To: Vickie Hall, Chief Human Resources Officer

I am writing to inform you that the process implemented for teacher surveys, interviews, and ultimately placement, is completely unacceptable and a blatant violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between DFT and DPS.

In addition to teachers receiving directions they are not permitted to implement, telling them to select 18 schools is ridiculous and counter-productive.

As I have previously stated, there is no viable reason for teachers not to return to the schools they are currently assigned unless that school is scheduled to lose staff. Teachers are being "interviewed" who have not even been subject to the "drive-by" observations.

Some principals are directing teachers to sign waivers (prohibiting them from other interviews) and threatening them with poor evaluations based upon four- and five-minute observations.

Since I am out of town for the AFT Executive Council, I strongly recommend that you  meet with Executive Vice-President Edna Reaves ASAP so the specific concerns can be brought to you face-to-face and a suitable resolution developed.

Otherwise I shall be forced to take legal action against the district. Our goal is to have teachers not only where they should be, but where they have a right to be at the start of the new school year.

Prevailing contract language exists governing the recall process (seniority not withstanding) that the district is choosing to ignore.

-Keith Johnson, DFT President

May 10, 2012

To: Gwendolyn de Jongh, Chief Labor Negotiator, DPS

The DFT is filing a Step 2 Grievance against the School District of the City of Detroit for the implementation of a teacher evaluation tool and process that was not jointly developed and agreed upon in accordance with the amended provision under Article XVIII of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the DFT and DPS. The aforementioned amended provision is clear and explicit: "The evaluation tool and process shall be jointly developed and implemented for the 2010-2011 school year."

Included in this violation of the agreement is the utilization of individuals who have no supervisory authority over teachers, specifically retired administrators hired as consultants to observe and evaluate teacher effectiveness. These individuals have, at best, limited knowledge of current curriculum standards, policies, and school climate. In addition, these individuals have little or no familiarity with staff and are not accountable for decisions/recommendations made via their observations.

The Union insists that the district immediately cease and desist from further implementation of the evaluation tool and process, and expunge all references to evaluations done as of this date unless and until an agreement is reached in accordance with the aforementioned provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Union cites Article XVIII (Teacher Competence), and all applicable provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement as the basis for this grievance. We expect a hearing on this issue within 10 days.

-Keith Johnson, DFT President

Come and fight back against the attacks on educators and all working people in Michigan. DFT members can attribute 90 percent of the negative issues we are facing  to new legislation in Lansing. Now we have a chance to fight back and make a change. Please join us and union members from around the metro area for a labor walk to get signatures for the Collective Bargaining Amendment to the state constitution. This amendment would solidify our rights and roll back much of the harmful legislation that has been passed.

• What: Protect Our Jobs Labor Walk
• When: Saturday, May 19, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Where: DFT Office
  2875 W. Grand Blvd.
  Detroit, MI 48202

Evaluations being conducted this year in DPS are mandated by the state, as they are in all districts in Michigan. We are not opposed to teacher accountability or a fair and comprehensive evaluation. However, we know that a brief classroom observation does not adequately report who we are as educators. To assist in forming the big picture, the district has provided a space on PD360 that allows teachers to upload evidence of their teaching practice. This evidence will be taken into account as administrators complete the end-of-the-year evaluations. Do not wait until the end of the month, when your students start to take things home.

To upload your evidence, go to www.pd360.com, go to the homepage, next to the home icon, click on the target button that provides access to your portfolio.

Teachers should collect evidence of their teaching practice (that cannot be easily seen in an observation) to meet the requirements of the following categories taken from the Teacher Evaluation Rubric:

Demonstrated Pedogical Skills:

You may upload awards, certifications, verification of participation to workshops, seminars and completed courses, teacher-created lesson plans that includes differentiated instruction, taped lessons that demonstrate your ability to deliver instruction and facilitate student learning.

