December CTU House of Delegates

By Theresa D. Daniels and Marybeth Foley

The monthly Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates meeting convened December 11, 2002, at Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington Blvd. The date had been postponed a week from the usual first Wednesday of the month. Visitors are welcome to these meetings. They must show either a union membership card or a dues deduction on a pay stub. Parking is available at the site and on nearby streets.

Meetings officially begin at 4:30 p.m., but there is a pre-meeting question period that is very informative in that delegates can get to the mikes and ask questions they may not get a chance to ask during the meeting proper.

This pre-meeting question period began at its usual time of 4:00 p.m. and introduced many topics, among them training sessions concerning IEP’s (teachers don’t know that not all the pages need to be filled out, according to Recording Secretary Jacquelyn Price Ward); the grievance about the pensionability of overtime pay; school nurse issues; our support of strikes by other unions; and our right to strike.

One delegate took the mike to say that President Deborah Lynch has always told the house that the ban on striking was over in 1997, that we have had the right since then. However, the delegate asserted, every editorial one reads says that Chicago teachers have lost the right to strike. Treasurer Maureen Callaghan said we should let them think that until the bill to repeal 4.5 is passed. (4.5 is the amendatory section of the Chicago School Reform Act which takes away the rights of teachers to bargain on many issues, but only in Chicago.)

A delegate from Mather High School rose to say that pensionability monies should go to those who earned them in extracurricular activities, not as bonuses for everyone. He said he had first brought this up in the House in 1984.

Dorothy Marks, a delegate for school nurses, said that there was a bill on the governor’s desk that would allow teachers up to two years of service credit for working in the private sector. Vice President Howard Heath said this bill would be included in the next round of legislative priorities.

Allegra Podrovsky, delegate from Kelvyn Park High School, asked if there was a leave other than sick leave for school aides if they wanted to go back to school. Callaghan answered not where they would hold the position and that there was no such thing as personal leave.

The next question dealt with the new laptop computers that the delegate said you had to have in order to do your job since information was uploaded to a Board central computer weekly. The teachers had to sign an agreement that they were responsible for the cost of replacement if a computer was lost or stolen. They were forced to sign the agreement or didn’t get the laptop. Another speaker then said that at Lane High School they found a cheap $50-per-year insurance. Callaghan said the union would look into the Board’s liability.

Another speaker said she was piggy-backing on the previous question. The speech teacher’s office on school property was broken into despite all the precautions she had taken. Another speaker said the teacher was covered if she filed a police report. Callaghan said that the insurance number would be in the next union newspaper and that the union was working on this issue.

The next delegate asked if it was mandatory to be on extended pay. Callaghan said that you could apply to be removed to the hardship committee and could get off for extenuating circumstances.

The last speaker before time ran out complained that the Board would not take checks or cash for payment for lane placement classes. The Board insisted on being paid by money order. Financial Secretary James Alexander said he could understand checks because they can bounce, but the rest was not so easily understood.

President Lynch then called the meeting to order at 4:30. After names were given of members who had died recently, there was a moment of silence. Recording Secretary Ward then elicited acceptance of the minutes of the November meeting, formally seated the new House of Delegates members, and gave reports on the CTU Quest Center and the Communications Department. She asked the delegates to note the blackout dates on the calendar when reduced parking at the union offices would not be available.

Ward reminded the House members of the first cohort forming for the Jacqueline B. Vaughn Graduate School for Teacher Leadership. She urged the delegates to share the tax information sheets in their packets with the members in their schools. The contents of the packet are usually shared through the union bulletin board.

Ward urged the delegates to sign up for committees. She said more email addresses of members were needed so they could receive union information. She highlighted the form through which half-priced tickets for Bulls games could be purchased for three Educators’ Appreciation Nights.

Financial Secretary Alexander stated there was a new record in retiree memberships: 3,189. He congratulated John and Karen Jasionowski for the first issue of the Senior Advisor, a newsletter for retirees. He said that retiree delegate nominations would be made at the retiree luncheon the next day.

