Council of the District of Columbia

Chairman Vincent C. Gray Convenes Committee of the Whole Public

Roundtable On:
PR 18-927, “COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE
WASHINGTON TEACHERS’ UNION, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
LOCAL NO. 6, AFL CIO EMERGENCY APPROVAL RESOLUTION OF 2010”

MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010, 10:00 AM, JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING, ROOM 500

OPENING STATEMENT

GOOD MORNING, I AM COUNCIL CHAIRMAN VINCENT C. GRAY…THE PURPOSE

OF TODAY’S HEARING IS TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY FROM GOVERNMENT AND
UNION LEADERS, EXPERT WITNESSES, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THE
PROPOSED AGREEMENT BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

NEARLY THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING, THIS AGREEMENT WAS

OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED BY MEMBERS OF THE TEACHING LABOR FORCE
EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND WITH GOOD REASON. ASIDE FROM CONSIDERABLE
AND JUSTIFIED PAY INCREASES FOR OUR HARD-WORKING TEACHERS, THE
CONTRACT CONTAINS PROVISIONS THAT STAND TO IMPROVE TEACHING AND
LEARNING AND ULTIMATELY INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THESE
INCLUDE A NEW, FORMAL INDUCTION AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR NEW
TEACHERS, THE CREATION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, AND A
GREATER EMPHASIS ON PERFORMANCE IN DETERMINING HOW TEACHERS ARE
EVALUATED AND COMPENSATED.

HOWEVER, LIKE ANY AGREEMENT OR PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THE KEY TO THIS

CONTRACT’S SUCCESS WILL BE IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION – WHICH IN TURN WILL
REQUIRE CAREFUL MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY’S BUDGETARY RESOURCES,
ESPECIALLY AS OUR NATION AND OUR CITY CONTINUE TO FACE ECONOMIC
HARDSHIP.

TODAY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE DETAILS ON THE FUNDING FOR

THIS CONTRACT. WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THIS CONTRACT, AND WHAT BOTH LABOR AND
MANAGEMENT MUST DO MOVING FORWARD.

*****

WITNESS LIST (Michelle Rhee will be the last witness.):

1. Panel: Dr. Yesim Yilmaz, Director of Fiscal and Legislative Analysis, Office of Revenue
Analysis, Office of the Chief Financial Officer
 George B. Dines, Jr., Interim Chief Financial Officer, District of Columbia Public Schools,
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Joan Passerino, Chief Benefits Officer, DC Retirement Board

2. George Parker, President, Washington Teachers’ Union

3. Panel--Teacher Performance, Evaluation, and Seniority

Jane Hannaway, Director, Education Policy Center, The Urban Institute
Mark Simon, National Coordinator, Tom Mooney Institute for Teacher and Union Leadership
Tom Toch, Executive Director, Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington
Elena Silva, Senior Policy Analyst, Education Sector

4. Panel --Professional Development and Teacher Support

Aleta Margolis, Center for Inspired Teaching
Kate Walsh, President, National Council on Teacher Quality

5. Robert Vinson Brannum

6. Harold Cox

7. Panel -- Tanya Sparrow-Bey, Patrick Mara, Tina Thomas, Margaret Conway, Mary Siddall

8. Sheila H. Gill
9. Jacqueline M. Schuler
10. Judith Marcus

11. Sue Zongker, DCPS Reading Specialist

12. Michelle Rhee, Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools

Doxie A. McCoy
Communications Director
Office of Chairman Vincent C. Gray
Council of the District of Columbia
(202) 724-8164
(202) 664-9862 - cell
(202) 724-8085 - fax
dmccoy@dccouncil.us