Student Growth:

Upload teacher created assessments (pretests and post-tests), annotated notes, student portfolios, student surveys, pictures of students' projects.

Classroom Management:

Upload behavior management programs, behavior charts that demonstrate improved student behavior, newsletters, snapshots of a classroom website, classroom calendars, and anything you do to build culture and community in your classroom.

Relevant Special Training:

Upload any awards, articles written about you, letters written by parents and administrators, pictures of your work as a collaborator, photographs of any professional development you may have led, and anything that shows how you partner with students and families and the community.

-Vanessa Parnell, co-chair of Peer Assistance and Review (PAR)

DFT members have raised concerns about interviews. We strongly recommended that the district not waste time or resources interviewing people whose schools remain open. 

Whenever the interviews are scheduled, and right now we do not know when or with whom, if you are interested in remaining at your current work location, there is nothing you need to bring. Right now we don't even know who will be assigned as principals to the remaining DPS schools. As of today, (May 7, 2012) principals have not been informed of their assignments nor has the DFT.

Although the actual process has not been finalized, teachers have been instructed to bring the following items to "interviews:" resumes, transcripts, letters of recommendation, portfolios and teaching certificates.

Our position on this is clear; YOU DO NOT NEED TO BRING THESE ITEMS TO AN INTERVIEW! You ARE NOT new applicants for a job with DPS. YOU ARE ALREADY EMPLOYEES OF DPS!

Transcripts and teaching certificates are already on file in Human Resources. Thus any principal who wishes to know your certification can contact HR or look it up on line. The transcript IS NOT NECESSARY for a principal to see. Your grades were good enough for you to get hired by DPS and that is who employs you, not a principal.

However, if you are going to become a DISPLACED TEACHER as a result of school closure, charter, or EAA, you should prepare a resume and portfolio of your work to accent your personal interview.

We will have a more detailed position regarding "interviews" once there is a definitive process in place.

Please remember that rescission of layoff notices or recall from ACTUAL layoff is no longer primarily based on seniority due to the new law signed by the governor.

The DFT will closely monitor how this is done and what criteria for making the determination of whose notices are rescinded and who gets recalled. A legal response could be warranted and we will not hesitate to act accordingly. Please check the DFT website regularly as updated information becomes available.

-Keith R. Johnson, DFT President

News in this issue of The Detroit Teacher:

• Mumford Protests "Theft" of New School
• Drive-By Observations Will Equal Lawsuits, Not Teacher Effectiveness
• Perpetuating the Achievement Gap
• What Every Member Needs to Do

And more....Click above.

We are making real progress on getting the constitutional amendment to protect collective bargaining on the ballot in November. This has legislators in Lansing running scared. Removal of payroll deduction for union dues is a ploy to slow us down. It’s time for all of us to recommit to our union by signing up for alternative dues deduction. The more dues we collect the stronger we are as a union!

The "Recommit Project" is urgent. We have a lot of folks to talk to before the school year runs out. We have Labor Reps and Organizers out on the ground now to help get this project moving.

Alternative Dues forms are available in your building with your building representative or at the DFT. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the DFT office at 313-875-3500 or Jodie Easley from AFT at dftrecommitproject@gmail.com. 

A hearing for a class action class-size grievance is quickly approaching.  Some schools still have not turned in their class size reports. Please submit them by Thursday, May 3, 2012 via DFT fax 313-875-3512, attention Judy Smith. Click above for the class size report form.

At the April 19 DFT membership meeting, COPE chair Ivy Bailey asked members to dump the change in their pockets and purses onto the round tables. She collected $105.90 from the loose change. As members were dumping their change on the tables, others were waving $100 checks for her to collect. In all, almost $1,800 was collected at the meeting. The COPE committee is asking each member to commit to giving $100 this year. This is a campaign to stop the attacks on teachers and support state legislators who appreciate the hard and thankless work Detroit teachers do every day.