Chicago Teachers Union Financial Secretary James Alexander and Retiree Vice President Jacquelyne Mooney were at the union's annual retiree luncheon on December 12. Ms. Mooney thanked Mr. Alexander and CTU President Deborah Lynch for providing the retirees with the support needs to launch their new quarterly newsletter, which is edited by John Jasionowski and his wife Karen. Others attending included Substance Boardwatch reporter Lotty Blumenthal, CTU field representative Earl Kelly Prince, retired CTU research director Tom Feeley, & Substance union reporters Theresa D. Daniels and Marybeth Foley.

He announced that the recruitment raffle would again be held at the end of the meeting and that forms for the March delegates’ workshop would be available at the February 19th meeting of the House when all delegates would be newly elected and seated. The late February meeting would be in place of both the February and March House of Delegates meetings.

Alexander highlighted the rules of election sheets in the delegates’ packets, urged the sale of Africa AIDS Campaign pins at schools, and reminded the delegates to have the agency fee packet posted on the union bulletin board at school.

Treasurer Callaghan reviewed the income and expense sheet, the Board principal contract information, a resolution regarding a recommended tax-deferred compensation program, and a career service website.

Vice President Heath reported the good news and the bad. The bad news was that Senate President James “Pate” Philip had not allowed our “Repeal 4.5” Senate Bill 1240 out of senate committee and onto the floor. The good news was that it was Pate’s last move in the senate. All attempts will be made to have the bill passed soon, he said.

Heath also addressed the work of the class size committee which he said was still gathering info. The forms were enclosed in the packet, and should be sent to Louis Pyster, Director of Research, he said. He highlighted a summary of contributions to political candidates, a very interesting document in the packet.

In her report, President Lynch spoke at length about the union efforts to repeal 4.5. She said a trip had been scheduled for which the date had to be changed once. She reported that parent groups had come to the union office to get briefed on the bill. She said that Mayor Daley now supported the bill, whereas a year ago he didn’t. She pointed out two positive editorials about the bill that could be found in the packet. She said Pate Philip was an obstacle, and that he had said to Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, “I don’t give a shit about your bill.”

The bill would be resubmitted, she said, on January 8, 2003, when the veto session would already be over. Lynch encouraged union members to write to Emil Jones as senate leader.

She reported that contract talks have not begun. They have been put on the March agenda and would not occur until our bill was passed. The contract expires in June. Lynch said she wanted to meet quarterly with support groups.

Retiree Delegate Jerry Adler was refused a point of information at this time, as nothing was before the House awaiting its decision.

Lynch continued her report and said that in her November meeting with Duncan, a number of issues were raised. She said there would be a restoration of the committee on overcrowded schools. She said there was movement on the formula that kicks in on the 20th day regarding gaining or losing positions at the school. She also reported that professional development units for recertification could be gotten on school time if the principal does the paper work.

Regarding the residency requirement, she said the one-year renewable waiver was not acceptable and hurt teacher recruitment efforts. She said the union had urged the Board to do a moratorium on the requirement. She also reported that there would be a discipline policy revision.

Lynch invited all the delegates to a holiday gathering after the meeting at Penelope’s Restaurant at 234 S. Ashland, where there is street parking, as well as a free parking lot behind the restaurant. She said that again she could not get a room at the lower level of Plumbers Hall where the delegates meetings are held. [The facility is connected up with the previous union administration of Tom Reece.]

She said that the officers had gone to visit 300 schools in the last twelve months. They wanted to get to every school, she said, but they could only go to schools where the delegate invited them.

In a plug for the newly instituted program, she said that the Vaughn School for a masters in teacher leadership would give the first 150 delegates one free course.

She also reminded the delegates of a January survey requesting feedback on health care benefits, and she applauded the fact that the CASE had been erased.

Staff Appreciation Day would be April 11, she announced, the Friday before Spring Vacation. “Good Friday” would fall during spring break this year.

Lynch went on to the business Items for Action on the agenda. The first item, Item A., was the executive board’s recommended rejection of a motion by Tony Gudwien of Kelvyn Park. This motion was reprinted in entirety in this report last month. The motion resolved that the Union would go on record as “strenuously opposing the Bush administration’s march toward war with Iraq,” and that the Union “urge its members and affiliates to get involved with organizations working toward stopping the Bush administration’s march toward war with Iraq.”

The speakers at the mikes who spoke on this item after Gudwien made his appeal for the House not to reject his motion, had to address a substitute motion made by Delegate Brian Sullivan of Fernwood School. His motion was the following: “The Chicago Teachers Union urges President Bush to exhaust all peaceful and diplomatic means, not to act unilaterally but in concert with the United Nations and our allies to correct the situation in Iraq.”

