WTU rallies for new contract

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP posting on IEPs here. WTU members please look at the MCPS contract and all that it provides to help MCEA members carry out this duty. There is a LOT more you can get, but only if you ask.

Hello SN teacher here. You really think we haven’t asked? DCPS is notorious for choosing to be sued rather than do what is legally required. There’s even a group of SN teachers talking to the district on their own since the union isn’t helping us. We are getting nowhere btw, because if you look at who is running sped departments NONE of them are former teachers and all of them just have a business degree. They do not the first thing about special education and only care about their 180k+ checks. It’s all about who you know here and not qualifications.

And looking over MCPS’ contract, I can see we have some similar things included in our except DCPS always gets loopholes. Also MCPS has a substitute shortage as well, albeit not as bad as ours. It was 53%, which is still significant.

What to do when no one wants to work in education or is unqualified?
I think that’s one of the biggest issues because the sub pay in MCPS is way more than DCPS and they still have a shortage.

I was lucky because my school could provide coverage but that will change because 2 of our long term subs are leaving.

[Anonymous]

*sorry
They do not KNOW the first thing about special education.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I sure hope the union is also advocating for IEP time to be “protected.” Although my DS’s teachers are very good, they made every effort to shirk IEP meetings and otherwise demonstrate the meetings were their lowest priority. Our consultant who has experience in another (unionized) school district was always remarking on how crazy it was that nobody would show up, or show up late, or leave after 10 minutes.

This happens at my school quite a bit and it’s because other meetings are planned during the same time. A colleague got in trouble with admin for not going to a meeting about PARCC (which was only scheduled two days before ) because they went to an IEP meeting (scheduled two weeks in advance). It’s a lose/lose for teachers sometimes.

So, as for leaving early, I do understand that. If I’m the math teacher and we moved to the part of the meeting discussing ELA goals, there’s really no purpose to me being in that meeting. It’s not a rudeness thing, it’s trying to balance multiple tasks at one time and giving attention to all of them.

Except a lot of times discussion about accomodations and supports cuts across all subjects. You’re part of the team.

I’m aware and I contribute to that part of the discussion before leaving. When you’ve done this for a while, and have a good team you learn how to contribute to meetings and also be efficient with your time.

You’re supposed to be at the meeting. The meeting is the right of the child under federal law, not something you are volunteering for. This is a really bad attitude.

Look I’m just going to be honest you lecturing me here isn’t doing anything. The fact of the matter is it’s one of 20 items on my plate during my 45 minutes of getting things done and often eating lunch. It is what it is. Hopefully the new contract finds ways to be more respectful of teacher time so I can give more energy and attention to meetings but the reality it isn’t there.

Again, there’s a difference in theory and in practice. Our rights are constantly violated so miss me with federal law

Also, the meetings sometimes happen while the teacher is in class. If there is no sub, and admin says you have 10 minutes in this meeting while an AP covers your class, what are you supposed to do? Refuse to leave the meeting and then leave the kids unsupervised? Argue with admin, which would just lead to them hurting you on evaluations for "not being a team player"?

Why doesn’t WTU bargain for this? Making planning time more protected means that it will be even harder to get someone to cover the class. DCPS and WTU need to stop treating IEP meetings like optional extras. As I said, other districts don’t do this.

Why are you blaming the WTU for this? The lengths some parents go. I’m sure they have tried but again, water from a stone.

Somehow DCPS has done a masterful job of convincing upper middle class parents that all of the teachers in the district are out to destroy their children, that all the problems in the schools are entirely the fault of the teachers. Parents have so bought into the idea that there are no systemic issues on this city, or that what issues there are are caused by the WTU. I'm not going to defend WTU that hard - leadership of the WTU is horrible, uncoordinated, and seemingly only in it for themselves, and this does hurt the system and the kids. But WTU is not creating those systems, or the systemic issues inherent in them. They don't have enough organization in the leadership to run that massive of a con on DCPS. The systemic issues stem from the leadership of DCPS, and WTU aides and condones the failures, either directly, or at least tacitly.

WTU did a masterful job of losing UMC parents during the pandemic.

Yawn. Get a new song. This one is boring and stale.

More like losing truly RICH parents from elementary schools and Deal. The UMC parents in DCPS we know have almost all stuck around for lack of good alternatives. They don't want to move to the burbs, want to save for college and retirement and are mostly OK with their in-boundary schools in Upper NW or the tony areas of Ward 6.

The PP was saying that the WTU lost UMC parents, in terms of their support. Not that DCPS lost UMC parents. Two different things.

Relevance? You either vote with your feet out of DCPS or stay. Two outcomes, that's it. Your "support" is irrelevant in a city where UMC parents with children in public schools are a sliver of the electoral pie, other than perhaps in terms of your financial contribution to a PTA.