Update on Proposed Changes to the Retirement System (Senate Bill 1040)

From AFT Michigan legislative coordinator Louise Somalski: 

"You may also let our members know that their calls to legislators' offices are having an effect and to keep up the good work. Also, the committee chair has stated publicly that the July 1, 2012 date (that would have made negative changes to the pension system) will be moved to later in the year and several other (good) changes are being seriously considered.

The best advise for members contemplating retirement is to sign up on their MI Account (www.michigan.gov/orsmiaccount), start filling out their paperwork (it takes some time to complete) and hold it until we know more information.

It is not time to panic, it is time to call legislators and to plan."

From the Gongwer Report:

Jansen: Will 'Review Timing' On M.P.S.E.R.S. Effective Date
Sen. Mark Jansen said today he plans to work on a substitute to the Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System legislation to change the effective date to avoid a mass exodus of teachers before the school year ends.

The sponsor and myself are trying to review that timing to make sure there is appropriate time for those employees to make a wise decision,' said Jansen (R-Gaines Township), chair of the Senate Appropriations Retirement Subcommittee after a hearing today on SB 1040.

Don Wotruba, deputy director of the Michigan Association of School Boards, told the subcommittee it should consider a transition period for teachers considering retirement in the next three or so years, at least.

When pressed by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale) if three years would be enough, Mr. Wotruba said three years would be "reasonable " but would be open to other suggestions.

The subcommittee questioned subsequent testimony on the idea of a transition period as well. Jansen said he would consider the suggestion as the subcommittee moves toward a decision.

Members do not have to complete an online application to work summer school. They can go through the usual procedure of notifying the principal of their wishes to work  by signing the summer school roster. Summer school pay will be $32.50 an hour.

The DFT and other unions representing school employees filed a lawsuit in federal court today challenging the new law banning school districts from deducting union dues from employees' checks. While the law affects no other public employee unions, the unions argued that the law is unconstitutional retribution to teacher unions.

"The day this bill passed the Legislature, we wrote to Gov. Snyder outlining the constitutional problems with this unfair law," said AFT Michigan President David Hecker. "By signing this bill, he clearly ignored the fact that there is no rational reason for this to be law. The House Fiscal Agency says this won't save money - in fact, it may cost some districts money to enact the change."

The Senate Fiscal Agency has done a detailed analysis of Senate Bill 1040. Click above to review.

A hearing will be held April 11 in Lansing to take public testimony regarding the retirement reform measures the state legislature is pursuing. Click above for details.

Today AFT Michigan has joined with labor and community groups to launch a petition drive to amend the Michigan Constitution to protect collective bargaining rights and strengthen working families.  We are proud to be a part of this effort to be proactive in the face of the anti-worker measures coming out of Lansing.  Petitions will be coming to your worksite, please sign.  If you are able and willing to volunteer to collect signatures in your local or community please let us know.  Protect your job, your benefits, and your voice!

Madonna University will be offering off-campus master’s programs in your area starting this September. Classes meet only one night per week, and have a 2-2 ½ year completion time. Current teachers are offered a 24 percent tuition discount. For information, go to: http://www.teachhub.com/emc/madonna-university?Website

Several hundred DFT members have decided, or may still decide, to retire July 1. Following is a timeline to help members through the retirement process. (Unfortunately, some DFT members do not read this website, so, if you are aware of DFT members who are planning to retire July 1, please pass this information along to them.) Also, although much of this information was containted in Retirement Alert #2, a few items have changed.

1. In order to retire, you must meet certain criteria:

• If you have MIP, you must be at least age 46 with 30 years of service credit, or age 55 with 15 years of service credit (with 10 years actually worked) or age 60 with 5 years actually worked.
• If you have Basic, you must be at least age 55 with 30 years of service credit, or age 55 with 15 years of service credit (with 10 years actually worked) or age 60 with 10 years actually worked. 

