Key Gains for Klein
CSA Pact: 23% Hike Plus Merit Bonuses

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators April 23 announced a tentative 80-month contract deal that includes a merit-pay system that could win a select number of high-performing Principals an additional $50,000 per year.

JOEL I. KLEIN: Gets needed changes.

The pact, which must be ratified by CSA members, would be retroactive to July 1, 2003 and would run through March 5, 2010, after Mayor Bloomberg leaves office. Principals, Assistant Principals and Education Supervisors would receive a 23.16-percent pay increase over that period and would work 15 minutes more per day and an additional 25 hours per year attending meetings and seminars. The proposed deal includes a $4,000 lump-sum bonus for Principals, Assistant Principals and Supervisors in service as of June 27 of this year.

Pay Incentives

The pay-for-performance system would allow Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein to award Principals up to $25,000 for school improvement. It also would pay "Executive Principals" an additional $25,000 per year for agreeing to serve in one of the Chancellor's designated "low-performing schools" for at least three years.

The Chief -Leader/Michel Friang 'DECISIONS BASED ON MERIT': Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Ernest Logan announced a long-awaited tentative contract deal that would give select Principals significant pay-for-performance bonuses, while Mayor Bloomberg (right) praised the pact's financial incentives.

"This is a unique and historic agreement," said CSA President Ernest Logan. "For the first time we've been able to put in some common-sense reforms that move towards recognizing people's performance and paying them for the work they do."

Education supervisors' salaries have a wide range, but the average Principal could expect to receive about $30,000 in retroactive pay if the deal is approved.

"In the private sector," said Mayor Bloomberg, "financial incentives encourage actions that are good for the company, and there is no reason why we should not also use financial incentives in the public sector to encourage actions that are good for our schools."

Linked to Mayor's Plan

The performance reviews would be linked to the new school accountability system rolled out as part of the Mayor's school reorganization, which uses test scores, promotion rates and parent and Teacher surveys to measure school progress.

The Chancellor would have the authority to judge whether a Principal reached the criteria to qualify for a bonus each year, but Mr. Klein said he would consult with CSA to create those guidelines.

Mr. Klein stressed that the new provisions giving the DOE greater flexibility were integral to the Mayor's reorganization plan. "What this agreement does," he said, "is complete our accountability system by aligning Principals performance review with our accountability system."

He added that it was not clear whether the system to designate Executive Principals would be in place in the coming school year.

The tentative deal also includes several provisions that mirror those in the last two contracts ratified by the United Federation of Teachers. One would end automatic seniority transfers for Assistant Principals. Supervisors who are "excessed" or no longer needed due to school changes or closure would have to apply for open positions. If they were not hired, they could accept a buy-out or, if they refuse, the Department of Education could place them in alternative positions in which they would teach three periods a day and perform some supervisory duties.

'Merit, Not Seniority'

"Schools should be places where people come together voluntarily," said Mr. Klein, "where decisions are based on the school's needs and merits and not based on seniority."

The tentative pact comes after a contentious almost four years without a contract, and after the retirement earlier this year of CSA President Jill Levy.

President Logan said the length of the deal - almost seven years - would benefit his members. "It allows us to get some stability in our membership," he said, "so people will know going out there whether they want to stay here and go through this."

The Mayor also praised the length of the contract. "Achieving a contract of this duration, I think, really shows our commitment to providing schools with continuity even during a period of unprecedented change," he said.

Other Concessions

Like the Teachers, educational supervisors will no longer be allowed to grieve disciplinary letters placed in their files. And all school supervisors would lose their floating holiday, must report to work on Brooklyn-Queens Day, and would have their lunch period reduced to 30 minutes.

The starting salary for Assistant Principals would jump from $88,398 to $108,869 by the final pay hike. Top salary for APs would increase from $107,436 to $132,316.

Starting salary for a High School Principal is currently $107,694 and would rise to $123,282 by the pact's end. Maximum salary would grow from $132,633 to $154,295. The new minimum and maximums for Junior High Principals would be $127,115 and $148,224; the Elementary School range would be $123,457 to $142,268.

The $4,000 lump sum would not be pensionable unless a Principal retired within three years of the deal's ratification; then the amount would be averaged into his or her overall pension calculation.

$2,500 Differential

Starting in the summer of 2009, up to 400 Principals per year would be designated as "Principals in Charge" of summer school programs and would receive a $2,500 differential.

On Dec. 9, 2009, the DOE would begin contributing $708 annually per member to a newly-established Annuity Fund. The deal would also increase the city's annual contribution to CSA's Active Welfare Fund by $200 per year for active employees and retirees, beginning Dec. 16, 2009. The city would add a one-time cash payment to each applicable benefit fund on Jan. 6, 2008 in the amount of $166.67 per active member and retiree who is receiving benefits at that time.