The dynamic at play here illustrates much of the problem with these discussions (at least as they play out in anonymous forums). There is a difference between "I am unhappy with you and I am going to advocate for things to change" and "I am done with you." My impression (as a parent who grew up with privilege) is that many of the other parents in DCUM-land grew up with everyone chasing us and wanting us to participate in their school/coffee shop/store/social circle/college. We have lived our lives getting away with telling people they are dead to us and expecting them to beg us to come back or re-engage. What you don't learn when you grow up UMC and at the top of the food chain is people can live without you. When you declare yourself done/over, you aren't explaining your concerns or how to bridge a gap. You end the discussion and relationship and/or put it on the other side to do all the work going forward. In this case what's happening is the teachers are replying, "OK. If you are saying you are done with teachers and think we all suck then I am done trying to placate you. Either stay or leave." The parents who behave that way put themselves in a box because they have nowhere else to go from there. They aren't going to leave but they have no more dry powder because they already used it all when they declared "you lost me forever".

I used to work in an industry with lots of clients, all of whom thought they were REALLY important. The economic reality was that it was a scale business and only the largest accounts mattered on a one off basis. When clients would call and abuse the reps on the phones, all the while threatening to close accounts, we would sometimes tell the client that was probably for the best and give them 30 days to close their accounts and move their assets, or we would liquidate and send them a check (and the associated tax consequences). Those clients were shocked. Many would pivot mid-sentence from having threatened to close their accounts to (incorrectly) claiming we didn't have the right to close their accounts (we did). They didn't realize until it was too late that they overplayed their hand.

I am a parent. I am not now nor have I ever been a teacher. I do not like the WTU. I think they do a piss poor job protecting good teachers and spend a lot of time and energy defending and enabling the entrenched power structure that exists primarily to preserve their power. I think the WTU's comms teams are atrocious at what they do. They exhibit no ability to read a room and they antagonize parties who are natural allies (read: parents). I also think teaching is an insanely hard job. I think even when teachers fail they mean well; no one would teach "just for the glory and/or money". And I know that in any relationship, the moment I declare someone else dead to me or over or useless that there is a risk that they will reply "ok". So I don't do that unless I am truly removing myself from the relationship.

If our kid is in bein educated in DCPS schools then you are NOT "done with teachers" or "exiting the relationship". Declaring it to be so doesn't help you achieve better outcomes.

Huh? DC parents (not just UMC) have options other than DCPS. This isn’t about what you imagine about the psyche of individuals. It’s about parents in significant numbers leaving DCPS - which will be a problem.

Except there is a great and wonderful population of students still in DCPS that need education and I love teaching them.

[Anonymous]

Half of the central office budget is special Ed. and the bulk of that goes to in-house lawyers who fight special Ed. Cases that are brought against DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP posting on IEPs here. WTU members please look at the MCPS contract and all that it provides to help MCEA members carry out this duty. There is a LOT more you can get, but only if you ask.

Hello SN teacher here. You really think we haven’t asked? DCPS is notorious for choosing to be sued rather than do what is legally required. There’s even a group of SN teachers talking to the district on their own since the union isn’t helping us. We are getting nowhere btw, because if you look at who is running sped departments NONE of them are former teachers and all of them just have a business degree. They do not the first thing about special education and only care about their 180k+ checks. It’s all about who you know here and not qualifications.

And looking over MCPS’ contract, I can see we have some similar things included in our except DCPS always gets loopholes. Also MCPS has a substitute shortage as well, albeit not as bad as ours. It was 53%, which is still significant.

What to do when no one wants to work in education or is unqualified?
I think that’s one of the biggest issues because the sub pay in MCPS is way more than DCPS and they still have a shortage.

I was lucky because my school could provide coverage but that will change because 2 of our long term subs are leaving.

And right here you agree with the PP that you think you are disagreeing with.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think teachers are at odds with parents here, it’s DCPS we all have an issue with. There was a school this year with no special education teacher or social worker for almost the entire second half of the year. DCPS refused to send someone from the sped office to help with the gap. They do not care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP posting on IEPs here. WTU members please look at the MCPS contract and all that it provides to help MCEA members carry out this duty. There is a LOT more you can get, but only if you ask.

Hello SN teacher here. You really think we haven’t asked? DCPS is notorious for choosing to be sued rather than do what is legally required. There’s even a group of SN teachers talking to the district on their own since the union isn’t helping us. We are getting nowhere btw, because if you look at who is running sped departments NONE of them are former teachers and all of them just have a business degree. They do not the first thing about special education and only care about their 180k+ checks. It’s all about who you know here and not qualifications.

And looking over MCPS’ contract, I can see we have some similar things included in our except DCPS always gets loopholes. Also MCPS has a substitute shortage as well, albeit not as bad as ours. It was 53%, which is still significant.