2. In order to retire, you need to determine if your pension (and Social Security if eligible) will provide you with enough income. Go to the retirement system's website (www.michigan.gov/orsmiaccount), calculate what your pension would be and compare that to your bring home pay now. (If you are eligible for Social Security, check with Social Security to see how much that would be).

3. In early April, submit your retirement application to the State (www.michigan.gov/orsmiaccount). If you are 65, or older, you need to apply for Medicare parts A and B if you have not already done so. (See pages 6 and 7 of the October, 2011 issue of the Detroit Teacher [on the DFT's website] for instructions.)

4. Also in early April, if you have a TDP (buying time through payroll deduction) and you wish to apply any of your lump sum payout money from the District (TIP, sick days, last four pays [if on 26 pays] etc.) toward your TDP, stop by the DFT office (call first [313.875.3500 ext. 783] to make sure I am there) to pick up the forms needed.

5. In early May, contact your TSA agent if you wish to shelter any of your lump sum payout money from the District (TIP, sick days, last four pays [if on 26 pays] etc.).

6. In early June (if you have not already done so), turn in your irrevocable Separation from Service (SFS) form to the District. You would do this by going to HR (10th floor Fisher Building using the Second Avenue elevators), asking for two SFS forms, filling them both out (putting July 1, 2012 as your retirement date), checking the box that says "retiring," getting both SFS forms date-stamped, and taking one SFS form with you for your records.

7. If you retire July 1 and follow the instructions above, you should expect to get:

• your new insurance card from the state in June.
• one last pay from DPS in early July.
• your first pension payment on July 25.
• your lump sum payout money (TIP, sick days, last for pays [if on 26 pays] etc.) in August .
• your 2.5 percent bonus by Sept. 30.

 -Patrick Falcusan, DFT Retirement Counselor

The DFT's Election Committee certified those DFT members elected to attend the 2012 AFT Convention this July in Detroit and the AFT Michigan Convention in April in Detroit. Click above for all results.

Dear Members:

I attended the March 13 EAA board meeting. While there are still many more questions than answers about the EAA, this is what we know so far.

-Edna Reaves, DFT Executive Vice President

Q: What schools were selected to be in the EAA?

A: Brenda Scott, Burns, Law, Bethune, Murphy, Nolan, Phoenix, Stewart, Trix, Central, Denby, Ford, Mumford, Pershing and Southeastern.

Q: Will the EAA schools be unionized?

A: John Covington, EAA chancellor, said at the board meeting that it hasn't been determined.

Q: Will EAA teachers be in the state retirement system?

A: No.

Q: Will the EAA principals be required to accept DPS teachers based on seniority?

A: No. Up to 200 of the 600 EAA teaching positions will be filled by Teach for America. DFT members may apply for remaining positions but EAA is free to hire whomever they want.

Q: If I miss the March 19 deadline but decide afterward to retire, will I still be eligible for the sick day payout?

A: No.

Q: How will EAA schools differ from DPS schools?

A: Among other things, the EAA schools will have an extended day (8 hours per day) and extended school year (to Aug. 6). Roy Roberts announced every child in EAA (as well as DPS) will have an individualized learning plan.

Q: Will there be extra pay for the extended day and extended year?

A: EAA announced that teacher pay will be $5,000 a year higher than the average for the region. It's unclear whether the region means the city of Detroit or the entire metro area.

Q: If I go to EAA, what step will I be hired on?

A: EAA is a new school district. They have not disclosed whether they will have salary steps or whether they will hire people above step 1.

Q: If my school is being placed in EAA, and I do not stay with that school, will I be placed at another DPS school?

A: Given that our contract expires June 30 and laws regarding tenure and seniority have changed, it's unclear how DPS will assign teachers for next year. 

Q: Will there be enough teaching positions for all the displaced teachers?

A: We estimate a loss of 1,400 members next fall between EAA, school closings and charters. If 700 teachers retire or resign, there still could be 700 teachers without a position next fall.

