The contract just reached between the city and the principal’s union contains some new ideas that are relatively fair to the rest of us. First, it includes higher pay for those with tougher jobs — running failing schools. Second, it ends the guarantee of an assistant principal job for assistant principals in schools that are closed down due to failure. Such
employees, if no other principal wanted to take them on, would be given the option of a buyout or teaching half a day. It also added merit pay, something I am less keen on given my lack of confidence in the ability of public sector managers to fairly identify merit, although the success of an entire school may be easier to judge than that of an individual employee. These, however, are half-measures, adopted after years of standoff with the City using the minimal leverage it has — deferring a contract and allowing wages to lag behind inflation, falling in real dollars. It was a limited gain from a very protracted fight.
I believe that not only principals but also teachers in troubled schools should be paid more. So should those teaching a higher share of disadvantaged students, teaching more difficult years (ie. middle school) and subjects ie. math and science, or even saddled with larger class sizes. The latter provision, if adopted, would limit the temptation during the next budget crisis for the city and teacher’s union to (once again) exchange early retirement for existing teachers for larger class sizes with uncertified newcomers for the children. A provision specifying small classes, specifically, for first- and second-year teachers would do the same. The teacher’s union did not agree to any of this — the Mayor caved rather than pushed for it.
The idea of using severance pay as an alternative to a job for life that someone is unable or willing to do is a good one. I discussed the current situation here http://www.r8ny.com/blog/larry_littlefield/dilemma_of_discretion.html and my alternative here http://www.r8ny.com/blog/larry_littlefield/what_i_would_do_about_the_dilemma_of_discretion.html . But the provision applies only to new jobs for assistant principals who are excessed due to school closures, not existing positions for those who aren’t performing. The same is true of the similar provision added in the recent teacher’s contract. Most public school employees (and other employees) do their best in difficult circumstances. To remove those who do not, and ruin the work of others, the choices now are to close down an entire school or go through an adversarial procedure that presumes one has a right to a position unless they have committed some kind of “misconduct.” The Village Voice discussed on consequence of that system – teachers marooned in “rubber rooms” – here http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0717,altman,76433,15.html . The Voice says there has to be a better way. I believe I have proposed it. For assistant principals, the City and union have taken a half step in my direction.