-year probation proposal -- has deeply divided the membership. The union and the District also remain at odds over how teachers fired after the year's probation can appeal the decision. Parker has said that he will not bring the package to the membership for a vote without adequate due process protections.
Appearing with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) at an early morning news conference, Rhee said she will be able to reach her goal of eliminating underperforming teachers with the policies. Although she has always had the power to impose these rules, she said, she also wanted to reward the Washington teachers "who do so many heroic things day in and day out." But she said she had no choice but to move forward.
"Where we are now is an incredibly unfortunate place," Rhee said. "We are leaving more than $200 million in external funding on the table."
Teachers who support Rhee's pay proposal expressed deep disappointment at yesterday's announcements.
"I'm sick about it," said Jennifer Miller, a teacher at Janney Elementary. "There are so many of us in favor of this program, and [Parker] is not allowing us to vote on it."
Jerome Brocks, a special education teacher, opposes any plan by Rhee to weaken tenure or seniority. "She hasn't been in my city but a day, and she's going to tell me that my seniority is no longer in effect?"