Today's announcement of the 15 schools that will now be part of the EAA has understandably created a sense of concern for members assigned to those schools.

While there are still many questions that remain unanswered and maybe
unanswerable ( by the DFT) until more information becomes available, there are some things I can tell you definitively.

First, the DFT will exhaust every resource to ensure that the rights of ALL MEMBERS are upheld in accordance with all applicable laws including state statute and the Public Employees Relations Act (PERA).

Despite the assault upon collective bargaining rights passed by the state legislature, we are, through our attorneys and through AFT and NEA, reviewing recently passed legislation that adversely affects our members in order to determine an effective course of action. Protests alone will not be the answer.

We have demonstrated that when we utilize our legal remedies WE WIN! We will mount a legally based challenge to what we believe violates our rights and our contract.

We also will review some of the schools selected for the EAA in relation to the $500.5 million dollar bond that was passed for the construction or renovation of Detroit Public Schools.

I want this membership to know unequivocally that YOUR UNION will continue to protect your rights and your jobs to the fullest extent of the law. 

In Solidarity,
Keith R. Johnson, DFT President

In the last several days, over 600 DFT members have contacted me concerning the retirement incentive based on sick days. Retirement Alerts #1 and #2 (posted earlier on this website) contain answers to many of those questions, but here are more details.

1. The deadline to turn in your Separation from Service (SFS) form in order to receive the retirement incentive based on sick days remains Monday, March 19. (Go to HR on the 10th floor of the Fisher Building, using the Second Ave. elevators). Make sure to turn in two SFS forms, get them both date-stamped and take one SFS form with you for your records.

2. The State Retirement System will only accept paper applications that are received by March 31. (Some members managed to download the paper forms before the forms were removed from the Retirement System's website.) After that, retirement applications must be made online at www.michigan.gov/orsmiaccount. Online applications should be made three months before your retirement date (during April for those retiring July 1).

3. Many members signed up to buy years of service (a TDP) and now want to use their payout monies (sick day bonus, TIP, summer pay [26 pays] etc.) to make a final payment on their TDP. Members using money from their TSA and their payout to pay for their TDP need to start that process in April. Members using only their payout money to pay for their TDP need to start that process in May. All of the instructions and forms needed to facilitate that process are here at the DFT office. Members can stop by to pick up those forms beginning April 1.

-Patrick Falcusan, DFT Retirement Counselor

DFT members are urged to make copies of all correspondence with the district because original documents can be lost. Make sure to keep a copy for your files on all correspondence (for example: separation from service, invocation of bumping rights, substitute agreement upon layoff, and additional salary request forms). Have your own copy available to be date-stamped by the district. Never leave any department at the district without a second date-stamped copy of what you gave the district.

Nearly 300 members have contacted me by phone or e-mail since the retirement incentive was announced Feb. 29. Based on the issues raised in those contacts, it is important that members wishing to take advantage of the incentive know the following:

1. In order to retire, you must meet certain criteria:

• If you have MIP, you must be at least age 46 with 30 years of service credit, or age 55 with 15 years of service credit (with 10 years actually worked) or age 60 with 5 years actually worked.
• If you have Basic, you must be at least age 55 with 30 years of service credit, or age 55 with 15 years of service credit (with 10 years actually worked) or age 60 with 10 years actually worked. 

2. In order to retire, you need to determine if your pension (and Social Security if eligible) will provide you with enough income. Go to the retirement system's website (www.michigan.gov/orsmiaccount), calculate what your pension would be and compare that to your bring home pay now. (If you are eligible for Social Security, check with Social Security to see how much that would be.)

3. If you decide that you wish to retire July 1, 2012, all you need to do between now and March 19, 2012 is to turn in your Separation from Service (SFS) form to HR on the 10th floor of the Fisher Building (using the Second Ave. elevators). Make sure to have two SFS forms, get them both date-stamped, turn one in and keep the other SFS form  for your records.

