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 access 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

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

In This Issue: DFT to Vote Via Internet, Academic Engagement Soars at A.L. Holmes, Can I Expect to Get My 3% Back? And More. Click above for Jan/Feb issue.

Many DFT members have called with questions about a memo from DPS regarding the 3 percent Health Care Trust contributions.

The memo was sent to advise you that the 3 percent Health Care Trust withholdings will be shown in box 14 of your W-2 this year. This amount is now being reported separately because, as of July 1, 2011, the 3 percent deduction is not subject to Social Security tax or Medicare tax. This saves you about $4 per paycheck. This has no affect on the taxable wages shown in box 1 of your W-2.

-Mark O'Keefe, DFT Executive Vice President

The DFT will hold an election on March 12, 13, & 14, 2012 for delegates to the AFT Convention in Detroit in July and the AFT Michigan Convention in Detroit in April. For the first time, votes will be cast via internet or phone. To see the calendar of important election dates, please click above.

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.

In the event that Zangle goes down (it was down one day last week), the administrator would print a student roster to fill in. The teacher has two days to go into Zangle to edit attendance.

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.

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.

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.