Denver Progress reported by both sides in Denver teachers strike
Denver A marathon bargaining session moved Denver instructors and the school district “closer” to an contract to end a strike by thousands of teachers. Interested in Education? Add Education as an interest to stay up to date on the most current Education news, video, and analysis from ABC N ews. As the strike got in its 3rd day Wednesday, the president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the superintendent of the city’s public school district launched a joint declaration reporting progress in the negotiations. “We exchanged proposals that are moving us closer and are enthusiastic that we will get to an contract quickly,” reads the declaration by union president Henry Roman and schools Superintendent Susana Cordova. “However, we requirement a little more time to willpower the outstanding concerns.” David Zalubowski/AP Teachers bring placards as they walk a picket line outside South High School, Feb. 11, 2019, in Denver. Both sides headed back to the bargaining table Wednesday after a 12- hour negotiating session Tuesday. Union authorities say about 3,700 teachers are participating in the strike, or about 86 percent of the instructors in the district’s 160 schools. The teachers got a increase Wednesday from at least one presidential candidate. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, who has joined the growing field for the 2020 governmental race, tweeted assistance for the striking teachers. “We entrust our kids — our futures — to teachers, however we don’t come close to paying them what they be worthy of,” Gillibrand tweeted Wednesday. “Teachers invest nights preparing, go into their own pockets for products and love our kids like their own. We requirement to pay them a living wage.” We delegate our kids—our futures—to teachers, however we wear’t come close to paying them what they be worthy of. Teachers spend nights preparing, go into their own pockets for materials and love our kids like their own. We requirement to pay them a living wage. #DenverTeacherStrike— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 13, 2019 Schools in Denver stayed opened Wednesday with substitutes, some instructor and school administrators filling in for the striking educators. Negotiations resumed on Tuesday after the instructors’ union walked away from the bargaining table on Saturday and teachers went on strike Monday. The union is looking for a wage walking for all teachers and a simplification of a pay-for-performance system called ProComp — which was passed by citizens in 2005 and uses instructors bonus offers for increasing student class accomplishment and for working in high-poverty schools. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images South High School ninth grade teacher Tessa Zatorski, left, chants while picketing outside South High School, Feb. 11, 2019 in Denver. Cordova said earlier this week that the district has no plans to scrap ProComp, which would suggest surrendering $33 million a year. “Denver Public Schools and the Denver Class Educators Association worked in excellent faith to find common ground on ProComp,” reads the joint declaration from Roman and Cordova. The union is proposing $28.5 million in instructor payment while the school district’s newest offer came to almost $25 million. The average starting pay for instructors in Denver is $43,255. The union is asking that beginning pay be boosted to $45,800. The school district has moved closer to what the union is asking for on starting teacher pay, ABC affiliate station KMGH-TV in Denver reported Wednesday.
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