4. In early April, submit your retirement application to the State (www.michigan.gov/orsmiaccount). If you are 65, or older, you need to apply for Medicare parts A and B if you have not already done so. (See pages 6 and 7 of the October, 2011 issue of the Detroit Teacher [www.dft231.com] for instructions.)

5. In early May, contact your TSA agent if you wish to shelter any of your lump sum payout money from the District (TIP, sick days, last four pays [if on 26 pays] etc.).

6. In early May, contact me (313.875.3500 ext. 783) if you have a TDP (buying time through payroll deduction), and you wish to apply any of your lump sum payout money from the District (TIP, sick days, last four pays [if on 26 pays] etc.) toward your TDP.

7. If you retire July 1 and follow the instructions above, you should expect to get:

• your new insurance card from the State in June.
• one last pay from DPS in early July.
• your first pension payment on July 25.
• your lump sum payout money (TIP, sick days, last for pays [if on 26 pays] etc.) in August .
• your 2.5 percent bonus paid by Sept. 30. 

-Patrick Falcusan, DFT Retirement Counselor

A retirement incentive based on a member's sick bank (click above to see amounts) is being offered by the Detroit Public Schools to all members of the DFT who: 

• agree to remain in the employment of DPS until June 30, 2012.
• agree to retire on July 1, 2012.
• agree not to teach summer school during the summer of 2012. 

A DFT member who wishes to take advantage of this incentive must:

• no later than Monday, March 19, 2012, go to Human Resources (10th floor, Fisher Building, use Second Ave. elevators).
• fill out two irrevocable Separation from Service (SFS) forms (click above for form) indicating a retirement date of July 1, 2012.
• get both SFS forms date-stamped.
• take one SFS form with them for their records as proof that they made the March 19, 2012 deadline.

Almost all DFT members who have been considering retiring July 1, 2012 (and also, in many cases, July 1, 2013) should seriously consider taking advantage of this incentive.

(Although the SFS form is due now, members retiring July 1, 2012 do not need to submit their retirement forms to the State until early April and their request to shelter their pay out monies from the District [or buy time] until early May.)

Because this incentive is based on the number of days remaining in a member's sick bank at the end of this school year, members should be judicious in the use of their sick time during the remainder of the school year.

For more information about helping you decide if retirement is right for you, go to the Michigan Retirement System's website at: michigan.gov/orsmiaccount.

Patrick Falcusan
Retirement Counselor

For DFT members interested in a graduate degree, Marygrove College is offering a Master in the Art of Teaching. This is an all online 18-month program. For more info go to http://info.marygrove.edu/Detroit-Federation-of-Teachers/?utm_campaign=DFT---Ad&utm_source=banner%20ad and click above.  

• Full  =  $892.32
• Three-quarter  =  $669.24
• Half  =  $446.16
• Quarter  =  $223.08

The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the DFT and DPS explicitly states that the union and district will jointly develop a teacher evaluation tool and process. To date, the DFT has NOT signed off on any evaluation tool or process to be implemented for the 2011-12 school year.

The district has not been willing to have substantive meetings with the DFT on restructuring the evaluation tool and process. Further, it has come to the union's attention that DFT members, including instructional specialists and literacy coaches, have been told by principals that they should begin observations. This is strictly prohibited.

DFT members may not observe or assess the job performance of other DFT members with the exception of the Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) consultants, who were specifically hired to provide support and assistance. Even PAR consultants do not evaluate teacher performance. Any observations or evaluations that are done, are invalid until the DFT reaches an agreement and signs off on an evaluation tool and process.

-Keith Johnson, DFT President

Click above for the current list of building representatives for all schools. Please review the list and send in any additions or corrections to mweertz@dft231.com.

The Emergency Manager ordered a 10 percent salary reduction for the 2011-2012 school year. DPS has not released a revised salary schedule. The salary schedule below was prepared by the DFT and is not the official pay schedule. However, we believe this is an accurate record of the new pay rates.

