Law about to pass PA. legislature to break union contracts in distressed schools & end school boards

[JPZenger]

Last edited Tue May 22, 2012, 10:03 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/05/pennsylvania_advances_bill_tha.html

As several urban school districts in PA are tottering on financial insolvency, the PA. Legislature is moving fast on their proposed solution. One, it would allow breaking union contracts. Two, it would make it easy to convert public schools into charters. Three, it would say that the ailing school districts could borrow money from an imaginary loan pool that does not exist.

The legislature is also trying to head off a current Federal lawsuit that claims that the State Government is violating Federal law by not adequately funding special education students in the Chester-Upland School District. That lawsuit is designed to open up the door to federal review of how Pa. funds lower income school districts.

You may remember that one of Corbett's largest donors heads the largest charter school in the State, which operates in the Chester-Upland School District.


Update from PSEA:

"The amendment gives the state Secretary of Education the authority to declare districts to be in moderate or severe financial recovery status. Once this declaration is made, the Secretary appoints a Chief Recovery Officer (CRO), who will develop and implement a recovery plan. This amendment removes the authority of a local school board of directors and gives that authority to the Chief Recovery Officer.

The amendment requires renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements, when renegotiation is part of the financial recovery plan. Further, the new language to be proposed tomorrow states that if a new agreement is not ratified within 90 days, the Chief Recovery Officer will determine salary schedules and other contractual terms until a new agreement is ratified.

In addition, there is language to prohibit strikes during the duration of a financial recovery plan."