News Notes

Legislative Information

Useful Information

Useful Information

• Transfer date
  
  Article 42 states that teachers may transfer effective the end of the school year without the consent of their current principal only when the Department of Human Resources receives the administrative transfer request signed by the receiving principal between seventy and thirty calendar days prior to the conclusion of the school year.
  
  The last day to notify your principal that you will be transfering to another school would be May 20.
  
  
  
• Office of Human Capital holds resume and interviewing tips workshop
  
  The Chicago Public Schools Office of Human Capital will be hosting a resume writing and interviewing tips workshop for teachers, PSRPs and ESPs. Each workshop will be held at CPS Teacher's Academy of Math and Science (TAMS) at 501 West 35th St. Free Parking is available on a first come first served basis in the parking lots adjacent to and across the street from the facility. The workshops will be held on Monday, March 29, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m; Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. to 12; Tuesday, June 15, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m; and Monday, July 12, 10 a.m. to 12.
  
  You must RSVP with the Office of Human Capital.
  
  
  
• The CTU dues for the calendar year January to December 2009
  
  Teacher $928.84
  
  PSRP $557.28
  
  
  
• H1N1 information
  
  Click here for information about the H1N1 flu.
  
  
  
• Important payroll information
  
  Click here to read information about regular school calendars that are switching to Track E calendars.
  
  
  
• Teacher transfer information
  
  According to the Agreement between the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Public Schools, teachers can transfer to another school without the consent of his or her principal as long as the Department of Human Resources receives the administrative transfer request signed by the receiving principal between 75 and 30 days prior to the end of the school year.
  
  The period for these transfers is determined by the school calendar of the school the teacher is leaving, not the school they wish to tranfer to. Receiving principals must use the DS2 System to submit an online administrative transfer request to the Department of Human Resources. Schools with Year-Round Calendars on tracks A, B, or C, must submit the request by June 1.
  
  
  
• Middle School Specialization Requirement
  
  There have been many questions from members regarding the Middle Grades Specialization Policy which was adopted by the Board at its October 2008 board meeting. One of those questions has been about the difference between junior high and middle school endorsement.
  
  Originally junior high content teachers were told that, in addition to an endorsement in ALL subjects for which they provide instruction, an additional six hours of middle grades pedagogy was required. This is no longer the case. After further consideration the Board has stated their belief that the Junior High endorsement gets to the heart of their policy. The Board is not requiring teachers with Junior High endorsements, awarded prior to 7-01-97, to complete additional coursework unless they are seeking to teach a content for which they are not currently endorsed.
  
  We are advising all middle grade teachers to initiate a transcript review through ISBE. You can visit the ISBE website to learn more about the Middle Grades Endorsement requirements, as well as the process for having transcripts reviewed. That website is http:www.isbe.net/certification/requirements/toc.htm
  
  Principals and unit administrators are required to submit a waiver
  request (and a plan for implementation) if their school is not able to
  meet the requirements. The deadline for submission is April 3, 2009. The waiver requests, modifications and notifications of short term authorizations must be faxed to the Office of Instructional Design and Assessment at (773) 553-4056.
  
  Information on the middle school specialization policy can be found at: http://www.cps.k12.il.us/AboutCPS/Departments
  /OIDA/middle_grades.shtml
  
  
  
• Important payroll information
  
  Teachers and PSRPs will receive all of the money from their extended bank by September 11, 2009. The Board pushed this date forward by one week, but it will not affect your total compensation for
  the 2008-2009 school year.
  
  All 10-month PSRPs on deferred pay will receive a check on Friday,
  April 3, for $250.00. This is in accordance with Article 36-9.
  
  36-9. PSRP Bonus. In each year of the Agreement, the Board shall make a $250 one-time payment on the payroll date prior to spring recess to those PSRPs who are actively employed by the BOARD on that payroll date. The payment shall not be added top the salary schedule, but shall be pensionable.
  
  The PSRP pay period dates will move, effective April 12. The purpose of this change is to align the payroll cycles for all employees. All members will continue to be paid for 203 days per year. This includes the 10 vacation days – 5 during December and 5 during spring break. Please note that you will receive a ten day check on April 24, five vacation days and five days from the deferred bank. On May 8 you will receive a ten day check. Please see the below side by side Calendar of Pre and Post Alignment of 38.6 Week PSRP Payroll Calendars. (Note that your paydates have not changed.)
  
  Teacher pay check dates will move effective, May 8, 2009. The
  purpose of this change is to align the payroll cycles for all employees.
  All teachers will be paid for the 203 days specified in the Agreement.
  This number includes 10- days of vacation pay, 5 during the Christmas holidays and 5 for spring break. No one is losing any time. Pay
  particular attention to payperiod 8 as you review the side-by-side calendar. Also note that the last check with extended pay will be issued September 11, 2009.
  
  Click here to view the side-by-side teacher payroll calendar.
  
  Click here to view the side-by-side PSRP payroll calendar.
  
  
  
• Chicago Teachers Union analysis of school closings
  
  Click here to read the Chicago Teachers Union's report on school
  closings, Moving Beyond Deja Vu Reform: Why Chicago children need a fresh start, not more upheaval.
  
  
  
• Lists of alderman, state senators and state representatives for latest Renaissance 2010 list
  
  We have gathered contact information for the alderman, state senator and state representative of each of the schools on the latest
  Renaissance 2010 list. Please do your part to inform the
  schools' elected officials about the school closings, consolidations, turn-arounds and phase-outs. Click here to view the contact information and a sample letter for each school.