What to do when no one wants to work in education or is unqualified?
I think that’s one of the biggest issues because the sub pay in MCPS is way more than DCPS and they still have a shortage.

I was lucky because my school could provide coverage but that will change because 2 of our long term subs are leaving.

Look again at the MCEA contract. It has many many more specifics on IEPs than WTU. And yes, DCPS could violate the contract. If you feel that disempowered and don’t trust your union to support your grievances, that’s really a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP posting on IEPs here. WTU members please look at the MCPS contract and all that it provides to help MCEA members carry out this duty. There is a LOT more you can get, but only if you ask.

Hello SN teacher here. You really think we haven’t asked? DCPS is notorious for choosing to be sued rather than do what is legally required. There’s even a group of SN teachers talking to the district on their own since the union isn’t helping us. We are getting nowhere btw, because if you look at who is running sped departments NONE of them are former teachers and all of them just have a business degree. They do not the first thing about special education and only care about their 180k+ checks. It’s all about who you know here and not qualifications.

And looking over MCPS’ contract, I can see we have some similar things included in our except DCPS always gets loopholes. Also MCPS has a substitute shortage as well, albeit not as bad as ours. It was 53%, which is still significant.

What to do when no one wants to work in education or is unqualified?
I think that’s one of the biggest issues because the sub pay in MCPS is way more than DCPS and they still have a shortage.

I was lucky because my school could provide coverage but that will change because 2 of our long term subs are leaving.

Look again at the MCEA contract. It has many many more specifics on IEPs than WTU. And yes, DCPS could violate the contract. If you feel that disempowered and don’t trust your union to support your grievances, that’s really a shame.

NP but I think people are overestimating the grievance process here- it takes a long time and many times it’s just someone from central office saying don’t do that again to a principal. And then the principal does it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP posting on IEPs here. WTU members please look at the MCPS contract and all that it provides to help MCEA members carry out this duty. There is a LOT more you can get, but only if you ask.

Hello SN teacher here. You really think we haven’t asked? DCPS is notorious for choosing to be sued rather than do what is legally required. There’s even a group of SN teachers talking to the district on their own since the union isn’t helping us. We are getting nowhere btw, because if you look at who is running sped departments NONE of them are former teachers and all of them just have a business degree. They do not the first thing about special education and only care about their 180k+ checks. It’s all about who you know here and not qualifications.

And looking over MCPS’ contract, I can see we have some similar things included in our except DCPS always gets loopholes. Also MCPS has a substitute shortage as well, albeit not as bad as ours. It was 53%, which is still significant.

What to do when no one wants to work in education or is unqualified?
I think that’s one of the biggest issues because the sub pay in MCPS is way more than DCPS and they still have a shortage.

I was lucky because my school could provide coverage but that will change because 2 of our long term subs are leaving.

Look again at the MCEA contract. It has many many more specifics on IEPs than WTU. And yes, DCPS could violate the contract. If you feel that disempowered and don’t trust your union to support your grievances, that’s really a shame.

DCPS loves to drag out grievances. They have no problem deliberately doing the wrong thing and then kicking the can down the road to delay the full impacts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP posting on IEPs here. WTU members please look at the MCPS contract and all that it provides to help MCEA members carry out this duty. There is a LOT more you can get, but only if you ask.

Hello SN teacher here. You really think we haven’t asked? DCPS is notorious for choosing to be sued rather than do what is legally required. There’s even a group of SN teachers talking to the district on their own since the union isn’t helping us. We are getting nowhere btw, because if you look at who is running sped departments NONE of them are former teachers and all of them just have a business degree. They do not the first thing about special education and only care about their 180k+ checks. It’s all about who you know here and not qualifications.

And looking over MCPS’ contract, I can see we have some similar things included in our except DCPS always gets loopholes. Also MCPS has a substitute shortage as well, albeit not as bad as ours. It was 53%, which is still significant.

What to do when no one wants to work in education or is unqualified?
I think that’s one of the biggest issues because the sub pay in MCPS is way more than DCPS and they still have a shortage.

I was lucky because my school could provide coverage but that will change because 2 of our long term subs are leaving.

Look again at the MCEA contract. It has many many more specifics on IEPs than WTU. And yes, DCPS could violate the contract. If you feel that disempowered and don’t trust your union to support your grievances, that’s really a shame.

DCPS loves to drag out grievances. They have no problem deliberately doing the wrong thing and then kicking the can down the road to delay the full impacts

Well why are you even bothering to negotiate a contract then? Sheesh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP posting on IEPs here. WTU members please look at the MCPS contract and all that it provides to help MCEA members carry out this duty. There is a LOT more you can get, but only if you ask.