Rosagitta Podrovsky of Sullivan High School said it was a divisive issue and that we should make a decision based on reason and logic. Another speaker said we should put aside passions and fears for now.

Allegra Podrovsky of Kelvyn Park spoke for rejection of the original motion and acceptance of the substitute motion. She said that the original motion was full of lies.

Gudwien then asked for a point of personal privilege since, he said, he had been called a liar. He received his personal privilege, although Allegra argued later that she had not called him a liar, but had said that his resolution was full of lies. Gudwien defended himself by saying that all the points in his motion and in his speech urging the acceptance of the motion could be proved objectively.

A city-wide delegate argued that the first motion should stand.

Jesse Sharkey of Senn High School spoke against the substitute motion and in behalf of the original motion, asking, “Do you trust George Bush?”

Carol Caref of Chicago Vocational High School also spoke against the substitute motion and for the original motion. Among the many points she made was her statement that this was a war about oil, that Iraq was second only to Saudi Arabia in having the largest store of oil reserves in the world.

George Milkowski of Hyde Park High School also spoke against the substitute motion, saying that money for the war will not be money for education.

All of the four previous speakers emphasized how very much incumbent on the union it was to take an anti-war position for the sake of our students and even our own economic considerations.

Lynch announced that the fifteen minutes for debate on the motion was up. There was an automatic vote to be conducted to determine whether or not to extend debate, but the motion lost. Two-thirds vote would have been needed to continue the discussion, Lynch said.

Adler raised a point of information asking if a friendly amendment was in order, and if the substitute motion passed, would the union give the widest publicity to it, including a press conference with the president and “her friend Mayor Daley.” Lynch said that wasn’t part of the motion and it was now time to conduct the vote.

The microphones were cleared and a hand vote, as requested by Gudwien as the maker of the motion, was held on whether to accept the substitute motion. The vote was close and a call for division was made, so a standing vote was held. The delegates voted yes to accept the substitute motion by 202 yeas to 136 nays. A concern was expressed at this time that some voting members were not wearing their delegate badges.

Lynch then went on to Item B. of the agenda, which read as follows:

B. The Executive Board recommended approval of the following motion as amended: The CTU opposes the use of the CASE in Chicago’s high schools.

The CASE is poorly constructed. It leads teachers to “teach to the test.” It encourages overly broad and shallow coverage of the course curriculum. It discourages teachers from tailoring their instruction to the specific skills and abilities of each classroom of students. It provides no feedback either to teacher or student. It is, therefore, harmful to our students’ learning.

Teachers, administrators, parents, and students — joined by national experts on testing and assessment (including UCLA’s CRESST Center) — have criticized CASE since its inception in 1998. These critiques have been articulated most recently by teachers at Curie High School.

The CTU should meet with the Board of Education to present these concerns in an effort to reach an agreement on eliminating the CASE immediately.

The first speaker to the motion was Marty McGreal of the Curie High School twelve who had announced to the Board that even if it meant losing their careers, they would not give the CASE to their students this January. McGreal was applauded by the House even as he was identifying himself. He wanted to offer a substitute motion since he said the original motion above might be moot as the Board had now canceled the CASE exams.

Lynch said that all we have now are comments to the press, so that it was important to pass this motion. His motion was the following: “The CTU should meet with the Board of Education and be involved with the review and implementation of many city-wide assessments.”

Lynch told McGreal that this was a good motion, but not a substitute motion. She said it didn’t meet the requirement that it be germane and similar to the motion before us. She told him that he could bring it up as a new motion during the question period.

Allegra Podrovsky next spoke and congratulated McGreal and the other Curie teachers for their stand, and George Schmidt for fighting the fight for many long years to erase the CASE.

At the next mike, Norine Gutekanst of the Inter-American Magnet School called it a tremendous victory, and said that she wanted to make a motion regarding CASE and George Schmidt during the question period to come.

Adler was the only one to speak against the motion. When Lynch asked him to identify himself for the record, he said he was a retiree, but not retired. He said that this was not the proper forum to deal with the CASE and all other testing not mandated by the state. He said this motion was meaningless if 4.5 wasn’t repealed and if testing was not negotiable. He said that if it was ever brought up to the bargaining table, then he hoped that Lynch would take Schmidt with her so something real could be done rather than Schmidt just writing editorials in Substance.