Click above for the Detroit Public Schools 2011-12 Academic Calendar.

The DFT is asking members to submit their home e-mail addresses so we have the ability to alert them on short notice about critical issues. Please DO NOT give us your DPS e-mail address (ex: XXX@detroitk12.org) because we are not authorized to conduct union business through your district e-mail. To submit: e-mail us, with your name, file number, and home e-mail address at surveys@dft231.com.

Human Resources is still filling classrooms and trying to reach teachers laid off in prior years. The department is having great difficulty reaching people because of wrong telephone numbers and addresses. Call HR today to make sure all of your contact information is updated. Call HR at 313-873-7100 or 313-873-7230.

The nature of our roles as union and management is that we may disagree on issues, but never on focus. Our mutual focus is to provide the best learning environment for all of our students, at every school, in every neighborhood across the district. We jointly, with all of our resources, commit to transform the Detroit Public Schools through this historic and evolutionary contract. This contract will include:
· Peer Assistance and Review
· Meaningful jointly-determined professional staff development
· Best practices at Priority Schools
· Shared decision-making
· School-based performance bonuses
· Comprehensive teacher evaluation system

We understand that to achieve what we set out to do we must eliminate bureaucratic impediments to allow flexibility, creativity, entrepreneurship, trust and risk-taking to become the new reality in our schools.

We mutually agree to transform our schools. We challenge ourselves each day to improve student learning, based on academic rigor, newfound flexibility, meaningful assessments, and true accountability of administrators, teachers and staff, parents and students. The standards we hold for our students must never be lower than those we hold for our own children. To accomplish this, we must focus on each instructional and each operational change to support the children and adults in schools, whom we expect to meet these rigorous challenges. 

The academic reforms and increased level of accountability for all those responsible for instruction and instructional support of our students are meaningless unless we simultaneously ensure a comprehensive education with adequate books, supplies and technology for students and staff.
We must also guarantee a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff.

Change must be service-oriented, supportive and sufficiently flexible so that each school’s educational vision becomes a reality. Change must be practical, possible, efficient and timely. Respect for each other and for each student must be unconditional. 

Together we will transform DPS. Our students deserve no less!

The DFT and the district have agreed on a Donation of Sick Days Policy to allow members to donate unused sick days to catastrophically ill members. Members who wish to qualify, click above for the policy. Members wishing to donate must complete the attached Authorization to Donate Sick Leave Days form. Click above. Please fax the form to Office of Payroll (313) 873-4448.

Click above to get the NEW LANGUAGE in the 2009-2012 contract between the DFT and the Detroit Public Schools. The complete new contract is not yet available. All other parts of the agreement will continue without change.

If you are off work more than FIVE days, you need to complete paperwork (physician's certificate) for pay or a leave. Forms can be obtained by going through the intranet at the www.detroitk12.org website. Click on Human Resources and then Employee Health Services to download the forms. Make sure to file these important papers otherwise your pay or job may be in jeopardy.

School districts in Wayne County now are on a common calendar. Click above for the detailed calendar.

It is critical for all DFT members to update their contact information, especially those members who are laid off. There have been instances when an employee is recalled but the DPS Human Resources Department doesn't have a current address or telephone number to recall him or her. Update your information both at the DPS Human Resources Department and the DFT. You must notify both institutions. Notifying one does not translate to the other. To update info with the DFT, call 313-875-3500 or fax updated info to 313-875-3512.

If a DFT member is served with a court summons or notice of a lawsuit regarding their employment, send it to the DFT immediately. These documents must be forwarded to General Counsel within seven calendar days of being served.

Approximately 100 DPS teachers lost their jobs at the end of the 2007-08 school year because they failed to meet the requirements for state certification.

Contact the DFT President, Vice President, Labor Relations Administrators, Financial Analyst, Controller, or the Editor.