On the Air for School Reform

As the council gets set to take up the school reform issue tomorrow, union leaders and supporters of fair school reform hit the airwaves for back-to-back interviews Friday morning. “The Mayor must include all stakeholders – parents, teachers, unions, Councilmembers – in this process,” Washington Teachers Union Local 6 Vice President Nathan Saunders told Gloria Minott on WPFW’s “Metro Watch” show at 9:45A. “We are confident our bill will have enough support by Tuesday,” said Metro Council President Jos Williams – who followed Saunders – about the union alternative school reform legislation supported by Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. and other Councilmembers (LABOR PUSHES SCHOOL REFORM ALTERNATIVES 12/6 UC ). Williams then appeared on the Mark Plotkin show on WTOP at 10A with WTU Local 6 Attorney Lee Jackson. “This issue is not about union workers. It’s about workers. This is about the question of fairness,” Williams told Plotkin. “Right now, employees are covered by a just cause provision” protecting them from arbitrary firings, said Jackson. But, under the Mayor’s bill just cause would be taken away, making hundreds of employees “at-will,” and there would be no due process for workers, Jackson said. Williams also discussed the issue of the lack of stakeholder inclusion in the school reform process. Chancellor Rhee “wants reform, we want reform,” but she just needs to “give us a seat at the table” Williams said. The Chancellor “assured teachers that they would have a relationship and teachers are still waiting for that relationship to develop.” Jackson and Williams also addressed fears that this legislation may expand to employees outside the DC Central Office. Chancellor Rhee “has said this at various public forums” Williams said. A report from DC Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi, obtained by union officials late Thursday, states the “at-will” provision may potentially be expanded to other parts of DC Public School system, including the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization and the Office of the State Superintendent Education. Click here to add your voice with over one hundred residents who have already taken action for fair school reform.