Caref said that the union should publicly applaud the Curie teachers for their courageous stand and that the union should back Schmidt up in his fight against the Board who was suing him for a million dollars. She asked if she could amend the CASE motion this way.

Lynch told Caref that new motions would have to be made.

Cynthia Haywood from Hale School called the question, and the yeas had it both for calling the question and for the motion. The CASE motion passed with Adler as the lone vote of nay.

Lynch said it was time for the official 15-minute question period. She said everyone who wants to leave, please stay.

The period began with Lindy Van Doren, city-wide delegate, congratulating “Doctor President Lynch” for the union leadership’s outreach to other organizations which she felt got short shrift under the Vallas administration.

The next speaker was Gutekanst, chair of the union testing committee, with the following motion: “The CTU applauds the decision of the CPS to abolish the CASE. We salute the brave teachers of Curie High School who risked losing their livelihoods by refusing to administer the flawed CASE. These teachers stand on the shoulders of our brother George N. Schmidt who was fired and sued for a million dollars by the CPS for publishing portions of the CASE. Due to his courageous actions, public scrutiny was brought to bear on the CASE leading to its eventual elimination. The CTU calls for the Board of Education to drop the lawsuit against Schmidt and Substance and to reinstate Mr. Schmidt with back pay, damages, and restored seniority.

The motion received tremendous applause. Lynch said that it was protocol to refer the motion to committee, which in this case would be Gutekanst’s testing committee.

Adler objected to it being sent to committee. In the vote that followed, it was decided to discuss the motion now. Gutekanst spoke to her motion, saying she had forgotten to say that many students had protested the CASE, and that many teachers felt that their own assessments of students were superior to the CASE. Two other speakers spoke in favor of the motion, one of them saying that Schmidt did only what a journalist is supposed to do: expose things that are wrong.

Gudwien also spoke in favor of the motion, warning however that we shouldn’t get Pollyanna-ish about this victory. He said other equally noxious tests may be coming down the pike, and that initiatives like the “Leave no child ‘unleft’” will do great harm unless we win the 4.5 bill. He said that’s why Adler’s comments were so important.

The question was called by Tom Lalagos of Hyde Park, and after Gutekanst reread her motion, there was a point of order made by Sullivan indicating that there needed to be a speaker against the motion.

Sullivan then spoke saying his concern was the liability for the union of some of the language in the motion.

A delegate then began speaking about violence in the schools. When Lynch asked him how that related to the motion being discussed, he said he thought this was the question period. Lynch explained that it was proper to make motions during the question period (or submit the motion a week ahead of time to the recording secretary). Therefore, she explained, it was the motion that was being discussed now prior to a vote. She said only after the vote would the question period continue.

Dino Argyropoulos of Corkery School said that as he was looking around the room. The delegates began moaning, telling him not to do it — not to call for a quorum which would cancel the conducting of any further business at this meeting.

Dino called for the quorum anyway, arguing that he must go back to the members that he represented at his school to confer on how he should vote on this issue, because, he said, there were not enough people in the room to make a decision about whether to support someone who, at least in his building, was not held up as a hero.

Quorum was called and only 238 voting delegates were present. Since 288 were needed, so further business on this matter or the rest of the agenda could not be conducted and had to be deferred to the next meeting.

The question period, however, could be continued and was.

A delegate from Anderson School asked for the Union’s help in evaluating what the teachers in a middle school were certified to teach. She had participated in a Quality Systems Check for the No Child Left Behind initiative. Because her school is departmentalized, it will be penalized with a letter going out to parents saying that many teachers are unqualified to teach their subject even though they have masters degrees.

Lynch said that the union would work with them, and that the middle schools had been put in a Catch-22 situation.

Elaine Johnson spoke next and thanked the Union for winning the pay owed to Head Start teachers who had gone to certain meetings.

The 15 minutes were up and the move to adjourn passed. Financial Secretary Alexander announced that the recruitment raffle would now be conducted. He added that if there had not been a quorum call, there would have been a special Christmas drawing for $150,000. “Sorry about that,” he concluded.