Teaching Profession

DCTA Alone On ProComp

By Vaishali Honawar — August 22, 2008 1 min read
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In its fight to resist major changes to the performance-pay system ProComp, the Denver Classroom Teachers Association doesn’t seem to have any friends.

First there was a report from the citizens’ commission, A-Plus Denver, issued this month that said ProComp contributes too much toward salary base-building, which the union favors. Instead, the report said, the money should be driven more directly toward the elements that contribute to improving student achievement.

Then, a splinter group of about 275 teacher members went public saying the union leadership was not representing the view of the majority within the union, and called for a settlement.

Now, it’s the turn of two local newspapers to admonish the union.

“The union’s stance is difficult to square with ProComp’s initial objectives,” says the Rocky Mountain News in an editorial headlined “Union misleading public regarding original intent of ProComp.”

“We hope union members will acknowledge how generous an offer the district has made in a troubling economy,” the editorial adds.

The Denver Post, meanwhile, takes issue with the union’s threat to strike, particularly at a time when the nation’s eyes are on the city as it hosts the Democratic national convention. Denver schools opened earlier this week. The teachers union and district officials are now in negotiations to resolve differences over ProComp.

“Could it be it’s trying to wring concessions out of the district by threatening to embarrass DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet in front of the political world?” the editorial says. “The stunt is transparent and shameful.”

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A version of this news article first appeared in the Teacher Beat blog.