Rahm Signals He's Ready For More CPS Turnaround Schools
While teachers working at turnaround schools are covered by the district's contract with the Chicago Teachers Union, CTU believes turning school operations over to outside organizations is tantamount to creeping privatization.
"If what you mean by turnaround is bringing in an outside contractor to manage a school and fire all existing staff ... then we would not support that," says Liz Brown, CTU's spokeswoman. She argued that turnarounds violate tenure rules because all instructors are released regardless of seniority. And the union is skeptical that radical measures like turnarounds will result in the changes promised. "There is no research that shows the turnaround model works," she said.
Of course, no one is against improving schools, training teachers, raising performance, and readying Chicago students for the 21st century economy. Brown pointed out that CTU obviously wants a better CPS; their members are on the frontlines of education and a complex series of social issues every school day. She referenced the teachers in Los Angeles that created "pilot schools," which are in essence instructor-run institutions, as an intriguing development. But in discussing reform efforts, Brown said a broader perspective was necessary.
"Schools reflect the community that they're in. For decades, in historically neglected communities, not surprisingly, you find historically neglected schools," Brown said. "Can you focus inside a school on improving specific things? Yes, you can. But there's not going to be [big] changes until we recognize that communities are neglected."
From CTU's perspective, that would mean reinvesting in low-performing schools by providing resources like wrap-around social services, Brown said. And quite simply, offering decent jobs for struggling parents. The teachers union president, Karen Lewis, has called for a "Marshall Plan" to boost CPS schools.
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