Bargaining Statement

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association and Denver Public Schools have been negotiating a new contract for the last several months. We have an agreement in negotiations that we will not violate the ground rules of our negotiations. Thus DCTA is going to honor that agreement, and not discuss the substance of any bargaining proposals; the district’s or ours.

DCTA is calling on the district to compromise and come to a fair and equitable agreement with us. We want to end the school year on a positive note with a fair, equitable agreement; Denver teachers deserve nothing less.
DCTA is asking the district to come to an agreement with us that will:

• Address professional issues of time to teach and learn, time to plan, time to implement instructional regimes effectively, and meaningful professional development;
  
• Promote an orderly school and classroom environment that allows teachers to spend more of their time on instruction and not on classroom management;
  
• Attract and retain qualified teachers in Denver which includes catching up on economics with other metro area districts;
  
• Establish a peer assistance and review program to help raise standards and expectations and provide help to teachers who are struggling;
  

We want a contract settlement in which both DCTA and DPS can legitimately claim victories. A settlement right now will show our community that DPS is serious about teacher quality and student achievement. When we get a fair equitable agreement, the winners will be our students and their families.