Hello SN teacher here. You really think we haven’t asked? DCPS is notorious for choosing to be sued rather than do what is legally required. There’s even a group of SN teachers talking to the district on their own since the union isn’t helping us. We are getting nowhere btw, because if you look at who is running sped departments NONE of them are former teachers and all of them just have a business degree. They do not the first thing about special education and only care about their 180k+ checks. It’s all about who you know here and not qualifications.

And looking over MCPS’ contract, I can see we have some similar things included in our except DCPS always gets loopholes. Also MCPS has a substitute shortage as well, albeit not as bad as ours. It was 53%, which is still significant.

What to do when no one wants to work in education or is unqualified?
I think that’s one of the biggest issues because the sub pay in MCPS is way more than DCPS and they still have a shortage.

I was lucky because my school could provide coverage but that will change because 2 of our long term subs are leaving.

Look again at the MCEA contract. It has many many more specifics on IEPs than WTU. And yes, DCPS could violate the contract. If you feel that disempowered and don’t trust your union to support your grievances, that’s really a shame.

DCPS loves to drag out grievances. They have no problem deliberately doing the wrong thing and then kicking the can down the road to delay the full impacts

Well why are you even bothering to negotiate a contract then? Sheesh!

Can’t speak for everyone else in the WTU but I want a new contract bc if we’re gonna be continually crapped on we should at least be able to afford high quality TP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP posting on IEPs here. WTU members please look at the MCPS contract and all that it provides to help MCEA members carry out this duty. There is a LOT more you can get, but only if you ask.

Hello SN teacher here. You really think we haven’t asked? DCPS is notorious for choosing to be sued rather than do what is legally required. There’s even a group of SN teachers talking to the district on their own since the union isn’t helping us. We are getting nowhere btw, because if you look at who is running sped departments NONE of them are former teachers and all of them just have a business degree. They do not the first thing about special education and only care about their 180k+ checks. It’s all about who you know here and not qualifications.

And looking over MCPS’ contract, I can see we have some similar things included in our except DCPS always gets loopholes. Also MCPS has a substitute shortage as well, albeit not as bad as ours. It was 53%, which is still significant.

What to do when no one wants to work in education or is unqualified?
I think that’s one of the biggest issues because the sub pay in MCPS is way more than DCPS and they still have a shortage.

I was lucky because my school could provide coverage but that will change because 2 of our long term subs are leaving.

Look again at the MCEA contract. It has many many more specifics on IEPs than WTU. And yes, DCPS could violate the contract. If you feel that disempowered and don’t trust your union to support your grievances, that’s really a shame.

DCPS loves to drag out grievances. They have no problem deliberately doing the wrong thing and then kicking the can down the road to delay the full impacts

Well why are you even bothering to negotiate a contract then? Sheesh!

Can’t speak for everyone else in the WTU but I want a new contract bc if we’re gonna be continually crapped on we should at least be able to afford high quality TP

+1

At this point it’s just about the money, nothing else seems to be negotiated in good faith.

[Anonymous]

So this does seem like a great way for the union to have common ground with parents, particularly the parents of kids with IEPs. (And to my knowledge some of these parents are very very willing to push and push for what their kids need; so, an asset.)

DCPS sounds like it sucks wrt following the legal requirements of IEPs, with teachers and kids shafted in the process.

None of that is to say that teachers shouldn't push for higher pay. Just that if a goal is to get more parents on board with WTU and to make DCPS your common enemy, this sounds like a beneficial area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So this does seem like a great way for the union to have common ground with parents, particularly the parents of kids with IEPs. (And to my knowledge some of these parents are very very willing to push and push for what their kids need; so, an asset.)

DCPS sounds like it sucks wrt following the legal requirements of IEPs, with teachers and kids shafted in the process.

None of that is to say that teachers shouldn't push for higher pay. Just that if a goal is to get more parents on board with WTU and to make DCPS your common enemy, this sounds like a beneficial area.

I am a teacher and I completely agree. DCPS is out of compliance with IDEA constantly and does not seem to care at all. They choose to bloat central office instead of provide legally mandated resources to schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So this does seem like a great way for the union to have common ground with parents, particularly the parents of kids with IEPs. (And to my knowledge some of these parents are very very willing to push and push for what their kids need; so, an asset.)

DCPS sounds like it sucks wrt following the legal requirements of IEPs, with teachers and kids shafted in the process.

None of that is to say that teachers shouldn't push for higher pay. Just that if a goal is to get more parents on board with WTU and to make DCPS your common enemy, this sounds like a beneficial area.

I am a teacher and I completely agree. DCPS is out of compliance with IDEA constantly and does not seem to care at all. They choose to bloat central office instead of provide legally mandated resources to schools.

WTU could advocate for each school to have an IEP Teacher (who has coverage responsibilities), a FT SN coordinator at each school with NO teaching responsibilities, or additional parent-school communication planning time (which can include implementing IEPs), or … additional pay for attending IEP meetings before or after school. Or a teacher training day could be changed into an IEP day.